Way too long!

Holy cow I'm terrible about blogging...sorry! Ok quick update! Nia has been home for more than a year now, but truly it seems like she's been here forever. She couldn't be doing better except that she wants to start school NOW! She's had some trouble with ear infections and thus had tubes put in. She is doing great. Kaiya and Ellie are coming to a close on their 1/2 day schools days. First grade is around the corner and my little girls will officially be all day school girls. I'm not sure that I'm ready for that. Thankfully Nia will only by 1/2 days! :) Dave finished up Les Mis this spring and it was amazing. We've also finished everything up with my knee injury and can move on from it now...no more traveling back and forth to Indianapolis :)

I've learned how to do many things to Nia's hair. My favorite look for her is extensions, but it does take really long! I've tried the yarn extension and it's great...much easier than hair or fake hair for that matter. She loves her longish hair because then she can have a ponytail or pigtails like her big sisters.

Our family travels to Disney World in June. We can't wait. Everyone is ready for a family trip. The girls have never been and Dave and I haven't been in 12 years so it's going to be all new for us too! The big news from Dave and I is that we've lost lots and lots of weight! Dave has reached the 100 pound mark and I'm at the 40 pound mark. We feel great!

Basically that is the update...I'll try to make it a little more frequent from now on!

Oh and I would upload a pic, but it's telling me that I've reached my quota and I don't feel like dealing with computer stuff tonight!!

Latest Hairstyle!

Here is the latest attempt at Nia's hair! She loves it. Of course I'm picky and I don't think that it's perfect, but it's getting better. The longer that it gets the easier it's going to be. Everyone is great here...nothing to report. -Nikki

October with the Theunes!

The girls all dressed up, the entire family, and our little pumpkin Nia on her first Halloween


Kaiya is learning to love horses and the family hunting for the perfect pumpkin



The girls in the fall and Ellie and Kaiya...age six and still fit into the dryer with room to spare!


What a crazy time it is for us, but everyone is happy and knock on wood everyone is still healthy! Kaiya and Ellie are in Kindergarten, in separate classes and loving it..they are still 1/2 days. Nia is totally in love with her daycare friends. We get to all (except Dad) come home for lunch and spend our afternoons together. I am working 1/2 days as well. This fall I'm helping with the Varsity Girls Swimming and Diving Team...and it's been a blast. We've got our conference meet this coming weekend and it's our meet to loose! Dave is working on the fall play...Twelve Angry Jurors...opens the same weekend that I have conference...so one could say that we are a little busy. The play is going to be great! The nice thing is that all are happy. Enjoy the pics. -Nikki

It's already the end of September!

Nia's latest hairdo


Nia and Lydia DeCook at a reunion
Kaiya on one of the Anema's horses at the reunion

Ok so I've been terrible with a capital T about writing on our blog. Things are going so well that I really feel that I'm boring right now! Everyone is back at school or daycare and loving it. Kaiya and Ellie are in separate Kindergarten classes and are doing well with the adjustment. Nia is loving daycare so much that I walk her to the door she opens it hugs me and closes it. I'm not even allowed to step inside to say goodbye! What a blessing that she loves it that much. She continues to amaze us. Counting up to 11 on her own, memorizing books already, starting to sing the ABC song and boy oh boy is she talkative! I've been practicing things with her hair...little puffs all over and she just LOVES getting her hair done...I really think that she loves all the attention that she gets when it's done from others! I've finally figured out what works best for her hair and that feels great! I am an assistant coach for the local varsity swimming team and Dave has started the fall play....he directs it. SO one could say that we are busy. I think that Dave and I literally see each other about 33 minutes a day. 3 in the afternoon as we are exchanging cars and then 30 when he gets home at night! But so far all is good. I'm loving my job....still part time in the mornings and really feeling like I'm helping out some kids this year that really need it...I work in an elementary special ed department. I hope all is well with you when you are reading this. Nikki

Nia's birthday and more!

Alright again it's been way too long since I've updated things, but it's summer so we are busy. Nia is now officially two years old! She loved her birthday along with telling her sisters and friends "no, no, no" as far as helping her open presents! We had our first family of five vacation to Mackinaw City/Island, MI and it was great. We staying in a hotel with a small water park...all kids loved it. They also loved the boat, the fudge, the horse carriage and the icecream. It was a little too much shopping for them, but they managed! Kaiya, Ellie, Nikki and Nana J had our annual trip to Chicago. This year was the girls first pedicure...oh so cute! along with a trip to the Disney Store, a cab ride and swimming in the pool! We did visit the American Girl Store, but that trip is reserved for next year...they are already excited and asking about it! Nikki is in her last week of summer swim team. We ended our swim season 3-0, but the most important part was that we had over 90 kids on the team for our first year and it was really fun for all involved. Dave continues to slowly get ready for the upcoming school year teaching all new classes, juniors instead of freshmen. August is already busy, but all fun things.

1. Nia's first, but year 2 birthday cake (yes she is obsessed with Tractors!)

2. Nia at her birthday party

3. All the girls on the ferry to Mac. Island

4. All the girls and their cousin at Meijer Gardens

Nia!

Tomorrow we are celebrating Nia's 2nd birthday! Wow it's already here and boy oh boy does she understand that it's her day! She keeps reminding us that she's going to be two and that she gets presents. We are having family and some friends over for cake and pizza with homemade icecream! yum! I'll post pics after tomorrow!

Things are good!

Hey! here are some pics.

This is a welcoming ceremony at our church for Nia. All of us wore traditional Ethiopian outfits.

This is Nia with some of her friends from the orphanage at a reunion in May.

The girls hanging out in the kiddy pool in the backyard

Nia's baptism, June 14, 2009. Baptized by her Grandpa, the Rev. Theune

All the girls together on Nia's first camping trip..which she loved!

Nia and her baby while camping.