HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We are already three weeks into the new year and I finally have a few minutes for a post. Honestly, my life has been such a whirlwind and I don't know whether or not I'm coming or going. Time is just flying by me! Christmas is already a blur except for the Christmas decorations still displayed outside my house! We did manage to get the decorations down inside the house but nothing has been put back in their proper places. I would be ashamed if anyone came to my house these days. Let's just say that it's not quite as neat and tidy as I'd like it to be. Our little princess leaves a trail of toys or whatever she gets her hands on throughout the house! Seriously, if you see Rachel playing with something, you will find it on the floor somewhere unless she doesn't throw it away. Yep, the trash can is her biggest fascination. It's the kind with the swinging lid on top and when you hear it close, you have to run to see what was just discarded and most times it's not trash! I can't even think about what has gone into the trash unnoticed. I just pray it's nothing important that we can't find down the road.

We had a great Christmas this year and of course it was extra special as a family of four. When we started our adoption process, we always used Christmas as our timeline for when we would get Rachel. Since starting the process in 2005, we had 3 Christmas' without Rachel. We new we wouldn't have her by Christmas of 2005 which was the year we started our adoption journey, but for sure we thought we would have her for Christmas 2006. Since 2006 wasn't the year, we just knew that we would have Rachel home for Christmas of 2007! Again, that Christmas came and went and now we can finally say that Rachel's first Christmas was in 2008! It was so wonderful to have two kids to take to Christmas Eve service, to see Christmas morning with the excitement about the presents under the tree (although Rachel was completely clueless!), to open presents, to play with new toys, and to share Christmas morning breakfast. Rachel got the idea of opening presents rather quickly and big brother, Jake, was right there to help her when she got tired. Christmas wasn't quite generous this year as in the past since I was laid off for a couple of months. Honestly, no one didn't even seem to notice. Jake was thrilled with his PSP and Rachel was excited about Jake's gifts! LOL! She does love her little American Girl Bitty Baby and her new cradle. She kisses her baby and puts her in the cradle, covers her and turns to us and says "shhhh." So cute!

We celebrated Christmas day pretty much at home and later in the afternoon following Rachel's nap, we headed to Mommom and Poppop's house where it was Christmas all over again. It was a quiet year this year and we truly enjoyed spending time with family and watching Christmas through our children's eyes.

Each year we look forward to New Year's because we plan a big surf & turf dinner, games and a sleepover with another family, the Townsend's. Our friends Andrea and Karl joined us for dinner and games this year too. Dave's parent's came for dinner but headed out shortly after. We laughed so hard that our stomach's hurt. We played a new game this year called "Backseat Drawing" which the kids enjoyed and they kicked the adults butt too! After awhile we send the kids to the family room for movies and the adults enjoy some more mature games like "Battle of the Sexes!" The kids love the fact that we have a sleepover and they look forward to each year. We love this tradition and hope to carry it on year to year.

We have so many blessings to be thankful for and Christmastime is a great year to reflect on those blessings. I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and our family wishes you a Happy and Healthy 2009!

I had to post the little video clip of Rachel our "Dancing Queen." She absolutely LOVES music and will put on a show for anyone who will watch. She entertains everyone at church each week while the music is playing with her dancing moves. This video clip is from our small group during our Christmas celebration where karaoke was the entertainment and Rachel danced for anyone who sang. She stole the show as you can see!