Tatem Turns "3" and more.....

Tatem turned 3 on December 6th! I know that many of you including family did not even know when his birthday was going to be. I overlooked letting you all know because the date snuck up on us as well during this busy time of the year! We decided to stick with Tatem's Ethiopian birth certificate since we thought that that date seemed within 6 months of his actual age! He loved every minute of being celebrated and he has caught on quickly. He puts on his birthday crown constantly and sings "Happy Birthday" to himself each day!

The birthday tradition at our house is for each of the kids to kick the day off with a bday candle in their waffles and to be sung "Happy Birthday." Tatem was pleasantly surprised!

Cousins Ella and Moira enjoying cake with Zoey. Although Zoey does not like chocolate! I have never heard of a girl that doesn't like chocolate!

To dad's enjoyment Tatem chose a baseball theme for his birthday cake!

Tatem enjoyed ice cream too at Red Robin!

We were laughing so hard because after we sang "Happy Birthday" to Tatem he slammed his lips down into the cake!

Ice Cream Delight!

Faith, Zoey, and Mom at House of Bounce

After church on Tatem's bday we headed to "House of Bounce" for some jumping fun! The kids all had so much fun together. Tatem and Zoey had never been to a bounce house and all Zoey can talk about is how she is going to a bounce house on her birthday, which is Jan. 18th. After House of Bounce we went to the traditional birthday hang-out for kid birthdays at our house, Red Robin. Uncle Seth, Aunt Kelly, Moira and Ella met us there!

Zoey brought tears to my eyes at her Kindergarten Thanksgiving/Grandparent's Day program. She beautifully asked everyone to stand for the pledge and she led the pledge in front of a large group after only being here for 3.5 months and not knowing any previous English. She constantly amazes us with her English skills!Zoey & Tatem with Hana from the orphanage that they were at when we got them. Hana is the mother figure at the orphanage. She and her husband were here from Ethiopia in November for a fundraising banquet. Zoey and Tatem enjoyed seeing her yet I think they were fearful that she was going to take them with her so our visit was short. Hana is such a beautiful, sweet, Christian women that loves the children so much at Sele Enat. I am forever grateful for the good care that she ensures is given to all of the children at the orphanage.

I don't get Blake in the kitchen to help very often so I treasured that when things were quiet today he joined me to frost cookies for Christmas.

Tatem woke from his nap so he enjoyed his first sugar cookie ever! He LOVED piling on frosting and sprinkles!

I love holiday baking and this year we actually have family coming for Christmas to eat some so I have a good excuse to bake away! I made 3 recipes today and it was more enjoyable then I expected. The kids moved in and out of the kitchen in shifts to help me and sample treats. The girls were around for the first round of cookie baking. Zoey loved decorating, crushing graham crackers, and forming peanut butter balls.

Last Saturday we went to "Christmas at the Ranch" at our church with the kids. Zoey posed by the Christmas tree afterwards in her dress. She loved the Christmas concert with all of the lights and sounds, she kept whispering under hear breath how cool it was throughout the performance.

Our very own in-house Santa. Bryce cracked me up the other night while

I was giving Zoey and Tatem a bath. He came upstairs with this get-up on! He was greeting Zoey and Tatem with his best Santa impression to ask them what they wanted for Christmas this year!

Zoey has such a fun spirit. She was unwrapping Christmas decorations for the tree and she opened this one saying, "Oh my goodness, this is beautiful!"

Tatem was the official ornament unwrapper/destroyer:):)!!

I have no idea why this photo was cut off but I just had to share a photo of Zoey at her 1st swimming lessons today. She LOVES the pool but I had to get her in lessons! She about pulls us under when we take her to the pool. She enjoys being in the water so much and counts down the days until Fridays when she can swim!