Date night with Ellie

We have no pictures and sadly no video but I have to say date night according to Ellie was a huge success!

We have a regular sitter that comes in on Thursday evenings and Sunday evenings to watch our girls for us. She has been babysitting for us for over a year and we all like her a lot.

She's a college student at NKU (Northern Kentucky University) and Ellie really likes her and looks forward to having her come. However, when we took Mackenzie and Ainsley out last week on a date, Ellie really wanted to come.

So we promised her that next week would be her turn.

She has been sooo excited!

When she woke this am, she was all about date night tonight with both mom and dad.

Where do you think she requested to go? Chinese food? Nope. Sit down restaurant? Nope.

She chose Burger King. Why?? We have no idea but are inclined to think it's because there's a play area...

So Burger King is where we went tonight with Ellie for date night. She had a blast!

If only I could have recorded video...

Tiger Award

Mackenzie got mail today from Beechwood. I accidentally opened it without bothering to look at who it was to since they kids don't happen to get a lot of mail.

She has received several notecards in the mail from her teacher about how well she is doing which she thinks is cool. This note is from the head of the Board of Education at Beechwood. She is receiving their Tiger Award. I am really impressed by her new school and how well they do at giving praise/recognition to the students who are doing a good job.

Kudos to Beechwood!

Reading

I just wanted to post a video of Ellie reading one of her very beginner books.

She is starting to get it...

Maybe...

Wish List

When Jeff and I arrived home tonight from our weekly date night, this is what I found pulled up on my computer...

I'm still laughing...

My Wish List

The Son of Neptune

The Kane Chronicles Book 2

Tangled

A sewing machine

A DSI

An iPod touch

A book of jokes

A phone

A new outfit

A notebook

A dog

My OWN computer

A makeup kit

A Selena Gomez c.d.

Candy

Money

Red and white clothes

A spa trip!:)

Costumes or clothes that look like costumes

Scarves

Moccasins

High heels

Sunglasses

Halloween Weekend

I am finally getting around to posting about our halloween weekend.

On Saturday we went out to lunch at the Chinese buffet. It was very good, but I prefer our other favorite Chinese restaurant. Mackenzie, of course, convinced Ellie that the Chinese buffet is better so the buffet is where we went. Mackenzie loves it because it has American food..go figure!

We did random errands and then back home to hang for the rest of the afternoon.

Saturday night was the Jack-o-lantern walk. It was a cool evening but not frigid and therefore the walk was packed. I have never waited in such long lines before. But the girls had a lot of fun anyway.

Sunday we spent the morning at church and then went trick-or-treating in the evening with some of the neighbors. The girls loved getting their costumes on and were all ready well before it was time to go trick or treating!

Here are some pics from the weekend...

kissing pumpkins

Super Mario Pumpkin

Mackenzie and Ellie...not sure what Ellie's odd look is about...

Daddy thinks the flash is too bright...

Mackenzie and dad

All three girls together

Minnie Mouse

army girl

Anne Boleyn

Ellie

I wanted to post a bit more on Ellie in commemoration of her 3rd gotcha day with us.

I can't believe where the time has gone in the last three years. Where we were three years ago and where we are today...it's almost incomprehensible.

I remember seeing Ellie for the first time in China and shutting down myself, completely overwhelmed. Looking back with the advantage of time, I can completely see how I could have handled the first few days with Ellie differently, but in the midst of uncertainty about what could be "wrong" with her, I just shut myself down emotionally. It took a couple of days, the working of the Holy Spirit and lots of tears to get me to the place where I knew Ellie was ours, rain or shine, easy or difficult, and that we would not be turning back. And what a ride it has been!

I can't imagine my life without her in it. She has changed my world, my perception of special needs and my desire to be the difference in the life of one orphan. She is a trouper. She loves people, is outgoing and friendly and continually makes us laugh!

Our life would be incomplete without Ellie in it. I am so thankful God let us into the unknown to adopt Ellie. It is because of Ellie that we have decided to head back to China to adopt another little girl for our family.

Without a family to love her, intervene and advocate for her, I can't imagine where she would be today. Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes and I wish I had the resources and strength to connect all kids with loving families. But all we can do it take the step of faith that God has called us to take and continue on the journey that He set our family on.

I look forward to the day when we can announce our next little bundle of joy!