Ho. Ho. Ho.

Nice new hat.


Um, excuse me but I think there is something on my head, do you see it?


What kinda crazy creature is that?


I've gathered you all here today because...

Yup you guessed it more holiday photos

Cooper enjoying the snow.


Auntie Lisa gives Althea a Christmas gift.


ohhh...ahhh...


No way! Magnetic acrobats, whoa.

Some more photos

Will and Jay visiting with the little one.


Matt takes Althea for a test drive in the sled buggy.


Ditto.


Cooper poses on the Maverick and the boys are hangin' by the barn...

More Holiday Photos

Jakob is a star.


I know he looks like he could care less but this was like the tenth photo of him holding her, and she is heavy.


Jay visits with Miss Althea.


I am not sure if she loved his glasses or his hat more...

Holiday photos

Hangin' in the play area...


Pop with Cooper Dog.


Jakob was very excited to help Althea open her gifts.


And Uncle David was very excited to help Althea explore her newest toys.

Loads of photos from the new camera - oh ah

I have no part of the weird 1970's double striped outfit - I just think the polar bear cap is too cute!


She loves her little play area - check out all the toys!


America's Next Top Model - looking fierce Althea, you go girl.


Just love the reaching for the toy thing...

Miss J comes for a visit

After a long day of shopping who wouldn't want to hang out with the coolest baby on the block?


Althea gets a big squeeze from Heather.


Crackin' each other up - not sure who started to laugh first...

We have a new camera...

She is sitting up now - and laughing hysterically at all of our really silly jokes and goofy parent antics.


Okay, I don't really understand the quacking chicken but it doesn't really matter because Althea loves the quacking chicken.


Can someone get me the number for Gerber? Is she just the cutest darn thing or what?


Althea closes her eyes in anticipation of the Cooper kiss.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

We told you she kept pumping her fist in the air mumbling "Baby Power" (see earlier post from May/June).

Love the new hat and shirt - thanks Auntie Nan and Uncle Drew

Matt in Dallas

Here are some shots from Matt's trip to Dallas.



The view of Dallas from his hotel room.


Matt with the judge after the adoption was finalized.


There were about 2 dozen people in Fort Worth during this cattle saunter down the main drag - otherwise known as the Stockyard Cattle Drive. I can't believe how close he was to these long horned steers.


Yes, he took a trip to the Dallas Arboretum - love that place! And yes this is a house made entirely of pumpkins, with the exception of the squash hanging over the door. Ben and I had a great time thinking of other food items to make houses out of - like lobster... When you get hungry you could simply grab a claw from the siding of your house and voila! food and shelter!

Celebration

Althea's adoption was finalized earlier this week. Matt took the long journey to Dallas (while Althea and I enjoyed a day off from school due to the snow storm) and appeared in court for the finalization process on Tuesday. We celebrated on Wednesday at Mexico Lindo with Kat, Roy and Ben. Katherine and Roy endured several visits and interviews with social workers to help us with our adoption process - we cannot thank them enough for their help!



Katherine and Roy enjoying a laugh with Althea over dinner.


The six of us celebrating the officialness of the adoption!

Been awhile

Matt is currently in Dallas to finalize Althea's adoption. When he returns we will post photos from Thanksgiving and from the finalization hearing.
In the meantime Althea is enjoying her first snow storm...
She seemed utterly confused by the white stuff falling from the sky this morning, touching the window to get a closer look and searching the neighborhood for signs of color. We both bundled up and went outside to play in the snow with the dog - always a good time. Althea stuck her tongue out - I like to think she was doing what we all do, catch fresh snow flakes on her tongue. She sat in the sled that Matt's dad made lo' those many years ago when Matt was born - she seemed to like it - Cooper seemed to recognize this as a new stroller. The sled looks like an Adirondack chair attached to a double runner sled with a handle for an adult to push the sled - we'll figure out a new seat belt system when Matt returns from Dallas, right now it seems to be an old Army or Boy Scout uniform belt, thou I am sure it'd work I'd feel much better with a harness system.
This afternoon we will head to the woods with Kat, Roy, Alisha, Ben and the parade of dogs - should be fun!