More Holiday Photos

 
 
 

Our Christmas

 
 
 

Here are some pictures of our time in Georgia over the Christmas Holidays.

Family Christmas Photo

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH!

 

Happy Birthday to a wonderful husband and daddy.
We love you,
Julie, Race & Van

Ready for Christmas

 

The boys are ready for Christmas. Race keeps asking us to open the gifts he bought us, he is excited. Van liked pulling ornaments off the tree for the first few days until he learned that the ornaments stay on the tree.

Choo Choo Train

 

Here's Van with his pull behind Thomas Train.

Thanksgiving Day

 

 

We are having a nice quiet day just hanging out!

Bye Mom

 

Van started a Mother's Day Out program today at a local church. He was hollering in excitement on the way to his classroom, he walked right in and said, "Bye Mom." Race seemed a little sad about dropping Van off. We think this program will hopefully help Van to improve his speaking skills.

A Day of Mishaps

 

Yesterday was full of mishaps for Van. Van and I were coming home from Goodwill and I was getting the diaper bag,etc out of the car and didn't realize he had two of his fingers in the crack between the front and back door. I locked and shut the door then realized his fingers were stuck in the door. I had to unlock the door and then open it to get his fingers out, he cried for a while but I think just the tips of his fingers got it, because there are no marks and he is using them freely. Yesterday evening I was putting clothes in the dryer, Keith and Race were outside, and I heard a yell, I came to the living room to find candle wax all over Van's toes and on the rug. I peeled the wax off of his toes and put him to bed before something else happened. He loves to smell candles, and I had just blown this one out. He's real fussy today and has a runny nose. We are meeting with a local church to see about letting him join a Mother's Day Out program once a week to help strengthen his speech.
This photo was taken in Indonesia.

Looking Back

 

 

 

These pictures were taken a year ago today. We arrived in Hanoi on the night of 11/5/07 and these photos were taken the next day as we were exploring this new city. Hanoi was cooler and a bit quieter, but the people did not seem as friendly, but on the other hand the cyclo drivers weren't as pushy, but there were plenty of other sales people (book peddlers, gum peddlers, etc.) who made up for them.

We are going bowling today with a homeschool group from church today, so we're having a little bit easier school day today.

Sushi anyone?

 

For supper tonight we had the choice of Sushi and Seafood Stew or Pizza. Race and I opted for the pizza, but Van and Keith's favorite was the sushi. I haven't found much that Van or Keith will not eat.

KFC Indonesian Style

 

 

How do you like KFC's mode of delivery? I know two of the times that we went to KFC this lady was asleep at her selling station outside of the restaurant.

It has turned cold here, I would put in a request for a fireplace, but I imagine it would be ignored. I was telling Race that tonight would be a good night for hot chocolate.

Yeah!!!

 

This morning we let Van run around in his undies and told him if he would use the potty that he could have a piece of candy. He picked up the potty and brought it to me thinking that would get him a piece of candy, but that didn't work. Finally, Van used the potty by himself this morning!

Boys playing around outside

 

 

Here are a few shots of the boys playing around outside. Van likes to help water the plants. This tree that Race is playing on fell several weeks ago and we had to stop and play on it for a few minutes on our walk.

Adventures in Indonesia

 

 

 

The first photo was of the goat house on the farm, where we stayed.

The second photo is of a road side fruit stand that we passed on our way back from a tea plantation in the mountains.

The third photo is of an Indonesian woman, that works on the farm, roasting coffee.

The Boys Playing Around

 

 

 

Here are a few shots of the boys playing around.

Van has his second meeting with the speech therapist tomorrow. This will be his third time meeting her, each time he sees her he seems to warm up to her a little more.

Race started an art book today and seems to really be enjoying it, just wished he liked the other subjects just as much as he likes this one.

Then & Now

 

 

Yesterday, October 16th was Van's Gotcha Day! Van has been with us a year. Look at the picture of this sad little boy on the way to the adoption ceremony and then look at the photo from yesterday of this happy little boy. We watched our Vietnam video last night and it's amazing how much progress Van has made. There are lots of kids still left behind in need of families.

On Monday I was running in the house to answer the phone and I ran into the dresser or the wall and cracked my right pinky toe, so take my advice and do not run in the house!

We just got high speed internet hooked up, so maybe my posts will be more often since it will hopefully take a lot less time to post them.

First Encounter

This is one of the very first pictures of Van at the orphanage, just minutes after meeting him for the first time. Van's 1 year anniversary is October 16th. It's hard to believe that Van has been with us almost a year. He has adjusted perfectly. Van is growing and doing great! Van loves to wrestle and aggravate Race, play with hotwheels and loves trains (or woo woos as he calls them).

The boys and I are in Georgia visiting my parents and then we'll head to Keith's parent's house on Wednesday for a few days. We are having a nice time of well needed rest and relaxation.

The "Say Cheese" Grin

 

 

 

Van has recently learned how to grin as big as he can when we say, "say cheese." The first photo was taken at our hotel in Cincinnati, this was the day before our trip to Indonesia. The second photo was taken at the New York airport. The food at the airport was extremely overpriced, so we mostly ate what we packed from home.

We are just now getting back to our routine of school. If it's not the electricity off it is one thing or another taking up our time.

I need to start proofreading my posts a little better, because when I go back and look, I always find mistakes. Please don't turn me in to the Jefferson County School Board as an unfit teacher!