Northwest November Adventures

So far this November, we've been blessed with amazing weather and a special visit from some dear friends.

One thing that has become very important to us is to cultivate friendships with families who have also adopted children. We feel lucky that our friends the Dolenc family, whom we've known and had many adventures with over the years, were a year ahead of us in their own adoption adventure. One year before we brought Matthew home from China, they brought their son Toben home from Ethiopia. We have loved the connections we've shared since we both got home with our boys, and felt incredibly blessed to spend five days with them earlier this month.

They came all the way from Colorado to visit us, so we just HAD to show them some of our favorite spots in the Pacific Northwest. A day trip to Whidbey Island complete with a gorgeous, oceanside hike, was probably the highlight of our time together.

It has been so nice to do some normal things in the midst of Matthew's medical procedures. Next Tuesday (November 27), we take him to Seattle Children's Hospital to have his cleft palate repaired. We've been told this is probably the "worst" surgery of all, since the mouth is very slow to heal and kids feel really down and out for quite some time. Of course the surgery and recovery are kind of looming above us, so we have appreciated the distraction of a visit from our friends, as well as other fun times with people we love.

Here are some shots from this month so far. I anticipate several posts about Matthew's surgery and recovery, but I thought it would be nice to have a couple showing our semi-normal life, which is how things are most of the time.

Here are Sam and Matthew with their cousin Parker on an ordinary November play day.

The Russell and Dolenc kids on our Whidbey Island hike.

Me and my girl!

Isn't this view breath-taking? I ran ahead to shoot the hikers coming across this ridge.

Maya and her forever-buddy Lucie.

Sam LOVED running down this sand spit.

Walking back to the car on the beach.

I wanted you to see some Matthew tickles. This boy LOVES to giggle.

And here he is laughing some more.