family time

And Finally...
JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH PICTURES

It started snowing today around 9am and by 3:00 in the afternoon it has reached 6 inches. I am sure it has more to go and they say it will be icy tomorrow.
Since we were in for the day I went ahead and brought out a craft I was saving for her birthday. We were going to make her a tulle skirt to wear at her party... she will just get to wear it a few weeks early. Here we are getting all our supplies out.

We tied the elastic and cut the tulle into strips, then looped them through. Now I will say I made one of these when she was younger that tied in the back, I like it much better because this one is already a little loose.

We had extra so her two babies, Taawa and Phoung, both got skirts to match their mama.

We headed to MO last weekend to visit our family (N's mom's side). We all went out for an awesome Italian meal... waited over an hour for it to be prepared because it was all handmade! Yummy.
Starting with Avi Joy clockwise. Emily, Chet, Angela, Ruth, Herold, Natasha, Hannah, Adam and Jansen! We love us some family-time.

Two faux-bronzed hotties kisses on one for-real white man!

Hard to get pic's of us. Were usually taking the pictures, with our kids.

Mommy ballerina. She loves to play dress up in her ballet outfit. She also likes to carry around her baby's in her sling. She is going to be a great mommy someday... here she is holding 'Miss Elijah.'

Our grandparents, Herold and Ruth. His nickname is Hoot and that he is. Married almost 60 years.

Grandma meeting Nehemiah for the first time. It was great to have everyone love on our kids for the weekend.

CURRENT FAVORITES:

Things I love about Avi Joy

1. She makes up songs all the time (I will post one at the bottom)

2. I love her curly hair, its just so unique

3. She is smart and remembers ev.rey.thing.

4. She loves girly things, dress up, reading, cooking, baby dolls

5. She is a people-person, loves to socially interact

Things I love about Nehemiah:

1. Super tough, bumps and bruises are no biggie

2. How he has learned to sit, crawl, zoom and climb so quickly

3. Very loving, huggie and kissie

4. He is so handsome

5. He always has a big smile waiting for you

Things I love about Adam:

1. Likes to cook and shop at specialty stores

2. Enjoys good clean fun and adventure

3. Knows everything about computers

4. Really serves his wife and kids

5. Listens a lot... he lives with talkers

Things I have learned about myself this week:

1. I am just not a good person if I don't spend daily time with God

2. Realizing that some friends are just meant to be acquaintances

3. I am always reminded that life really is short

4. I truly love Vietnam

5. I am talented at many things, but not a novice in one area

Avi Joy's remix from the bathtub yesterday, and I am not kidding. All sung, loudly.

"Farajaka, Farajaka, dor may vu, happy birthday to you, bless our food, bless our food.

Jingle bells, k.i.s.n.g., first comes marrage, first comes baby, mom can I get out?"

"David danced before the Lord with all his might... I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this..." 2 Samuel 6:14 &22

Adam, Natasha, Avi Joy and Nehemiah

Every couple months we have an extended playdate with the Homan's. This includes haircuts, playtime, lunch and much gabbing... ending in exhustion by all. This time we had a little help as Heathers niece, 11 yrs, came to babysit.

Here are our two precious girls all dressed up. The white dress was handmade in VN and the blue dress was my $3 steal from Just Between Friends.

We cannot believe that our girls are almost 4 and 3, Andrew almost 2 and Nehemiah almost 1!

Most of you have heard about our crazy weather. Here is Avi Joy all dressed up for pictures, beautiful at 72 degrees... the next day...

32 degrees and snowing in my backyard!!! I mean what!?

Then bam, back to warm and we are out swinging at the park.

My two blessings having playtime in there skives.

Avi Joy is awesome with chopsticks. She loves Edamame.

Playing with NanNa!

Avi Joy loves her friends. She screams (literally) when they arrive and sometimes will cry when they leave. Above are our neighborhood friends (Lexi, Jiho and Sungberm) and below are the Smith kiddos (Ryan, Bethany and Joshua).

My college roommates at Shannon's shower. We waited until she was due in 2 weeks, what were we thinking! This picture fills my heart with joy... we all became friends in August of 1997 and have seen one another through so many times. Praise God for long-time friends.

"God give us rest. Help us not to feel we have to do it all, do it perfect and strive past the point of depending on You. Thank you for Your grace. We need You to guide, protect, teach & correct, to give us dreams, visions and blessings. Oh grant us this day time with You Jesus. Amen"

The Perryman's

shout out to my peep

I'm serious people. Stop talking in the library. Don't make me fine you. (There were really cute pics of her in these glasses, but this one cracked me up!)

Hello all,
Well Avi Joy has been on quite a roll lately. She loves to make up songs and if she were to write a book it would be "New cool baby names" book.
Avi Joy's current song:
"Peep and Poop to the Lord"
She names all her babies:
Mcfoozle, Shamuzzle, Eligoffe, Minny & Finny (her twins), Kaleafa and more!

Nehemiah had his adoption medical's yesterday. No fun at all, lots of screaming. They tried both arms and finally got enough viles.

Playing in the mirror!

We read adoption stories to my girlfriends 1st grade class last week. Notice Avi Joy in the front row. We read: A Mother for Choco, Once upon a time in China, Tell me again about the night I was born and I don't have your eyes. It was a wonderful time. p.s. I don't miss it : )

Business meeting with Eli.

Getting ready for the day. They just looked too cute sitting together on the changing table. They wanted to sing patty-cake over and over.

Swinging back to back at the park.

My lil' man in his Vietnamese hat playing at the park.

"Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need." Hebrews 7:24-26

Love,
Adam, Natasha, Avi Joy and Nehemiah