Happy Valentines Day & Chinese New Year

From our sweet, little Valentine........
Gung Hay Fat Choy (Happy New Year) - Enjoy the year of the Tiger.

Family Day

We celebrated our family day by spending time together. We looked at many pictures, went out for dinner and ice cream.

Our first day home - February 23, 2009 and a picture of us on Family Day 2010.

We also lit a three-wick candle to honor: Emma, her birth family and all the people who love her.

A Year Ago.... Family Day

It is hard to believe a year has gone by...........
This video is the first time we got to hold Emma. Enjoy Chris's videography. We were both nervous.

Laskiainen

I took Emma to her first Laskiainen (a Finnish sliding festival). I grew up going to this festival. My dad and brother have escorted Laskiainen Queens, we have volunteered, Chad plays on the Laskiainen Lakers basketball team and my dad's barber chair is in the museum. As my brother says "It is the longest walk down a short hallway". You meet many people and visit your way through the exhibits. We saw many people, but there was a void, John was not there. He and Gerry have been very active in the community. Gerry was still busy in the museum.
Well, I was a little nervous to take Emma sliding. Chad didn't know if it was a good idea either. Chris said it was my decision because he wouldn't be there, he was curling. Chad was working safety on the slides and noticed some young children going with their parents. So, I decided to take her. The slides are formed from ice. They are FAST and bumpy. You slide out onto Loon Lake. Nicole and I took Emma. Nicole heard me the entire time telling Emma it would be alright. Emma loved it. The family was there watching and you guessed it many pictures were taken. We were on the front page of the Mesabi Daily News. Here is the picture. Emma enjoyed the full Finnish experience - squeaky cheese, pulla (Finnish cardamon biscuit)and fried bread

Terrific Thursday

Emma has had quite the week of change. She enjoyed her day with her daddy. The pictures are after her bath tonight. She loves taking a bath.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Emma sure is excited for Groundhog Day. She is hoping that the groundhog doesn't see his shadow and spring will be here soon.
She is looking forward to spending the day with Grandma Nonie.
Happy Birthday Grandma Nonie and Brian! When you ask Emma to be excited this is the look she gives (picture above)

A Year Ago

Here we are getting ready to enter the Minneapolis airport. We were so anxious to begin our trip. Where has the year gone? It was a trip of a lifetime and the beginning of a family. Check the February 2009 posts and relive our trip. I know we will be reading the posts and reminiscing.