Disneyland Pictures

Gymnastics "Meet"

Deanna participated in her first gymnastics "meet" today, really just a practice meet or exhibition. We have been practicing at home and she did very well. She didn't even fall off the beam! The awsome picture above is by my friend Debbie. It is amazing, especially considering it was taken across the gym during her performance! Mimi, Grampa and Daddy made it to the meet too. She was very happy with the flowers her Dad brought her!

Celebrating afterward with her biggest fans!

2 Years Ago

Two years ago was the day we first laid eyes on Deanna in Ukraine. We remember it so clearly. After being up for 30+ stress filled hours of travel and meetings, suddenly she was in the room checking everyone out. We knew immediately that we wanted her, but we had no idea how incredible she really was. She truly was meant to be in our family.

The Christmas Program

This year Deanna's Kindergarten class had a very nice Christmas Program. It was in the evening with many people attending. There was the usual singing, and musical numbers but each child had to memorize a few sentences and go down to the microphone by themselves and say their part. This is scary enough for the average child, but for a child with a speech disorder who did not speak until the age of 5, this was quite an accomplishment. Last year at this time Deanna could only put a couple of words together at a time, and she had trouble repeating many two and three syllable words. She had a fairly easy part but we did have to work on it extensively. We practiced enunciating each word, talking very slowly, and standing still all at the same time! I knew that even after she learned the part at home, it would be a whole different story standing up in front of a room full of people. Anxiety makes her speech much more difficult. She was quite nervous, but said her part perfectly and did not miss a word. We were so very proud of her. She has come so far.

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Day with Mimi and Grampa, as well as aunt Susie and cousin Alex. The highlight of the day for Deanna was receiving her beloved horsey "Princess", courtesy of Mimi and Grampa. Deanna has seen this horse many times at Costco. Several times when we went to Costco she would see this horse and go nuts over it. She would ride it, pet it, and announce very loudly, "I LOVE THIS HORSE!". This was top of her list but I don't think she thought she would really get it.
The horse now resides in our house, is hauled up and down stairs, and brushed and fed regularly.

Christmas Eve

We had a great Christmas this year, with all of our family. Christmas Eve was at our house, with quite a lively bunch. Deanna had fun with all of her grown up cousins as well as Grandma and Aunts and Uncles. Deanna took most of the pictures herself.
Jeremy and Jordan spent the night so we could get up early and open our presents. We were all very lucky to get lots of great gifts! Deanna got many things on her list.

Christmas Cards

Every year, since Jeremy was a baby, I have done a picture for our Christmas Card. In the old days, I took a whole roll of film and hoped for one good picture after they were developed. Now I can just take as many as it takes to get a few good ones. The boys were never cooperative for pictures, and still are not. Deanna on the other hand loves to have pictures taken, but she does have her limit. I tried to get a picture of the "kids" at Thanksgiving, but no luck getting a good one.

Here are a few of the non-deleted ones!

SANTA

Deanna is very much into Santa this year. We took her to the mall to see him, and she made him an extra copy of her list. Her "list" is also something she is into this year. Everything she sees at any store she says "put this on my list!" I told her, you know you don't get everything on your list. She looked at me for a few seconds and said "you're kidding me, right?" At least her list is so big she won't remember everything on it anyway. We keep reinforcing the true meaning of Christmas, and that it is better to give than to receive... but I think it will take a few years to fully understand that concept. For now we are shouting "Santa I love you" across the mall.

Christmas Tree

We had great weather for picking out a Christmas Tree this year. We are fortunate to have many tree farms by our house, with very beautiful trees. Every on is truly perfect. We picked ours out in a matter of minutes, so we could get on with the decorating. Deanna is very much into the whole Christmas experience this year, her second Christmas!

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving started out with a program by the Kindergarten class. I was the only one who could attend but I shot a video so the whole family wouldn't miss out!
We then headed to the beach, where we like to spend a relaxing Thanksgiving at the family beach house. Our family, and my parents (Mimi and Grampa) had dinner together. Aunt Susie and cousin Alex came down the next day for a visit. Alex (24 year old) took Deanna miniature golfing...alone. When we met up with them, they had played golf, gone on the tilt-a-whirl, and Deanna had a bag of candy, two huge jaw breakers, and some pop. Alex said "I couldn't say no to her!" Well, he's definitely not the first one, nor will he be the last.
The weather was rainy but there were a few sun breaks. I tried to get a few good pictures of Deanna with Jeremy and Jordan, but the "boys" weren't too cooperative.

We got home in time for Deanna to go to gymnastics for parents night out. That equals 4 hours of non-stop activity with her friend! This is the one thing that actually wears her out. A nice end to a fun weekend.

The Fashion Show

Deanna and her best friend from school were in a fashion show at Nordstrom!
They got to pick out their own outfits, and they had a great time.
Before the show there was music playing and Deanna was practicing her diva walk on the runway and dancing. Fortunately when the show actually took place she was a little more subdued but not too shy. My good friend Debbie was nice enough to take some great pictures for us!

Afterward it was on to the last soccer game of the year. Just in time for the heavy rains to arrive. Now we can just focus on gymnastics for a while... and getting ready for the holidays!

Halloween Pictures

This year Deanna was a princess for Halloween! She loved wearing the make-up of course. You can't see in the pictures but she has a fiber optic pony tail that lights up.

She got to wear her costume to school and trick or treating the next night.

She got plenty of candy and thankfully it was gone in a couple days.

But thinking she is a princess is still going on!

The Pumpkin Patch

The kindergarten class went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch. We went on a hay ride, through a corn maze, etc. while it was pouring down rain the whole time. So no pictures, too wet to even get the camera out.

So the boys agreed to go with Deanna to the pumpkin patch to get a pumpkin on a nicer day.

We actually went on Halloween Day to a place right by our house, and there were plenty of pumpkins left. Deanna and I carved them later and they turned out great.