Caleb The Rock Star!

Caleb The Rock Star
This is a quick video of Claire's cousin, Caleb. He is 2 years old and was adopted from Guatemala in October by The Klein Family (Eric, Louise, Noah, Grace ... and now Caleb). As you'll see, he fits right in and has the early signs of a natural born musician. Caleb knows how to play to the Christmas Eve crowd, just what cords to hit, and check out the pointed collars! Merry Christmas!

See more on Caleb's story at: http://www.calebklein.net

And now, please enjoy the movie:



"Whoever receives one such child in my name, receives me."
- Matthew 18:5

November - PreSchool Fun Pics

Sorry I'm a little late with these, but here are some pics from all of the fun Claire had at PreSchool during the month of November. She loves to be "Dr. Claire" and she loves, loves, loves swimming!

October PreSchool Fun Pics

I'm a little late on postings these, but some miscellaneous pics from Claire's preschool fun during October. A few non-preschool pics, too!

Neighborhood Halloween Parade

Video from Claire's (err, I mean Elmo's!) first Neighborhood Halloween Parade!

Pumpkin Carving!

Pumpkin Farm: Part 1

Claire has a thing for pumpkin farms. This year, she's due for three different visits to a pumpkin farm.

Here's a quick video from our first stop this year, along with a link to a video from a similar trip last year ... when we had Claire home only for about a week or so.

Gotcha Day Celebration

We had a wonderful Gotcha Day celebration at our favorite Chinese restaurant (The Gourmet House). We met up with the Marquardt family, who we travelled to China with last October. God blessed the Marquardts with Maddie (age 3), and He blessed us with Claire. A fun evening recounting the memories of our trip to China a year ago, and what life has been like since as a forever family!

Fire Safety Day!

Big day for Claire and her pre-school pals ... Fire Safety Day. Includes real firefighters in all their equipment, real fire trucks, learning your address, learning how to dial 911, and what to do in case of a fire.

Pre-School Fun: September

Claire's PreSchool Fun from September ... big themes on Johnny Appleseed, and creating "Mat Man."

Claire the Fish

For a little girl who was terrified of the water a year ago, Claire has become quite the fish. The swimming pool is one of her favorite places, and here are some pics from her lessons yesterday as part of her preschool program.

This week, Claire wraps up her first week in the new older Pre-Kindergarten class at her school. Below are some pics from her last week in the early Pre-K class, including her birthday party. The last three are her new class, and some highlights from this first week!

Claire's 5th Birthday Party

Quick-video from Claire's 5th birthday party, as she dons her special birthday hat and conquers the candles on her Dora the Explorer cake! Thanks to all who were a part of this special day for her ... and us ;)

Video: Claire's Dedication

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."- Matthew 18:5 Video from Claire's Dedication Ceremony (August 15, 2009) Run Time: About 13 minutes, give or take.

Birthday Bonanza Part 2: Date Night with Daddy

Claire hams it up for the camera on Part 2 of her Birthday Bonanza ... Date Night with Daddy at Red Robin restaurant.

Video: Claire's PreSchool Birthday Bash

Claire's Birthday Party with Pre-School Pals

Pics from Claire's 5th birthday party with her pre-school pals!

Pink Goo, Pink Hair: More PreSchool Fun!

Pre-School Fun!

First Field Trip: Brookfield Zoo

Some pics from Claire's first field trip ... a visit last week to the Brookfield Zoo with her preschool class.

First Easter Egg Hunt

Adventures with Claire - 6 months

Rolling slideshow of just some of Claire's adventures these past six months ...

Playdate with Kira

Editor's Note: Claire just had a playdate with Kira, who was adopted as a toddler from China by Marla and Alan Mothershed, who are friends of Helena's. Marla and Kira hopped a quick flight up from the Quad-Cities to hang with Helena and Claire for a day. And as it turns out, Kira and Claire were born just two days apart from each other. Cool!

The Naddeos

Editor's Note: Helena and I met Ed and Jennie Naddeo in the fall of 2006. We met at a meeting for prospective parents waiting to adopt children from China, and hit it off with them immediately. In January of 2007, we attended a Chinese New Year Celebration together in downtown Chicago. It was hosted by an organization called Families Children from China. The four of us watched the swarm of beautiful children running around us that night and wondered silently ... when would we have one to call our own?

2008 brought a year of delays, roadblocks and constant frustration for families like us waiting to adopt children from China. At different points, both families thought seriously about retreating from China, and starting the adoption process over again. God told us to stay the course.

In June of 2008, we got our referral for Claire. We brought her home in October. In November of 2008, Ed and Jennie got a call they didn't expect. Not only was there one child waiting for them, but two ... precious twin girls. In December of 2008, Ed and Jennie were on a plane to China and met their beautiful daughters --- Mariana and Alexandria --- just days after the girls' first birthday. The Naddeos brought Mariana and Alexandria home forever on Christmas Day, 2008.

God is so good! Here's more on their story: Mariana and Alexandria.

Life-Sized Friend

Valentine Ball

Editor's Note: The sound in the movie turns off from time-to-time. Don't worry, its not your computer. This movie was shot on a different camera and there were some translation issues.

Valentine Ball
Bright Horizons Day Care Center
Schaumburg, IL

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year Celebration
Families with Children from China
January 31, 2009 (Chicago, IL)