Noelle Is Nine

Noelle is now Nine. It is very surreal as a parent watching one of your children as they are transitioning somewhere between childhood and adolescence. Noelle is no longer a little girl, neither is she a big girl. But one thing is for sure Darren and I are loving the little lady that we see her becoming everyday. I look back at her baby pictures and want so very much to go back in time and kiss her chubby cheeks and do it all over again, being the person I am now, with what I have learned up to this point. But I can't, that is part of the process. The successes and the failures that I had with Noelle made me the person that I am today. I hope that I will be able to help Noelle see the beautiful person she is and all the potential that she possesses. Happy 9th birthday Noelle!

Tate Turns Three

Tate is three! This little guy provides us with so much fun and laughter. He is ALWAYS into something. Always keeping us on our toes. He gives the greatest hugs and kisses. He is sleeping in his big boy bed without ever getting out. He no longer takes a sippy cup to bed. He really is growing up and reaching some exciting milestones. Now for potty training!? Happy Birthday Tate!

Nya 3 Months Old

Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas this year with so much family around. Christmas morning both sets of grandparents came over to open presents and eat breakfast. I love Christmas breakfast, maybe even more than dinner. We had waffles and fruit with whipped cream and sausages and eggs. After we cleaned up, we just played and hung out together. Later in the day Brent and Tracey and their children came over as well as Shannon and Jared and Aubrey. It was so nice to have everyone here, except of course Michael and Julianne, they were still stuck in Alberta. The kids had a great time causing mass destruction where ever they went. Tate was playing in the family room at one point all by himself. Unbeknownst to Tate my dad was watching him play. Darren came up behind my dad and said to Tate, "Did you make this big mess?" Tate looked like he had been caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing and without missing a beat responded, "No, cousins!" Still to this day if you ask him who made the mess at Christmas he will blame it on his poor cousins. Dinner was great and everyone spent the night, which was a last minute thing. I don't think anyone had planned on that. There were toys and kids and people everywhere. It was wonderful! The next morning Michael and Julianne came up and the sisters and Brent went shopping. It was so beautiful outside with so much falling snow, but I was quite certain that we were not going to make it back up the hill to our house in my van and we didn't. We had to park at the bottom and walk back up making it an extra special adventure. Later on in the afternoon everyone headed home except Michael and Julianne who spent the night. The next day Michael, grandma McCullough and the kids went outside and built an igloo. I am not sure who had more fun, the kids or Michael. Thank you to all who came and made it such a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas Eve

This Christmas eve was one of the best I think we have ever had. Both sets of grandparents were able to be here and our adopted family, Jacob, Rachel, Jackson, Oliver and Ava Ellis. Michael and Julianne had planned on being here as well, but due to snow they were held up in Alberta and couldn't fly out until the next evening, they were sorely missed. It was also the first year that our children were able to perform the nativity. They practiced all week long and were so very excited when the night actually came "to do it for real", as Bergen put it. They did a great job! There was no pretend shooting of guns using his staff by Joseph, ( a.k.a. Bergen) as there had been in some of the dress rehearsals. But we did have one VERY tired, unco-operative shepherd (a.k.a. Tate) who in the end choose not to participate and go to visit baby Jesus (Nya). Noelle was fabulous as the angel and Emma as mother Mary, recited her one line, "How can this be?" with perfection. Darren graciously accepted the role of the faithful gonkey, as Tate called him and the kids had a great time riding him. I loved the spirit and the feeling that it brought into our home and what it teaches my children about the true meaning of Christmas. And I loved having a new little baby to play baby Jesus as this is the last little baby that will be joining our family. I will always remember this night with a grateful heart for all that I have been blessed with.