The Richardsons

The kids and I road-tripped to Oklahoma City while Mommy got to stay in Minneapolis and enjoy a Thanksgiving "break." She had to work 3 of the 4 days we're away...but I'm guessing she didn't mind TOO much!! We left Tuesday night at 8pm and arrived Wednesday morning at 7:30. The kids slept 10 of the 11.5 hours...and I must say overnight is the only way to go! Auntie Amber was here with Maddie and Baby Eli - who we got to meet for the first time. Ben joined us Wednesday night and we had an awesome Thanksgiving dinner Thursday afternoon. They left Friday night...and then Akins ("Junior") came Saturday morning and we had a really fun time w/ Val, Lorea and Joyce at the park by Lake Hefner. We leave tonight at 7pm and hope to be home Sunday morning at 7am...just in time for me to go to bed and get up in time for the Vikings game Sunday night. Enjoy the photos!!

I was tired of the kids passing by Thanksgiving and focusing on what THEY want for Christmas. So in a first of its kind experiment for me I decided to teach them that Christmas was about giving, not receiving. I told them they each had to take money from their piggy bank and we would go to the toy store and they had to pick out something for each of their siblings. If they wanted something that was more than they could afford, they could team up with the extra sibling to get something for the third. In the meantime we could look for gifts for their cousins. Such a nice plan it was. In reality it fit into the category of what was I thinking? Emmanuel immediately took off with his own shopping cart, one he could barely see over, so he ran into everything not cemented to the ground and promptly found the car and truck aisle. He filled his shopping cart to the brim with every car and truck imaginable, the louder the better. Annie and Abegail hit the doll aisle and proceeded to ...

The 1st and 2nd graders at Abegail's school put on a musical show the other night and Abegail got to read a bunch of lines all by herself. She did awesome and we're really proud of her!

photo taken by Scott's cell phone Our camera broke. (somebody knocked it into the wall) BUT we got it fixed and now its back. In the meantime we were FORCED to take video of the kids. Abegail had a Thanksgiving program at school on Thursday and we hope to post it soon, as soon as Scott figures out how to edit it. I have no patience for figuring stuff like that out. Abegail did make her first Reconciliation on Tuesday night. That is where you go to your first confession. In the catholic church, it usually happens before you get ready for your first communion which Abegail will have in May. They encourage the parents to go to confession too. I went at the same time as Abegail (Father Steve brought in a lot of priest friends so it wouldn't take so long) and when I came back Abegail says, "Mommy, you took a long time." I said, "I have A LOT of sins." Which of course Emmanuel had already told Daddy in the form of, "Mommy must have been very ...

The African adoption blogs were fairly busy when Barack Obama won the presidency. I let Abegail stay up and watch a little. I knew this was something she would think back on and remember where she was. This is not political. It's about a new identity figure for our black kids. Too often they are seeing black people on the news as defendants in murder and rape trials, residents of homeless shelters, and pulled over on the side of the road in handcuffs. Now there is someone new they can look up to. Someone who's hard work paid off. I am constantly aware that I am the future mother of a black man. The world will not be the same for him as it is for his white father. But just maybe he will see a black man as president as much as he sees those mug shots. Here's some of the reaction written: Politics and issues aside. Our new President elect has already made an impact on my six year old African American son who picked up our newspaper today and said "He looks just like me...

So Annie and I blocked off 2 hours this morning when we could go vote. And of course we spent 5 minutes in line...and 5 minutes in the booth! WAHOO!! Annie didn't really vote (no voter fraud accusations please)...but she did want to help me fill in all those circles!! I won't confirm whether or not I let her. Then it was off to Starbucks for me! Free coffee...what a country!! I gotta say...I'm feelin' pretty BLUE today!!!

This Halloween, the Richardsons are wishing you a big heart, only nice witches, and you find an easy way home! Baby Watch: Sophia had her baby girl Thursday morning at 1:30. Alexandra Rae Inman weighed 6 pounds and 14 ounces. They are hoping to go home from the hospital this afternoon. Proud Daddy Jack with his new baby girl