Nine Years Home

This past weekend we celebrated Katie's family day. A day to remember how we waited for her to come home and those moments of seeing and holding her for the first time.  She has grown into a beautiful girl and I feel so privileged to be her Mom.  Our trip to Korea has started some conversations and questions with her.  Many we do not have answers for, and many she may explore as she grows.  She told me her perfect birthday party would be for everyone to bring a book and read the day away:)  Oh my girl I don't know about anyone else, but I sure want an invitation to that party!

Two weeks home

Mr. Luke Jee Seong has been home a little over two weeks.  How our lives have changed.  Our hearts are full with love for Luke.  In so many ways he is doing amazing.  He is very spoiled by his siblings and seems to be always being carried, loved, or played with.  

He has his moments of quietness and sadness. It is hard to see and sometimes it lasts an hour and sometimes a day.  He must miss all the was familiar and those who love him so in Korea.  I loved finding him in the middle of our groceries after a trip to the store.  He was such an adorable helper that day.

Tomorrow our real life starts again. School, sports, acitivites, and homework.  I am hoping schedules feel good and Luke and I create our own little life for the days.

( this photo was an in the moment-not sure he should be up there, but big brother is looking out for him)

A few favorites of Christmas

A few of my favorite people!  Christmas morning-no makeup- just me as I am in the morning.  Kids in pj's from Christmas Eve.  The most special gifts were ones kids had created themselves this past week.  

All my boys! They outnumber the girls now.  Good thing we have some strong (and stubborn) girls in this family!  

Sister love.  Of course that is a complicated love as all love is in life.  At this point in life these two seem to get along just fine.  They have the same housekeeping standards, love to craft for hours, and are starting to have more of those sister "secrets" than in the past.

We are on our last few days of break. I am not at all ready for all the schedules and running around. Still trying to soak in these last few days of "freedom"!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!  The day was good here. It was a quiet day at home filled with happy kids and family time.  Kids were up early but patiently waited for their little brother to wake up.  He is spending a good amount of night time awake so he was happy to sleep in:)  Everyone seemed happy with their gifts and quickly disappeared into their rooms for some time to play.  There was then time for a brunch like breakfast followed by "The Grinch"  movie.  It was cold and windy here, but there was still some football games outside.  I still can not believe I am the Mom of all these kids.  We are a great distance away from attachment with Luke Jee Seong, but I love to watch as we learn about each other as a family!

Thinking of so many friends and family today!

Time for Gingerbread!

As we adjust to five kids I decided we would decorate a gingerbread house this week.  There are plenty of leaders in our
house now, so I really had to just clean up the mess and keep a few of the design disagreements to a minimal.  

Luke was happy to play with some silly play dough like substance that Brianna had made.  It kept his little hands out of the bigger kids project.

I love these days of break. No schedules no running around just being together.  I have noticed I haven't even filled the van up with gasoline for quit awhile. That is a good sign of good family time happening!

We are getting ready to start the Christmas activities with mass this evening.  This will be Luke's first time at church so we will see how that goes. Then time to get ready for the man of the hour! They were still writing lists to Santa this morning??? Not sure what to think about that???

Home for a Week

A week ago today we came home from Korea with this little man.  Since then our lives have not been the same!

Each child in this house believes the best new play buddy has arrived just in time for Christmas!  I would say that each child has done very well with the adjustment that has happened in our lives!

He is so very loved and seems to fit right in. We made a gingerbread house and there was no way he would not be part of all the action.

As with any adoption loss is part of what a child must go through.  We have seen it come and go in phases.  Brianna has become his second Mom for sure.  He is often found in her arms!  I am thinking at his 37 lbs she is getting some strong arms!

Little by little Luke Jee Seong is meeting people that are going to be part of his world. We are taking this slow but letting his world expand a little at at time.  Grandma and him have had some getting to know you times.

I can't believe it is almost Christmas.  I am as ready as I am going to get minus our card which is in the works.  In some ways, me being gone, has made it a simpler holiday and I am more than ok with that.  My Christmas gift is here and he is stealing my heart!  To have him to kiss and hold is more than I could have ever asked for!

Prichard number seven is officially ours!

Introducing Mr. Luke Jee Seong.  Today was a day filled with so many emotions and now he is with us.  He is a little boy that is full of energy and a lot of spunk.  My heart broke for his foster Mom and how hard it is to say goodbye.  

He has already taken to Riley and loves to play with him.  There are have been many laughs that go beyond the language barrier that we have.  

As in true kid fashion he found the snacks we had bought right away when we walked in our room.

It has been a long wait and we are so anxious to be home as a complete Prichard family.  Tomorrow we will have another long day of traveling and then it will be time for everyone to slip into their new roles in our family.  

That hair cracks me up and I fear Daddy may have to do a little trim sooner than I had hoped.

I feel very grateful for so many who have helped us through this adoption. We wouldn't know what to do with each one of you!

He found a Christmas tree today and found it to be so much fun.  Thinking of that tree at home and all the fun we will have:)

Tomorrow we have the day here and then we fly.  I miss my other kids and am anxious for us all to be together. We heard him say through translations that he asked about Brian!  Soon very soon!