Thursday, December 28, 2006

I couldn't get this to post, but if you want to watch a cute video of Rachel dancing on Christmas Day, click here.




It was a green Christmas, but on Boxing Day we finally got some snow.

Christmas Day




We had a lovely Christmas, and Rachel had a great time opening her gifts. She loved the huge bear that Santa brought her and her toys that made lots of noise.

For Christmas dinner we went to my parents' house. While we were there she decided to have some fun with the carton of cream sitting on the table. I swear she was only out of my sight for a few moments, but in that time she had dumped out the whole thing on the table and over her head. Of course we ran for the camera.

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Christmas Eve




We had a lovely Christmas Eve and everyone is so excited for tomorrow morning! Rachel had a wonderful time, and watching her tonight was pure joy. We went to our Christmas Eve service at church, and I remembered the same service last year, while we were waiting and wondering what our little girl would be like. This year, I looked at the beautiful child in my arms smiling at me and saying "Mommy", and I felt so grateful.

We always open one present on Christmas Eve, and Rachel was a pro. She is going to have a blast tomorrow!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very merry and blessed Christmas.

Thursday, December 21, 2006



Rachel wasn't a big fan of Santa, but as you can see, we have a family tradition to uphold...


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Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Third Day's "Merry Christmas"

The group "Third Day" has a new Christmas album out, "Christmas Offerings". The final song on the CD is about China adoption. The band's drummer and his wife are adopting from China, and he wrote this song about the wait for their child. It makes me cry because it expresses so perfectly how we felt last Christmas while we waited for Rachel, and our joy at spending this Christmas with her.

Merry Christmas lyrics:

There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for mama's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
Where the forgotten are

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
So tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in His arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white
And make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try you best to fight the tears
And hope that Heaven's Angels come to carry you here

Christmas is the time we celebrate the Holy Child
And we celebrate His perfect gift of love
He came to Earth to give His life and prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with Him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And tell you from my heart, I'll tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas

New Canadian citizen!




I forgot to post a few weeks ago that Rachel had received her Canadian citizenship. Now all four of our kids have their citizenship cards, and we can travel to the U.S. with her. Disney World, here we come!

Friday, December 15, 2006

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Beach portraits




We had these pictures taken this summer when we were in Prince Edward Island.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Scanned photos







Here are a couple of pictures from last spring that I just got around to scanning. The first is Rachel and her cousin Claire. We took a similar pose a few years ago of Julia and her cousin Maddie, so we decided to do the same with their little sisters. The second was taken for our church directory.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Get-together





Yesterday we went to a get-together (was supposed to be a hayride, but rain had left the trails too muddy) for adoptive families in the area. One of the moms took these shots. We all had a great time visiting with the other families.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Where's Dad?

This weekend I went on a shopping trip with my mom, sister, cousin and aunt. That left Jamie home in charge of the kids. Here is what happened while I was away! :)

Monday, November 06, 2006

Rachel's first snow




Today Rachel saw snow for the very first time. When she woke up this morning she ran over to the window and looked out in fascination. She wasn't really crazy about her bulky snowsuit and having her hands covered by mittens, but knowing her, she'll soon be rolling around in the snow and having a blast.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Rachel's first Halloween






Rachel had a great time at Halloween. She loved getting candy out of her bucket, and also out of her brothers' and sister's buckets! She looked so adorable in her little zebra costume.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Moon festival fun





We had our own little Moon festival celebration at home. The kids had their cousins over, and we ate Chinese food, made paper lanterns, made mooncakes, and looked at the moon. It was a fun time, and just the first of many Chinese holidays that we will be celebrating in the years to come.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Panda Sneezes

Sneezing panda, priceless!

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Six months ago today!





Wow, our baby girl has been with us for six months now! To celebrate the occasion, we'll be watching her video and looking at pictures from the wonderful day that she came into our family.

Rachel, you have brought us so much happiness, and we love you so much!

Back to school




The boys went back to school last week, and this week Julia started her first year of preschool.

Monday, August 21, 2006






Our sweet girl is now 14 months old and has been with us for five months now. It seems as though she has always been here. She is a busy, happy toddler, running around and exploring everything, and chasing her big brothers and sister. She has 12! teeth now and loves to eat and try new foods. She can be very silly, and loves to ham it up to get people to laugh at her. One of our favourite things is when she runs laughing into our outstretched arms.

You Bring Me Hope

Friday, August 04, 2006

A day at the fair





Today we went to "Old Home Week", the annual fair in our hometown. The kids had a great time, and Rachel got to ride her first carousel.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Mini-vacation!



We had a wonderful trip to Prince Edward Island this weekend. The weather was gorgeous. We had a lot of other family members there, 20 of us in all, and had a great time together. Rachel loved playing in the sand at the beach, and had a blast at Santa's Woods. We stopped in Shediac on our way over and on our way back. Here we are with the world's biggest lobster.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Rachel's first Canada Day




Rachel had fun this July 1st. We went downtown to see the parade, which she enjoyed. She liked the bagpipes and the Chinese dragon. Afterwards we went to my sister's for a barbecue.