The Year of the Sheep

Today was the Chinese New Year celebration downtown (as opposed to last weekend when I loaded everyone up and drug them downtown for the parade. Oops!)  We dressed in our red for good luck and of course took pictures by our Chinese paper lanterns before heading out to the big parade. 

It is the year of the sheep, so we made some little handprints on our "no snow" day this week.

We met up with the Wessons and the Hunsbergers.  It was fun to take in all the parade action with such sweet friends!

Kay Kay and G enjoyed the festivities with us.  I know I say this ALL the time, but I am so thankful to live in the same town as them!

In position and ready to see what we can see.

Walker had the best time with the dragon he made with Nana while she was here last week. He danced with it until it actually tore in half from overuse!

This dragon was my favorite!

This bunch had fun collecting beads, candy and fortune cookies!

Our favorite float...

Nothing says "Chinese New Year" like a middle school band from JPS!!! My kids thought they were awesome!!

I thought the American flag balloons were a nice touch on this truck! Too bad you can't see them very well in this picture!

I mistakingly thought that the mid 50s forecast would require jackets...negative.  It was WARM and EK was thankful that she brought along her fan to cool herself down!

We ate lunch after the parade at a very authentic Chinese restaurant (just kidding, we ate at Newk's) and then played a bit at the house before my parents went home.

Big...

Middle...

Little...

These 2 are best buddies.

I had such a fun time with this wild bunch! Love them so much!

Happy Crappy

My d group in Hattiesburg each week would share a high and low from the week. They fondly named our time "Happy Crappy." So here is a little list of my Happy Crappy for the last week. 

Happy: The Nelsons came to go to the rodeo. They took Walker to see the animals and then J and his dad had some time together that night for the actual rodeo.

Crappy: I felt like death due to a stomach bug that plagued our house all week. It was terrible.

Happy: Nana entertained the kids while I rested. She also did approximately 427 loads of germy laundry and bedding.  Bless her.

Crappy: Our TV blew up, Walker had a bit of a tummy situation that left our living room rug with an odor that won't go away, and Rosie the Swimmer went to the big fish bowl in the sky. 

Happy: Bella the Blue Fish joined the family. Good luck surviving here Bella. Also, a sweet friend brought us an extra TV from her house to get us through until we can buy another one.

Crappy: J had to get a root canal.

Happy: Walker went along with him to the doctor in Columbus for the day and they went by the State basketball game before coming home. Walker loved it.

Happy: EK got to go to her sweet friend's birthday party. She's so proud of her new horse painting.

Crappy: I got my whole family dressed and loaded up with my parents to go to the Chinese New Year parade on Saturday. We got downtown only to find out that the parade is NEXT Saturday. Good job Wes.

Happy: Our whole family made it to church today! This has only happened twice since we have been home from China due to sickness, surgery, attachment, etc. Anyway, it was FABULOUS to be there today.

No matter how happy or crappy this week may have been, I'm still so thankful for the people I get to do life with. Bring on the new week!!!

A Good Week

This week was really great. We weren't too busy (a relative term when talking about our normal schedule) and things just seemed to move along without any major hiccups. Thankful. Very thankful for that!!!!

The Nelsons were with us for a couple of days. We are thankful for all their help around the house and also for the extra hands to wrangle the little people! The weather was lovely, so we spent a good bit of time playing in the yard. It is good for all of us when we get to have time outside! I'm pretty much pretending that the forecast for this week doesn't exist because I like sunny and 65!!!!

Thanks Emma for the selfie. That girl loves a selfie.

And that boy loves some Emma.

It's been 2 months (tomorrow) since we met our little China doll. It is crazy how much she has grown and changed in just 2 months. She is truly amazing and we are so lucky to have her!!!

Walker got to have a fun play time with his best buddy Max. Sarah braved the children's museum with these wild boys. Bless her. Walker had a blast!

On Friday night, our friends the Christies invited Walker to the rodeo. They even brought him "cowboy clothes" so he could look the part. I guess they didn't trust my styling to dress him appropriately! I mean, nothing says rodeo to me more than a smocked shirt with Cowboys and horses on it!!! 😉 Anyway... They hooked him up with Wranglers, flannel, snake skin boots, and a belt...the boy was all set!!!!!

J said that Walker loved every minute but didn't understand why HE couldn't ride on the horses. He was a huge fan of the cotton candy and popcorn and thanks to such a fun night...he slept until 8:30 this morning !!!!! (In the bottom picture on the right, Walker is wearing Cadden's headband. Does he not look EXACTLY like Ella Kate?!?! I have never seen it until right now!!!!!) Thanks so much Jeff and Cadden for treating Walker to such a fabulous boys night out!!!!!!

We went to Newk's for a Valentine's Day lunch with my parents because we celebrate all major holidays, birthdays, special events and pretty much any available day of the week eating there. As we were leaving, Walker said "I want you to take my picture!"  We seem to always snap pictures outside the restaurant so if he was willing, I was ready. Love my little love bugs!!!!

Walker and I went with my parents (while J kept the girls at home) to watch the MRA girls play in the championship basketball game. We won!!!! Once we got home, J headed back to the game to watch the JA/MRA boys championship game. MRA won that one too. Proud for the Patriots (and sad for our church friends that go to JA)

It's hard to believe that we are half way through February! I guess it's true what they say "the days are long but the years are short!!!" 

Love Day '15

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Love, Ella Kate, Walker and Emma

(Pictures taken by our sweet friend Olivia Kesler!!!)

Heart Day Celebrations

Ella Kate and Walker both had their Valentine's parties today and they were fired up about them!  Mary Anna helped the kids create some pretty spectacular boxes for their cards. So thankful to Nana for taking on that project while we were in the hospital with Emma!!!!

Emma didn't have a party, but Nana made sure she didn't miss out on the card collecting fun.

Both parties happened at the same time, so J went to Ella Kate's party and I went to Walker's with Emma.

EK and J made a quick visit to Kay Kay's classroom before heading home.

My sweet friend Sarah did the Valentine stickers for the kids. EK is not a big candy person, but she does love some smarties so these were perfect for her!

Walker took silly string to his friends because why not?!?!? I'm sure his friends' parents are saying mean things about me right now!!!!!

The 2 year olds were SO quiet during the party. It was really crazy! I'm sure they are bouncing off the walls this afternoon thanks to the cupcakes with icing stacked a mile high!

Love my little crew!