handsful

Someone decided she wanted bangs.  I think she made a good decision :)

I’m finally getting around to posting about Lainey and Dylan’s birthday last week. After the birthday-palooza, I kinda crashed. And, then got busy with life. Life these days is a tad full. Plus, our camera isn’t functioning correctly and the pictures just aren’t that great. Irks me to death. The favorite pics I took of the trips somehow didn’t even save to the memory card. THAT makes me mad. In the words of Francesca B, “this is the stuff that drives me crazy…”

Like my cupcakes? Spiderman and Hello Kitty (her bow, that is) designs. But, I’m jumping ahead. Their birthday was, of course, on July 4th. We had a somewhat lazy first part of the day, and then broke out the presents.

It’s a shame some of these shots are fuzzy (trying to remain calm…)

Lainey got a Rapunzel Barbie (she requested a Barbie with “very long straight blond hair”…I think I hit the mark on that one), and skates. She wears Marley’s all the time, so she was thrilled. (She even got to try them out at MPE’s party the following night!)

Dylan got his first bike. We attach his prosthesis foot to the pedal with a strap of velcro and he’s been biking all over the house. We might get a pedal clip, but for now this is working. How much do I love watching my boy ride a bike?!?

As is the custom, we then took the family out for dinner, to celebrate. We had a gift card to a certain restaurant, so we talked the littles into going there ;)

Fast forward to July 7th. Which is Marley, Payton, and Ethan’s birthday. But, this post is about the littles! We actually had their party ON the trips birthday. Yes, we asked them if they minded that. They were happy to lounge around the house that morning (after their mega-sleepover the night before…more on that next post).

We met a few of their friends at the local splash park for some water fun.

It was HOT that day. Almost 100. They took turns going in the playground section and water section.

Next stop, our house for more fun…

Back into dry clothes, and added another friend :)

Presents!

Cupcakes!

In the end, we’ve now got a 6 year old and a 5 year old. No more “preschoolers” in the house. I feel like we’ve somehow moved to the next level. Which makes me shake a little in my boots when I think of this coming school year. But, that’s another post.

Happy Birthday, Lainey and Dylan…we love you bunches.

It’s just me and the wee ones this week, with Randy out of town for work and the big kids on choir tour. It’s been WEIRD. I’ve only washed clothes and ran the dishwasher ONCE. Unheard of.

It’s also been nice, spending time with them. We’ve worked together to get the chores done (I now appreciate my boys even more for lugging the trash cans and recycle bins down our looonngg driveway). We’ve played, and we’ve been lazy.

Today I told them we were going to do something fun, and I think I delivered on that promise. With the heat we’ve been having lately, finding a play place indoors was key!

Excuse the phone pics, it’s all I had…

Fireman’s pole complete with a real truck to climb on

Not to be outdone…

Grocery store…Lainey’s working the register.

C’mon, you know you always weigh your milk and ice cream too, right?

A quick climb…it was hard for Dylan, imagine climbing this without being able to bend (put weight on) your leg? Hmmm…

My new doctor…she looks trustworthy, huh?

Climbing on a sunken ship…

Flying a plane!

Driving a race car…

and, a boat! This place had it all.

Lainey’s face says “hey, I’m trying to bring in the crops here, leave me alone”

Their favorite room was the Cafe, which I have no pictures of. That’s because I was busy sitting at the counter, ordering food, and eating. They were busy rushing around the kitchen, pouring tea, bringing ice cream, and bringing me my bill!

They were already asking when we’d come back, before we even left. Score, mom!

Lainey, in all her silliness, taken last night on the back deck.

She’d been growing it for a little while.

But, then Marley started working on her to cut it short again. Back to a “bob length”, that she had several years ago. She even went as far as BRIBING her with 5 bucks. We nipped that idea, and told Lainey that she should cut it only if SHE wanted to. And, to our surprise, she decided to go ahead with it. So, we were off to see Miss Donna…

And, there it goes…

Looking unsure

And, done!

She couldn’t stop giggling and dancing around when we left. She danced to the van, danced into the grocery, danced IN the grocery, etc. I think she decided she was pretty happy with her new do. We sure are. Can’t believe she could get even cuter than she already was :)

2/19/2012

2/24/2012

We glanced up, while waiting for the elevator, when our guide casually said “and, here’s the baby from Bengbu”.

You were so brave, holding in your emotions, until we laid you down to change your diaper…and, you whimpered softly.

I looked at you on the way back to the hotel, and you looked at me. Both of us with looks of “okay, now what” on our faces.

Fast forward…

It’s been 4 years since that day we “met” you at the elevators. Since that day you were brave, and we were both unsure of the future.

Today, you’re very self-assured, very brave and VERY spunky. Back then, your “language” was 2 vowel-like utterances. Today, you’re a speech therapy rock star, working so hard and making HUGE progress. We understand you most of the time…amazing.

You have a very strong personality…most of the time, that’s great. Sometimes, it’s a challenge. But, we’re up for it. And, you’re worth it.

There are many things you love at age 5. Your bike, your gummy bear vitamins, Curious George, skinny jeans, the swingset, food (too many to narrow down…), running, and staying no more than 12 inches away from mom.

You know that mom and dad made a long trip to China to get you. You know that the big kids grew in my tummy. You know that you did not. One connection you’ve not quite made yet…so, where did you grow? How did you come to be?

This book should help her make that connection, and in a very beautiful and loving way. I’m looking forward to / nervous about – reading it. We’ll be reading it today.

Last night at her celebration dinner (she wanted Taco Bell, we convinced her to upgrade to a Mexican restaurant…), she flipped through the pages and pointed to the cast of characters. I told her “that’s you”, “that’s mommy”, and “that’s China mommy”. She asked no questions, just smiled at each page.

Her China mommy gave her her beauty, her laugh, her stinky feet. I’ll give her comfort when she’s sad, high-fives when she’s happy, love forever.

Happy 4 years, Lainey-girl. We love you. Always.

Our sweet Lainey made a decision tonight…

One that she’s been working on for a while now. She’s been asking lots of questions about Jesus and heaven lately. Tonight she asked if she would live in heaven one day. I explained that everyone who asks Jesus into their heart will live in heaven one day and when she was ready to talk about what that meant, her daddy and I would love to. A minute or so later she whispered to me “I think I’m ready right now”.

So, her daddy and I sat down with her and shared the wonderful gospel story with her…she knew some of it, and seemed to really understand the gift that Jesus gave to us – his life and our salvation.

So, heaven rejoices tonight because our little girl asked Jesus to be her savior! Oh, she was so happy, grinning from ear to ear with her adorable squinty-eyed smile! We ran downstairs for her to tell the big kids, and there were hugs all around.

Parenting isn’t always the easiest job in the world, but tonight…it was the very best job.
God Bless you, Lainey girl!