And it was a very Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve!

We had a great time on Christmas Eve in SP with the family. The kids had a big day playing outside, opening presents and just enjoying our Christmas Eve traditions. By the end of the night, they were very tired but luckily were still cheerful and full of laughter. It was a wonderful time!

Lia really took off walking on her own on December 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve. She was so proud of herself. Here she is perfecting her walk and giggling all the way!

Adi!

Lia and Brooke
Jackson playing his new guitar

The curly ribbon was a big hit with Lia!

Earlier in the day ....

Lia and her cousin Skylar

Lia and Jackson playing the piano with aunt Karen

Jackson helping Mema light the lantern for the porch

Fun outside on Christmas Eve

Getting ready for Christmas!

We have had so much fun getting ready for Christmas this year!!! We have watched Christmas movies, listened to Christmas music, read Christmas books and have basically lived "all things Christmas" since December 1st! Jackson and Lia have both done very well with the tree. They look at the ornaments and touch them occasionally but they haven't really bothered it otherwise. They do say "tree" and point to it nearly every time we walk into the room, and they love that they each have their own trees in their rooms. Jackson's is blue and Lia's is pink. Fun! They also like the Christmas lights and colors when we go somewhere that is decorated. They have also especially enjoyed their "Christmas Story" nativity set that their "Auntie Tonya" sent them from Louisiana. Jackson loves to have us make animal sounds for each of the stable animals but the sweetest part of all is how both Jackson and Lia know who Baby Jesus is and when you ask them they look for it and make the sign for "baby". Priceless.

This has always been one of my favorite times of they year and this year it has been even more special to share it with these two precious little ones!

Here are just a few pictures from the first couple of weeks of December.

UNC vs NCSU 2009

Each year we go to the UNC/NCSU Football game with friends. Since we are a "house divided", it is a big deal and we have a lot of fun with it. Of course we didn't take Jackson and Lia but we dressed them in our favorite colors so they could "represent" from home while we were cheering at the game. Here are pictures of when we got home. The actual final score of the game wasn't what I had hoped for but we had a great day!

See how distressed Lia looks in the picture above due to the fact that our Tarheels lost?? (ha ha)

We'll get 'em during basketball season! :)

Chris and I - tailgating before the game.

Thanksgiving 2009

This year Thanksgiving was extra special. We have so much to be thankful for in our lives but at the top of our list is the fact that we have Jackson and Lia. We have spent so many holidays waiting to have little ones of our own and for the past few years for our referral from China. Finally getting Lia's picture this past spring and then traveling to China to get her almost didn't seem real. But it was real and now we have the most amazing and precious children to share all our blessings with! Life really couldn't be any more full than it is right now!

Jackson and Lia loving on Granny B. We were fortunate to be able to spend some time with her on Thanksgiving as well! Lia modeling a new dress!

Fall pictures

Jackson - just being cute! Look closely to see the peas on Lia's face and in her hair. This is a daily occurrence, but we don't mind at all. Who could complain when this sweet face is staring back at you?!?
Jackson, Lia and Adi - all of our babies - enjoying playing in the leaves. What a beautiful fall this has been!

More fun times!

We love playing outside - and practicing walking!

But it's still fun to crawl too - at least until we refine the walking skills, which won't be long! We also love helping Papa play the piano and the banjo!

Lia in her Carolina dress, thanks to "Uncle Brad and Aunt Jackie."

Go Tarheels!!

More Milestones!

Jackson and Lia are enjoying their new "schoolbus" ball pit. Jackson wasn't so thrilled about it at first but seems to be coming around. Lia, however, just loved it. She climbed in and out, jumping around, giggling and throwing balls. She especially loves going in head first! Check out the second picture below ....

On Sunday we decided it was time to turn the car seats to the forward facing position. This opened up a whole new world for both Jackson and Lia. They chatted, sang, played and entertained "Doggie" for much of the car trip.

Lia's first bow! She finally has enough hair, but just barely! She actually didn't even try to take it out but Jackson was very curious about it and tried every chance he got!