Ella & Annie Come to Visit

 We had a fun weekend....it was a beautiful weekend. Saturday was especially gorgeous!! Magnus loved playing in the leaves. It was his first time playing in the leaves. He was amazed the the leaves were crispy. He would smell and then taste the leaves and then say "not good momma...yucky!"

 The girls BFF's came to visit all day Saturday. They had so much fun.

 Here's Jocelyn and Annie Mae!!!!!!!!! They are two peas in a pod!!!!!!!!!!!

Ella and Gabriella giggled and ran around like they have been together forever!! Ella and Annie moved to Clara City last year. It was tragic when they moved. But when they get together, it seems like time stood still and they jump back into their routine together.

We love you Ella and Annie! You're the best! Hope to see you very very VERY soon!!!!

Happy Gotch'a Day Jocelyn!!!

Big day for our family...Today was Jocelyn's Gotch'a Day!! 7 years ago today Ryan, I and Gabriella went to the MSP airport and met Jocelyn for the first time!! It seems like yesterday...and today she is a very sweet little girl who has the biggest heart.

I was up early this morning making a Gotch'a day breakfast of rolls and quiche! Yummmmy!

 Then, it was the exciting part of opening a couple special gifts to commemorate the event!!!

 I always love the look of anticipation when the kids open gifts..........everyone's eyes are bright and excitement is in the air!

 .....And her face is priceless.....she is in shock and that means momma picked the right gift well!! Mission accomplished!

 Jocelyn got the new American Girl named, Caroline Abbott. She loved the book about her new historical American Doll and the accessories.

 Here's a picture of the sista's together.........................

 ...........................here's Magnus not joining in on the picture!!! Typical!

 He did this pose all on his own!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He seriously is a really funny little boy!!! Where does he get that....I don't know???

 Daddy smooch'in on Magnus and he giggles and giggles............

 My fancy face and her new doll.

 Gabriella is proud big sister. Gabriella and Ahnya never once complain that they didn't get something or fight about playing with Jocelyn's gift, etc. The kids just know that a Gotch'a Day is a special celebration for that child and the kids support each other and share in the joy. I love that. No one fought or had an argument at all today. I love that, too! We all had a great time playing outside, playing dolls inside, hot tubing and being a family.

 Jocelyn and Caroline having snack together!

 I had to post the other kids because they're part of the celebration, too! Ahnya all smiles all the time!

 Magnus already has things figured out. He sang "Happy Gotch'a Day to you" song to Jocelyn many times today. He gave tons of hugs to Jocelyn, too!

 And Gabriella..............another sweetheart!

We ended the evening with typical asian dishes from the Hunan Lion restaurant because I just couldn't keep up to all the cooking. Delicious and perfect for the occasion. Happy Gotch'a Day Jocelyn Ka In. You are even sweeter than when I held you in my arm 7 years ago. I love you forever!

She's A Winner!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yea Gabriella!!! Gabriella won the Marshall Fire Prevention Poster Contest!!!! The Marshall Fire Department picked one person out of grade level K-6 in the Marshall School District. Gabriella's picture was chosen out of all the 3rd grades in our town!! Congrats Gabriella!!!! She did a fantastic job!!!

                   The two+ hours you worked on your picture really paid off Gabriella!!!

 Here's all the winners from each grade level that won!!! Gabriella is in the middle wearing an orange hoodie!

                                                     My little artist!!!!!!!!!

Happy Gotch'a Day Mr. Magnus

On Wednesday, October 10th we celebrated Magnus' gotch'a day together as a family of 6!!!! It was a special day that I'll never forget!!! One year ago, the girls and I met lil' Magnus at his orphanage in Chengdu, China. He warmed up to us quickly and settled into our crazy family. Magnus hasn't slowed down since...instead he is accelerating at great speeds!!!!!

Magnus is the sweetest lil boy that I have ever met! He has impecable manners, is a wonderful helper, and has momma wrapped around his finger!! He loves his sisters and his family. Everyday he comments on our new house and says, "Momma's, new house? Magnus' new house! Finally home momma and Magnus!!" He has it all figured out and life is 4 times sweeter with him in it!

China is minus one orphan! And we are plus one amazing little boy!!!! Happy Gotch'a day Magnus!!!

Happy Birthday lil' Ahnya Leigh Meretech

We celebrated Ahnya's 4th birthday this weekend!!!!!! Last week was her official birthday, but we were not settled in our new home yet. So we celebrated in style with family on Saturday. It was a beautiful day for a party! 

 Here's a picture of the girls in their new Matilda Jane clothing that I have recently fell in love with. The patterns are so fun and girly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to Dana and Brooke for getting me into another addiction of children's boutique clothing!!!!!

 The kids were excited to celebrate yet another birthday party. It seems that we are always celebrating a birthday or gotch'a day in our home. But then again our family does LOVE parties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Ahnya loved her new party dress!!!!!!!!!!! It totally fits her personality!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 She's wearing her new bracelets that a friend bought her from India!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thanks Nikki!!!!!!!!!!!

 twirling in the grass........................precious!

 Jocelyn and Ahnya...........................

 The big 4 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Momma and the birthday girl!

 She was giggling when we were all singing happy birthday to her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Gabriella............

 Here's Nana with Ahnya outside.....She's totally pooped and asked Nana if she could go to sleep!!!!!!!!!!

She laid down and within minutes was sound asleep!!!!!!!!!! Hope you had a great day my precious baby girl. We love you!!!!!!!!! Thanks Nana, Bumpa, Holly & Harley and Nic for coming and celebrating her birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holmberg Orchard Visit!!!!!

 It's our fall tradition as a family to visit the Holmberg Orchard and have a hayride through the pumpkin patch!!!! We had another fabulous time and this year was Magnus' first time visiting it!!!! We measure each of the kids on the apple chart and they love standing by the sign and seeing how "big" they are!!!

Jocelyn had a huge growth year. She's about 3 inches shorter that  Gabriella. And very excited to be wearing the exact same size as big sister!!!!!!! Plus, it's fun to share your sister's clothes, right!?!? 

Sweet lil' Ahnya is also growing and growing. She has such long legs and skinny skinny mini!! So fun to dress my girls.

 Magnus is not excitied about momma taking pictures anymore. I think he tries to make the most ridiculous facial expressions when he sees my camera.

 The kids loved the apple orchard and pumpkin patch. What a fun time.

 We went on a hayride through the orchards to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins! We decided on the biggest pumpkin we could find and let daddy carry it!!

 face painting.................

 Daddy and the kids..............

 Gabriella.................................

 Jocelyn...............................

 Ahnya................and Magnus too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Playing in the corn

                           Sistas

              Momma and her babes

 This was actually Ahnya's birthday family celebration, too. Ahnya turned 4 years old. We came home to our new home and had cake and opened presents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Ahnya loved her American Girl table and chairs set!!!

 Happy Birthday my sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was such a fun day!!!!!!!!!!!!!