And a Merry Christmas it is!!

What a wonderful Christmas this has been! We went to the 3:00 service at church. It was very crowded so the Mulvahill family sat in the back of the great hall and watched the service on a very large movie screen. We didn't mind- we had everyone together praising the birth of our Lord- What more could we want! The girls did great. They made friends with everyone around us!  Sarah only went to the bathroom once and the drinking fountain 3 times! after church we met the rest of my family at our house. we did a more relaxed hor de voures evening instead of a sit down dinner. everybody loved  sarah- she won the hearts of my whole family!   This was our first christmas without our mom and i must say our 2 little girls brought a lot of joy to the evening. even my brother warmed up to them !! kate, sarah and i did a bit of knock off shopping in china- all the girls loved their purses and wallets!! my nephew has white blonde hair- which amazed sarah, she took to him right away !! 

Little Anna started to come down with a fever after church. She was doing fine and BOOM it hit- 101 degrees. She slept in Dad's arms and then rallied later in the evening. She was sick last year, too. On Christmas morning she woke up with  fever of 103.6. She has been held most of the day and did not open gifts until the end of the day- poor dear girl. I am hoping she is on the road to recovery.

I started this post many hours ago- I don't seem to get a chance to start and finish in one sitting- so my thoughts might be jumbled. It is the end of the day now. Christmas went well for our family. I do look forward to spending time with the girls- without so much commotion. I think our dear Sarah needs that in order to really figure out that she has a mama that will stay with her forever. Thank you Jesus for our many many blessings.

will write more and pics too

Thankful Thursday- December 18th, 2008!

Hubby Jim is out of town, the girls are sleeping and Johnny is doing his homework- I finally have a moment to blog- Yippee! For an update on our little Sarah please visit my journal on journeytome. com

There is so much to be thankful for... so here goes!

1. I am thankful for my computer and that it is still working! It has had water spilled on the keyboard twice and sat in bubbles in China- Johnny, Anna and Sarah may have had something to do with it! I have now moved it off the counter in the kitchen. It has a new little spot on the side counter safe from the liquids!

2. I am thankful that the dear Lord matched us up with this incredible 8 yr old girl from China. She is awesome and everyday is an adventure with her!

3. I am thankful for our older children that take all this in stride! They are wonderful role models and such a huge help and always encouraging.

4. I am thankful for answered prayer! I usually am a nervous wreck about Christmas and often I don't even enjoy it but this year I feel the Lords peace and our expectations are very low! Thank you Jesus!

5. I am thankful that I actually am not minding the winter... so far! Okay, the garage heater may have something to do with it! It has been very pretty here in MN with the snow and holiday lights!

6. I am thankful for a little girl named Anna who has done very well with sharing her toys and her family with her new sister! Every once in a while I hear her say "My Mama"- it is pretty cute!

7. I am thankful for "take out" Chinese food. Dinner is so easy and we love it even more than Sarah does!

8. I am thankful for the adoption community in MN, the yahoo groups, the blogs, my JTM friends, CHSFS, FCC playgroup- they are so helpful and encouraging and they make this journey even more fun!

Random pics from China!

I am unable to post vertical picks on JTM so I am putting them on this site. They will not be in order. Each pic takes so long to post so I will do what I can!

Blessings from China! 

The countdown to home!

Hello blogger buddies- I am missing keeping my blog up to date. We have 3 more days in China and then we head home with our newest family member- alleluia!! We are looking forward to bringing her home. I have know idea how are days will go - Sarah is a lot of fun so I know it won't be dull. My biggest concern is teaching her english. We feel home schooling would be best for our bonding and for her BUT without all the kids in school to teach her english- I am not sure where to start or how to proceed.

Everyday before I get out of bed I give the day to our Lord and ask for his help. All in all things have gone well but I know I could not be doing this without him every step of the way. I am so grateful to our heavenly father for guiding us through this adventure! Thank you Jesus!

Jim is at the doctor's office now with Johnny and Anna- both of them are sick. I would love to be there to comfort them! Only 3 more days until we are homeword bound! I love your e-mails and comments- they keep us going and brighten our day! I would like to respond to all of them but I do not have time while in China! God Bless you for your thoughtfulness!

Thankful Thanksgiving Thursday!

1. I am so thankful to god who happens to be in China with me right now!

2. I am thankful for our daughter Katie - who is taking this adventure with me. She is a great support and a lot of fun!

3. I am thankful for this incredible little girl who is now our daughter! God Bless you Sarah!

4. I am thankful for american food - I can hardly wait to enjoy you again!

5. I am thankful for fans! It is November in China and our room is soooo hot. Our guide was able to get us a fan! Thank you Nancy!!

6. I am thankful for my husband who is handling everything at home! I miss you honey!

7. I am thankful that we will get to go to Guangzhou on Saturday!!

8. I am thankful that little girls and big girls fall asleep so their Momma can have some time on the computer!

9. I am thankful for all the encouraging words we have received and all the people praying for us during our adoption journey. Thank you very much and thank you Jesus!

Pics from Day 1 in Beijing!

My journal will not let me post my vertical picture the right way- it keeps wanting to turn them sideway. My photographer, Katie likes to take lots of vertical pics so here are some of our favorites!

We are in China!

Tomorrow is the big day!! We meet Ming Ming at 10:00 a.m.!! I have been journaling our adventure to Ming Ming on journeytome. com    (delete spaces)

Click on adoption stories and find Sarah Grace JiangMing!

I am unable to blog and journal- just too busy having fun and meeting our daughter. Please follow our story on the other site! I will be adding in some pics on this site when I can and then blogging again when we return home! Praise God, the time has come!

To the airport!

Our bags are packed, we're ready to go! Yes, we're packing light... ha kidding! But we have two bags of gifts, and one for Sarah, Katie, and me! Next post--from CHINA!

Triple Espresso

We took our 3 oldest kids to a comedy show today. It was a fund raiser for a mission trip through our beloved local christian radio station! This show is done by three local guys and it ran for a really long time in their theatre in Mpls (like 20 yrs). I think they have since taken it on the road so if it comes to your neck of the woods be sure to see it! It is so funny!! They have recently reopened it, for this holiday season. Anyway for part of the show they we doing some singing and having the audience sing along and the next thing you know - he stops, looks up to where we were sitting and says- in front of everyone- excuse me mam- what's your name- the spotlight shown right on me- then he asked me not to sing so loud. Well they had a good time with me for about 1o more minutes and then just the men sang, then just the women sang and then they wanted just JEAN to sing. This is in front of about 800 people! My singing is about as good as my cooking... let's just say everybody enjoyed my solo! On most days this would have been a near death experience for me but today it was all fun and a great distraction! 

We even saw my FCC/ blogger buddy Laura and her hubby Alan at the show! Hi Laura! Wasn't that the funniest show!

After the show we came home and celebrated Daddy Jim and Matt's b-day! Auntie Barbie babysat little Anna and stayed for the celebration! It was a fun family evening before our big trip to China! (Mark is still in school in Colorado and Johnny had a basketball game- so he missed the show)

Thankful Thursday on a Saturday Night!

With all the excitement I missed thankful thursday. Since I am feeling completely down on my knees thankful I'd like to do it now!

1. I am thankful for the Chinese government that allows us to adopt their children that do not have homes or families to call their own.

2. I am thankful for garage heaters that soften the winter chill in Minnesota.

3. I am thankful for blue jeans because I wear then a lot!

4. I am thankful for that delicious chocolate cake that we get- we will be having another one tomorrow for Jim (52 yrs) and Matt's (25 yrs) birthday. Mmmmm good!

5. I am thankful for my cozy bed! I just love going to sleep at night! But, I am not so fond of getting up in the morning.

6. I am thankful for God's comfort and grace. I know he will be with us every step of the way in China. 

7. I am thankful for water! Especially in a big glass with ice! It is so refreshing, thirst quenching and doesn't ruin appetites or the taste of the food you are eating! In China , I will be thankful for bottled water!

8. I am thankful for a precious little 2 1/2 yr old girl, that runs around our house and is the cutest thing this family has ever seen!

9. I am thankful for Saturday evening church! 

I am off to bed before this turns into a Sunday post! More packing and preparing tomorrow!

Sweet dreams!

 

CA, CA, CA!! Ming Ming here we come!

Our CA came Thursday morning 11/13! It is scheduled for 12/2 in Guangzhou, we are all set to leave for China on November 19th, alleliua!! I can't believe this time has arrived- we have all the approvals we need and now we just go and get our little girl (okay, well, there is lots to do in China, too). We will miss Daddy in China- I hope I can handle all the paper work and organization while we are there. He is usually the one doing that sort of thing. If we don't return on time - you will know why!  

I will be sharing our journey to Ming Ming on journeytome. com  (delete spaces)

Click on stories and find Sarah Grace JiangMing

I would love to have you send encouraging words whenever you can! If you get a chance check out the other journals, we have a busy November and December on JTM- many children are coming home!! God's blessings are so great!

I will occasionally be posting on my blogs IF I get a time to do it!

Thank you for sharing our journey! All praise and glory go to our Lord!

We have our TA!!

Everything worked out great!! We are going to China on the 19th of November!! Gotcha Day is Monday, Nov. 24th!! We can hardly wait until our darling daughter is officially part of our family! Welcome Ming Ming!! Your family loves you already! We will all be heading home on the 5th of December! What an incredible blessing! Thank you Jesus!

I need help in the kitchen!

Some of you may have heard that I am not a very good cook. I am hoping with my daughters by my side we can change that - it may be wishful thinking. I have been running around a lot today trying to get everything done before we leave for China, Jim and Matt's birthday (Nov. 21st), Thanksgiving(the fam is going to my brothers), and for this Christmas and what the heck let's get it all done for Christmas 2009, too- okay, just kidding! But, that is how I am feeling!  So, I just sat down to my computer, breathed a huge sigh and started reading the blogs, relaxing, answering e-mails, etc. Anna is relaxing watching sprout TV, Jim is out of town and Johnny just asked for noodles- not too difficult a request! Yes , I can do that! Well 25 minutes later the noodles had pretty much absorbed all the boiling water and were completely inedible. ;-)  As I was running for the pot I called Johnny then I uncalled him when I saw the shape they were in- he yells down the stairs "I love you, Mom"! I am so glad they understand ! I have successfully set the cooking expectations so very low! 

The new water is now boiling- I must go and watch it boil so we don't have a repeat!

By the way Joy unspeakable I was catching up on your blog and chuckling to myself. Does this mean I can blame my ruined noodles on you?

The TA has arrived!!

We are so very excited- today our TA arrived at our agency. They are trying to get us an early CA so we can go to China on the 19th of November! We can hardly wait to be with her in China and then bring her home! God Bless her!! We will keep you posted on our travel schedule but for now I better get moving and finish getting ready!

God's blessings to you!

Thankful Thursday!!

I am a bit of a follower but when you follow good people doing good things it's okay!! I am not sure if there are any rules to this but here goes!

1. I am thankful for a supportive loving husband that thinks his wife's out of the ordinary ideas are good ideas hence adopting at this time of our life!

2. I am thankful for slippers- I love my slippers and I have many of them- cheap and colorful!

3. I am thankful for my dryer that has this setting called wrinkle release! I never iron unless it is a wedding or a funeral.

4. I am thankful for golden retrievers and their delightful and pleasant disposition. Just feed them and occasionally pet them and they love you forever! If you let them in the kitchen they will even clean your floor!

5. I am so so thankful for adoption! For refilling a once quiet home with joy, laughter and children!

6. I am thankful for blogging and journals! I have met so many incredibly wonderful and interesting people from all over the world! It has been so much fun!

7. I'm on my knees in thankfulness to Jesus for the opportunity to adopt Ming Ming  and for our adoption of Anna. Wow, wow, thank you Jesus. Truly this would not be possible without you!

8. I am so thankful for our birth children- whom I puked my guts out for (bad morning sickness). With the first one I said- okay one child , 4 golden retrievers, with the second child I said okay 2 children , 3 golden retrievers and so on... I was persistent back then, too! You guys are the greatest!! 

So, I am not sure how many we are supposed to do... I could go on BUT we have more Thursdays coming up so I will stop here! If there are rules, please let me know!

Here is a pic of our darling daughter Ming Ming!

Yippee Jesus!! Linn, you didn't copyright this phrase, did you? I may need to borrow it now and then! I'm feeling it!

She's Back!

Good news- My beloved camera is back in my arms again! DD Katie immediately upon arriving in Iowa City bubble wrapped it, put it in a box w/ styrofoam peanuts, insured it and overnighted it! Wow, she really understands!! Thanks Katie!!

It also looks like we may not get an update on our darling daughter in China. I am no longer waiting for it and we are now focusing on going to China. If all goes well we are leaving in 19 days!! 

For our Halloween fun please visit our other sight- theprincessdiaries-daughters.blogspot.com

For my views on a topic that I never discuss (except with my Hubby) - politics, please go to my personal blog- simplifysimplifysimplify-jean.blogspot.com-  It will be there sometime today...

Role Reversal

It was a busy morning- Jim is out of town, Johnny has to be up very early (at least it seems very early to us- night owls) and catch a ride to school with a friend, Katie needed to go back to Iowa for work- and of course she had laundry to fold and pack up.  Anna and I had our ECFE class together- so we got her halloween costume on and of course you can't do that without taking pictures! I searched all over for my beloved camera, it was nowhere to be found. I checked again in the usual places and then in the unusual places- nope, no luck. So this morning we went without pics and everyone headed to their destinations. After our ECFE class I returned a call to darling Katie who had now reached the MN/Iowa boarder. She tells me that low and behold my camera was in one of her bags and is now on it's way to IOWA- my response was quick turn around, my thought was "I need that for blogging"! Katie told me  "I can't do that mom, I'll miss work" and then the roll reversal came "Now Mom, don't sweat the small stuff. I can bring it back when I come home in 2 weeks."  Two weeks without my camera- I can't do that, what about my blogging, my beloved hobby. What will all my followers do without pictures for 2 weeks- that there is a joke- I have 2 followers- Hi Lori, Hi Linn! Laura please sign up as a follower so it looks like I have lots of friends! She was then going to send it to me but ya know these cameras break so easily- I guess I will have to wait 2 weeks until it comes home. Until then I will use my clunker- it is a great camera, just large! Even hubby understood! His response was "OH NO, your blogging tool, what will you do without it??" ( Anna says "oh no" all the time- it is so cute!) Thank goodness I have some extra pics to put on the blog

Big Sissy Kate is home!

Katie came home this morning from Iowa!! We went and applied for our Visas- they will be ready Nov. 7th. It is kind of nice when someone in this process gives you an actual date when they will be ready! Now I don't have to "wait" for them! Anna is loving having her sister home! Katie put toenail polish on Anna's toes. She loved it- she was as still as can be throughout the process. In the evening we went and had a massage- ahhhhhh that was nice! Tomorrow we will be shopping and preparing for our trip! Travel class in Nov. 8th- she will be back for that! We are hoping to leave on Nov. 19th or Nov. 26th. We realize that is early and we may not be able to get a consulate appt. but there is another family that wants to travel early with us and our agency is going to give it a try! 

A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

Proverbs 16:9

Bonding time!

The kids have so much fun together! It is such a joy to have Mark home! Johnny missed basketball and hung out all day with him! Anna spent a good portion of the day "hanging out with her brothers. She was so thrilled they were home. It probably gets a little dull for her with just me around! We got Mark the delicious chocolate cake from the neighborhood bakery! We will use any excuse to get that cake! We were supposed to have a family dinner but it was postponed until tomorrow night. Mark went out with friends, Johnny and a buddy babysat Anna and Jim and I had a 2 hour date! Yahoo! We will take what we can get!! We couldn't help ourselves we cut into the cake tonight! Mmmmmmm! Thank you Lord for chocolate cake and for children!

Mark is Home!

Yippee!! Our Mark is home for a weekend visit!! It is felt so good to give him a big hug!! He goes back to Denver on Sunday evening. Right now we are just going to enjoy our time together. I am so happy to have him home! Anna was with us when we picked him up at the airport- she couldn't keep her eyes off him! They have such a wonderful bond!! She so adores him! Right when we got home she grabbed a book and made Mark sit down in Sarah's reading chair with her! 

He is really enjoying DU! I was surprised that has hasn't really had any homesickness. He has always been such a home body. He was our child that never really wanted to go to camp and if he did leave he called twice home a day. Jim has been able to visit him twice on business trip- so that has helped. He is also rooming with a friend from High School at DU so I think that helps, too. Thank you Lord for Marks transition into College, for his safe trip home and for the family time we will have this weekend! You blessings are so great. We are so very grateful to you.

Oh My! I've been tagged again!

I don't know how to put the tag thing on my computer- so when my big boy- Matt comes home I will have him help me! Actually Mark is coming home to visit this weekend so he could help me too! It will be so great to have him home for a couple days! We miss him. Anna will love seeing him!

Sometimes when we are all sitting around talking one of the kids will say "okay, let's talk about something different... let's talk about me".  I think everybody has a little need to share about themselves - and it a good thing for the kids to verbalize this need, especially in a big family!

There are a couple kids that say it more often than the others (nhoj and eitak- secret code). Well, guess what kids!! It's mom's turn! 

Okay so here are 7 more interesting and weird things about me-

1. When I look back at my past jobs I can't believe how perfect they were for me. Each one has been such a blessing and I learned and enjoyed them so much! I have been a nurses aid for the elderly, while in college. Then an RN in OB, newborn nursery and Labor and Delivery unit at a local hospital. After that I was a school nurse and taught health in a level 5 special ed program for teens.  Then I was a public health nurse for newborns and their mothers. Of course my favorite job was being home for 14 yrs. with our children! When I needed to go back to work the dear lord blessed me with a job at a local private school as a school nurse, only 2 miles from my home! I worked with wonderful faith filled people and I loved the children and families at the school! After working 4 years God again touched our lives with the opportunity to be home again and begin an adoption! Alleluia!! Now we are adopting again! Another alleluia!

2. I really like sweets! I have 2 dessert a day. I have not been baking at all for a couple years because many of the children are gone and I would eat it all. I love chocolate chip cookies, Chocolate cake with fudge frosting, choc. carmel bars, chocolate malts, apple pie, apple crisp and the list goes on. When we have Sarah home, I hope we can start baking again! Then Sarah, Anna, Johnny,_____  and  ____, can eat it and of course I will have some, too! The big kids can then have a treat when they stop by home! We have a bakery near our house with the best donuts and chocolate cake! We get the cake whenever we can think of something to celebrate! It didn't seem to agree with my gallbladder BUT that's gone- so let me at it!

3. I love to go to church on Sat. or Sunday evening! Here's the confession part- without my children! I love to sit, pray, listen, and get refueled for the week. My favorite date is Sat eve. church and then out to dinner with my main man! It doesn't happen often but I love it when it does!

4. I rub my feet together like a baby rubs her blankie! It is so comforting and makes me feel relaxed and cozy! 

5. I have homeschooled 2 children for 2 years. I have read many books on homeschooling and reviewed curriculums. I will have 2 local homeschool support groups plus our FCC group. Homeschooling Sarah still feels like such an unknown. I think because I do not know her and I haven't homeschooled for a while. At the same time I am so excited to homeschool her and I think it is important in our situation! But still, I am a bit nervous for it! Yikes, where do I start!

6. I know the people and their children that I have met through "journey to me" but when it comes to the yahoo groups I can't keep anyone straight! Sometimes I get an e-mail and I get the feeling like I have talked to them before or I should know them and for the life of me I have no idea who they are. It's a little embarrassing when they've been waiting with me for an LOA and boom I forget who the heck they are... sorry. I think my brain capacity is full!

7. We have a family full of swipers! Do you know swiper on Dora the explorer? The most recent incident was, are you ready- I hadn't shaved my legs in 3 days and someone lifted the shaver and hijacked the soap. Now you don't find this out unless you are "in the shower"... In order to replace these items you must get out of the shower while dripping wet. Our other issue is- "no one wants to fess up". 

Okay- I am all done! That's enough about me!

Have a great day!

I have no more friends to tag so the party stops here!

Blessings,

Jean

I've been tagged!

I'm new at this game so I will try my best! here goes-

7 facts about me

1. I am passionate about adoption, faith and families! I love big families! As a child I would play "family" and in my favorite family had 13 children! I will keep adopting as long as they let me!

2. I love the baby name game! If anyone needs help naming a child, count me in! Yes, I already know the name of our next child (after Sarah) that we will adopt and I have already started praying for her!

3. I am afraid of the grocery store- I am sure that there is a name for it "grocery store phobia"! (it is not that I am actually afraid of it but I just don't like it so I avoid it, at all cost) I order our groceries on line and have them delivered! Hubby picks up the odds and ends!

4. I love ultra organization but I am a terrible organizer! It's a tough combo to live with!

5. I am a bad cook and I don't enjoy cooking. I love others cooking, though! We would still love to have you over for dinner but it would be something easy, hors de vourse, or we will order out!

6. I enjoy doing laundry but I have accepted the fact that it will never be done! If I find money in the pockets- it's finders keepers losers weepers!

7. I am the worst packer. It causes stress days before I even need to start packing. To me "packing light" is a oxymoron! 

8. I know, I was only supposed to do 7 but every once in a while I bend the rules- I don't like to get dressed up- I am all about casual! Denim or khaki on the bottom- prefer white on the top but every so often I mix in a color!

9. I kind of have a little problem here I keep thinking of more things to say! okay this is my last one- I love going to the dentist! I love having my teeth cleaned by the dental hygenist!! I love the feeling of clean teeth! I also love it when the kids do my hair! With Sarah joining our family I hope to get a few new evening hairdos!!

I am tagging these people!

Lori- JoyUnspeakableandfullofglory.blogspot .com

Cathy- ourleelee.blogspot .com

Lani- anewbabysister.blogspot .com

Linn- aplacecalledsimplicity. blogspot.com

Anna- theprincessdiaries-daughters.blogspot .com

delete spaces!

This is all I have so far!

A Wonderful Get Away for a Family of Four!

Jim, Johnny, Anna and I took a little time away in Phoenix. We had a prepaid vacation and if we didn't use it we would lose it, so off we went to Phoenix! This is what happens when a husband sends his wife and daughter on a free trip to Phoenix to look at time share and the last thing he says is "buy us some time share". He forgot to say "just kidding". Plus when I was there they offered me Hawaii- well, I've never been to Hawaii so I thought being the dutiful wife I am I should take this home and discuss it. So I paid for the extension- hence the our prepaid trip to Phoenix. Obviously after a short discussion we couldn't quite see Hawaii fitting into our adoption plans. Those free trips ARE to good to be true!

Anyways- the 4 of us had a wonderful time away! The weather was perfect for Phoenix- 90's sunny, dry and calm. We went swimming 5 times in 3 days and went to the Zoo!  We ordered out dinners and brought them back to our place because one of us is 2, I am not going to name any names! The pictures will tell the whole story! I now know that a certain someone actually likes really healthy, good food and if it wasn't for that darn Momma of hers she'd be ordering out everyday! 

We had great family time together! Anna is quite the swimmer! She wears water wings and can now paddle around the pool! She knows to close her mouth and she is beginning to go under water! 

We all loved the zoo! It was a bit warm so we did the train ride version! We still saw lots of animals! Anna has a couple friends named Amelia and she likes chameleons. One of her favorite books is "The Mixed Up Chameleon". So they had pretend chameleons at the hotel , which we had to pet everyday! Both the friend and the chameleons are called meal meal- we think it is so cute- but I'm not quite sure that her friends appreciate the name!

Everyday we saw the lawn crew mowing the lawn- I wanted to go out there and tell the guys- this is Phoenix, your brown grass does not grow- take the day off! No one will know!

To top off a wonderful family time we received our LOA while we were gone! It just made that little family adventure even more special! 

We have our LOA!

Today is a great day! We were completely surprised by the arrival of our LOA. We were beginning to come to terms with the fact that it would not be coming for a long time. What a wonderful surprise. Carrie called us from CHSFS but we are on vacation and missed the call so a little later I was checking messages on our computer and it was from Carrie and the title was - your LOA is here. I kept thinking to myself "I am reading that wrong? It doesn't really mean that it is here".  I read it and then said Jim- you read this and it was for real! Our LOA has arrived!! Our darling daughter, Ming Ming is ours! Praise the Lord. We are so very thankful to God for this dream come true! I can't even think straight I am so excited!! We want to go to China ASAP! We will be back home tomorrow and we will sign the papers early Monday morning- hopefully they will go to China right AWAY! It is going to be a busy and exciting time around our house!

Yippee Jesus!! I will add pics when I get home!

Peak Season for Fall Colors!

Okay- I love having 3 blogs and one journal but I may drive myself crazy trying to update them all! Plus there is a lot of repetition going on...

I have heard of other families saying this and it is now true with our family. With many of our experiences and outings other family members are saying " so will you be blogging about this too?" You betcha- it's all blog material! A joyful beautiful fall day, a walk in a state park, peak season for fall colors and on top of that, an adorable 2 yr old. I think it is time for some great pics!!