Gift #549- A Trip to Panama City

After being away so long, Hank wanted to get home to see family.  He took Sam and Avery Grace along with him.  They are all having such a great time.  Sam spent the day with 2 of his cousins yesterday and took a lot of pictures of their remote control cars.  I think that he is hinting to me, because he keeps sending me pictures like this:

Avery Grace is having a great time also.  Apparently she is eating her way across the city.  

Her new favorite- fried shrimp and deer sausage!  

Have fun with your dad kiddos!

Gift #548- A New Reason to Celebrate

This year we can add a new celebration to our calendar-  Chinese New Year!  This is the biggest celebration in China.  It is a celebration of Spring.  It is the beginning of a new lunar year.  2016 is the year of the Monkey.  Bo is actually a Tiger, but if you were born in the years 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, or 1920, then this is your year!  In China, the people celebrate together as a family on the eve of the Lunar New Year.  They eat noodles for long life and greens for prosperity.  They eat mandarin oranges for happiness.  The oranges are eaten in pairs for good luck.  The number eight is considered lucky so bowls are filled with 8 oranges or 8 flowers for decoration.   We are very happy to have a new reason to celebrate this year.  Bo, you are the gift!

Bo eating his noodles for long life!  :0)

 Our friend, Shauw Chin gave Bo some very special treats! 

On Lunar New Year, Chinese children are traditionally given red envelopes with money inside!

Gift #547- Chocolate Faces

Henry is finally old enough to lick the spoon!  And he apparently loves it!

Gift #546- Daddy's Home!

Won't be long now.  

The hangar doors opened and the maintenance guys told us that they are on their way!

 They landed!  And all of the kids went running!  

Bo made it first.  He was so very happy.  Sam was a close second!

 And we are together again.

Gift #545- This Dynamic Duo

Happy Double-Digit Birthday Sam and Macy.  10 Years Old!  Macy made her very own lemon cake!  It turned out so pretty.  Sam's wouldn't come out of the pan, so we just crumbled it up and turned it into a bowl cake.  It tasted just as good!  I am so proud of these two and can't wait to watch them grow and see all of the amazing things that they will do in this new year.  I love you Sam and Macy!

Gift #544- A Tear-Free Sunday

We are going on about 16 weeks of Henry tears at the church nursery.  But today---  NO TEARS!  I am so very thankful for Ms. Audrey and Mr. Alan who love this boy so very well.  These two have been a blessing for many years now- they kept Sam and Macy in the nursery when they were babies!