Pumpkin Carving

We were invited to a pumpkin-carving party during the weekend. This was Esther and Zoe's first experience with anything "Halloween."*

* As a family, we have chosen to not focus on Halloween, per se. We do let the girls carve pumpkins and dress up (nothing scary). We'll attend Harvest Festival at church and let the girls trick-or-treat at a couple of our neighbors.

We had the girls gut their pumpkins at home to save some time at the party. We brought our own tools, but I didn't bring any stencils because I wanted the girls to come up with something on their own. But Esther chose to use a stencil a friend had a the party. The kids carved their pumpkins, we all had dinner, then one of the dads who wasn't there for the carving judged the pumpkins.

It was a great evening and we really enjoyed getting together with friends.

Charis doesn't like the slime





D and S

K with Lael

C

Zoe

Amy with L and W

C, S and Zoe. These three are so cute together.

W

Y

Charis carving her pumpkin

S and his pumpkin head

Zoe working hard on her design

Esther working on her Cinderella design

Esther's Cinderella

Zoe's face






Charis' happy pumpkin



What a great group!

Apple Picking and Women's Retreat

Grandma and Grandpa Eyberg took Mark and the girls apple picking while I was at the Women's Retreat this weekend.

Zoe, Esther and Charis at Happy Apple Farm on Saturday



Mark and the girls on the hay tractor at Happy Apple Farm



Charis and Zoe

Esther at Happy Apple Farm

Zoe and Charis

Esther, Zoe and Charis at 3rd Street Apples

Charis reaching high

Charis carrying a big bucket of apples

Grandpa and Zoe

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Lunchtime

My retreat was at the YMCA in Estes Park. It was the first time I've been up there. Didn't see any elk, but had a fantastic time. I have to tell you, if you ever have a chance to hear Ellie Lafaro, DO IT!!! (and bring Depends).

Shot from the village



Tana, Danielle, Darcy and me



Adoption Day!

Mark and Jodie with Esther, Zoe and Charis
on Adoption Day

We received an e-mail last Thursday that we had a court date! Monday, September 13, 2010, at 9 a.m. Grandma and Grandpa Eyberg, who were slated to be here Thursday anyway, came a few days early to take part of the special day. We finalized with another family who adopted two girls from the same orphanage (we had the same fantabulous social worker).

We started our adoption journey in November 2006, and with these girls in June 2007. It's been a long ride.

Now we may have expensive citizenship issues to deal with. But today we celebrate!

Esther with Grandma and Grandpa Eyberg before proceedings.

The girls while Mark answered questions on the stand

Smiley Esther

Mark taking his oath.

Sitting in court during the proceedings

The Marvins, Eybergs, and friends Lael, who played photographer for me, Rachel and Danielle

Magistrate Erler with The Eyberg Family

The Eybergs with the Marvin family, who also finalized, our social worker, and friends Rachel and Danielle

First Day of School

I am a little late posting this for Esther, since she started school last week, but Charis and Zoe started today.

(BTW, I detest this new Blogger format)

Esther started school at Springs Ranch Elementary
on Aug. 4. She is in third grade, and her teacher
is Ms. Vincent, who goes to our church.

Esther at her desk in her classroom. The desks are arranged in groups.
Surprisingly, there is another Esther in her class!

Charis and Zoe started school at The Imagine
Classical Academy at Indigo Ranch on Aug. 12.
I didn't get a good picture of them in front of the
school because the sun was in their eyes.

Charis sits at her desk in Mrs. Stephens' first-grade class.
Two or three of her friends from last year are with her.
There are five first-grade classes.

Zoe stands in front of her AM Kindergarten class.
Her teacher is Mrs. Bartges.

Zoe sits at her desk. She seemed eager
to start her day and comfortable.