Year of the Dragon

The Year of the Dragon started this week.  Anna and Lily wore traditional Chinese dresses to school on Monday, the Chinese New Year.

Today we celebrated in our traditional way by watching the dragon parade and then enjoying lunch in our favorite Chinese restaurant.  The girls loved the dragons and were even able to deal with the loud firecrackers.

Two beautiful girls in their Chinese dresses

Two scary dragons

Waiting for the dragon parade with Dad

Seattle's Chinese gate





The dragons dancing around the firecrackers

Snowy Seattle

This has been a very wintry week in the Puget Sound area, which is something we don't experience very often.  Heavy snow and ice pretty much shut the city down. 

But for Anna and Lily it was FUN!

Flying down the hill

Playing with neighborhood friends

A Joyful Christmas

Christmas was a joyful time for our family.  How could it not be considering the excitement and fun that Anna and Lily brought to the season!  These two girls relished every moment.  Since Thanksgiving they were bubbling with Christmas spirit.  Lily filled the house with her beautiful renditions of carols, and Anna helped Mom and Dad put up all the decorations.

Chloe joined us for the holidays and the three girls continued to build their close bond as sisters.  Eric and Nana Barbara also joined us for a Christmas weekend filled with fun, food, and sharing of gifts.

We are so grateful to have been able to have our family together and to be so blessed during times that are hard for others around the world.

Lily at her pre-school Christmas celebration

A holiday trip to the Seattle Aquarium

All dressed up on Christmas Eve

Three beautiful sisters

Opening gifts with Mommy

Anna looking so different than when we picked her up at the orphanage exactly 2 years ago... such a beautiful young lady!

Presents for Dad

Thanksgiving 2011

Our Thanksgiving was extra fun this year.  A house full of wonderful family-- Chloe, her boyfriend Erick, Nana Barbara, and Eric and his girlfriend Tara.  Our dinner was traditional turkey with all the extras.  As usual Anna ate an entire turkey leg!

New this year was Lily's rendition of "Albuquerque Turkey"-

Anna is 6 and Halloween Is Fun

Anna and Lily choose their pumpkins

Anna celebrates her 6th birthday with her sister

Lily the "good" witch and Anna the clown

Jeff, Danielle, and Lillian Vist

Pamela's brother Jeff visited with us last week, and was joined by Danielle and her sweet daughter Lillian.  We really enjoyed having them here.  Saturday we had a fun day at Remlinger Farms.  Several pictures are below.

Off to School!

It's hard for us believe Anna is starting kindergarten tomorrow.  Seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from China.  She has blossomed into such a beautiful and interesting young girl.  She is so excited about starting school that she's bouncing off the walls.  Tomorrow she makes her first school bus ride.  It was hard to get her to sleep tonight.  She is so ready!

Lily is starting a new preschool and, like Anna, is very excited.  She met her teachers and visited her school room today and can't wait to get started. 

Anna visits her new classroom

Lilly meets her teachers

Boating Fun with Chloe and Erick

Chloe and her boyfriend Erick joined us for a fun day on the boat.  The girls especially enjoyed bouncing on the donut.

Snacking on Lake Washington

Bouncing in the donut

Anna swimming with Dad

Look Mom, No Training Wheels!!

Anna and Lily have graduated from their training wheels!  And they did it in one day!  Anna was first.  She worked hard to learn to balance on her scooter, and from there she was ready for her bike.  Lily watched Anna and was determined to follow in her footsteps.  She grabbed the scooter, mastered her balance, and asked Daddy to take off those training wheels.  And before we knew it, they were off!

Anna helping Lily get started

Mom, no training wheels!

Off and riding

Picking Strawberries with Dad

Anna and Lily love strawberries, and their Dad has been telling them for months that Northwest strawberries are the best.  And Saturday they found out that it's true!

They were great little strawberry pickers, even though they ate almost as many as they picked!

The Girls Get a Sandbox

Anna and Lily have been asking for a sandbox for some time, and thay finally have one. Dad and Chloe were the primary carpenters and Anna was a helper. And when it was done the girls had a 6 x 8 sandbox that has provided hours of fun.

The carpenters at work

Fun in the sand

With sister Chloe

Dad's three beautiful girls