Dear Niblets,

It’s been a week since Russell left for his forever home and two weeks since Robbie went to hers. We hope they are doing well with their forever families and are learning all about the holidays. We’re sure both are on Santa’s good list and will enjoy treats and lots of extra love on the big day next week.

In the meantime, Illy, Viola and Winter, you just might get more than a million kisses on Christmas day because how could you not? Kittens on Christmas day? What could be better than that? Not much we can think of.

Winter and Illy enjoy Dad’s lap – 2013 © Colehaus Cats

Illy, you purr now almost every time you crawl into our laps and you crawl into our laps every time we spend with you. Could you teach your sister Viola how to purr like that? We’ve yet to get a purr out of her, not that we don’t believe her time is coming or anything. More of your gorgeous Tortoise shell coloring is coming out, pretty Illy, as well as a shiny, sleek coat coming through your soft kitten fur. And with your mama’s amber eyes, you are going to be so beautiful when you are older! We so hope we’ll get to see you in an update months and years down the road.

Pretty Illy, December 20, 2013 – 2013 © Colehaus Cats

And, sweet Illy, we love your budding talkiness. Good morning to you, you seem to be saying when we first open the door to your room. Good afternoon, good evening and good night seem also to be in your vocabulary and always in a tiny, sweet voice. It’s hard not to hold you all the time and give you kisses. You are simply adorable!

Viola loves jeans – 2013 © Colehaus Cats

Viola, your lack of purring is the only thing you’re short of. You’ve picked up where Robbie left off with greeting us every morning, except you do it with a bit more pizazz by way of ‘Velcro-ing’ onto our pants legs. We’ll work on that and continue to be grateful that you don’t weigh twenty pounds when you do it. And speaking of weight, you’re not too far behind your sister now. We’re proud of you for working on that. And cute? As cute as a bug! Or a cheetah kitten, one who’s learning to run and jump just as fast. Must be those gorgeous long legs you’ve started to sprout! We have little doubt you’re going to be long and lean into your teenage years and beyond.

Winter, December 20, 2013 – 2013 © Colehaus Cats

Winter, sweet, quiet Winter. You’ve been with us for two weeks and we’re starting to see your personality shine. You absolutely love mama Erinn Zuzu who loves you back every bit as much as one of her own. You are playful and independent and have proven that you don’t need anyone else to have a good time yet, you adore romping with your Niblet sisters Illy and Viola as much as curling up with them to nap in a pile. And nap you do! You are the nappiest kitten we’ve seen. But then again, as pretty as you are, with your clear blue eyes and creamy, soft fur, your marble toes and slim, stripy tail, we figure it’s all about the beauty sleep because, little girl, you are beautiful! While you may not be as adventurous as Illy or Viola, your own quiet and calm personality is the perfect compliment to those rambunctious girls.

A Winter’s nap – 2013 © Colehaus Cats

Our time with you is running short, our million kisses are winding down. If we could stop time, we would right this minute. We can hardly believe that soon, this precious Niblet time will have passed.

Seemingly like a whirlwind you all came into our lives and left having changed us forever. We are better because of you and will never, ever forget any of you or our time together; through all the weeks of your mama’s growing belly and finally, your births, through all the nursing, the weighing and the cleaning, the moving and adjusting, all the playing, all the storytime readings, the times we just sat and watched while you all slept and marveled at how ones so small could affect us so profoundly… we have been changed and the very thought of not hearing or seeing or touching or kissing you every moment as we have for the past eleven weeks is almost too much for our hearts to bear. But we will carry on without you when you find your homes and hope for you the very best of kisses and constant love will come from your forever families forever until we meet again many, many, many years from now.

Thank you for coming into our lives, Niblets, for teaching us, for having patience with us, for wanting to spend time with us each and every day and for bringing such joy to our hearts. We will always love you, now and forever.

Your foster Mom and Dad