Leytan's 12th Birthday!!!

On Saturday, September 24th...Leytan turned 12 years old. It is truly hard to believe. My kids are growing up way too fast:( I am SO proud of the young man he has become. He is so smart, kind, very handsome and such a FUN boy!!! He had 5 friends over for a sleepover to celebrate. We took them to Buffalo Wild Wings (Leytan's FAVORITE!) for dinner. They had a great time. Then it was home for cheesecake, instead of birthday cake...also Leytan's request;) Some of his friends had never even had cheesecake before. Leytan LOVES my homemade cheesecakes:) Leytan and his buddies played Nerf guns, video games and football late into the night...actually early the next morning;) I think he enjoyed his celebration. Thank you Jesus for my Sunshine! Happy Birthday Leytan!!!

Coach Leytan, getting the Gatorade treatment...LOL!

The gang...

My "Sunshine"...as I like to call him;)

Playing trivia at Buffalo Wild Wings...

Opening a few gifts...

We LOVE you Leytan!!!

6 YEARS!!!

On September 20th, we celebrated Lorelle's 6 year "Gotcha Day". I can't believe how quickly time goes by...SLOW down already;) She has grown and changed so much since our first meeting at that government building in Guangzhou, China. WOW...what an AMAZING ride!!!

6 YEARS!!!

We love you SO, SO much Miss Lorelle Yan!!!

My Twins...

The little kids school, Harrison Elementary, recently had "Twin Day":) They had a GREAT time dressing alike. The girls even matched their hair style, necklaces and sweatshirts. The boys had matching sweaters, jeans and wanted to have the same breakfast, including matching dishes;) FUN stuff!!!

My BEAUTIFUL girls...

Double the FUN!!!

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival 2011:)

September 12th was a Chinese holiday...the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. We didn't go to an actual formal celebration but we did acknowledge the special day and had our own celebration of sorts;) Levi chose to wear some traditional Chinese clothes to school, we ate Chinese food for dinner, did crafts and ate moon cakes:) The kids made dragon paper lanterns, panda and/or lion puppets and even used their chinese chops (hand crafted stamps with their names) as decoration. We had the treat of actual Chinese made mooncakes...hand delivered from China. Thanks Greg!!! Levi LOVED them!!! The other kids tried a bite and gave theirs to Levi;) The moon sure was BIG and BEAUTIFUL! My thoughts drifted off to China, more than usual, on this day...to the birthmothers of my children and the precious gift that they have given our family. Oh how we have been BLESSED!!!

At dinner...

Hard at work...

Lilyan's Panda Puppet...

Lorelle's Panda Puppet...

Liam's Lion Puppet...

Lilyan working hard on her Dragon Lantern...

Time to eat their Mooncakes...

One big world...one big, bright, beautiful Moon:)

May God Bless the precious children of China and the birthmothers that have to let them go...AMEN!!!

Fall Soccer!!!

Levi, Lorelle and Liam are all playing fall soccer. This is Liam's first year to play and I am VERY proud of him. They are on a co-ed team and I was able to get them on a team all together:) They are having a BLAST and are ALL doing very well. Liam refuses to wear his leg so he does fall down quite a bit but it doesn't stop him from trying his best and being really aggressive. Lorelle has gotten a goal and Levi is rockin on defense and goalie. They have had 2 games so far and will play for the next several saturdays. I LOVE watching them all play!!!

Liam running SO fast...

Levi stopping a ball...

Good game, good game...

Get it Levi!

GO Liam!

Look at that face...lol:)

Football!!!

Landan and Leytan are both playing football this fall. Landan #35 for his middle school and Leytan #12 on the local pee wee football league. The have each had a few games now and are both doing GREAT!!! Landan has been playing mostly safety and tight end. He is also on the kicking team and returns punts:) Leytan has been playing both the defensive and offensive line. He can't carry the ball because of his weight (league rule)...but would LOVE to try playing running back next year in middle school;) Despite not being able to carry the ball, he did manage to score...a safely:) They are both having a BLAST! And we are all really enjoying watching them play this year.

Landan's 70 yard Touchdown catch!!!

Look at that running form;)

Handsome Leytan...

Leytan kicking...

Landan blocking...

My big boy...

Tigers and Steelers are both UNDEFEATED!!! GREAT job boys!!!

Labor Day Weekend 2011:)

Saturday was perfect for our last pool day of the summer...sunny and warm:) I am gonna miss our pool time:( We are hoping to sell our land so that we can get a pool in our backyard next summer. Keeping my fingers crossed...lol! Sunday was church as usual and then Sunday evening we took some friends out for dinner. It was in celebration of my friend Sheri's 40th birthday in June. Yah...celebrated a little late but better late, than never;) We went to Takaoka of Japan. It was DELICIOUS!!! Then out for ice cream for dessert:)

YUM!!!

Happy Birthday Sheri!!! We love you guys:)

It was much cooler on Monday so we thought it would be a perfect day to take the kids to ride their dirt bikes. They had a BLAST as usual. Landan and Leytan each took a friend along and they especially had a GREAT time. Lance also gave the littles wild and crazy 4-wheeler rides:)

Lorelle and ornery Miss Lilyan...look at that face?! LOL!

Leytan...

Landan...

Liam...

Landan...

A GREAT, RELAXING, long weekend!!!

1 Year...Gotcha Day!!!

On August 30th, we celebrated 1 whole year with Levi:) It is hard to believe...but it has been an entire year now since I first got to hug and kiss this amazing boy. He is such a blessing to our family. We celebrated with dinner out at the Great Wall Restaurant. My kids can seriously put away some Chinese food. WOW! I also gave him a book I made all about our time together in China. He LOVES it!!! I made one for each of our adopted kiddos and gave it to them on their 1 year "Gotcha Day":) Levi is so smart, sweet and fun. His adjustment here has probably been the easiest of them all. I know I have his foster mama to thank for this...may God bless her! We LOVE you SO very much sweet Levi!!!

Levi with his book... Gotta LOVE that smile and those dimples:)

Baptism!!!

On Sunday August 20th, Lance baptized 3 of our children. Landan, Leytan and Lorelle chose to be baptized:) Lance took them to a baptism class at our church WCC earlier in the week. The baptism celebration took place at Hidden Lake and afterward we had a carry-in dinner to celebrate with our church family. About 150+ people made the decision to make this public statement on this beautiful afternoon...PRAISE THE LORD!!! Lance and I got baptized together about 12 years ago...I was actually pregnant with Leytan;) It was so touching to see my children now make this decision. God is SO good!!! May He continue to guide my children...AMEN!!!

LOVE these picture of Lance and our kiddos...

Lorelle with her baptismal water...

SO happy and proud of you Landan, Lorelle and Leytan...

What an AMAZING day!!!