Thursday, December 30, 2010

Christmas Break....

After a challenging year of moving, job & school changes & personal challenges we decided to take the kids to Florida. We took the kids to Sea World Christmas day then rented a condo accross the street from the beach in Ft Myers. Sanibel / Captiva
Will, Sofi, Hannah, Taylor & Lize getting ready for the train. The kids really have missed their friends.


All the ladies at the Manatee Park.


Too many manatees to count!


Aren't they cute. As mom's we met in person 2 years ago. Our adoption agency had family blogs, we became instant friends and after meeting in person-knew we were soul mates. Our kids love eachother...




Sea World-mommy was very nervous...







Polar Express- Lize thought she was done...





We got to feed & pet the dolphins






Sofia on "merily dround"









We will now hold Sea World close to our heart. Throughout the day we heard "MERRY CHRISTMAS". The whale show was a tribute to the "REAL" reason for CHRISTmas. It was refreshing to hear & enjoy. They may get slack for not being "politically correct" but I personally think they got it right! I will go back for that reason alone.








Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Busy, busy, busy...

It has been a busy few weeks. Molly is ready to stop traveling and just relax. I am a stay-at-home mom so I enjoy going, going,going.... We got to visit a sweet dear friend Rose in Indiana




Santa....


We got to meet my our new niece & cousin Lily...


Enjoy our children bunches!!!






Go to Will's Christmas concert.....



Fit in a Packer game....

Wear lots of "fancy" clothes....
Molly says it all...but it's not over yet "hooray"...








Lize is loving every light, song, snowflake, present, visit & visitors...













Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Sisterly love....

We went to visit Santa. Santa asked the girls what they wanted...Lize said "pillow pet". Sofia, very serious said "a baby sister named Ellie"........

Friday, December 03, 2010

Christmas season...

I totally love this time of year through my children's eyes. It's just magical. Our Christmas tree has a wonderful influx of decorections clusstered at the bottom where the girls can reach. A large amount in the middle where Will can reach. I used to rearrange them but Sofi and Lize wake every morning making sure everything is just how they left it. I drives James NUTS (go figure)
Lize had Sofi do her hair..

Makin cookies. They don't always "look" pretty but the pure joy of watching them....makes up for that.




Dancin to Christmas music....

Busted again trying to "hijack" baby Jesus.....




Zach would only help if I stopped telling him the importance of his ornaments- when, where, why he made them......





Sunday, November 28, 2010

Chicago....

Every year we take the kids to Chicago on the train to look at lights, out to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe, horse carriage ride, Water Tower Place and a stroll to "look" at American Girl. This year, our Life Group decided they wanted to go- so we went with them. We met this group of people nearly 5 years ago. Through all the changes of life, we have stayed together. We have truely done LIFE together. Life including a trip to Disney in May. Very rarely do you find a family you aren't blood related who takes the good and bad about you and loves you anyway. GOD brought us all together and what a blessing it has been..... Water Tower Place
Rainforest Cafe...

Millineum Park- Sierra, Hannah, Tachelle and Zach


All of -James



Girls on the Metra!




Tachelle, Sierra, Hannah and Zach....





Pat, Jullianna, Sofi and Dawn






Getting ready for the train....








Yes we let our girls drink starbucks....







She's way tooo cute to say no too









Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Funny things kids say.....


As I was getting ready for something- Lize came up to me with GREAT urgency...." Wet me wook in yur miorr" I put her on the bathroom counter-as she instructed me to look. I asked her what was wrong, she looked beautiful. With surprise I didn't know, Lize said " Tan't you see mama, I wook CHINESE "!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Sunday, November 07, 2010

4 years ago today....

4 years ago today in an office in downtown Guanzhou China, we were blessed with Sofia Alma LiYi Newsome. She was this tiny 14 month old. She was shellshocked, frail but oh so sweet. She was and is empathetic to any sadness, crying or pain of any single person... She has the most beautiful smile. She can light up a room with it.
She loves to be outside, playing in water, ponny tails and foofy socks.

She loves pizza, coloring and playing with her "bets fwend Wize" aka her sister.






Saturday, November 06, 2010

Bothered.....

I usually don't share this kind of info but I'm VERY bothered. Bothered to the point, I did not sleep well last night. A family who adopted a 4 year old from China earlier this year is on trial for the murder of their daughter. She was here a couple days shy of 3 months. She suffered horrible abuse in that short time. Her brother who was 9 and biological said he cried himself to sleep watching what was happening to his sister. He felt he had no control. The dad did nothing.....Now she's dead. I'm not sure what went through their heads but it brings me to this point.

Lize was the most amazing adoption. She walked right up said "niho mama" and "lets go" in chinese. Sofi, our first adoption was not that way. I've only shared this to my closest friends but maybe this will stop the death of another child. Sofi was a mild heart baby. She weighed 14 lbs at 14 months. When they handed her to us I thought she had cerebral palsy. She was this frail, pale, limp lil peanut. We knew GOD picked her for us so we decided whatever she had-we'd deal with it. We soon noticed she got stiff and arched her back at physical contact she did not initiate. She could not even roll over. She scooted around in circles on her back- explaining the sores on the back of her head. She would not touch anything with an open hand, ate only lil amounts of formula and was resistant to put anything in her mouth. She did not want to be hugged and cuddled unless she initiated it. When we got home it took nearly 4 months before I could just scoop her up without invitation. It took 6 months before she'd try certain food textures, she sat and crawled. Certain sounds, foods, textures, touches.....would set her into a fit. A fit of screaming, kicking and eventually a long sleep. It was not like your normal 2 / 3 year old fit. She would get soo overwhelmed then crash. We couldn't go away over night for almost 3 years b/c she would scream and chant with any change in routine. I'd love to say things are perfect now but there not. I sometimes have to put her or me behind a gated door. We had wonderful physical, occupational and developmental teachers who have given us large amounts of resources. We have been blessed by our faith, a wonderful Dr. , friends and family who have supported us. We have been blessed by people who love her just where she's at and for who she is. She is developmentally on track now - socially it varies with the situation. Some days are still rough but SO WHAT! SHE IS OUR DAUGHTER!. We wouldn't trade her for anything or anyone. We knew when we adopted there was lots of unknowns. When you have birth children there is lots of unknowns. They are gifts from GOD. GOD loves us with no strings attached and that's how we love her and her siblings. Adoption is not for the faint of faith or heart. We are blessed to have been called......

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

2 years ago today....

2 years ago today in a hotel room in Guizhou China, we were united with our sweet Lize Grace. Lize was the lil one we didn't we were missing. I simply heard GOD's prompting to look, where to find her and to trust HIM for the $. GOD showed up in all. HE took care of everything. She is the most sweetest, caring, easy going, joyful,compassionate, joyful and joyful child we could have ever dreamed of. She is very busy and spirited. She maintaines her close friendship with Faith who was in that room that wonderful day.

PRAISE GOD for this wonderful gift...



Monday, November 01, 2010

Holloween fun...

What a blast watching the kids have sooo much fun. Lize ecspecially was beyond herself with joy. She ran up to every house to be first to "twitc or tweet". Sofi was reserved but excited, picked the perfect piece of "tandy" each time and the first to say thank you. Will was in a hurry to get to all the house he could.








Friday we had a slumber party. Us and 2 famlies got together to eat, play games, talk and eat more. Here is a picture of the 3 youngest dressin up. They made it to nearly midnight...