Family...it's a beautiful thing.

Three years ago, we traveled to China..and Jolie became family. I can't believe it's been three years. Seems like she's been here forever. Often when looking at old  family photos, she asks where she was, I say you were not born yet. So it seems she feels like she's been here forever too.  Family..it's a beautiful thing.

That first meeting...was a rather loud meeting...Jolie cried and screamed for a while....

Karl has a calming effect on babies...

By the next day she seemed to like me...it's amazing what a little chocolate, chicken nuggets, and love will do.

The first complete family photo with all the kiddos...spring 2011

In three short years this little miss has developed a ham of a personality. She loves to make videos with my phone, she likes to pose and wear her sister's makeup and she'd rather have a new outfit and a tube of lipstick instead of toys. She loves to draw and color. she loves Jesus,  she loves her family, and loves to watch Jesus videos on the ipad. She loves going to church, and just yesterday, she woke up telling us of her happy dream she had about going to church.  AND she tells us that she needs another little sister, from China....

snow take 2

Snow, and ice has hit us again....twice in one winter...un. heard. of.

First, we were coated in ice. Pretty but wicked on the roads...

This morning, we noticed that it had started snowing on top of the ice,  when it really started coming down fast and in huge flakes we woke up the kids to see. Karlie said, "whatever" she was not interested...she's over this snow!

I love how the old barn and the grapevines out front look when draped in ice.

These two had fun playing in the snow this morning...

Shek likes to throw snow balls....and look cool

Jolie doesn't like buttons and she thinks that the eyes on this sock monkey hat are buttons...but today she needed a hat and decided it was okay to wear it.

snow ball fights...

The sun has started to shine...I know that melting has begun...we are ready for Spring...

Beauty and the Beast

As part of the Konos Curriuclum, the students perform a play each year. This year the high schoolers performed Beauty and the Beast, one of our all time favorites. It was neat to see the students bring it to life.

Here's a few photos I snapped at rehearsal.

More practice...

 Karlie with her friends. They were enchanted objects in the play...Karlie was a cushion.

Back stage fun

More backstage fun

More play and cast party fun...Photo credit Danielle D.

It was a smashing play....the girls that all carpooled home with me, enjoyed it, but were exhausted.

Can't wait to see what they pull off next year.