Some new photos

AV loves police cars- especially the sirens- and wants to be a police officer when he grows up. One of our friends blessed us by coming by to show him the car and yes- even run the sirens! Thanks Rick!

This blob of humans is actually AV , Lena and our friend Christy! The kids loved her and felt free to just "jump right in"...or shall I say "jump right ON"

One of the few shots w egot of Thanksgiving dinner. We had my Eileen's parents and nephew Tim and her brother Chuck's family over. Wish we had photos of the great football game- but I don't...sorry.

My sister in law Ellen got us tickets to the "Wonderland Express" at Chicago Botanical Gardens. Outside they had these huge light balls and Christmas trees. Here is Lena in front of one of the big balls.

KC and Eileen by the lights.

All of us- the new Berglund family- upstairs in the "loft" wacthing the boys play "monkey Ball"

Taylor and Lena at home (and DJ- her dog)

Mike and AV doing dishes. AV is a hard worker.

Taylor, Lena and KC at the exit of Wonderland Express. It was cold but pretty.

KC and AV play basketball out back. Again fun but COLD!

LIVE from Kansas City

Taylor here for the second update of the Kansas City trips to visit AV (Arlvelt) and Lena. I am updating this now from our hotel room... Mom may update a bit later with more details This weekend, we have gone to Science City (a kids museum) and Kaleidoscope (an interactive art museum... I myself did not get the chance to go to this).

Photos and more photos!

A.V. orders our food at Fritz's Station restaurant

Lena jumps into Mike's arms! Over and over again!




















Taylor takes a well needed rest after diving for coins in the pool!




















Kids with attitude sport it for the camera! (and boy these three can sure come up with the poses and corresponding facial expressions!)





















"Yo- ya want some cookies?!" Two seconds later she was laughing- this is all for the camera!

Great Weekend- Part One

What a great weekend! We were ready and excited to come down to Kansas City to meet our new (soon to be) son and daughter. The whole concept of coming down to a different town to "meet" your kids is very surreal in itself- but off we were to do just that!

Our first meeting took place in a sitting area outside of a restaurant at the mall. We were greeted by the case worker and adoption recruiter and introduced to Arlvelt (pronounced Ar-velt) and Lena. We had bought some Wisconsin (badger) gifts for them. A t-shirt for Lena (we were told she is a "tomboy") and a hat for Arlvelt. Lena opened hers right away and liked it and took her coat off so she could put it on. Arlvelt just let his bag sit on the table and he was sort of "reserved". I said "do you wantto open it or are you going to wait?" He said "I'll wait"...but then brought the bag closer as if to start to open it- maybe.

He said "i think it's a hat- feels like a hat", To which, Mike replied- yeah, but what color does it feel like? Arlvelt sort of laughed and that was last bit of "being reserved" that we saw from him! haha!

We then ate at this cool restaurant where youorder your food forma phone at the table and then a train brings you your food and lowers it down to your table. Pretty neat- and loud- which was good becasue WE were very loud. We all got along great from the word go. We also got to meet their 17 year old half sister and really enjoyed our time with her too.

There is so much we could write- but we'll just use photos to share most of the events. We know and havebeentold that there is usually a "honeymoon" period with foster/pred-adoptive kids...and I'm sure to some degree that's what we are experiencing- but hey, our marriage had a honeymoon period too and we are still going strong with that!

Enjoy the fun, crazy and sweet sides of ALL our children! Oh , by the way, the names to call them by are Lena and A.V.

Lena just turned 7 and A.V. is 8 (turning 9 in May)

(if there are no photos below it means we couldn't post them from our laptop- check back tomorrow s I'm sure they'll be up by then)