Catch Up

Well, a bunch of things have been happening lately here at the Browning house. I have posted a few pics to summarize the last few weeks.

Gabriel just celebrated turning 10 years old! For a gift he got a little money, some Georgia boots, and a fishing rod.

I typically cook whoever is celebrating their birthday - their favorite meal. Gabe picked the following:
Homemade chicken strips, baked potatoes, and shrimp. For dessert: ice cream sunday bar

Just a random picture outside my kitchen window.

Chloe has started K4, and seems to be left handed.

Super cuteness.

Ethan lost ... ahem ... several teeth.

SEE!

Justus has been doing what he does best: making messes. This picture is where he got left with a whole bag of cheerios on his highchair. The cheerios ended up on the floor. Great fun for babies!

The mess.

The boy.

We have been making a whole lot of egg salad sandwiches. YUM. Learned a trick to peel farm fresh eggs. They can be really sticky when hard boiled. So ... steam them. Then rinse in cold water. VIOLA! Shell slips right off!

This is how much we make for ONE lunch here at our house!

Everyone seems to be on the mend from some nasty colds and flu bugs. I am READY for Spring!!! Ivanna and Max continue to do well. Isaac is busy preparing music for what could be an offeratory (sp???) Gabriel is also really progressing with piano, and Ethan is losing teeth and gaining an appetite. (oi) Ellie is learning to read and Chloe is learning some phonetical foundations. Justus is cute as ever and has now started to pull himself up on furniture. Can't believe he will be two in a couple of months. Phillip is planning the veggie garden and still commutes daily. I am currently seeking Calgon ...

... (wink wink) ...

Making Bread

Thanks to my sweet friend, Amanda - I have now fell in love with making bread by hand. I just love it. My three year old, Chloe loves it too. She helped me on Saturday making four BIG loaves of yummy bread (I doubled a recipe to make eight small loaves, but decided to make four big ones instead). Chloe helped to knead the dough for fifteen minutes. She marvelled at how messy it was, but never complained. She truly is a mama's helper. This particular day, she came down all dressed in black (in photos she has her apron on) and proudly proclaimed that she was ...

... a blackberry! :)

LOVED IT!

Christmas Cuteness

I am ashamed to admit this ... these were just taken on Saturday. Yes, that would mean that my Christmas tree is STILL UP!

*sigh*

At this rate, I'm just hoping it isn't still up in February.

A Little Chicken Fun

Our chickens really are a bunch of fun. We really like having them around. Unfortunately, we lost an Americauna hen the other day to a coyote - sad. So, now we have fourteen chickens, with one rooster in the mix. Today we thought we would have some chicken fun while the littles slept upstairs, I quickly grabbed my camera and one of the gingerbread houses the kids made. I snapped several pictures of them eating the house, as well as some of our very handsome rooster. I even got a sequence of a hen laying an egg. Enjoy ....

crowing

catching roosters is always a risky business.

This guy will charge you!

Hens raise their tail feathers and nest when they get ready to lay an egg. Then the tail will shake and out it will come ...

We have been getting roughly 5 - 9 eggs a day - just depending. Usually you get less eggs during the winter. So, we are excited to see what summer brings! Want to buys some eggs? LOL

Tree Gettin' 2010

So, what do you do once your husband and two new children are home for only a day and a half? Why, you go get your Christmas Tree!!!!

Oh man. We are a bunch o' crazies. (lovin' it)

So ... we got all eight kidlets ready, took some pictures along the way and piled into the car - along with the dog!

(told ya ... crazies ...)

I got a quick picture of Ivanna all dressed sweet for the occassion!

(Isn't she beautiful?)
Oh ... but she was off once that picture was snapped!

I can't get over Max's eyes. He is just beautiful as well. He reminds me alot of Chloe. I think it's all because both children have BIG expressive eyes.

Max has excellent taste in literature. 'The Open Door' by Mrs. Ragsdale. I highly recommend!

Whoa! Good thing this boy has a red coat, so we can see him!

Grand Adventurer Gabe!

Ellie walking Shep on the tree farm.

Ethan sitting by the creek bed.

What a sweet face!

Chloe out trompin' around.

The girls exploring.

Max says America is chilly too!

Daddy will keep you safe and warm Max! Always ...

Daddy getting the tree!

Beautiful Ivanna! In different outfit now.

Max thinks having big brothers is pretty cool.

Big brothers do things like plop you on their shoulders and show you the Christmas tree.

We had a great time! This is one of our favorite Christmas traditions. We ALL have to go and find the perfect tree, but it is usually Phillip and myself that pick it out while all the kids are running wild in the tree farm. After we haul it on top of the vehicle, we make our way to the cashier and load up on mini candy canes.

I love getting back to the house and making it all festive. This year is extra special.

Our First Day

Well, it has been awhile since I last posted on this blog. I'm back! I didn't want to blog on this until Max and Ivanna were indeed home. My husband and I will still be blogging on 'An Extra Leaf' about Ivanna and Max's progression and adjustment, advocating for other children and adopting families, and anything else that could be helpful to those who are considering adoption or may be already in the process.

I apologize in advance, but I will probably put these pictures up on 'An Extra Leaf' too.

For now, I wanted to share these pictures from our first day. We celebrated Thanksgiving today, and have so much to count as blessings. Enjoy the pictures.

Max just LOVES his balloon

Daddy loving his little gir.

I know it's late in coming, but ... HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS!