home again

Vacation is over. We are home. We survived the ten hour drive. Phew!  The kids did really, really great and we all have a new found love for the Cracker Barrel chain.  Kaneu loves the toys in the general store, I love the all day breakfast, Brian likes that they are everywhere - all you have to do is wait a few miles and then you're bound to see the sign, and Ruby, well she just loves to eat. The food is really pretty decent when you think about the alternatives, which in the south are not great (and we don't do fast food).  We had an incredible three weeks. I'm zonked and heading to bed. Have a mammogram first thing in the morning.  Cracker Barrel and mammogram in the same paragraph? Lord, help me!

well that was was hard

Grammy Sue left today and well it sucked.  Both kids were traumatized. Kaneu always has a difficult time with goodbyes especially when it comes to his daddy, his Grammy Sue or his Meme. And Ruby? She was a mess - clinging to her "E Youuuu" (Rubyspeak for Grammy Sue) and clutching at the door after she left, and then to finalize the highly dramatic scene that it was she dropped to her hands and knees and continued to sob. I had my hands full needless to say. Two crying children heartbroken that their Grammy had left. I felt completely and utterly useless. It's nothing new though as I have gotten a lot of that (the feeling useless) over the last several months when I console Kaneu over missing his daddy. Saying goodbye over and over has really put a lot of stress on our little family. Kaneu has been having night terrors this week. If anyone has had to deal with those than you know they're scary and again with the feeling very useless. Sigh. Brian comes home tonight and this will be his last flight until we all board the plane as a family of four. Exhale.

kaneu enjoying a peanut butter ball*

if you haven't made these before you need to - delish!

On a side note I am beginning to feel better. The symptoms are changing and thank the Lord that I no longer have a horrible sore throat. I do, however, have a very nasty cough and an ever nastier need to constantly clear my throat. The cough is the kind where I can't inhale or speak a few words without needing to cough.  My throat itches!  

As I am typing this I have two children playing tug-of-war with the hairbrush. They are ridiculously cute and Kaneu is showing Ruby how to brush my hair gently. Love these kids.

Yesterday afternoon we went into St Augustine. It was HOT and we were sweating our hineys off. We rode the carousel twice. The first time Kaneu only wanted to sit on one of the benches and not the horse. Ruby was in awe and confused at the same time - she just took it all in. We stayed on for a second turn because I was certain that the first time 'round didn't make me quite nauseous enough. I wanted to actually blow chunks. Ha! Just kidding. Sorta. Kaneu then rode on the horse - but only one that wouldn't go up and down. I was so thankful to get off that thing!

*Recipe for Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 - 1 cup honey (depending on how sweet you like 'em)
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup non-fat dry milk
1 cup puffed rice cereal (optional)
1 cup flaked coconut - toasted(optional)

Combine honey, peanut butter, non-fat dry milk, and cereal.

Shape dough into small balls and roll in coconut to coat.
Place balls on wax paper and refrigerate.

how could i forget my baby?!

Thank you all for your sweet, sweet comments today. I have to admit that I completely forgot about how excited I am (and I really am) to see Rosie!!!  Thanks Jess for the reminder!! A post dedicated to Rosie will be one of the first things I do when we return. What kind of mother am I?!  Okay ... so as I was saying .... I wish I could say we did something spectacular to celebrate, but I've been sick since the weekend and well, barely had the energy to snap a few pics on the beach this afternoon.  I have a cold, I guess? It is what I have described to Brian as the worst sore throat of my life. My ears ache and my glands are swollen and sore. I haven't been able to sleep because my throat hurst so badly from coughing and my jaw aches from clenching when I swallow. Ugh. 

Aside from feeling like crap we've had a wonderful visit with Grammy Sue, who is now beginning to feel like crap also (sorry mama!).  She coincidentally has a home in FL which is less than two hours away. She's been taking care of us while Brian is in London. Oh we are going to miss her when we leave.

Here are some weekend pics 

fathers day - cupcakes for breakfast!








 margaritas + homemade guac + fish tacos = happy daddy

here I am just a few hours before I started feeling like crap

Ok, that's enough for me. Time for bed. I am really hoping I can sleep. I am SO relieved that Ruby's adoption is final. It has been causing much anxiety. Hopefully I will be feeling better tomorrow and we can get out for a bit.

Oh, and I think that it looks like we are going to be heading back to London on or around July 10th. We now need to get Ruby's UK visa and her US passport, which thankfully Brian's company will handle for us. We are leaving FL (which did anyone notice this is our THIRD week here?! we're sneaky like that) this weekend most likely. I will definitely miss this place. Ok, really going to bed now.

oh happy day!!!!!

Today is an incredibly special day for us ... it's June 24th

the day Kaneu was placed with us in Seoul ... 4 yrs ago

June 24th also holds a new meaning to us. Today our daughter's adoption was final. I introduce to you the newest US Citizen, Ruby Marguerite Suh-hyun Cole, otherwise known as Miss America!

We are relieved and thrilled and so excited. I have been keeping in a lot of my frustration and disappointment regarding the process and dealing with Brian traveling. It has been harder lately and I was really feeling like I couldn't do it anymore. I am so thankful that our prayers have been answered and that we can move onto the next chapter - London, here we come!!

happy fathers day!!

you could say ...

that these two are having a pretty good time.together

love

that smile

that smile

daddeeeee!

beach hair

make this

thai pesto shrimp with coconut-lime rice

It is SO yummy and surprisingly simple to make. You can find the recipe here.

guess where we are?

Well, it's probably no surprise - we are at the beach. Again! What can I say - we love the beach. And, we have family who have a beautiful home ON the beach. And so here we are. For two weeks. Jealous? It's okay. You can say so.

Here's the latest with the kids -

1. Ruby is speaking all kinds of new words - the cutest is "thank you". She does a head nod when she says it, and if her mouth happens to be full of food (which is usually is) she just does the head nod. 

2. Kaneu LOVES the ocean. This is a first. He has historically been afraid and shown no interest. He is now in love and likes to body surf on the beach, allowing the waves to wash over him.

3.Ruby still gets crazy bedhead.

4. Ruby says "mommy" approximately 347 times a day.  I'm not complaining. I love it.

 

5. Kaneu and Ruby are turning into the best of friends. They are playing together constantly and most of all just enjoy each others company. We were at the bookstore the other day and Ruby found some stuffed animals. She was carrying around two of the same and when she found Kaneu she handed him one of them. Kaneu thought that she had bought it for him and it was his to keep. Upon leaving the store (without the stuffed animal) Kaneu had a meltdown. Days later he is still talking about the stuffed animal that Ruby gave him.

6. When I try to take Kaneu's pictures he will usually do somethings silly, like say "peeeuwwww".

Ok, time to hit the beach!