Our 1st Christmas!

Santa checking whether she has been Naughty or Nice!?
Daddy and Kaitlin putting out Santa's cookies and milk
So Happy! She was pretending to paint everyone's fingernails.
Cooking us up some breakfast.
Oh Baby ---her favorite!

How special - our 1st Christmas!! Kaitlin was really into Santa this year - which made it extra fun. We rode on the Polar Express, Santa made a visit to our house to check to see if she had been naughty or nice and Christmas Day represented 9 month that Kaitlin was placed in our arms - a true gift from God.

Santa brought a kitchen and dress vanity and once she saw these we had a hard time getting her

to open any other presents, but a few hours later she began to unwrap more and was a very lucky little girl. I would have to say that the winners were the kitchen, the dress vanity, the farm and doll, Elefun game, baby doll bed and tub. She did get much more but I think at this point it will take a few days to get her arms around all the cool things that she did get.

We feel really blessed to have made this journey to connect with this special little girl!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

BO BO Strikes Again

Ok - Bo Bo Strikes again. For those of you who don't know Bo Bo that stands for Bogey per Kaitlin! At dinner tonight we couldn't find the butter container, both of us can recall using it but we couldn't find it. Even looked in silly places, like the cupboards, and the dishwasher thinking we got side tracked and put it down and forgot about it but - oh wait - we found evidence. I found the top of the Butter container underneath one of the chairs ---HUM --Looks like our counter surfer is back!

We continued the search for the rest of the container, and searched and searched and just about to give up, we figured he ate the entire butter container except for the lid when we found the container, shoved behind a basket where he couldn't get to it!

YUCK! He ate a whole thing of Butter ---I imagine things will be flowing quite well for a while!

UUUGGHHGHG!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

She just got her Polar Express ticket punched by the conductor! Did you know that every conductor has his/her own special punch - no two punches are the same?
Kaitlin and Ho Ho
Holding her Special Bell!

Craig, Kaitlin and Peppermint the Elf

Excited that we just finished the tree decorations
Playing at the mall playground while Mommy and

Grandma take turns shopping!
Testing out the snow
Waiting for Santa on the Polar Express
Raising our arms on the 'Polar coaster'

OH! How busy we have been. We recently moved into our new house (the week before thanksgiving). Kaitlin loves the new house (so do Mommy and Daddy) but Bogey is still unsure.

Every day for a week I would arrive home to a prize! The funny thing is I have him trained - I can tell the minute I walk in the door just by his reaction if he has been bad or good!

Day 1 - The plate of cookies that the neighbor brought over!

Day 2 - A loaf of bread and buns - Gone!

Day 3 - He ate or started to eat the beads off the Christmas tree

Day 4 -I accidently left the hallway closet open -Personally I think this day was the best for him - he had every hat and mitten strewn throughout the house - he probably played for hours!

Day 5 - My $200 Maui Jim Sunglasses (luckly there were only minor teeth marks on the arms - so he can still sleep inside!)

So for about a week and a half he has been a good boy (He must know that Santa is coming!)

Speaking of Santa - Kaitlin seems to really like Santa! Her favorite part is 'HO 'HO "HO!

She sat on Santa's lap for a photo and got to visit with Santa on the Polar Express! For those of you who may not be from around here, the local railroad sells tickets for the Polar Express. It's about a 1 1/2hr train ride where the kids wear their pj's and they serve you Hot chocolate, cookies and sing christmas carols and then get visits from The Grinch, Mrs. Claus and of course a visit by SANTA CLAUS! She was in total awe - very excited to see Santa! We have watched the Polar Express a few times and she will watch just about the entire movie - she loves it!

She is babbling up a storm and starting to put words together 'Where's my mama', Love You, Thank You, Bogey NO!, Oh no!, Oh My gosh!, etc.

We experienced our first snow fall - her first words ----OOOOHHHHH followed by a OH NO! as Bogey came running around the corner with snow all over him.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Softball Reunion

Kaitlin and Jessie having tea!


Just thought I would load a photo from the Softball Reunion game. Jessie (Holly's youngest) is keeping Kaitlin occupied while the mommies try not to get hurt!! It was fun to see everyone, we still have fans following us around! (Thanks B and Scott it was good to see you!)

Pumpkin Patch 2007

I like this one Mommy!

This is the best group picture I got and it doesn't ahve everyone in it! :(

Katrina and Kaitlin
Now that's some wild hair!

No! This is my pumpkin!
Let me see!
Best Buddies - Katrina and Kaitlin


We had a wonderful day at the pumpkin patch and then at Lisa's moms house for lunch and some jumping! I'm not sure how many kids we ended up having (I think around 12 -15). We
took a wagon ride up to the pumpkin patch where you then go searching for your pumpkin!
Miss Smiley wasn't smiling this morning for some reason but I did manage to get a few good photos.

Hope you enjoy!

30 days until we move!

Love

Traci, Craig, Kaitlin and Bogey

Riding Horses and Loving Bogey!

Best Buddies (Bo - Bo)
Kaitlin, Kari and Zip

Just thought you would enjoy a few pics.

We went out to Kari and Erich's last Saturday and Kari took Kaitlin (and Jack and Annie) for

a horse Ride! She loved it!

Post more later

Traci, Craig, Kaitlin and Bogey

Hanging Out and Meeting Up with Old Friends.

Smells like Tide!


Sand--Yum!
Look - I'm floating by myself! (for a second anyways)

Can you tell she is teething?
Anxiously awaiting for Lila!
Us!
us and Garrett, Maria and Lila
Strike a Pose!

Dum Ditty, Dum Ditty, Dum , Dum, Dum on Daddy's head!

(from Hand, Fingers, Thumb Dr. Seuss - one of Kaitlin's favorite books)

aaahhh--so sweet.
Daddy's girl



Last day on the island, we decided to go to the beach and try to get some candid shots of Kaitlin, worked out pretty well. We also had friends come up from Gainesville, Garrett, Maria and their daughter Lila. Kaitlin loved Lila, I think she may have remembered her from the orphanage. The girls had fun playing while the adults caught up. For those of you who don't know Garrett, Maria and Lila, they traveled with us to China and our daughters are from the same orphanage.

Lila was born in May 2006, so she is 16 months. Kaitlin quickly picked up saying Lila this morning so it was really cool for her to put a face to a name. She has been babbling up a storm this week, she has learned bow, beach, pool, turtle, Lila, cheese (she kinda knew this one, but says it better now after all the pics we have taken). Hope you enjoy the pics.

Having Fun at the Beach!

Mommy and Me in the ocean
Oh my Goodness!
Sunrise from the Condo
View from our Condo
Watch out here I come!

Passing Time at the Airport
This sand feels different!
Daddy and Kaitlin making a sandcastle
Wee!!
Checking out the Ocean!

It's been a great week so far! Sunny and warm here at Amelia Island. Kaitlin has really enjoyed going to the beach and swimming at the pool everyday. We have spent the evenings checking out the surrounding areas. We are minutes away from Fernandina Beach which is listed on the historic registry and is pretty cool, very quaint. Last night we drove down to Jacksonville and ate dinner and walked around at an open air mall that put any of our open air malls to shame! (About 4 times the size of Easton!) Anyways, hope you enjoy the pics.