There's a new sheriff in town!!!

Josh officially starts work for the City Sheriff's Department on Monday, January 5. He had his last lab work, and received his uniforms today. He tried them on for us -doesn't he look like a good guy in it!!! He is very excited about his new job, and can't wait to start.

I took a few of the girls today too, so of course, they are included in the show.

Christmas Part 3

After our morning at Grandma and PaPa's, we came home and started cooking for Christmas dinner at home with my family, and Bobby's dad and stepmom. We had put the turkey in at 4:30 am, so by the time we got home, it was done. We fixed stuffing, a couple casseroles, green beans, a cheese cake, a pound cake, and lots of other stuff, and had a great time of fellowship with NaNa, PaPa, mama, Justin and Megan, and Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Peggy. After dinner, we opened gifts. The girls got new babies again, dresses, other outfits, socks, vacuums, books, movies, pocketbooks with makeup, tons of things - way too much, but they had a great time. Here are some pics from our evening...

Christmas Part 2

Christmas morning, the girls had a great time checking out what Santa left for them! He brought a dollhouse, playdough, books, puzzles, new babies, and lots of other little things. After Santa, we went to Bobby's mom's house again, and had Christmas with them. Again, the girls had a great time - getting books, puzzles, and beautiful Raggedy Ann dolls. We had a great breakfast with them, and spent time with Bobby's family including his sister, her husband, and their children. The girls, as usual, were the center of attention, and loved it! Here are some pics from our Christmas morning visit...

Christmas Part 1

On Christmas Eve, we visited Bobby's mom and step-dad. We don't get to see Bobby's step brothers and sister very often, so we do always try to see them Christmas. This year, we only got to see Laurie and her boyfriend and children. The girls had a great time, and Aunt Laurie brought them the cutest kitty backpacks - they loved them! Bobby's brother and our neice were there too, though we usually see them Christmas day. Here are a few pics from the night before Christmas...

Weekend of December 19

I haven't had a chance to post at all in the last week - we've been busy!! Between work, finishing up Christmas preparations, and our nephew's wedding, we've been going, going, going!!

We left on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 18 for Charleston, SC to attend our nephew's wedding. The wedding was on Friday night, and was absolutely beautiful! Chris is in between our two boys. He stayed with us a lot when he was little, and we love him like our own. His lovely wife, Leslie is a lucky young lady. Our oldest, Justin, was in the wedding too. The girls did great during the ceremony, and loved the reception! They danced and danced and danced!! The photographer took lots of pics of the girls - we might have to find out who she was!

The first set of pics includes some sight-seeing in Charleston, the second set, the wedding, and the third, pictures coming home, and some foggy pics of the girls in their fancy Christmas dresses - we left the camera in the car, and the lens got foggy!!

Sunday Smiles and Such

We took a few silly pics of the girls in their jammies this morning, and some after church this afternoon - I have to say, I have a lot of fun dressing these little girls!!

The adult Christmas program was this morning, and it was really powerful!! The girls loved the music, and were good through the whole service. Tonight, the youth had their program. It is so wonderful to see a group of teens who are sold out for Jesus! They did a fantastic job presenting how God can change a heart.

We can't wait until the girls are old enough to join the children's choir, and get to participate in the Easter and Christmas programs! Music is a great tool for teaching children lots of things. Enjoy the pics from our Sunday...

Our FCC Christmas Party

We had our local Families with Children from China Christmas party last night at our church. There were about 65 people there, I would say. There were lots of children who have come home to their Forever Families this year too!! There are several families still waiting to travel for their children, and a few who are waiting on their referral too.

We are blessed to have so many families locally that love to get together and talk and support one another through the adoption process!! Enjoy a few pictures from last night....

Sunday Smiles and stuff

This week, BaBa was gone most of the week on the men's retreat - that's what they call it!! A bunch of the men at church go golfing the week after Thanksgiving! While he was gone, MaMa came over to spend some time with us. She stayed with the girls everyday while I was at work. She had a great time with them, and they loved being able to be home with her!

Saturday, we took the girls back to ride the train at the mall - they love it! They really get excited to see all the decoration everywhere. Saturday evening, we had dinner with Deb, Lily and Lucy, as they wait on Russ and Lainey to come home from China - they will be back this Thursday, and we can't wait to see them!! We adopt their girls too - that gives us 5 sweet girls to love on!! The Lord has blessed us with them as friends!

The last few pics are from after church today...

Fun weekend

Saturday, the girls and I went to have Allie's birthday picture, and the girls Christmas pictures made. They did pretty well, and we will have the pictures in about a week and a half.

After that, they rode the train at the mall, sat on Santa's lap, had lunch, and were wiped out!

Sunday, they wore one of their Christmas dresses to church, and they did great in Sunday School today, and in nursery afterwards. This afternoon, we cleaned up our living room, and put up our Christmas tree. The girls had a great time decorating it too! Then, they were cutting up silly with some pom-poms Bobby brought them home from the Tech game yesterday....

Allie's first Thanksgiving

This year, we had even more to be thankful for! Last year, on Thanksgiving Day, we told our family we were adopting again, and showed them Allie's picture. This year, she celebrated her first Thanksgiving in the US with her Forever Family! The Lord has truly blessed us this year with this little girl.

We spent the early morning cooking, with the girls watching cartoons, and part of the Macy's parade. At noon, we left for Aunt Gloria and Uncle Larry's to have Thanksgiving dinner. The girls had a great time. They rode the 4-wheeler with Josh, played, and played, some more, of course, they were the center of attention - who could resist them??

After dinner, the girls put on a show. They stood up on the fireplace and danced and sang - too cute!!

Sunday Smiles

Pictures from our week

In addition to Allie's birthday party Friday, the girls had a fun week! They don't need toys! Josh bought a new Shop Vac last week, and the girls have played all week with the box. At first, they used it as a playhouse. Then, after it caved in on the end where it was open, they used it as a slide - they played with it for hours this week!!

One night, they took the bins from their book case, laid them out, and pretended they had a beauty shop. They washed each others hair - they were so cute!!

Then,of course, we have our Sunday morning pictures....

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY AT CHUCK E. CHEESE!!

We had a small birthday party for Allie at Chuck E. Cheese last night. We had NaNa, PaPa, MaMa, PaPa Charlie, Grandma Peggy, Deb, Russ, Lily and Lucy, our family, and the guest of honor, Allie Faith YiNong Bishop - now a 4 year old!!

The girls all loved the games and rides, the food, cake, and the show. Allie was so happy! It is hard to imagine that this was her first birthday party - she just lit up! We just love her so much, and she's doing really great. She loved opening her gifts and really loved everything. Aunt Deb, check out the picture after the party, at home in her jammies with her headphones on. NaNa, she has her baby in the back-pack on too. She loves her babies!

Enjoy the pictures from our fun night with our sweet 4 year old daughter...

Happy 4th Birthday Sweet Allie

Today marks one year that we asked China to adopt her, and today is also Allie's 4th Birthday!! Happy Birthday sweetie!!

On this birthday, we wish you all God's best in your life, that you will seek Him throughout your life, and that He will be at the very center of all that you are and all that you do!

We are having a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese tomorrow night, but since she's probably never had a birthday celebration, we wanted to do something tonight. We had dinner and and cupcakes. We lit candles on her cupcake and let her blow them out. she just lit up, and did a great job blowing out the candles. She really enjoyed her cupcake too!! Check out the pictures of her with it!

Just like our two boys were opposites, so are the girls. Emma ate hers, but you will see in the pictures she does not like to get dirty!!

Our Weekend Pics

Saturday evening, the girls got on their purple princess jammies, and watched "The Grinch" together for the first time. They sat in their Dora chairs, and Allie loved the movie. Emma watched it off and on. Emma was more interested in playing with BaBa and showing us her "stinky feet."

The pictures in their jean dresses are from this morning, and after church, we took them to see the Christmas decorations at the mall - they loved all the decorations including the tree, snowman, the children singing around the piano, and the choochoo train.

Two Anniversaries!!

Today is 4 months since we were blessed with Allie Faith YiNong Bishop, and 15 months since Emma Grace SiQi Bishop was placed in our arms! Time is flying by!! Emma is a spoiled rotten momma's girl, and will tell you so. Allie is learning by leaps and bounds, and is speaking more English every day. You can understand most of what she is saying now, and her speech is pretty clear.

Tonight, we got to have dinner with a family that we traveled to China with when we adopted Emma - they adopted beautiful little Kelly. They are the Reeds, and we really hit it off while we were in Beijing together. They are a very sweet family!

Enjoy the pictures from our evening...