Introducing Yuan Yuan

This morning was quite exciting as we opened our computer and there before us was our referral.  My computer couldn't open the links fast enough!  As we sat there gazing at his face, the room started shaking.  First thing I thought was wow, i'm a little tipsy from looking at him so long and then realized that we were actually experiencing an earthquake!
We grabbed the kids and ran down the stairs.  by the time we were outside so were all our neighbors.  We were all in our pj's and I was wanting to go back to my computer so bad and read more about our new son.  But alas, when an earthquake of that magnitude hits, you are encouraged not to go back in for quite awhile so we sat visiting with our neighbors and all I am thinking is "we only have 48 hrs to do our LOI!  i must get back in there!".  Needless to say, we did get back in and got the LOI returned.  Now to put all those pics on the desktop and gaze at him some more :)

12 month PAR

I can't believe that in just a few weeks we'll be doing Halle's 12 month post adoption report. She's progressed so much! riding a bike, knowing routines, going to school 1/2 days, making friends, liking pets, etc. She's a big time talker- just like the other kids are! We are thankful for the blessing she is!

Pics from the summer

Back Together

So we've had a wonderful summer being back together as a family. Every day we count our blessings that we got to move and live near to the school. The kids ride their bikes or walk to school, we go there and have water gun wars with friends, etc. We also live walking distance from Walmart which is a very big deal here in China :) it's not the exact same as ones in America but it sure is convenient! And if I go right after I drop off the kids at school, I don't have hundreds of others shopping with me!

In other news, marissa has learned to ride on a bike with no training wheels and is in second grade now. DJ is in kindergarten and loves his new classmates, and Halle is going 1/2 days to preschool where it is in Chinese and English. She loves it and is so far, a great student! yay for her!

U.S. Passport

Okay, next on the big steps once we returned from America was to move, get Min Hao settled in his new foster home, and get Halle a U.S. passport! Happy to say, that is all accomplished and now we're just waitng on her SS card so we can finally file our taxes! :) Halle enjoyed her stickers from the consulate!

Trip to America

I know it has been months since I've blogged! We moved and then had to get a new internet connection and then my computer died and has now been resurrected! :) Needless to say, I will slowly try to get everyone reconnected with the big events since my last post! Starting with, halle and my trip to America. We got to visit lots of friends and family and most importantly, Halle became a US citizen and got re-adopted which just gets her name officially as her American name on all docs and easy access for her to her birth certificates, etc. We loved staying with my mom, halle's grandma, and got to do lots of fun things with her like visit the daycare she works at, go to parks, and get a first haircut! Halle also had lots of fun making new friends and eating American food. She can't wait to go back next summer! I would love to add pictures, but they are still being "found" somewhere on this new hard drive! So hopefully, pics to come soon!

Dispersing!

Well today we start saying good-bye to each other for a few weeks! halle and I must travel to the US to walk through immigration while Dave takes Marissa and DJ to Malaysia for some time in the sun with grams and gramps. Meanwhile, Min Hao will be spending some time with some of his favorite people and his new foster family. We just finished the school year and said our good-byes to everyone. Halle can't wait to start jr. kindergarten next year! All the while we're packing up to move closer to teh school (praise!!!) so everything is topsy turvy which my heart feels like as I'll be away from dave, marissa, and dj for 3 weeks! Attached are some end of the school year photos!