It's all downhill...

for these goofballs!

Jamie took Monday afternoon off work, and the

boys all went sledding.

Posing before they get going.

Scopin' out the hill...

Here we go!

Let's try it now with a partner!

Reading Material

TGIF!

Jamie treated us to our favorite burger place...actually voted best burgers

in the state! And is standard protocol when we go out to eat,

the boys all grabbed a book to keep them

occupied at the table.

Jacob came down with a library book about dragons.

Amarin came down with a Disney/Pixar sticker book.

Charlie...well, he came down with something different.

Peanut Sauce

Now, before I get too far into this post...I hope I don't offend anyone. If you are easily offended, please don't read on. It's a post about something that happened at the dinner table...something silly...and it landed us all in hysterics.

A little preface. First, we do our best to not swear. My kids think the s-word is "shut up" and that an a** is the donkey from the Christmas story...still not sure why some stories choose to use that word. We even try not to use the word "g*sh" because it is slang for God, and we don't use His name in vain. Nor do we talk silly about bodies. We use the real words, and bodies are private. Period.

Now for the story. I decided to make homemade egg rolls tonight for the first time. So, Jamie went out and bought sweet & sour sauce, peanut sauce, and a couple other sauces that sounded fun. Jacob and Amarin remembered eating the peanut sauce in Thailand, so they were pretty excited to try it again. So, we dished up the egg rolls, some rice, and left over meats from a couple dinners.

Time to pour out the sauces. They were all really good, and Amarin decided he wanted more peanut sauce.

So he says, "More peanuts right here, please," pointing to his chicken drumstick. However, when he said the word "peanuts," the T did not sound. OK...go with me on this...and if you didn't catch it...go back and pronounce it again without the T sound.

Obviously, Charlie and Amarin did not catch it. Jamie, Jacob, and I are sitting there silent and perfectly still. All of sudden Jacob bursts out laughing....really laughing! Jamie and I can't help it and start, and we're laughing so hard because Jacob's laughing so hard, that the younger boys start laughing, too. Funnier still...they had no clue what they were laughing about!

Laughter is so contagious, and when we laugh like this at the dinner table (even if it's not totally appropriate), it makes me so thankful that we have this time together!

The Little Gifts

I think we'd all agree that sometimes it is the little things that God does that just make our day so wonderful! Yes, we pray and pray for those big things...good health, safe travels, secure jobs. And it is awesome to see God answer those prayers...a great testimony to the one true God that listens, and cares, and knows what we need before we even ask.

But what about those little things that we don't even think about? That we couldn't even orchestrate if we did think about them? I think these are even more telling about how much God cares, and how much he wants to show his love.

Here are two examples that just happened. Yesterday at church, a friend of ours brought 2 colleagues to church, and these colleagues were from a business location in China. Wouldn't you know it...that would be the day that our two little ones stayed home and our friend couldn't introduce them to his colleagues! Anyway, they asked me questions about why we adopt, and I shared with them that we are adopting one more little girl from China...from the Chongqing area. Can you guess where these two colleagues were from? Yep! Chongqing! Now what are the chances...with all of the millions of cities and billions of people in China, that they would be living in the same city??

The second thing happened today. I found a yahoo group, the only one in fact, that deals specifically with Shasha's orphanage. So, I filled out the invitation to join and within the hour, I had a reply from a member. Her daughter and Shasha were friends at their orphanage! WHAT?? This lady knew about Shasha, and had even talked to another family that had been viewing Shasha's file. Coincidence? I don't think so.

I think both of these "little things" are just fun gifts that God sends to us. I mean, don't you like to surprise your kids with a little treat now and then when they're not expecting it? How much more does God love us, and want to give us little treats now and then?

A Conversation

Amarin's language skills are really blossoming. It's amazing to think that he's been with us for only 6 months, and he is able to communicate so much in English. Even when he's alone, he's speaking English. Yesterday at rest time, I stood outside his door and listened as he "talked" to his Mickey Mouse stuffed animal. I was waiting to hear some Thai, but there were only sound effects (typical boys noises) and English words. Part of me is bummed that he's losing his Thai language. But really, there is no where around us that would provide language lessons in Thai. On the other hand, I'm thrilled that he's learning English so quickly, and that we can have conversations.

Really, with an older child, they have so much to say and share...memories from their lives before family. Yesterday, Amarin and I were looking at a picture of Shasha. He knows that she's coming home at some point, and he's very interested. Even this past week as Jamie had been away on business, Amarin asked if he was getting Shasha. But, as we were looking, our conversation went something like this:

A: That Shasha.
Me: Yes, that's your new sister, Shasha.
A: Shasha talk? (I'm assuming he's asking this since Laura does not talk).
Me: I think Shasha talks, but in Chinese.
A: (after being quiet for a minute) Shasha not have anything.
(My heart just ached when I heard this).
Me: No, Shasha doesn't have much.
A: Shasha have Christmas?
Me: No, I don't think so.
A: Why not?
Me: I don't think they celebrated Christmas there.
A: I have Christmas.

Wow. All the thoughts that must be running through his head. I would love to know if he's associating his life in the orphanage with Shasha's life. Does he see how little he really had in Thailand, compared to what he has now? Is that why he knows Shasha doesn't have much? I hope he continues to shed some light on his past, his emotions, his memories, as his language develops. God has blessed our family with such an amazing little boy!

99%

Do you see that nice big A and the 99% on this math paper? Jacob was literally a-jumpin' up and down to see these marks on his final fourth grade math test! He works really hard in math...he has to...it's not a subject that comes particularly easy for him. History...now that's a different story. But math takes time and energy...but he can do it!

So, Jacob was wondering, since he finished his 4th grade math so early, can he have the rest of the school year off from math? Ummmm....I don't think so! We're on to grade 5/6 ABEKA math...well...as soon as I get it ordered!

Happy Birthday, Shasha!

Happy 3rd birthday to our little Mei Mei in China.

We sure wish we could celebrate with you, but it won't be long, baby girl!

Vacation Rental-FL

We have a vacation rental at Ron Jons in Cape Canaveral, FL, that

we are going to rent out this year. Here's a little info:

It is one hour from the Orlando airport and attractions/Disney, and on the ocean side. It has wonderful ammenities for families. Some of the ammenities include an onsite water park with lazy river, toddler splash area and 5-story slide, pool, movie theater, indoor playground (like a huge McDonald playland), putt putt, and basketball. It is handicap accessible, and they have beach wheelchairs available. You can see the Kennedy Space Center from the facility, and can walk the beach...albight a long one...to Cocoa Beach.The condo can sleep up to 10 persons. It has a full kitchen, washer, dryer, balcony. It also has another mini-kitchen for those who would like to travel with another family or parents.

If you are interested, comment on this post with your email, and I'll get back to you!

Skiing

Jamie and Jacob took off skiing yesterday. There's a cool program in Michigan right now for fourth graders in order to promote kids skiing. The 4th graders get a ton of free lift tickets at a variety of resorts around the state. So, off they went.

They haven't been skiing for a couple years, anyway, and they both had a great time...along with some sore muscles. I remember when Jacob first starting skiing. We were living in Germany, he was only three years old, and we were in the Alps. Oh, man. Talk about awesome skiiing and beautiful scenery. Though, I've heard that the Rockies are just as great for skiing. Don't know...never been there! Someday, maybe...

Next time, I think the younger boys and I will join them since ages 8 and under ski free! I'll just hang out on the bunny hills...ya know...to help the younger ones. Uh-huh.

Our Sweet Shasha

Permission granted to share our new daughter's photo...

our sweet Bi Shasha!

Bi Shasha is her Chinese name, and it means "beautiful."

That she is! Shasha will be 3 years old

next Tuesday.

We are getting really close to having our dossier finished, and

getting our paperwork off to immigration.

Praying Shasha will be home by the end of this year!