Winter Fun

Here are some recent pictures. We are having so much fun with our little Erika. She is such a joy - and a very happy and content baby. She seems to get bigger every day and keeps outgrowing her clothes. She was 3 month old on 2/17! We can't believe how time is flying. We're trying to soak up every minute though. We are so grateful!

On 1/16, we had Erika's entrustment ceremony, which was beautifully arranged by her birth mother. It was a special event. There are pics from the day below.

Time in the bouncy seat

Hanging out with Mommy's Knitch (knitting group) friends - we are starting her off early

This is one of my favorites - Erika's sweet smile

These are pictures from the entrustment ceremony - this is our birth mother, Autumn.

2 months old on 1/17!

In her new outfit from cousin Jenny

Modeling the hat Mommy made for her (isn't she a heartbreaker??)

Sunday afternoon with Daddy

Erika's valentine - she sent this to all of her little friends

Having fun with Mommy

Smile! (we're still working on getting her to smile for the camera...)

3 months old on 2/17!

New Baby!

It is very embarrassing that it has been over a year since I updated our blog! I guess it takes a new baby to get me back on track! (This will also serve as a Christmas letter to our loyal followers, since I was not able to send out a letter this year - only a picture.)

Yes, it is true - after many years of waiting to become parents, our little girl finally arrived! Erika Grace Drager was born on November 17th, 2009 at 8:44pm. She weighed 8 lbs 4oz and was 19 inches long. We are honored to have been chosen by her birth mother to become her parents. She is the most beautiful and wonderful little person we have have met. Our love grows for her every day - just looking at her makes our hearts ache with joy and love. Below is a picture taken in the hospital room just hours after she was born. The hospital staff gave us our own room, and we were able to provide all of her cares throughout our time there.

Here are some other fun pics from our first 5 weeks as a family of 3.

It was quite an amazing Thanksgiving & Christmas this year - much celebrating! We pray and ache for her birth mother, however, because we celebrate the very baby she grieves.

Well, the baby news is the biggest news for us, but I will list some of the highlights of 2009 as well.

- January - I (Emily) took a girls trip to Portland, OR for my friend Theresa's wedding. We also finished our home study for the adoption and officially entered the "waiting pool."

- March - Chris flew to CA to attend the Shepherd's Conference.

- April - Emily started mentoring process to become a metro trainer for the Metro Alliance for Healthy Families.

- June - Emily's brother Matt married Julie (beautiful wedding!)

- July - Chris' 20 year class reunion

- August - went to St. Louis, MO for the annual Shaklee convention; took annual Seifert family vacation to Bayfield, WI.

- October - Emily went with her knitting group (the Knitch) to a fall knitting getaway at the Paulsen Pondview Lodge (GORGEOUS - and very productive!); met our birth mother on 10/28

- November - our last weekend away for a while 13th-15th (to Two Harbors, MN) - little did we know Erika would be born just days after our return (she was 2 weeks early).

Chris also worked this summer at our church as a pastoral assistant and has had many opportunities to preach this year, as well. So, it was a full and exciting year. Thank you for your love and support for us throughout. We love you all!

Love,

Chris, Emily & Erika

End of Summer Re-Cap

Well, we are mourning the end of summer, as many are. Minnesota summers are far too short and winters far too long. So, July and August flew by - with many happenings.

In July, Chris went to Moscow, Idaho for a conference on teaching in the classical approach. The school year has started and has been extremely busy, but he is enjoying it.
The first weekend in August, Chris had softball tournaments (and did very well!). We even got to see Matt & Ali Cooper and their boys, who were in town during that time.
And Micah was a good spectator.The second weekend in August was spent in New Orleans for the Shaklee conference. We learned a lot at the conference - and saw a lot in the city. It was a bit of culture shock for us - the city lived up to its reputation, shall we say. But, we ate good food, heard great music, and admired beautiful architecture.We spent the third (and most relaxing) weekend on our annual Seifert family Bayfield trip. We all bunked together in a suite - and Micah kept us on our toes. We read, relaxed on the beach, watched the olympics together, walked, shopped, and played with the baby. He keeps getting cuter every day (I bought him the shirt you see him in below.) Oh, and Mom was on the trip too - she is the one taking the picture.

Chris started classes the last week in August. We spent Labor Day on the beach with the Dragers. AND THEN...Summer was over.

The most exciting news for us, though, is that Chris had his routine CT scans and check-up and was found to still be in remission! We are so grateful.

Family Time and 4th of July

We had a great time with Chris' brother Rob, his wife Kathy, and their 2 kids (Isa and Peter) when they were here the last week in June. The whole Drager family was together, and we crammed a lot into 4 days! Some highlights: girls had dinner and movie night and guys went to a Twins game; spent a fun day in Stillwater - we even took the trolley ride! I don't have any pics, but maybe Rob will email me some??? (hint, hint, Rob).

We had a pool party and saw fireworks after the St. Paul Saints game on the 4th of July. Here's a pic from the game.

The baby's getting big - and cuter every day. Abby brought him to the pool party.

Chris is working at Manor Concrete again this summer and gearing up to start teaching at the end of August. He's going to Idaho next week for a conference on the Classical teaching method. We're also very busy with preparations for our open house in our new church building (check out our new church website: http://www.twincitiesbiblechurch.com). Chris is on the church softball team again this year, so it's been fun to go to the games on Sunday nights.

Believe it or not, I have actually planted some pretty nice looking gardens in my front yard. I even remember to water them and manage to weed about once a week. I never thought it could happen to me...

New Baby!

Baby Micah James Lee was born to Jake & Abby on 4/27/08. Abby was a champ - and Auntie Emmy was in the labor room! He was 7 lbs 11 oz and 22 inches long. He's so adorable and perfect. (Isn't he cute???) They are doing great, and we can't seem to get enough of the baby!

More news: Chris signed a contract for 2008/09 school year as a high school social studies teacher at Liberty Classical Academy in Maplewood. He will also be the soccer coach there. We are thrilled and very grateful for this job (social studies teacher positions are pretty hard to come by in this area).

Springtime!

I thought I'd give a quick update, so here is some random info. We've had lovely weather the last couple of days - almost 70 degrees! Chris is finishing his student teaching and has been offered a permanent social studies teaching position for the fall - yeah! We have hired a plumber to help us with our "root infestation" problem - thankfully, we did not have a BACK-UP to inform us of our issue. Abby (my sister) will be having her baby very soon (she is due 4/30), so we are looking forward to that. We had our 3 little nieces overnight last weekend - we are not used to getting up early on Saturdays and checking every hour if anyone has to go potty! Last Sunday, we went to a bluegrass concert in Red Wing, organized by Dad. We are planning a weekend away to Duluth in May. Ok, that's all I can think of for now.

Caribbean Cruise

I am late in posting this, but we cruised the Eastern Caribbean from February 3-10. It was an incentive trip through Shaklee, our home-based business, and we didn't pay a dime for it! It was quite luxurious. We even had a balcony room! And the food was unbelievable. Our ports of call were St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Princess Cays (Bahamas). We shopped, snorkled and hung out on the beach. Now, we are more anxious than ever for spring to arrive!

Chris has been QUITE busy... I told him that I have to make an appointment with him in order get to see him! He is student teaching until June and is very busy with ministry at church. Nothing much is new with me.