Catch up post

A lot has happened since I last posted but whose life isn't crazy busy?! Here is a picture summary.

Chris and Nick on a donkey ride. Who doesn't love those?

Whose husband rides a ripstick holding chairs? Chris has incredible balance so he can handle this task. The cowboy get up is Chris' normal attire when out riding his animals. It is not a costume....which may be shocking to some :-)

Sibling love

We spent Christmas at Chris' parents house. While we were there we went on a train ride. Nick thought he had died and gone to Heaven! He loved it.

Me and Nick on the train.

Alex & Taylor on train


The kids had to line up and wait until everyone was ready to see what Santa had brought them.

Nerf guns were a Christmas hit (as they always are)

Nick turned 5 in January. He had his first birthday party with his friends. We held the party in our party barn and gave the kids donkey rides.


Nick playing with friends

Every little boy loves a super hero. Nick really loves Batman and Spiderman right now.

That's all for now! My computer wouldn't let me change the background from the Christmas theme so we will continue to enjoy Christmas for awhile longer.

We're finished!!!

Happy 3rd "Gotcha Day" Nick!

Nick's adoption journey is now complete! We finished his final post-placement visit with the social worker earlier this month. As we talked with the social worker it was a great feeling to tell him that Nick is a completely normal, happy 4 almost 5 year old. Nick is in preschool where he learns and socializes like a normal little boy. Any delays he had when we took him from the orphanage are gone. His health is good too. He still has his heart defect but he is now just monitored twice a year by the cardiologist. If you didn't know he had the defect you would never suspect there was one.

Nick knows he is from Russia and we talk about this fact with him all the time. We want him to proud of his heritage.

Nick still has some memories from the orphanage but I imagine these will fade the older he gets. At this point, it seems as if there won't be any deterimental effects from starting his life out in an orphanage. He is completely attached to everyone in our family and is adored by anyone who meets him. He is one special little boy and we are so blessed to have him in our family. He is the "crowning jewel" of our family. Why we were so blessed with such a precious boy we'll never know but we are forever grateful for the blessing of our little Nick.

Orphan Sunday

I thought since today is Orphan Sunday I post a picture of one of the cutest little boys who is no longer an orphan. We are crazy in love with this little boy. Alex went to homecoming awhile back. Since she is not allowed to date until she is 16 she went to the game with some friends. Usually your date gets you a mum to wear to the game. I didn't want her to not have a mum so I had a friend of mine make her one. She also made a mum for Taylor and Lauren too. By the end of the homecoming game I was wearing both Taylor and Lauren's mum. Alex kept her mum on.HALLOWEEN 2011
I talked Nick into wearing last year's Iron Man costume. He didn't mind at all as long as he got to bring a gun (toy one of course) with him.Lauren is into the Twilight series so she wanted to go as a vampire. She cannot wait for November 18th when Breaking Dawn part 1 comes out.
This is the first year Taylor did not dress up in something pretty for Halloween. Taylor and one of her friends went as "Dumb" and "Dumber" from the movie Dumb and Dumber. Taylor was "Dumb".
Alex and her friend, Taya, went as a baby and an a grandma.

Me and nick

I've got a good dad

Last night Nick asked someone if they had a dad. I guess because he had never seen their dad. After he asked that question he then told them..."I've got a good dad". I have to admit I got a bit choked up with that sweet comment he made about Chris. It definitely made Chris happy to hear that too. What a sweet boy!

New Boots

Nick needed some new boots. He was so excited when we found some that look very similar to Dad's! He thinks because they look so much like his Dad's he now needs to keep them where Dad keeps his.

Now I have another pair of boots to trip over in my bathroom when they don't really get put up where they are suppose to be.

The Girl's First Day of School

Now that the girls have been back in school for 2 weeks I thought it might be time to post their first day of school pictures. I'm a bit slow...

Alex--started high school. It is crazy to think I have a daughter in high school.

Taylor---7th grade.

Lauren---4rth grade.
Taylor was not excited that Lauren wanted to have the same "first day of school" outfit as her...just in another color. I kept telling her that the biggest compliment anyone can give you is if they copy you.

Nick started preschool the beginning of August. He is adjusting to the new school. He thinks he is so big going to school like his sisters do.

It's been a crazy summer!

This summer has been crazy busy. I have barely been home. We've camped a couple of times, took the family on a cruise, been to church camp, a wedding and then to tennis camp and gymnastic competitions. I am worn out. I have one more trip to another church camp this week and then I can finally stay home. I am looking forward to being at home. Here are some pictures from our summer...so far.

Nick loves to eat at the Asian restaurants where they prepare the food in front of you. He calls them the "fire" restaurants.
Nick and his Russian friend. This little boy with Nick was the very first child we had ever met who was adopted from Russia. Meeting this boy was the catalyst for Nick's adoption. To me, these boys look like they could be cousins!
Nick loves Spiderman! He also loves soft serve ice cream. He ate his body weight in ice cream while he was on the boat.

Cute boy
With my sister, Kumari, in Mexico

Alex & Taylor souvenir shopping

Sombrero shopping in Cozumel

Nick watching a movie on the ship's deck

Nick admiring Uncle Coby
Lauren
Taylor
Alex

A family picture at Chris' brother's wedding

Taylor & Alex went to tennis camp while Lauren competed in her National Trampoline & Tumbling Competition.

A very excited Lauren!