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.

Just a few pictures

Just so you know, I truly do have three children. Hanna is just so new and if I do say so myself - very cute! Anyway, my grandmother wishes we lived closer so she could squeeze her (and Hanna would let her!) each day. She loves these bibs on her and called me today requesting a picture of her in them. If only it were warmer and I would have had her hair in piggy tails! We all continue to do well. Hanna is now officially calling herself Hanna Long. It is sad that she is losing her Chinese - but when she does say something in Chinese and I tell her I don't understand or when I say what? - she will just smile and say "Chinese!" It is too cute! She continues to amaze us every day!

Sledding

Reese finally lost both of his two front teeth!

Reese went over into the creek sledding! Luckily he came up laughing!

What a great dad my children have!

Reese really liked sledding! He didn't complain of being cold once!

Hanna loved walking around in the crunchy snow!

All smiles



Brooks had a great time! What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

And off they go!



Eating...of course! Princess Hanna loves eating! Reese and Brooks are ready for some sledding fun!

Santa brought the boys sleds and snow gear for Christmas and we finally got some snow! It snowed on Wednesday, but it wasn't warm enough to venture outside until today. Hanna didn't like sledding near as much as the boys, but she did enjoy crunching around in the snow. We had a wonderful 4 day weekend and are now just trying to relax thinking about another long week of school. Do you think we could have more snow days this week - or better yet, just some 2 hour delays?! I want snow days without having to make them up!

To YingYing's loved ones in China - I'm sorry I haven't posted any pictures of her lately. She is doing great and is an absolute joy. She carries around pictures of you and refers to you as mama and baba. We are sometimes mama and baba and sometimes mommy and daddy. She calls herself the "princess"! God Bless!