2 years ago today we boarded a plane to CHINA!!!



For her! 

Just after church Christmas morning~

Pink * Sparkly * Bear *



Faith opening her present from Santa

at 6:30 in the morning :)

Christmas Eve

It's our family tradition to have a nice dinner then open one present from my mom who always sends new pj's and socks.  Here is Faith with her new socks on :)

That Feeling~

I love this kid! I know that feeling, it is why we adopted. God Bless you David!

Angry Frog

Our Christmas tree is a hodge podge of ornaments collected over a lifetime.  My oldest ornament is from 1986 and was a gift from a friend.  We have McDonalds toys, broken 1st Christmas ornaments that can't be replaced, etc.   It is a cheap, old fashioned Perfect tree.  My kids love it!  Every year I threaten to redo the tree and get grief from every person.  This year Faith was admiring the many different types of ornaments and then noticed the "angry frog" ornament.  I just loooove her so much.  We just laughed and explained to her the story behind  him.  I am sure you know it well.  Here is a picture of the Angry Frog on our tree.

And the next day we all sat and watched the movie together, Faith was so excited when she saw him on the tv she exclaimed, " YIPPY!"  You will never look at him the same will you :)

Santa - I know HIM!

Faith is really enjoying the Christmas season this year.  She was so excited to see Santa and tell him what she wanted.  She wants a pink sparkly teddy bear.  After she sat on his lap and told him, she had this terribly sad face while walking away with just a candy cane.  She thought she was going to get her present right then :(  Ahh those innocent moments.  She is just so excited about everything.  She picked out our tree this year, put the star on top of the tree, and has gone around our home hugging every decoration that is big enough to hug.  She had an entire conversation with a Santa I have in our kitchen telling him how much she loves him. 

Meet Kitchen Santa, Faith's new best friend :)

Adoption...I wish more people got it :)

The other day I was at the mall shopping with my older daughter Kylee. We ran into a Chinese business owner who was an artist. I want a painting of our family and began a conversation with him. Our adoption came up, and he was immediately judgemental. Words like " You white people think you can just save the world." He even asked my daughter, " You really treat her like she is your sister?" Kylee was shocked by his agressive and nasty behavior. This was the first negative encounter I have had with someone from China. Usually we strike up a conversation and talk about the country, the history, etc. He was so angry. He also said, " Maybe I will just adopt a white baby." I couldn't believe his anger. He just doesn't get it. So for the stranger at the mall, I hope someone emails you this link, maybe your heart will soften, and you will understand the joy. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

So grateful almost 3 years ago I followed God's prompting for our family!  She has been such a Joy in our lives!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Play date with Li Ling

Lauris and I met in China, almost two years ago.  Lauris's little girl Li Ling was from inner Mongolia, and I thought Lauris was so brave to come alone.  Her husband couldn't get off enough time.  Her daughter is blind and she has already had 4 surgeries to help her see.  She is so darling!  It was great to catch up and let the girls play. 

1st school picture...where did my baby go?

Here is Faith's official school picture.  I am so proud of her.  A few days before them she practiced smiling in the mirror.  She likes to do silly faces and usually closes her eyes when she smiles.  I just love this picture!  She also gave herself a haircut 3 days before the pictures, so she now has bangs like mom and big sister.  She actually did a pretty good job.  Dallin found lots of hair hidden behind one of the chairs in our family room.  One thing about Faith is she never lies.  She will come right out and tell you what she did, when she did it, and why.  So she showed  us where she found the scissors, and where she "hid" her hair.  She looks older to me with bangs.  I am just loving this stage with her.  She is doing so well in school and is a pure joy in our home. 

Purple Princess~

~Weekending~

We had a wonderful weekend as a family. We went to the pumpkin patch.  We also got some yummy fresh corn on the cob. Then Spencer and Kylee went the the University of Washington stadium and played several games of flag football with a church young adult group. It's a yearly event that draws people from all over the state. They had a great time. We also got to watch Dallin play soccer...I forgot my camera but he did great.   Kylee I also went to watch Sergei play soccer for his UW team. That is always fun. Love our fall weather here in the PNW.

my little sweetie

five little pumpkins

pure joy at seeing gourds for the first time

the big boys

my girly girls

loved this tractor

searching for the perfect pumpkin

still searching

and still searching...

this is hard work...

loved the view of Mt. Rainier

We almost have all our pumpkins...just waiting on Dallin

Faith loves to pull the cart

Dad and the big kids

Faith and  her kettle corn

Taking a break

Dallin has found his pumpkin, now he is scraping off the prickly parts of the handle so he can pick it up.

mud and boots...a perfect combination

My favorite picture of the day

Sweet Corn...Sweet Dallin

Love this boy, he is such a good big brother

Super Faith Stance...not sure what was going on here?

Back at the house, all business cutting into her pumpkin

Now they are both "all business"

Doing the dirty work

Exiting!!!

More dirty work

I wonder how it tasted?

All dressed up and ready to play flag football.  Doing it big for Tucker! 

We miss him.  It's been 6 weeks.

Watching Sergei playing soccer for UW

He is so fun to watch.  I was usually talking an missed all his good plays.  We love our PNW fall weather, it's beautiful here.

Here is a picture of the moon at Sergei's game.  A perfect Halloween MOON!