Chicago

Right before Thanksgiving, we headed to the Windy City to spend time with our good friends, Al, Karen, Abby and Amy, who were there from California to lay Al's mom Ginny to rest. We were so grateful to be able to be there to support them and remember a dear lady.

We were also blessed to spend time together as families creating new memories. Our little girls wore matching panda pajamas and were thrilled to get matching Bitty Baby twins on our trip to the American Girl Store. We couldn't let the little girls have all the fun so the older girls and moms got matching pjs too. Hannah was also so excited to get Felicity's friend Elizabeth at the AG store before she was retired.

We love you, Al, Karen, Abby and Amy! Can't wait to create more memories with you in the future!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Ava!

Our baby is 4! All of a sudden she seems like a little lady (insert the sound of me crying). Some days I wish I could keep her little and other days I take delight in the person she is growing to be. She is truly a blessing! She fills our days with so much joy and laughter. We love you, sweet Ava Grace FuXiao, to China, Kalahari, the moon, and back! Love, Mom and Dad xoxoxox

Ava's Pajama Party

To celebrate Ava's 4th birthday we had a Pajama Party with nine of her friends. When we started talking about having a party she was very emphatic about who all she wanted to invite. She's so social that I'm sure she would have invited everyone she knew if we had let her. We thought 10 was a nice even number (and the teacher in me was excited that we could literally act out the song "There Were 10 in the Bed" - see picture below).

I thought she'd like a princess party like we had for Hannah when she turned four, but Ava had her own ideas. She wanted to gather her friends for a pajama party. I should emphasize that it was NOT a sleepover - the girls came in the morning and left after brunch. Doug and I aren't crazy enough to have 10 little 2-4 year olds spend the night. The girls were all excited to come wearing their jammies. For several girls it was their first birthday party so it was fun to watch their reactions. The girls played, sang songs, heard bedtime stories, ate brunch, opened presents, colored pjs and ate yummy pajama cupcakes. We all had so much fun!

Ebony and Ivory

Our wonderful friends, Dan and Kate, lent us their beautiful piano since Hannah started taking piano lessons and no one in their family was using it. We are soooo excited!!!!! I think I'm as excited as Hannah since I love to play the piano and have been without one for about 13 years. We could hardly contain ourselves when the piano movers arrived and very skillfully brought the piano into its new home in our lower level. The girls immediately started expressing their musical gifts. Did I mention how excited we are?!? :-) Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dan and Kate!

Trick or Treating - times two!

For Halloween this year, Princess Leia and Snow White showed up at our house. Our princesses were excited to trick or treat with their cousin Ajla (Alissa sat out this year) on Saturday night and then trick or treat around our neighborhood Sunday night. Fortunately we didn't go to many houses so we kept the candy haul to a minimum...and somehow certain candy bars have a way of disappearing after the girls go to bed.

Hannah trying to keep a straight face as I make her act out the infamous scene from Star Wars

Our neighbor Jaslynn

Meeting up with friends from church

Laps for Learning

This fall the girls took part in a "laps for learning" event at school. The children ran laps to help raise money for our school. It was a beautiful day that included a visit from our eagle mascot - Ava was less than thrilled about that (note the 3rd picture of her running away from the eagle).