Road Trip 2011

 It was time to do something we had not done. It was time to take a road trip. It needed to just be Anthony and Mommy this time because Lego Land was not the place for Isa right now. So we did it...bought our tickets for Lego Land online, reserved a hotel and got in the car to head to Grapevine, TX.

 Lego Land in Grapevine, TX is not much bigger than a Chuck E. Cheese but it was really not about the place but the time together. Anthony had a blast and that is ALL that mattered! It was so worth it.

 He built a car and raced it down the ramps. He played on the indoor playground.
The two of us rode the two rides...

 ...enjoyed the mini Dallas all of Legos, specially the Rangers' Stadium!...

....watch a 4D movie...

 ...Then we met up with Craig, a long time friend from our Galveston days, and had dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe. This was Anthony's first time and he loved it. He was able to name a handful of the fish in the exhibit.

 Then insisted on getting his picture taken with a stuffed alligator since one of his favorite shows is Swamp People!

 THEN...we headed to Build A Bear to use Anthony's gift card from Christmas. I know some of you are not too excited to see a Longhorn Bear but to be honest in Dallas there is only Cowboys or Longhorns...since Cowboys is totally out of the question the only logical choice was the Longhorn...mommy doesn't mind since I'm a graduate!

Staying at a hotel was fun because Anthony did not have a memory of doing this when he was very little. So we watch the Longhorns play football (and win), played Battleship (Anthony sunk my ships fast!), put his new Lego together, then played Uno. 

This was all in one day! Whew...

 

The next day we headed to Cliffton, TX and visited with some sweet friends, The Brunos! I'm so sad that I forgot to take pictures while we were there. But it really was a great visit.

At last, it was time to head home. Here is my traveling companion after a fast trip to Dallas and home! Sweet Boy!

 Isa stayed with my parents and when we got to their house that evening she was so excited to see us. She screamed with joy and gave huge hugs. I love that girl! :)

 Finally, the next day Anthony wanted to take Isa to Build A Bear to use her gift card from Christmas (Thanks, Craig). She had a blast. And I will say she totally picked out her bear and outfit on her own. I really tried to get her to like the princess outfits but she insisted..

Well to wrap things up, we had a great road trip. I am so proud of us (me) for following through with this idea and doing it. I'm excited to see what 2012 has in store for us. We have been blessed through so much...the good, the bad and even the ugly. I know God has bigger things waiting for us.

Another tooth gone...

Last night Anthony pulled another tooth! I'm so proud of him for being brave enough to this! So far he has pulled 3 out of 4 of his teeth. The only one he didn't pull so far was one at school...he wanted the nurse to pull it so he could get a special necklace to put his tooth in! :) Silly boy!

Fall Festival 2011

Every year we head out to our church Fall Festival to play games, pocket lots of candy, and eat hotdogs and snowcones. Anthony was Captain Rex from Star Wars the Clone Wars and Isa was a cowgirl. I couldn't believe she loved wearing her hat! It was a fun night.

Painted Pumpkins 2011

Both kiddos were sick this weekend-one with ear infections-one with stomach bug...so not much fun for us this weekend. But since they both started feeling better this afternoon we decided to paint our pumpkins.
I love the picture of the two of them...look at Isa's foot kicked up behind her...she loves her brother so much! Anthony's pumpkin is an NFL Pumpkin with the Packers & Colts. What can I say he loves his sports!

Today was one of those days...

...where I just really missed Dario. I had to sit in a meeting and listen to things I really didn't understand and try to make sense of it all. As I sat there my eyes teared up thinking how if Dario was here he would have taken care of this for us. I would have sat next to him, asked a few questions and he would have assured me that we were doing the right thing for our future and the kids. Instead, I sat there overwhelmed and confused but also very thankful that my sweet sister was by my side. Thank goodness God gifted her in numbers and financial understandings because she has been my rock in all of this. Thank you Vikki!

Daddy's Birthday Celebration 2011

Today would have been Daddy's 40th Birthday. We honored his day by going to Jake's Hambugers, a place we had enjoyed as a family. We ate great food (not to mention...kids eat free on Tuesdays!) and played video games~something Daddy & Anthony loved to do together. When we left Anthony said "That was a good celebration for Daddy's Birthday!" Of course that made it a perfect evening!

Daddy~we love you with all our hearts, we miss you bunches but we know you are proud of how we are growing and moving forward each day. You would not want us to live in misery while you live in glory of Heaven-healed of cancer, pain free, head full of hair and running through the streets of gold. (There is a joke about the streets of gold that Dario always told...I'll have to think about it and share it sometime...unless one of you, friends, remembers it and want to post it...you'd probably tell it better than me!!)

We will continue hold on to the PROMISE of ETERNITY in Heaven...For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.~John 3:16 Therefore we know that for eternity we will be together. May God bless our friends and family as He continues to do for the three of us...

Happy 2nd Birthday, Isabella!

I cannot believe my precious little girl is already 2 years old! Wow, even though it has been a wild 2 years it really does not seem that long ago that we woke up on Labor Day with plans to relax and hang out around the house that we got the call to hurry to the hospital...Isa was on her way!

Isa is an amazing little girl! She is so very independent...insists on caring her own backpack to and from school, helps mommy a lot, even helps unload the dishwasher! Don't tell her she's too small...if her brother can do it...she is going to give it a try. She is even doing a great job with potty training already! I think she is very smart!! She is also super silly and loves to dance and sing! Isabella is a very loving little girl and I am so blessed to be her mommy.

Each birthday I am in awe of the couragous, selfless, & beautiful act of love for her birthmom to choose life and us as a family for Isabella. She will always hold very special place in my heart. So again I thank God for her and for His continued blessings each day!

Summer Baseball

Oh how we love summer baseball! Anthony had a great game tonight. First pitch of the game and he hit it to center field for a double. Then near the end of the game he was playing "pitcher" position (coach pitch league) when the ball was hit deep outfield and he ran up to cover second base (wow!) and made an awesome falling catch. No out, foot came off the base, but boy did it look good!

Life with a toddler

So we are officially in crazy toddler years...I can not turn my head on this girl! What hasn't she gotten into in the past week?? Here just one example: Sunday, just before changing into our clothes for church I found her in the bathroom with in new bottle of baby bath wash!
If the house is quiet...I better find that girl...oh my goodness! :)

Happy 7th Birthday, Anthony!

Daddy and I fell in love with this adorable little boy the minute we saw him on May 31, 2004.

Look at him now, seven years later...

I can't believe it!

Anthony is a wonderful little boy. He loves his family. He is a sweet big brother. He is very athletic and enjoys playing baseball, basketball, soccer, football. He has fun being outside with his friends, is very happy riding his bike, playing star wars, building Legos and fishing with his grandpa. 

 For all that life has brought our way in his short seven years, Anthony has taken it in stride and added to his character many traits that make this momma proud. I trust that God has big plans for this little guy and I ask that you pray that I lead and guide him toward the right path. He is so precious to me! When Daddy and I were extremely excited to tell everyone about Anthony's birth and adoption we put on his announcement card "Every good and perfect gift comes from above" James 1:17 and as I think on this further it brings to mind two other verses. One from Isaiah 55:8 "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could image" and the other from Romans 8:28 "and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."                                            

Anthony, We love you with all our hearts! ~Always-Mommy, Isa and Daddy in Heaven                                           

Happy Mother's Day

Easter 2011

Happy Easter from The Christopherson's

We hope the reason for the Easter Celebration remains

an important part of your daily life.

John 3:16

Bike Riding Success!

A smaller bike + a lot of determination 

add in a little encouragement...

what do you get?

Anthony riding a bike without training wheels!

Success! Yea!

Anthony learned how to ride his bike at 

Grandma & Grandpa's house, 

on the same street I learned. Pretty neat!

On the way home Anthony said that 

he knew Daddy was right beside him along the way.

Way to go, Anthony! We are so proud of you!