Thanksgiving!!

This year for Thanksgiving we decided to drive down to Sacramento and spend it with my cousins. It was a long drive but well worth it! The kids really enjoyed seeing their cousins and we had a lot of fun grown up time, which doesn't happen often. My friend and former coworker also joined us. It was so much fun I only stopped to take a few pictures.

 Jude getting ready for his first Thanksgiving

 Japanese tourist??? NO just Reiko and I taking a break from cooking.

 This years turkey... looks ok, but tastes so moist and delicious.

 Jen and Brian joined us!! Yay, so happy they came!!

 Kids table, we had 9 kids there.

Reiko and Hailee making their plates.

Family Pictures

It has been about 2 years since the last time we got family pictures taken. When Jude was in the NICU a wonderful photographer came in and took pictures of him. She does this for all the families of kids in the NICU and she does it for FREE! We thought she was so awesome that we asked her to take our family photos. Here are some highlights.

New Baby

OK, I know... It's been 3 years since my last post. What can I say....I've been busy. I suppose now is a great time to start up again. We were so blessed to add a new member to our growing family. On September 7, Jude Robert Becker was born. He weighed in at 6lbs 5oz and was 19 inches. Did I mention he was 5 weeks early. Imagine how big he would have been if he went to 40 weeks! Jude is such a delight and Brock and Giselle are loving having a new brother.

One day old. Jude had some troubles breathing so he was on a CPAP for a while and had to be tube fed. 

 Brock and Giselle loving on their new little brother

 2nd day in the NICU. We are all smiles...but so delirious from lack of sleep.

 Jude has "touch times", where we are allowed to hold him. Every 3 hours, its so different compared to our other children's birth. 

 Jude developed jaundice and had to be under the lights, hence the heart patches for his "tanning googles" He also graduated to a nose tube. 

The CPAP. 

Tubing in the snow!

Jared and I decided to take the kids tubing at Snoqualmie. The hills are kind of steep so I was a little timid at first. Sice the kids sit on our laps I was afraid that Giselle would slip...but after the first run everything was fine. Brock and Giselle loved it!!! We will definately do it again next year, right now I'm getting sick of the snow!

Christmas and New Years

This Christmas was so much fun! The kids are a little older and now know what's going on. We had a few visitors, Jana and Kim (Jared's Parents) and Uncle Jacob! It was a blast. Brock must have thought this was the greatest time ever. We had two Christmas mornings, Jana and Kim couldn't stay for Christmas day so we had it early. It was also Brock's 3rd birthday on the 22nd. I can't believe he is 3. Jacob was able to stay for 2 weeks, we had tons of fun, even went to the craziest, creepy place, a museum of mysterious stuff. The kids are still asking about uncle Jacob. That's saying a lot from a 20 month old and a 3 year old. We celebrated New Years at the Space Needle with some friends. Sounded like a good idea, but it wasn't! Atleast the fireworks were pretty! Here are more than a few pics! Jacob pushing Jared and Brock

Jared the cake maker, this one was for Brock, but he has made my birthday cake every year since we met.
Grandma Jana, (Grandpa Kim was camera shy)
Brock on his 3rd birthday!
Giselle on her first Christmas Morning.
Waiting patiently
Becker boys: Jared, Jacob and Brock
Scary Museum, Jacob and Brock
Brock went to the museum of flight with Grandpa, Jared, and Uncle Jacob
New Years with friends, Ashley and Jen
Jared and I on Christmas morning...someone isn't a morning person, wonder who?
Brock playing in Giselle's room...That "tent", castle, takes up half her room!

Brother and Sister

Brock taking Giselle for a ride in the morning.

And again after lunch! She loves her big brother.

I adore the way that my kids are growing up. Everyday they do something that amazes me. Brock drew a picture for me with orange and purple crayons and it amazed my how well those colors went together! And Giselle, well everyday she learns a new word. For a 17 month old she sure talk a lot! But I especially love the way they are together. At 1 and 2 years old they have already created a bond so great and wonderful.

Halloween

My two favorite men.
My Little Captain Jack

Arghhh....


The kids getting ready to leave.

It has been a while since I have posted anything! This was Giselle's first year trick or treating. Brock, Giselle and Cousin Ayla had sooo much fun. Giselle understood the concept of getting candy when we went to a new house, however she didn't understand that you only get one treat...she always took 2 or 3. Luckily our neighbors are nice! Brock did really well, saying trick or treat at every house. He didn't like that Giselle got more candy and at one of our neighbors house he slapped her hand for taking too many pieces. It was really funny! She didn't care though and kept the candy!