After visiting our family for 8 months, our beautiful Christel has gone back home to Marseille, France.  We didn't want her to go...we'd all like to adopt her and have her stay with us forever.  Christel is Rana's neice, her sister Yolla's daughter.  

Christel turned 23 on 12/12/12!  We couldn't let the day go by without a party!

Christel's cake.  It was a "Hello Kitty" cake.  (VERY TASTY!)

Daniel loves Christel.  He said she is his "favorite".

 

Laura loves Christel too.  I wish I had gotten a better picture of the two of them together. 

The kids were both sick that night and it was all we could do to keep Daniel from helping Christel blow out the candles.  He tried!  With Aunt Julie's germ phobia, I would not have been able to eat any of the really awesome cake.  

Rana didn't want her picture taken so that's the only one I have of her.  I didn't realize that I didn't get any of Kevin.  :-(  He was busy taking pictures with both my camera and his.  Did I tell you the cake was awesome? 

 Scott & me:

Mom & Dad:

A very happy boy:

Come back soon Christel.  We miss you and we love you!

Trick Or Treat

Daniel Thomas the Train went trick-or-treating for the first time tonight.  (Well, if you don't count last year when he went to Nana's & Papa's house.)

            

                                                               Daniel & Cristel

I tagged along with Daniel, Laura, Kevin & Cristel as they trick-or-treated the neighborhood across the street.  "Thomas" was beyond adorable as he went from house to house.  At one of the first houses, he took his candy and walked on in.  I had to explain to him that we weren't supposed to stay.  

On the ride over, I explained the basics to Daniel.  I told him that he was supposed to walk to the front door, ring the doorbell and say "trick-or-treat".  Apparently he was listening to me because at one of the houses he asked the lady to go back in her house and close her door so that he could ring the doorbell.  Laura seemed to be enjoying herself too.  We all had a great time. 

Laura's Birthday

Yesterday, Laura turned 6.  We celebrated by going to what we are pretty sure is her favorite restaurant, Red Robin.  She loves going there.  Here she is sitting with Grandpa. (Note her little hand wrapped around his arm.)  She isn't smiling in this picture but she smiled almost the entire night.

This picture is almost a duplicate picture of every year before.  Laura always sticks her fingers in her ears when we sing "Happy Birthday" to her and blow out the candles.

Here's Laura, Daniel, Christel (her cousin from France), and Laura's grandmother Seyfi (Teta).

Laura's cake:

 Daniel & Scott:

Daniel.  I have a lot of close-up pictures of Daniel because every time I take my camera out he wants to "help". 

Christel, Daniel & Teta:

Rana & her mom:

Mrs. Sefi:

Scott, Mom & Dad:

Me & Kevin (my brother):

 

Christel & Daniel:

 Me, Laura & her new robot, Sage:

Dad, Daniel & Sage:

I think Laura had a great time at her birthday party.  Happy Birthday Laura! Today is her daddy's birthday!  Happy Birthday Kevin. 

Happy Mother's Day!

I have the bestest mother in all of the world. 

Yes, I realize this is not a very good picture (too dark!) but it was the first one I took.  Before I could take any more, my (just turned) 3 year old nephew, Daniel, stole the camera.  He took a boat-load of pictures.  Here's one example:

Christel's shoes.  Christel is Rana's niece.  She is from Marseille, France, and is visiting us for several months while she goes to school and studies English. 

He almost got a good one of his momma there.  :-)  Maybe in a few years, Daniel will be our photographer and I'll actually be in some of the photos. 

We had a great day with Mom.  We love you Mom.  You are the very, very best!!!!