Some pie making and an "aha" moment!

We made brownies the other day and since Sophie doesn't like them, 

she wanted to make "vanilla pie".

We usually make banana cream pie,

but we didn't have any banana pudding, so she cut bananas and we used vanilla pudding...

She's quite the capable little cook! 

Zack and Katie watched since Sophie wanted to do everything by herself!

Then I tried to get a picture of all 3 of them:

 

And here is my "aha" moment:

Katelyn has been having a lot of pictures turn out with her eyes half closed...

I thought she was blinking, but she's doing it on purpose!

She trying to have "Chinese eyes" like her sister!!

"More school"

This little girl is SO eager to learn! 

This is what I hear every day:

"More school"

She even wants to begin school  before breakfast is over. 

That is her strawberry mini wheats in the picture. With no milk of course! 

Neither of my girls like milk.

Thursday I did 2 HOURS of school with just Sophie!

We worked on phonics, math, writing and science (the 5 senses), and Bible.

She asked for MORE,

 but I told her I had to do some school with her brothers and sister! 

Jake tried to explain to her that today was Saturday and she doesn't have to do school on Saturday...

I told her that we do chores on Saturday...

so after some chores,

she got out her math book! :)

Pre-birthday celebration

Mommy decided waiting 6 more weeks for her special birthday present was torture. I mean come on she's already waited 6+ years. We/I couldn't take it anymore! 

Once I decided which one to get, we had a little impromptu gift opening!

Hello, baby! 

Both girls with their baby dolls!

I know it's been a long while since I've posted. It's because everything that's happening is so "everyday". We do our school. The kids play, sometimes they fight. I take a walk around the neighborhood while the girls ride their bikes ahead of me. Sometimes they argue about who gets to be first, sometimes they don't. Ok, that usually only happens when Katie gives in and lets Sophie go first....which is what usually happens. 

Things are busy, but somehow we're getting it all done: school, meals, dishes, laundry, piano lessons, choir, an occasional track meet. You know, the usual. 

In fact, last week Sophie was complaining that she wanted the purple cup at dinner. And Jake (who was setting the table) told her that she had it for lunch so it was Katie's turn. She was pretty upset! She pouted and complained. Mind you she had her drink of choice in the pink cup, but she wanted the purple one. And then the next day the 2 girls ran out to swing and Katie got to the middle swing first. Oh, the disappointment! She pouted and complained and when neither Katie nor I gave in, she sulked off and decided not to swing! So truly it just feels like "usual stuff"!!

Sophie's English is coming in some sentences now. 

"I got it."

And I realize the slang I use....she says,
"hang on" 

"second" (for just a second" 

"gosh"

She even says:

"wasn't me" (that was quick)!!

She continues to amaze us with her language acquisition!

HAPPY EASTER! Jesus Has Risen!

We were talking about what to expect at church today since it was Easter.  

As we were saying, "He is risen" 

"He is risen indeed!" 

 Sophie said, "Jesus is alive!" 

We've been reading her Beginner Bible about Jesus the past few weeks. She seems to be understanding enough English to understand me reading to her about Jesus riding on the donkey and the people waving palm branches and saying "Hosanna"! And about the last supper, and Jesus praying in the garden, and being nailed to the cross. She understands that everyone sins (is naughty sometimes) but that Jesus was never naughty! And that He was dead and rose again! 

I pray that someday she will accept Jesus as her SAVIOR!

Here are these 4 again! Matt and Josh were still at church serving!

The ANNUAL BUCKET HEAD PIC!!

Ryan, we missed you!! WE need to photo shop you in here!!

We took an honorary picture with your bucket for you!

It's so hard to get good pics of the egg hunt! You get the idea! Just like yesterday's hike, Sophie embraced the tradition like she's been doing it for years and dashed off!

Checking out their loot and doing a little trading!

Happy Easter! He is risen!

He is risen INDEED!

A Beautiful Day for a Hike

It was a beautiful Saturday, so we decided to drive to take the kids (that were available!) for a hike.

Our first stop was a trip to The Rootbeer Stand. One bacon burger, one lemonade, 2 cheeseburgers, 2 onion rings, 2 fries, 3 BBQ’s,  5 chicken nuggets & 5 frosty mug rootbeers later we were ready to go hike. We headed to St. Louis Canyon. We chose a short trail since it was Sophie’s first time. 

They dashed off! Running! Not walking! Sophie wanted to be first, but was happy to hold hands and run with Katie and Zack. I think she knew that it would keep them from getting ahead of her if she held hands with them!

St. Louis Canyon is made of up a sandy area with large rocks and canyon walls that have a water fall at the interior of the canyon. If we took our eyes off of her for a minute she was standing on top of a rock, or climbing up the canyon wall.

While I was taking this pic of Shawn...

I turned around to find THIS! Yikes! She scampered up there herself! 

And we weren't sure if she'd like hiking!

 What a great kid. She just seems to like anything we throw at her!

Thank you, God, for your creation and this beautiful day to enjoy it!

What a great day! 

Sophie and Ryan Dancing

When Ryan was home for spring break he had some great time with his new sister. Deb caught some classic footage of the two of them dancing. Without further ado, Ryan and Sophie in their performance.

Modern Day Miracle

One of the things I like best about homeschooling is reading and discussing the Bible with my kids. This year we're studying the Old Testament along with history of the ancient world. The other day we were reading about the prophet Elisha and the widow who came to him because she owed a debt and was afraid her sons would become slaves. Elisha asked her what she had that was of value. She had some olive oil. He told her to go collect jars from her friends and fill them with the oil. The olive oil filled jar after jar and only ran out when there were no more jars to fill. She then sold the jars of oil and was able to pay off her debt.

With a garage half full of stuff for next week's garage sale, I couldn't help but thinking about how our adoption garage sales are the modern day miracle of the widows jars of olive oil! Our friends have given us stuff to sell to raise money to pay off our adoption debt, just like the widow's friends donated their jars to help her.

I stand in awe of how God has used these garage sales to provide the necessary funds to bring home 2 little girls from different parts of the world to become sisters! Thanks so much to our friends, family, and co-workers for all your donations and all your help over the years! We really appreciate it!

Please pray with us for our next sale which starts in one week:
Thursday, April 12- Saturday, April 14

If anyone would like to join me in the garage any day next week getting ready or selling, I'd sure love your company! I can offer you a cold drink of lemonade and some conversation!

 We are still accepting donations!