Wednesday, December 7, 2011

A lot of catching up....

I have thought about quitting blogging. Because who has time to blog, really. But then my little friend Macey Marrs told me that she used to be my 'biggest blog fan', back when I used to blog that is. So Macey, this post is just for you.

Jude got me set back to iphoto, so I went back all the way through September and picked out a few of the highlights. Which made me realize that when I'm not blogging, I'm not taking many photos. In fact, when I went to get out my fancy camera yesterday, I realized that I had forgotten how to use it on the manual setting! Now that is sad!


So here are some of the (few) pictures I've taken over the past few months. I promise I will do better, Mom and Dad, now that I have iphoto back. At least I 'think' I will.



Here are the two September birthdays...Hope and Joseph. Both age 7. Next month I will have FOUR 7 year olds!
We had all three of these little munchkins on a little special needs soccer team, briefly. They were the only ones on the team! And after about the 4th week of practice, we realized Zoya would rather dress up in butterfly wings, Joseph would rather write on his face with magic marker, and Ava would rather keep her little bald head in the shade. Needless to say we didn't finish the season, but at least I got this really cute picture.

Hope learned to ride a bike! Thanks Aunt Lisa!


The guys tore out the particle board stairs and replaced them with beautiful oak...I can't believe I haven't taken an 'after' photo yet. And I can't believe we survived over a week with our staircase looking like this!

The cousins from Minnesota came to visit for Thanksgiving (yes, in the midst of the staircase chaos). I took a look at the above scene and said, "Man that's a lot of kids!"....And grabbed my camera.

Only four kids went trick or treating. The other rode in the van and made fun of the kids trick or treating...(Ugh, teenagers!)
We literally threw costumes together in five minutes,  because I really  had no intentions of trick or treating, which is why Joseph is technically wearing PJs as Spongebob. Hope was my favorite, as cafeteria lady, "Marge", complete with apron, pot, ladle, and hairnet. 


This was really special. About fifteen years ago, before we ever had kids of our own, we were foster parents. This beautiful young bride and her sister lived with us for about nine months as their parents were going through some tough times. Fifteen years later, this September, Kim got married, and she asked John to walk her down the aisle and give her away. It was really an honor for him (and for me too). We have learned first hand that there are some really neat kids in the foster care system. And neat foster kids turn into neat adults. It's been a blessing to keep in touch with these girls for all these years. We love you, Kim and Teri!




And now, for the most unexpected and exciting news of all!!..............................................................................

We found ourselves a few weeks ago, with a VERY pregnant dog. The neighbor dog got to Nellie before we got around to getting her spayed (which was on my long list of things to do eventually). 

Regardless, here are the newest little mouths to feed.  They will ALL need new homes, so if you or someone is in need of a Christmas puppy, just let me know!

The kids gave them temporary names to differentiate who was who.









Just imagine nuzzling up into their soft warm fuzz, hearing their little whimpers in your ear, smelling their sweet puppy breath. Just picture how cute one would look with a big red bow around its neck, sitting under your Christmas tree. :) Your kids will love you forever!




23 comments:

KT said...

I loved reading this :-) And wish we were close enough to pick up one of them pups! Merry Christmas!!!

Milena said...

Thank you for the update! I so missed reading your blog! Please continue :-)

Deb D. said...

OH, delight!! To hear about your busy summer, see pics of your beautiful family (extended, as well), and to just get to step into the Urban family life for a visit . . . thank you, Charissa. And thanks to your little friend who inspired you to keep up with blogging, and to Jude for getting your iPhoto back up.

I was stunned at how much the kids have grown and changed through the summer. At first, I thought the pic of Hope with the cupcake was Liesel. My, oh, my. I think I am going to have to find a way to make a trip out to Oklahoma "soon" before your kids are all the way grown up!

Wonderful to hear from you, good lady. Thanks for sharing. :-)

Unknown said...

Yeah, that Marcy girl, we need to thank her for getting you to get back in gear. I hope you'll have something to blog about on your upcoming trip to Mexico.

ErinL said...

Well then I must be your second biggest blog fan! I love your blog! In fact I came onto blogspot this morning to find a specific blog you had written that I needed to encourage another mom and imagine my surprise when I saw you had blogged again! The blog I am using is the one about all of Zoya's diagnosis and how if that list had been given ahead of time it would be very hard to find her a family. I have used it to encourage one mom already who felt unsure about the unknowns of committing to a child and I'm now using it for a friend who just came home with a little girl from China and the diagnosis list just keeps growing. Don't stop blogging!

Unknown said...

Yeah, that Marcy girl, we need to thank her for getting you to get back in gear. I hope you'll have something to blog about on your upcoming trip to Mexico.

Priscilla said...

You're back! You're back!! Yay! Rounding applause to Jude for getting your photos up!! Well done, Jude! After a time, slurp the posts into a book making site like Blurb and you have ready made scrapbook memories.

Loved all the pictures and stories! Thanks for sharing. :-)

Molly said...

OH MY LANDS. I love you and miss you. Thank you for this. Makes my heart smile.

Anonymous said...

DON'T STOP BLOGGING....THANKS TO WHOMEVER GOT YOU MOTIVATED AGAIN. WE ALL LOVE YOUR FAMILY AND WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. THE KIDS ARE JUST PRECIOUS. I AM A GRANDMOTHER AND IT REMINDS ME WHEN MINE WERE YOUNG. SLOW DOWN YOUR LIFE AND TAKE TIME FOR US BLOGGERS THAT USE YOUR BLOG FOR MEMORIES AND LAUGHS. MIMI FROM GEORGIA

Julie said...

I check your blog EVERY SINGLE MORNING without fail. Even when you go almost 2 months without posting! I was so happy to see a new blog this morning! Please don't stop blogging!

Lisa said...

What kind of dogs are the puppies? Labs? My son wants a lab badly and they are going to Tulsa over xmas. ladams@juno.com Lisa Adams

markay714 said...

So glad you didn't quit blogging. Have always loved keeping up with y'all!

Mommy to those Special Ks said...

I've thought about quitting too... for other reasons. I'm glad you're sticking around! :)

Anonymous said...

Nellie is a Chessie right? You could try listing the puppies at the Chessie Rescue site. Some of their dogs are mixed

http://www.cbrrescue.org/

Lisa (DanielsMommy) said...

I"m so glad to see a new post. I love reading your blog, so please keep at it!!

junglemama said...

Keep blogging Charissa! I so love reading about your family. :) Merry Christmas!

Christi said...

Yes! Keep blogging, Aunt Charissa. I love reading these late at night whenever I have just spent way too many hours on my schoolwork!

Finding Balance mommy said...

I can't imagine keeping it up either if I were you. I have two kids and can't seem to keep mine up. :-)

I do love when you share though. It's such a blessing! We have a special needs ministry at our church and I have often talked about your family and the amazing gift of love your have given to all of your children.

Then I tell them to go check on your blog on days they feel overwhelmed with one special needs child. ;-)

Amy said...

Saw this and thought of you guys!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVgoS_IQXck&feature=share

Jessica Lynn said...

Was one of the puppy parents a Newfoundland?

I love Newfs!

Also, I'm glad you posted as well.

I'm sure life is keeping you quite busy and it should come before blogging; however, you don't need to quit your blog. A post every 2 months or so is better than no posts at all!

Charissa said...

Jessica, the dad is a great white Pyrenees. Is that similar to a Newfoundland? I have no idea!

cara said...

Please don't stop blogging, I love to here how you are doing. I have 2 From Ukraine & 1 from China myself. Cara

Cindy said...

Charissa,
My husband and I met you in Ukraine outside the McDonald's when you were adopting Zoya. We went back again this past summer and adopted Anastasia, a five yr. old born with a cleft palate and HIV. I have thought of you many times since adopting a child with a cleft palate. Just wanted to say HI, and I totally understand your blogging dilemma. I too never find the time to blog. In fact I just posted for the first time since Nov. However, I realized all the people that responded to our cries for help to bring Anastasia home would love to know how she is thriving now. I still don't know how to do everything I want/need to do,but we can encourage each other,while we are both knee,waist, or neck deep in all that needs to get done. LOL. Take care!!!!Blessings!!