Autumn Fun

Tuesday was the official start to my favorite season of the year...autumn! After nearly a month of rainy days, our weather this weekend has been beautiful! Crisp, cool mornings with blue, sunny skies. It doesn't get much better than this. The windows are open and Luci is enjoying running outside at will. She has been dragging her toys out on the deck and "mowing" with her lawn mower for hours. So cute to watch!

Yesterday we took advantage of the awesome weather and headed down to our favorite Saturday morning activity...breakfast at Little Bread Company and the Farmer's Market. We were surprised to find that the sidewalks weren't crowded at all; in fact, Luci got to walk around by herself which never happens. She loved the freedom. She played with all the "Das" or dogs that were visiting the Farmer's Market and even stopped to watch some belly dancers do their thing; she was fascinated and stood in one place watching for what must have been 10 minutes.






Another event in Luci's life this fall are Wednesday evenings with Daddy. I have class on Wednesdays so Luci and Daddy have an evening alone. This has been really good for them both and she is getting to be somewhat of a Daddy's girl. Below are a couple of pictures from their last evening. Luci loves to blow the harmonica/whistle that we bought her in Korea (a pink Poroyo whistle) and her new favorite spot to sit is on top of the fireplace, straddling Daddy's mandolin case. I am also including a video of the latest trick that Daddy taught her Wednesday evening (I am so proud!). Most of you have seen it on Facebook, but for those of our blog readers who aren't on Facebook (Ryan and Sherri) here is Luci's (your neice's) new past-time. Watch her little cheeks carefully if you can't figure out what she is doing!

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall weather as much as we are!

Weekends

Luci got us up nice and early on this Saturday morning (5:50 am) so I thought I would take some time and update the blog with some of our latest pictures. We have got to teach this girl that weekends are for sleeping in...especially rainy weekends!

Daycare is getting better, even though she hasn't been in a week and a half. She has had a nasty virus, which she picked up there, and hasn't been well enough to return. However, before she got sick we had moved past the screaming-when-Mommy-leaves phase. We had moved into the slight-lip-quiver-as-I-wave-goodbye phase. She was also beginning to play with the other kiddos and even eat at the big kid table. She had shunned the high chair because that is where the babies are fed. It was so funny to pick her up at lunchtime and see her sitting with the 2 year olds like she was so big! On the sick front, Luci seems to be feeling better this weekend. She is still congested and her little voice is so hoarse, but she is happy and playing contentedly. Also, the fever has been gone for 2 days!!!

Since I last posted, Luci has spent a couple of weekends at the river. She is becoming quite the water-lover! She has no problem just heading into the water and splashing around. It hasn't quite been swimming weather but that doesn't stop Luci from plowing in and sitting down in the water. A change of clothes is a definite must for these quick trips.

Sitting in the water and trying to grab a rock!

Luci and Pops relaxing by the river (the water is so brown because of an extra heavy rain the day before)

Nana trying to teach Luci how to skip rocks

Splashing with Mommy

Can't get enough of the water. Luci and Daddy had just finished turning over rocks looking for critters.

Had to throw in a picture of cardinal flower on the riverbank. Isn't it pretty?!

I know this isn't a water picture, but I had to end with it. I thought it was hilarious. Luci loves the lids to the pots and pans and she loves to put things in containers. How many 13 month olds do you know that can fit in the lid of a 1-quart saucepan with room to spare?!

Summer is over...

...and we had one to cherish!

Ok, so I have been back to work officially for one week and I can't say that I am happy about it. Luci and I are adjusting to the idea of child-care and I don't know who is having a harder time of it, me or her. Mornings are fairly traumatic but afternoons are marvelous. Let me just say...I was efficient before Luci, but that was nothing; I get my work done and I am outta there! Since I pretty much dictate my own schedule, I have been highly motivated to finish up and go get my baby! Everyone keeps telling me that it will get better and I know it will, but right now is HARD! I am looking forward to those "better" days.


On to better topics...what we have been up to during August! Our chickens are growing and we love to watch them eat our garden bugs. Many of our Facebook followers will remember the trauma of the first chicken week. We lost 4 in one day...3 to a hawk, and one that night to a midnight marauder (raccoon). Since then we replaced them with 4 more mature birds to teach the little ones the ropes. We also built a covered run and only let them out in the evening when we can be in the yard. Success...all 10 are thriving and we are looking forward to farm fresh eggs (from the big four) any day now!



We have also had more cousin-time. Luci and Allie are growing to be fast friends and it is so fun to watch the 4 kiddos play together. Last night we drove to Harrison for our first monthly Kindall family dinner. What a blast to just sit back, visit, eat, and laugh at the kids! So sweet!






Yes, I am going to miss summer! But I am looking forward to all the things that fall will bring! Cooler weather, time outside to enjoy the cooler weather, all the new things Luci will learn, precious family time, and yummy cool garden veggies and fresh eggs!

Photo Shoot

Luci had her one year pictures taken shortly after her birthday by our wonderfully talented friend Tori. Tori brought her family over to Fayetteville and we all headed for the beautiful Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks. Luci didn't seem to want to cooperate that evening and I thought for sure that we wouldn't get many good shots. However, we got our CD of proofs and I am having a hard time narrowing it down. Way to go, Tori! If you want to see more of Tori's work, check out her Facebook page, Profiles by Tori or her business blog.

Below are just a few of my favorite shots! There are many more but this is just a taste.

Luci's Tol Celebration

This past weekend we had a big celebration for Luci's first birthday. In the Korean culture, this birthday is called a tol and it is a BIG deal. The tradition started before there was easy access to good medical care. If a Korean child made it to their first birthday, there was a good chance they would survive so the family threw a big party. We wanted to incorporate some of these traditions into Luci's party so we had a Korean/American birthday celebration.

The party began with Luci dressed in the beautiful hanbok that Mrs. Kim (her foster mother) had purchased for her. Jason brought her in and she chose items that represented her destiny. I had laid out a knife representing a good cook, a pen and book (successful scholar), money (wealth), spool of thread (long life), jujubes (couldn't find any so we used cherries for many descendants), and a ruler and scissors (good with her hands). I had our guests vote on which they thought she would pick as they arrived. Everyone cheered her on as she surveyed her choices. She went straight for the pen and book and then moved to the money. Based on her choices, she will grow up to be a wealthy and successful scholar.

Here's a little secret for my blog readers: I cheated! Yes, I set my baby and her destiny up! Luci's favorite color is blue and she loves the book Little Cloud by Eric Carle. So, I chose a pen with a blue cap and put Little Cloud underneath. I knew that would be the first thing that caught her eye. I also cheated with the money. The 1000 bill in Korean won is blue, so I put it on top with the nice, shiny coins laid right on it. I know my daughter and she did well! So we will see if mommy chose the correct destiny for her daughter!

Following the tol ceremony, Luci opened all her presents. She loves her toys and she got so many good new ones! Thank you everyone!

As the kids played with all the new loot, we cooked dinner. We wanted an American take on Korean food so we made Bulgogi burgers topped with onions and red lettuce with a side of sweet potato chips. Dessert was very American...cake and ice cream! She dove right in and made a big mess! Luci never disappoints!

The party was so much fun and we were blessed with wonderful family to celebrate this joyous occasion among. Enjoy the pics!

Birthday balloons marking the party location

Luci's grand entrance in her beautiful hanbok


My wealthy and successful scholar (so I cheated a little)


She sure loves her blue pen!


Opening her presents with cousins Dylan and Allie looking on.


Tol/Birthday cake


Make a wish!


Loving the icing!


Her face just keeps getting sweeter, even without the icing.

Happy Birthday to my Loves (plural)!

Today is a very special day in the Kindall household...two out of three members have a birthday! Yes, Jason and Luci share this day as their introduction into the world!



First...Happy Birthday, Jason! This birthday marks a milestone; we have been together for half our lives! This doesn't seem possible. Are we really getting that old?! We have been through so much together and I can't think of anyone that I would rather have those ups and downs with than you. And this past year...WOW...what an emotional journey as we prepared to become first time parents; we waited to find out which child God had chosen for us, we met our daughter in pictures and text, we waited again, and then we traveled half way around the world to bring her home! I have so enjoyed watching you become Luci's daddy! You have completely fallen in love with another girl and I'm not even jealous! (For those blog readers out there who haven't read Jason's first words as a daddy, check out the first Luci post..."A Baby Girl")


Now...my precious baby girl is ONE! Happy first birthday, sweet Luci! You have truly lived up to the meaning of your name...you are most definitely a "light" in our lives! I can't imagine going one day without seeing your smile, hearing your laughter, and giving you kisses! God answered all my prayers when He sent you to become a part of our family. I am so thankful for my sweet daughter and I can't wait to see what you will become as you grow older. I can only imagine...scientist, teacher, author, gymnast, singer, demolition master (all I can say is you would just have to see our house)...


So, what are we doing to celebrate this momentous day in the Kindall household? Not much today! We are having a relaxing day, just the three of us. We had lunch at Hugo's (one of our favorite local eateries) and then took a drive to Missouri to pick up our ten chickens (can't wait to have our own eggs each morning). Tonight we celebrated with a nice dinner at home and an ice cream birthday cake! I am taking Jason out on Saturday for a birthday date and Luci's big Tol party is next Saturday, the 25th. I will be sure to post more pictures after the big event. I have been planning for weeks so hopefully everything turns out ok!

I do have one request for all our blog readers...even if you don't normally post comments, please consider posting today. I would love for Luci to look back on this entry and read all the comments from those out there who have followed our journey and prayed for her arrival and adjustment! I am so thankful for you all! I know that we have had this wonderful experience because of your thoughts and prayers. Please wish Jason and Luci a very special birthday!