...Just a Reminder...This story builds FROM THE BOTTOM UP...so if you're joining late, be sure to catch up by reading from the beginning...Thanks.




In case you're interested, we invite you to read Kyle's Story and Dylan's Story


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Sunday, December 26, 2010

Merry Christmas ... from Grand Rapids, MI

Hi there, C Here,

It's been a few days (ok...weeks) since our last update.  Life has gotten very busy with the Christmas Holidays upon us.  But we will hopefully be able to catch everyone up over the next few days...and post a lot of photos!

First of all, we want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!!  We hope that Santa was as generous to you as he was to us.  We're in Grand Rapids for Christmas, as we have been every Christmas for as long as I can remember.  We are visiting Grandma and Poppa Wedder and Uncle Mark, Aunt Avery and cousins Paityn, Logan and Luke.

The trip went really well - and by that I mean it was uneventful.  We left after work on Thursday, spent the night just northwest of Pittsburgh, and finished the trip on Friday - we were here in GR by 4 PM or so.  Very little traffic, very few troopers, and perfect driving weather most of the time.  We are VERY FORTUNATE that we have three great long distance travelers in the kids.  Only for a short period of time on Thursday night, did we have any sort of isssue - Ashley was very tired and not very comfortable (she is likely cutting some new teeth).  But we made it into Cranberry, PA just fine and she went right off to sleep at the hotel.

The Kids enjoyed Christmas Morning here at the Wedders after enjoying an early Lockhead Christmas a couple of weeks ago at our house.  That's when we had everyone over for a big day of gift opening and family fun, followed by a great turkey dinner, compliments of Grandmom Lockhead.

Here in GR, we went to visit UM & AA this afternoon and enjoyed a dinner of the best prime rib I've had since I don't even know... Then we exchanged gifts under UM's tree - everyone seemed to really enjoy catching up. we didn't get a chance to visit over the summer, like we did last year, so it's been a while since the cousins saw each other.

And of course, Ashley made her debut...and what a performance!
She was right at home with everyone, especially her new favorite cousin Paityn.  She had a great meal of mac & cheese, prime rib (surprise!), apple slices, and a few pieces of chocolate mints. She was going full tilt from the moment we got there until we left.  We made it home and she pretty much crashed as soon as she hit her pillow!  The boys were close behind and the hose is now quiet.

We have much to be thankful for this Christmas.  And much of it is captured here in this journal.
Lisa and I feel so very lucky to have been blessed with our children and we truly enjoy every minute of every day.  Time melts away if you're not paying attention...

To wit...Christmas Eve marks the 4 YEAR anniversary of our oldest son Kyle joining our family.  He came to us in Nanchang, China as an unforgettable Christmas gift.  I remember many special moments from that trip as if it happened last week.  Lisa and I joke about how difficult the transition was on Kyle for the first few days. Now to look at him...what a difference this time had made.  It's funny how the special moments of Dylan's also seem to have a "wasn't that just the other day" sort of feeling.

Ashley continues to thrive with the Boys as her guiding lights. She has become very attached to both Mom and me and she shares special relationships with Kyle & Dylan.  She has done very well adapting to her new schedule and her new little friends and teachers at Goddard School.  Her "condition" continues to stabilize and she seems much more comfortable...more on this later.
Also we hope to post a bunch more photos of the past few weeks.

Thanks for following...there is more to come...
See you soon, I am going to bed now.
C

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