Best Christmas Gift EVER!

12 years ago this little punk was born.  and man did he rock our world.  So many unknowns those first few months.

Look at him now!  Smart, handsome and a PUNK   Sweet Sweet boy!!

  Oh how I LOVE my Thanie

Santa

 I just LOVE LOVE LOVE our little tradition of heading downtown to see Santa.

We go out to dinner.  Window shop.  Then go see Santa.

I know my biggest kid is feeling too old but he humors me.  And for that, I am so grateful.

I'll show y'all someday my photo collection.  I have a picture from Zach's first Christmas all the way until now.  All framed in a tacky  sparkly, Christmasy frame.   Each year when we decorate for Christmas I take the frames out and remember and then, I cry.  Oh how I love these little people.

This boy can be a bit of a punk brother.  But.  Just look how much he loves his little sister.  The way he is looking at her is too sweet

Evelyn's second Santa visit.  So much fun!

We head to the carousel.  We all ride it!

I LOVE Christmas time!  Grateful for my family.
and yes feeling a little sappy.

Halloween

Pre- Halloween at the pumpkin patch with my parents.

Here we are carving pumpkins

Yep!  Those are his dish washing gloves.  and. that. is an entirely different conversation. 

First Day of School

6th grade 

MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!

4th Grade

Sisters

2nd Grade

Sophmore

I don't even know how my BABIES got so big.  I am one PROUD momma.

Bone Graft

It has been so LONG.

Hubby just left the hospital and Naomi is fast asleep.  It has been a long day at the hospital our room is quiet and I should be sleeping.   But.  I am not.

I want to document that today Naomi had her first bone graft.  Surgery went well.  She feels a bit yucky throwing up blood but other than that all is calm.

I read so many blogs.  Most of which have sweet, once orphaned babies that go through so so much more than mine.  I really can't complain.  I really am so incredibly grateful that we live in a city with great medicine, that my once orphaned daughter has a family that loves her fiercely and friends that care about her.  Life is good.  Even if I am laying on a makeshift bed in a hospital.  I am exactly where I am meant to be.

P.S. Hope to start blogging again

15

This little punk went and turned 15 on me.  I can't take it!!!

He melts my heart . . .  my first born

This sweet little boy is now a freshmen in high school.  NO!

I hate that so much time has passed.  BUT.  I can't wait to see what is yet to come. 

I love this kid of mine!  

 Happy Birthday Z

A Day to Celebrate

We have so much to celebrate EVERY Single DAY! 

Yesterday we had a few anniversary's to celebrate.

January 18th was the first day our Evelyn walked on US soil.  The first day she became a Chinese American.  The first day she met all these special people who have loved her from miles away and now witness her spunky sweet self in person. 

We also celebrated YeYe/my Dad turning another year older.  We are blessed to have him in our lives.

AND

We got to watch an incredible football game with my family.  The best part is

The SEAHAWKS are going to the SUPERBOWL.

See  - I told ya we have so much to celebrate.  Life is full and we are blessed!

One Year of Forever

It wasn't easy or always pretty.  But it is BEAUTIFUL.

It boggles my mind to think that We were handed a 9 year old little munchkin.  We were supposed to love her, care for her and call her our daughter.

You know what?

We did that.  Yes it is 100% possible to fall in love with a 9 year old that often acted like a 2 year old on crack.  Those first few weeks she touched every on off switch about 521 times each day,  She was loud (still is), she was scared (still is at times)

By the Grace of God I think she knew that our family was her family.  She has let me kiss her from week one and still plasters my face with kisses every night before bed.  She is helpful, her English is AMAZING, she is reading, she loves school and home, she LOVES her people (family and friends)

Sometimes I think we should have named her JOY.

January 6th 2014

January 6th 2014

Now just look at my beautiful girl after a year of love.