Life Update

I have several posts in the works, but they are on hold until I can get the pictures from off the phones.  So, I thought it would be fun to post a little update while we're waiting.

Cameron has finished his current semester and is looking forward to a nice break.  Work is going well and he is enjoying doing computer projects at home.  His goal is to organize the garage during spring break.

I recently acquired a sewing machine and have been doing lots of experimenting.  It's been super fun!!  My goal during spring break is to de-junkify the house.

And lastly, here are the pictures from my Skype call with my Mom and Lylah as a peace offering for my lack of posts the last few weeks.

Mom being her beautiful, yet goofy self.

See, beautiful and goofy.  It's possible people.

Lylah finally recognizes me on Skype!!  I love it!!

She was dancing to Sesame Street!  (So cute!!)

Sticking her tongue out at me, because she can.

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Thanks for reading everyone!  I hope your week is going great!

Love,

Courtney

PS-In case you were wondering, Midnight's goal this spring break is to make friends with the orange cat we call Garfield that hangs out outside the bedroom window.  And also to eat all the treats.

Kitty's Adoption

I'm sure most of you already know this, but my little sister's adoption into our family is finally done!  Here are some facts about her that you may not know:

1.  Her legal name is now Brooke Ann Alder.  The reason we called her Kitty previously is because we were supposed to come up with a nickname for her until she was adopted.  This is to prevent her birth parents from finding her on Facebook or other social media sites and is actually strongly suggested by the foster agency.  Both sides of my family have a rich tradition of using several nicknames for children anyway.  The reason we chose the name Kitty was because her previous foster family had all cats and when she first came over she called Kibius (a huge St. Bernard) a kitty.

Fun fact:  Her middle name is in honor of my aunt Ruth who passed away a few years ago.

2.  This kid loves food.  I mean LOVES it!  She is fond of most foods and only has a few that she doesn't like.

3.  Her best friend is named Lylah (I believe she may have been mentioned on this blog before a few times.)

4.  She is part of the Turtle Mountain tribe from North Dakota.

5.  Phones are her obsession.  Whenever anyone is talking on the phone she will want to take the phone from them.  This is her first selfie:

Her letting Lylah listen to the phone, so cute!!

Give me your phone woman!

6.  She has a 45+ word vocabulary and loves to repeat what you say.  She is one smart cookie!

7.  Kitty has a very caring personality.  If there is a baby crying, she will walk over to it and rub their back.

I think that's it for the facts about her, but if you have any more questions, please ask!

Here are some more fun pictures of Kitty.

Here is a picture of her from the first visit:

Her first haircut:

And here are the pictures from the adoption:  

 The whole family with the commissioner. 

They all look so happy, except Kitty.

They had princesses there because it was national adoption day.

So cute!

She was completely exhausted after the whole experience (I don't think this is the exact picture of her passed out on that day, but you get the picture).

I am so excited that Kitty came into our lives.  Our whole family has changed because of her!  If there is anything else you have questions about, feel free to ask.

Love,

Courtney

Photo Dump-Trip To CdA/Spokane For Lylah's Birthday

This cutie wanted to come with me.

Kitty holding Jeremy's hand.  SO CUTE!

Why did I take a picture of this??  Oh yeah, Kitty was picking hairs out of the brush and eating them.

Kitty's pigtails... AW :)

Mom playing with Lylah :) 

Mom is shocked by Miranda's conversational piece.

Lylah LOVES grapes.  A lot.  

This is her you must have food face.

Practicing for present opening.

So cute!  

Lylah eating her birthday cake.  This was right after the power went out in part of Spokane because of a storm.

Eating the yummy cake that Grandma made for her.

She thought that cake was SO yummy!

Can I have more please?

Kitty in a sweet party hat!

Something was hilarious to her, I don't remember what it was.

Kitty wearing some sweet glasses.

She really loved this rocking chair.

But she loved standing on it even more.

The best time to do Lylah's hair is when she is eating.  Her hands will be occupied and she will be distracted by her delicious vittles.

Cute hair!

So adorable!

Yay for Kiks.

Miranda was trying to make Kitty laugh for a picture and the girls both thought it was hilarious.

Dad with a puppy.

Is that my new fur brother?

Wait for the chubby cheeks.  Wait for it.....

Adorable!

She has the cutest smile!

Jeremy teaching Lylah how to play Fruit Ninja.

These two are the best of friends... Most of the time.

They are very possessive of their sippy cups though.

Very.

Kitty is so cute!!

They always fight over this one pink airplane toy.  It's kind of hilarious.

Dang, I wish this picture wasn't blurry.  It's Kitty's "why the heck did you do that?" face.  I believe that was right after we stopped her from running Lylah over with the airplane.

They love to "talk" to each other.

And don't you think our morning snack was served a little too close to lunch?

And there's the other time when they don't get along too.

Lylah using Kitty to stand up.

Lylah trying to steal food from Kitty, even though she had her own.

Kitty riding her tricycle.

Lylah planning her escape.

Those ponytails though....

Kitty rocking some cute bangs.

This is Jeremy's derp face.  I just wanted to record it for posterity.

Then we went to Miranda and Anton's cabin.

The boys and the doughnuts.

This is their cabin with the add-on that Anton has been working on.

Jeremy and the new puppy.

Photobomb.

Kitty and her pigtails.  

A better view of the cabin.

CUTE!

Mama Lisa and Lylah.

Mmmmm, doughnuts.

Anton's super cool tractor.

It's awesome engine.

Kitty trying to climb on the porch.

Hanging out on the porch.

These two love to play together.

Cute!

Thanks for reading my obnoxious comments!

Love,

Courtney