Summer...is that you?!

Just a few days ago my blog post was "Spring...is that you?!" and now we are having VERY Summer like weather. Well...that was a quick Spring wasn't it;) It has been in the 80's the last few days and according to the 10 day forecast...it is here to stay for a while. It is been really nice and the kids are especially enjoying it. They were asking to go swimming already...but the pool doesn't open until the end of May. They opted to get the sprinkler out for now. Their favorite it to stick it under the trampoline and jump while getting wet:) It has been so nice to have the windows open. We actually slept with our sliding glass door in our bedroom open the last two nights. It felt GREAT and I slept GREAT!!! Lance and I have also been enjoying spending some time out on the back deck, walks around the neighborhood and jogs outside instead of on the treadmill. Lance and I are running in the Indianapolis Mini-marathon the first Saturday in May so we are in the middle of training for that. It sure will be nice to get some more wonderful running days outside and hopefully an equally gorgeous race day:) Oh are we getting spoiled awfully early here in Northern Indiana. I sure hope this beautiful weather is here for good.

Lorelle and Levi on the trampoline...

And running through the sprinkler...

My wet little cutie pie....

Liam playing with the hose...

Seriously...CAN'T BELIEVE IT IS STILL THE MIDDLE OF MARCH!!!

Spring...is that you?!

What a GORGEOUS day!!! Lance, my friend Regina and I spend most of the afternoon sitting on our back deck. We watched the kids play football and jump on the trampoline. The sun felt wonderful:) It was very exciting to get a little glimpse of Spring today...YES!!!

Introducing...

Our new daughter to be...the beautiful Miss Lia Jing Perry!!!

Valentine's Day 2012...

I can't even explain how much JOY lining up these six little bags of Valentine's goodies gave me. I got all teary eyed and SO very thankful for these precious blessing that God has given me. The littles were thrilled with their stuff and the big boys liked their stuff too...even if they don't like to admit it. They do LOVE tradition and I know they will appreciate all that I do to make their holidays special...someday;) Oh how I adore my kids...even if they are a LOT of work at times.

The line up of goodies and BLESSINGS!!!

Liam playing with his stuff...

Levi diggin his army guys...

Lorelle..."Mom, I can't even open my eyes yet!" LOL:)

Miss Lilyan checking out her goodies...

My handsome Leytan...

The gang minus Landan...who leaves too early for pictures;(

Lorelle puckering up for a BIG kiss:)

I went into the kids school in the afternoon to volunteer for Lilyan's class party and also bring snacks to Lorelle's class. It was FUN and I think they all had a GREAT Valentine's Day!!!

Found these clever 2 liter covers at Walmart...Aren't they CUTE?!

Cupcakes from Betty's of coarse...YUM!!!

Lilyan trying to unwrap a Hershey Kiss with socks on her hands...how's that for a Valentine's party game;)

Also a little Valentine's Day BINGO...

This is the card I got for Lance. It is PERFECT is SO many ways!!! And...Lance sent me the BEST Valentine's Day text message EVER!!! Someday soon...I will share it with everyone;)

Lance and I went out for dinner at our favorite restaurant...Cerulean:) We celebrated our LOVE, our past and our FUTURE!!! It was a GREAT evening!!! I LOVE my man SO much!!!

Academic Recognition Night...

On Saturday, February 4th between the high school JV and Varsity boys basketball games...the Warsaw Community schools 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students that received all A's were announced and recognized for all their hard work. Leytan was was among those honored. We are VERY proud of him!!!

GREAT job Leytan!!! Keep up the good work;)

Levi turned 8 years old!!!

On Saturday, February 4th we celebrated Levi's 8th birthday. He chose to have his party at the skating rink. All 4 of my littles like to roller skate;) He invited family and also a few friends. We decided to give him his present from us in the morning before his party. We bought him the biggest Lego kit I could find at Walmart. It was supposed to be for kids 9-16 years old and it had 1,057 pieces!! He LOVES Legos and builds the kits SO quickly and easily...so I thought maybe this one would keep him busy and take him a few days to finish at least:) We also surprised him with some exciting news...We are taking him to Topsail Island, North Carolina for Spring Break to see his foster sister Julie. He has been begging to see her ever since we got him in China and especially wanted to see her over the holidays. He is SO excited...we ALL are!!! I took a video of him when we told him and he got the BIGGEST smile:) Too precious!!!

Opening his gift from Mom and Dad...

A Lego pirate ship...

Pouring pop for the gang and ice cream must of got to Levi...look at that face!! LOL!

Transformer cake...

The gang...

Levi picked out his skating outfit...shorts and knee pads;) LOL!

Loving his "Birthday Boy" button... He also wore it to school on Wednesday too, his actual birthday:)

$50 bill from Grandma and Grandpa Perry!!! Lilyan volunteered to read all his cards to him:)

More Legos!!!

I just LOVE this sweet little face!!!

He just had to finish it before bed...AMAZING!!!

I think Levi had a GREAT celebration. I also picked him up from school and took him out for lunch on Wednesday, February 8th...his actual birthday. He chose The Great Wall chinese restaurant, of course;) Then he took back a birthday snack to share with his classmates. He chose juices boxes and chocolate covered mint Oreos...YUM!!! Happy 8th Birthday Levi!!!

First Friday...Fire and Ice:)

Friday, February 3rd was "First Friday" for downtown Warsaw:) A friend and I took our kids downtown right after school for an early dinner at Mad Anthony's and then walked around to see just a few of the 50+ ice sculptures. It was pretty cold but the kids enjoyed their free hot chocolates and balloons;)

Toothbrush...

Sculpture in honor of a young girl who lost her battle with cancer:(

Cross...

Race car picture for Lance;)

Pretty COOL what they can carve out of a big chunk of ice!!!