Merry Christmas!

Since we are in school, we have decided to wish you all a Merry Christmas via our blog. We apologize for not sending Christmas cards this year, but we hope you understand.

Thank you again for your continued support, prayers and fasts on behalf of our family! We are happy we are able to be together!

Love,

Matt, Mesia, and Seneca

Happy Thanksgiving!

Seneca and I are visiting Matt in Utah for the Thanksgiving holiday. We are having a great time! We are so grateful for so many things...the opportunity to be with Matt, the love and support from our families during this time of much change and the constant love and protection from our Heavenly Father! Please continue to keep us and Seni's birth mother in your thoughts and prayers! Enjoy our pictures!!

Seni with her cousin Elizabeth!

Seni with her cousin James

Seni with her Uncle Rob

Seni sleeping in daddy's lap!

Daddy and Seni

Elizabeth making rolls

My homemade apple tart I made for Thanksgiving

Seni and I going for a walk

Granmama curled Seni's hair

Seni and I visited with the Dibbles for an evening! It was a lot of fun!!

Seni sleeping in her big-girl crib!

Yeah! She grabbed her toy all by herself!!

Some cute pictures of Seni's room

Thanks Pega Joon for making her bedding!

Thanks mom for the cute cradle...I use it for blankets!

Seni loves her Native American quilt!

Feeling a little domestic!

This past week, I've been VERY domestic! Don't get me wrong, I love to cook but this week my mom, Seni and I hit it hard! On Sunday, we made homemade bread. I was needing some comfort food, so we decided to make my Grandma Rae's homemade white bread recipe. It makes four loaves so, mom will use the leftovers for Thanksgiving stuffing. Oh, I love our homemade Thanksgiving stuffing...and yes, we stuff the bird the night before, stick it in the fridge and cook it the day of and it is just scrumptious! On Monday, I made hummus from scratch! Oh, do I love my hummus! I just love beans, lentils....and anything grainy! That is my favorite...not exactly Matt's :(! (Matt is so glad we are living with his parents so that he doesn't have to eat my whole-grain, tofu, seafood, grainy, hill-billie food! Ha!) On Tuesday my mom and I went to Dominic's (special Italian deli in her neighborhood) to purchase real spicy Italian sausage to make homemade raviolis. We do this every year for Christmas and since I am in town, I figured I'd help out! We made about 70 raviolis! Ugh! It's a lot of work, but SO worth every bite! Anyway, I really enjoyed it and look forward to making more yummy dishes while being a stay-at-home mom! I absolutely love it! Anyway, here are some fun pics of the week!

Love her crazy hair!

Us and the dogs!

Aunt Pega Joon

Uncle Andre

Happy Halloween!

Well, there is a bit of a story here concerning Seneca's Halloween costume. I had purchased a cute ladybug outfit about a month ago and quickly returned it after hearing that Granmama had also bought her a cute costume. Unfortunately, when we got to Utah, Seni had grown so much that she didn't get to fit into it! It was such an adorable pumpkin costume. I was bummed it didn't work out. I was going to return it here in California after returning from Utah, but when I got here I wasn't able to make it to the outlet stores. I'm located in a REALLY small town that is pretty remote and tough for me to just go anywhere. Anyway, my mom's hair stylist in town had a cute puppy costume and allowed us to borrow it. I am grateful to be able to have a cute costume so, thank you! Here is our cute little puppy...I know it's not very feminine; however, I'm grateful for the opportunity to get a costume in such a short period of time.

7-8 Wks Old!

It's been a little while since I've posted...so, here are some current pictures. Seneca and I went to Utah to visit Matt for two weeks and had a great time!

Matt is doing really well in school! He is very busy and gone most of the time; but the hard work is paying off. He has been offered one internship, but still interviewing for others to see which one would be a good fit for next summer.

We love and miss all of you and hope to be settled soon! Please continue to keep us as well as our sweet birth mother in your thoughts and prayers!

Here are some fun pictures documenting our fun trip to Utah! Enjoy!

Cousin Aurelie at the Grossi shower

Aunt Lili, Magalie and cousin Stephane (Grossi shower)

Papie and Uncle Ira (Grossi shower) Ira--who is Jewish was calling dad and Jew (tight with money)...it was pretty funny! You had to be there! Aunt Sonya, Uncle Jean Jacques, and cousin Magalie (Grossi Shower)

Granmama Kempton got Seni a Swenden soccer jersey she wore to the shower to stir up some action with the French/Italian Grossi's

Matt and Seni (Matt's Birthday Dinner)

Seni going for a walk with me! Cute outfit my sister Danielle gave SeniWhoa! I am falling here!

Ugh! I'm down!

Family shot!

Uncle Rob and Aunt Jenesse

Granmama and Papa

I am so cute!

Family ride up Alpine Loop Seni at the pumpkin patch

Tired Seni!

Papa and Seni

Wow!! 6 weeks old!!

Well, I can't believe how quickly time passes! Seneca is six weeks old! She is growing SO fast! She eats about 4 ounces every 3 hours and sometimes 5 ounces. She is very long and lean!! :) I absolutely adore her! She makes eye contact, and is starting to babble and smile!! Oh, so breath-taking! This has been such a wonderful experience seeing her grow each and every day. The only unfortunate part of this is it has been hard not seeing Matt! As you may or may not know, Matt is studying for his MBA up at BYU. (I am so proud of him for making this tough decision). So, it's been about 3 weeks since we've all seen each other! We are still not able to move to Utah yet, but hope it will be soon. Our social worker did receive word from the tribe that they will approve this adoption. Our social worker received legal documents from the tribe and our attorney from LDS Family Services is working on getting this all processed. Please keep us as well as the birth mother in your prayers!! As for Matt he is really enjoying school. He is ALWAYS studying. It's a huge load but loves all the material he is learning. He is in Atlanta for the next couple of days to hopefully land an internship for next summer. He thinks he would like to focus on Finance with an emphasis in strategy. I'm not sure exactly what that is, but will learn as we go through this process. He has expressed an interest in interning with Johnson & Johnson and some other business in Chicago...I can't remember the name. Anyway, he thinks...not for sure....he would like to stay in the health care field applying his professional skills as well as all that he his learning from his formal education. I am just excited for this opportunity for Matt! I know he wants so badly to find something he loves and enjoys....I know this is getting him there! Again, I am proud of him and can't believe how much time and effort he is putting into this! I miss you babe! Here are some more fun pictures of Seneca. Before viewing them, I must apologize in advance...while staying in Utah a few weeks back I totally messed up by not taking pictures of Seneca being held by Papa, Granmama, Rob and Jenese. So, I apologize. I will be there this weekend and will be sure to capture this memory along with others. As you can see below, many people LOVE Seneca! Here are those who have had the chance to meet her. Again, this is not everyone. I will do better at taking pictures!! :~ My family got together on the 8th to celebrate my older brother's birthday. He passed away 13 years ago from a heart condition and we've tried to keep his memory alive each and every day since! We love and miss our Jason! He would have been 38 today! Happy Birthday Jay! As a (limited number of our) family (missing Matt, Toni, Dad and Patrice)...we went to Crystal Cove state beach and tried to eat at the Beachcomber. After waiting an hour and pigging out on appetizers we decided to hit Taco Bell. (A hang out us siblings spent time at throughout our high school years!) It was fun!

Andre's version of the sling. (Just put it around your neck?) Figo's protecting Seneca! Pega Joon, Figo and Seni! I went to visit the Meilings on Thursday and was happy to see Debbie and Aunt Mary! Debbie you rock! She loves you!! Debbie was able to get Seni to fall asleep! Seni playing with a mobile I rigged up with a hanger and Velcro toys! Seni wearing a cute outfit Papie and Grandma Patrice purchased in France! What a proud grandma...She FINALLY has a grandchild! :) Aunt Danielle flew in from Germany to greet her new little niece! Grandpa Ray enjoying his time with her! Mom and Seni! Uncle Jeff came to visit Aunt Mesia...NOT....he came to meet his new niece, Seni! Papie and Seni! Seni's protectors--Reggie and Cloe