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

Our Vacation in the Sun

We had a wonderful time on our vacation aboard the ship Star Princess visiting seven islands in the Caribbean.  This is the first opportunity we've had to vacation with our girls and we all had a great adventure.  Anna and Lily travel so well.  They had so much fun in the ship's play area and on the days we spent on the white sands of some of the world's greatest beaches.

Anna and Lily decorate cookies in the playroom



Playing in the white sands of Barbados

John's eye candy

"Is that an iceberg!?"

"This water is so warm!"

Anna after getting her corn rows.

The three most beautiful girls on the ship.

Easter Sunday

Sailors three.

Loving sisters.

It's fun to dress up!

Two beautiful sisters.

Watching the ocean roll by.

Life After the Orphanage

Life after a Chinese orphanage consists of many different experiences.  In Lily and Anna's case here are a few:


Saying the Pledge of Allegiance taught us by Nana.  But note that the Chinese flag is also represented.

 

Spring is here and it's time to do Spring cleaning on our playhouse.



Until Summer comes. it's fun to swim in the hot tub.



Anna loves to cook!  Here she is slicing onions for the salad.  Note that Anna can use a sharp knife!



Two favorite passtimes- coloring and computer games.  Lily has mastered the computer mouse.