Merry Christmas . . . Again

Yesterday we had a fun filled day exchanging presents, good food and lots and lots of laughs with Grandma, Aunts and Uncles and the many cousins. It was a wonderful day!

I am simply going to upload a bunch of pictures and let them speak for themselves-- a picture is worth a 1000 words and all that. Today we are cleaning-up, taking down all the Christmas decorations, packing them away and starting our preparations for China! 

This may be my last post until we are in Tianjin, January 2nd or 3rd.

Josie was all smiles waiting for her cousins to arrive.

The guests began to arrive.

After everyone arrived, the adults started handing out presents to all the kids and it was a frenzy!

Cousins Ethan and Nate comparing cars and trucks.

Cousin Abbie was all smiles!

You know it is a good present when Little Emily sticks out her tongue.

Abbie getting some sweets when nobody is looking!

:-D

Even the big boys needed some Mommy snuggle-time.

Josie showing off the cat door.

The younger cousins enjoying their crystal lolly-pops.

MeMa and Josie and the talking pony (that Josie calls a zebra)

All the cousins

All the Aunts and Uncles (plus one)

Xavier and Gabrielle giving Wii lessons to the older crowd.

Later in the evening, after everyone had left and Josie had her nap, her friend Grace came over to play.

The girls exchanged presents and had a great time playing Josie's bowling game and in Josie's tent.

Time to go! We have to clean-up and get ready to go to China!

Merry Christmas . . .

Or is it Happy Halloween. Josie keeps running around saying Happy Halloween to people and then we remind her it is Merry Christmas and she says, Merry Christmas. Too Funny!

It's been a busy week and we have so much more to come-- our family gathering later today, cleaning-up and packing away all the decorations tomorrow and packing for China-- leaving bright and early New Year's Day!

Here is Josie dressed for Church Christmas Eve. She is holding her Dress Me doll that she received from Great Grandma earlier in the week. After all the Christmas Present Hoopla yesterday, it has been deemed one of her favorite toys.

We visited Great Grandma earlier in the week. It was a nice visit with her.

Yesterday was full with all the splendor and fun that Christmas always brings to the young and the young at heart. Here is our day in a few snapshots:

The night before Christmas and all through the house. . .

Wim and I were up at about 5:00 am. Xavier was the first of the kids awake at a more reasonable time.

After Josie woke-up, Xavier went and woke-up Gabrielle

Josie had already discovered her puppy and felt board that I made for her.

The kids decided to dive into their stockings first, or as Josie calls them-- the boots.

Then the frenzy of presents began!

Josie playing with the Dora Castle

Xavier most delighted with an Xbox!

Josie giving me my present from her, Chocolate!

Gabrielle giving Wim his presents from her and Xavier (Xavier was in the other room hooking-up his Xbox).

Time for Christmas Breakfast!

Everyone was feeling good and a bit silly!

Time for more presents!

Joise feeding her Baby Panda.

Gabrielle and Xavier playing a new Wii game.

Josie opening her present from Ye Ye!

She loves it and gave it a hug first thing!

Josie opeing her present from Grandpa and Grandma Shaw

It was a big hit with everyone!

"My HOUSE!"

"Where tunnel go?"

Gabrielle crawling through the tunnel.

Big enough for Josie, baby panda, Gabrielle and Phoebe!

HOURS later . . .  after nap, after bath, after dinner . . . still opeing presents!

And there are more coming today!!!!

I think we are going to have to add on to our house!

Winter Wonderland

We have purchased our airline tickets to China, leaving New Year's Day-- YIPPEEE!!

Never mind that between now and then we have Christmas on top of all the packing we need to do.

OH BOY!

If that isn't enough, we also get to have a GREAT BIG BLIZZARD!

Wim, Josie and I manage to do the last of the little bit of shopping we had to do yesterday-- not only are we done with shopping but all our presents are wrapped and ready to go.

The storm is dieing down and Wim is going to venture out to do the grocery shopping which will also include, shopping for Christmas breakfasts, dinner, and brunches plus a few goodies to pack for our trip.

HAVE FUN SWEETIE!!!

I have one of our three pieces of checked luggage packed-- clothes for Clara Rose, diapers (regular and swimming), toys etc.  I have pulled out some clothes for me, but am waiting to pack them. I pretty much know what I want to take for Josie and will wait to pack those as well. Suffice it to say, that this time, we are not AS stressed and freaked about packing as we were when we adopted Josie.

Here are a few pictures of Josie playing in her Winter Wonderland.

"Wat Happen to ard?"  "Phoebe do it?"

"Dis is SILLY!"

"Wook at me! I wimming!"

"Dis is FUN!"

Earlier in the week, Gabrielle and Xavier had their school concerts. Josie and I  didn't go. The performances were later in the evening, plus we never know what mood Josie might decide to be in-- the last few attempts at church haven't gone well.  Wim forgot the camera for Xavier's concert but remembered and got a few somewhat discernable shots from Gabrielle's concert.  In the picture below, Gabrielle is in a black shirt directly up from the male instructor's head.

Here she is front and center, but a little fuzzy.

The weekend prior we all had fun making Christmas cookies.

Josie also had a great time making crafts at the YMCA Santa's Workshop last weekend. When we went last year it took her until almost the end to relax and really enjoy herself. She is now very familair with the YMCA and jumped right in to all the different activities. I was very proud of her saying please and thank you to the folks running each of the stations.

"Merry Christmas Everybody!!!"

Consulate Appointment

Our appointment with the US Consulate in Guangzhou China is confirmed for January 12, 2010!

We will be making our travel arrangements later today and getting our itenerary.

I pirated this Santa picture of Josie and her friends and the mom's from Michelle's blog.

Travel Approval!!!!

Our agency just called a little while ago-- we got our Travel Approval!!!!


They will try to get the Consulate appointment for the 12th/13th-- we would leave on the 1st!

If they can't get these dates the next available date for the consulate appointment is the 19th.

Fingers crossed!!!!

They have 10 families who will be ready to travel at this time-- so we will be with a big group like we were when we traveled to adopt Josie-- at least for the second half of our trip.

What a way to kick off the New Year!

We are super excited!!!!!