A wonderful Thanksgiving Blessing

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday. We had lunch at Jerry's parents house and then supper at my cousin Sheryl's house. Hanna did well. We had a nice visit with everyone. We came home and were suprised by an email from Hanna's Chinese family. Isn't she beautiful??!

Proof there is a little girl living among us!

Not that I was ever a great housekeeper, but Hanna makes it almost impossible! I'll pick it up and as soon as she notices it is moved, she drags it out again!

She loves to play in my workroom that has been off limits to the boys for a long time now. Jerry says I should just clean it and put things away!

She loves to play with her dishes and food. There is a tub big enough to hold it all, but she doesn't like to put it away when she is finished! She is using the tub to store Brooks' video games for him.

She likes her doll house, but she really doesn't play with it. She makes it play music and then stores all of her finds in it! Reese knows to look here first for something he is missing!

Pink toothbrush and princess toothpaste!

Our movies and DVDs used to be in the right cases and in alphabetical order on the shelves!

Oh well, there is more to life than a clean and organized house! Thank God for the little things in life!

Children's Museum

Our church gave us a year membership to the Children's Museum as a welcome home present! I was so excited. Last Friday - or perhaps the Friday before that - Jerry and the boys had a half day of school, so we decided to go. We had so much fun - I think Jerry would even admit that he had fun. Anyway, it didn't take Hanna long to warm up to the place and start running all over. Our first stop was the Science Water Works place. The boys loved playing in the water. Hanna did too until some other boys opened up the dam they had made and she got sprayed! She really giggled to go under the pond and see the fish! Reese and I had a great time putting together the arch - and destroying it. We made cartoons, added our voice to cartoons, drew dragons, and walked quickly through the dinosphere. Oh and we got to ride the carousel. That was fun! After the museum we got to go to our favorite restaurant, yep O'Charley's! It was Hanna's first time there. She liked it except for the lemonade, I don't think she liked it much. Brooks and Reese got way more rolls than I did (I had to share mine with Hanna). The waitress was supposed to bring us more, but she must have forgotten! We are very excited about the membership and I can't wait to go back. Hanna has a doctor's appointment in Indy in December, so I think we'll try to go then.

Thanksgiving is almost here. We are going to my cousin Sheryl's house. I'm excited for my aunts, uncles, and cousins to meet Hanna. I hope she isn't too tired or overwhelmed by the whole experience!

Just wanted to share!

Here are a few photos that I just had to share. Hanna is doing great and the boys really like her. God is so good. He knew the perfect child for our family and found a way to have her join our famliy. She is sweet, cuddly, and ornery (sp??). She loves to tease! She is learning the boys better and knows who is who! This morning we asked her to go get the boys and she did! They said she came in and said something in Chinese, but they understood mama and baba, so they went with her! It was very cute! She has had a couple more firsts...she had her first trip to Culver's and we all went to church this morning! Thanks for being such loyal followers!

Home - Sweet - Home

It is wonderful being home. We are all settling back into our routines and adding a new one! Hanna, YingYing, is adjusting well to being in our family. She's now slept through the night 2 nights in a row and I've slept through the night 1 night and hopefully again tonight! She is doing very well. If we could just get her to not be afraid of the dogs! She is terrified and yells at them -in Chinese!- each time they come near! The boys are doing great with her and want to do everything for her. They are very attentive and like playing with her. She seems to like them too, but is busy with learning everything new. She is catching on to English and I thought this morning I need to make a list of her words. She knows bye bye, hi, thank you, car, apple, potty, baba, mama. She can point to her eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair and fingers. She echos numbers to 10 and letters. We are working on colors. She recognizes grandparents and the boys in pictures and in person. I forgot - she definitely knows NO, but doesn't like it! She cries everytime we have to say it to her! Her favorite Chinese word is Boo Shong (I have no idea how to spell it, but that is how it sounds!) Shiyan told us it means No Way! She says it frequently! Some of Hanna's first so far are flying in an airplane, eating chocolate ice cream, drinking chocolate milk, flying across the Pacific Ocean, riding in our van, sitting in a carseat, going to Southmont and Ladoga El in the same day, shopping in the mall, swinging at the park, and going down the curly slide! We can't wait to continue to add more firsts to her list!

Family of Five!

We are home

After many grueling hours on a plane, we are finally home and got to sleep (sort of) in our own bed last night. We were welcomed home by the boys and grandparents (and Aunt Vicki!) and Aunt Tami, Uncle Dan, and the boys. It was wonderful seeing everyone. I will do a full re-cap some other time, but we are safe and sound at home. Hanna had a rough go of it on the 12 hour plane ride and then a melt down when it was lights out here at home, but she is playing now with blocks and happy as can be. We can't wait to see everyone. We're home...just call and come out. I'm taking off work until January, so I have plenty of time! Thanks again everyone for following us and for all of the prayers. What a blessing we have with Hanna and what a wonderful God we all serve! Here are the red couch photos I didn't have time to post before we left China.