The Journey of a Lifetime
Follow our journey as we go through the process of adopting a beautiful baby girl, boy, or possibly twins (but I really think it's another girl) from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. You will be able to follow our story as it unfolds. Join us in this amazing and life changing event (the third time around) from start to finish!
We are having a BLAST this week during winter break! I love it so much I'm thinking about homeschooling!!!!!!!!!! There's nothing like having all my babies home during the day! I love love LOVE it!!!!!!!!!
On Wednesday we decided to go bowling with our friends the Claggetts!!!!!!!!!!!! All the kids had so much fun!! Thanks for playing with us CC and kiddos!
I love it when Ryan tickles and smooches the crap out of Ahnya. His whiskers tickle her face and she goes crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Christmas Day we decided to venture out and try and make it to Grandpa Bob and Grandma Peggy's house to celebrate the holidays with them, too! With 17+ inches of snow on the ground and no wind blowing---we took off at 11:00 a.m. and made it to Clarkfield! Yeah!
The girls loved their gifts and Ryan and I decided that they are definately spoiled!
Our traditional family picture at Grandpa Bob and Grandma Peggy's house!
Every year it's tradition to reinact the story of Jesus' Birth by putting on a live Nativity Play! All the kids pick out their character and act out their parts in the play. The adults do their job of singing Christmas carols, Nicki plays the piano, I'm the costume director and camera person, and Bumpa reads story out of the bible.
Kevin always has the most holiday spirit (I'm a close 2nd) and every year sings louder than anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!
My little angels WERE the Angels in the Nativity play. Still wearing their flower girl dresses from Holly's wedding!!!!!!!!!! Oh yes, a little short in length, but fit perfectly!
Adrianna was mother Mary and Ahnya played baby Jesus! What a beautiful baby!
Deacon was the shepard and Tyus was the wise man! Holly, Dave and the kids couldn't be there for the play as they had another Christmas to attend that evening-so we're missing 3 kiddos! More shepards and wisemen next year, right?!
Snuggled in tight at Nana and Bumpa's house.
.Adrianna and Gabriella
.Bumpa and Jocelyn
.Smiley...everyone loves a happy baby!
...........................................Bumpa and his lovely ladies
The Schlenner Family 2009....It's wonderful to be a family of 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.........................................Ahnya...................................
...................................and Jocelyn...........................................................
.......................................and big sister Gabriella with Daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Holiday Blizzard hit hard on Thursday, December 24
th. In
lieu of the
fore coming blizzard all the families packed up early the day before and left for Nana and Bumpa's home for the holidays! We all snuggled in tight and settled in for the blizzard!
Here's some pics of everyone playing in the snow!!!!
Going down to the creek to explore!
I love this picture....Gabriella helping Uncle Kevin make a snow angel!!!!!!!!
Gabriella and Jocelyn loved being pulled around in the Kat Kutter!!!!!! I think they played outside to 2 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a little ham!! Now lil' Ms. Ahnya smiles big for the camera...and loves every minute of photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's Ahnya and cousin Harley sitting in their little chairs that Bumpa made them! Thanks for making the chairs Bumpa!
We all woke up bright and early Christmas Eve morning (December 24th) and the kids opened their presents from everyone. What a way to start the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this picture. It's complete with all the grandkids in the DeBoer, Schlenner, and Labat family!
Jocelyn opening up The Swan Palace set for Christmas!
Finding time during the holidays is really tough to celebrate "our" intimate family Christmas together. Time is precious and there's not a lot of days. So this year the only day we had to celebrate as a family was Tuesday, December 22nd! It worked out perfectly because it wasn't rushed at all. Everyone just enjoyed each other and had fun.
My three babies!!! Jocelyn, Ahnya and Gabriella at our home celebrating!
.................................................Ahnya, never a dull or gloomy moment! EVER!
Gabriella got a student desk; complete with stationary, stamps, and accessories! She was so excited I didn't think she was ever going to go to bed that night!
We are having a BLAST this week during winter break! I love it so much I'm thinking about homeschooling!!!!!!!!!! There's nothing like having all my babies home during the day! I love love LOVE it!!!!!!!!!
I love it when Ryan tickles and smooches the crap out of Ahnya. His whiskers tickle her face and she goes crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Christmas Day we decided to venture out and try and make it to Grandpa Bob and Grandma Peggy's house to celebrate the holidays with them, too! With 17+ inches of snow on the ground and no wind blowing---we took off at 11:00 a.m. and made it to Clarkfield! Yeah!
The girls loved their gifts and Ryan and I decided that they are definately spoiled!
Our traditional family picture at Grandpa Bob and Grandma Peggy's house!
Every year it's tradition to reinact the story of Jesus' Birth by putting on a live Nativity Play! All the kids pick out their character and act out their parts in the play. The adults do their job of singing Christmas carols, Nicki plays the piano, I'm the costume director and camera person, and Bumpa reads story out of the bible.
Kevin always has the most holiday spirit (I'm a close 2nd) and every year sings louder than anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!
My little angels WERE the Angels in the Nativity play. Still wearing their flower girl dresses from Holly's wedding!!!!!!!!!! Oh yes, a little short in length, but fit perfectly!
Adrianna was mother Mary and Ahnya played baby Jesus! What a beautiful baby!
Deacon was the shepard and Tyus was the wise man! Holly, Dave and the kids couldn't be there for the play as they had another Christmas to attend that evening-so we're missing 3 kiddos! More shepards and wisemen next year, right?!
Snuggled in tight at Nana and Bumpa's house.
.Adrianna and Gabriella
.Bumpa and Jocelyn
.Smiley...everyone loves a happy baby!
...........................................Bumpa and his lovely ladies
The Schlenner Family 2009....It's wonderful to be a family of 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
...................................and Jocelyn...........................................................
.......................................and big sister Gabriella with Daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Holiday Blizzard hit hard on Thursday, December 24th. In lieu of the fore coming blizzard all the families packed up early the day before and left for Nana and Bumpa's home for the holidays! We all snuggled in tight and settled in for the blizzard!
Going down to the creek to explore!
I love this picture....Gabriella helping Uncle Kevin make a snow angel!!!!!!!!
Gabriella and Jocelyn loved being pulled around in the Kat Kutter!!!!!! I think they played outside to 2 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a little ham!! Now lil' Ms. Ahnya smiles big for the camera...and loves every minute of photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's Ahnya and cousin Harley sitting in their little chairs that Bumpa made them! Thanks for making the chairs Bumpa!
We all woke up bright and early Christmas Eve morning (December 24th) and the kids opened their presents from everyone. What a way to start the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this picture. It's complete with all the grandkids in the DeBoer, Schlenner, and Labat family!
Jocelyn opening up The Swan Palace set for Christmas!
Finding time during the holidays is really tough to celebrate "our" intimate family Christmas together. Time is precious and there's not a lot of days. So this year the only day we had to celebrate as a family was Tuesday, December 22nd! It worked out perfectly because it wasn't rushed at all. Everyone just enjoyed each other and had fun. 
My three babies!!! Jocelyn, Ahnya and Gabriella at our home celebrating!
.................................................Ahnya, never a dull or gloomy moment! EVER!
Gabriella got a student desk; complete with stationary, stamps, and accessories! She was so excited I didn't think she was ever going to go to bed that night!
