Each year I struggle to get out my Christmas cards before Christmas. I actually have trouble getting them out before the new year! Last year I didn't even send one out at all. I decided the reason I always have trouble is that I like to include a Christmas letter. I can never seem to get the letter written..then I have to print it..so this year I'm blogging! So many things have happened over the past two years. It's hard to know where to start!
Tyler is in 1st grade and he really enjoys math. He especially loves doing math facts! He is getting better each day at reading. He enjoys playing soccer and loves having his dad as his coach. He loves to score goals, and even tried being goal keeper this past fall. We celebrated his 7th birthday in October with a trip to Six Flags. He loved the rides and food. After some baptisms at our church earlier in the year, Tyler began asking a lot of questions. He decided to ask Jesus in to his heart! A day of rejoicing in heaven!! He is a tender-hearted boy who loves to help. We are thankful each day that he is part of our family!
In April of 2008, we were able to finalize Tori's adoption. Tori was so excited on that day (even though she didn't really know why!). She woke up around 4am and wanted to get dressed in her adoption dress. We tried to convince her to go back to sleep, but there was no convincing. So needless to say, after the adoption and a breakfast out with family, we went home and slept! Another milestone that same week... her doctors removed her feeding tube after 2 long years. She was a little sad to see it go, but loved to show people her two belly buttons! It's hard to imagine she is the same tiny baby we brought home almost 5 years ago! She is in preK and loves to learn new things. She is always making us laugh with her funny sayings and animated stories. She has a wonderful heart and is always telling others about God's love! On the day we celebrated her first adoption day, she decided to ask Jesus in her heart! What an exciting day!
On June 21, 2008 we welcomed Brooklyn Fay into this world. (7 lbs, 13oz, 21 inches long) The labor was long, there were a few scary moments, but we made it through! My grandparents, Nanno and Baw Baw, came to town to keep Tyler and Tori while all the grandparents were at the hospital. We had decided to keep her name a secret until she arrived. So when asked what her baby sister's name was, Tori responded, "Baby Broccoli." Brooklyn has grown so much since then. She is 18 months old now and growing like a weed! She adds new words to her vocabulary each day! She is already starting to put words together to make small sentences. Just today she said, "go see daddy." She loves to sing and dance when she hears music. She always has a smile on her face.
Ryan and I will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary in just a few weeks. We have been so incredibly blessed with a beautiful home, a great marriage, wonderful jobs, and 3 fantastic children! We hope that the LOVE of God and the GIFT of our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST will give you JOY this Christmas! Merry Christmas!
