Welcome to our World

Merry Christmas! I felt I was too wordy in our last Christmas letter, so I decided to give one sentence for each month of the year instead. We’ve been very blessed! 2009 Monthly Highlights January The month we finished all our adoption paperwork February Dan & Sarah finally stayed at the Stanley Hotel March Snow snow snow -- and fun playing in it April Kaelah, Sarah, & Grandma Karyl took a trip to Virginia May We vacationed to California with Dan’s family -- Kaelah’s first trip to Disneyland June Daniel Jakob was born!!! July Kaelah Ann turned 2 years old August Dan’s youngest brother got married -- baby Danny’s first road trip to Utah September Our tradition of attending the Harvest Fair was a great start to Autumn October The children's’ first time trick or treating -- Kaelah can’t wait for next year November Enjoying our blessings -- so much to be thankful for December We’re hoping Danny J’s adoption will be finalized! (which it was on the 18th)

We don't make a habit of celebrating everyone's half birthdays, but we were so excited for Danny to turn 6 months old -- & to officially adopt him a couple weeks later! Here Kaelah is placing the candles on the cake (one for each month). We had a grand time watching him eat the cool whip & Kaelah asked for another birthday party for Danny for days in anticipation of more cake. Yes, the way to Kaelah's heart is through sugar. (; Now fast forward from Dec. 7 to Dec. 18 for Danny's adoption finalization. I must admit I was much more calm & excited for his than Kaelah's simply b/c after going through hers I knew this was the easiest part of the process. But, as Kaelah's picture shows, it was early & we had to drive an hour to the court house. We woke Kaelah up, dressed her up while she was half awake, fed her breakfast in the car & then did her hair inside the courthouse. The things older sisters have to do for their little brothers somet...

Every year our town puts on a Christmas parade, fireworks, free hot chocolate & pizza, & little kid trains rides. It was a bit chilly, but we bundled up & had a fun time. I feel so lucky to have a daughter old enough to enjoy the holidays! Watching from Daddy's shoulders. This morning Kaelah was giving her teddy bear a ride on her shoulders so she could see too. I thought it was so cute b/c this was an entire week ago now. Shannon, Danny, & I waiting for Kaelah & Dan to get back from the train ride. Can I just say I love the fact Shannon moved here?!? What a blessing she is in our lives! We weren't sure how Kaelah would handle being in the train by herself, so Dan was smart enough to put her in the far back & then walked behind it the whole half a mile. She liked the idea, but felt a bit crowded by the boy next to her (as you can see here). Dan said eventually when Kaelah couldn't take it anymore she shoved him out of her bubble. My response...

Smile like this, Danny! Make it big & cheesy! I love you! Time to get goofy! And now I will extract all your cuteness through your left ear.... Kaelah & Danny absolutely adore each other. Of course there are times when they wish they didn't have to share attention, but they are definitely each others favorite member of the family. I am so grateful for these 2, especially when they are smiling for the camera.

Warning: this post has us in pajamas! Thanks to our friend, Barb, we make cranberry applesauce every Thanksgiving. Yuuummy. This year was extra special b/c Grandma Karyl brought some of her Aunt Hope's apples back from Wisconsin. Kaelah got to crank the food mill & Danny sure did try to sneak a bite. We did let him have a baby food veggie for the first time. I never knew a child could love squash so much! I tell you what, Gerber sure does taste better than it did 2 years ago (since they took out the fillers). I'm grateful for the price cut over what we bought Kaelah b/c this boy can EAT! Kaelah & Danny love playing with the Legos Grandma & Grandpa bought last Christmas. And for some reason they actually will let them build tall towers before knocking them down. (: Kaelah played Candyland for the first time this Thanksgiving & did a great job. The only "problem" was that if a card was drawn that matched one of our playing pieces she would move ...

...but didn't need to be! After much procrastination and fear of her little curls being gone forever, I finally decided the time had come for Kaelah's first hair cut. It's amazing what a chair shaped like a car & having Dora the Explorer playing quietly can do. Before shot. Watching a 4-year-old pro holding still for her hair cut. A very proud girl walking back to the cars afterward. The child's hair salon happened to be down the street from Daddy's work so he could be there for the momentous occasion. (: Enjoying the park on the way home. Many thanks go out to Grandma & Grandpa for watching Danny so that Mommy & Kaelah could spend the morning together! Kaelah's not a baby anymore, but she did get to keep her curl. Whew. And I'm very happy I got to have a lock of hair for the scrapbook too. We both had to grow up that day. I still look at her & can't believe she's old enough to get her hair cut. Oh, and she has begun asking ...

We are thankful for nice weather to play with snowballs in! Well, at least us girls are. Danny's not so sure. Maybe it's b/c he knew he was wearing the snowsuit that was mine when I was little. Dude, I keep telling you, it's gender neutral. (; We are thankful for a daddy who can bake his mom's recipes just right, my grandmother's autumn cookie cutters & good friends to decorate sugar cookies with. Kaelah is especially grateful for M&Ms left in a bowl without the usual parental control. Well, us girls are grateful at least. Danny is simply grateful for bottles & the formula inside them. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

November 11th may have been Veteran's Day, may have been Polish Independence Day, but what Kaelah will tell you it was is zoo day! I tried my best to get Dan to play hookie but failed. Luckily I was able to convince Grandma to skip her monthly genealogy society meeting. We can't resist a free day at the zoo as long as the weather is nice! It was great to see the difference in what Kaelah could recognize between now & the last day we were at the zoo (in late February). The only thing that really threw her off was the peacocks roaming around. Guess they aren't featured as zoo animals in the books we read. And of course Danny boy was an angel & went along for the ride like a good little brother can. I think he was just happy that his sister was happy. I am one lucky mommy.

Grandpa came over to help me teach Kaelah how to rake leaves & then jump in them. Aren't they cute together? Turns out the slope of our front yard is perfect to allow Danny to sit up for an entire half hour -- and love it! He wants to grow up so fast. It took some convincing, but Kaelah finally decided to agree with me that jumping in leaves was a fun thing to do. (At first she kept looking at me like I had lost my marbles.) Meigo had to see what all the hubbub was about. You're my little sunshine, Kaelah!

I vacillate between two thoughts concerning Danny boy. 1: How can you be 5 months old today? We didn't even know you existed 6 months ago?!? And 2: Dude, are you sure you're only 5 months old? I love you so much & dang, you sure are acting older than your age! While Danny was 4 months old he cut 2 teeth... discovered he hates Oraljel... is still adored by his older sister... got his first buzz cut... (above = before shot, below = after shot) And began eating rice cereal last night after begging & begging to eat anything & everything he saw us eating for the last week. You sure are growing up fast, Danny J! We can't imagine life without our joy of a boy!