Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 15,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Of course, we’ve had some ups and downs, but all in all it’s been a pretty good. The absolute highlight was obviously when Autumn became a part of our lives, but we have had some other fun times traveling, spending time with friends and family, as well as the other basic things in life.

This Christmastime has been fun. Christmas morning together with just us 4 was pretty fun. Lots and lots of presents, Santa came, and then we went to “Enjoy” for dinner Christmas night. The next day we hopped a plane to Colorado and have been spending time with Kyle’s family in both Ft. Collins and Vail. We did a late Christmas morning with the Carson’s on the 27th and then the next day I was able to spend 4 hours at a restaurant with one of my dearest friends, Jalene. You know those people you haven’t seen in so long, but when you get together, it’s like you haven’t missed a beat? Ya, that’s Jalene and I. I’m pretty lucky to have a friend like her, and it’s fun to see her especially this time of year.

The last 2 days we have had a fun time up in the town where Kyle and I got married. Vail, obviously, is a special place for us, and we love staying there whenever possible. (So we try and con our families into taking us whenever we are in town for long periods of time:) We had fun the past couple days watching River learn to ski as well as enjoying the mountain and the town ourselves. That town truly is amazing.

So to finish off my last post of 2011, I’ll tag on the letter that I sent out this year with our holiday card. But, I have to say, I am looking forward to next years letter, and all the wonderful possibilities that it may bring!

Happy new year friends!

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Winter Greetings!

With the first of many snowfalls on the ground, I have become thoughtful about the incredible year that has passed. As most of you know, in the beginning of January we were matched for the third time with a birth mom in Utah. Even with our skeptical hearts, Autumn was born and entered our lives on February 6^th, 2011, and the adoption papers were signed on February 7^th. Getting to know Autumn and her birth mom was a humbling and amazing experience, one that will always be remembered and cherished. Let’s just say this past thanksgiving our family knew something (or someone) to be very thankful for.

As the year rolled on, both Kyle and I were able to take time off of work to get to know our new daughter, and River, in his own little boy way, has gotten to know his new sister. He is the only one in the family that can automatically get her to laugh… like really laugh, but he is also the one that taught her how “funny” it is to crawl over things, like other babies at her daycare. Oh, what a ride parenting can be.

A quick snapshot of the kiddos: River is currently obsessed with coloring, space, maps and pirates. Autumn is crawling, pulling up on anything she can get her hands on, and madly in love with daddy. Yes, she is 100% a daddy’s girl.

Speaking of daddy, Kyle is working hard at St. Olaf and taking classes (not easy ones, mind you!) when he has spare time. This past summer, he and one of the bridesmaids from our wedding, Erin, went on a trip to California to hike the John Muir trail. The pictures they took were absolutely amazing, and the pure simplicity of the hike sounded wonderful. “We got up, ate, walked, and slept”. I have to admit I was more than a little jealous of how peaceful his summer was.

As for me, I made sure to spend that time up in the Adirondacks and Colorado with family (aka: help) to enjoy some of the other wonderful “homes” we have been blessed with. I am still working on my dissertation… and was hoping to get my proposal passed before the end of the year, but alas, that is looking less and less possible. Guess that is what happens when the only time you have available is with 2 little angels at your feet. No complaining here.

Unfortunately this year both Kyle and I lost some wonderful grandparents who made our lives more complete. Their deaths have made both of us think a little more about how precious life is, and how every second with the ones we love is something to truly appreciate. Through both of their lives, and their passing, they have given us what an educator calls, many ‘teachable moments’. Thank you for all those special moments, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Pat.

You’ve taught us so much.

As for Inu, he is good. Getting older, but unfortunately better at killing small animals around our home. Needless to say the dog can get pretty smelly.

So, life is good, kids are crazy, and I miss you all tons. Thank you for your friendship, your love, and all of your support. If you get this letter- you mean more to us than you know.

Sent with huggies and lovies, Erin, Kyle, River, Autumn & Inu

Meet, Winter.

(ok, now you may go ahead and laugh)

Our beautiful new member of the family.

Merry Christmas little guy! Welcome to our crazy family!

Can’t say we don’t love our festivities!

(This picture has nothing to do with the post. I just thought it was cute.)

I know this is (sorta) a morbid subject, especially at my 33 years of age, but it is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. I guess we all do at some point. I would think that most of us go through times in our lives where we are faced with our own mortality more often for some reason or another. I think I am faced with the question above more often than most people because of my job as a teacher- specifically a geography teacher who teaches about the many inspirational people that go along with the world we live in.

This past week we have been studying the topic of South Africa and Nelson Mandela. After spending a few weeks in that country a few years ago I have had that country, as well as the entire continent of Africa on my mind quite often. I am truly inspired by how much one persons actions can change the face of a country or culture. How Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Malcolm X, MLK Jr., and the many, many others out there who have spent their lives taking risks to make this world better is truly an inspiration to all.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Although I want to make my mark on the world, as we all do, I think a mark that large would be a burden too big for me. Instead, while looking at all the names above, I wonder what I might be remembered for. Ya, I’ve got some serious flaws: I’m lazy, don’t always think before I speak, and can be pretty bossy and selfish. But, I would hope at my funeral those wouldn’t be highlighted. Instead, I would hope people remember a couple other things instead.

First, I love kids- all kids. My own, my students, and all orphans and children around the world. There is something so beautiful about their innocence and love. Kids are the building blocks, and I want to always remember their importance in this world and my life.

I hope people remember how I really care about education- especially education that teaches children that we are all valued. For example, when River ran around the other day playing “guns,” I stopped him and asked him what he is doing. He then told me he was shooting “bad guys”, so I gently asked him why bad guys are bad. My dear son looked down and said something that I feel is so important for all people to remember: “Because momma, bad guys are bad because they are sad.” I want to be remembered for that. I want to be remembered for reminding my children that no one needs to be hurt, and that if we were all valued like we should be, this world would be a better place.

I also hope that I am someday remembered as a laid back person. Easy to be with, and pretty fun.

But mostly, I hope to be remembered for my love. I LOVE my family. I LOVE my friends. I LOVE this amazing world we live in, and I LOVE all of the differences that come along with it.

What do you want to be remembered for? (Yes, this is a dialogue. It’s more fun if you participate. I’d love to hear what all my dear friends and family want to be remembered for- as well as the many wonderful people who join me in by bloggy world.:) Write away!

family:
a. a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.
b.a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for.

For those of you who know me well know that I may not have exactly the same definitions of home and family as those from dictionary.com above. Instead, I have a pretty extensive definition of both of those and it fits me quite well, considering I am a transplant, a social person, and very much a traveler.

Anyway, the reason I bring this up is because this Christmas is going to be the first time where Kyle, I and the kids are spending our Christmas morning together, with no extended family, in Minnesota. I have mixed feelings about this, even though in the end, Kyle and I made the decision together. I know this is something that would have been done years ago if either family lived in the same state as us (because we would easily then be able to drive to our extended families houses to spend Christmas evening with a wonderfully large group of family) but since that is not the case, this is a first.

Actually, the first (and only other time until this year) that I spent Christmas away from extended family was when I was on global semester my senior year in college. That year, I was with a ‘different’ family of mine in China. It was amazing how festive it was being in a non-religious/Buddhist country. Even in China we found ways to celebrate and share the Christmas spirit with each other, and even our traditional families that were so far away.

So this Christmas I am so excited to watch River (and Autumn too, but she won’t care either way:) wake up in our house and bound downstairs to our Christmas tree to find that Santa has come with presents. I am excited to go to Christmas mass at our church the night before, and to see our little Northfield home during Christmas time.

But I am going to be honest and say that I love having tons of people around me for the holidays. Like, tons. For example, this thanksgiving we flew to Colorado and went back and forth between 2 families that had extra people at the table (not just immediate family) with lots of kids (so much so, at my parents dinner it was complete chaos the entire time!) and lots, and lots, of laughs. And of course, lots of drinks and food too. Gotta have that.

So if I had it my way, I’d have Christmas at our house with everyone there. Plus some friends too. Probably I’d have at least 15-20 people at my house Christmas morning if I could, but most especially during Christmas dinner. That would make me beyond, beyond happy. I am a social girl if you couldn’t tell, especially during the holiday’s.

So to me, family is not just blood (well obviously since I am such an advocate for adoption) but to me, family are those people who take care of you, who love you, and who are there for you when you need it. People who at times, put your needs above theirs, and who makes your heart happy when you are with them. I am blessed to have a large family, both traditional and not, who have made my life better.

And home, to me,  is truly where your heart is (cheesy, I know). My heart travels, so I have many homes, many happy places, because of the many wonderful people who are a part of those places. In the end, home is just an extension of family, the two go together just like Santa and Mrs. C.

So although I am a little bummed that I am not going to be surrounded this year by a million people on Christmas morning, I can’t wait to spend it with 3 of my most favorite people in the world. But, for the evening, I may try to con my way into another families Christmas dinner, we will see.

So, the holidays and all it’s wonder, craziness, and “family fun time” is upon us. Have fun with all your loved ones everyone, and thank you so much to mine!

Funny how life throws you curve balls.

Today, instead, I am happily playing with my absolutely beautiful and smiley daughter, Autumn, and this morning I went to our adoption agency to sit on a panel of adoptive parents to tell my story to others who are in various stages of the process. I wasn’t sure how I would react when telling the story again, and I found that I would need much more than 2 hours to completely relive the process and get everything out that I wanted. But, you know, that’s why I have this blog.

To prepare for this upcoming talk I have been back re-reading my blog from November and December of 2010. It’s funny how I can still feel that pit in my stomach, and ache that I had when we found out that Kaiya wasn’t ours. I almost feel guilty right now for having that feeling, because if Kaiya had remained ours, well, obviously we wouldn’t have my perfect-in-every-way daughter, Autumn. The future that I envisioned last November was not what it is today, BUT, I obviously wouldn’t have our current day situation any different.

Those failed adoptions that we encountered were mind blowing- and not in a good way. They ripped out my soul and put a new, less innocent one back inside. For those last few months of 2010 my life felt surreal. I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere. But that all changed around 9 months ago when a new little girl entered our lives. Although I didn’t like that period of my life, rather, I pretty much hated it, I now think that it made me stronger, and I wouldn’t change it.

I mean, I got an amazing child in the end, so that’s all that matters, right?

Well, yes, but it doesn’t diminish the fact that failed adoptions are PAINFUL. By saying that in the end all turned out beautifully (which it totally did) doesn’t mean that those 2-3 months of my life weren’t sad and full of heartache.

So what would I say to a friend if they experienced a failed adoption? Nothing, probably. I wouldn’t say that it was meant to be (I pretty much hated that phrase those few months) I wouldn’t say that things will get better (cause at that moment in time, well, it feels like your heart got ripped out of your chest- so they wouldn’t believe me even though I know that it’s true) and I wouldn’t even mention the fact that there is a little girl or boy out there that is going to be in their family if they just stick with it. Cause you know what, sticking with it just sounds like torture at that moment.

So ya, I’d probably do what my friends and family did for me. Sit, listen, and bring me beer. Yep, that’s what I’d do.

But now, a year later, I am sitting here with my two amazing children sleeping upstairs. I know that I won’t ever have to go through another domestic failed adoption (well, I don’t think) and I am strangely thankful that Kaiya’s birthmom decided to keep her, so that Autumn could come and bless our lives.

The talk this morning reminded me that making the decision to adopt is a truly, in every sense of the word, life changing decision. It is one that can come with heartache but also love beyond words. We are some of the few that made the choice to adopt, and I am thankful for every step it has, and is, taking us to get there.

It’s strange how looking back right now, I feel better about the future. For all of us, that time made us, US, and I wouldn’t want it to look any different than it does at this very moment.