New Pics of Our little Man, from Viet Nam!

Well, the next best thing, other than having him in our arms, new pictures were sent to us of our new little guy! He WILL be in our arms soon, after the first of the year! We are still waiting on his Visa to be approved by USCIS, but we did receive confirmation on 12/10/2007 that our paperwork/application, etc was received in their office (in HCMC) and they will be working on it, but it could take up to 60 days? Yikes! However, other families have received faster processing times, typically more like 3 weeks from receipt, then we travel! Yippee! We also heard that folks (I think one man is tending the desk?) with USCIS may very well be on vacation, so not much movement during the holidays! The wait can be unbearable at times! The addl problem with travel late January/early February, is TET, the Vietnamese New Year celebration, when airline travel is exceptionally expensive and hotel rooms difficult to be had! So...........please hurry with those approvals!!! Enjoy our new pics of our little guy! Those dreamy eyes and THAT HAIR! Peach Fuzz!

Happier Moments

We have spent the past few weeks making the season festive for our young kiddos! We have taken in Zoo Lights, PIR and the beautiful Queen Anne Mansion! We have visited Santa and he even stopped over at the house for a visit! The girls are sooooooooo excited for Xmas! We have had the traditional cold bugs pass through the family! Claire (see pic below where she looks miserable in her Xmas best) was very sick, sniffing and sneezing, then Caitlin and I caught it! Remarkably, Rob has remained in good health! We are having our wonderful friends, Kendra, Mark, Grandma Linda and their children over for prime rib on Xmas Day! We will also join them for church Xmas Eve! It is simply the best, seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child! Blessings to all!

Ode to Maggie, the Beagle Dog

Well, what a month this has been! Just before Thanksgiving, I was forced to put my dear dog Maggie to sleep! She was our very first baby, we have had her 14 years! It has been so difficult to even talk about, I didn't realize how heartbroken I/we would be. However, I knew I had to do it! The cancer had returned, and she was really suffering! I was hoping that she would make it through the holidays and was putting off the inevitable. A good friend, who also loves poochies, told me not to let her suffer! So, seeing her pain and with a great deal of anxiety, took her in and indeed, it had spread and there was a mass in her liver! I knew it was the right thing but it was soooooo hard to let her go! I know she was a smelly 'ol Beagle but I loved her dearly! Marley has been visibly sad, missing her too! Caitlin was torn up but she realized that it was the most loving thing to do! So...........

Nolan's Beautiful Big Sisters

Well, we had our girl's Christmas pics taken and they are beautiful! I have absolutely lovely girls and Nolan has the most beautiful big sisters! I am so proud of them all!

We are still waiting our I600 approval, pending the new procedural changes with USCIS! WE are anticipating travel in early to mid-January! We will receive approval then travel very quickly! We will update everyone on our blog, as it will happen very fast and there will be little time!

Brighter Video Clip

"I Lub You" and "Patty Cake, Patty Cake"

"Apple Juice, I Like It!"

Beautiful Gifts/Beautiful Friends!

I wanted to take the time to express my gratitude to my wonderful friends! I am displaying some of Nolan's new wardrobe!! Also, his very first baby blanket, craftsmanship by Grandma Linda, Kendra's mother! Thank you, Linda, it is so beautiful and so very soft! It will be with us when we travel to Vietnam! Claire now has it wrapped around her little baby dollies! I will take a pics with it wrapped around Nolan! Thank you to all my wonderful friends, Kendra, Stacy, Linda, Deb, Bozena, Mercy, Carrie, Ann (my very bestest buddy in Arizona who sent a huge package of beautiful clothes), Kathi (Godmommy to Caitlin, spoils us rotten), Grandma Carla, who left a huge package of clothes and books) , Chris, Bonnie M. (both of Caitlin's favorite teachers) and my little friends, who also attended (Oh, I hope I didn't forget anyone!)!

New pictures of Bebe Noli!!!

Today, we received new pictures of our beautiful baby boy, taken just yesterday ( 3 1/2 months old now)! At this point, while I LOVE to see additional pictures, my heart and arms just ache wanting to hold him so! Ooooops, sorry Rob, but they put your son in a pink bonnet! Well, with all the beautiful new clothes he received yesterday, we will fix that in no time! See ladies, he REALLY needed new clothes!

My Fabulous Baby Shower!!

I must say, I had the most wonderful time today! I was surrounded by very dear girlfriends, celebrating our imminent addition to our family, our dear Baby Boy, Nolan Foster! You REALLY cannot imagine just how much this day has meant to me (us)!!! Caitlin kept saying, "Mommy, this is YOUR day!" It is really a celebratory day for the entire family, and for my dear friends who are our most treasured gifts! I can't thank you enough, Kendra, for hosting our lovely shower and for your valued friendship! Thank you too, Stacy for helping host and too, for being our dear friend! Our entire family thank you all, our dear freinds who attended, from the bottom of our hearts for all your love and support! ! We had so many lovely friends attend from close family friends as well as deep friendships in our teachers, woven together from common threads, our beautiful children! I will let the pictures speak for themselves! Certainly, a memorable day!

Happy Birthday, Dear Kendra

Happy Birthday, Dear Kendra

Happy Birthday to you............We had a wonderful time celebrating bday festivities with Kendra and her family! That you for sharing your most wonderful occasion! Love, The Christner Clan