February 2011

Highlights from the month of February:


Don't laugh, but yes, we waited until Micalee was home almost 18 months before we got her hair cut for the first time. It as just SO short when she joined our family & I just wasn't sure how she would do. So I took her with me when I got mine cut & let her get a little trim. She did great (as usual!)! I love her hair long, so it may stay that way a while.....until she asks for it to be shorter.

On the actual day of Chinese New Year, we put up a few decorations & made a little Chinese dinner (with dumplings , of course, but not homemade....)! We want her to always be proud of being Chinese. That's why we love her so much! She is just her!!!

We got a little more snow in February, so we got to play a little more! This time, there was enough for a snowball fight! It was a little too soft pack & build a snowman, though.

My little artist! If she's not drawing, coloring or cutting (her absolute favorite thing to do!), she asking for the paint! She's getting pretty good, too!

Micalee started her first organized activity.....soccer!!! The uniform swallowed her! She put so much effort forth & laughed the whole time she played! And she is NOT afraid to get all up in there with all the kids! She was sick for her first game, but didn't miss too many more.

Jace chose glow-in-the-dark bowling for his birthday this year. Micalee was the only girl, but held her own against the guys! It was alot of fun!

I just LOVE this picture of Micalee! She looks like a little model! We were just leaving for a birthday party & a Chinese New Year party.

And here's a shot of Micalee at Lillianne's birthday party. It was at Acrosport (gymnastics), and Micalee had so much fun, we decided to sign her up for gymnastics a few months later!

At the Chinese New Year party put on by the Chinese Mission at First Baptist Church. This is our second year to attend & Micalee remember how to make the dumplings! This year, we brought Jacob. He really had a great time & learned he liked Chinese food!!!

My little dumpling maker! She's just a natural. Look at that concentration!

January 2011

Happy New Year!!!


Micalee reading books to her babies in her reading nook...

What is this white stuff falling from the sky?!?! We hardly EVER see snow, but since Micalee has been home, it has snowed, at least a little, both winters she's been with us!!! I knew she must be good luck!!! Here she is trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue....

And now trying REALLY hard to catch snowflakes on her tongue!!!

Trying out her car on the ice & snow! How fun!!!

And checking out the ice on the trees.....so pretty....

Now this was the funnest thing I think we've done in a while! A little nature park close to home had a nighttime owl trail walk. It was SO cool! They had a different owl at the end of each trail with a guide to tell you all about it! Micalee had a blast!!! So did I!!!

As much as I wasn't sure if I was ready, we decided it was time to convert Micalee's toddler bed to a full size bed. She loved it & has slept in it every night without a single problem. We did have to put fold down rails on because the bed is so high...

December 2010

December just speeds by, with all the shopping, planning, cooking, activities, parties.... Here are some images from our December:

I somehow got some of these out of order, but this is actually New Year's Eve at Sci Port. They have all kinds of activities for the kids, a Chinese dragon dance and a balloon drop at noon! So much fun...

I just love this picture. This was at the Boardwalk. Micalee was checking out the decorations around the light pole and I loved how you can see her reflection in the ornament!

Early December brought Disney on Ice Princess Wishes to town. This was Micalee's first time to see ice skating & she loved the show!

One of my favorite December activities is to go to Christmas in Roseland & see all the lights & giant Christmas cards made by all the local schools! It's cold, but so much fun & we always get hot chocolate to help keep us warm.

Each year, we make Turtles for our family & friends. It's fun & makes the house smell so good, too! Micalee got to help this year!

Ok, I walked into the kitchen to find Micalee with a gardening hat on & hanging on to the leg of the island. I swear this girl has pole dancing potential! I will have to redirect her natural talents to something a little more sophisticated!

Aunt Jeanie gave Micalee this elf costume & she loves to put it on & watch The Polar Express! This time, she had her "little" Teddy Bear friend watch with her!

Getting ready to go to her Preschool Christmas Program. She did so good!

Making a gingerbread train (or eating the candy while Mama tries to get it all together!!!)....

Christmas Eve at Aunt Jeanie's. I love seeing the kiddos in their matching jammies!!! The grown ups had some matching ones, too!!!

A look at the what Santa left before the fun begins.....

And after Micalee got to get into it all......

This was my favorite Christmas photo shoot picture, especially after I got done playing with it some!!!

This year, Santa left the little ones a very special gift....tickets to the Polar Express!!! So we all jumped in the car the day after Christmas, to take a drive a few hours away to catch the train...

Here we are on the train.....

Oooooh we got it.......Hot, hot, hot, hot chocolate!!!

November 2010

And then it was November....Did I say October was my favorite?! I think it's November!!! Even cooler temps, Thanksgiving, getting ready for Christmas......I just love it! Now for some November pics:


No, she's not it pain....she is just feeling her music! I love this picture of her! She is just full of personality & this just catches a glimpse of her silliness!!!


We love spending time outside in the cool weather! And one of our favorite fall destinations is the Alligator Park. Here, Micalee can get close & feed alot of different animals & just run around & be "one with nature". This is my new best friend, a baby camel! I just loved him! He kept giving me the sweetest (and slightly slobbery) nibbles on my neck.

I love Micalee's expression here. They give everyone a chance to hold a baby alligator, and she just wasn't too sure about it this time. As you can see, the alligator's mouth is taped, but she still gave the handler a "yeah, right!" look!!!

On Thanksgiving at Jeanie's house, Micalee came out of Jace's room all dressed up in his cowboy outfit, riding his rocking horse! Giddy-up!

This HAS to be my favorite moment of the month. Last year, Micalee wouldn't get near Santa! This year, up in his lap & giving up the sweetest little kiss on the cheek! My goodness, she's come a long way.....

October 2010

October! I LOVE October! That's when it really starts looking & feeling like fall (my favorite time of the year)! Here are a few snapshots of the fun of October....





We have been building this same 'ole scarecrow for years. It's so much more fun having Micalee help us with it! This is her second year to help us build him & she always ends up in his lap!


I probably look forward to the Revel more than anything! And Micalee seems to enjoy it, too! Good food, music, artwork & even a few amusement park rides. Our little fearless Micalee wants to try it all! I can't wait to get her to Disney World one day! She's gonna freak out with all the stuff to do & ride there!!!

This is also the time for the State Fair! And of course, Micalee wants to ride everything here, too! There's nothing she doesn't want to try, and we have to break her heart & tell her there are some things she's just too little for. As you can see, she fell again & this time hit her head on the edge of a step! This nasty bruise on her forehead ended up with two black eyes for weeks!!! I expected CPS to show up at my house any day! Two ugly bruises in a matter of a couple of months! Luckily, she hasn't fallen since! I even had her evaluated at Shriner's. They seemed to think it was just her body catching up with her that was causing her to fall and she would grow out of it. She does seem less clumsy now....

You can see the black eyes here.... Kinda made her 50's poodle skirt costume seem a little creepy (like a ghost of a 50's girl), but was appropriate for Halloween!!!

On another trip to the State Fair, Micalee decided she would try the pony ride. She attempted it last year, but only got into the saddle for a second before she decided she's had enough. This year, she rode the entire time & was so proud of herself!

This was taken at Aunt Tracy & Uncle Michael's hayride. We missed this last year, but really enjoyed the fresh, crisp Fall night air this year!

And finally.......Flinstones, meet the Flinstones.....at least our version of them! My niece, Jessica, always has a Halloween costume birthday party for two of her kiddos with early November birthdays. It was so fun to come up with a family themed costume for all of us. Thanks, Melissa, for letting us borrow your Fred & Wilma costumes. And Micalee mad such a cute little Pebbles!!!

September 2010

So I've decided to try to bring this blog up to date while sitting in this hospital room with my David (Sept 2011)...... I'm sure I won't remember details of the past year, but I thought a few pictures from each month would be a good way to catch up. Besides, let's be honest; all you really want to see are pictures of Micalee anyway!!! So here you are.....


This is just before Jacob's birthday party. We got this cute little outfit in China & I just love it!!! If you look close, you can see a very ugly bruise on Micalee's chin! She fell at daycare (just her 2nd week there) and no one knew about it! She told me on the way home & then it just started getting ugly!!! But it didn't take away from her beauty!


Micalee's first bike & she did great! She learned how to brake & turn around the very first time she rode!!!


Oh, the Moon Festival!!! And the Moon Cakes!!! Such fun!!! We love teaching Micalee all we can about her heritage & we love to celebrate these holidays. This year, we found Moon Cakes at a local Asian Market. Micalee loved trying the different flavors. The best part was getting in the truck in our jammies & driving to the school around the corner to get a good view of the moon & to send our wishes to it!



Our little Coastie! Micalee loves the water & we just don't get out on it enough! But on this beautiful fall day, we went out early on the lake & let her drive! She had the BEST time & thought she was such a big girl!


Micalee had her first Fall Program for Preschool at the end of the month. I love this dress Aunt Jeanie bought her! I was SO nervous and had NO idea how she would do. She surprised me by doing incredibly well! She walked right on that stage & sang & danced & just smiled at us! She was SO proud of herself!!!

See my precious little girl dancing!!! Oh, and the funny expressions she made! She is a natural!!! I LOVE this little girl!!!