Summer at last!

Summer is finally here। Being teacher's in the summer is awesome। (We don't have to work। We get to stay home with the kids each day। We have until August 12th off.) We are enjoying being at home and hanging out by the pool. I just wish the kids knew how to sleep in! They are all up by 7:30 or 8! Hanna is generally first, closely followed by Brooks, and finally Reese. Reese would stay sleeping if the other two were quiet! We've just received an email from Hanna's Chinese sponsor family! I love hearing from them. I just wish we knew Chinese...or they English. I want to let them know that we are all healthy. H1N1 has not affected us. I will post pictures later today. YingYing is enjoying swimming in our pool and reading books. Her favorite book now is called The Seven Chinese Sisters. Brooks and Reese are busy with VBS (vacation bible school) and baseball. Soccer is over for Brooks and he did well. He averaged 2 goals each game.

4 days and counting!

I can't believe that another school year is coming to a close. I'm very anxious for summer this year. I can't wait to spend more time with Hanna and the boys. We have the pool open and are just waiting for warm weather to heat the water (we should have gotten that heater!). Hanna enjoys laying on her belly and touching the water. I pray she'll like it. I have a feeling we'll be spending alot of time on the ladder!

We are busy with soccer and baseball for both boys. Brooks loves soccer! He scored 2 goals tonight, but his team lost 3-2. His team played hard and had a great time. Reese got to play baseball in the rain on Saturday. It was freezing. Unfortunately his team lost 2-1. Almost! The boys are doing well in school and are anxious for the end. Reese is looking forward to his perfect attendance for 2nd semester and Brooks will get perfect attendance for the year! I'm so proud of them. We're going to send Hanna to preschol next year. Each morning when we go past her school, she says, "Mama, my school!" She is so proud. I hope she enjoys it!

Opening day of the pool! We all went in except for Hanna!

Victory Field - the boys won a ticket for another game playing one of the games!

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder! These "weeds" are Hanna's favorite flower. I can't tell you how many vases of dandelions we'vehad on our counter! Did I mention that she picked all of the tulip buds in the flower garden...before they got to open?! My mom reminded me that they'll bloom again next year!

Easter Fun

We had a wonderful Easter celebration last Sunday. We were thrilled that Seaman, a Wabash student from China, came to church with us. After church, our family and friends came to the house for lunch and the Easter Egg hunt. Brooks found the golden goose egg! He was so excited. Unfortunately Hanna wasn't feeling well and slept through the hunt. Brooks and Reese slept through their first ones too!
Today was beautiful. The boys had baseball practice, so Hanna and I played outside with sidewalk chalk. She loved drawing pictures and running around. She got several kisses from the dogs too! She knows how to make many letters and numbers and she was proud of herself when she made them with the chalk. When her brothers got home, they wanted to draw too and boy she didn't want to share! We'll keep working on sharing!

Hanna with the flowers she didn't pick! Brooks made this! Look at Hanna's 2 and H.

Spring is almost here!

I had fun last weekend taking a few pictures of the kids. We are anxiously awaiting spring break. Only 3 more school days and we get 9 days off! We aren't planning to do anything and we are so looking forward to that! I'm hoping for a trip to the Children's Museum and possibly the zoo. Tomorrow marks month 5 since Hanna came home. It seems so surreal that we actually have a daughter and we've been to China. She continues to do well...except when we have to tell her no! : ) She does get that from me! We are also trying to plan our annual plan our annual trip to Ft Myers Beach FL over Christmas. We are trying to get "our" house. We've stayed in it 2 or 3 times and just love it.

Spring...Almost!
Posing before bed

Hanna and Dolly...best friends forever

Daddy and Hanna dancing to their favorite song...Just a Swingin'!

Hanna was a little scared of the cheerleaders!

Getting ready for the basketball game

She likes her brother's safety goggles

She thinks she looks so good

Just look at my girly girl and her earrings!

Brooks is so talented!

Her dress from her Chinese parents still fits!

Picture catch up!

Reese in the tunnel
He loves Chuck E Cheese

Riding with Stuart Little

The Merry Go Round was a favorite

Posing with Chuck E Cheese himself!

In February, we went to Chuck E Cheese for my cousin's son's birthday. It was Hanna's first time to go and she loved it. It is one of the boys' favorite places to go...too bad they keep having private parties when they want to go there! ; ) Hanna's favorites were the merry-go-round and the slides.

I hope to post more in the coming days! Don't give up on us yet. Reese just turned 7, so I'll be getting that ready too! Being a mom to 3 sure keeps you busy!

We're still here

I know it has been awhile since I last updated. We've just been busy with the kids and school. The boys are doing well. Brooks is anticipating the start of spring soccer. He is excited about the possibility of his essay being chosen for an award. He is excitecd about being one of the fastest runners in his class and all of Ladoga. He increased his record for a 6 minute run from 24 laps to 25 (this evidently is a school record - at least for this year). Reese is enjoying playing at Southmont with Jerry during the open gym hours. He gets excited when it is Tuesday and Thursday. He is getting better at baseball and Jerry is getting excited. He is hopeful for the future!! ;) Hanna is doing well. She is learning English more and more each day. It is awesome how far she's come. We went to the doctor today (she's been running a fever - probably viral), and the nurse was shocked at how well she's doing! She actually called her a whiz kid!! She is definitely a girly girl. Her newest favorite book is Fancy Nancy. She is learning her colors - finally. Sometimes I still can' believe that I've been to China and I have a daughter. It all seems so unreal. We've been home almost 4 months (we actually left 4 months today). She knows who baby Jesus is and can pick him out in her picture books. Amazing. I should also brag that she can make an H and an L and she recognizes 1, 2, 7, and O (she possibly knows more numbers, but these I know for sure!) OK, sorry if you think I'm bragging :)

Jerry and I are doing well too - just ready for spring/summer break. I can't wait to take the cover off of the pool and let it start warming up! I'll try to add some pictures and videos later. I got a few cute videos of the kids playing in the yard with the dogs and riding bikes.