Sugarplums dancing in our heads...

Yep...the sugar count just goes up and up!

Prince Liam the Brave

If you haven't checked out their website (see the left side of my blog), you ought to. Liam is fighting Neuroblastoma...you may have seen his mom's foundation, Cookies for Cancer, on TV or in magazines. I came to know him through a friend who knows his mom. I am continually inspired by their fortitude and strength while they cope with an incredibly difficult situation. Both Liam and his parents amaze me. Their story is difficult to read but reminds me, especially in this rushed crazy holiday season, to take time to enjoy your loved ones, enjoy family, enjoy life. They do even while fighting a horrible disease. If you are looking for a last minute gift for that impossible person to buy for, check out Cookies for Cancer. They have yummy treats and you are helping children fight cancer!

Happy Holidays!!!!

I love to put up all the decorations Thanksgiving weekend. That way I can enjoy the holidays as long as possible! Declan and Rich have made a tradition of putting the star on the tree.
Declan and I (along with our neighbors) attended the Harrisburg Tree Lighting which has become a tradition for us. We always wait in line to see Santa who always arrives on a firetruck!
And then on to our development's kid holiday party. Declan loves seeing Santa 2 days in a row! He especially loves that one of the kid activities is to decorate a cupcake with as much icing and sprinkles you can pile on!

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

Adoption update

Just wanted to let everyone know that we have changed our age range for the adoption. We had previously asked for a child from 0-12 months, either gender. We are now asking for a child 0-42 months, still either gender. There are a list of reasons for us to do this but mostly because we feel like it is what is right for our family!

Thanksgiving Day

We spent a blustery Thanksgiving Day at the Carolina's Carousel Parade here in Charlotte. We had a great time...even had a giant turkey balloon!

Great site!!!

A great site to get that perfect gift for someone...

She makes beautiful Ethiopia jewelry which is of course why I like her but there is all kinds of good stuff on www.etsy.com/shop/JUNKPOSSE

Halloween and other stuff

Declan with his scary teeth...provided hours of enjoyment.

Declan went trick or treating with one of his "best friends" Maggie.


Just had to throw in the turkeys we made for Thanksgiving!



And one of our cool musician...

NC Zoo

We spent a beautiful day at the NC Zoo in Asheboro, NC.

Declan has now declared that Flamingos are his new favorite animal!

One of the great challenges in life...can you get a picture of people while they are going around and around... This carousel is unique because it has a polar bear you can ride!

Declan and Rich generating their own energy which makes a large sculpture move all around!

Karen is 40

October is a busy birthday month for the Kings...I turned 40 this month. I am sitting on one of my wonderful presents. We were in desperate need of a new couch and seeing as we are adopting and we recently had to put a new AC unit in, furniture was out of the question. So, it was a wonderful surprise!

I had a great evening out the night before the big 4-0 and then spent my birthday with family! One of my oldest and closest friends, Dani, came in from Atlanta to celebrate the big day!!! I don't feel a day over...40.

Declan is 5

Well, actually a couple of weeks ago. My computer has decided to make it hard to get to my pictures and until we figure out how to win the war, I am slow at posting! Declan was so excited to turn 5. The days leading up to his birthday were met each morning with, "Daddy, do I look 5 today?" He chose the cake he wanted (covered with M&Ms) which led him to realize he likes peanut M&Ms...always a good thing to know.

Baby dolls from Nana...yes, he requested them. I suspect since we are waiting for a baby he wanted to get in some practice. Nana got him boy and girl twins...perfect since one of his "best" friends is the boy of boy/girl twins.

Yep, turning him into a NASCAR fan. We actually pull for Denny Hamlin #11 because we have a friend who works for him. It has been fun though to be involved since NASCAR is huge here. We live about 4 miles from the speedway, can hear the cars on turn 1 (?), and my school overlooks the dragstrip and speedway. You would think that was prime real estate, not really, the dragstrip is insanely loud!


Football guys are a new favorite toy. They do other things like ice skate, wrestle, etc. but are tons of fun. You can buy them with specific college team logos on them too!

Adoption update

Well, not really anything to tell but lots of people have been asking so thought I would tell you where we are. Families most recently matched with a child under 12 months of age with few known health concerns began their wait in June 2008. We began our wait in December of 2008. Although it appears to be only 6 more months for our turn, it is impossible to know how many families turned in their dossiers. So, we could be waiting 6 months for a referral or another 12. You just don't know. Our agency does not give numbers out because they believe it is difficult to tell you where you are since everyone's situation in different. So while we wait, we will update our fingerprints, our permission to bring an orphan into the country and our home study. We also continue to love on Declan all we can, clean out our computer/guest room for our newest member and enjoy all the time together we can. Although we are eager to start on the next part of this journey, we realize that all things come in good time!!!

Where in the world is that tshirt?

Dani and Giuliana sporting the latest in tshirt wear!

C'mon people. I know there are more tshirts out there and I hope you are wearing them. Take a picture in front of your house, your town sign, your kid's school, where you work, some wierd statue in your town. Send a note along when you email it and we'll include it in our newest family member's scrapbook. I want this child to see all the people that supported us!

Army 10 miler

We have a tradition now of running the Army 10 miler in memory of our friend David Taylor. David loved running the Army 10 milers and so now it is done in his honor. My little brother Evan joined Rich in the fun this year. After a day of touring we had a little mini high school reunion at our friend John Chase's house. John's wife, Heather, made us a yummy cake with great skill!

We were joined at John's by the Souths and Henns.

Daddy and Declan after the race

Uncle E, Daddy and Declan in front of the pentagon.
After the race, we went to the Pentagon memorial for those killed on 9/11. A very moving tribute to those who lost their lives.

Washington D.C.

We recently hit D.C. for the weekend. We there for the Army 10 miler and to do some tourist stops since Declan hadn't really ever seen anything. On his wish list, riding the Metro which he thoroughly enjoyed. I believe, "Wow, this is awesome" was his favorite statement.

He also wanted to see the White House. He is a big Obama fan, not sure why but he has liked him since the beginning of his campaign. We find this odd since he doesn't watch TV, listen to the radio or read the newspaper. But he would see his picture and say, "I like him." Don't know what to say about the hat thing. He wore it like this much of the day!

Contemplating his future run for the White House.



WW II Monument. Our first trip there and well worth it. Declan was a little worn out by this point and informed us, "I think monuments were not made for kids. We kids think that monuments are boring." It is nice to know that a family member of ours can speak for all kids!

My first triathlon...

Here I am preparing at the crack of dawn. I actually look happy there! It was not a great race day, rainy and kind of chilly. I did a women's only triathlon in the Ramblin' Rose series.

And we leap to the finish, my favorite part.
Our medal is the necklace hanging around my neck. It was very girly oriented. Thought you'd like the typical Karen look on my face.

Rich needed to document my age for the race!!!

The ever travelling t shirt

My brother Evan finishing the Akron Half Marathon!!! Way to go Evan!!!

Dave and his boys Erik and Kyle in front of OSU's football stadium, the Horseshoe! Go Buckeyes!

Our bonus picture from Dave!!!

The latest in t shirts....

The first picture is from Rich's college friend Shawna...and her 3 kids. They are stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY, home of calvary and armor. Since we are both Army brats, this of course is a great picture to us!!!

Our next picture is from Jill, one of our Charlotte friends. Jill and I met our first day of work and soon became friends as well as our husbands. Oddly, both of our husbands had moved to Charlotte alone, at the same time, and were living alone for several months about 5 minutes from each other. Jill is in front of the school we used to teach at and I emphasize used to. It was let us say....an experience! It made me chuckle that she chose there, the place that drew us together!!!! Great picture Jill!

Sseko

A blog I follow led me to this site...check it out...a great gift idea for the holidays...they even do weddings!

Sseko {say.co} Designs was created as a Not-Just-For-Profit business that will help bright young women continue their education. The Ugandan school system is designed with a nine month gap between secondary school and university. These nine months are intended to allow time for students to earn money for tuition before continuing on to university. However, in an impoverished and male dominated society, many of these young women struggle to find fair work during this time.

Sseko Designs hires recent secondary school graduates for this nine month period to live and work together, while earning money that will go directly towards their university education. These women will not make sandals forever. They will go on to be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers and teachers that will bring change and unification to a country divided and ravished by a 22 year-long war.

Sseko Designs is a for-profit enterprise that recognizes the power of business and responsible consumerism to support sustainable economic development, which in turn affects a country's educational, justice, and health care systems. The goal of Sseko Designs is two-fold: provide university tuition for these promising young women through a sustainable monthly income, while also contributing to the overall economic development of Uganda.

Although consumerism makes many empty promises, responsible and proactive consumerism has the ability to change lives. Like the lives of Mercy, Mary and Rebbecca.

Every sandal has a story. This story has only just begun, but with your help, it will be a story of hope, success and change

Go to http://www.ssekodesigns.com/ to learn more!

And now we introduce to you....

Rich King....male nurse!!!! Rich passed his practical test to finish his Nursing degree!!! We are so proud of him!

In this economy

Today as we drove home from Super Target there were firemen raising money for a charity. They were at a stoplight with their boots and we gave them some change. Declan found this interesting. Later on he was playing firefighter and said they raising funds. He had his fire hat on (only that, it was a naked day) and was holding out another fire hat for donations. He explained to me that all the firefighters had to take a pay cut and they needed money to keep fighting fires. I, of course, donated to their cause...they only had $1.01. We have told him about people losing their jobs, me taking a pay cut, etc. It is amazing how they work it all into play! Thankfully I think they raised enough money to keep working!

Making you all look....

a little not on top of things. Here are Suzanna (Rich's cousin), husband Brandon and a guest appearance by Brandon's dad.....

Canoeing on the Charles River in Boston

With John Harvard at...you guessed it Harvard.

On top of Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire. Not sure how they got there.

Still canoeing on the Charles River!

Still waiting for the rest of you to send us those pictures!!! Think of someplace that is you, doesn't have to be the top of a mountain but something unique to you or where you live or how we know you!!!!