We began this blog when we started our adoption journey to Colombia to adopt a sibling group of children.  As we are now celebrating our second Christmas together as a family, we started a new blog.  It is at www.ourkidsfromcolombia.blogspot.com.  Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, and support over the past two years.  We hope you will continue to follow our family!

A Special Night Out

Every year, our church has a special dinner theatre.  This year's title was called "A Christmas Post."  We are blessed with many talented people in our church.  The kids had a great time and got all dressed up for the special night.  This was the second year we have gone as a family, and here are our pictures from last year and this year.  It is a lot of fun to look back and think about what our life was like as a new family a year ago.  We will look forward to seeing what our life will look like during the holiday season of 2013.

So Many Changes

Every year, we want to go and have a family portrait made.  The kids aren't very excited about always taking pictures, but we keep telling them that one day they will be thankful they have them.  Each picture represents a memory we won't be able to get back.  It is amazing how much the kids are growing.  Angie has definitely taken a growth spurt and will be taller than Lori before we know it!  Here are their pictures from last year and then this year.

 

 

A Visit with Santa.

The kids went to the mall for a visit with Santa.  We don't go to the mall often so it was a new excursion for the kids.  Although they enjoyed seeing Santa and the Christmas decorations, the highlight of the trip was walking through the Disney store and playing at the lego store.  The next time we have a free evening, we will have to go back again.

It Is Time To Decorate for Christmas!

We always start decorating our house for Christmas on the day after Thanksgiving.  The kids were excited and a big help, and they loved helping with everything.  Angie helped Dainis carry and place everything in the yard. Her job was also to put the branches on the Christmas tree.  Ingrid helped Lori put up all the garland and bows around the outside of the house.  Juan had a great time using a hammer to stake all of the reindeer down.  Ingrid and Juan had the big job of sorting through all of the tree branches and carrying them to Angie.  Everyone helped with the ornaments, and we only broke two this year!  When the kids are home, they always want the Christmas tree lights on, and the Christmas carols playing.

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a very nice Thanksgiving, and the kids loved everything this year.  They are so much more open now to trying different foods and like almost everything, except celery!  Now that they knew what was involved, the idea of stuffing the turkey was not very exciting.  So, they watched, and we stuffed!  As we celebrated our second Thanksgiving together, our challenges have become less, and the kids continue to adjust to their new life in our family.   We have a lot to be thankful for as we begin our second holiday season together.

 

Where has the time gone?

Time has just flown by since the kids started school.  I thought I would have more time, but I think it is even busier now!  Although none of us like getting up at 5:45 to get ready for school, the kids really like it, and it was a good choice for our family.  The work is hard for them since they are behind, so we have extra work to do each night.  We are very proud of them for the progress they have made.

The kids enjoyed Halloween more this year than last year because they knew what to expect.  We went to the same pumpkin patch as last year, so everyone could choose their own pumpkin.  They were much more selective this year and tried to find the best round ones for carving!  Although the pumpkin seeds were just as slimy, the kids new it would be worth it when they had roasted pumpkin seeds to eat.

 

 

 

 

 

Our church has a special Fall Festival on Halloween night for our communit each year.  It is a great option instead of trick or treating.  The kids dressed-up like pirates and had a good time.  We have lots of candy to eat now!