The 50's Sock Hop

Elisabeth and Ansley on their way to the 50's Sock Hop

Even our little neighbor, Kate, dressed for the occasion
Ansley and her friend, Meg
Elisabeth and our neighbor, Bryce.
Ansley doing the limbo

Ansley dancing the night away

Ansley and her friend, Sarah

Elisabeth loves to dance

Ansley dancing with her teacher, Mrs. Wright

The PTO at Ansley's school sponsored a 50's Sock Hop on Friday night. It was so much fun! They had a DJ, giveaways for the kids, and lots of snack food (popcorn, ice cream floats, cotton candy, coke and orange crush in bottles, etc). The kids danced and played games non-stop for 2 hours. Elisabeth was exhausted by the end of the night and Ansley didn't want to leave. They had a huge turnout so it ended up being a good PTO fundraiser. I think they'll be doing this again next year!

NC Transportation Museum

The roundhouse. It's my favorite part - there are some very neat and beautiful trains in there.

Me and Ansley in the antique car museum

Elisabeth trying to figure out where to go next

The train in the background is the one we rode

Elisabeth was very upset that I wasn't riding the train with her so she began to cry. The train people said I could ride for free since she was so upset. Way to go Elisabeth.....we should use those tears more often!

It had been a long day and Elisabeth fell asleep to the rocking motion of the train.

We visited the NC Transportation Museum 2 weekends ago. It was a nice sunny day and we decided to get out and about. We have been there once before when Elisabeth was very little but decided she might enjoy riding the train now that she is older. It is a neat place....the roundhouse is my favorite. There are some really neat and beautiful trains in there. We spent several hours there and rode the train at the very end of the day. Elisabeth was so tired but really wanted to ride the train. We decided that just she and John would ride....Ansley didn't want to do it. She was busy doing Mad Libs and couldn't be bothered with the train. Elisabeth started crying big huge tears because I wasn't riding so they let me on for free since she was in such distress. We need to try that more often......I wonder what else I could get for free! All in all it was a great day and lots of fun. I only put a few pictures on here because we took 108 pictures in a matter of a few hours. Yes, we have a picture problem. We take them of anything and everything.

A picnic at the Dairy Barn

Ansley catching a ride on Grandpa's shoulders

Elisabeth playing in the dirt

Crossing the stream

Crossing the swinging bridge (not my favorite thing to do)

We took a rest and watched horse after horse cross the stream. Ansley was ready to saddle up and go riding!

Draft horse pulling a cart. This horse was huge!

Ansley riding on Grandma's back

Action shot! Stephanie throwing the frisbee to Ansley

An old cabin close to where we had our blankets spread out for our picnic

The weather was so nice this past weekend that we decided to head home from church on Sunday and pack a picnic lunch. We went to the Dairy Barn (our favorite place for a picnic). They happened to be having a Bridal Expo in the Dairy Barn itself and there was a band set up outside so we even had free music to accompany our picnic! An added bonus! We tried some kite flying but the kites weren't very good and wouldn't fly very well so we decided to take a walk and go see the horses. It was such a nice day that people were riding horses all over the place. We loved watching them ride. The kids played in the stream and overall it was a great day!

Thankful Thursday

I haven't done one of these in a while and to be honest I'm kind of blah today and don't feel like doing it. But that is probably the best reason to do it. To realize that I have alot to be thankful for even when I am having a not so good day.

So here it goes (not sure if I can come up with 10 today but I'll try)......

1. My husband is home from DC and had a safe trip.
2. For the rain this weekend because it gives me a good reason to stay inside and get my house back in order.
3. New carpet that replaces our previous disgustingly nasty carpet
4. Getting new carpet that made me clean out junk and get rid of some stuff (it's just one of those projects that gets put off until made to do it). Still have a long way to go though.
5. That so far we don't have the flu or stomach virus....even though everyone around us seems to have it. We are using lots of hand santizer these days.
6. Ansley is now eating apple slices (she doesn't love it and still complains but at least I can get her to eat them). It's one more food to add to her "I will eat" list. If you know her you know that her list is short.....very very short.
7. All the photos I have of my children and how much fun it is to look at them from time to time. Brings back so many memories. You can never have too many pictures.
8. Technology and how it is so much easier to keep in touch with people now.
9. Watching Ansley develop into her own person.
10. Listening to Elisabeth repeat her memory verses and bible songs that she learns at Mother's Morning Out. She has such a sweet little voice.

Wow....I did it......10 things. See, there is always stuff to be thankful for (even if it's just small stuff) even when you're having a bad day. God is good......all the time.

A few random pictures

Portrait of Ansley - by Aunt Pat
Portrait of Elisabeth - by Aunt Pat

Ansley, Stephanie and my Dad - February 2009

I'm posting some random pictures that aren't related at all but thought you might like to see.

Two of the pictures are photos taken of paintings that my Aunt, Pat, did of both of the kids. Pat they both turned out great and we want to thank you for painting them! What a nice heirloom they will be. The kids think they are so cool!

I don't have much to write today because our life hasn't been too eventful lately. Just work and school. We are getting new floors put in upstairs so our life lately has been moving all our stuff around so the guys can put the floors in. And in the process we are trying to clean out stuff along the way. I wish I could be a minimalist but I know it will never happen. It's the thought that counts right?

Gotta run -- we have to finish moving stuff downstairs for the carpet guys that come bright and early Monday morning. I can't wait!

Chinese New Year

Elisabeth and her best friend Caroline
Katherine (she was in our travel group)

Kimli (she was in our travel group - from the same orphange as Elisabeth)

Elisabeth and John

Ansley making a goofy face (as usual!)

Ansley, Elisabeth and Caroline playing on the gate outside of the restaurant.

Emma and Ansley (Emma is Kimli's sister and traveled with us to China)

Elisabeth

We packed out the restaurant. It's the best turnout yet!

Ansley the photographer

Sorry it's been so long since I posted. I've been sick ever since then and just haven't felt like doing much on the blog. I thought I just had a bad cold but realized last Sunday when I felt so bad at church that I was close to tears that maybe I have a sinus infection. I have bad plumbing in my head so I get sinus infections way too often. They are nasty and evil. I am on antibiotics now and feel better but not as good as I should. I have a feeling that I might be back at the doctor soon. At least I can function for now though.

On February 7th we attended our annual Chinese New Year Luncheon at our local Red Bowl Asian Bistro. There were about 100 others there (all families with children from China or families waiting to go to China to pick up their daughters). It is great to get all the children together from time to time. Two of the families from our travel group were there and it is always nice to see them and see how the girls have changed. Enjoy the pictures of all the beautiful girls!

Our crazy dog and other stuff

Elisabeth and Ansley at the Georgia Aquarium

Elisabeth and the alligators at the Aquarium


Elisabeth and the Sea Nettles

Ansley and the piranhas (not sure that is spelled correctly)

Elisabeth thought the starfish was neat

Winston and Belle. No I didn't place his paw around Belle. They just love each other!

Belle (our new puppy -- now 5 months old) is a lab through and through. She loves the water. Tonight Ansley was taking a shower and the dog was going nuts trying to get to the water. She finally just jumped in with Ansley (Jan I know you are cringing right now and thinking we are all very strange - and we probably are!). We got her out and took her into another room and before you knew it she was running down the hall like a crazy dog and back in the shower. She thought it was great. Ansley couldn't stop laughing and neither could I. I couldn't talk I was laughing so hard. Elisabeth was screaming to get the dog out of the shower and John was just annoyed at the whole thing and left us all in the bathroom laughing and screaming and getting very wet trying to get the dog out of the shower! What a sight! It's never a dull moment with Belle around.

We woke up this morning with more snow. Or should I say a slight dusting of snow. I can't believe the school district actually canceled school. It could only happen in the South. And they want us to make up this day on our Memorial Day weekend? I can't help it that they made a very bad judgement call. So instead we did crafts and then ran some errands and had Ansley's friend, Sarah, over to play. It barely got above freezing today and that is WAY too cold for me to be outside so we stayed in all day today. I love my children dearly but I am glad that tomorrow will be a regular school day.