videos!!

downloading videos just seems not to work anymore, so this is plan B.. hope it works

http://www.youtube.com/user/nicolejohnson68?feature=mhee

Lilja's three year check-up

Lilja's three year check-up was today.. I always prepare Lilja a little bit, so she knows what is going on. Luckily we did not have to do shots, but we were going to give her a nasal flu short. So this morning, Lilja and I (aran was hunting for work) were talking about our day and I asked her what she wanted to do after the doctor's visit. Lilja replied:" Momma, I think it would be a good idea to get some ice-cream". well, with that kind of answer, we had to go. We do not do sugar often, as Lilja goes CRAZY!!! which she did this evening for a while, but that was our fault, and we just laughed with her.. she was silly!!



getting a "hug" around her arm..



Dr. Kelly is just wonderful. She was one of my moms when I was the coordinator at the family center and she would join my playgroups, so we have a great connection.

Feeling her belly and checking her hips... all perfect!! and a very strong healthy heart! Lilja was 26 pounds and 35 inches long.. she has definitely had a growth spurt!! 

and then her favorite; Chocolate frozen yogurt with three peanut m&m and some strawberries, plus some extra sprinkles on top..  she was loving it!! 

caroling with Santa Claus

The holiday season has started. On Friday we walked downtown while singing every x-mas song you can imagine with 100 of our closest friends....Plus Santa Claus was riding next to us in a horse and carriage. I guess the reindeer were not ready yet ;)

Lilja has been a little under the weather this week, actually all of us.. but in this picture i can really see it. She was such a trooper. I did not want her to miss this experience.. Glowstick, check, warm coat,,, check.. no nap... check... smile on Lilja's face when she saw Santa?.. priceless!!

Getting ready to carol all the way dwontown and then they are lighting all the tree lights and the big tree.. so fun, so ready for this fun holiday season with lilja being a little older this year!! Sorry, Our camera is broken and the phone is not as reliable to make good pictures as i wish it was.. sorry for the blurry ones

Look there is santa.. on the right!!

Lilja's transportation walking all the way to the north end of downtown..Great job daddy!! This is not his cup of tea, but he was a great sport!! 

Lilja got a great hat and slippers from jasmin's mom all the way from Alaska.. Thanks martha!! she kept taking them off and on.. loves doing everything on her own!! and great colors!!

thanksgiving day!!

Every year we end up at Robin and freddy's house for a huge thanksgiving event. 30 young college students, some friends and us were invited at their house. Lilja was the only little one of the bunch, but she loved being around the "big' kids. Evvery year we first have a big football game, and Lilja and I were the spectators..then a huge feast of all the Thanksgiving yummies!!




My boss and great friend Robin, who adores Lilja...



Shannon (Robin's daughter) is also Lilja's babysitter. The whole day Lilja followed Shannon and just hung out with the big kids.. Here they were having a food fight and Lilja joined in on the olive throwing!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Every year I reflect on what I am thankful for.. This year is even more profound. But first,  I am ALWAYS thankful for my wonderful husband, who is a great partner, and an amazing Daddy to Lilja. I am thankful that he feels it is so important for me to stay home with Lilja, while he works his bum off.. So thankful for this little girl that makes our lives exciting, challenging, amazing and oh so funny. She is blossoming into a very sweet, smart, empathetic, caring, funny and respectful little lady.. Thankful that our families have the means to travel to come see us and support us in every way, it shows that eventhough the distance is hard, it disapears quickly on the phone and on skype. We are always thankful to Jasmin who made our family complete, and keeps in contact with us and Lilja throughout the year. That brings us to our last  thankfulness, the surprise to know about a whole other side of a family that loves and cares for Lilja. James, we are thankful to have gotten to meet you and some of your family. Lilja's story is only getting better and we are especially thankful for all the people that love and support her so much!! 
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Nicole, Aran and Lilja

snow!!

when we got back from Denver, there was a little snow on the ground.. Lilja was in heaven!!



snow popsicles!!



momma, I just want to sleep on the snow! I LOVE it!

Lilja got a new coat from Oma and Opa and with her new boots she is stylin'!  Why does she suddenly look so big?

The Kreikemeiers

We went up to Colorado Springs before we met with James. Kellie and Brad are great friends of ours and we have known their boys, Cole, Kade and Carson since they were born..Lilja was looking forward to seeing them again, they had had so much fun. And this time, they even had more fun. it seemed Lilja could keep up with them and they included her in everything. true gentlemen!..!

Lilja and Carson taking pictures with their lovies..

Lilja's future suitors.. any of these boys would be a great choice girlie!!
Cole, Kade and Carson and Lilja

Lilja stayed with the Kreikemeiers when we had our first meeting with James by ourselves.. so that night, we took care of the boys.This quiet time was after a huge "in the dark lazer fight". They were all tired, especially Aran!

Lilja between Carson and Cole. Cole took care of Lilja all weekend. helping her on the cough, down the stairs and finding lamby.. she knew how to work it.. sweet smile, cute voice and batting of the eyes.. where has she learned that??
Kellie and Brad, you were such a great support for us during this stressful time. The drinks, laughter and quiet opinions helped a lot.. Thanks guys, we love you!

Jasmin and... James

A couple of weeks ago, to our surprise, we got contacted by James, Lilja's birthdad. To make a very interesting and emotional story short, we met with him this weekend and then met him with Jasmin, Lilja's tummy mommy. We have been in contact with Jasmin from the beginning on, but we did not know about james.  With an open adoption, we consciously chose to have the birthparents be part of Lilja's life and we are very happy to now have both birth parents be an important part of her adoption story.

waiting in front of the Aquarium, in the snow!! How cool are those boots!!

James, Jasmin and Lilja. It is so interesting to look at her birthparents and see a little bit of both of them in Lilja 

Kisses for the fishes

She was pretty serious looking for the Tiger, yes there was a tiger in the aquarium.. don't ask..

Lilja was not afraid of touching the starfish.. actually she was not afraid of anything..

she even fed a cricket to the fish.. with daddy's help ofcourse

James and Lilja mesmerized by the jellyfish

Jasmin and Lilja were very much into petting the stingrays.Lilja said that night when we talked about her favorite and not so favorite part of the day (our little custom each night) that petting the stingrays was her favorite part.

James, Jasmin and Lilja.
Thank you so much guys for the wonderful time. We really enjoyed getting all together and hope we can do it again next year.

Opa and Oma

My parents left Sunday morning and there is a lot of adjusting to do.. so quiet at the house and Lilja has been pretty off right now.. me too :). They are such a big support for me and so much has been going on. I think we all are have the post visit blues.. it sounds strange when I say, I never thought they would be such amazing grandparents.. as they were pretty strict parents.. Now they are softies!! and just adore Lilja!! Here are some more sweet pictures of them. I have not been as good about taking pictures this time..

Opa and Lilja went for a walk with me and heared a chipmunk, Lilja was wondering what he was saying.. she talked about it for a while..

We went to the Southern Ute cultural museum and Oma and Lilja did some tracing 

Story time.. Lilja likes to read the story herself after we have read the story.. and usually she will want to do it backwards.. don't ask!

wrestling with Oma

Peekaboo.. the other sideof the coin

Up the hill.. I think they were marching..

Opa and Lilja.. she really adores him.. he was pretty sick for a while, after my mom got sick.. so we got to say at home a lot.. but a little walk was needed.





sillies

and more sillies
Thanks Oma and Opa for all the laughs, sillies and all the support you have given us..we love you lots.. let's count down to Belgium.. 5 more months!!!

Her second third birthday party

On her REAL birthday october 30th, we had a little party for her, just the five of us.. a chocolate cake, singing, and presents completed the day..



this was the third try to make a picture without her already have blown out the candles.




Lamby number 5.. aka Sister.. from Grandma and Grandpa Johnson




and always wonderful books. The Johnsons and the de Ruiters are huge readers.. Lilja is turning into one too.



her new strider bike from Momma and daddy.. a basket with flowers for lamby 1, 2, 3 , 4 and now 5 so they can come too!!

a stroller from Opa and Oma with a liytle bear from Mimi.. She got SPOILED!!! and the week and presents were not done yet, but I have no place in this blog.. I promise more is coming.