Portraits!

It was time for our yearly pictures of the kids - and we thought that this year we should take a pictures of the complete family! This is the first time in a while that we were not in the adoption process, waiting for our little ones to come home. Boy, has life been shaken up around here. It is hard to imagine that just 2 years ago we were just a family of three - all of us very content in our ways, mostly an adult household because Nathan was to begin his high school years. And before we knew it, we have been blessed with 2 additions to the family. God hasn't been tapping me on my shoulder (at least not yet), and is allowing us our time to settle in with all the ups and downs since we adopted Molly. I feel that our family is complete in God's eyes - and I hope that I can live up to His gifts.

Sorry for the sideways pictures - meant to turn them before posting...

A visit from Kaylei!

We were very blessed to have the Sandersons come visit us this weekend. We had lunch, then had a great time at the Franklin Park Conservatory, where amongst the greenhouses they had an exhibit of far away places made from different plant materials. We were pleased to see the Great Wall of China and a temple while there. There was also an exhibit of trains and fairy tale lands that the kids enjoyed, even Nathan. We loved posing with the plants, although we found that it is very difficult to get all the children to look and smile at once!! We so enjoy being able to spend time in fellowship with Darrin, Becky and Kaylei. We can't wait to see how the kids feel about each other as they grow up. I will say, Molly and Kaylei got along very well. It usually takes Faith a little while to warm up to people, but Molly is very outgoing and doesn't meet a stranger. We are still in awe every day at how she loves to talk to people. You wouldn't believe that she had only been here a few months.

Darrin and Becky with Kaylei

Faith likes to pull off the labels first. Takes a while to unwrap presents this way!

The girls playing in the kitchen before we left.

Molly and Faith, 2 wonderful sisters!

Molly, Kaylei and Faith, such beautiful gifts from God!

A pretty picture of Molly in her Santa hat


The Great Wall of China


The whole gang - Kaylei, Faith, Nathan and Molly

Yes, this was my idea - thought it would make a cute shot!
(and no, no one fell in or got wet!)

Faith using her 'noculars to see the trains

November Blessings!

How cute are these hats! Thanks Aunt KuKu!

We are so far behind in our posts I decided to post pictures with a little explanation following. We'll catch up in December.

Family dinner for Mike's parents 50th wedding anniversary! It is amazing to be married for 50 years! Mike and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this year and it is still hard to image being married for 30 more years to reach 50! (It already seems like we've know each other forever!) What a nice example to have in our family of the longevity of a relationship.

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Cheryl (aka Aunt KuKu) and Jack

Nathan and Jenny

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

We don't have any pictures of our Thanksgiving (can you believe we forgot to take pictures of Molly's first turkey day!) We spent Thanksgiving day at home, just the five of us. We had a traditional turkey dinner, which Molly said was good. She was a little bit taken aback by the turkey, but not squemish about eating it. We do have shots of the girls at the Holiday lights parade. Here in Gahanna, the first Saturday after Thanksgiving is the parade. It is a lighted parade held just after dark. Nathan has marched in the parade every year it has been held, first with Cub Scouts, now with the band. It was a chilly evening (in the 30s) but Molly was having quite a hard time in the cold. You notice Faith isn't too cold - she can still take her glove off to comfort herself with those fingers!

These last pictures are of the girls eating some Lo Mein. Molly is great with her chopsticks, but I haven't quite figured out how she makes them work the way that she holds them. Faith desperately wants to figure out how to use them, but just can't master 2. She tries first with one, then tries with her finger chopsticks! They had a great time laughing at each other.

Molly's great with these, as you can see!

Faith has given up on the pair, just trying to pick up noodles using one.

Faith's finger chopsticks

First Digital Scrapbook Page

OK, here is the very first attempt at digital scrapping. Lots of things to improve on, but figured I would show my first attempt. I am not very good about getting out all my stuff to scrapbook, and thought this would be a way to scrapbook faster. Well, I sure have to get alot better at it to be faster!

Hope you enjoy it!

Just a little kiss!

We had a relaxing Saturday at home and I think the girls took the term relaxing quite literally. Molly has been dying to wear her pink fluffy skirt from Disneyland, so we dressed her for the day in it. She was sooo happy! She twirled and twirled to puff out the skirt. Faith (our shoeless darling) decided that if we were relaxing, she wasn't getting dressed. So she had on pajamas all day! And yes, that's a night gown over a pajama set with sandals. Can't get any more relaxed than that! These two girls are so precious!




Faith is putting post-it "kisses" all over Molly!


Don't you love our outfits?!?


Just had to include this one. That expression is pure "Molly".

Pumpkin Carving

Halloween was so exciting this year, being Molly's first time to Trick or Treat and Faith really started to understand what trick or treat was all about. Prior to the big day, we all participated in carving the pumpkins for Halloween night. Mike's artistic side came out in his Jack Skellington pumpkin face. Nathan also did a nice job with his freehand pumpkin. Molly loved cleaning out the "guts" and the seeds, but Faith was not so sure about it. She tried with a spoon, but couldn't get much on each pass. We roasted the pumpkin seeds, but both girls were not much interested. The loved seeing the lit pumpkins when they trick or treated on Halloween. Our funny moment of Halloween: Molly was walking with Mike and Faith and stopped dead in her tracks, pointing to a large maple tree, and asking Mike if it was the "Trick or Trees". It was all he could do to keep from bursting into laughter. I guess our holidays are a little strange to her!

Boo at the Zoo

Faith as Minnie Mouse and Molly as Cinderella

Molly has a friend from Wuzhou, JoJo, that lives nearby in Westerville. Our family is so very fortunate to have met his family and to have the chance to get the kids together. They were friends in the orphanage and even shared a bed (although we have mixed messages on this). Lisa, JoJo's mom, and I can't believe how well the kids get along. It is a miracle that they live so close to one another and will be able to share their thoughts and memories. We met at Boo at the Zoo and spent most of the afternoon and early evening observing the animals and trick or treating. JoJo and Molly loved it! Faith and Sam, JoJo's brother had a good time too! When Lisa and I compare notes, we are amazed at some of the similarities we are finding. Like both hate loud noises and neither of them want to talk about Wuzhou. But mostly, we are just amazed at how well they seem to be adjusting.

Tina, Faith, Molly, Sam, Lisa and JoJo

Molly isn't too sure about these goats!

The kids all together

Faith just can't make it!

Molly takes a break

(I'm lost for words)

Two wonderful friends