It's been six months and our Basketball star!

Maddie's New haircut
Future Panthers Cheerleaders Addison and Madelyn....yes MADDIE and ADDIE

Future Panther Basketball Players Joshua and Logan

Six months ago yesterday ( January 9) we saw Madelyn for the first time in a small room in China. That was our gotcha day, the day our family became 4. It's hard to believe that after almost three years of waiting she has already been home with us for 6 months. She has changed so much, she talks non-stop, she is energetic, she is kind, lovable, compassionate, strong-willed, stubborn and her smile and hugs can win over anyone she meets. She is a not so typical three year old little girl whom seems as though she has been with us since the day she was born. When you ask her if she is from China she sayd " No, Maddie from Pinckneyville,Illinois! That's our girl.

In other news, Joshua Lane had his first official basketball game tonight. He was fouled and got to shoot two free-throws.....HE MADE ONE!!!! We all went nuts and of course he looked to make sure we were watching. He is pumped and ready to play his next game. He plays every Thursday night for a couple of months. He got to play against two of his friends and it was funny watching him guard them and laugh and talk at the same time.......don't they say major league baseball players swap recipes on base.....???? HAHA! I need to get a better camera because it is not good in bad lighting so my pics did not turn out very well.....the one of him and Logan above is from after the game. We celebrated his basket at Tequila's. our favorite Mexican restaurant afterwards...........along with half the gym I think!

All else is well, Maddie starts Pre-School in February, she is ready to go...at least she thinks she is. Joshua gets a day out with just mommy and daddy on Saturday - we have a BIG surprise for him and hope to post pictures after our day.....sorry can't spill the beans until after he knows. I have kept this a secret for 3 months.....it's killing me!!!!! He has felt a little left out since little sis came around so we thought a date with mommy and daddy might be cool, we're headed to St. Louis for...............ha, thought I was going to tell you huh??? NOPE, you have to wait and see.

Oh by the way friends of mine who live in Sunny CA, we are having some cold miserable weather here again, it has gotten into the teens lately.....time to visit you all I think :)

Love, Jennifer, Matt, Joshua and Madelyn.

Merry Christmas!

Joshua took this picture of the girls. My mom Linda (right), Aunt Deb (left) Mommy and Maddie.
Joshua is so excited about his army stuff and Power Rangers Robot

This is probably one of the best "oh my gosh" shots! Our family got a Wii from my parents - ok so we are all loving it!

Maddie is fixing Dora's hair on her new vanity

After all the excitement of the day.

It is after a day like this that I look back and realize just how many blessings G0d has given our family. Christmas was a wonderful day for all us of. We got to see the excitement on Maddie's face as she experienced her first Christmas, we saw our 6 year old son jump for joy at getting the gifts he wanted. We sat down to a wonderful meal both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. And most of all we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It's so hard with all the hustle and bustle to keep the real meaning of Christmas alive but we certainly try our best. Christmas Eve church service is my most favorite of the year. At the end of the service, all the lights are turned down, only the candles we hold are lit and we all sing Silent Night with no music in the background. What a wonderful way to keep the Spirit of Christ alive at Christmas time and to remember why we celebrate this holiday.

Hope you all had a joyous Christmas and wishing you a very Happy New Year!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!

Joshua and Maddie aka Mickey and Minnie
Joshua and Sarah....they are the best of buddies but she is NOT his girlfriend.....or so he says.

The four of us

Putting up the Christmas Tree

Joshua's Tree in his room

Maddie's tree in her room

Power ranger/hippie/princess in her PJ.s????

It's been a while since I have posted, let's see since that time what has happened? Last Monday Maddie visited the plastic surgeon who told us he wants to see her in a year then he can tell IF, yes I said IF she needs any surgery at all on her lip!! She continues to heal well and you can hardly tell there is a "booboo" as she calls it! She is completely speaking English now, although sometimes hard to understand she NEVER....did I mention NEVER stops talking. Her new things is "but mommmmm". Funny and typical three year old! She is getting very...shall we say.....opinionated about her attire for the day. She tells me what she wants to wear and what "accessories" she will choose for the day. Of which she is totally like her mother since I am always wearing jewelry, so shall my daughter, haha! Oh and we do not go anywhere without our purse, which of course holds our cell phone, car keys, chapstick and her new thing, gum! We were coming home tonight and Joshua wanted gum, I went to search my purse and I hear from the backseat "here you go Joshua".....Maddie pulls some from her purse!

Joshua had his Christmas program yesterday which included 1st-8th grade, all children....I would say about 400 kids. They fill the gym and along with 400 sets of parents, siblings and grandparents, it made for interesting seating....hince, not enough by far! We got there an hour early just to get a seat! Joshua did fantastic. They sang about 12 songs and he belted them all out, knowing all the words and sign language to them. All the children were dressed in their best Holiday attire...so cute! My pictures are very dark so I need to work on those before I try to post them! Joshua decided tonight he might want to play in the winter league basketball which is from January - March, one night each week. We are trying to teach him responsibility by committment so we shall see how this turns out! He continues to excel in school and we are so proud of him! Both kids are very excited about Christmas, although Maddie has no idea that she will be getting gifts....too bad it won't stay that way, haha! We took them to see Christmas Lights the other evening and they both enjoyed that alot!! Along with their parents :)

Happy Holidays Everyone!!