Last week was crazy. We finalized Wesley's adoption at 8:30 Friday morning. The kids had been up since 6:00 and were in the middle of a full melt down by the time we got into see the judge. This is the only picture we got. Wesley was excited and wanted to hold the paperwork, and Em is pulling on her teeth that are coming in.

Next stop was the airport to see Michael come home from his mission. He has never met the kids, so we made a sign in case he didn't know who they were.

We went to the church Christmas party Friday night and had to bribe Em with David's blackberry to get her to stop screaming in the car. This child knows her cell phones. She won't play with the fake plastic ones, but as soon as she gets her little hands on a blackberry she is talking and texting everyone!

And in other news, Em is doing very well at not destroying the Christmas tree. She has however, decided that there needed to be some additional decorations. Each day we find a different toy on the tree. Last Friday when we couldn't find her shoes, we found them two days later stuck in the backside of the tree. Below is Habib, her camel that Aunt Krista got for her in Jordan. I think he makes a fine addition!

Em and Wes are starting to enjoy playing together. Their favorite thing to do is hang out on blankets.

Emilee likes to show Wesley how to help with the laundry.

She also likes to show him how to stop the paparazzi named Mom.

I'm so excited!

Tomorrow is a big day for us. Friday morning we go back here...

to finalize Wesley's adoption in court. Time with two kids has flown by and I can't believe Wesley is over 6 months old already! We're so excited!!

After leaving court tomorrow, we are heading out to DFW airport. There is someone that we have been missing for the last two years. He left 2 weeks before we got Emilee, so he has not seen either one of our kiddos. Our nephew Michael is returning from serving a mission for our church in Washington DC tomorrow at 12:30. Again, we are so excited!!

I am finally starting to get over the worst sinus infection I have ever had in my life. Which means that I will finally be able to spend some quality time with these two. Meet my new niece and nephew.

Annalise looks just like her momma and is the big sister.

Matthew looks just like his daddy.

My brother and his wife have their hands full with these two, but they're cute, so who cares!!

So excited for them!

Sharing 101

Emilee has finally realized that Wes is here to stay. Wesley has realized that he can play with all sorts of toys - therefore, we have conflict between siblings. This past month we have been working really hard on sharing. The pictures below illustrate one of our first lessons...

We start out with each child on their own blanket happily rolling around.


Wait a minute...Wesley is playing with something that looks kinda fun!

Hey Wesley - let me look at that with you.

Hey Wesley - let me just take that from you so I can play with it!

I triumphantly tower over my little brother. Victory is mine!

You rolled over Wes - good job!

Let me point your eyes out to mom. I love this sharing thing!


Em has gotten better with sharing. After she takes one of Wesley's toys, we make her give it back to him and then tell her she did a good job. Now, I think that she is starting to take Wesley's toys just so she can get praise when she gives them back. We'll keep working on it!

Family Pictures

David's sister Kathy came into town mid October, and we took the opportunity to utilize her photography skills and finally get a family picture. The kids were in rare form (of course) and trying to pry a smile out of them was hard work...

Emilee and Loretta. She loves that dog, and has started letting Loretta lick her face - much to the horror of her mother - and to the amusement of the rest of the family.

We got a half smile out of this one. She is a daddy's girl.

My blue eyed boy.

How cute are my men!! I just want to squeeze Wesley's cheeks!

There's a smile.


This one is my favorite. Doesn't Em look thrilled to be there?

We love our family photos - Thanks Kathy!!

Cold Front

Just yesterday I was admiring all the butterflies that had flocked to the backyard to hang out on the lantanas, and then I looked to the sky. Here comes the cold front. I hate cold - it's why I live in TX.


It was crazy to actually see the front coming in...

Emilee was quite impressed with the wind and the clouds outside.

Here's a little video of her expressing her concern and excitement due to the change in the weather.

Teething Troubles

Emilee and Wesley are both teething, and that has led to some pretty interesting days around here. Em was so pathetic yesterday morning that I let her watch Backyardigans in my bed for almost 2 hours. I know - I have tremendous parenting skills. I am starting to wonder what I will do when she is older and The Backyardigans won't fix everything. Yikes! But how could I deny that little face...

To top off the morning, she decided to "borrow" her little brother's paci. As soon as I took this picture, she realized she had been caught, and tried to shove the paci back in Wesley's face as if to say, "See mom, I fixed it. I shouldn't get in trouble!"

I'm hoping that these teeth break through soon!

For Little John...

Wesley wore his train jammies and thought of you!!

Halloween

A little late on Halloween pictures, but here they finally are.

Em was a little ballerina who kept trying to run away from her dad.

Wesley was a cute little goldfish in the stroller watching everyone walk by.

Post Halloween fun - I think Wes was a little tired...

...and so was Emilee.

And here is the post Halloween hair!!

More Of Our Favorite Things

Wesley's favorite thing is sticking his tongue out and spitting. Such a boy!

Emilee still loves to try and fit in the bumbo, but to no avail.

Her favorite stuffed animals (best friends) Pablo and Uniqua.

Em loves to give Wes kisses.

And we love cute footy pjs.

And putting on overalls to go play with Papa at the farm.

And last but not least, Em's favorite thing to do in the afternoon is to try walking in Dave's sandals. Highly entertaining to watch!

What are your favorite things?

I think I may be right...

...in thinking that my kids are the cutest things ever!!

State Fair

David took Tuesday afternoon off and we loaded up the kids and ventured out to the State Fair of Texas. First stop was the live stock area - let's just say that the cows, goats, and enormous pigs were a little too close for Emilee's comfort, and she really wanted nothing to do with them. Next stop was the petting zoo where things were a little bit more to Em's liking.

She saw lots of goats...

...and a miniature pony...


...and a mama pig and lots of little baby pigs that were sooooo cute when they ran around...

and a baby giraffe!


After the petting zoo and a snack, we headed next door to the Little Hands on the Farm. The kids get to wind through a "farm" and help with chores as they go. Here she is in the little apron they give all the kids.

Driving the tractor - David was so proud!

Learning how to milk a moo, I mean cow.

Wes hanging out while Farmer Em is hard at work.

Playing with Aunt Laurie during snack time.

It's not a trip to the Fair without seeing the car show. Em loves the luxury automobile - or it could be because they were so shiny she could see her reflection.
(On a side note - if you look at the Ford cars at the Fair and sign up for a test drive at a local dealership, they will send you a free $50 visa card just for test driving.)



And you have to get a family photo with Big Tex in the background.

Couple of things to look at before you go. Go here: www.bigtex.com for State Fair info. A couple of things that they don't readily tell you. On Tuesdays, if you bring a Dr. Pepper can you get in for $3 instead of $14. On Wednesdays, if you bring 3 cans of food, you get in for $1. Make sure that you get some pineapple soft serve ice cream, it's delish!