My pumpkins among the pumpkins

I took the children to have their first professional "sister" photos made.  Afterward, I took the troop to a local church who always does a man-made pumpking patch for missions money.  We love supporting missions!  We're going to buy pumpkins anway, right?  Why not buy pumpkins and support this little church's efforts?  Too bad we went at a time of day when the sun was too bright in the western sky and the traffic to swift on the east to get any really great photos.  I'm sure we will have plenty of other pumpking photo ops.  I love, love, love the fall.  The Father did well when He made the warm summer....the smell of Spring is one of the best smells there is....the beauty of a fresh blanket of winter snow is unparalleled....and still, for me, fall is the best season of them all!

Happy Birthday, Anna!

Today was Anna's 5th birthday -- her first birthday outside an orphanage and in her forever family.  We wanted so much for Anna to really understand that today was her special day.  We started by showing her photos of her birthday party in the orphanage last year (we made arrangements to have a cake and some presents sent, and they kindly sent us photos).  Anna seemed happy to see herself eating cake, but she didn't show any signs of distress at seeing her old friends, her former caretakers, or even her foster mom.

Then, Anna had balloons waiting for her on her chair when she came to breakfast.  The balloons thrilled her little heart!  Anna got to don the Burch Birthday Tiara -  another exciting moment!  We lit a "5" candle and let the girls have mini cinnamon rolls in honor of Anna's special day.

 

Anna went to school, where her teacher had taught her class to sign the Happy Birthday song.  What a sweet teacher!  There is nothing more precious than a room full of 4 year olds, who, understanding that Anna is "different" from them, wanted SO much for Anna to be able to see them telling her "Happy Birthday."  No photos due to Mama Failure. Sorry!!!!

 

Next, Anna had an appointment at the ENT.  That will be another post on another day!

Then, we returned Anna to school, where the lunch ladies had a bouquet of balloons ready to present.  We enjoyed eating lunch with Anna and her friends.

 

 

Later that evening, we welcomed our family over for pizza and cupcakes.  We wanted to keep the gathering small so as not to overwhelm Anna on her first birthday here.  Our sweet friend from Anyang (where Anna is from) arrived with homemade dumplings especially for Anna.  Anna was DELIGHTED to eat a plate full of dumplings.  The rest of us enjoyed a bite, too!  Anna also reveled in the joy of getting to blow out five candles on her cupcakes.  (Lucy is not pouting....she was sick all day, but we didn't want to exclude her from the celebration.)

 

Time for presents!  Anna was not too excited about the gifts -- she would have happily given up gifts for one more frosted cupcake.  Still, once she got into the business of unwrapping, she had fun.  Here, she received an ice cream game, and she is showing us the sign for ice cream.

 

 

 

Here, Anna shows off her video camera and microphone from Uncle Dave, Aunt Melinda, Kyndal and Candice.  A hit present!

 

The kids are showing off their colored tongues!  Yuck.

 

Doesn't she look like she's praising the Lord?

We love Anna's exuberant spirit!

It's one of her very best qualities, one that will surely serve her well in life.

 

 

Happy Birthday, Anna Joy XiaoChun!

We are so humbled and blessed that the Lord saw fit to allow us to be your family.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that....

Life has been moving along at a swift pace for the family.  We are always running from here to there.  Between Anna's many medical appointments, Amelia's vision therapy and ballet lessons, and Lucy's regulary-scheduled, not-to-be-missed naps, we seem to be on the go.  Here is a little glimpse of what we have been up to:

Anna and her Pre-K teacher

The little ones love to drive, and the Chunster I never wants to be left out!

Anna meets her cousins for the first time!

Yum, yum yogurt.  We have two yogurt-loving girls.

Lucy Juniper at Mother's Day Out.  She is delighted to get to go to "school" two days a week.

Saying "bon voyage" to our friend Amber, who will serve as missionary in India for the next year.

The two little ones love to ride, and the one big one loves to push. 

The best part of this deal? 

I can enjoy a latte while walking the mall, even though there are three 7 and under. 

The Duggars are onto something.

Anna and the pastor.

Would you believe it?

Just weeks before Anna's arrival, we were blessed with a new pastor who grew up with a deaf father. Our pastor signs well and has a special place in his heart for our Anna.

Don't you just LOVE the way the Lord works?

Lucy and her Cowboy Boots kitty.
Lucy is the only one of the three girls who will touch the cats, much less kiss them!

 

Anna's new smile!

Anna reported at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning for dental work.  As we knew the moment we met her in China, Anna needed quite a bit of work done.  Because of her age and the extensive nature of the dental work needed, her dentist decided to do the work under general anesthesia.  That means the pint-sized Hello Kitty scrubs that were the mainstay of Amelia's eye surgeries were put into use again, this time, for Miss Anna!  Doesn't she look adorable?

 

Anna headed back to the surgical suite with plenty of smiles, waves, and with a personal handshake for each doctor and nurse.  I'm telling you, this child should have been born into a political family.  She really does have the gift of meeting people well.  This is not a gift that either of our other girls possesses!

 

Several hours later, she was all smiles -- with her FABULOUS NEW SMILE -- while playing with the activity book that our dear friend Sara brought over as a 'good luck' gift. 

 

 

You can see a mouthful of metal, but it's way better than a mouthful of decay!  The pirhana look is gone.  Anna was SO very proud.  She enjoyed looking at herself in the mirror, and the next day at school, she showed her new teeth to anyone and everyone - her classmates, the lunch ladies, random kids in the hallway....

 

Amelia asked if we would miss the chihuahua chew.  I think not!  Thank you, Lord, for good doctors, good medicine, and the means to provide these things for our children.  Everyone should be so blessed.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Lucy Juniper!

 

 

 

Lucy J. wanted a doggy party for her birthday --

meet Spot, the walking doggy balloon!

Lucy played with it for hours.

 

A doggy disc chair gives the Queen a place to sit.

 

Amelia picked out a birthday cookie for Lucy.

Lucy had never actually seen a birthday cake,

so she was not quite sure what to do.

Papa and Amelia helped her figure it out.

 

Anna knew what a birthday was all about,

and she was thrilled to cheer on Lucy!

 

The Queen.

(Yes, she actually calls herself this.)

 

On the day of her doggy party....what more could

a girl want than a lift by her good friend, Chase?

I think a lot of high school girls

would love to get a lift from handsome Chase!

 

The official doggy birthday cake.

Note Lucy's reservation and Anna's enthusiasm.

 

I love this face.

Could she BE any more adorable?

 

We went to the pet store to buy a new fish tank.

We came home with a new kitty.

It was Lucy's birthday, after all.

He is her kitty, and she loves him.

His name?

Cowboy Boots.

Yes, Lucy named him.

 

Headed home with our new kitty.

 

Hamming it up for the camera!

Happy 3rd Birthday, sweet girl!

May the Lord bless you and keep you

and cause His face to shine on you

and give you peace.

Sister fun in September

Lots of sister fun around our house these days....

 

Building a Lego house (Lucy raising the roof!)

 

 

And finally, a finished project!

 

Anna's first time on a bouncy house - no fear!

 

Apple Orchard Festival - petting zoo.

Lucy was the only one who actually touched an animal.

No surprise there!

 

Quality time with Papa and Grandmama.

Lucy is usually a chipper little soul, but the camera never catches it because

(1) the photographer is lousy, and

 (2) Lucy refuses to smile.

 

Anna's first hayride!

Perfect autumn weather.

 

Amelia thinks she is Annie Sullivan,

 teaching her own personal little Helen Keller,

also known as Anna XiaoChun.

Alas, Anna's signing is not really coming along yet.

 

Lucy explains the finer points of the kitty cat story. 

 

The girls put on show.

Translation:  Amelia sings in the microphone

while telling the other kids where to stand.

 

Anna gets her turn with the microphone.

Lucy later wrestles it away.

 

A big bow for the appreciative crowd.

Well, "crowd" might be a stretch.