More Care Packages

When we visited with Mi Yeon, I brought a care package that she generously offered to bring to Eastern for Levi. I originally thought she would be taking the package that he would get on his one year visit, so this is what I packed:

*Puma track suit
*Short-sleeved polo shirt
*A warm fleece set of pants and shirt
*Recordable "Goodnight Moon" read by me
*A first birthday onesie and bib
*A birthday card, translated into Korean
*Some toys: cars, phone, and camera


My very good friend, Sue, traveled in December but just after Levi's appointment. So, he had a Christmas birthday and birthday Christmas :)

Here's what he got on his appointment in January:
*2 hats
*A light winter/spring coat
*2 stuffed bears
*A picture drawn by Gabe
*Bubble bath
*Toothpaste and toothbrush
*Winter stickers
*Booties
*Sophie the teething giraffe
*Other toys


After his one year appointment, he'll go in every other month. I'm getting his March package ready now, then one for May...and that will probably be it. I don't think we'll travel by July, but I think his foster family is probably busting at the seams with all that we've sent!

Fun at the Fair

Since it's cold out there, here's a post from one of our fun summer jaunts. Every August we head up to the Wisconsin State Fair with Dave's parents. Ironically, both Dave and I went as kids. Gabe really enjoyed himself this year. He was able to ride the rides, he actually knew a sheep when he saw one and he got some fun treats.

Enjoying a cone:

Riding with mom:

Getting ready to ride with dad and pops:


Getting a better view of the animals:


Grammie, Gabe and a Cream Puff:

Two parting thoughts...1) It's a lot harder to write a post 5 mos later 2) Man, Gabe sure gets dark in the summer!

Celebrating Miles Away

Last night we had a lovely birthday celebration for Levi with our family. We headed out to Jin Ju, a delicious and trendy Korean restaurant in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Dave and I have been wanting to go there since before Gabe came home. It was a great choice since it had all the traditional fare, but presented in a more contemporary fashion.
It was a bittersweet night, but we brought Levi along in pictures and Dave gave a heartfelt toast that we'll save for his memory box. We drank sojutinis, we ate, some tried new tastes, we laughed, we talked about Levi and enjoyed our dinner as a family. Next year, we hope that Levi will be with us to celebrate and he can feel the abundance of love that will surround him.

The restaurant:


The attendees:

Dave toasting our sweet boy:

Gabe goofing with his grandparents:


Our attempt at a family picture:

Happy Birthday!

Today, Levi JeeHo turns one. I'm sure his foster family is doting on him and giving him all the love and attention a one year old boy deserves. We miss him terribly and it's hard to know he'll be celebrating half a world away, when Gabe was home by the time he was one. Dave and I were saying that Levi in later years may feel bad about that, but who knows...maybe Gabe will think 'I got this cheap imitation Dol (the traditional one year celebration) while Levi got the real deal IN Korea.' I do know that it's a new year and this, most likely, will be the year we travel to bring him home. We plan to go out to dinner to celebrate at one of the many, many Korean restaurants we've been wanting to try. I hope Levi feels our love across the miles, mountains, oceans, prairies, deserts, lakes, rivers, and cities.

In honor of his birthday, here's two presents for you:

July:


September/October:


Happy Birthday, sweet Levi JeeHo!

A Long December...

Yep, that title is right. This is our WHOLE December. So get ready for lots o' pics and not a lot of text. Let's hop into the sleigh for the journey through the month.

Getting Ready to Decorate...

Ok, so this is from the end of the month...all our gorgeous cards:


On our mantle:

Stairway:

What? Doesn't everyone have a holiday sweater for their vodka bottle?

The Lifelink Snackin' With Santa Event...

He looks less than thrilled, but he hopped right up on his lap and told Santa he wanted "lights" for Christmas:


Makin' Cookies with Grandma...





Christmas with my Aunt/Uncle/Cousin and his fiance...

Reading with Amy:

Score! A dog guitar:


Thanks, Aunt Maggie:

Hanukkah Party with Dave's Family...

Playing "Dreidel Bomber" with Pops:




Eatin' with his cousins:

Kisses from Grammie:




Preschool Christmas Show...



Christmas Eve...

Lighting the Hanukkah candles with Daddy:


Laughing at the Whoopee Cushion he got for Hanukkah:

Christmas Day...

Checking out the drumset that Santa brought:



And a microphone:
The dinner table:


Baseball stuff is cool too:


We had a great December: