Another Year in Review

Well, Christmas is behind us and 2010 is in front. I think a little recap is in order before we move onward and upward! I do like to live in the present and look forward to the future, but it's also good to look back at what we've accomplished, the fun we've had, the memories we've made! We had a very good, if not a little boring (compared to 2008) year. These are the highlights!

Drum roll please!

In January ....

We saw just how hard Claire was willing to work to one day walk. She spent countless hours "practicing" on her own. As you know, her determination paid off big time!

In February.....

We celebrated our first ever Chinese New Year by going to two parties. One was for the local Chinese Association and the other was with our local chapter of Families with Children from China. Both were interesting and fun! But, Claire has yet to make the big connection. She doesn't get excited to see Chinese people or understand the fundamental reason to expose her to her native culture. This will , I assume, come with time. In the mean time, we with continue to cultivate this because....well, because we told China that we would. And, because it is important for her to always feel that she belongs to the Chinese people. Yes, she is American now. But, as she gets older, she will want and need to feel that she has a connection with people that look like her and have a similar background. That is why we participate in activities with other families that have adopted from China and also why we will continue to go out of our way to give her opportunities and access to Chinese people in our area.

In March......

We embarked on the largest home improvement project of our lives, I think! We gutted our kitchen/dinning room. It is one room that spans the width of our house at the back. When I say gutted, I mean gutted. Everything went. The floor, the cabinets, the sliding glass doors....everything, even the kitchen sink! It was hard, dirty work. And, it's not done yet. But, hey, it hasn't been a year yet either!

We even put in a window to bring in some natural light. Up until that point, being in our kitchen was like hanging out in a dark cave! Not exactly the ambiance you want for a dinner party.....or ever, unless you're into spelunking!

We painted this room for the first time since we moved in 12 years ago! Scaffolding had to be rented, which is why it was never done before....and, may never be done again!

We laid a new floor as well. Good-bye 3 layers of nasty linoleum....Hello ceramic tiles!

New counters, new sink,


new cabinets and...




New Door!





In April....




The boys went from this.....

To this at the hands of a hairdresser! It was a big change for us.


And Noah broke his arm.....clearly, he was devastated!



In May....

We celebrated one year of having Claire! I got out the clothes she was wearing the day we got her so we could see how she'd grown. Those were her teeny little pants!


In June....



We visited our very good friends, The Caudills in Tennessee and The Gulke's in Illinois and went to Chicago! Isabel got to go to the American Girls Store and fun was had by all!



In July...

Lots of time was spent with cousins. At different times we had Jordan, Lindsay, Megan, Brooke, Brianna and Christian at our house!

Isabel celebrated her 8th year with a cupcake party....

And Darling Daughter from Not A Significant Source joined us for a week of fun! She also helped out with a little room makeover for the girls!

In August...

Claire showed us just how far she had come!

In September....

We went on the most relaxing vacation ever! We enjoyed a condo on the beach in Florida when almost no one else was there and went to Kennedy Space Center. Days of doing nothing but swim in the ocean, swim in the pool and watch Little House on the Prairie videos! It was great!

In October...


We went on another great family camping trip!

And our baby turned 20! 20 people! That's like a full grown adult!


In November...

The boys become, as much as I hate to say it....teenagers and went off for a guys only weekend. The first of many, I'm sure.

And, I began a sewing project......

That resulted in this cuteness here!

And, Claire turned 4 years old!

In December...

You got to see just how goofy my kids are....

And, we all had...

A very.....


Merry Christmas!


Happy New Year to you and yours! I hope it is blessed with peace and joy and family and friends! We know that 2010 will be a new adventure for us...because this is our life. One. Adventure. After. Another! Whether it be home improvement or maybe something bigger.....who knows, but you are welcome to join us!