Pillow Fight!

Elli having a pillow fight with big brother and sister!

Snow Days!

Kaitlyn and Brady were excited to have two snow days last week leading right into Christmas break!

 Elli looking out at the first snow of the season!

 It was so cold, but Brady and Kaitlyn went out in the snow for a little while.

Snow angels.

Making Strawberry Santas!

I saw this cute idea on Pinterest for Strawberry Santas.  When our preacher's wife brought me the same recipe, I knew we had to make them!  

Strawberry Santas
(from www.justapinch.com)
1 lb. large strawberries
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
3-4 T. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the strawberry.  Remove the top, enough for a hat.  You can hollow the strawberry out a bit if you want.

Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar (next time I will add a little more), and vanilla until creamy.  Add the cream cheese mix to a piping bag or Ziploc bag with a corner snipped off.  Fill the strawberries with cheesecake mixture, then top with the "hats".  Add mini chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles, or sesame seeds for the eyes.  Use the cream cheese mixture to decorate the top of the hat and for little buttons.  Refrigerate until serving.

Dec. 19, 2012

Winter Band Concert

Brady played percussion (cymbals, triangle, and vibraphone) in the high school winter band concert last Tuesday evening.  Our high school has three concert bands (campus, concert, and wind ensemble).  We are so proud of our freshman for making it into wind ensemble, the top audition band!  They sounded wonderful!

Elli and Brady after the concert.

Our Adorable Elliana

Ready for church ~ Dec. 16, 2012.

Making White Chocolate Pretzels!

 Elli loved shaking on the sprinkles!  (lots and lots of sprinkles...)

Dec. 17, 2012

Elli and Santa!

Elli sat on Santa's lap today and told him she would like a little choo-choo train, a book, and a candy cane.  She's just adorable.

Playing in the igloo in Santa's playland.

 Wanting to eat her little candy cane from Santa.

Recognition of Foreign Adoption

On December 7, 2012, we had our court date to complete the process for Recognition of Foreign Adoption.  Elliana was a U.S. citizen when we landed in the United States on July 20, 2011, and the adoption was final as decreed by the Chinese government.  However, some states have an optional re-adoption procedure or a recognition of foreign adoption.  Up until now, our adoption had only been recognized by a Chinese court.  Our adoption now carries the same legal weight as an adoption in the U.S.  It will probably never be an issue, but if anything ever comes up, we will be really glad we did this extra step.

Mama's Little Helper...Making Cranberry Apple Crisp

This little girl LOVES to help Mama in the kitchen!  She will say, "Elli help too!"

A Warm Early December Day at the Park