Happy Holidays to Everyone!

With Christmas just a couple days away (still can't believe it) we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. We pray all our family and friends have a safe and joyous time.

Jenny, Paul, Brittany, Andrew, Dominick & Marissa

Santa's Helpers

We decorated our tree the other night. As we brought out all the ornaments I realized not only how many we have, but how special each one meant. Our tree looks beautiful and although we have a lump of ornaments in the same general area, I wouldn't change it for anything.

Anyone under there??

So Cute

Two Thanksgiving Meals!!

We were lucky enough to celebrate two Thanksgiving's this year. We spent Thanksgiving day at Paul's parents house. Mark, Kristen, Sam and Yi Yen visited from Laramie, WY (Paul's brother) and Ruth and Oscar visited from Portland OR (Paul's sister and nephew). Some of Paul's aunts and cousins also came to Thanksgiving, all in all 24 people!!! This is all the great grandchildren from Paul's side.

When we got home Brittany and myself wanted to celebrate with my family, so we had a after Thanksgiving meal. All the great food and nothing beats moms cooking! My sister, brother and their families joined us as well as my aunt and her family. My parents have 8 grand-kids and 1 great grandchild. The "big" baby is my great nephew Dylan. He's a repeat of my Andrew!!

Marissa Turns 2!!

Marissa turned the wonderful age of 2 on Friday November 9. Terrible two's settled in long before she turned 2...at least we thought. We didn't think it couldn't get any worse WE WERE WRONG! I swear our child was switched in the middle of the night with a back talking, screaming, crying, does-what-she-wants-when-she-wants child. She suddenly wants to do EVERYTHING for herself, change her diapers, get dressed and undressed, dish up her own food and take her finished plate and cup to the sink (spilling all along the way). Deep down we are LOVING every minute of our life!

Marissa did have a good birthday. We celebrated Saturday with family at McDonald's. She loved all the attention. She still walks around the house singing "Happy birthday to you". She now loves dressing up and walking around in her "high heels".

It's hard to believe she's 2. It seems like we were just visiting her at Eagle's Nest and now she's running talking and acquired a HUGE attitude.

Church Choir

Dominick has joined our Church's youth choir with Brittany and Andrew. We had asked if Dominick could join yet (he's been waiting) the choir director was excited and even asked if we wanted Marissa to sing too...we won't do that to him yet...he is a Church goer!

Dominick knew some of the words and some of the motions. I thought he would of been shy, but he wasn't. He went right up front and loved the attention!

Tonight went pretty good. We loaded up and hit a couple houses in the development then I decided to head on home and hand candy out. I enjoyed some time alone.

As we were rounding the troops up to bed I asked Paul where Marissa was; given he's Paul AND a man he didn't know. Well there sat Marissa in front of our bucket of candy (that we handed out) EATING it! I figure she had about 3 pieces in her mouth. We tried unsuccessfully to get the candy out (she bit me) so instead we rushed her up to bed...we have a bet if she sleeps all night!

Brittany was a Southern Belle

Andrew was a Karate Kid

Dominick was Batman

Marissa was a witch

She's in heaven!

Chocolate anyone???

Long time

Gosh it's been a LONG time since I've posted last! A lot has been happening but then not a lot! Dominick started Preschool and he LOVES it! He also goes to Sunday School, Swimming on Mondays and Wednesdays he has Church Choir! Busy 3 yr old. Below is Dominick's first day of school.

Look at that smile!

Today we took the kids to an apple orchard. The kids had fun, they ran around, played on the straw bails and went through the maze of bails! They also petted the animals and rode the John Deere tractors.

Schools in session!

Brittany and Andrew are back to school. They both were a little nervous going but when they got off the bus, they were excited to tell us about their day.

Dominick goes to his school to meet his teacher and see his class. He's excited, keeps asking if Marissa can go with him. He will start class on Tuesday. He will go Tuesday's and Thursdays for 2 hours.

I will post pictures later.

Wyoming Pic's

A little mad to be in the car so long
Telling mommy what road to take
Big Teeth
Dirt Biking Brittany, Andrew, Marissa, Dominik, Ye Yen and Sam
Yi Yen eating :-)

Jailed!
1800's Jail-

Marissa's Original Documents

We received Marissa's original adoption documents today! It's amazing to actually see the "stamps" that each adoption needs in order to go through the process. In the documents there are 2 pictures of Marissa we haven't seen, and 1 picture of Marissa's birth mother. Other than the pictures nothing is "new" to us, we've read or seen it already, it's just the originals.

We still have to complete the form for Dominick's original documents. We'll probably do that this week, but it will most likely take 3-6 months to get them.

Leaving for Wyoming

We are off to Paul's brother's home in Laramie, WY. We are driving...13 hours!! Paul's brother (Mark) and his wife welcomed a new addition to their family, Ye Yeng. She arrived to the US from China about a month ago and is doing wonderfully! We are extremely excited to meet Ye Yeng (sorry Kristen and Mark if I misspelled) and to see Sam again! Brittany and Andrew are excited, but already have been asking "how long will it take?". We haven't traveled this far with 4 kids as of yet, I'm hoping it will go good.

Things around home are good, busy. Brittany, Andrew and Dominick are getting ready for school, and I'm really surprised but they all are excited, but they aren't in Jr. High or High School yet.

DOMINICK'S 3RD BIRTHDAY

Dominick turned 3 on Friday!!! We had a relaxing Friday night; it was just Paul, myself and the kids, we had pizza-his favorite and he wanted a frog cake!! When it came time to cut the cake he said "No eat my frog". It took him a little bit to blow not spit out the candles!

Dominick & his Frog Cake

He LOVES his new backpack we got him for preschool!

Saturday we had a birthday party with a "cars" theme. He loved all the attention, presents and pinata. At first he backed off when the pinata broke, but he quickly realized that it was treats and toys inside and made his way! Dominick had a huge smile on his face all day. Everything was so new but it didn't take him long to learn the tricks.

Dominicks LOVES Cars Movie!

Big Girl Now

We have come to a new point of realization...our baby is no longer a baby! We took the front of Marissa's crib off, now she can climb in and out herself. She was already trying to climb out, but now she's so proud; so much so she decides to get out of bed herself and climb into mommy and daddy's bed in the middle of the night, or she goes to Brittany's room and wakes her up at the crack of dawn.

It's hard to imagine she'll be home 1 year in August. Looking at pic's not only has her hair grown, her attitude is gigantic!!

First Picture is our referral picture of Marissa

Second picture is our visit to Guatemala-Marissa was almost 3 mo

Third picture is when Marissa came home August 24, 2006

Fourth picture is of Marissa now...Our HARLEY GIRL!!

Sunday's at Home

The kids and I spent most of Sunday at home relaxing, playing and cleaning. I cleaned out the garage while the kids rode around. Dominick recently learned to pedal, he's so proud he can ride around with Brittany and Andrew. Marissa (just like a princess) waits until one of her siblings notice's her and pushes her around, she knows someone eventually will help her.

Brittany is learning to roller blade on her new skates. Andrew is learning to skate board, God help us both are naturals. All the kids know the rules...No riding until helmet is on.

After they got bored in the garage they decided to chase each other around the yard...not like the good ol' days where we RAN, now kids DRIVE.

Is anyone there???
Had to put in a crack shot

Brittany doesn't sit still long enough to get a pic. Marissa kept pulling her diaper down with her fingers and would grab chips off of uncle Bob's plate....