Jon Michaela and I shoveled all of the snow in our back yard into one corner, making an awesome sled hill for Michaela once she gets her Christmas present (shhhhh!). The snow almost reaches the top of the fence. So far, Michaela's favorite thing to do is stand at the fence and talk to people walking by, in her typical, friendly way.
This was the first year Michaela and Nathanael both went to see Santa! They were so good, and we had to pull Michaela away to give other kids their turn. She was her usual chatty self, and wouldn't let Santa get a word in! As we were driving to go see Santa, I asked Michaela what she was going to ask for, and she said, in a "Duh" kind of voice, "I don't know....a sled, I guess". Well our next stop was a rush into toys'r'us to pick up one of the last two remaining sleds left in the entire store. This was the first year Michaela had even asked for anything, so I had to get it! In this picture, Nathanael is wearing a reindeer sweater which is special because it was one of the very few outfits that came with Nathanael when he was brought to us, in fact he wore it the first time he visited our home, before he moved in with us. I can't believe it still fits!
December 14th, 2007
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December 4th 2006. This is my favorite picture from the day we met Nathanael. It was one of his few smiles, and in the months that followed, crying far out-numbered smiles, but this special smile was caught on film, to be remembered always!
Yesterday, December 4th (above) marked one year since the day we went to go meet Nathanael for the first time. We were so nervous and stressed. We questioned whether we were doing the right thing. It was scary. Then we met him, and he was so small and sickly, with a horrible chest cold. It made us even more scared! So much has changed in a year! I can't imagine life or our family without him. Thank you little Nate for joining our family. Thankyou for one exciting year of milestones, ups and downs, and cute little kisses. I even forgive you for learning to say "Amma" (Grandma) before learning to say Mommy!+005.jpg)
Missie and her brand new brother, Nathaniel.
The kids are having so much fun playing in the backyard. It just reminds me of how glad we are to have moved out of the apartment. When we lived in the apartment we never went to go play outside. As soon as there was snow on the ground, within a day it was covered in dog droppings. It was horrible, and in the summer it was even worse, because you couldn't see it as well, and it didn't freeze. People can be so disgusting! Now, with our fenced-in backyard, we know the kids can play poop-free! It's awesome!
Micah (5), Michaela (4), and Elizabeth (3). 300km apart, and still so much alike! And amazingly, they were all a different Ninja turtle. When I saw that picture on my Mom's blog, I had to steal it to put them all together. If Halloween had been on the weekend instead of a Wed. we might have done Halloween all together. Now that would have made for a cool picture! (and Nate could have been the 4th turtle!)
Michaela decided to go with a cyclops pumpkin this year.
Michaela went as Michaelangelo, the teenage mutant ninja turtle, and Nathanael wore Michaela's old Bumblebee costume. They both went out and had a great time.
My little Picassos. Although Nathanael was more interested in eating the paint and tearing the paper, Michaela has begun to produce real works of art.
The Neufelds!
Michaela was so excited to see her first wedding!
Exchanging vows
Sorry to the vegetarians out there, but Dad and Michaela like to fish, and eat fish. I just love this picture.
The cake I made for Cait and Sharons wedding (pictures to follow).
The painting I did of their house.
One of the benefits of our new home, is a large swimming pool, complete with lifeguards and swimming lessons! Michaela has come so far with her swimming in the last few weeks thanks to daily lessons.
Another wonderful Mother's Day. Thank you Jonathan, Michaela and Nate for making me the happiest mother in the world! 
Flowers from Grandma and Grandpa! She keeps them in her room now, and keeps asking to have another ballet show so that Grandpa will give her flowers again.
Michaela spotted this spider on her wall and was so happy to have it. She seemed to feel he came because he wanted to be friends with her. I agreed to catch it and put it in her bug jar, and after many squeals and shrieks (on my part) I did it! She held her bug jar with delight saying "my very first pet, it's my pet!" I wanted to remind her that we had bought her 2 gerbils, but she was just so happy! That was yesterday, and she still has that poor spider.
Our little boy isn't the only new member of the extended Neufeld family. Caitlin and Sharon have a new baby girl (pug) named Beatrice. This cute little bundle joy is so adorable. Can't wait to watch her grow into a lovable terror like her sister (just kidding, we love you Heidi!).
Here are Jon and Michaela enjoying the beautiful weather at Mom and Dad's. The lake still isn't frozen so no luck skating this time.
