Christmas Day fun

What precious memories of our THREE amazing babies enjoying Christmas Day! It was fun, crazy, messy, overwhelming and many other emotions. We are feeling so full and blessed!

I like the paper the best!!

Favorite gift in 2011.

He's awfully excited about something he has no idea what it is. :)

Always the helper.

Our new photographer.

They are having a blast with this tunnel!

Balance bike without pedals. He's not quite sure about it yet.

Parker declared this to be the 'best Christmas ever' and when we asked why, his answer was,

'because of Carter and Gracie!'

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Today we celebrated the birth of our Savior and the kids were just beside themselves with excitement! The joy and laughter in our house today was just more than I could ever have asked for or imagined! Of course there were the parent moments - 'you are going to sit together for a photo...' - but they forgive easily. :) We had Grandpa Marvin, Nanannette & Grandma for dinner on Christmas Eve and then Christmas morning. We love sharing our major events with family and so wish there were more of us together!! We are very thankful for those we have close though!

Gracie Lin has had a few rough moments of screaming as if she were scared during the night lately and after naps. We are wondering if the stimulation of Christmas is a little too much. She has been happy, happy when we are playing, eating, etc. but there are just a few moments of uncertainty. The boys enthusiasm definitely rubs off on her now and she gets excited although I'm not sure if she knows what they are excited about. Her favorite part of unwrapping gifts was the paper. She has enjoyed playing with the food that came with her little kitchen and with the tea cups.

Carter kind of got it this year and he knew the answer to who's birthday it is. On Christmas Eve John was in tune enough to the kids to hear the ripping of paper in the next room and we ran to find Carter opening one of Grace's gifts. :) He sang Ha-appy Jesus, Ha-appy Jesus before we ate cupcakes. His favorite gift was a basket ball and hoop! He plays it all day long! This past week, he has started talking in longer sentences. We still don't understand a lot of words but he is really starting to be able to communicate - we hope it will help reduce the number of meltdowns starting soon! :)

Parker said to us as we got in the car to drive somewhere - I got enough presents this year for two christmases; I'm just going to ask Santa for one thing next year. It is so amazing to see his heart start to understand the true meaning of Christmas!! In our minds as we prepared, the things we got them didn't seem to be so much but on Christmas morning, it got overwhelming with three kids. We will definitely make changes next year. Parker has loved putting snap circuits together (it's an electronic gadget lab where he can connect circuits to make a light shine or make a doorbell sound, etc.). Christmas Eve, Parker cut out a paper nativity to leave for Santa to see and so that we would have a baby in a manger on Christmas morning. He is amazing with a pair of scissors. :) There is a big paper star hanging above this scene.

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Christmas baking and reindeer food

Annual tradition of making a gingerbread house... He did this one very quickly

and didn't seem to be that into it.

Oops - John turned on the mill and walked away. :) It snowed in the kitchen.

The carrots were divided between the reindeer and santa's sleigh had four gumdrops for him along with a paper santa.

Christmas Time!

On December 10 we have been with Gracie Lin for 2 wonderful months! As you can see, she is so very loved! She has grown in so many ways and we are having so much fun watching her blossom and getting to know her! This last week she has just changed so much in the amount of laughter and teasing she is sharing! Somewhere she has picked up the idea of talking on a the phone. At Parker's Christmas program she pulled a heavy note card from the seat and played with it. When it ended up folded into a rectangle, she put it to her ear and tried to say 'hello!' That was the first time I heard her try that word. She was so proud of herself!

Parker was a shepherd in his school Christmas program. They did a terrific event where they hosted a party for Jesus and had a reporter, who ultimately saw the truth of Christmas and became a follower of Jesus, broadcast the news. They did some really fun songs!

Santa arrived at Parson's Run on December 11 as he always does. He's such a kind man! Parker of course was thrilled to see him and share his wish list but the little two were less than happy!

Good Morning!

I am more in love with this little angel every day! She woke up unusually early this morning so we are having coffee together, just the girls! Amazing that we have girlS in our house now! The funny thing is that she acts like she loves me more this morning. She has been smiling at me since I picked her up from the bed and she is just hugging on me as I type. We just played peek a boo with the camera and she tried to say 'peek a boo!' She loves the game!

This morning's prayer for my kids from Stormie: "With each day that they grow in the confidence of being loved and accepted, as Parker, Carter and Grace come to fully understand the depth of Your love for them, make them vessels through which Your love flows to others!"

So Very Thankful

What a lot we have to be thankful for this year! John and I were just talking last night about the trials that we've gone through that lead us to the amazing family of five that we are giving thanks for this year. My first prayer of thanks this morning was that 12 years ago, John pursued me in a way that he says he would have never done; it was God's leading. 12 years and 4 days ago, John proposed to me on the beach in Boca Grande when I least expected him to pop the question. Our journey has had it's many hard days but I could never have asked for a more amazing man to walk beside through those struggles and joyous days. We still don't and won't on earth totally understand the reason God takes us down the path He does to get us to the place He wants us to be. This year, I am giving thanks of course for the incredible blessing of children - after feeling that a part of our life was on hold for over five years, our family is complete now that Grace Lin is home! We are also so thankful for amazing family, friends, restored health and for financial provision during tough times!

Gracie's very first Thanksgiving dinner.
The Lyman family's first Thankful tree and a poem sent home from Carter's school
Making new traditions... playing at the park, the zoo and the aquarium.

Old traditions: packing shoe boxes and CCA Thanksgiving program followed by the family feast.

Fourth Grade Classes

Officially a US Citizen!

Certificate of CITIZENSHIP!!

I didn't think I should photograph the whole document to put on the web but wanted to share - look at that sweet picture! Grace Lin Jingxiao is officially a United States Citizen. Of course it was 'official' when we landed in Detroit but it was exciting to receive the document!
I caught Gracie Lin in action with her piece of paper! I think I mentioned before that if there is any type of paper within her reach, that is her play item of choice! She cracks me up surrounded by toys playing with and chewing a piece of paper.
"I got an awesome new hat from Aunt Jody! What do you think? I think it's just perfect!"
Tackled by Carter once again! I am pealing him off of her! I think she is getting used to it but she still isn't thrilled. He just can't wait to see her in the mornings and after naps. The first thing he says every time is, "I see Gwacie?" Tonight he was sitting on the floor watching something and she was sitting right beside him watching him. She sat up on her knees and leaned over to give him a kiss. She has become very affectionate with her kisses.

Its so fun each day to see how much our sweet girl's little personality is blossoming! It is so terrific to see her comfort level grow and grow. She still cries when she wakes up but I'm hoping one day to hear a "Mama" or just some happy sounds coming from her room! I think she is finding that her bed is a comfort spot when she is cuddled with her lovies. I lay her down, she rolls over and snuggles her lovie up to her little mouth. Daily, I see her play more with blowing kisses, covering her eyes for peek a boo, and patting her mouth to make noises and then she just grins about it all.

Today is Parker 9 1/2 birthday and he kicked off our week of no school with a boys night with Daddy and they watched a James Bond movie! 9 1/2! I saw the date and realized that he only has six more months of being a single digit age and on top of that, he was watching James Bond with his Dad! I get so sad about them growing up but at the same time I love it! I love watching him grow and mature! This week he got a pocket bible from school. When he got home, he was telling me about the index and that he had looked up a couple of words that he felt like he needed to focus on and then found the verses, dog eared the page and underlined them. I asked if those where things that the class was talking about and he said, 'no, they are just things that I need.' WOW! I got a bible from church when I was in 4th grade but it seems to me that it was all about having the bible and not necessarily about reading and applying it to my life! God has given this child a huge heart for people and I know that He has big plans for our boy!

Family Age

I was reminded last night that the age of our family is how long our newest member has been a part of the mix. As of 11/10 our family was one month old. Some days, I feel like I have no brain and just can't get it together to save my life! Well, if I keep in mind how young our family unit is, I think I should give myself a break. :) We have had five days of at least one sick child and the last two days we have two sick, not very happy kids. Carter of course is either jumping for joy in life or throwing himself on the floor in a tantrum. There is no even ground for this kid which is why we love him - he has so much life! However, when that 'throw himself on the ground' side is the norm instead of the fun happy boy we know, wow can it be exhausting! John and Parker have been at the farm hunting this weekend so I'm very thankful that Nanannette was here to help out and keep me company during the insanity!

In the midst of this hard week, sweet Gracie Lin said her first English word. She looked and John, reached toward him and said, "Dada!" She has also started to use the 'all done' and 'more' signs this week. She has been waking up early this week and I'm wondering if she is so excited about the toys she's discovering or the fact that she is learning and wants to know more. She just plays and plays with the toys and strives to figure out how they work. She is just not sleeping as long. I remember when Parker learned to crawl, stand, walk (major milestones), he would get up early in the morning like, "I'm ready to do it again!" The big difference is that Grace doesn't call to us happily, she wakes up a cries until we pick her up. Hopefully soon, she will learn that we ARE coming and that she doesn't have to cry but she can just call to us. If she weren't such a light sleeper, I think I would be tempted to let her sleep in the pack-n-play so I could roll her around the house and she would wake up wherever I am. So, I hear some little ones stirring (and crying) upstairs so I'm off!

Just One Month

Has it been just one month since our precious baby girl was placed in our arms? I just reread the post from that incredible day. The morning of October 10, I was up way before dawn but John was already up and sitting at the computer. The boys were sleeping soundly. We were filled with so much anticipation and excitement. I knew once the boys were awake, that we would be very distracted. I just laid in bed with two boys on one side of me and an empty crib on the other taking in the fact that we were moving from just having these two wonderful boys to adding a little girl... not sure if I would know what to do with her. Here we are one month later and I'm still not sure if I know what to do with her. So far, she's learning to play with legos and throw balls. :)

Brand new Crown Plaza in Nanchang

We pushed these beds together to make one enormous bed for all of us.

Our days are so filled with busy/crazy/fun times and it doesn't slow down enough for me to take it all in completely. My daily prayer is that God's will be done through my life and I will give John and all of the kids what they need from me whether I realize it or it's intentional. My desire is to do that but my mental capacity hasn't caught up to intentional yet! Some days are harder than others but there isn't a day that I don't see joy in this journey. Parker lights up when his sweet sister gets up in the morning and it is reciprocated. He can get her to belly laugh faster than anyone. He is such an amazing big brother. Through Carter's painful week of 2 year molars (hopefully arriving VERY soon!), he has sweet hugs and kisses for his baby sister every day. When he wakes in the morning and from his nap in the afternoon, his first words are, 'whas Gwacie doin' it?' and next, 'I see Gwacie?' This of course is after he calls for Daaadddy, Daaadddy to come get him up. No mater how much I do for him, he's all about Daddy!

What we've learned about sweet Jing Xiao so far:

She loves to EAT! She is demanding about eating!

She does not like her crib or being alone. We are working on that.

She learns so quickly. She last learned the sign for 'all done' and is working on 'more.'

She isn't a fan of dog kisses.

She loves bath time with Carter and handles hair washing much better than he!

She HATES her changing table in the middle of the night - ??

She is a happy little girl and gets so excited when others get excited.

She is a joy!

Hanging out with Daddy on 'Gotcha Day'

Amazing what a day can do! Exploring already on day 2 in the Lyman family

(as long as Parker was the one putting her down on the floor).

We are one happy family!

Happy Halloween!

Tradition in the hood - our neighborhood kicks off trick-or-treating with a little celebration and parade in the parking lot of the club house. The costumes are judged and prizes are awarded - Parker won a huge candy bar. :) Just what he needs in addition to his pillow case filled with candy. We jumped right into the festivities this year with all three kiddos. Parker wouldn't hear of missing it so, although I'm not the holiday's biggest fan, we got them all dressed with little effort this year. My friend Cindy had sent a cute little kitty costume that CoraLeigh had worn, Carter received the hand me down race car driver costume from his big brother and Parker finally decided the night before that he would be a LaCrosse player skeleton. It was not as challenging as I expected to find some black clothing to paint. Kohl's had a great sale on long underwear and they had plenty of black. Annette went with me to find supplies at Michael's and we were able to get face paint and white fabric paint to bring the whole thing together. It turned out pretty well and he wasn't too scary.

Smash Cake

Every one year old should have an opportunity to smash a cake right? Today after church we stopped at Publix to pick up a little cake for Grace Lin to demolish. We had gotten her a balloon before on her actual birthday so today she played with balloons and smashed cake. I'm not sure which she preferred more! She chased a non-helium balloon around the room until she caught it and popped it. I would hand her that helium balloon and she would just shake it as hard as she could. When it got away, she would follow it and reach for the string. Some way she pulled the string with her and wrapped it around this chair.

She certainly loved the cake as well. Once she got the hang of the fact that she could put in her hand and come out with lots of sweet goodness, she didn't hesitate. It was fun to watch her work her little fingers into that icing and cake then pull the whole thing to her mouth to see how much she could get in.