TADAAAA!!!!!

We took the plunge and got Annaka's haircut. She got about 2 or more inches cut off the back. It was time for a change and her hair grows so fast we figured why not. She looks so cute with it like this. And it is so easy to get ready at 6am on daycare days.She did so good, she didn't make a peep the whole time. Suckers do such a wonderful job of keeping her busy. She has changed so much in the last 3 weeks, she is saying so many new words and puts about 3 words together now. She can get really get frustrated if we cant understand what she is trying to tell us. She has a full blown temper tantrum falling to the floor and crying so hard. We have to keep telling her that its okay and try to guess what she is trying to tell us (okay, sometimes we walk away so she can get over it on her own). She loves to color, dance, play with her little animals, and wrestle with her bro-bro. She is definitely a 2 year old.

lollipops and a 2 year old~

Loving Annaka: Feb.1st

Loving Annaka: Feb.1st

Click above..This was one year ago today. Its so strange to look back at the two of them.
China was so amazing, I really miss it. It was so neat to see the country and the different life styles. I miss the cheap prices and friendly people, I cant wait to go back someday and let Annaka see it through her own eyes. We are so lucky to have gotten such a sweet heart. She fits right in with us, as scary as that is. Her bro-bro and sissy will be coming home from school, they always come right in and give her big hugs, the newness of having alittle sister has not worn off yet that is forsure.

Houston, we have a problem

Well, at least she is playing with her kitchen, but I didnt think sitting in the sink was part of cooking? She is such a goof ball these days. I laughed so hard when I found her like this. That is one good thing about a 2 year old they keep you laughing.

She gets so mad at us if we try to help her sing hte ABC's with her, she will hold up her and say no! She only wants to sing alone these days. She is getting to have quite the temper these days to. If she is mad at you for something she will let you know. What a nut!

Happy Birthday Big Girl!

Happy Birthday Annaka and Laney!

It was a great day for the girls!!
It was so fun to see them open the presents and be together on their first (second) Birthday with us.

Laney and her Big Sister Ashley.

Enjoying some warm weather!

Last weekend I took Annaka outside for some fun in the snow. The weather was so warm that we had to get out. She really liked it and when I put her in the swing, I was able to get some nice pictures of her. I love black and whites.

Its hard to believe next week she will be 2~ I think I am more excited for gotcha day on the 28th, only because that was when she was physically with us. She has come so far in one year, I can't imagine a day with out her. For so long we wondered what she would be like and how she would fit into our family. Now I don't know what we did with out her. It's funny how that happens, it was the same way when I gave brith to Ally and Andrew.

Adoption is a wonderful thing, I am so grateful for what we got to do and for the outcome of those 2 1/2 years. From all of the paperwork, making endless photocopies, background searches, money orders, drives up to the cities for more paperwork... IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.. And if I can stick with it anyone can!

Serious Sledding.

Ally and Andrew are loving all the snow we have gotten this year. They have been over at our neighbors yard sledding almost everyday. The only problem is Judy planted a tree right in the middle of the hill. You can see it in the picture of Ally on the snow board. We are going to sign a petition to have it removed.

Oh My Goodness

This was Annaka after opening her present from Judy. I was trying to get her to look at me so I took the present away.. bad idea~

Merry Christmas!!

Annaka had a wonderful first Christmas. She really liked Santa and even gave him kisses and hugs. She really likes presents and gets really excited when its time to unwrap them.
Its hard to imagine that last year she wasn't here with us. Thank God for adoption!
Tomorrow I will add one of Annaka while I tried to get her to look at me after she opened her gift from Judy (her daycare mom). Its a humdinger so I will let you look at these lovely ones first! Merry Christmas!

One Year Today

Today at around 10:15am my cell phone rang and our life's were never the same. We were sent the middle picture of Annaka and could only count the days until she was placed in our arms.

What a journey it has been. She has really changed our life's and our hearts.

Today she was up at 4:30am , i tried to lay her in bed with us but she wanted nothing to do with it. Now she is in our bed watching cartoons while we get ready to head to work. What a different life from the orphange when she would lay in her crib and wait to be held or touched by a cartaker. Breaks my heart....

For Judy....

We are thinking of you and wanted to send you a hug.

x0x0x0x Annaka and Heather

Congratulations!!

Our good friend Michaun had a baby boy on Halloween. Congratulations Michaun, Dan and Kaelyn. We cant wait to meet the new little one...

First Time Carving Pumpkins for Annaka Wanci

We carved pumpkins on Sunday. Annaka wasn't sure what to think at first. She laughed so hard when we started to get the pumpkins on the table. All the kids had there own pumpkins to carve. Annaka helped out by playing with all the insides of the pumpkin while I carved it.

Trick or treating went good. We went with Raina, Michon and Laney. The girls were cute together and got lots of ohhhh and ahhhhs. Ally and Andrew ran ahead of us and hit the houses before we got there. I think next year it will be a little easier with the kids having longer, longer legs!

Jackie Paper is here to stay

Well, we decided to keep the kitty. We named him after the story Puff the Magic Dragon. Jackie Paper is fitting in very well.

His first trip to the vet he weighed whopping 8 ounces. The vet thought he was around 4 weeks. One week later I had to bring him back to the vet (he was having a heck of time pooping) he weighted in at 1.3 ounces. He loves his milk, and he drinks out of a bowl now. I still cant get him to take any cat food but the vet thought that would come as he gets older.

Annaka is doing good with Jackie the only thing is he chases her and bites at her ankles. She tries to run away from him but he runs right after her. He loves to play and bite. Jade our golden retriever sure does like him. She is such a good dog, she plays with him at night and she is really gentle with him. She takes Scott's socks after he takes them off at night and lays them by him when he is sleeping. She used to do the same thing to Echo. I think it is her way of protecting them when they sleep.

so, we are back to a family of "threecatswilldo". I have to wonder if "Jackie Paper" will live as long as "My Echo" did.

First Annual Halloween Party, BOO!

Today was the first annual Halloween Party. The girls were soooooo cute!

We had lunch, played, then walked across the block to the house with the huge pumpkins. After that we went to visit Laney's Grama and Great Grampa. They were so fun to watch walk around and and listen to them talk to each other. They really loved being with each other. The hardest part was getting them to pose for the camera. I think between the 4 of us we took more than a hundred pictures.

They were all just so cute watching walk up the street with their costumes. The pumpkins were so big at the Raina's neighbors house. We tried to get the girls all on the same pumpkin ,but I had to hide behind them so they wouldn't slip off! All and All it was a perfect day for a Halloween Party! You can bet they all took really good naps after that!

It's not a done deal..yet.....

Okay, so this is how it happened. I got a call from Ally's friends mom, Julie. She asked me if I could take a kitten that she found at her brothers farm. She was watching his cats while he was gone. She said she had heard this little one crying a day ago but couldn't find it. Well, they found it tonight and I said I would take care of her and bottle feed her. "She" is only about 4 weeks old. She has does have teeth and is so cute. I don't know yet if we will keep her or not. Scott says we might has well buy a collar NOW but seriously I just don't know yet. Her are some pictures of her with the kids, they were all so excited.