Closing down this Blog!

There's not enough time to keep 2 blogs going so we are closing down this one! Plus we will soon be adding a prince to the family so the name no longer works for our crew!

Blessings to you!

Washing Feet!

The girls love it when I wash their feet in the sink. You'd think I was giving the a massage and a pedicure at the same time. All I do is run the warm water and apply a small amount of soap and they feel like a princess!

Today Sarah called me- "Mom, my feet are really dirty."

Mom- "Okay honey are you all done playing outside?"

Sarah- "No"

Mom- okay...?

Silence... pause...

Sarah- Mom, my feet are dirty!

Mom- Are you all done playing outside?

Sarah - No, but my feet are dirty!

Mom- I'm not washing your feet until you are all done playing outside!

Sarah - Oh... okay... (giggle, giggle)

I think she was trying to get more than one foot washing in a day!

Now that you see my girls feet in the kitchen sink I'm guessin you may not want to come over for dinner tonight?

Marmaduke

The girls and I went to this movie. It was a cute movie! The best part if all was hearing Sarah next to me laughing!

This is her first movie that she sat through with out wanting to leave! This is the first time she sat and watched intently. This is the first time that she actually laughed at the appropriate times!

It was music to my heart to hear my girls sitting next to me giggling!

In the past she just hasn't been able to sit still, she hasn't understood the story and was unable to follow the plot.

This time it was different and it felt so good! I laughed because she laughed!

So we are giving Marmaduke a 4 star rating!

Going to school in the early 1900's!

Sarah and I went on a field trip with our homeschool co-op group. The kids dressed up like pioneers children and attended a typical day of school for children in the early 1900's! It was really fun and I could tell Sarah really enjoyed herself!

Our friend Karen had an outfit for Sarah to wear. At first she felt silly but then everyone was wearing the pioneer clothes, so she fit right in!

This is the girls cloak room. The boys had their own room.

I love the politeness and respect that was expected from the children. However life was unfair and the punishments were very severe. Our school marm did not need to punish any of the students today- thank goodness! They all behaved very well and got "A's" in everything!

We spent 2 hours learning about what school was like long ago. It was fascinating!

Then we had lunch and shopped in their old fashioned store. I can hardly wait until Emma and Ellie can come next year! Of course I had to buy them a sun bonnet so they have one! I 'll have to get working on getting some of those adorable outfits for all the girls!

We played games in the afternoon! Even I enjoyed them immensely! They were similar to some of the games the children play now.

What a great day it was!! Have I told you how much I love homeschooling! Of course our school time is getting less and less as we prepare to head to China for the girls!!

Saying Sorry!

The girls got this book from my sister for Christmas. They love it, it is an adorable story about Martha who has a real hard time saying she is sorry. Finally Martha realizes that saying your sorry isn't such a bad thing after all. The girls always ask to have it read to them and now both of them can read it! I think Anna has it memorized! It is absolutely adorable when she "reads" it to us! It's my cupful of cuteness for the day! This book has been VERY helpful to us and has helped our two girls to learn to say sorry!

Click Clack Moo

We went to the play "Click, Clack Moo, Cows that Type"! It was adorable! The girls love going to the plays! They are very simple and only one hour long! They especially like the fact that the actors and actresses are kids like them! My sister and I take the girls and then we have lunch afterwards! It is so enjoyable!

Anna was there but she doesn't get into taking pictures with people dressed in costumes!

We feel very blessed to have such a nice little theatre so close to home!

Simple Pleasures!

This whole vacation has been filled with simple pleasures! Like taking a walk to the beach with the girls!

Beautiful poses for the camera! I think she must be a ballerina!

Petting puppy dogs!

Then getting a big kiss on the lips from one of them- yuck!

Blowing bubbles!

The old fashioned way and the new way!

The best part of all is chasing them and trying to POP them!

Who knew two little girls would bring us such joy!

Playgroup!

We had playgroup at our house last week! It is always so fun to get together with this group! Now that many of the children are a little older and in school we don 't get to see each other as much as we used too. The summer will be nice! We will see each other every Friday at a park or at a pool! I am so excited to bring Emma and Ellie this summer! I have already signed them up for a park playgroup with Sarah and a two other friends. Of course I'm not quite sure how it will work out, I will probably have to sit at the park while they play.

Both of our girls has been slow to get in the mix but they are not having any problem now- it just takes time to feel comfortable.

China adoption has slowed down with the long wait but we should have a new little one joining us in about 8 months!! This family has already waited 4 years for their daughter. That is a long, long wait but we all know how worth it- it is!! I can hardly wait for Nancy and her family to get their referral!

This August or September our friends will be bringing home their 13 year old daughter! Our playgroup is continuing to grow! I just love seeing these treasures come home to their forever families! Such Blessings!

Bits of Progress and an Award!

No we are not adopting Ronald McDonald! I hear he already has a family!

Yippee! I got an award on this blog! Thank you to Gayle from A Hope and A Future! I will have to figure it out and get the award over here and then pass it on- but there is only one person worse than Gayle at the computer and it is me! It may take me a couple days!

I just have to share with you that we are getting some great questions from Sarah lately. Instead of "Do pigs talk" he is asking about the seasons, if it is am or pm, can we drink the rain and does Jesus love me? It is so awesome to actually have conversations with her! I am beginning to believe what I say does not go in one ear and out the other! I still have to repeat many things and concepts but she is connecting the dots and it thrills me!!

She is recalling many things that have happened over the last 16 months that she has been home. She is remembering details and she is understanding "Why" much much more! It has been a journey much like our birth children but it has been condensed over 16 months. It is so interesting to see things happen "in order" as she is learning, becoming more comfortable and growing in every way!

Sarah is like a typical 1st grader. writing little notes and reading every sign she sees! Her favorite toys are her American girls! They are perfect for her and she treats them very well. They get lots of love! Sarah is technically supposed to be a young 4th grader put we consider her an older 3rd grader.

She is telling us more and more about China. Not shocking things just things about everyday life. The weather, when they played outside, the clothes, the food, etc. I am feeling like I am hearing the true story now instead of confused thoughts.

Today is Thankful Thursday and I am so thankful for these children that are in our family and those that will be joining us!

Children's museum!

It was Sarah's 10th birthday! We went to the children's museum with my sister and had a wonderful time!

They just happened to have a China exhibit there! The girls loved it! Anna seems to have a natural knack for the Chinese characters!

Here is Sarah in a Chinese classroom!

Onto the waterworks area!

Sarah has been to the Children's Museum 3 times. Each time she likes it better and is more interested in the different activities that are offered!

Yes! We already know what Anna will be doing when she grows up! She will be a cashier at a grocery store! She knew exactly what to do and did miss a beat! All items where scanned! It is especially funny because I order my groceries online! Sometimes she goes with Dad to the grocery store for a few items! That must be how she knows what to do!

It was a busy day at the grocery store! Lot's of shoppers!

It was so funny to watch because they all played together BUT they played separately!

Anna did not care much for the new cashier! She gave her "the look".

Go ahead guess where we ate lunch?

I have n ot introduced dinosaurs to our little homeschool. We need to stay in the present and be concrete! However this exhibit has opened the door to dinosaurs! We will be reading science books on it this week! What a great opportunity! Sarah was interested, Anna was scared to death!

My little birthday turtle!

They have an ant hill- it is so cool! The kids play in the tunnels!

This may have to be another one of our science topics!

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Salon Time!

Last time we were in Florida it was quite cool so we did some different things! Both of the girls desperately needed a trim. Their hair was so shaggy on the ends.

One of the girls completely enjoyed the salon experience! She loved being pampered and cared for!

The other one was not so fond of it. She cried the whole time. Anna got 4 inches of shagginess cut off.

She had a hard time sitting still and needed to be in her Daddy's arm. Mom was too busy being the photographer! It may have helped if we would have washed her hair and removed a few of the meals that were caught in it! Oops!

It was traumatic!

But it's looking good and healthy!

Sarah loved every second of it!

After the cut they blew it dry!

And it felt so good!

They styled it!

Now Sarah's hair is healthy and looking good!

Everyone recovered and we were off to lunch!