About 10 years ago we had a pool put in. Our 2 older kids LOVED the pool when they were younger and our 3 youngest are no exception! Olivia is an avid, and awesome I mignt add, swimmer! The child would live in the pool 24/7 if we would let her. It took Ellye about 3 years after coming home to really enjoy the water! Now we can't keep her out either! The harsh mid-western winter took its toll on our pool cover this year. By the time we took off what little of the tarp that did not get destroyed by the wind, ice, & snow, the water was as green as grass! While trying to get our pool cleaned and ready to swim in, we took Eli to the city pool to see if he would enjoy the water as much as the girls! I believe the pics sum it up!
I finally got tired of my sweet boy's hair! To me it looked like MOE from the 3 Stooges! I took him to get a really cute cut, and of course he cried thru the whole thing! It is absolutely precious, and I think it really shows off his eyes and that handsome little face! I have been spiking it and he has been very tolerant. I caught him looking at himself in the mirror checking it out! He is a HOOT!!!!
I will never forget the nervous feeling I had when I entered the Civil Affairs Office in Guangzhou on that Sunday, June 6, 2004.... 7 years ago. My heart was so happy, my mind was a mess, and all I wanted to do was cry! We had waited an eternity for this moment! I watched the door like a hawk, hoping for one small glimpse of this little baby girl that I so desperately longed to hold in my arms!! And then there she was! They handed her to me and I was lost in another world! I lost all memory of anyone else in that hot and sweaty room! She was beautiful! She was tinier than I expected her to be! She was laughing, kicking her feet, and I was in LOVE! Totally, deeply,madly in love!!! And now here we are....celebrating 7 years together! To me it will always seem like yesterday! I had no idea what GOD was orchestrating in my life that day in China! Little did I know that I would return to that very same place just 3 years later, and then return to China again 4 years later ! HAPPY FOREVER FAMILY DAY, OLIVIA ELIZABETH YANG XIAO WAN SCHRINK! We love you so much!!!!!
MOW GRASS!!!! Eli received a bubble mower for his birthday and has mowed the yard more times in one week than what his brother has done in 25 years!!!! BAHAHAHAHA We love you Zach!!!!!
June 1st! Children's Day in China. A day to celebrate children! The day our sweet boy was born! What was to be a day of celebration most likely turned into a day of pain and difficult decisions for Eli's birth parents. I am sure there were no cards. No presents. No cake. No big celebration! If only his birth-parents had only known that he was healthy. If only they had known that his few missing ribs would NEVER be an issue for him. If only they had better jobs. If only they were not so young.....Whatever the reason they had to make the decision to provide a better life for Eli, we know that he was not destined to live in China....He was to be OUR son! We will forever be grateful!
We decided to keep Eli's birthday low key this year and celebrated with family. Eli absolutely loves animals, so I went with a farm theme! I had a cake made just for him in the shape of a cow's face! It was toooo cute! He was all about opening his presents! He opened them like it was his job! He received many nice things and had such a fun day! He is such a blessing to our family and I can not wait to see what new discoveries await him this summer!If only his birth-parents knew how much we loved him...if only.
June 1st! Children's Day in China. A day to celebrate children! The day our sweet boy was born! What was to be a day of celebration most likely turned into a day of pain and difficult decisions for Eli's birth parents. I am sure there were no cards. No presents. No cake. No big celebration! If only his birth-parents had only known that he was healthy. If only they had known that his few missing ribs would NEVER be an issue for him. If only they had better jobs. If only they were not so young.....Whatever the reason they had to make the decision to provide a better life for Eli, we know that he was not destined to live in China....He was to be OUR son! We will forever be grateful!
