Since I Last Posted....

Paul celebrated his 48th birthday February 16th. We celebrated at home with a game that Zoe made - Pin the Nose on the Pig. She was very proud of the pig & nose that she drew. She made her dad go first.

Don't you love the blind fold she came up with - her sleeping mask!

Zoe having Daddy pause before his first try.

Wrong way, Paul. The pig is hanging on the fridge!

Next up - Zoe. She couldn't keep from laughing!

She's much closer than Dad.

We all enjoyed playing Pin the Nose on the Pig. After about 3 rounds, we all finally got the hang of it. It put a fun twist to dad's birthday. Which by the way, he was very happy with because Zoe & I got him tickets to go see these guys in a few weeks:

Let me just tell ya, Paul is SUPER excited! He's thinking about pulling out a flannel shirt & some camouflage to wear to the show. (I told him that's fine. He'll just fit right in!)

Then, just a few days ago Zoe, Avery (her friend), & I welcomed home this little guy at the airport:

You talk about a cutie! We arrived at the airport about 20 minutes before their flight was supposed to arrive, only to find out the flight was delayed about 2 hours. So, we just hung out.

Zoe patiently waiting.

Avery, Zoe, & Big Sister Ashlyn showing off a sign that someone had made.

Zoe's sign. (A little too much glare...)

As they walk towards the gate. (Big Sister & Brother ran to Mom, Dad, & Eli)

Zoe acting silly with Eli's cousin Nick.

Everyone who showed up at the airport to welcome Eli home.

What a blessing his is!

Look at the New Little Valentine!

Not sure if you remember the post I did about our friends adopting a little boy from China they were going to name Eli?! (If you don't, you can check it out here.) Anyway, I am so excited to let you know that our friends, Jered & Nicole, met their little guy yesterday. They are so in love.
Isn't he such a cutie?!

What a blessing that little Valentine is! (Feel free to follow Eli's journey home here.)

State Champions!!!

Oh where has the time gone?! Since I last posted, Zoe & I both had four more snow (or should I say ice) days. That brings our total to 9 snow days thus far this school year. My school is looking at getting out around May 24th or so. I haven't heard about Zoe's school yet.

Speaking of my school, our junior high girls' basketball team won the state championship for the medium sized schools. Very cool, huh?! Four of the starters on the team are only in 7th grade - three of them in my homeroom - so it should be exciting again next year.

I volunteered to chaperone the student fan bus all three nights to the state tournament. I must say the students were very well behaved. They cheered & rooted our girls to victory. So, so, proud of their behavior. The night of the championship game Zoe actually road the fan bus with me because her friend Morgan (I teach with her mom.) was going as well. The two of them had a great time.

Olivia (one of my students), Zoe (with her 4 front teeth missing!), & Morgan.

State Champions!

6 Years Ago Today....

a scared little girl was placed in my arms in a hotel room in China. We never knew how that day was going to change our lives forever. Happy Gotcha Day, Zoe Gwen! What a blessing you are to all those who know you!

It's Been a Little Crazy 'Round Here

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Things have been crazy to say the least. In the last couple of weeks we have had Zoe's school Christmas concert, my father-in-law had a stroke, Zoe had cheer camp at the high school, Zoe cheered at the high school basketball game, & two snow days. Plus, before all of this, we started painting our countertops in the kitchen. I do have pictures of everything. Hope to get those up in the next day or two.

PS - Does anyone else see the background on here that says the picture or video has been deleted. I have no idea what's happened or going on. It was here when I pulled up the blog. Huh?! Guess I need to figure it out. Any suggestions?

The Tooth Fairy Visits Nov. 28

Sunday as I was Christmas shopping, my cell phone rings. When I answer it, Zoe is squealing with delight as she tells me that her daddy pulled her tooth. You have to understand that Zoe is one of the few left in her first grade class that hasn't lost a tooth yet. She was so excited when she was at the dentist about a month ago & Dr. Kevin informed her that she had 4 teeth loose. He told her to start wiggling them & before you know it, they would come out. Well, the bottom left center has been hanging - & yes, I mean hanging - for a couple of weeks. Zoe finally got brave & asked her daddy to pull it. One the second try, it snapped right out!

After taking her bath & getting her jammies on, Zoe wrote a letter to the Tooth Fairy asking that she not take her tooth. When asked why, Zoe said that she wants to keep it forever. (And believe me, if you know anything about my girl, she means FOREVER!!! She is such a pack rat & wants to save everything.)

Zoe was so excited when I woke her up the next morning to get ready for school & she found $7.00 under her pillow, the note she had written, & her tooth. She couldn't have been more thrilled, especially since the tooth fairy left her the amount of money that is her exact age. How cool is that! (Sure wish I'd lose a tooth - $39.00 would come in real handy about now!!!)

A First Times Two Plus a Win!!!

Last Saturday night Paul, Zoe, & I attended the St. Louis Blues hockey game. We had a great time right from the start. As soon as we got there (about 40 minutes before the game started), the usher encouraged us to take Zoe down to the ice while the two teams warmed up. Boy, are we glad we did. While we were standing there watching, a puck flew over the glass & landed right between Zoe's feet. She was thrilled! (Paul said that he'd been going to hockey games for over twenty years & has never gotten a puck. Zoe goes to her third game ever & gets her first ever puck!) Plus, during the game, a fan from our section was chosen to participate in a game on the jumbo-tron. He won which gave everyone in our section a free $1 lottery ticket. Zoe had a blast scratching off her first ever lottery ticket. No winner, but she was pretty excited for a seven year old.

Zoe & Daddy after finding our seats!

Watching practice...

The NJ Devils goalie - a hometown boy from St. Louis.

Zoe with her puck - how awesome!

Discussing their strategy.

A face-off...

Right before the Blues score.

A fight about to start.

The Blues goalie stops the puck before it enters the net.

The Blues goalie!

Another face-off.

Zoe's lottery ticket!

Erik Johnson - a Blues defensemen.

The final face-off before the Blues beat the Devils 3 to 2!