Zoie bug had so much fun at our church’s big bash, October 31st Party!! We also took her trick or treating at the Branson Landing. Every store had treats for the kiddos.

Daddy and his bug.

Hannah & BF Alli (its a waterbottle)

Rahel Blackwell & Zoie with super nerds.

Rae Rae & Hannah

We love dressing up and going trick or treat, but the best part is carving pumpkins.

Large scary spider lost in a fro… spooky!

We love carving pumpkins!  It’s been a tradition for many years… the kids dig out the guts of the pumpkin and dad carves the face.  Now that they are older, they can make their own crazy carvings.  Zoie had so much fun sitting on the table watching in confused wonder.  Bloggy friends, I’d love to hear fun and crazy stories from your family archives at pumpkin season.

Love is blind. This is the amazing story of Pandu, the 5 year old miracle boy from India.  If you are interested in learning more about adoption… don’t miss this video!  Their journey is captured this month in People Magazine and CBS News. I want to hear your comments.

People will adopt older kids. They’ll adopt disabled kids and neglected kids. Kids who can’t read, kids who can’t talk – there are people willing to adopt.  But all those things in one child? CBS News Correspondent Steve Hartman reports there are few who want that.

Born blind, Pandu was dumped at a hospital gate in India. At the orphanage, he was the one child who was there year after year, until last year. That’s when the 5-year-old got swept up by a Denver couple who said he was just what they were looking for: a little boy with his father’s eyes.

Jason Fayre teaches blind people how to be self-sufficient. So when he and his wife Lalena, who can see, decided to adopt they chose not to just give any child a home, but to give one special child a real chance – a chance he would have never had otherwise.

“I think we can offer something to a blind child that maybe a lot of other families can’t,” said Jason.

Pandu is so much better than when they got him. After 5 years in a crib with virtually no human contact, they say Pandu was almost wild. But a year later he’s in a mainstream preschool, and he’s beginning to speak for the very first time. He’s even learning the finer points of picking out a pumpkin.  Of course, he chose a Braille one; like father like son.  “Pandu and him have always kind of had this connection,” said Lalena.

Although it’ll be years before Pandu can fully appreciate the enormity of his good fortune, there’s no doubt he understands something pretty special is happening to him.

You don’t have to be a blind man to see that.
Fayre Family Blog

I have made a special collection of books, clothing, and accessories that help us celebrate adoption… a few of my favorite things.  I have the “store” posted under top tab My Crazy Stuff/Adoption Boutique. You can click on any item, as well as purchase them through my safe site.  It takes a few seconds for “boutique” to download.  Please let me know what is missing from my shopping list. I’d love to add any suggestions you have.  Happy shopping!

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Hands down, poppy seed chicken is my family’s favorite meal.  This dish is a cure for the comfort food craving and is a good casserole to take when you need something for a potluck.  Bloggy friends, let me know if your crazy family digs this yummy dish.

• 5 to 6 skinless chicken breasts
• salt
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 – 8oz can of cream of chicken soup
• 1- 8oz can of cream of mushroom soup
• 8 oz sour cream
• 2 tbl of lemon juice
• Ground pepper
• Ritz crackers
• 1 stick of butter
• Poppy seeds

Slow fix: Boil the chicken breasts in salty water and a couple of celery stalks – boil, then simmer for a couple of hours. Quick fix: Cut chicken in bite size pieces and rapid boil until fully cooked.

When the chicken breasts are ready you will want to take them out of the broth and into a large mixing bowl. While still hot – shred the chicken up. I have a shallow stainless steel mixing bowl that I love for this kind of mixing.

Once you have all the chicken shredded add 1 can of Cream of Chicken soup and 1 can of Cream of Mushroom – mix in. Then add the sour cream and mix thoroughly.

Mix in the lemon juice and ground pepper – we do extra pepper because we like it! Once you have mixed, you can put in a casserole dish or my mother in law uses a 9″ square pan.

Then take out three to four ‘stacks’ of Ritz crackers. Just crush the crackers in “stack” one at a time and spread over the bottom (crust) and top.

Then sprinkle the poppy seeds over the top. As much or as little as you would like. While you are sprinkling melt one stick of butter. I do this in a glass measuring cup in the microwave. If you are making this ahead of time don’t do the butter step- just put the casserole in the refrigerator for later. Do the butter step when you are ready to cook.

Death by butter…pour the melted butter evenly over the top of the Ritz crackers.

You are ready to bake! 350 degrees for 30 minutes. If you refrigerated it will probably take about 45 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees.  I serve with brocolli or any kind of green vegetable…it looks nice. Enjoy!

Zoie loves her family.  We think its pretty impressive when she plays her name game.  All day long she says the names of the people she loves!  I think that’s why adoption is so cool… there are no limits to love.  The list of Zoie’s favorites keeps growing longer and longer.  Enjoy Zoie’s Flip video.