Happy New Year!!!

Our family wishes everyone a Happy and Blessed New Year!!!

Our Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone! The boys and I had a really nice Christmas this year. My parents came over to celebrate the day with us. My brother Sean called from Florida. It's always good to hear from him, we miss him so much! Caleb really got into opening the presents which was a lot of fun to watch. Santa brought him a big red fire engine with flashing lights, siren, and battery operated moving ladder. Needless to say, Caleb was excited and didn't want to open anything else. He got a Tickle Me Elmo this year and he loves it! See video below.:) Santa brought Jimmy a real black cowboy hat like the one that Garth Brooks wears. Jimmy is a big fan! He also got a Garth Brooks World Tour baseball cap. Jimmy loves movies and he got a few movies..... He also got a snowglobe with Santa in it because Jimmy would like to be Santa Clause. You need to watch Santa Clause 3 the Escape Clause to understand this one. Ben got some video games, baseball caps, a remote control car (sorry Dad, it's a Ford)... The boys gave me some really great smelling candles, pretty necklaces, cute ornaments.... The greatest gift of all is from God and that is my family. My family means the world to me and I'm so thankful for them each and everyday. The pictures above show the highlights of our day including Caleb blowing out the candle on Jesus's birthday cake. Thank you to my mom who baked the cake and brought it over for us to share. I pray that everyone has a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, and safe 2008!

HOHOHO!

Caleb saw Santa today at the daycare Christmas party! He went right up to him and said "HOHOHO!" It was so CUTE! Santa got a big kick out of him!

The week before Christmas

We have had a pretty eventful week so far. We got 10 inches of snow on Sunday which resulted in a Snow Day on Monday for all of us. Caleb got the flu bug and had to stay home on Tuesday with Momma. Then today, Caleb had his Christmas program at school. I love it when they have the Christmas program, the kids look so darn cute! They are so excited that their families are there, that some of them forget to sing.:) Jimmy got ready for Christmas also, by shopping at the mall with his class and some friends. They shop at the mall, and then come back to the school to wrap their presents for their families, before bringing them home. As usual, Jimmy came in the door holding a bag with the presents and came over to me and whispered, "I got your present Mom." I said "Don't tell me what it is, buddy." (because every year he does) This year was no different, he whispered back to me, "I got your candle." :):) I love it!!! Every year he walks in and tells me exactly what my gift is. Ben looked at me and said "He already told me what mine is, in detail." It's funny, Jimmy can't keep a secret!" Here is Caleb in the snow, Caleb eating the Gingerbread cookie he made at school, and today at his Christmas program. Ben would not let me post the picture of him shoveling snow (remember he's my camera-shy one) Only 6 more days to Christmas...I have to go finish wrapping!!

Where is THAT SOCK???

Want a clue? LOOK UP! I kid you not, these are just a few places where I have found Caleb's socks this week. As soon as he gets home, the shoes and socks come off. He is pretty good about putting the shoes where they go, but the socks are a different story. They go flying! I find them on top of picture frames, shelves, in plants, on top of doors.... So because we have a few decorations around for Christmas, Caleb has decided to decorate himself!!!!:)The bottom picture is a recent picture of Caleb I wanted to share!

GOTCHA!!!

These are pictures of Caleb's Gotcha Day (the day he officially became my son). No longer an orphan, Caleb now had a family. He was a son and a little brother now. These pictures are my favorite. The top one I always refer to as the "WE DID IT" picture. It was taken right after the court declared Caleb my son. We drove straight from the courthouse to Caleb's orphanage, showed them the adoption decree and they brought Caleb to me. Here I was holding my youngest son. I remember thinking to myself, I am a mother of three. I prayed for this day for so long!! Of course, Caleb did not realize what was happening or how his life was about to change. No more endless hours waiting in a crib for a smile or a touch. No more rocking himself to sleep every night. Caleb was going HOME with his Mommy.
Notice Caleb's outfit? Because they have a limited amount of clothes, the orphanage puts the children in clothes that fit, even if they have boys wearing girls clothes. See these little red girls shoes? Caleb's little feet were about a size too big for them. Here is Caleb in the bottom photo wearing the clothes that I brought for him. This is the first time Caleb had clothes of his own. I look at these pictures often and replay over every moment of that day. It truly was a blessed day and one of the most important days of our lives.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Well, winter has arrived in Michigan! We even have a winter weather advisory. When we came out of the mall this evening, there was a blanket of snow everywhere! It always looks so pretty when it starts to fall in December, less pretty if it is still falling in late March but that's Michigan! Here's Caleb after we got home. He thinks the snow is pretty cool! He was such a trooper today while we shopped for Christmas presents and hats, mittens..... He did get to see Santa though so he was pretty excited about that! Now we are in for the night, and decided to order pizza. They said the delivery would take an hour or so (even though they are five minutes from our house). But that's what you get when you order pizza on a cold, snowy Saturday night!!