Jax gets his birthday cake!

Birthday giggles!

Sorry about the grainy video, I had my camera on the wrong setting. I don't know what made Sophie get so tickled...but I love it!

One month

Since we sent Jax's LOI. His 7th birthday is this Sunday. He should be getting a cake from us either today or Monday and then we will get some new pictures..I can't wait!!!!

Sophie's Medley

Sometimes it's hard to stay focused...

Just a peek..

A sweet mom from my Adopt Chengdu yahoo group sent me this picture. This was taken in June of 2008, at her son's 3rd birthday at the Chengdu CWI(he is now home). Jax is the little boy in red.  Look at him checking out that cake.  I can't wait to hug and kiss this precious boy!!

  

Care Package

We sent Jax a package and he should have received it last Monday. It included a letter from us, pictures of our family, books, disposable cameras and a Ultra Man action figure. We used Ladybugsnlove to send this package and Angela there is so awesome. She was so sweet and is super fast to get back to you.  We also have a cake ordered for him that will be delivered around his birthday(August 30th). I am so excited b/c the orphanage usually takes pictures of the children with their cake so that means new pics!!!  

 Many of you have asked me does he know we are his family. Well, I am sure he is starting to understand since he has the package now. Does he speak English? No, but I have no doubt that he will catch on quickly. We are also doing the Rosetta Stone Mandarin so hopefully that will help our transition a little. 

 

It starts...

So, today was our official first day of school. As tradition has it we stayed in our pajamas till the last possible minute and then we had a "NO back to school" party dinner with friends.  Sophie missed her nap today and fell asleep tonight coloring...how sweet are these pics! All it takes is for her to actually HOLD STILL and sleep will come, it is the whole holding still part that she has trouble with. I wish you could see a really good picture of her clothes. She always wants to wear a tank top. So she has on a purple tank top, white t shirt, purple tie dye dress and blue pajama pants...she had a tiara on earlier...who knows where that went!

Looks like a Pierce to me!

We are so excited to announce the referral of our new son Gou Fa Ke..who we will rename Jaxin and call him Jax. The way this adoption has come to be is such a God thing! We are so excited about our new son. Our kids are beside themselves with excitement about their new little brother and Sophie's big brother. Jax is 6 years old. Sophie is so excited about getting a big brother from China. Jax is even from the same orphanage as Sophie. There are so many exciting details I can't wait to share!(coming soon). Our LOI was sent on July 28th and we received our PA today!! We are just beginning the paper pregnancy so we have a long road ahead of us! Please pray that all our paperwork will go quickly and smoothly and please remember little Jax in your prayers. We are praising God for our new son....more details to follow...

Summer camping

We had our first official family only camping trip in our camper....we had a blast!! We spent our days reading,fishing, jetskiing, kneeboarding and tubing! One day we rented a pontoon. Then in the evening we laid in the camper and watched old home videos.  The kids loved seeing themselves as baby and toddlers. We watched Sophie's Gotcha Day. I think it was really the first time that we watched it that she understood what was going on.  There was an older girl adopted from the same orphanage who was really crying when they brought her into her mom..well as we watched this Sophie looked at me and wanted to know were we gonna keep her for a long time. Seeing the older girl going to a new family confused her and she thought when she was older she would have to go to a new family.  Well later that night as we got in bed I told Sophie I was so glad Jesus brought her to us..she replied.."That wasn't Jesus!!" (talking about the chinese lady who brought her in the room to us) too cute!

Family Fun

We had a great visit w/ our cousins and Bert's family! It went by too fast and we can't wait for them to come again. The kids had a great time sleeping between the house and the camper. Bert and Bart cooked us an awesome breakfast and Tyler made us some yummy gravy for our biscuits. I love the picture of all the kids eating  supper. It was so relaxing just laying by the pool and reading all day.  The kids are all at great ages and everyone got along..woo hoo no arguing! 

Happy Independance Day!!