February Fun so far!

I'm so glad cold and dreary January is behind us! February has been lots of fun so far...and it's amazing how 32* suddenly feels like a heat wave!

Feb 8th, the big girls went with Alex to the Daddy/Daughter dance. They had a blast!

I just love her eyes. So pretty!

My blonde baby!

And I stayed home with this spunky little girl.

Then this past weekend, we celebrated some very special birthdays! Hadlee & Kooper turned 4 on Feb 3rd and Miles will turn 2 on Feb 14th. 

Miles & Trista

Tracee, Nick, & the twins

See Coen on the left... He knows how to work those gorgeous eyes! ;)

He loved the trick candles!

Hey Mi-Mi, you've got a little somethin' on your face!

Great Uncle Tom brought packing bubbles as their gift! Such a hit!

Brielle loved them too and was stomping on them.

Then the twins opened special gifts from their mom & dad.

Tracee telling Hadlee she is getting a new baby brother or sister in August!

My Pa & Granny

Granny & Brynna

One of my adoption friends sent her daughter's "Mei Mei" (Little Sister) shirt to Brielle! It was so sweet of them!

Early Valentine's gift for my sweeties- New swimsuits!
 

Chinese New Year!

Happy New Year! 新年快乐! Xin Nian Kuai Le!  

2014 is the year of the Horse

We celebrated with area families in Evansville. 

The girls had a blast.

Denise, a lady Alex used to work with when we lived in Newburgh, was there with her husband and two daughters from China. We enjoyed visiting with them. We had seen pictures of their girls but this was our first chance to meet Riley & Karley.

Ready for the party!

Brielle's sign says Wo ai ni or I love you. (pronounced woe eye nee)

This sign says Happy New Year! (pronounced sheen neon kwie luh)

She is simply amazing.

Reminds me of her in China, opening her little mouth like a birdie & slurping the noodles in.

That's Denise and her girlies in the background.

Brielle LOVES oranges.

Getting ready for a lantern dance.

She kept waving at us!

Most of the children are from China but I know at least one is from Taiwan and I heard one mom talking about Vietnam. Such beautiful children and very blessed families!

Brielle won a door prize! I wish you could have seen her expression when they called her name!

All of the children received red envelopes (with chocolate coins instead of real money) before we left. You can read about this custom here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_envelope

January {A picture update}

Brielle's bedhead on New Year's Day

Celebrated Ella's 5th Birthday at a "Pajamas & Pancakes" party!

Jan 10- Brielle had to have some lipstick & eye shadow like mommy.

We went on a date night while Tim & Krista kept our girls!

The next day, we made an impromptu trip to the ice rink! It was Brielle's first time ice skating. Aren't those tiny skates the cutest?! Also- notice that pretty purple coat on the bench. It was only a week old and was lost later that day by my oldest sweetie at the mall... sigh.

This girl was ready! She was the last one off the ice.

Brielle said, "I can't steer really good!"

Taking a quick break for the rink to be cleared off.

Braylee is pretty good at skating.  I wish we lived closer so she could go more often.

Jan 12- If only you could have seen the strut that went with these pigtails! She is a character!

Jan 17- Our pastor and his wife Greta are moving to Fl, but let's not talk about it bc it makes me cry. We decided to treat Greta to some of her favorite sushi before they move. Our chef was pretty funny. ;)

Jan 18- We celebrated baby boy Onyx at my cousin Candyce's baby shower. His middle name will be Shane, after his uncle in the blue. Shane & I are the same age so we grew up together (and being in the same class with the same unusual last name, people sometimes asked if we were twins/siblings). Shane has 4 daughters, so I think it is really cool that they are naming this little boy after his awesome uncle.

When did these little sweethearts grow up?!

They were excited about the Mello Yello bags they got at the ball game.

Jan 20- Brielle was super pumped about the sunny weather!! It made it to 40 something that day and it felt like a heat wave! The next day it was single digits again if I remember correctly.

Jan 24- Cheer clinic

Watching Frozen clips with Daddy. We have the soundtrack but sometimes she just needs to see it too. :)

Jan 29- Brielle just had to wear the pink Santa hat to Awana.

Jan 31- Sleepover. Braylee, Lillie, Emma, Brielle, & Brynna  Let's just say they all took 3 hour naps the next day! :)