Santa Claus Is Coming to Town...

Jed with his toy from Santa!

Jed with Santa Claus

Waiting in line to meet Santa

So tonight we ventured up to Poway to the Huish home to meet Santa and see the great decorations in the home and outside! We enjoyed hot cocoa and apple cider. Jed enjoyed his new sword from Santa and kept sneaking away from me to see Santa...again and again!!!

It was a cold night...apparently not as cold as in Utah as my parents told me on the phone tonight. I'm sure they're right. It isn't as cold, but it sure felt like I was in the snowy weather!

DECEMBER...

Julia, Jed, and Livy (my nieces)
Julia, Heaven, Livy

Liz, Jeff, Heaven (my sis and bro-in-law)

Another adventure at Disneyland

Jed with Pluto

Is Jed the new "Karate Kid" or what???
Look at those muscles...

I have to say that this year has been pretty great! I have all my Christmas shopping completed and everything has calmed down a bit. Heaven left us to go live with relatives on Friday the 12th. That has been a very bittersweet event. I, of course, had to take her to the county early in the morning and it was not easy to say good-bye. When you have a child reaching for you saying, "mommy, mommy" it doesn't make anything easier. Needless to say, Heaven and her social worker made it safely to New Orleans and I spoke with a relative there and she said she is doing well...sleeping a lot from the aftermath of flying and layovers in airports, but doing well. I was assured updates through e-mail so I will keep you all posted!

We have decided to go with LDS family services and the San Diego County for adoption this time. We feel that there is a child out there who is meant for our home permanently. And it is too hard to let these kids go! Jed has been very somber these past couple of days so we feel it is time to just solely adopt. But we definitely want to keep our options open down the road for fostering again. It has been an amazing experience that I would tell anyone to do if your heart is strong enough for it! I won't tell you it is easy, but it is definitely worth it!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Kam's Cutest Quilts

My friend, Kam, makes the cutest quilts. She stayed at my house this past week and was putting the finishing touches on these amazing baby quilts and bedding sets. So sad they are not for me! She was making them for some relatives.

Kam, you are so talented!!! Pink and striped baby girl set

Blue and green baby boy set

Sea World

Sea World was NOT busy at all when we went during the afternoon. It was very cold, though. We met Lisa, Jackson, and Ruby at Chick-fil-a and then right before heading over to Sea World we went to Target and bought sweat shirts for everyone.

We traded off taking the kids on the rides and then saw the "Pets Rule" show. Then, after a few more minutes of playing, headed for home.

Jed and Jackson-Best Buds
Heaven and Ruby-Stroller Buddies

Yearbook Pictures....Love it!

I just had to go to this website when I found it on my friend's on facebook. It was so much fun! Trust me...you WILL LAUGH OUT LOUD when you do this! Have fun!!!

LEGOLAND WITH THE NEWELLS

Heaven in a lego car
Jed at driving school

Jed and Gracen on the safari ride

Jaden and Heaven on the boat ride looking very serious

Jed, Danni, Britt, and Gracen with Darth Vader

On Monday, November 3rd, we met up with The Newells at Legoland. We had such a great time. It was so much fun seeing them and hanging out. Jed and Gracen went on the mini roller coaster about 5 times. It was so funny to see them in the front row of the roller coaster with their arms up in the air. (mini teenagers). The boys especially loved the play area in the knights/castle area. I think we were there for almost 2 hours. The boys only stopped to get a drink and then they were back playing.

I'm so glad that Julie called me and that we could meet them last week. I miss my Utah neighborhood and all my friends back in Utah. Thanks for a fun day Newell Family!

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