We'd love your input!!!

We have been told we can put together an album for the boys...pictures to help them have a better idea of who we are and where they will be living and what life is like. We are so excited!!! We are going to include pictures of us, the dog, the outside of the house, their bunk beds, the living room and kitchen, the backyard and our van. We'd love to know if you can think of any other pictures that might be something that would help them get used to their new home quicker. We figured you all might think of something we did not...so feel free to comment...there are no wrong answers!

Comments

Holly said…
maybe some toys, a local park that you go to, some of the kids favorite foods, your church, children's church, OH! the kids all bundled up when you were at your parents house over Christmas! I'll keep thinking!
Tyffany said…
The picture of the kids with the giant snowman!
Matt5verse6 said…
Maybe pictures of a "normal" or average day so they will know what to expect and feel they are already a part of it when they enter your home. Maybe a picture of the children eating breakfast (with a couple of boxes of cereal, fruit, oatmeal, etc. on the table so they can identify what they are eating and maybe recognize something they like), a picture of the children doing their homeschool studies, "free" time with the Wii, lunch time, dinner time, family devotion time, story time, get ready for bed time, and bedtime...night, night. :)
The Nanny said…
And don't forget pictures of their four beautiful and handsome grandparents ;-) They have to see PaPa and Grammy, and Gramps and Nanny. Can you imagine when they see all the cousins? Prayerfully, when they are all together, they will have so much fun! I wonder about the language 'barrier', but with kids, they seem to be able to communicate just fine. It will be so precious! Some good suggestions have been given to you already. I want to get them a special stuffed animal that's just theirs. I want to get them out in the mail next week (or maybe even by Friday of this week). You can take a pic of them, and then when they come and see them on their beds, they will know they are for them. Or, maybe you have already done that, or are going to do that. If so, just let me know. I'll talk to you about it. Include some of the special things your family likes to do together ... games, Wii, bicycles, baseball! Of course BASEBALL.
For His Glory said…
Wow, what great suggestions!! I was going to say their beds with a paper laying on it which says their names such as "Samuel's bed" or "Kaleab's bed"...Of course you have to have their beds though :) Or a pic with a banner of the whole family with that says "We LOve YOu Samuel and Kaleab" or "We are praying for you"...Maybe a picture of one of the kids holding a picture of the boys pic so the boys can see the reality of their pic in their family's hand...
sbenedetti said…
I was thinking they needed to have many pictures of their new Aunt Stacey. Especially since Beau seems to think they'll be living here! :)

How about one pic of SVC kids? I love all these ideas. They're great.

Do you get to write something about the pictures in the album?

Love you
Guys...thanks so much...the ideas honestly are great!!! Now I just have to go and implement them all :)
I'll let you know what ends up in the album!
Mom...you and Bryan think alike...he said the same thing about the stuffed animals. In fact, we bought 2 on Friday to take with us to Ethiopia....But if you still want to send them one...Please do!!! Maybe I will like yours better than the ones we found...I still was hoping to find a frog :) Your grandkids sleep with more than one stuffed animal :) It's up to you, though!
And yes, we do get to write what they are on each picture...I guess I need to get some sort of sticker or something or just write on the back...I didn't think about that...
Anonymous said…
You already have lots of good ideas of pictures to include. Something we did to our albums was to put little white labels below people and write their names. We also labeled whose bed was whose in the room. That ended up being key when the girls came home and knew exactly which bed was theirs! Especially since I had chosen two different colors for the comforters - so there were no fights. :-)

Our girls really enjoyed seeing photos of the state we live in. In fact, we sent a small picture book with our albums so they could see where they would come to live.

Oh, one more thing. We did two albums so each girl had their own. They still get them out to look at them - almost a year after coming home. When we were getting ready for Christmas and I was explaining who would be there they got out their albums and I showed them the pictures of different family members they could expect to show up.

Congratulations on your two new sons and know that the wait is just as you said, part of God's perfect timing. He will use this time while you wait for His good purposes.
Lori, if you happen to read this...thanks so much for the comment. I was intrigued so I clicked on your name and got sent to your blog! I am looking forward to reading it. And I am open for any and all suggestions you may have!!!