Year of the Tiger

This year Chinese New Year falls on Valentine's Day. To celebrate The Year of the Tiger, our dear friends Claire and her mommy Gretchen came over to help us celebrate.
The girls got all dressed up in their traditional Chinese dresses. Lily Grace's dress is actually one that we purchased for her when we were in China being united with her.

In China, it's customary for children to receive red envelopes (red is considered a lucky color) during Chinese New Year celebrations, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity in the new year. Lily Grace's Gran sent both the girls a red envelope filled with money to wish them good luck in the New Year. (Surely that extends to family members. -HA!)
The girls had a great time making a Chinese dragon puppet and lantern. They also enjoyed some traditional Chinese food, congee and moon-cakes. Lily Grace loves to tell about how she ate congee when she was a "chubby little baby" in China. It's true, congee is a very popular dish and babies love it! Lily Grace and I had fun making it and Claire and Miss Gretchen made the Moon-Cakes which Lily Grace and Daddy declared delicious. And of course milk was served, but not in any ordinary cup, but in Lily Grace's traditional Chinese tea set daddy brought back from his recent trip to China.
The girls ended their special day with lots and lots of play. It was quite the special day and a memory I am sure that Lily Grace and I will both cherish.
恭禧發財 Happy Chinese New Year!

Family Day 2010

Family Day 2010

Southern Sledding at its best! And yes, that is exactly
what you think it is.

Her new special friend

I promise! There is polish on those little toes and
miraculously none on my bed.

It's absolutely amazing to me that we have been home from China for three years and that 3 years ago today, the best blessing in the world was placed in my arms, Lily Grace. You can't have today without reflecting on then. And that, is just how we have spent the day.
This morning after French Toast Saturday of course, we piled on the layers and enjoyed the first significant snowfall, well make that ice-fall of the year. Lily Grace and Matt enjoyed some sledding and I use that term very loosely.
Once back inside, we warmed up with some hot chocolate and showed Lily Grace something she hadn't seen the entirety of before- the video from the day we were united with her in China. It also shows the first time we bathed her in China which brought about that first smile. She was just smitten with herself as a baby. We then pulled out the box of keepsakes and memorabilia from that trip, like the outfit she was wearing when she arrived, the Mickey bath toy we bought her at the Chinese Wal-Mart, the strand of pearls we purchased for her when she gets older, the sign that was held at the airport by so many who came to wish her home and many other special things. She was curious and fascinated by everything as well as the story behind each. One thing in particular really struck her. It was a doll given to her by our China friends Scott and Kathy. They purchased one for both our Lily and their Lilyana on our last day in China. Both girls, who spent the first nine months of their lives together would each go home with one. I had put her in the keepsake box as she is very special. Lily Grace saw her for the first time today and fell in love with her. Lily Grace has walked around with her much of the day and has fallen asleep with her tonight. A doll given as a memory creates new ones today. Thanks again to Scott and Kathy for that special gift.
We ended this evening with homemade Chinese Chicken Stir Fry which we ate with the family chopsticks we got while in China and sipped hot tea and milk from our Chinese Tea Set.
And as if it couldn't get any better, Lily Grace got to do something she has been wanting to do so badly. After her bath, we buffed and painted her toenails. Now mind you, her strict mommy only allowed clear,but if you look really close, you too can enjoy the shine from them. :-)
It truly has been a special day. The memories and the miracle that now walks around with clear painted toes, are blessings straight from Heaven above. Our God is certainly an awesome God. Lily Grace is a reminder of prayers answered and how much God truly does love us. Knowing how much we love that child, I can't even imagine how much more He loves us.
So, as I end this post and our third family day anniversary comes to and end, I can only say- Thanks be to God!

Big Girl Bike Ride

Since she was a baby, Lily Grace has always done this adorable, big open mouth smile when she gets excited. It melts us every time and she loves to hear us remind her of it.

As I have mentioned before, Lily Grace's biggest Christmas wish was for a big girl, purple princess bike. Santa was kind enough to bring her one. However, it has been so cold since Christmas that she has only been able to ride it around inside the house.

This afternoon, though it was still very cold, we bundled up for her first big girl bike ride around our cove. She was so excited (once we convinced her that yes, the tires would get dirty and yes, that was alright- ha!) and most proud of her bike and herself.

Matt and I had the best time freezing along beside her. It is a Christmas memory we will cherish always.

Oh! And on a side note, yes, she does have a helmet, but we totally forgot it in making sure she had her head and ears covered. Daddy walked right beside her to ensure that her first ride didn't lead to any scrapes or bruises.