Happy Birthday to me

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Last year I got the best birthday gift, ever. And it truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Last year, on this day - Jaydon became a big brother and I became mommy to my baby girl. I can't believe that a year has already flown by but it has. So much has happened - Natalie has grown up so much. We got home last year and Natalie could barely speak English - and now she is putting sentences together and isn't afraid to make her opinion known. She never stops talking, she never stops laughing and she never ever stops smiling. For that I am grateful - we couldn't have asked for a better daughter. She fits so well in our family that it scares me sometimes. We had so much fun being a family of four this year. I can't imagine our lives without her, my life without her. She was meant to be in this family.

So congratulations little Natalie - you did it. You survived your first year as a baby sister and we couldn't be happier.


Onto other things - Christopher is taking a College Trig class this semester. He is doing really well and seems to enjoy it a lot. He had his first test last week and aced it! He did so good.

On the other hand, school is kicking my butt. Grad school is hard. There is a ton of reading and papers and presentations and research studies that sometimes I wonder what it is that I have gotten myself into. But my professors are great and I am learning so much - so even though there is way too much work to do and not nearly enough time.... I love it.

Jaydon is doing really well in school too. He is going 5 days a week now. He is so big. It will only be a few short months until he turns 5. Ya, I said it, 5!!! Time is flying by!

xoxoxo
lanmarie

good times

Wednesday, June 4, 2008
I guess its about time I updated.

Well, first off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER!!!!! Christopher turned 25 today!

We are going to Tampa this weekend. Our adoption agency is having a picnic for all of the families that have adopted in the past few years. We are so excited to visit with other adoptive families and hopefully catch up with a few that we went to Vietnam with. Friday night we are going to meet up with Hao, Connie and Tammy for some Thai hot pots - so excited about that. We are hoping to hit up the aquarium or the zoo and of course IKEA!!!

Heather and Mike closed on their house today - in the building right next to us! Yea - play dates every day - for the big kids and the little kids!!!

On Monday I submitted my application for Grad School - so its gonna be a few stressful weeks of waiting.

Natalie's birthday is on Sunday - June 8 - She is gonna be "2" - we'll go with 2ish. Her party is going to be on Saturday June 14 - from 11am to 2pm at our house - everybody is welcome - just let me know if you wanna come but please no toys :)

xoxoxo
lanmarie

An Tet - Happy New Year

Thursday, February 7, 2008
Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year. In Vietnam, they call this celebration Tet. It lasts anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks!!

My parents are in Vietnam right now celebrating the Tet holiday with my dad's mom and the rest of the family. They literally said that all the shops close down for at least a week. Now that is what I call a party.

So, An Tet - which means "Eat the New Year" - go figure.

Playing Catch Up

Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ok - here is the deal - here are a lot, and I mean A LOT, of random pictures in no particular order - enjoy!!!


At the park - taking a break


Jaydon let Natalie drive


Catching some air at the park


She loves the slide


Self portrait in the car


She is soooo cute


On the way to the park


Taking a ride in their new wagon


Jaydon got golf clubs, and golf lessons, from Uncle Rich


Swing!


He loves it!


Scootering at the park


Not so sure about this one - trying to be Superman?


Hit in the face with a peanut!


He got way too many presents for Christmas


Uncle JJ bought Natalie a dog


Mike and Chris laughing about something


Jaydon faces


So cute


Jaydon face


All decked out for the cold


Soooo cute

Adorable!


Brother and Sister sharing the scooter


Look at that smile


Looking good

Smile!!


Love the sunglasses


Running at the park


I love this picture


Look at that hair!

The shirt says it all!

Hello World.... 2008

It's been almost a month since I've posted last and a lot has happened!

We had a crazy end to 2007 -

Jaydon's Christmas Program:
Jaydon's birthday:

Natalie's first Christmas and New Years:

but it was great to experience it as a family of four.

January has brought so many new adventures on the horizon. Jaydon and Natalie are doing great. Jaydon is back in school - he loves it. Natalie is doing good too - she is learning new words everyday. She is so happy and loves to explore all around her.

We had the chance to visit with Hao, Connie and Tammy -
one of the other families that adopted with us.
We met up in Orlando and had some Pho at Little Saigon,
one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants.




After lunch we headed over to IKEA and wandered around for a bit.
It was fun to see them again and see how much Tammy has grown.
We made plans to visit them in Tampa in February for the Chinese New Year.

Christopher and I have both made some big leaps for this year - Christopher is taking a night course at DBC (they aren't even a community college anymore - now they are Daytona Beach College!) and I have decided to go back to UCF in the fall to pursue my Master's Degree in Mass Communication. So that makes three members of our family in school this year. It is going to be a challenge but I think we can handle it.

Natalie got a haircut this week and it wasn't by the person that you would think. My dad was watching cartoons with the kids and he decided that Natalie couldn't see the cartoons well enough so - snip, snip, snip - there went her bangs! She has a standard asian haircut now - bangs cut in a straight line across the middle of her forehead. Don't worry though - she still looks so super cute.

Before:


After:


xoxoxo - lanmarie

Lots of love from Jaydon

Sunday, December 16, 2007
While we were in Vietnam, my best friend Lindsey sent me these pictures -




Hugs and Kisses and Lots of Love
from
Christopher, Lan-Marie, Jaydon and Natalie
More pictures from Jaydon's party - these are from Lindsey