Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving Weekend was nice & quiet. Dinner with friends, and time together at home. Sometimes we should just be more thankful for the most ordinary things. Like reading a book, or family time. There was a time when this is what we could only hope for. And we know there will be a time when this is what we will long for and wish we could have again. But for now we will just choose to enjoy it.
Mom!! Enough with the camera already! We are trying to read a book here!

Our Angel From Kazakhstan

No words can describe how we feel about Lauren. This photo is one of our favorites. She's our Little Angel. Almost makes you want one more...................................
Speaking of that.... our dossier for adoption number two was just submitted to the Kazakh Embassy.....
Olivia's blog won't start until we are actually there... but stay posted.

Lunch At The Quinault Lodge

I'm ready for lunch ~ where's the food? I have two spoons and I'm ready to go!
This is mommy's hat.... pretty stylish, don't you think?
Ummm.... waiter!!!
Bulgyn at the Roosevelt Restaurant. The Roosevelt Restaurant at the Quinault Lodge is named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt because he lead the movement to protect this area.... and because he ate here...
This is truly one of the most peaceful and beautiful places we have ever seen. We come here all the time... every chance we get.
Walking around the grounds at The Lodge after lunch.

Visitor from Kazakhstan

Our translator form Kazakhstan, Bulgyn Koitai, visited us on Fox Island this month. Lauren enjoyed Bulgyn's visit with us immensely, and so did we. We showed Bulgyn around and on this particular day we were out at the coast and stayed over-night. Lauren was only 8 1/2 monhts old when she met Bulgyn before, but it was almost as if she remembered her or at least found her familiar. She took an immediate liking to her. In the morning at the motel Lauren decided to pay Bulgyn a visit and wake up slowly with her.

Back to the Beach

Lauren still loves the beach and hiking around. She has it made in her back-pack. She loves that thing. She calls it her "Seat-belt Back-pack" (because she has to wear her seat-belt when she is in it...)
This was on a November day on Second Beach at the Pacific Ocean near La Push, WA. We love hiking out here. Such scenery, and so peaceful. Never crowded. Truly a chance to get away from it all.
Excited to be hiking!

Bulgyn Koitai, our translator from Almaty, Kazakhstan paid us a visit this month. It was amazing seeing her again, and an amazing experience having her visit with us at our home. She visited us exactly two years after our initial meeting each other at the airport in Kazakhstan.