Happy Fall Y'all!

Four Years Old! (Part 3)

Before kids, I thought of birthdays as a special time to celebrate a person and look to the future and what they will become.  Since Kieran joined our family, his birthday has been a time to look back and ponder what was even as we celebrate who he is and will become.  In the two and a half years that we have known him, he has grown so much!  As he grows, some things about him have not changed.  He's still exuberant, a social boy who loves people and likes to include everyone; he's almost always energetic and enthusiastic.  He is curious, learns quickly, remembers just about everything, and makes us laugh often. We love him deeply.  What an amazing miracle God has grafted into our family tree!

Here are some pictures of Kieran's birthdays including the three that we have been honored to celebrate with him:

 October 2007: Kieran is born.  We had started the process to
adopt from China, but were contemplating concurrent adoption.
  In November we found out that our adoption agency was opening a
program in Rwanda. In my heart I knew that's where our son was.
We began the paperwork to adopt him in May 2008.

2008: Kieran's first birthday.  We had just sent our dossier to Rwanda
and were painting & updating his dresser as we waited for a referral.
We had no idea who our child would be, but as he turned one
we were preparing a place for him and aching to hold him.

2009: Home with us for almost five months, he turned 2 and had stolen our hearts.
Below:Picture on left shows Kieran at age 2.  On the right, age 4...wow he's grown!

2010: Then he turned three!  He went from barely talking to non-stop talking.

On his third birthday, we went to the pumpkin patch as a family of 3,
but we had a referral for his baby sister from China.  He'd soon be
meeting his sister for the first time!

2011: Now he's four and we are a family of four!  Our joy has multiplied.
Big brother and little sis are enjoying some birthday cake and ice cream.

Our wonderful boy!  We'd go to the ends of the earth for him again if we had to.

Four Years Old! (Part 2)

We all went to the pumpkin patch to celebrate Kieran's 4th birthday.  We were blessed with a beautiful sunny day.  It seemed like God rolled back the clouds just for Kieran that day.   For me, it was an especially wonderful day as I remembered visiting the pumpkin patch on Kieran's third birthday.  We had recently received Marisa's referral then.  So this year, it was so special to have her there with us as we made new memories as a family of four.  I loved that we had a whole group with us this time: grandparents, aunt & uncle, cousins... the more the merrier.  Everybody had a blast!

Grandpa & Grandma with their three grandkids.  What a good lookin' bunch!

"Just give me the keys and I'll have the crop
harvested before sundown!"

The giant bubbles were a huge hit with both of our kids, especially Marisa!

Yeah!  A picture of all four of us.  Once again, we
forgot to pose for family photos.  We happened
to get one with all of us in it, thanks to Grandpa!

We went on the tractor train ride just like last year, only with two extra
family members on board: Marisa & Cousin Heather.  Doubled the fun!

We were so happy to have Heather join us for our birthday bash.
Kieran & Marisa loved hanging out with her.

Our gang, except for Grandpa & Daddy since they took all the photos.
Marisa has been talking about the hayride all week: "Hayride, fun!"  

Heather & Kieran checking out the puppies.  So sweet.

Time to head for home.  Daddy & Kieran hauled the pumpkins to the car.

Four Years Old! (Part 1)

Kieran turned four this past week!  We had such a big day of celebrating that I'm going to break the pictures up into a three part post.  The day began with Kieran and Mommy running errands for birthday dinner and cupcake ingredients.  Kieran also got to purchase a toy of his choosing with his birthday money from Aunt Teresa.  He chose 12 Hot Wheel cars.  When we arrived home, Daddy and Marisa had a surprise waiting for Kieran.  First, a new helmet and then outside...a bike!  Later in the afternoon, family members arrived to join in the celebration.  More about that in my next post.  

Kieran (with his new helmet) & Mommy.  

He'd been asking for a bike for several months.  It was so fun to see his joy when he got one.

Daddy & Marisa enjoying a fun moment as
Kieran tried out his new bike.

The gang arrived and added to the celebration.  Next stop, pumpkin patch!

Wedding Photos

My sister Kendra on her wedding day with her nieces & nephew.  

Mommy & Kieran.  Kieran walked w/ me down the aisle.
He did a great job and made me feel so proud as we walked.

Kieran burning off some pent up energy during a boring photo shoot.

Parents of the bride (Kieran's grandparents) w/ bride and groom.

Sweet cousin Haley, flower girl, and her daddy.

This kid knows how to work a tux!

Our lovely little flower girl, Marisa.

Marisa & Daddy just hanging out waiting for the
ceremony to begin.  It was a long day for all of us.

Pictures, pictures, pictures.  The kids held up amazingly well and managed
to keep their clothing clean.  It was just about miraculous!

All the ladies in the bridal party:)  

This is the ONE and only photo of the four of us.  We had a
good time at the wedding, but forgot to get some good
pictures of our little family together.