It seems hard to believe that it's only been about six months since our daughter, Noel Grace, came into our lives; we feel like she's been with us forever and ever.

We adopted Noel Grace back in December; she came several days before Christmas, a scared, uncertain little waif who didn't know anybody.  We had applied to adopt a child two years prior; it was only in the last year when we found out that we were getting a child from Poland, a little girl named Terezina, and it was six months ago when she finally came after weeks/months of waiting.

We renamed her Noel Grace because of the upcoming Christmas holiday; plus we found out that she had been born on Christmas Day, so the name suited her perfectly.  She is such a pretty child, with long, flowing red hair that cascades to just above her butt, big, grey-green eyes, and freckles adorning her nose and cheeks.  She is also whip-smart; it didn't take her but a few months for her to pick up her first English words and adapt to her new life here in America.

Noel is the second child we adopted:  previoiusly, we adopted a girl from China.  Our other child's name is Kennedi Michelle; she is one year older than Noel.  (We adopted Kennedi when she was three.)  In addition to the two girls, we also have three sons:  Maverick Dillon, Bridge Dalton, and Easton Paul.  They are ten, eight, and seven.  The girls are six and five.  So now we have five children instead of three -- and two of them are girls.

Gives the boys some healthy female competition.  LOL  Having girls around is good for them.  LOL

At first there were plenty of tears or sleepness nights on Noel's part, but now that she's adjusted to her new home and family, she's settled in beautifully, and she is your typical little five-year-old girl who loves all things princess or pink (or purple, teal, or aqua, whichever mood she happens to be in LOL).  She loves to dance, sing, and laugh; she is one of the happiest children we have ever known.  Nothing really upsets her unless she is extremely angry (that is, thankfully, a rare thing).

Kennedi is the polar opposite of her sister:  while Noel is loud, happy, and outgoing, Kennedi is shy, reserved, thoughtful in all her actions and words.  It takes her longer to warm up to people.  It doesn't help having three extremely active, loud, impulsive brothers who love to pick on her.  (Noel won't take her brothers' shenanigans: if they get on her nerves, she will just slug them first to quiet them.  LOL)

So that is our family.  Three active boys and two beautiful girls.  Add two Ragdoll cats and five Chihauahuas to the mix; our house is a noisy, bustling, happenin' place.  No rest for the weary in this family:  everyone's constantly on the go, go, go!!  LOL

I wouldn't trede it for all the money or gold in the world!  I love my life, and I absolutely adore my family; having the girls added to it has only made it all that more exciting!