I need to download some more pictures!

Guess who would like to become a camera phone expert?

Thanks, Chelsea for making Melania's entire week!

One smiley girl looking the right direction!

A move is planned...

Well, it's unofficially official. I am planning a move back to MT when my house sells in WA. I want my girls to live closer to their grandparents, and I have hopes of starting a physical therapy practice of my own. I never imagined that I'd return to my hometown, much less be looking forward to it!

I found a house on a couple of acres that I liked when I returned to MT for Easter, and I am in the process of purchasing it. It is located on the banks of the mighty Missouri in a really nice setting. The house itself had been foreclosed on and purchased as an investment property. However, due to some "unique" features, it was on the market quite awhile, and with the help of my dad and mom, a deal was made. It will need some work as it was unoccupied for nearly 2 years; primarily maintenance type stuff, major landscaping, and TLC. The good news is that there is a detached garage with an upstairs loft that will eventually serve as an apartment/ studio for June, who has decided to continue her "nannyship" and make the move with me. The bad news is I'll have a bit of a hike to the house when I park in the garage! Oh well, it is only winter for about 5 months of the year, right? I'm sure I'll toughen right up.

This has been a big decision for me, and it was not arrived at easily as WA has become my home. It is wonderful that I will still have so many friends and family to visit, and I look forward to making regular trips back to the area. I will also have plenty of room for guests, and my cousin Shaun has agreed to take visitors fishing on MT's finest rivers. (See his blog for more details...)

These pictures are from the real estate listing last summer. I don't think the leaves and grasses are out yet this year!

Hi, Caroline! I promised you a message on the blog. Aren't you glad it's almost Friday? Will your tests be over? Hope so. See you Sunday. Love, Wanda

"Formal" portraits on Adoption Day!

2 little girls were done with pictures by the time we returned home,

so not much luck was had in this department.

Melania tries to steal the show!

A very busy Melania was trying to dance in her new dress and shoes in the waiting area, much to the delight of the folks waiting in line to check in for jury duty. She was also very impressed by the candy machines! Aunt Wendy gives in and feeds Melania her favorite jelly bellies.

Mishayla's Adoption Day 3/31/2008

I am the only one willing to look at the camera. Melania was very distracted and Mishayla wanted to pull on the ribbons on Melania's dress. Answering questions before the judge. Well, at least we are all looking the right direction! The judge invited us for a picture. Being adopted makes me hungry!

Mishayla's adoption is complete. We set out for the courthouse on Monday morning the 31st of March 2008. It was a cloudy day with light rain, not unlike most days this spring! Aunt Wendy and Uncle Blaine met June, Melania, Mishayla and me at the courthouse in Everett. It was also my first time to meet the attorney who handled the WA aspect of the case. Our time in the courtroom was less than 15 minutes. Hard to believe all the time, pre/post. placement reports, emotion, etc. comes down to such a short session before the judge to make everything final! It was a very special day that I will alway cherish and remember.

Some quick pictures.

Melania loves her "laptop." Smiley Mishayla! Fashion statement. The maid returns. Just hangin' around.

Easter weekend

My Mishayla is 4 and 1/2 months old. At her 4 month check-up, she weighed 15 lb. 5 oz and was 26 and 1/4 inches long. Her doctors comment, "She has more rolls than a bakery." A very healthy, happy girl! Her adoption was finalized on 3/31/08! More pictures to follow in another posting of that happy day. I got the kids skateboards. They were "free" with T-shirts I found. The shirts were not so cool, but the skateboards were a great hit. My nephew, Trenton, told me that he'd been wanting one for "all of my life." Hope no one breaks any part of themselves. Be careful, kids! "Wook, Mommy, a swide." Mishayla gets to know Aiden, my cousin Todd and Kay's boy. He is 1 month older. All the kids.

Baby Kaitlyn, Taylor Rae, Melania, Mishayla, Kadyn, Colten, Tyler, Aiden, Trenton, Spencer

Uncle Duane, Carmen and Spencer Great Gma, Gma and Mishayla Melania discovers Leapster. Taylor Rae and Mishayla - cousins The girls minus Kaitlyn Gpa "rocks". Gma no longer fits in the rocker to read to the kids. So many grandkids, so little lap space. Brrrr - it was sunny, but very crisp morning. Great Gma was kept busy being an "equal opportunity great grandbaby holder."

We went to MT over Easter. It was a quick trip, but we had a good time. Melania and Mishayla were able to meet their new cousins. Melania went on an Easter egg hunt in town; she picked up 3 eggs to fill her Halloween soccer ball "basket." Not bad for a 2 year old who was really very busy looking around and not so interested in picking up eggs. To her, eggs are scrambled for breakfast, so she wasn't sure what the fuss was about. On Saturday, we celebrated Colten Jack's 4th birthday. He loved his semi-truck cake with hay bales, as he really likes to ride along with his dad making hay deliveries. Both girls were tired of the car by the time we returned home. Actually, I was tired, too! Aunt Karen gave Melania a "laptop" computer to play with so she was very entertained. One problem, no mute button. So, the words "Challenge yourself!" are still ringing in my ears.

Finally...

Well, it's difficult to know where to start when one has been so remiss about updating their blog! The more behind I get, the harder it seems to get motivated to catch up. It's hard to believe that people would tire of looking at the beautiful quilts, but there's been a bit of an uproar about my shortcomings as a blogger. Joe, Jasmine and Gina paid us a visit right before Easter. Gina has relocated to TX, and it was great to see her again. Good to see Joe and Jasmine, too.