Statue of Liberty or bust...

My Nephew Jason, his wife, Naomi, and their two foster children Kaysea and Michael, and my niece Mackenzie, are visiting us, and yesterday we took them to see the Statue of Liberty.  We took a ferry to Ellis Island and then to Liberty Island, and spent the day going through museums and climbing into the Pedestal of the Statue - tried to go to the crown but you need a month's advance booking to do it - bummer!  But it was still amazing!!!  Mackenzie and Naomi did the picture taking, so I have to "steal" pictures from them for you to see, but here's a teaser...

Ladies and Gentlemen.....

ELLI DANCES...

AND SINGS!!

Merry The Day After Christmas!!

The Kopp household was a busy place yesterday!!!  Our first Christmas in New Jersey proved to be a wonderful one.  We were all totally spoiled, not only by eachother, but by our family.  I knew the UPS drivers' names by Christmas.;)  We didn't have a white Christmas, but we sure are having a very very very white day AFTER Christmas. The airports in Newark and Philly have delayed many flights, the Eagles game has been cancelled, and we are bracing ourselves for 12 - 18 inches today!!  (We are praying hard that Jason, Naomi, K and M, and Mackenzie get here tomorrow!!)  I kid you not, it is snowing and blowing!!!! The kids are all bundled up and playing outside. But, before he went out, Brandon put together a little movie (ok, a pretty medium sized movie) of our Christmas season, set to one of his favorite Christmas songs...I Saw Three Ships...Enjoy...

(Scroll down and pause the player to listen to the movie)

Some pictures from today too...(Brandon was doing the video)

Day 24 - Merry Christmas Eve!!!

The boys camped out downstairs last night...Elli woke them all up early today...

"Merry Christmas Eve, Bam Bam!"

*Just adding a side note here to ask you to continue to bombard heaven with prayers for Olga and Kareen.  Olga had 2 families looking into adopting her, and for some reason, both have backed out.  God has a family for Olga, please pray that they step forward quickly as Olga does not have much time left before she is sent to the institution.  My heart is aching this Christmas Eve as I hope and pray for these two beautiful little girls!

Day 23 - Mary's Boy Child

As you all know, from previous posts, my kids and I have been doing a lot of baking. The majority of this baking is given away to teachers, neighbors, the mailman, CAP and Scout leaders, and friends. Yesterday, Joshua and I went to the houses of the neighbors we have met, and we delivered our bundles of yumminess. Our neighbors' responses were all pretty much the same...dumb foundedness and questioning looks, followed by what Joshua described as "odd moments of silence", where upon Joshua would back away and say "well..Merry Christmas." When we described this scene to my husband, he laughed and said "that's New Jersey for you"... or something to that effect. These neighbors all have Christmas decorations up...Christmas trees in their front windows, Christmas lights on their houses, Christmas wreaths on their front doors...and still the Spirit of Christmas escapes them. How sad! Christmas history, just like so much of World and American history, has been lost in the shuffle of self-interest. I am so thankful that our family has not forgotten that this is the time of year when the greatest gift of all time was given to mankind - Jesus! In my husband's family, when he was growing up, a birthday cake was made for Jesus every Christmas. I am thankful for this family tradition - stay tuned for pictures of our birthday celebration. For now...

Day 22 - Aurther's perfect Christmas...

I do believe this Christmas will be "magical", just like the song says.  Olga has broken the $12,000 mark, and Kareen's account is growing.  Not only that, but word has it that there are currently many miracles happening behind the scenes, that will be made public after the first of the year.  I am asking that everyone keep praying.  Patti, Brandon, and I have been emailing some radio shows in hopes of getting some national publicity for this cause.  So please keep praying for Miracles this Christmas!!!

Elli taking some steps...

Day 21 - Hot, hot, hot...

Every year, we set up our train around the Christmas tree. Elli and the twins love to play with it.

Day 20 - Where are you Christmas...

The Season of Joyful Giving...yes, to all our loved ones, but this year also to Olga, Kareen, and the other kids at Reece's Rainbow.  God is doing some major miracles this Christmas, miracles that are changing lives.  This is the best Christmas ever!!

Mommy making her traditional Cinnamon Pecans...

Peppermint Bark...

Brandon's trick to cooling the Peppermint Bark quickly...put it in the snow... 

Jay and Ray were on dish duty.... 

Sugar Cookies... 

 Anyone want to join us for a little sugar?

Day 19 - While You Were Sleeping

This weekend, we have been busy decorating trees and getting the house ready for Christmas.

Day 18

Happy Anniversary Babe!  Seventeen years today!  I love you!

Day 17 - White Christmas and Christmas Miracles...

Yesterday afternoon it started to snow. We didn't get a foot or two - maybe not even an inch or two - but it was beautiful to wake up to snow today....

Pjs and, in all the excitement, shoes on the wrong feet...

And...while you are listening to Bing and a classic Christmas favorite, I will update you on Olga, and introduce you to Kareen...

Today on Patti's Blog, you can go and read it for yourself by clicking on the red words, we were updated that there are several families that have stepped up to adopt not just Olga, but several other children from Reece's Rainbow.  I am in tears writing this!!  Your prayers and donations have brought not just a family for Olga, but families for several of these "cast off" children in Europe!!  If you go to Patti's blog and Reece's Rainbow you can read about how there is not a shortage of families for these children, but a shortage of funds.  I also urge you to look into the organization Reece's Rainbow and see what an amazing organization this is.  Everyone working for this cause is a volunteer and profits nothing, except the knowledge that by their actions they are partaking in an amazing plan that God has for these children.  God has a plan, and by taking action and responding and doing everything that can be thought of...blogging, give-aways, prayer...Patti, and everyone else who donates, prays, blogs, or TAKES ACTION in another way, on these children's behalf, is bringing attention to a cause that OBVIOUSLY is on God's heart.  I urge you to go to Patti's blog and read about all the obstacles that have come against this cause.  There is no doubt that God has used everyone to bring about His hearts desire.  It is the action of individuals, the emotional, Spiritual, and physical (in this case the physical being money) investment by individuals, that God uses.  What an AWESOME thing, that God can use someone like me - not highly intellectual or incredibly talented - but someone who simply chose to take a few moments to blog and pray about some little children in an orphanage in Europe.  I am asking you to please keep these kids at Reece's Rainbow in your prayers.  "Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." Prov. 24:12  There are so many children just like Olga.  Kareen is one of them...

Today on Patti's blog, a new give-away has begun.  An I-Pad is being given away to one lucky person who donates to Kareen or Olga, and comments about it on Patti's blog.  A little Christmas Miracle brought some Miracle Money to Patti in the mail - literally - and she used it to purchase an I-Pad for another give-away.  Once again, I urge you to go to Patti's blog and read about all that is taking place.  Your Christmas Spirit will get a CHARGE that will separate this Christmas from all the rest.  Check it out.

Day 16! Home-made music...

Today's song is a song that was made up by Brandon's 6t grade class - 4 years ago.  It is a silly song, but all my kids love to sing it - even the twins!!  Follow the words and see if you can sing along...

(Scroll down and pause the player before viewing!)

Day 15 - Santa Claus is Coming To Town

Last night, Santa came down our street on a big, red firetruck. It was very cold out, but we all ran out to the corner and got to see him as he drove past. Rumor has it that he was throwing out candy canes earlier, but we think he ran out before he got to us.

JUST A SIDE NOTE HERE - THOUGHT YOU WOULD ALL LIKE TO KNOW THAT OLGA'S ADOPTION GRANT GREW TO $10,200.  PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE FOR THIS LITTLE GIRL.  AND...THERE ARE TONS MORE GIVEAWAYS ON PATTI'S BLOG - MACY'S DONATED A 100$ GIFT CARD, THERE ARE ORNAMENTS, SCRAPBOOKING SUPPLIES, STILL THE IPOD TOUCH, AND MANY OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONATED TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR OLGA!!  ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DONATE TO OLGA AND LEAVE A COMMENT ON PATTI'S BLOG.  ONE MORE THING, IF YOU GO TO THE BOTTOM OF pATTI'S BLOG, YOU CAN SEE WHO IS VISITING THE BLOG AND FROM WHERE - CURRENTLY THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM 78 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES READING THE BLOG AND DONATING TO OLGA - THIS IS WHAT YOUR PRAYERS HAVE DONE!!(CLICK ON THE RED WORDS TO GET TO THE BLOG)

Day 14- Hippo Day!!!

Elli loves to wrestle with her brothers in the morning...

When she sees them in the morning she gets so excited...

Reagan loves it as much as she does...