Just some cute pics.....

We were on our way to Revival at church on Wednesday night here.

She is already spilling orange juice on her outfit before we leave!!

So, Olivia was snacking on some yogurt the other morning, and she kept sitting her yogurt down, only to watch it fall over. It was tearing her up. She just did not understand why her yogurt would not stay standing up when the container was almost empty. After all, it would stand up when it was full! She worked on this for the longest time. I finally pulled out the camera!

Oh, oh, almost!

:-(( Crud!!!

Mmmmmm, mmmmmm.......

A New Clubhouse!!!

Olivia's Pa Jones made her and her cousin Hayden a clubhouse. It is the cutest thing ever! I would have loved to had one of these when I was little. He even put 2 little benches on the front porch, one for each of them. Hayden actually lives right behind us, so Pa just put the house right in between each of us. They are going to have a blast! They already have tables and chairs in the house. We have joked around saying that when they get older, we will probably see cigarette smoke rolling out the cracks of the windows!! Teeheee!!! We better not!!!! Anyway, here are some pics of them and their clubhouse!! We love you Pa.. Thank you.....

Beautiful Day......

So yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day. My mom got in town Sunday afternoon, and will be here until Saturday. Today, she decided to get the grand babies and take them to the Jungle Jym (I think that is how they spell it. I know it's different). Anyway, I had class, so I met up with them later. I took Olivia over to Aunt Erica's at 8:00 yesterday morning while I went to class, and they played over there until about 11:30 I think. Then, they went out to eat at La Cazona and then to the Jungle Jym. I met up with them there. When we got there, there was a bunch of people there, including a bunch in our family. Everyone had the same idea I guess. The kids played hard then we all went to Dairy Queen and enjoyed an ice cream. What a gorgeous day.......


Aunt Erica swinging Olivia and her cousin Kloe.




Liv and two of her cousins (Keelee and Kloe)




Here is Olivia holding on for dear life! She loved it though. She kept getting her cousins Rylan and Madison to put her back up there and push her! Fun stuff!



Livie, Rylan (cousin), Haven (cousin), and Madison (cousin).




Jax, Charlie, Kloe and Paige (all cousins)




My nephew Charlie.




Liv playing in a hole that Rylan dug.




Charlie and Rylan




Can you tell that Charlie spent a lot of his day climbing the trees at the Jungle Jym? I liked this picture so I thought I would post it too.




Olivia enjoying her ice cream!!




Livie and cousin Rylan being silly.




Olivia was so sleepy! She didn't get to take her nap today and she was a walking zombie! Too funny! If she sat too long, those eyes would start rolling.

Cousin Hayden's Birthday Party.......

Here are a few pictures from Hayden's birthday party Saturday (Olivia's cousin). We hope you had a wonderful birthday bud! We love you bunches!!!!


Here is the birthday boy blowing out the candles on his cake! So stinkin cute!

I just liked this picture :-)

Hayden and Olivia are in a deep conversation here.



Here is a picture of some of the kids with their balloons...

Is this not the cutest picture ever??? You tell Miss Mallory to say cheese, and this is what you get!!

Hayden opening his gifts....

Oh my,, what is this?????

Olivia thought she would try out Hayden's tractor while he was preoccupied opening gifts.





Duh?????

Can you say tired??? He was beat!! Bless that baby!

2 Years Ago Today........

So, I have to admit, I have been looking forward to doing this post. (I'm not sure why, but I have) Anyway, 2 years ago today, March 7th 2007, was the first time we ever saw our beautiful daughters face. On this day in 2007, I was at work (Lowe's at the time) doing inventory, and the phone on my hip rang. I picked up the phone to hear the lady from our adoption agency say "You have one beautiful baby girl, with big fat cheeks!!!" I will NEVER forget that feeling as long as I live. I remember sprinting through the store to go call Jason and to leave immediately to go and get our referral (which is pictures and a lot of information about Olivia). My chest was pounding, and still does when I think about that moment. That moment, aside from the moment we got her, was the very best day of my life. Here is just a tad bit of information we received that day about Miss Olivia.

1 ~ Born July 12th, 2006 (She was almost 7 months when we got her picture)

2 ~ She was in an orphanage (Some babies are kept in foster homes)

3 ~ She was a deep sleeper (HA! Don't know where they got this info.)

4 ~ Held her head up while lying on stomach

5 ~ Rolls from supine to prone position by herself

6 ~ Grasps toy near hand

7 ~ Locates the direction of sound/noise

8 ~ Follows you with moving head from one side to the other

9 ~ Laughs aloud

10~Distinguishes between acquaintance and stranger (and still does!!!) But funny thing is, she went right to us on the day we adopted her and she NEVER cried! She was scared to death, but never cried)

11~Active

12~Restless

13~Fond of playing with toys

14~Quick in reaction

15~Has a ready smile

16~Fond of playing games

17~Closest to caretaker

And there was lots more like her daily routine (eating & sleeping), her weight, height and head circumference, birthplace, etc.

We started this process on November 10th, 2004 thinking it would take 6 months. But, with lots of changes coming from China, we didn't get our referral for 2 years and 4 months (I think that's right). Anyway, that was the longest 2 years of our lives and now time just flies by. It is amazing! I don't know how we'll ever be able to express to God how much this blessing means to us. She is our world! Thank you God!!!!!

Here are the pictures we got on March 7th, 2007.

In this picture, they are trying to show us her "blood vessel tumor on face" (as they called it). Hemangioma here in the U.S. You can't see it good on this picture, but in our pictures, you can see a little tear in the corner of her eye where she had been crying while they took this picture I am assuming. So pitiful!




She was found on July 20th, 2006. That means her mother kept her for 8 DAYS before they left her outside of Jishui Hospital. So sad!!! I would give anything to be able to send a picture or letter letting her biological parents know what she looks like now and how healthy and happy she is...I don't know her biological parents, but I can tell you there is a DEEP LOVE in our hearts for them.

Happy Referral Day Miss Olivia!! We love you!!

Pa's birthday party.....

Here are a couple of cute pictures that Jennie and Jennifer took of Olivia and Hayden at Pa's birthday party last Sunday. I forgot my camera (as usual), so I don't have any pictures of Pa! They are two little peas~in~a~pod when they are together. Thanks for the pictures girls.


Say "Cheese" kiddos!!



Olivia hiding behind the curtain. I love this picture...



In this picture we found the two of them in Mike and Deana's tub. I am sure they appreciate that! Ha!!



By the way, Olivia's skirt was longer than this. It is riding up in this picture where she has been playing. Promise!!