A New Addition

As I am sure most of you know Chris, Tess and I have found that we will be adding one more to our family in early September, or October if this little one is as stubborn as Tess was! We are so very thrilled and it is just one more reason we can't wait for Chris to get back home with his expanding family!

Chris has been doing so well "over there" and we couldn't be more proud of him. We talk nearly every day which has been really wonderful. Chris made a video of himself reading a book to Tess on his way out of the states at a USO. The amazing people from United Through Reading sponsor a program through which deploying parents can record a video reading a book and they send a DVD and the book the parent read to the family at home. They provide the camera, DVD, books to read and send, and pay all postage to send out the packages. To the right you will find a link to the website of the orginization that puts together all of these videos, I can't tell you how much they have meant to us. Every night Tess and I watch the video of Chris reading Tess a bedtime story and it is the best part of our day. As soon as he comes on the screen Tess points and says, "Daddy!" Then she settles in on my lap and we have story time. They have the same program at the USO in Iraq where Chris is and I think we will be getting another video and book soon. We can't wait!

Chris has been volunteering a few hours nearly every day at the clinic out on the helipad. He helps bring in stretchers from the helicopters carrying wounded people into the ER. It has been a totally rewarding and special experience for him and he really loves to be able to help people at such a critical time. I look forward to hearing about all of his experiences when he gets home.

Tess and I have been doing well here at home, too. We are busy, busy busy, and really looking forward to a visit from Gran and Thomas the first week and a half of February. Tess has learned to say, "No, no!" which she directs mostly at Daisy and Baxter. They know she is serious because she shakes her finger at them while she says it. Unfortunately she reserves her special disapproval for times when they are just sitting quietly in the living room with us, so no great dog training strides have been made as of yet.

That is about all of the news that I have for now, below are the links to some semi new photos, from post Christmas and Grandpa Ed's Memorial. I hope to have all the other Christmas photos soon (ahem, Mama and Papa) and I will post them as soon as I can! As always feel free to browse the old photos as well!

http://s144.photobucket.com/albums/r177/sunpeach1/Christmas%20Photos/


All of our love to all of you!
Sarah and Tess