November Re-cap

Well, it's been a busy month. Isaiah had his second birthday, we took new family photos, celebrated thanksgiving with family and friends, decorated for Christmas and lots more. Here is a look back at November!

Family pictures! (Thanks to Katy Southern - if you ever need a photographer I highly recommend her!)
Putting up the Christmas tree

Daniel and his Dad at Isaiah's second birthday party.

Isaiah and Jenna

Happy Second birthday Isaiah. We had Isaiah's party at a park not too far from where we live. It turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL day outside. Lots of folks that love Isaiah came to wish him a very happy birthday. Love you little man!

October Re-Cap

We have had a busy month! My(Kara's) parents came for a visit, we went to Gaitlinburg, Daniel and I celebrated our 8th anniversary in Louisville, Daniel had a friend come visit from Colorado, Halloween, birthday parties, plus the normal school, work, and play! Here's the October re-cap! The Pirate and The Flapper on Halloween - Arrgh! Love the eyeliner Daniel!

Our little Pooh bear!
A Halloween group hug with the cousins, a Puppy (Annie Grace), Tigger (Daniel Nouwen) and Pooh (Isaiah)

Isaiah has started taking all of the items (blankets and stuffed animals) out of his bed and putting them in a pile on the floor. He likes to have them all piled up around him. It must feel very cozy to have all of his "things" around him.

Our little guy is looking so grown up. I show people this picture on my phone and they think he's a 4 year old. Must be that big boy haircut.

Being a tourist in his own city, pointing out a "tar" (guitar).

Daniel and I made a quick trip up to Louisville to celebrate our 8th anniversary, We decided to tour some of the Kentucky Bourbon distilleries along the way. Here's Daniel listening in at the tasting area of the Jim Beam Distillery.

Daniel at the Heavenly Hill Distillery warehouse, amongst the barrels of bourbon.

Me, smelling the oak barrels full of Bourbon

(bbleeck! I hate the smell and taste of that stuff!!)

A miniature bass boat made out of an old oak Bourbon barrel.

Animals

Isaiah has been getting acquainted with lots of animals lately -Here's a look at his recent experiences!!

Not so sure about this snake!

Loved riding the ponies!

Feeding the goats!

Baby goat!

HUGE Camel!

September

Mirror, Mirror on the wall.......

Getting started early drinking starbucks!

Just kidding! This was just some milk (MULK! as Isaiah calls it) He kept saying "hot, hot" while drinking this, even though it was very cold. I guess he associates cups that look like this as being hot coffee. Little smarty pants!

Being a boy

We ran over to a nature area close to our house last weekend to just play and be outside little bit.

We found:

• dirt
• mud
• trucks
• water
• fun!
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New MBHOH Video

Watch this new video about Maria's Big House!
It's hard to believe that just one month ago I was sitting, holding, and playing with many of the babies in this video. I still have little reminders every day of my special time in China - from taking off my toenail polish that I had done while in China to eating chinese food for lunch today and showing the chinese woman at the restaraunt that I still have Chinese money in my wallet - all sweet little reminders of that part of the world.

Maria's Big House of Hope from Show Hope on Vimeo.

The end of summer

Summer is ALMOST over. But (or butt!) I wanted to share a couple of summer pictures!

(taken by my friend Joni a couple of weeks ago)

Isaiah re-acting to Daniel doing cannon balls off the diving board.

Pool time!

Daniel has "given" one of his fishing poles to Isaiah for his very own and he loves to walk around with it saying "pole, pole" - as you can imagine this warms Daniels heart!

Kara's Trip to China

Finally! I got most of my pics up and into some kind of order.
Would love to sit across the table with a cup of tea and tell you the stories behind every picture - I hope you enjoy this edited version!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

China - Part one

Ok, so there is so much to share about my incredible trip to China over the last two weeks, so I'm going to break up my "China blog" into sections. Starting with flying to Beijing. My group left July 15th and we flew through Newark and then another 13+ hours to Beijing. We arrived mid afternoon and went straight to Hope Healing Home http://www.hopefosterhome.com/about_us.htm

If you have a second, go to their website and read about the awesome work these teo ordinary people are doing in China.

This is the "Yurt" we stayed in while at Hope Healing Home.
As you can see, it was actually quite a neat place to stay. Even without air conditioning it was quite comfortable for 9 of us to sleep in.

The orphans that are at Hope Healing Home are children who have correctable deformities. This is where I found out it only costs $650 to correct a cleft palate.

More to come about my trip.......

A wedding weekend

This weekend Daniel's mom got married to Doug and we were able to pull off this hot 5th of July garden wedding. We managed to dodge all the thunder and lightning for a few hours AND keep 3 babies from falling into the pool. All and all a beautiful day!

Congratulations Doug and Margaret!
Doug, Daniel, Isaiah, Margaret and Me

Daniel and his sister Lizzy sang an upbeat version of "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" during the ceremony. Isaiah decided to make his way to the front when he heard his Dad singing and started dancing in the middle of the service. I thought a few times about going up there and stopping him, but people seemed to be getting a kick out of it, so I let him go for it. Cousin Sophia was encouraging his exuberance.
Sophia looking out for the little guy.

Margaret and me

Daniel's sister Michelle, Grandma and Margaret

Isaiah, sharing his dinner roll with the Bride!

I guess she was hungry!

As always -it was tricky to get all the grandkids to look the same way and smile.

Feeling just ducky!