"I want Grandpa and Grandma Houge to come back" --Elli

I was informed today that Grandpa and Grandma Houge need to come back:)  Books and outdoor fun and celebrating Grandpa's 80th birthday were quite a hit at our household!  What is not pictured is the zoo excursion.  We saw two grizzly bears fight over food as well as swim for fish, we fed giraffes and saw mountain lions up close.  What a fabulous time!

Happy One Year, Bria!

We got to celebrate Bria's "Family Day" with her and Reyna and Seth!  It's a treasure spending time with Dawson's friends from Kolkata and now Colorado!  Also, a year ago today, Paul and John left for India...makes me a little sentimental.  Thanks again, John, for experiencing Dawson's homecoming with Paul. 

Happy Birthday Jackie!

We got to spend time with Jackie on her birthday...her presence is enjoyed by all!

Easter Surprises!

Wow, the week was full of surprises...we got to spend so much time with cousins, Bethany, Abby, Cam and Christopher; Julia and her kids drove from Lawrence so we could hang out (thank you) and a huge surprise was Joni flying in from St. Louis!  We laughed and laughed just like old times...I haven't seen my dear cousin for years but we picked up right where we left off. 

All of us had such a blast as Grandma and Grandpa were incredible hosts to making Easter week always exciting.  Karis and Dawson went on their first Easter egg hunt.  When they figured it out, they didn't want to stop.  Dawson was running everywhere to find another egg...adorable.  I found Karis in a corner sneaking a few of her cousin's eggs.  We made resurrection cookies and the eggs even had the Easter story that Bethany put together. This year we started the tradition of wearing our Easter dresses for tea prior to Easter.  Going to G-ma and G-pas is always quite a treat. 

Fabulous Feldts

Elli reminds me often how she misses her friends Nora and "Gatorade" (Griffin).  Her dream came true in March to see them again.  We had a blast of a week with activities and hanging out and lots o' dirt!  Oh how we all miss them next door!

Summer/Spring Skiing

Paul's bro, Mark and kids, John and Lauren spent their spring break with us on the slopes...did I mention how HOT it was?! We had a great time and Elli started to learn how to ski!! I was going to teach her one day and guess who was teaching her kids how to ski the same day at Keystone...Maggie! The kids love their cousins and I even got a day to ski with Lauren and Maggie. I love spring break!

Redemption

One of the hardest things about not traveling to China last year was not connecting with Karis' orphanage mate, Maddie, and her family. But Saturday that all changed! Maddie and her family came to visit from Montana and it was a beautiful day! They are an amazing family and they felt like extended family coming for a visit. I have to admit I had a hard time not crying when I met them. Their girls loved on our kids and Dawson and Elli didn't want to say good-bye. Maddie was adorable in wanting to hold "baby" Zach any chance we gave her. What an incredible connection Karis has as she grows up knowing Maddie and the history they have together:)