Decorating The Tree

Tonight we decorated the tree. We did all the other decorating last weekend but tonight was our time to deck out the tree. It is so much fun looking at all the old ornaments and remembering back to the times when the kids were little.

I played with the setting to have the camera on and I could never really get it right. Anyway, here is Mia in the midst of hanging ornaments.

Owen working on the top of the tree

Ethan putting up his 2 year old ornament

Hard at work

Mia showing her lady bug ornament. We had that ornament for her the in December of 2005 when we thought we would have her home soon after that. We started adopting in July 2005 and got her home May 2007-- not quite as quick as we thought. She loves this ornament- the legs move.

Owen with his last years ornament

Mia hard at work

On the night setting-- still did not work well but Ethan is showing one of his old ornaments- cant remember which one

Owen made gingerbread cookies earlier tonight and was displaying them for the picture

Attempting to get a picture of the kids. Even though the lights are all funky, I still think this is a cute picture

This is our living room-- the final decorated product

A different angle

And the stairs

And the top of the stairs and into the loft.


So Christmas decorating is done--- yaaaa!!! Now it is time to start getting some gifts under the tree. I have lots to do!!!

I would love to congratulate my good blogger pals on the referrals of their two beautiful little girls. Two of my blogger pals who I have been following for years finally got their referrals this last week.

Congratulations to Kacy on her beautiful little girl Jennifer

And to my blogger pal Christie, congrats on her beautiful little girl Kiera who happens to be from the wonderful province of Hunan-- just like Mia-- awwww spicy girl!!!

Congrats to all those who saw the faces of their beautiful babies this last week!!!

Bikes, Hair Cuts and Stitches- OH MY!!

Some friends of ours gave Mia their daughter Maddy's bike she had outgrown. Needless to say, Mia is in love with the bike. She rides it everywhere in the front yard, side yard and back yard. That girl is a motoring fool!!!

Max hanging with Mia as always

On the side yard

And in the front yard-- that girl is into biking!!!

I found a few pictures from Mia's actual birthday day. We did a little cake for her at home and she loved it!!

Happy Birthday #3

Yesterday Mia and I got our hair cuts. Her hair looks so cute and thick when it is short like this, therefore, until it is thicker, I am keeping it short. By the way all of the following pictures were taken with my phone-- totally poor quality.

Too Cute

So then we moved onto my cut and Mia went into my friend Heather's yard to play (her salon is at her house). A few minutes later we heard a cry-- a hurt cry and went running. Sure enough this is what we saw:

Yep, that is a big hole in her chin which later at Urgent care received 3 stitches-- ugg!! It was not pleasant and she was not happy. They commented on what a strong little 26 pound girl she was. It took 4 of us to hold her down, which by the way broke my heart!!

Finally, I took a few pictures of our Christmas decor, again with my phone, yesterday moning before we left for our hair cuts. Very poor quality pictures but you get the idea.

Mia clearly had not had a bath or her hair brushed at that point.




The villages which by the way Miss Mia loves to play with like they are unbreakable little dolls-- we have had a few discussions about being careful with the breakable figurines.

The mantle and the tree. We have not decorated the tree but will soon.

That's it for now. Gotta get back to work!!!

Finally Posting Nick's Grad

Finally I downloaded the pictures from my nice camera and on that camera was Nick's graduation. This was such an awesome day for the Kim's family. Kevin and I were just beaming with pride that Nick was representing our country in such an amazing way!! We are so thankful for men and woman like Nick who are role models to all of us - and our kids!! Thanks so much Kim for allowing us to be a part of this amazing day!!

Mia waiting for the graduation to begin.

In formation. Nick is in there somewhere

Love that picture

Again, Nick is in there somewhere

Nick, Kim and Kylee hugging Nick

Hugs from Grandma

Mia's 3rd birthday was the day before so Kim came bearing gifts for the little twerp. It was the cutest little tutu, and fairy set in the world. Mia plays with it all the time.

With the wings and flower clip

Kim and Mia-- bonding

The whole family!

Nick opening the gift we brought-- a knife

Kim Mia and I

Thanks so much for letting us spend that special day with you!!!

San Juan Capistran Mission Field Trip

In the 4th grade in California we study California Mission history. I always loved studying the missions as they were such a place of refuge back in the day. Last week Owen's class went to the San Juan Capistrano mission which is abut 45 minutes from our house. It was a fun field trip to be able to go on - just Owen and I. We had a fun time and since I drove my car with one of his friends, I was able to get them a Starbucks and make it a special time.

Some of his class- Owen is the third from the left.

A student took this picture of us

Our guide explaining the lay out of the mission

San Juan Capistrano is an absolutely beautiful place!!

Not sure what the horse was all about but had to get a picture with it.

Another Owen and Mommy picture

The bell

Checking out the Koi pond fountain thing

The graveyard

Sorry, my history evades me-- not sure who this guy was

Overall a nice time for Owen and I!

Mall~ Gymnastics~ Delay

First off, I have to apologize for the delay in posting. I swear this week just got away from me. I have so many pictures to post that it has become overwhelming to think about going through all of them so I am burying my head in the sand and just using pictures that are on my tiny camera that are easy to upload. Kim-- I promise I will go through all Nick's grad pictures soon-- I have just been so overwhelmed and busy that I have not been able to take that on yet-- but I will-- promise!!!

These first pictures are from when we went to get Mia's 3 year old pictures taken at the mall. We did not do pictures in this outfit (it was the outfit she changed into after pictures) but she still wanted to play the piano so I let her and took these. Her 3 year old pictures came out really cute and I will post those as well, but that is another project to scan those in and post them-- and you know how well I am dealing with projects right now-- horribly-- uggg!!!

My mom and Kevin's mom came to the mall with us and after we went to Cheesecake Factory to have lunch. I looked back while we were walking and saw them both holding Mia's hands and thought that was a great picture.

My mom Julie in red jacket and Kevin's mom Mary in black sweater.


Mia is now old enough to start gymnastics at our local gym now that she is 3. There was a waiting list but they just had a cancellation a couple weeks ago so we just started this past Monday. At first Mia was a bit tentative but she warmed up quickly.


Climbing the rock wall

Waiting while directions are given

Jumping down the long trampoline

Mia loved this part. She loved holding her body up with her arms and kicking her legs in the air.

Helping Mia do a push up

Not sure what she was doing here

Having fun!!!

Sliding down the slide back into the preschool room.

Overall, Mia had a great time and is looking forward to her next class!!!!