We adjusted to life as a family of 7.
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| Welcome home! 12/30/11 |
Erin had a flare up of a herniated disc and an epidural.
Erin spent overnight in the hospital with debilitating vertigo.
Zoe and Etta took more medicine than they ever want to again.
Zoe had an MRI.
| Lots of laughs with Nonnie |
February-
Etta and Zoe experience their first Iowa snow!
Zoe had her first playdate.
| Anna and Zoe |
Etta tried out school with Mrs. V.
Zoe gave Momma her best bday present and started to love Daddy.
Erin celebrated #38.
| Daddy and Zoe |
March -
We played outside a lot! Etta learned to ride a bike well.
We visited Colorado for spring break and Etta and Zoe got to meet Aunt Ali, Parker, Jack, Uncle Dave and Aunt Jessica.
Mark and I sneak away for a couple of days to ski and celebrate Mark's birthday.
| Aunt Ali, Etta and Zoe |
April -
Carson looses his first tooth FINALLY!!
Etta and Zoe dye eggs for the first time and get to meet more family at their first Easter (Aunt Lisa, Uncle Brad, Brooke, and Jake).
| Zoe and Aunt Lisa |
| Easter |
We have the fun experience of watching our niece run and jump at the state track meet (and win a few times)!!
Drew takes his 5 year old trip to Disney with Nonnie and Papa and gets transformed into a pirate!
| pirate Drew |
We also get to meet (and reunite our girls) with a family from NW Iowa that adopted one of Etta and Zoe's friends from Ethiopia.
Callie has a beautiful dance recital.
Carson misses the last week of school because of a bad case of mono.
Drew graduates from preschool.
| preschool buddies |
June -
Carson and Drew play baseball.
The girls (and all of us) love spending time at the lake.
Drew gets his tonsils out.
| all ready for surgery |
| Papa examines mono boy |
July -
Ali and family, Nonnie and Papa and our family spend the fourth at the lake house.
Etta celebrates her first American birthday with fireworks #7.
We spend lots of time at the pool, and Etta and Drew are officially swimming and going off the diving board!
| Ledges State Park |
| Etta is 7 |
August -
Cousin Elisa gets married in Northern California and we all make the trip to attend (and miss our flight....)
We have a little vacation afterward at the beach. FUN!!
| beautiful California |
Another trip to Colorado for Erin and the kids to celebrate the last week of summer (a really fun time at Camp of the Rockies in Estes Park).
First day of school - Callie 5th, Carson 2nd, Etta K, and Drew K.
| Fun at Estes park |
| first day of school |
September -
Callie, Etta, and Zoe start Ballet.
Carson and Drew start soccer.
| soccer |
October -
Callie starts and LOVES volleyball.
Fun trip to the pumpkin patch with the Rouws.
First Halloween for Etta and Zoe.
| Halloween |
| Pumpkin patch with cousins |
November -
Carson's birthday #8
Drew's birthday #6
First Thanksgiving at the Rouws (a great day).
A trip aboard the "Polar Express" in Boone.
| Drew's #6 and his new DS |
| Carson's #8 at skyzone |
| Zoe loves Santa! |
December -
A sick month for our family - the stomach flu sets in. Carson is the sickest... ends up spending 4 days in the hospital.
A shortened trip to Colorado but a very fun time skiing and staying at a beautiful house provided by Papa and Nonnie.
| Grandpa Fish and Etta |
| First Family Day |
| Zoe all ready for her Christmas concert |
| Mom and Callie skiing in Colorado |
