4th in State, Baby!

My niece Bethanie's junior high girls' basketball team played today for 3rd place in the state. Unfortunately, they came up a little short & took home the 4th place trophy. What a great season though! Further down the road, those girls will look back on this adventure & realize what they accomplished! Bethanie is only a 7th grader so we are anxious to see how she continues to improve her game. Bethanie, we are so proud of you! 4th in State, Baby!

Bethanie (#42) on defense...

Posting up for the ball...

During a 30 second time out...

Zoe during a break...

Bethanie at the high post...

Shooting a free throw...she made it!

Zoe & cousin Courtney!

Concentration...

The 4th Place Team

Zoe & cousin Bethanie!

A Busy Week & a Welcomed Gift

It was a crazy, busy last week around our house. Seems like we had something to do every night - gymnastics, ballgames, meetings, etc. This coming week doesn't look any slower & neither does the weekend. Here's some highlights of our week:

Zoe hanging with Claire, a co-worker's daughter, at my school's jr. high girls' basketball game. Zoe helped Claire write on the white board in my classroom.

Zoe & her friend Avery playing at our house.

Aside from all of the craziness we did receive the most treasured Christmas gift this week - a Christmas card. See, every year since adopting Zoe, we receive a Christmas card from her orphanage about 2 weeks after Christmas. We look so forward to receiving it that Paul & I are like kids in a candy shop just waiting for it to arrive in the mail. We always enjoy opening & reading what the orphanage director writes. He didn't disappoint this year! What a precious gift!

This is the return address.

The amount of postage it took.

The card itself - in 3D no doubt!

The inside of the card.

And the message from Director Dou.

The back of the card.

Happy Gotcha Day #5!

It's so hard to believe that 5 years ago today Paul & I woke up in our hotel in China & walked down the hallway only to be greeted by a little girl who would become our forever daughter. Through the years we have relived those memories many times & today is no exception. What a blessing to have been chosen Zoe Gwen's parents. Happy Gotcha Day, Zoe! Mommy & Daddy love you so much.

And in Gotcha Day fashion, we celebrated it yesterday by taking Zoe & a friend out to lunch & then to B*ild-a-Be*r.

Zoe & Kylie waiting for their lunch.

They've picked out what animals they're going to stuff.

Zoe stuffing her puppy.

And making a wish & giving her puppy's heart a kiss.

Bath time for puppy!

Introducing puppies - Valenie & Rose!

Snow Day

Last night the weather man was predicting 4-8 inches of snow. Zoe was so excited thinking that she would get her very first official snow day as a kindergartner. Well, the weather man didn't disappoint! About 4:50 this morning, Zoe's school's all-call system called saying school was cancelled & then about 5:40 my school's all-call system called saying my school was also cancelled. So, back to bed we went!

We woke up later to about 4 inches of snow, 12 degrees, & 35 pmh winds. Needless to say we stayed in side most of the day. Yes, we did venture outside for about 10 minutes so Zoe could play in the snow. Maggie, our dog went out with us. She was hilarious to watch run around & kick around the snow.

Zoe went right to the swing set!

All bundled up & swinging away!

Getting ready to make a snowball.

Kicking snow on Daddy!

And Daddy just kicked snow back on her!

(Notice she has her gloves on wrong!)

Running away from Daddy!

She nailed him!

Maggie taking a break from acting wild.

Mid-air!!!

Not sure what tomorrow is going to bring! The wind is supposed to really kick up tonight & cause even more drifts. Zoe is hoping for another snow day & I must admit, I am too!