Merry Christmas!

Since Bria was with her mom this year for Christmas, we got to celebrate early.



I finally caved & we got our first gaming system, an XBox 360.

Bria (and Neil) have been asking for one for years & Santa finally deliverd.

They've stayed up way too late playing some war game that they're slowly trying to master.

Santa brought Harper an early Christmas present also.

Pop-Up Treehouse

Peek-a-Boo!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Getting Closer

With each passing day, we get closer to bringing Melaina into our family.

We are in the final steps of the adoption process & our file has moved to the "travel department" at our agency.
Our paperwork was sent to China today, to our agency's in-country representative, who will then drop off the paperwork at the US Embassy to apply for Melaina's visa.
This step (Article 5) will take exactly 2 weeks.
After that, we wait for China to tell us to come on over (TA) !

Our agency is stating that the wait for TA is 2-9 weeks.
When we got our TA for Harper, we were on a plane in 22 days.
I think we'll travel in March.
Please keep us in your prayers while we wait to travel.
We pray Melaina remains healthy & has an easy transition into our family.

I can't wait to kiss this adorable face!

Another visit with Santa

We attempted another visit with Santa the other day with Manda, Kolton & Kinzley.

I promise, I'm not the overbearing, insistant mother.

Harper kept saying she" liked Santa & she not cry"...

Any time spent with Kolton is a blast  for Harper.

Even in the rain....

Happy Birthday Husband!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband.

He's not only a great husband, but he's an awesome dad!

Who would've thought he'd be a father of 2 daughters (soon to be 3) who absolutely adore him!

Bria & Harper are definately "daddy's girls".

There's something special about a little girl & her daddy.....

Harper was all about giving daddy his gifts & helping him opening them.

Who doesn't love a little Jersey Shore thanks to Bria!

 

After daddy's gifts at home, we went to Shakespeare's Pizza with our best friends.

I think Emily has baby fever...what do you think?

Thank you all for taking time out of your evening to hang out with us.

Happy Birthday Neil!

We love you!

Christmas Fun

The girls making ornaments together.

Finding an activity that both a teenager & toddler can enjoy together is difficult these days.

This was a fun for both of them although Harper was trying to tell Bria how to do it!



Hanging with Grandma R

Thanksgiving weekend we were able to hang out with Grandma Roxy.

The day was picture perfect, we almost didn't need a jacket.

Lunch at Culver's

Playing in park

Checking out the ducks

Greetings from the pups...Big

And little....

This was Harper's first visit to Grandma's & she loved the dogs.

She has 5 English Mastiffs & 6 little yorkie/chiuahua dogs.

She's got a full house!



Breakfast with Santa

We had breakfast with Santa with all of the our little ones at Eckert's.

It's a wonderful set up with breakfast, cookie decorating, face painting, crafts & sitting on Santa's lap for a photo.

We took Harper last year & she was terrified, do you blame her?

She warmed up a little bit more this year & even sat on his lap!

I love the progression of photos. 

First Santa sighting

Harper is saying "Mama, come here".

Check out Tori's reaction.

Tori was completely focused on her coloring as Santa stood behind her & Harper trying to get some attention.

The water works were flowing, again, check out Tori's face...hilarious!


Safe in mama's arms....

The kids had a great time & it was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Awkward Family Photo

 

Christmas 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

What I'm thankful for....

Little girls

Grandparents

Mothers

Babies



And the world's strongest brother!

Yep, he's really doing push ups with Jaden on his back...strongest dude in Madison County!

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Paula's house.

By the end of the night, Harper was dancing with no pants!

Now, that's a party!

It's always a crazy chaotic time traveling to be with our families at the holidays but it's worth every minute.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!