Gram and Gramp's Camp

I went with Mom and Aunt Laurie to Gram and Gramp's Camp - it was great to get inside again. It still smelled like I remember it, even after having tenants living there.

There were still some of Gram's poison control notices, etc. taped inside the cupboards - one was dated 1984!

Merry Christmas!

Just a couple of Christmas pics:

Santa brought us matching PJs:

Parker Christmas pic:

Christmas Eve Part 2!

More pictures from the holiday festivities:

Winter Solstice:

Christmas with Grammy Phyllis:

Brinkley got some toys from Aunt Kathy - he has been carrying this squirrel around since we got home - this morning I found him sleeping with it placed next to him perfectly - with no help from us!
Last weekend was Nana's Christmas party - but we forgot the camera. To bad! We had a nice time.

Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas Eve! Ryan and I opened our presents to each other on Thursday - he surprised my with the above chairs - they are really fun! We will recover the seats and redo the paint this summer.

Yesterday, we had the Dickens Family Christmas Party. Here are some pictures (mostly of the young people) from the festivities:

Kate, Baby Maddie and (Great Great) Aunt Louise
Ryan and Michael playing piane together:
Aunt Susie and Michael playing with bubbles:
Dan, Aunt Louise and Aunt Laurie:

Approval Letter

After almost a month into the "waiting" process, we received the letter from the Agency officially welcoming us to the program. For the past two months or so we have been hoping to find the letter every time we go to the mailbox, so it was a relief to finally get it today. It is really a formality at this point as we had been verbally welcomed to the program and told that our profiles have been networked. Better late than never!

As a side note, I made these funny Christmas trees this weekend when we stayed tucked inside for a snow day. I saw them online and had to make them.

Grinchy

I couldn't resist putting these antlers on Brinks this weekend. I can't help thinking that this picture makes him look like the dog from the Grinch. He only wore them for about 5 seconds - he doesn't like to be decorated.

No adoption news - we met some more adoptive families at the Agency Christmas party, but nothing other than that!

Only two weeks 'til Christmas - time for me to get wrapping!

Tree

This weekend Ryan cut down our Christmas tree and got it set up for us (with a little help from Brinks as you can see).
On Saturday we got the tree decorated and put out a few Christmas things. The tree smells great - and we are now officially in the Christmas spirit!

No adoption news - the program coordinator was on vacation last week and away for Thanksgiving the week before, so we haven't been expecting anything yet. We will be sure to share it with you as soon as we hear anything. Now time to find the snow shovel in preparation for the storm they are promising for tomorrow.