Happy Birthday Grandpa

Helping Mom make cookies

Today is my father's Birthday - Happy 68th Gramps! Here is a conversation Kim had with Josiah about this very fact.
"Why is today Grandpa's Birthday?" Josiah asked.
"Because this is the day Grandpa was born." Kim said.
"This is the day he was born?" Josiah asked.
"Yes" Kim said.
"Was he born in a stable?" asked Josiah.
Much laughter followed.... just a little Christmas/Birthday confusion.

Here we are with Grandpa cutting down our Christmas Tree

Olivia decided to cut her bangs off with a scissors recently

Where has all the time gone

I can't believe it's been 6 months since my last post... WOW! But I referred to my blog in my Christmas letter, so I thought I'd better get things up to date. So much has happened in that time so I guess I'll just start with today. We sent Olivia in to wake up Josiah for school. Joshia attends preschool Tuesday and Thursday and Olivia M-W-F. So Olivia comes out crying because Josiah wacked her. Oh so typical in the Basten household. So I dropped Josiah off before I went to work, and as we typically do, we race from the van to the front door of school and Josiah won - again! So Josiah took off his coat and gloves and one of the little boys from his class came out and said "hi" to Josiah, and grabbed his hand, and the two of them walked back into class holding hands as I walked away saying "I love you". He has come so far.

Both of them have adjusted to the point where we can leave them with babysitters or they can go by Grandma and Grandpas by themselves and there's no trauma in our separation. Gabriella has progressed to where she can be comforted by anyone in the family rather than being Kim's little shadow. It's been an amazing year. Last year at this time, we were just coming to terms with not being able to bring them home in 2007. I can't even remember what our quiet house used to be like :). But we wouldn't want it any other way. Just so very thankful to be where we are... Til next time.

Enjoy this picture of Josiah and Gabriella dressed up for Halloween