Please Help Keep a Child Warm!

I mostly blog about our family adventures but this post is a tiny bit different.   Please keep reading with an open heart, as today I am writing about our "extended family" - Lauren's adoption agency in Korea.  Because children are staying in their care for longer periods of time and so many children have been placed for adoption they are in desperate need of winter coats for those babies waiting for their forever families.  How many exactly need the warmth of a winter coat - 450 little ones.  That is heart breaking and hard for me to imagine that my daughter could have been one of those little ones with no coat to keep her warm.  So this holiday season, please go through your children's clothing and find any gently used coats to donate for a wonderful cause.  If your in Minnesota, I can deliver the coats on your behalf.  Or shop all those terrific sales out there and help to keep a child warm.  More details are below.  If you have any questions you can contact me through my blog.  Thank you for your time.      

Update:  The coats need to find their way to Korea.  Donations to cover shipping would be greatly appreciated.  Contact me for more details.   


Urgent Need in Korea for Children’s Winter Coats!


By: Jane Lee, CHSFS Staff

There is a great need for children’s sizes 2, 3 and 4 winter coats for children in Korea. With children in care longer, decreasing numbers of children being allowed to leave Korea for the purposes of international adoption, and the unfortunate, but steady rate of children coming into the care of orphanages and foster care settings, the need is higher than ever.

As the cold winter grows nearer, the coats will need to be sent to Korea soon. Please bring/send all coat donations to CHSFS (1605 Eustis Street, St. Paul, MN 55108) by December 23, 2011. Coats must be new or gently used, boys or gender-neutral styles/colors. A coat donation cannot be designated to a specific child. Donations will go to those with the greatest need first.

Pigtails Take Two

So Lauren is finally liking to have her hair done (well, some days).  She even will let daddy try.  I must admit he does a better job than me with her hair.  Check out some of his handy work.

Random Cuteness

Some random cuteness caught on camera from the last month.

 Lauren reading to her big pink teddy

 Hanging at the Children's Museum

 Showing off her new sparkly shoes and favorite teddy bear.

 HUGS!

The boys before they head out on their road trip with daddy!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Fall is football season in our house.  I grew up in Minnesota and we live in Minnesota so by default we are fans of the Minnesota Vikings.  This year is not a great year to be a Vikings fan so thank goodness we have another favorite team.  Mike grew up in New Hampshire and therefore he is a New England Patriots fan.  Fan might be a bit of an understatement.  Our kids cheer for both teams and love the game.  Are You Ready For Some Football?

 The Cutest Vikings Cheerleader

 Please Win for Me

 Touchdown!

 Go Vikings!

Game Time!

Corn Maze Festival

What is more fun in October than a corn maze festival?  The plan was to go and meet up with other Korean adoptive families.  We only managed to catch up with two other families for just a few minutes, as the kids were so excited to explore everything the festival had to offer.  I must say that the two boys can read a map like no one else.  They took turns leading us through the corn maze and to the various check points in the maze.  Way to go Cameron and Kyle!  What a great way to spend a beautiful fall day together.

 Hay Bail Maze

 Say Kimchi!

 The kids weren't too sure about the animals

 Corn Pit

 Corn Maze

 Mommy and her excellent map readers

 Extreme Trampoline - Kyle

Some high flying fun - Cameron

Halloween 2011

The kids had a wonderful Halloween.  The boys enjoyed parties at their schools and the evening brought us a beautiful night for trick or treating around the neighborhood.  Daddy stayed home to hand out the candy to the costumed cuties that came to our house, while I hit the streets with our three little munchkins.  Lauren made it to about 20 houses before heading back home but the boys made a big haul.  We enjoyed all the great decorations, light shows set to music, bonfires, s'mores and hot apple cider, even pony rides.  Happy Halloween everyone!

 Butterfly Princess

 Two Ninja Buddies

 The Ninja Warriors

 Costume Change - Teddy Bear Cutie

Happy Halloween!