fall festivities

i never knew how many fall festivals and activities there are for children until this year. i'm sure that these activities have been going on for years but without having a little one we just weren't looking for such things. below are some photos from two fall festivals and from his halloween "parade" at m.d.o.

these first pictures are actually from Sunday (the last event attended.) we were thankful for another beautiful fall day. cameron enjoyed his first hayride and feeding some animals at the little "zoo." after all the fun outside he ate a BIG dinner complete with a piece of pumpkin pie and ice cream.

cameron spots a tractor!

yippee!

checking out the chicken

feeding the baby cow

(moo!)

waiting for the hayride with daddy

"driving" the hayride tractor!

his m.d.o. "parade" was moved inside due to a cold and rainy day. i wasn't able to get many clear photos during the actual event but was able to capture more of our little guy after "school" was over for the day.

leading the "parade" with his teacher

playing in his classroom

practicing his running drills

(a fullback in the making?)

enjoying a snack on the ride home

here's our little "sock monkey" --- we were surprised cameron kept his monkey hat on for the entire event this past saturday. it was a beautiful fall day and the crowds were big. cameron loved to see all the police cars and trucks out for the event. and we were proud of dad for coming with us while the huskers were playing football!

heading out on daddy's shoulders

cameron's very 1st piece of halloween candy

(a fun discovery)

a truck & a lollipop!

(husker red of course)

"throwing the bones"

(cameron's version of supporting the husker defense)

"go big red!"

(always practicing with dad)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

when a day in court is a good thing...

we are now officially recognized as a family! i won't go into all the details of our long wait (for a couple reasons) but we had our day in court this past week to finalize our adoption! it was a joyous occasion and we are thankful to have F-I-N-A-L-L-Y reached this milestone. thank you to all who prayed for us and shared in our happiness over the big day. i don't think my smile has been this big since we arrived on u.s. soil with cameron.

our court time was 2pm...cameron's nap time

a family and a future judge

celebrating with the judge

(cameron said "yay" as we left the courtroom!)

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands." Deuteronomy 7:9

our daughter's birthday...

e.b. turned 1 year old almost 3 weeks ago. we celebrated her birthday quietly as a family. we had dinner at our favorite korean restaurant. after dinner, we returned home to continue the celebration with cupcakes. cameron was able to blow out e.b.'s birthday candle and then he opened some presents gifted to her (and 1 to him!) by sweet friends. he enjoyed being a part of the festivities. then we waited and waited and waited (okay, we waited 17 days but for a mama this seemed so long) for a photo. 11 days into the wait we received a written update which brightened our spirits and now we have a picture of our daughter celebrating her big day!

we are blessed.

e.b. turns 1 year old!!!

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." Nahum 1:7

new specs & a pumpkin patch

it was determined by two pediatric eye doctors that cameron needed to have bifocals added to his prescription. so now our little guy is sporting new glasses to accommodate the change. he is doing very well wearing them and has enjoyed learning how to take them off.

this photo was taken just an hour or so after he received his new glasses

cameron trying to pull a wheelbarrow at the pumpkin patch

cameron petting a goat at the petting zoo

cameron & mommy watching a tractor

exploring all the different sized pumpkins

our sweet child

a rare family photo!

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

more photos of our time together...

we are thankful for the lovely fall weather and time together. here are some pictures from our past week.

playing with a ball at home

(he prefers to throw left handed)

we attended a parents as teachers event at a small pumpkin patch...

cameron finds a wagon

pushing a wagon is so fun!

playing with bean bags in a bucket

on the top of the hay bales

our happy guy

"jamming" with a broken "guitar" near a creepy scarecrow

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galations 6:2

saturday morning at the zoo

cameron and mommy spent saturday morning at the zoo. the weather was beautiful and cameron was up for an adventure.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

Sunday Sunday

cameron is getting so tall. he can now reach things that he previously could not. he sure keeps us on our toes.

okay, maybe we shouldn't be taking photos of him in a drawer he should not be inspecting.

cameron is pretty proud of himself though and (of course) we just think he's the cutest boy ever!

this afternoon we visited the state fair. while we tried to interest cameron in the petting "zoo" and all the farm animals, he only wanted to go outside to see the "tra-tors". so, we spent most of our time with the farm equipment and police golf carts.

cameron and daddy enjoying fair food.

we were impressed with cameron just jumping in and playing with all the fun stuff the fair had for kiddos. he does very well with other children and doesn't seem to mind them being nearby.

cameron enjoying a bedtime snack of yogurt while trying to "catch" daddy with the camera! fun times...

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes -- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" Job 19: 25-27

a beautiful fall day...

cameron started the day watching his favorite movie about a race car named lightening.

we spent some time in the morning at a local art fair. cameron loved playing in one of the phone booths at the shopping center.

cameron letting daddy know which way to go...

our big helper holding mommy's shopping bag...

time to take a little break...

our evening was spent at a local ranch for a fall festival. the weather was perfect for being outside and cameron had a lot of room to run and play.

cameron spotting trucks!!!

what a perfect way to end the day...

"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11