New Video Player

If everyone likes this new video look I can post it in the column to the right ...let me know!

How it works--It's very simple there are 9 videos to watch 4 brand new ones and 5 older(my faves). You can simply click and let the player play them all at once or you can move the cursor on the left edge of the players screen and a little arrow will appear so you can manually scroll through them. Or you can just double click on any of the videos to go directly to our youtube channel to see all our videos. Whew that was a book. Hope y'all enjoy

The sun may be setting on our time in Chambretaud!

A huge week of emotion and frustration. As I mentioned in my last post we have been having some serious problems understanding the about face that this club has made this year. Last year this club rolled out the red carpet for us and made everything happen to accommodate us and make life wonderful. This year it has been one problem after another(that they have created) and they try and point the blame at us. We saved the club last year and they were so grateful but I think in wanting to keep us they made some big promises that they were unable to keep.


At the beginning of January they told me that they had hit a low financially and could no longer keep their financial obligation to me! I was floored! I could not believe that an organization that was so honest and good last year could sprout horns and march around with a pitch fork( okay maybe a bit harsh) but it's been very hard deciding what we want to do. I have a meeting with the club members tomorrow night so we will keep y'all posted.


On a lighter note and again if there is one thing that keeps me un-frustrated and oh so happy--- it would be my three girls and spending time with them. We have also been so blessed being here with the most amazing friends. Below is a few pictures of my precious little Elle and our great friends David and Christine, also Ryn's bestest friends, the adorable Gandon girls.




We love them so much and pray that they too will be able to taste and live this dream of being Mommy and Daddy. They are amazing and will provide the best loving environment for the lucky children that are waiting for their turn to enter their lives. We know exactly what they are feeling and it is not easy. But the one thing we can rely on to get through the pain and uncertainty is our Father in Heaven and the loving support of Family and friends.

The adorable Gandon girls--Charlotte, Chloe and Marine. (You have to hear Ryn say their names, it is too cute)

Sweet Ryn caught a cold this past week and it turned into a full blown fever that has just knocked her out. She is so limp and just has this glazed look in her eyes all the time. She will hold her hands out to you and barely mouth the words,"ooovie" and " juuuuice". It really is so heartbreaking to not be able to take away her pain or make it feel better right away. All we can do is love her and care for her. She has only been sick 3 times in her 2 years so far and that is a huge blessing. She also is quite the trooper and is so sweet and actually even a bit more obedient.

We are so thankful for the constant love and support we receive from so many good friends and our dear families. Life is good! Even when things get tough and we sometimes feel like laying down for awhile, I know that if we can just dig a little deeper there is so much more. Sometimes when I am wearing my "perspective goggles" I can literally laugh at all the little problems that bring me down. Believe me when there doesn't seem like much is left in the tank on a particular day or when no sleep is to be found (sick kids:) if we can remember that we have some pretty good blood running through our veins! We are sons and daughters of a Father in heaven that knows what we need and when we need it, we just need to USE what we have learned and what we have been given to get through the low points.

It reminded me of this commercial that I love and how we can be great if we really use what we have been given.." It's not about the knowledge or talents that we may have it's what we do with those things that counts!"

The windmills overlooking our town and the town of Les Herbiers.

Fun, crazy life!

These past couple of weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions. We have hit some rough times with the club here and are at a crossroads with them.(I will explain more in detail next week). We have lost our last 2 games--very very frustrating losses, but personally good nights--(35pts, 9rbds,9assists). One thing I have learned here though is that even if it feels good to score alot and play great, if it doesn't result in a win it doesn't mean much. Oh well. Update coming ...........

Our good friends here are so amazing! We just love the Bousseau/Gandon clan. They take such good care of us and truly are our family. We had a lot of fun with them this week, Ryn LOVES spending time with them. everytime we leave our house she starts reciting all their names. Ryn also has this thing where if she see's a horse, no matter the size she thinks she should be able to ride it

Ryn is also entering the world of multiple hair styles. After a long wait we can finally attempt the single ponytail. She loves it and is growing so fast. I love it when she see's me with my Gym bag and she says," Bye Dad, Work!" and then when I get home and she hears me come in she starts yelling ,"Where's my daddy?" I LOVE IT! Is there anything better than being your little princess' prince?

Elle on the other hand may be smaller but she too is growing in leaps n bounds. She is now officially crawling and is so stinking cute I can't stand it. She has such a sweet laugh and is soooo ticklish. Elle has also aquired somehow this adorable Darth Vader-breathy laugh. She also has the one ponytail hairstyle down---it's just in a little different location :)

They are growing so fast that we almost feel like we need to come home to allow everyone a chance to see them soon. I have also been having so much fun with this awesome Canon camera. It is so amazing the things you can see looking through this little tiny viewfinder. You know we always hear the phrase--" See the big picture", but I think that sometimes we need to slow down and simplify our lives and focus in on the things that really matter. When I see a great spot to take a picture and then I place one of my three beautiful girls there and look into that little window it just puts everything into perspective as to what really matters.

I just posted some pictures I took of the girls on our Tabblo page her is the link--We love you!

http://www.tabblo.com/studio/invitation/1316733/06c5cd4a7be7784897aee8dda1dafd97

2 Miracle Girls...by Kit

I'd have to say that my most precious moments of seeing the Lord's hand in my own life consist of the miracles of finally becoming a mother. You all know the whole story of the long road to parenthood that we were blessed to travel, but since this is the place to "remember, remember" I need to add this wonderful chapter to our extended family history-in-the-making :).

Kevin and I have both wanted children for as long as we can remember. In fact, that is one of the things I loved most about him even before we were married--his love for children and his excitement for the day he would be blessed to be a father (ok 2 things). We assumed we'd be able to have a baby as soon as we started trying, but that was not to be. A loving Father in Heaven knew that this would be the very domain where we would have to be tried "as Abraham"--needing to trust Him even though we couldn't understand why he would withhold from us the blessing we wanted more than anything else. Not just any blessing, but the very reason why we were created.

At every point along the way, the Lord put us exactly where we needed to be to be able to take the next step. In Utah we found the doctor who did the initial tests, the first treatments, and realized we would need to go straight to in vitro as soon as possible instead of wasting time trying other intermediary treatments. Then we were able to go back to France "for basketball" where the socialized medical system covers 100% of maternity and fertility treatments. We were contacted by the team in Cambrai (didn't even find them on our own) and were able to stay there for the 3 years it took to work with the amazing fertility team in Valenciennes and do all the testing, getting all our paperwork done to be legally able to be covered, and the 2 full in vitro cycles necessary. There were so many reminders of the Lord's tender mercies and constant care, but even with all of these, I'm ashamed to say that I too often found myself discouraged and lacking the faith I needed to wait patiently upon the Lord. He only wanted to give me this chance to grow in my patience and faith so I could be the best mother possible and here I was doubting!!! But even then, in my own "pit of dispair" during the 2nd in vitro process, He did not leave me comfortless and He gently reminded me that His promises are sure. While reading in the Book of Mormon, I followed a footnote to Numbers 14:11. (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/num/14) Ok, so I was being just like the children of Israel who doubted the Lord's promises after all the signs He'd given them. Pretty sad.

Fortunately for me, His promise to forgive us when we repent is sure, as well, and so....After 7 years of tracking, praying, fasting, testing, praying, fasting, treatments, praying, fasting, waiting, praying and fasting some more.....not just as individuals or as a couple, but with all of you and other faithful friends in the thick of it with us (the waiting, praying and fasting part anyway :) ) we were blessed with our 4.8 kg miracle, Ryn. Every minute of every day we thank Heavenly Father for the joy she is to us and to everyone we meet.

During the summer months of 2006 when Ryn was 6-8 months old, we continued our prayers for our family--asking to either be able to have children naturally or to be able to go back to France and start preparing to do in vitro again. (We knew if we needed to go the in vitro route it could take a while). As general conference approached, we grew more and more confident that the Lord would hear our prayers and our faith had progressed to where we knew He could (and trusted He WOULD) fix whatever needed to be fixed with us physically so that we could have a baby naturally. Conference weekend I felt I might possibly be pregnant (which would go against all scientific findings chez nous during the past 8 years). I took a pregnancy test which came back negative, but then I looked at the date on the box and it had expired in 2004 ....so Monday I left with Mom for Ontario and got a new test on the way to Grandma's. Tuesday morning's positive result was the reassurance that the Lord was blessing us once again--Elle was on her way!!!!! The pregnancy went well, the delivery was incredible, and Elle is an angel in every way (even with her ultra soprano ear-ringers). I cry almost every day when I look in their eyes and marvel that Heavenly Father would trust us with such treasures.

Sorry for the book, but I agree with Ammon: "Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."

Late Christmas entry-

Our darling princesses--crowned by Queen KK!

Elle unleashing the queen of the jungle cry! But so, yummy, I'm sure by the age of 2 she will have had enough of my kisses to last a lifetime. "Hi, my name is Kevin and I am an Elle-aholic!"

I was trying to tell my Folks about this and eventually said I will just send a picture. Are these two girls sisters or what! Above is Ryn and below is Elle. Elle gets so much friction going between those two big toes it's like always have some flint and steel handy. They both rub their feet together like this either when tired or happy! So they are usually always going since life is such a happy tiring thing right? Yep!

Christmas was a marvelous day! In Brazil with our dear family and being able to share our girls with all the grown-ups on Christmas morning, to bring that innocent magic that kids offer when seeing big, shiny new toys and presents scattered everywhere. Parents handing them presents with pretty ribbon and bows and saying, for once ," go on.... tear it open!" and yes you can eat that chocolate and this candy. Kids must think someone adult napped all the grown-ups.

Get a load of this next sequence of pictures-------

Ryn's look of shock to seeing what is below---her very own keyboard with mic!

A jam session right away and then, the triumphant salute to Daddy:)

"Potty Chair"

This has been the theme in our home for the past week! We found a cute little potty chair for Ryn. We got some of the other necessities, princess pull-ups( With a disappearing princess if she gets pottied on:), Winnie the Pooh underpants, LOTS of fun little juice boxes and of course the M&M's. Potty training just doesn't quite seem complete without a little bribery, nothing like buying and spoiling your way to unsoiled goodness.

At first it was a battle royal. I can understand too ,( so can Matt:) the fear of going in some strange place! Eventually Kit started to help her understand that it was a good thing to go in the "potty chair" so she then started to whine and whimper every time she would need to go and started rambling,"potty chair, potty chair!". She eventually learned that it could be a very cool gig. Running around the house "Au natural" sitting on this chair and drinking as much juice as she wanted and with the movie of her choice! She caught on quick!

Our theory as you may have guessed was to get her all juiced up and allow her to recognize the sensation and then where to go next. She was doing great after the first two days but then we had to leave for an extended period of time and I think we broke her rhythm. It was so cute and hilarious to see those little chick-a-booms running around the house, even though she didn't get the chance to use her potty chair today we feel that she has it down! Hooray!

"Front porch looking in"

This song --#8 on my playlist (just go to song number seven and click the next button to hear it)

Front porch looking in- is one of the best songs ever. I just love it, I love music and how it can help remind us of what we have. This song is soooooo right on. Everytime I leave on a roadtrip and we drive through all this amazing countryside and see all this beauty that God has created for us-it pales in comparison to the beauty and love that is in my own home and in the eyes and smiles of my 3 beautiful, amazing girls-that He has created for me!

Listen to it and I know you will feel the same about the view from your own front porch looking in!

New Blog set-up

Welcome to the new blog! I have set up some pretty cool stuff so that y'all can enjoy with us the things we love!
INTRODUCTION
1-MUSIC -to the right is a media player with some of our favorite songs, scroll through them, enjoy them, suggest new one's and if you prefer to have no music while you read just click on the pause button. Coming soon- songs sung by Kit and Kev!

2-VIDEO- Underneath the music player is our video player with a library of all our videos that we have posted to youtube. THe 4 most recent one's will be available directly on the blog, just click and laugh!

3- LINKS- This is where you will find our favorite, inspiring blogs, sites and more. Our good family and friends are to precious to keep to ourselves!

4-PHOTOS- Below the Links will be a running slideshow of our favorite and most recent pictures.

5-ARCHIVES- If you are new to our blog or miss a few entries feel free to take a ride into the past.
But most of all we want to do this to share our laughter,tears, joys,sorrows, and insights into life and know that Heavenly Father gave us all eachother to grow with and learn together. So thank you for allowing us to share in your lives and sharing ours!

Holiday Hiatus

Wow! I am finally back after our amazing holiday adventure to Brazil. We had the most incredible time while there, spending time together laughing,visiting and playing games. Ryn and Elle LOVED it! Ryn couldn’t even contain herself, every-time she saw Stan, KK,Spencer,Rae,Em,Rob or Christa she would burst, running to them with her arms outstretched proclaiming their names. It was so adorable!
The trip started off with some excitement nevertheless. We decided to take the train from Cholet to the CDG airport. Everything was going great until in my frantic state to get all of our bags and my little family transferred to the right train, I did exactly the opposite. Yep you guessed it, in Angers we got on the wrong TGV. We didn’t even realize it until we tried to go to our assigned seats and there was a cute all-male couple sitting there. Yikes! So we asked the conductor and he said we were in luck and to just switch to the right train at the next stop……Whew! First crisis avoided. If you can’t tell by now I am the type of person that often tries to think of everything and anything that might possibly go wrong ahead of time so that if something does go wrong I will be prepared mentally, emotionally and already have a counter plan. Kit does not enjoy this aspect of my traveling skills and on the way back from Brazil told me that I was much more pleasant to travel with when I didn’t do this. ( One of my New Year’s resolutions—to be more optimistic about traveling)
So after a good long flight and Elle cutting two teeth during the leg from Milan to Brazil(11hours) we gathered our bags and entered the pick up area where Stan and KK were waiting with hugs, fresh squeezed OJ and cheese breads! As we exited the building our bodies soaked in the warm sun and it finally started to dawn on us that we had made it!
We arrived at the building which was in the middle of this huge secured compound. Complete with huge walls, electric razor wire and security guards and entrances. There are 16 huge 25 story sky-rise buildings, 3 swimming pools, a soccer field, tennis& basketball courts, weight-room, game-rooms, playgrounds a waterfall and immaculate grounds, with bamboo and azaleas everywhere! It was amazing how even though we were in this concrete jungle, the real jungle took precedence!
We spent the next several days just settling in, playing games and downing as much amazing fruit and juice as we could! yum yum!!!!!!
That weekend Rob and Christa arrived and we headed out to Juquehy, this amazing coastline with flour like sand and warm tropical waters. The resort was so perfect and we had the most amazing time there. The girls LOVED it and every morning Ryn would wake up and grab her swimsuit and shovel and say ” waaaater…….shuuuvel and heeeeere it commmmmes” (referring to the waves). She also loved the swimming pool there and in fact the first morning there it was raining so Ryn and I spent several hours frolicking in the pool and her letting me know anytime we came near a –BUUUG— or anything that resembled one, it was soo fun! A great Daddy-Daughter moment for us!
The rest of the week that we were there we played tournament games and ultimate on the beach.Enjoyed amazing food( my first ever fillet-Mignon burger..scrumptulescent!) and Rachel joined us on the second to last day, it was so much fun to see her and have her infectious laugh in our midst. We headed back to Sao Paulo just in time to celebrate Ryn’s 2nd birthday! KK had borrowed a very cute princess castle cake mold and we used our Disney princess cookie cutters to make white chocolate princesses to go on the yummy strawberry cake. Ryn LOVED it and every-time she would open a present she would declare with glee, “ooooooooo pareeety”! It was a great party and we had so much fun.
I can’t believe how fun it is to share our little girls with those we love. These little angles that we have been blessed with are so adorable and delicious and it is so neat to see how they make people happy, brighten their day and give so much love! I know it may seem like I am a proud, braggadocio Daddy—–and I am, but I think it goes much deeper than that. It is just like the gospel or some other good thing that you have been blessed with, you want to share it with those you love and allow it to bless their lives as it has yours. And these sweet girls are exactly that!!! So I can’t even wait to come home already and have them touch your lives , there as they have so much for us!