A Holiday Double Issue!! 2007 Year End

Our first Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years with Ella was spectacular. For most of the month of December, we worked with Evan to study for his 8th grade midterms (which he did really well on, thankfully!) and then we got set for a year end trip (12/24 to 1/1) to New York; attending a Christmas Eve celebration at Arthur and Millie's home. Christmas Day was spent with Jodi and Larry's (Lee Pratt's daughter and husband)family. And then we travelled to Delaware later in the week to see Nona, Aunt Ray and Uncle Morris, then New Jersey to see Aunt Melissa and Uncle Mike (and Brianna and Elyse), before celebrating the New Year at home with Mom, Dad and friends. Oh, I almost forgot about Uncle David, Aunt Angela, Sydney, Alex and Ethan - we got to see them too! It was a fantastic trip that also included a trip (sans Ella) to see the Islanders win a thrilling overtime game and somewhere in there - I managed to have some pretty major dental work done. Now, it's time to rest! Well, here are the pictures - a Double Helping of Ella to close out the year.

J-E-T-S

Ella at home before Christmas with her presents!

Ella at Arthur & Millies for our Traditional Christmas Eve Celebration. Ella gets sad too! I just had to throw this one in....Her Brother is sooo Good!!!

A November to Remember

We remember November 2007 as it was our first Thanksgiving with Ella! Following up Halloween, we participated in Georgia's first ever International Adoption Day by heading to the State Capitol on November 17th. We made the CCAI Georgia Newsletter and were proud to be only one of a few families present to recognize the wonder of International Adoption. We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Ritchie's at Featherstone's (Towne Lake Hills) and Ella enjoyed her Turkey quite well! Also, in November, we took a trip to see Laura's friend Kristin (awaiting adoption from China) at their new house in Forsyth County Ga (beautiful subdivision!) and we took our family pictures (which Ella was not too crazy about!). December started off with a trip to First Friday's - China Adoption Journey an event held the first Friday of each month in Marietta. We'll be sure to attend this group of families who have adopted and waiting to adopt as we are ecstatic to be in the midst of our own China Adoption journey. Now for some pictures:

Ella at GA Int'l Adoption Day

Sometimes Mommy lets me be messy! Addison and I love my new wagon! At Thanksgiving Dinner with the Ritchie's Also at Thanksgiving - can't forget about Evan with Ethan and Sydney Ritchie