Monday, February 24, 2014

Remembering


Kaitlyn at the canopy tower, "This would be a perfect place for parrot shooting."


Just before we left for Florida I happened to notice Davis' bulging backpack.  Included in his assorted treasures was his Singing Fish.  Just what every grandparent hopes that their grandchild will bring along on a trip, a fish that croons tunes and flaps its tail. That would have been fun on their fishing trip, eh?



Emily and the Wiggles


I know, I know...but I'm just enjoying that my kid is STILL WELL after almost 200 days.  We completed our first trip with her that she didn't wind up in the hospital.  I love watching her participate with her movie.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Sunny Florida


 We just got back from spending some time with Kenton's parents in Florida.
As usual I came home with lots of random shots and missed opportunities.
 
We love seeing and smelling all the orange groves.
Helping grandma pick oranges and make juice is a favorite.
 
 
Elmer and Kathleen shared their shuffleboard court.
The kids loved beating dad and grandpa.


 
We took roller blades and bike helmets. Emily thoroughly enjoyed riding this trike.
I can't believe I never took a picture of Megan roller blading.  She zoomed up and down and back and forth.  Her goal was to learn to go backwards.  She figured it out.
 
 
Everyone enjoyed soaking up vitamin D.  
 
 
Kenton wanted the kids to hear the speaker at the Holstein breakfast at the Florida State Fair.
It was a total bomb.  The speaker spent two minutes talking about the weather and two minutes explaining that he didn't have a speech prepared.  The cow show wasn't exactly a huge hit either.
 
Sidenote: Emily is now potty-trained.  I made many, many, many trips to the bathroom.  Evidently that's her method of coping with boredom. 
 
While the cow show got old quickly, the kids enjoyed the fowl and rabbits next door.
 

 

 
Grandpa and Jimmy took Kenton and the older three fishing one night at Istapoka.
 
 
Bug nets were appreciated.
 

 
They caught around 48 fish.
Grandpa, Jimmy, and dad were kept busy baiting hooks and taking off fish.
 

 
We went to Siesta Key one day.
It was a perfect day for being at the beach. 
 


 
Kenton thought it was hysterical that a gull grabbed my sandwich right out of my hand and took off with it.  That made Davis determined to catch one.  Turns out those birds are smarter than us - he never caught any but they made off with Jamison's sandwich, too.

 
Required beach entertainment, right?
 
 
One day we went to Myakka State Park.
 
The canopy walk
 
 
View from the canopy tower

 
Always on the move
 
 
Birdwatching
 
 
We took an airboat ride and saw lots of alligators.
 


 
Grandma taught the girls the basics of Sudoku.
 
 
Lots and lots of time was spent roller blading, biking, reading, relaxing, and visiting.  We had a turkey dinner with Allen and Linda(and Rachel) and breakfast on the patio with Jim and Isabelle.  Kenton was having such a nice time just relaxing that he opted to skip visiting Kennedy Space Center.
 
We've been hoping to catch up with the Brabson family since we came home from China.  Emily has foiled several attempts but this time -TA DA! - we finally met with them.
Jason and Katie were adopting Lingling while we were there adopting Emily.  When I was beyond exhausted, they went sight-seeing with our kids while I slept and Kenton was with Emily at the hospital.  We've been looking forward to meeting their sons Moosie (sp?) and Finn and seeing Lingling now that she has her place in the family.
 
It was so much fun to reconnect and we didn't have near enough time.
 
 
It was beautiful to see how Lingling has grown.  In China she often shyly had her face turned in to her new mama.  To see how she and Emily strutted through the halls, swam in the pool, and have found their place in their families is a tremendous blessing. 
 
 

 
And then it was time to head for home.
 
 
Time to get back into routine.
 

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Gotcha!

In August, 2009 I opened my email and fell in love with this little face. 
 
 
I couldn't wait to bring her home from DeSheng, Guangxi, China
 
 
and make her a part of our family.
 
 
This little one was a perfect fit for us.
 
 
We were so happy to get this picture shortly before we left for China.
"Yingying" was healthy and growing and I couldn't wait to hold her in my arms.
 
 
 
She wasn't nearly as excited about the prospect
 
 
but it didn't take long to fit in with the family
 
 
and join the family comic strip.
 
 
There have been moments of sadness
 
 
but many more of joy.
 
 
We are so glad that God brought you to our family.
 
 
We praise God for you every day.
 
 
Kaitlyn Ying, we are so blessed to be your family!