Dana's update!

Way to go, Dana!!!! We are so proud of you! You made it!!! Dana is now a member of the SRT program. He made it through a grewling 36 hour continual training/tryout period and successfully completed all the requirements. However, even if you do complete all the requirements, the Team still has to invite you aboard... and they did just that with Dana. This sort of test really shows what a person is made of and I knew Dana had it in him. I am so proud of you!!!! Keep doing your best work and you will always be achieving what you want!!!

Our Bright Beautiful Amelia!

How she makes the day seem so bright when otherwise it would be dull! Amelia can ignite sparks in me that otherwise would lay dormant. She can press buttons in me I didn't even know I had... all the while gleaming with her beautiful spirit... so full of love that I couldn't stay mad for long. She is endlessly curious and moving, always finding something else to get into and learn about. Lately she has been doing this silly exploration with her tongue... she is licking everything! When we go in for kisses we are met by a big puppy like swipe with her tongue across our cheek. Before we know it we are yelling..."oooo, gross!" Which only produces sincere belly giggles from our sweet Amelia. Then we can't help but laugh, which then reinforces that licking us is something fun and cute to do. So I again laugh at the things I hear myself say when I have a two year old in the house "PLEASE! Don't lick the rocking chair!". She is a crackup!

Dana is always up to something!

Next week, Dana will be trying out for SRT at work. It stands for Special Response Team. Anyway, it is just similar to SWAT (I'm not sure what SWAT stands for but most people have heard of that). Dana has been training quite hard for this tryout... I have no doubt he'd be a huge asset to that program. He is very skilled at what he does. The tryout is a 36 hour continuous test, where they make you stay up the whole time doing different tasks, physical and mental. If he makes it through this session, then he'll be on SRT as a probationary member for about a year, then he'll be able and expected to respond to all SRT calls. Here is a picture of Dana after he competed in a 10 mile mountain terrain run... he did a great job!!! Be thinking of him as this next week rolls around!!! :)

Baby's first photo!

This photo was taken on July 18th...our due date for our baby is March 18th. This was taken about 1 week after we found out the good news. I am going to fight the stigma of "the 2nd baby doesn't get as many photos taken as the first born"... Each little baby is beautiful and deserves the same celebrations... so this is the first belly photo to share of our little one growing! Many of you may ask... but we are not going to find out the sex of the baby until birth.

Life is always an adventure...and a journey!

Getting to share our life with friends and family is one of our greatest joys... please feel free to come and check out what is going on in our life every now and again. Also, don't forget to let us know what is going on in your life!
Here is the most recent photo of our McNeil clan on our latest adventure to South Dakota to spend some time in the Black Hills with everyone. We had a marvelous time! While we were there we learned of a special secret, one that we haven't shared yet.... we are expecting another McNeil. Amelia will be a big sister!!! Our newest addition is due to arrive in March 2007! What a wonderful secret surprise....