Merry Christmas!

We are still here, and still hoping to adopt!  But Life gets busy at times, and suddenly it has been two months since you have posted.  Whoops!

We love the holiday season- Christmas songs on the radio, baking, finding the perfect gift, time with family, etc.  It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

So what have we been up to this holiday season?

One thing that has become a tradition for us:  Adopting a child from Salvation Army's Angel Tree program.  I highly recommend it!  Kids that are less fortunate sign up, parents include clothing sizes and/or toys the child would like, and you can spend an amount you feel appropriate to get them nice gifts.  We are so looking forward to being able to buy clothes and toys for our own child(ren) someday, so this has been good practice!

The loot

We chose a little one year old boy, and I had to put stuff back because I was spending too much.  But so fun shopping for a little boy!  I can't wait to be the proud mama, out shopping or making gifts for her kids.  Some day soon!

Salvation Army Christmas Center

We happened to be taking our donation to the Christmas Center on the same day as the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary.  On a day when things looked a lot darker than ever, it was amazing to see a full warehouse (former Walmart) filled with toys donated by the community.  This picture is only half of the space, there were rows and rows of bikes and other goodies in the other half.  There is still good in the world, and we need to focus on that!

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Our happy tree

For the holidays, we were able to head back up to NY to see all of our family and friends, which was awesome!  We even got to see snow while we were there.  That was on the wishlist for sure.  We got to visit with Matt's family and mine, extended family, friends, had a fun Cousin's Night Out, and more. 

Newest member of the family!

We got to meet the first great-grandchild in my dad's family, and he was as cute as a button.  In a house filled with people, he slept comfortably, even as he was passed from aunt to uncle to cousin to grandma, etc.  Our families love kids, especially babies!

Toy time

Most of the ladies in my mom's side of the fam

Grandma and Grandpa P enjoying the moment

Excited to see snow, just wish it was not on the drive home!

It was a great visit, and went by too fast as usual.  Time to start planning the next visit!

As for the adoption, we have still been keeping our ears open to any situations that may come up.  We've had some good suggestions recently to contact schools or pediatrician offices, so I may send a letter out to area offices soon.  I also learned that the department of health runs teen health centers throughout the area, which also could be a good resource.  Keep praying for us!

Merry Christmas!