12 Years

I'm a little late posting this (it's like I'm caring for five kids or something), but on November 1st, Garreth and I celebrated 12 years of marriage.  I'm not sure what the traditional gift is for the 12th anniversary (paper?  silver?), but I do know it's the official year for looking back at your wedding photos and thinking that you looked like kids... skinny kids.

On our honeymoon in the Bahamas, November 1997.

 12 years later in British Columbia, November 2009.

This year Garreth planned an awesome getaway to Harrison Hot Springs, about 1 1/2 hours away.  He arranged for child and dog care and didn't tell me where we were going until the day before.  We left at 3:00 on Sunday and were home by noon the next day, and it was a perfect, totally relaxing and rejuvenating vacation.

We had a beautiful lake-view room.  Here is my view while reading the morning paper.  Gorgeous.

We stayed at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and spent a lot of time relaxing in the natural hot spring pools.  (Gotta love a place where you can walk around in white hotel robes and not feel silly, because everyone else is doing the same!)  

The next morning, we walked down to the lake for a while before heading home.  It was so fun to run away together without the kids and just hang out and sleep in and relax.  We're so thankful to the friends who offered to take the kids for us!  (Two different families - don't worry, we wouldn't put that on one household!)

The timing couldn't have been better, because we came back relaxed and rested and ready to have Evan move in that afternoon.   Here are some random pictures of the first week with five kids.

This is my new favorite picture - doesn't it look like an album cover?

Wow - look at that bunch!  

It has been quite an adjustment for us and our house is very busy, but things are going fairly well.  Evan is a sweet little guy, a little clingy and whiny but generally pretty good-natured.  He has five brothers and sisters, so luckily he's used to a little chaos.  And oh boy, you should see that kid eat!  He LOVES his food!

A lot of people have asked whether or not we will be able to adopt him.  Well, it IS foster care, so technically there is always a chance, but it seems pretty unlikely with Evan.  We think it would be a good thing if his family can get to a safe place and be all together again.  (Sadly, all 6 kids live with different families right now.)   We will just enjoy him while we can!