Another year has gone by! I remember back when I was a kid and a year just seemed to drag on forever. Now, I feel like I turn around and it’s some crazy futuristic year like 2012 right around the corner. The year 2000 still doesn’t seem like that long ago to me but a lot has changed in our lives since then.
2011 was a big year for our family. At the beginning of the year, I decided that we as a family needed to be more intentional with our lives. Instead of drifting along doing our little thing, I wanted to purposefully get out there and do stuff, have experiences, and make memories as a family.
We started off the year with some fun trips. We went camping out in Tyler State Park in March, and had a great time even with little Leah crawling in the dirt and eating ants every time our back was turned. We followed that up with a trip to Austin to see that fun city, and then Dave and I took a tropical cruise (Western Caribbean) to celebrate our 10 year anniversary while my mom came out to stay with the kids.
Not long after we got back from our cruise, our lives were changed when I answered a phone call from my mom one afternoon. She called to tell us that due to sad life choices, my brother and his wife were going to be losing custody of their children. She asked us if we would consider adopting them into our family. Dave and I have often talked about adoption in the past, but with Leah still being so young that would give us three children of age 2 and under. It was a big decision but after a lot of prayerful consideration, Dave and I both felt that it was the right choice for everyone involved.
We were able to quickly obtain custody, and on August 1st our family grew with the addition of Amari and Joseph. Having them join our family has been a wonderful blessing. I won’t lie, there are days that I want to pull my hair out as three toddlers and one drama mama push me to my limits, but it has been enlightening to see how this had made Dave and I grow as parents and closer as a couple. Ellie has blossomed as Mom part 2, a role she loves to fill, Amari and Joseph have adjusted very well and are sweet and happy children, and little Leah just scoots along with the rest of the crowd.
Both our extended families have been amazingly supportive, and we have been blessed with many friends and neighbors who have made the transition easier for us with their service and love.
We are looking forward to completing the adoption process early next year and celebrating that occasion with our family in Utah.
Now that our family is larger, we are learning to keep things simple and in a routine to keep everything running smoothly. We had a quiet and relaxed Christmas together, and plan on celebrating New Year’s Eve by going to bed early.
Dave this year has been busy with his job, Scouting with the church troop, and his family. He was excited to put blackberries in our failed garden this fall and hopes to be able to harvest something besides weeds and snails someday. He took a blow to his manhood when we had to sell the little green Elantra and purchase a minivan, because “there’s no way to look cool in a minivan.” He proves this by singing along loudly with the children’s songs as we run errands together as a family. Despite the dent in his manliness, he earned a “real man” card by stepping up as an awesome dad who gets in there and helps out with the kids, and is a support to me by sharing in the extra work around the house and the extra work that came with our expanded family.
In addition to what I do with the family, I have been having a great time this year expanding my photography skills. I took a photography class with my friend Sandra, and due to a sad accident while out in Utah, I “had” to buy myself a really nice new camera that has been tons of fun to use. Although nature photography has always been my thing, I have been doing lots of child and family photography for friends and neighbors to sharpen my skills and really enjoy doing it as a hobby. Along with that, I keep busy with my calling in the Relief Society of our church ward. I am amazed at the love and service the women of our church give each other and the community, and I am so proud to be part of an organization that does so much to strengthen women, families, and communities.
Ellie this year has been busy losing her teeth! I think she has lost 5 now. She loves to let them sit there and won’t let Dave or I help get them out, so you never know where or when those suckers are going to fall out. She lost one yesterday when she was at the aquarium with her friend. She is in first grade at school and has a teacher who pushes and challenges her academically, which is awesome. She is a smart girl and a kind girl and we are really proud of her and the person she is becoming. She is also such a big help around the house, especially with the kids. Amari just idolizes her and copies almost everything she does and says.
Speaking of Amari- she just turned three a few months ago. She finished potty training a few months ago which was a huge blessing since we still have two other kids in diapers. She is a bright girl who loves to read books, play with Ellie, and snuggle with mom and dad when she gets the chance. She loves to dance when I put music on, and is my big shopping helper.
Joseph, the next in line, is one active boy! His current obsession is trains, and he loves all things “choo choo.” He is learning how to talk and use his words. He loves to tease his sisters, but finds that they don’t always appreciate his efforts to play.
Leah, our squishy, is our strong-willed child. I tell Dave that she takes after his side, and he insists that she takes after mine. With genes like ours, the poor thing didn’t have a chance. She knows what she wants or doesn’t want, and is quite stubborn about it. She likes to sing at home and in the car, play at the park, and still eats crayons whenever she gets the chance. Despite the stubbornness and crayon destruction, she is a happy kid and keeps us smiling with her big personality.
2011 has been a big year for our family. We look forward to 2012 and hope it will bring to us and to you new experiences, opportunities, and many happy moments.
Love, the Zincke Family
