Cole has been keeping me very busy these days as I learn how to be a mom to a son. Growing up with two sisters this boy world is SO funny and new. Dusty laughs at me when I ask him questions like "so he can just have a bloody nose and that doesn't mean it is broken, right?" as I watch him jumping off of the ottoman onto the couch in Elmo underwear. (Yes, Cole has taken the plunge into potty training land and he is doing great!) Here are some of my favorite pics from this month and last. He cracks me up in the picture eating ice cream in cowboy boots and wind pants! He and his friend Parker LOVE playing in that little bathtub - go figure - we have never had a chance to put it in the actual tub. The picture of Cole and I together was right after he and Dusty gave me a new hammock for Mother's Day and we LOVE it! Hope everyone is happy and well - love, Dusty, Kathryn, and Cole.

Happy Forever Family Day Cole!

One year ago on April 24th we walked out of the Can Tho, Vietnam children's home carrying our sweet son Cole Thai and our lives were changed forever! We had such a fun day celebrating this special day with Cole's GG, Grandpa G, Grandma, Grandpa, aunt Jessica, and uncle Phil. We ate a LOT of good food and then had strawberry shortcake and watched the videos we had of meeting Cole for the first time and our first few days in Vietnam. I got teary eyed several times! I think Dusty and I will always have a quiet longing for those hot days in Vietnam where the only pressing event was what market we were going to walk to next with our new little family. There are no words to describe this amazing journey. We are so grateful to God for bringing our family together, for saying "yes" when we asked so earnestly for a child; and to Cole's birthmother who desired to offer him a better life than what she could provide, I pray every day to honor her in that. We love you unconditionally and completely Cole Thai! Happy Forever Family Day!

"Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

Nana Bread!

Cole and I made banana "nana" bread last night while Dusty was at the library taking one of his last finals for his MBA! Yay - we can't wait for May 2nd when he will be done! We had so much fun and Cole was such a good helper. He was confused about putting all of the bananas into the dough (he wanted to eat them up, they are one of his favorites). After we assembled everything I accidentally turned the mixer on too high right out of the gate and some of it few out onto the counter and Cole looked at me really fast with eyes wide and said "WHOA". I just started laughing so hard. He is so much fun! I need to get a taller stool or something for him, but isn't he getting so big?!

Computer...OUT

Dusty and I had discussed getting a new computer since ours had gotten SO slow and then Tuesday night we were sitting here enjoying a little mindless entertainment (tv) when what to our wondering ears should we hear? It sounded like a motorcycle revving up in our living room. We looked wide eyed at each other and discovered the sound coming from the corner by our computer...no wait, that was our computer! Yea, it's a goner. Hard drive is a wreck and I have tried to move some pictures and music onto an external hard drive only to get the blue screen of death "beginning physical dump of memory". SO, I am now writing from my new pc! I like it, but am slowly remembering all that is lost on my old pc *sigh*.

Easter Weekend

We had so much fun spending Easter weekend in Dallas with my sister Anna, brother-in-law Hans and my sweet nephew Ethan. Cole and Ethan had so much fun playing, hunting eggs, going to the arboretum, and going to Sunday school together. It was a fun and relaxing time.

Oh The Funny Things I Do

Cole is definitely growing up and we are really having fun watching him become less and less a baby and more and more a little boy. He is constantly making me laugh with the funny things he is doing. As you can see from the pictures, one of his favorite things is getting in my tupperware to wear his "hats"! We cannot believe he has almost been with us for a year!

Happy Year of the Rat!

We celebrated Cole's first Vietnamese New Year (called Tet) this week. On Wednesday we had his friends over for a party at our house to celebrate and we had so much fun! He wore his traditional outfit that we bought for him while in Vietnam. I thought he looked so handsome! We ate, played and had a great time. I made some dragon puppets for the kids and thought they turned out cute. We also had dinner at Kerrie Sala's house on Friday with all of the other families who have adopted/or are in process of adopting children form the same orphanage as Cole. The decorations were amazing and everyone brought a Vietnamese dish for dinner - it was sooo good. Here are a few pictures for you - enjoy!