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!

Could There be a Seamstress in our House?

Last week Zoe talked me into buying her a kid's teddy bear sewing kit. As you all know, Zoe is all about anything that has to do with art. As I stood in the store reading about the kit, I promised Zoe that she could work on it after dinner that evening. So, as soon as the table was cleared & the dishwasher started, I helped her piece the pre-fab pattern together & showed her how to start a stitch. Before too long, she was well on her way to sewing her first ever item. After a little help & some extremely good patience, Zoe introduced Snowflake to her daddy. What do you think? Pretty good, huh? (Perhaps, she'll learn how to use a sewing machine - something this Mama never had any interest in!!! And still doesn't!!!!)

PS - As you all have guessed by now, Zoe made it home safe & sound yesterday from her field-trip with her friend. I told her that I missed her & thought about her all day. Her reply - "Sorry Mom, but I was too busy having fun to even think about you!!!"

A Nervous Nelly!!!!

Those of you that know me or have been around long enough, know that I am, for the most part, calm, cool, & collective. Not too much bothers me. I pretty well let things roll off my shoulders & not worry too much. Well, the time has come & I must admit that I am a Nervous Nelly. You see, today Zoe is on her first "official" out-of-town outing with a friend. She was asked by Kylie to go to the Science Center with her family. As you can imagine, Zoe was very excited & has talked about it for days. I'm excited for her too, but yet, very nervous on the inside. Paul & I both gave Zoe the talk about staying with Kylie's parents, not running off, no talking to strangers, etc. (As we did, Zoe just rolled her eyes & stated over & over - I know! I know!) Deep down I know that she will be fine & have a blast. Until she gets home, I'll keep myself busy - cleaning, laundry, grading papers, etc. (Believe me, I have plenty to do to keep my mind off it it!)

Christmas Memories

Christmas Eve we always go to Paw Paw Frank's & Grandma Donna's house. We enjoy visiting with family, eating, & watching the kids open their presents.

Alex, Zoe, Tiffany, & Tristan

Zoe snuggling up to Daddy in her new cheerleading outfit!

Zoe showing off the butterfly she created with her Bendaroos from Aunt Leeshe!

Before going to bed, Zoe wrote a note to Santa, left the reindeer food, sat out milk & cookies for Santa, & put the "Magic Key" in our door so Santa could get in the house.

Santa's note...

Putting reindeer food on the porch.

Milk, cookies, note, & napkins... All for Santa!

Hanging the "Magic Key" on the doorknob.

Christmas morning Zoe found the presents Santa left her & then she opened the ones we had bought her.

Looking through her stocking!

A new book...

Around mid-morning we headed to Paul's cousin's house to celebrate with the other side of the family.

Zoe & Maw

Zoe & baby Gabby!

Then it was on to Paw Paw & Nana's. We had a light supper & visited with my side of the family. It's always so fun seeing all of the cousins & hanging out with them. Zoe had someone follow her around all night - cousin Gracie! (Hard to believe that she'll be 2 in a few weeks!)

Zoe & Gracie!!!