A New Year with Our New Family

Now that the holidays are behind us and a new year has begun, it's fun to reflect back on the highlights of yet another "first" for our family--our first holiday season together--and boy was it busy! After having our first cookie bake (annually done by my mom and me), going to a "special" schools out lunch with me, attending four Christmas celebrations (2 in Kansas City, 2 in Iowa), celebrating Matt's 40th birthday, going to our first New Year's Even party as a family of five, and Luke and I attending a KU basketball game, we were all quite tired and needed a few extra days to get back to normal--normal days, normal sleeping, normal eating. And then it seemed like we blinked and school was back in session. Rather than tell you how wonderful the holidays were, I'll let the pictures highlight the two weeks I had with the kids and the blessed celebration it was for our family. May you have a wonderfully happy and healthy 2009!

My mom and I thought we would initiate the kids into our annual cookie bake. Unfortuantely, Luke was in school.

Maria--playing the part of chef

Well, Andres didn't last long. He was more interested in playing with a Scooby Doo car and Freddie.

We decided to celebrate that school was out by going to eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch. As you can see on Luke and Maria's faces, we had a great time being together.

Andres always has been and continues to be my little love-bug. He gives me more kisses than I can count each and every day. This one just so happens to be a "Thank you" kiss for the free chips and salsa that was delivered to our table. : )

I had to include this as a way of showing how the generosity of others continues to rain upon us. People ask us all the time how the kids are doing, and I know lately I have been saying that they are growing like weeds. Maria can't seem to stay in her clothes for more than three weeks. She's gone from a 4 and 4T to a 5T and now a 5/6 in less than 6 weeks. Unfortunately, the majority of our hand-me down clothes are from people who have boys. So, I have had to try to fill in with a few things here and there for Maria when we have the extra money. When a lady at my work learned of this, she went and bought Maria THREE brand new, complete outfits. She was soooo excited (as was I!) and she did a little fashion show of her new clothes. She loved them all but really lit up when she tried this hot pink sweat suit on. Thank you so much, Kathy, for your incredible kindness and generosity. You can see that you made this little girl's day!

Hands down, without a doubt, my FAVORITE picture of the holidays! This is a beautiful, red-velvet dress and hat that I had made in Colombia while we were there adopting Maria and Andres. I knew I wanted something special and timeless that reflected her heritage. When I bought it, I hoped that not only could she wear it for her first Chritmas with us but that it would maybe be something she could hold onto and have her little girl wear some day. I knew she would be beautiful in it but when I saw how beautiful she was after dressing her for Christmas Eve, she took my breath away.

Wherever there is food, you will ALWAYS find these two!

Here was one of Dre's favorite gifts of the evening--three, singing snowmen. It was tough when I had to pack them in a box so that they could "sleep" until the next holiday season.

God has blessed us with three, beautiful children. We are so grateful!

The Jensen 5 on Christmas Eve at my dad and step mom's house

At one point, before we began our huge opening of gifts with extended family, Maria sat down and quietly stared into the fire. It's times like these where you really wonder what she's thinking.

The heart-warmer of the night. . . when Andres got down on the floor and became intrigued with the Nativity scene.

After finding and shouting "Baby Jesus!" he wanted to know all of the people in the scene

I'm pretty sure this is the first jewelry box Maria has ever had. She couldn't keep her eyes off of it as Mimi showed her that it had her name on top and a twirling ballerina inside that played music. Thanks B and Daddy Bruce!

Christmas morning--the kids indulging mom with some pictures before the opening frenzy began

It was so cute--when Maria and Andres saw that they had matching puzzles, they squealed with excitement.

Luke with his big gift from Santa.

Dre loves all of the Fisher Price Little People toys and Santa delivered! He couldn't wait to open the box. Thank goodness this was his last gift. Every time he would open a present, we had to practically bribe him to put it down and open another present. He would have been just as happy with one gift. Maybe that should be a lesson for all of us.

Maria calling Santa to thank him for her "cool" kitchen

My dad recently had a hip replacement and is having to walk around with a cane. Maria and Andres wanted to show him that they, too, think that walking with a cane is cool.

Not sure at what time of the day this is but it looks like Maria is about worn out. Luke, on the other hand, looks like he could go for another round of opening gifts.

Christmas Day attire--I was able to find a matching set of dresses for Maria and her American Doll Bitty Baby. She thought this was so special.

Maria is the defintion of "HELPER." She loves to help with everything around the house, but one of her very favorite things is to wash dishes. After Christmas dinner, she insisted on helping to clean all of the dishes. I love the way she's on her tiptoes, determined to be tall enough to get in there and do her job. She's such a doll and a wonderfully sweet little girl!

Hard at work

When we went to Iowa for a Christmas celebration, we stayed in a hotel with a pool. Andres was not excited about getting into a cold pool.

Luke and Maria having a much better time swimming

Maria, Luke and Andres with their cousin, Audrey in Iowa

New Year's Eve 2008

Andres wasn't sure what to think when we all began celebrating at the stroke of midnight

Maria hopped right in and saw what to do

I'm tired of paying $16 for a two-year old's hair cut so I attempted my first haircut ever. I didn't even look at him until I was finished for fear that I really screwed up! I think Andres was wondering what in the heck I did, too.

Thumbs up on the buzz cut

Matt's 40th

Woah! Look at the smoke a 40-year old can produce when blowing out candles!

Thank you, Tim and Lisa, for the tickets to the KU v. Tennessee game. What a great time Luke and I had, especially seeing the new, 2008 NCAA National Champions banner!

Luke and I before the KU v. Tenn game

Luke at Allen Field House

Luke standing with "The Phog!"