Grandparents Weekend

That's right! Another great family weekend, this time with Jason's parents Wayne and Janet, up for a visit from Eugene. So, the weekend was spent...

...being silly,

getting to know Grandpa...

...and Grandma (apparently taste is an effective way to do this)...

...and being silly some more.

Happy Together

Isabelle is in love with her friend Laney. They go everywhere together and Laney is never far from Isabelle's mind. Even in the bathtub last night Isabelle was singing and spelling Laney's name.

Last week their preschool class went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch and, as usual, they were inseparable. Thanks to Laney's dad Tony and his superior photography skills (not to mention far superior camera) we have these pics. to commemorate yet another day in the love affair between Laney and Isabelle.

Here they are with their other good friend Jaelyn.

The girls have even made plans to marry. Ahhh, as long as they're happy! :)

My Girls are Famous!...

...in an if you're searching the Internet for adoption agencies and happen to stumble upon All God's Children International sort of way. That's right! My girls have begun their cover model careers by being on the homepage of AGCI's website. It all started when I sent an updated photo album full of pictures to Madeleine's birth mother in Ethiopia. Our case manager Christy was looking through the pictures and saw one of Isabelle and Madeleine that she loved. She showed her director and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, I am under no delusion that this was any more than mere happenstance because for every picture that is

"completely adorable"

or "I'm having so much fun throwing my head back and laughing"
we have several
"dazed and confused"
or "completely inappropriate".

Enjoy your 15 minutes girls! Judging from most of your pictures infamous may be more your style.

P.S. Since I've had several requests for my gingerbread waffle recipe here it is. Please notice the 3/4 cup of whole wheat flour - that qualifies them as health food folks!

Gingerbread Waffles

from Better Homes and Gardens

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 tblsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

2 beaten eggs

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup cooking oil

2 tblsp. molasses

In a mixing bowl combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves; set aside. In another mixing bowl combine eggs, milk, oil, and molasses. Add egg mixture all at once to dry mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy).

Pour 1 to 1 1/4 cups batter onto grids of a preheated, lightly greased waffle iron. Close lid quickly; do not open until done. Bake according to manufacturer's directions. When done, use a fork to lift waffle off grid. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve with Citrus Sauce.

Citrus Sauce

In a saucepan combine 3/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Stir in 1 cup water, 3/4 cup orange juice and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel, and 2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel. Serve warm.

Cousins

It's a happy day when we get to visit baby Vilia, which is exactly what we did this Sunday. She is already plumping up nicely and is just the sweetest baby. Isabelle and Madeleine love their new cousin.

Isabelle (pictured in Heaven) holding little Vilia.

So proud.
Madeleine: "Mmmm, she looks gnawable."

The three musketeers - thanks for the great attention Isabelle!

Seriously babies, the camera's over here! Let's work on that for next time.

Pumpkin Time

It's my favorite time of year! Fall leaves, pumpkins, crisp, cool air with beautiful clear-blue skies - the perfect time to visit the farm. I remember posting about this day last year, before Madeleine came to our family, when we were still anxiously waiting for our referral from Ethiopia. I'm so happy that this year Madeleine was here to join in on all the harvest time fun.

We always start farm day off with gingerbread waffles with warm citrus sauce and a big dollop of whipped cream.

Two thumbs up!
My two cute little pumpkins enjoying the wheelbarrow ride out to the patch.

Isabelle loved hunting for the perfect pumpkin...

...while Madeleine just enjoyed being outside.

I know which is my favorite pumpkin in the wheelbarrow!

After picking all those pumpkins we needed a little lunch break.

Sweet corn-on-the-cob did the trick.

"Did you see Isabelle eating that corn?! What a mess!"

Isabelle made it through the hay maze and came whizzing down the slide. (And hello random guy lurking behind the hay bales.) The resident hay expert had a great time jumping in the hay.

And the novice tolerated the hay.

Then it was time to head home and decorate our front porch.

Happy pumpkin time!

My Sweet Niece

We've had a wonderful whirlwind week with the birth of my sweet little niece who was born Saturday evening. Weighing in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and 20 inches long you can of course imagine that she is PERFECT! Long, graceful fingers, a crop of red hair and very strong lungs are just a few of her finest qualities. So, without further ado let me introduce:

Vilia Grace Duerr

(pronounced Vee lee ia)

And baby makes three.
Papa with his third granddaughter.

Isabelle is a very proud cousin. Apparently she and Papa felt they needed to color coordinate their outfits before visiting.

My sister is doing really well after a completely natural childbirth. (I know, half of you says, "what the what?!" and the other half says, "she must be a superhero.") Darla and Eric chose the name Vilia after Darla began singing the song of the same name from the opera "The Merry Widow" shortly after their little ones birth.

I can't wait to watch this sweetheart grow up and I am so proud to be her auntie.

Congratulations Darla and Eric. We love you!