remembrance leads us to worship

2 years ago today, we became a family of three.

Each year until Bo is 18, we have to send a post-placement report to our adoption agency.

It's an awesome opportunity to reflect on all that has happened the past year,

and all that has happened since we welcomed Bo into our family.

The ways we've grown.

The ways he has shaped us.

The lessons we've learned.

The memories we've made.

The other day, I was listening to a Spotify playlist, and Matt Redmond's song "Remembrance" came on.

The lyrics are really beautiful, and there's one line that says:

"Lord, we remember You, and remembrance leads us to worship."

And that's how I feel every time I reflect on our adoption process and Bo's life.

When I think about how God led us to Bo and made him a part of US...

I'm overwhelmed by His faithfulness and goodness.

Happy 2-year Family Day, Bo.

We love you so much.

our house: upstairs

Well, 7 months later, I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of the upstairs of our house.

I posted pictures of the downstairs & attic back in August.

I always feel like I need a disclaimer whenever I post poor-quality pictures.

I've been pretty lazy about photography and haven't spent much time trying to get good indoor pics.

Consider yourselves warned.

So, heading upstairs:

Bo's room is to the right at the top of the stairs: 

Please notice his "fort" that he's been sleeping in the past few nights...

Behind the curtains is his closet (we're hoping to put doors on there someday).

Upstairs hallway:

Current "catch-all" room, and Bo's future "big boy room". 

I actually just ordered fabric for curtains yesterday! 

I'm thinking we'll strip the hockey wallpaper border, 

and paint the walls either light gray or light brown and paint the trim white.

View of the room from the opposite corner. 

This room actually isn't carpeted - it has a custom cut rug.

I think that will also go and we'll just get a big area rug.

This is the guest room - aka, the most consistently neat room of the house.

This room has a huge master closet, which I've made my little craft room for the time being.

Then we have the upstairs bathroom. This is the other room (besides the kitchen) that we've redone.

We did this back in November. Bo looks so tiny.

Before:

 Getting started peeling wallpaper:

 And I had to include this picture because it's the first time I've ever done spackling!

Granted... my dad did the lion's share, but I patched a few nail holes!

AFTER:

And finally, our bedroom.

 & closet:

Not pictured: the other side of our bedroom with wonky dressers
& overflowing box of donations for Goodwill...
and definitely not pictured: our bathroom. My humility only goes so far.

I'm wanting to do a "Young House Love" style post,
where I list everything I'd like to change about the house.
But the truth is, it's totally livable, and we're not in a rush to update.
We ARE in the process of re-doing the one room for Bo, and then we'll see what happens next!

paint & peek

new experiences for busy little hands...

 smiles of excitement...

 painting is better without pants...

 i could watch his hands all day...

taking his art very seriously ...

sitting back to contemplate his creation ...

So this is a little corner of our kitchen.

Behind the curtain is an interesting little open space where the previous owners had shelves.

I'd like to turn it into some little kid-craft station, I think.

 But for now it makes a pretty sweet hiding spot.

christmas-ing

|1| 

Our Christmas season started Saturday after Thanksgiving,

going over to County House Road to get our Christmas tree!

|2| 

What's Christmas tree hunting without festive snacks?!

|3| 

Bo was happy to see Dudley at County House Christmas Trees...

so happy he tried to share his hat.

|4|

 Serious search for the perfect tree.

|5|

 Jim helps Bo peek at the snowmobiles.

|6|

 Bo's Charlie Brown tree...

|7|

 Beast mode Em, carrying our tree to the car.

|8|

 We forgot to get a picture while our tree was still standing. Oops.

|9|

 Whatever Doug does, Bo must also do.

|10|

 Lights in windows. Forever my favorite Christmas decor.

|11|

 Love our house.

|12| 

Admiring the lights on the tree.

|13|

Love having holly berry on our property.

|14|

Little touches of holiday cheer.

|15|

Early morning snow angels with my little snow angel.

|16|

Warming up by the fire.

 |17| 

I wish this picture had sound effects - the slurping noises are out of control.

 |18|

A very Perhardt Christmas celebration.

 |19|

Getting holly & jolly with some of our favorites.

|20|

Christmas Puppy Chow.

|21|

'Tis the season for Excelsior Chocolates!! 

I'm hoping to do a post solely about these exquisite treats.

|22|

Getting ready for snowy fun: "Help Daddy shovel."

 |23| 

A cute pic, interrupted by an over-eager beast.

 |24|

My boys playing in the snow. Bo still laughs about "snow daddy head", 

which is happening in this picture.

 |25|

Excited for some Christmas cookies.

|26|

I told Bo to stir the "M's" in, and this is what happened.

The weekend before Christmas, we went to Michigan to celebrate with the Partons.

We got to see several friends, and Bo was reunited with lots of little buddies.

|27|

Musical activities with Caleb.

|28|

Jungle Java with the Van Winks!!

|29|

Love the work that God is using these sweet friends for, but hate how far away they are.

Sidenote: I did not notice until I saw this picture up close... 

apparently my son is wearing a midriff-baring shirt...

 |30|

Best holiday smell? Quite possibly. 

 |31|

We got a little snow.

 |32|

Christmas mantle + laziest dog.

|33|

'Twas the Eve of Christmas...

|34|

Trying to enjoy a Christmas tradition... but it went... much like last year.

Except we didn't even make it through the book this year.

Bo was sick, and only wanted to read his Christmas Carol book.

Ah. Maybe next year.

 |35|

This year, Bo quickly understood that there was STUFF in his stocking.

 |36|

AND, Santa brought Bo a "tar". 

 |37|

We went to my parents' for Christmas dinner.

Poor Bo wasn't feeling well, and needed some quiet Daddy time.

|38|

Mom's annual Christmas "schedule".

|39|

Zach, Michele & Sam came for Christmas and we enjoyed a nice visit with them.

They asked me to take some maternity pics of their family. 

|40|

I spy PeeWee.

We wrapped up the Christmas season with Bannister Christmas on New Year's Eve.

(could I include any more holidays in that last sentence?!)

And that was Christmas 2013!