Christmas at the Stelzer home

We had part II of our Christmas with Jane's family. We celebrated most of it at Thanksgiving, but finished it up at Grandma Stelzers. Wade wasn't home at Thanksgiving, so he enjoyed a few presents!

Fun with our friends- the Winingham's

We have so enjoyed keeping in touch with our "China" friends! (We traveled together to get our girls in 2005.) We just love their family and enjoy seeing them when we go to Denver. Payton is as different as you can get from Gracie- quiet, shy, mellow- a real sweetie! She is 4 months younger, but a bigger girl!

Christmas with the Yamaguchi Family

Great time at Jan's house this year! Gracie loved the doll that Grandpa Guchi got her. It was precious- she gave big hugs to grandma and grandpa and was in heaven! Grandpa Guchi is doing pretty well after his scary heart attack in November- thank God!

After Christmas Party with Friends

We enjoyed our annual -after Christmas tradition- get together with Jessups, Jones and Cyphers. We all are inter-racial families and have enjoyed each other for years! What a great time, as we see our kids grow up into wonderful young adults! (Except for the little China dolls!)

Merry Christmas at the Yamaguchi home

Pre-Christmas Pictures

Here's a few pictures of Gracie playing in the mall, after getting her picture taken with Santa (she didn't like that too much :o). ALso, her in the doggies beds- she loves to try to take naps in their beds ;o). Then some fun pictures with the 3 kids! Boy I love having all the kids home.....

Gracie Le Qing

Here are a few pictures of Gracie playing in the snow- she loves the snow!
She's also dancing in her ballerina outfit! She sometimes wants to wear this to bed! When she was done, she had to put on her Elmo panties over her outfit! She is coming along quite well with this potty training! The Dora pull-ups are the ticket! I don't think I've changed a pooy diaper in a week!
Then some pictures of baking Christmas cookies with Chelsea. Gracie has her own apron, pans, and spoons. Boy did we have a mess :) But it was fun.

Christmas Elves- Wade and Chelsea

Check out this link! It'll crack you up!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1188470858

Wade and Chelsea

Many of you have asked to see some pictures of Wade and Chelsea. Most of these were taken in August before Chelsea left for school. She is a sweetheart! We have really enjoyed getting to know her family too(they live just a mile from us)! These 2 sure have lots in common- Chelsea is a cello-ist, studying music and education, loves all kinds of music, and is 5 foot tall! Whoopee!! She fits very well into our family! Gracie just adores her- cried when she left after Thanksgiving!

Gracie photos and Kindermusic Graduation!

Just a few various photos of Gracie over the past couple of weeks. She continues to be the silliest, funniest, boisterous, gregarious, and outgoing little girl! As we talked about the HOPE we have as we celebrate Advent (looking forward to Christ coming at Christmas and coming again!), we marveled at the hope that Gracie now has. Her life may not have been filled with much hope if God wouldn't have prepared the way for us to adopt her. She says hi and bye (loudly with a huge smile) to absolutely everyone, no matter where we are- in the mall, at the grocery store, taking a walk, in church..... I have had so many smiles from people that may never have had anyone greet them like that! It is so fun watch!

Here she is naked riding on her "horsey"- (most animals other than dogs are horsies! She's dressed up in her fancy Chinese dress for church last Sunday; playing with puppies- almost too big to hold now! Being silly as usual, and finally her graduation from Kindermusic! She has loved that class- and loves "Miss Susan"- her teacher! It has started to help her to follow directions and learn to sit and listen (kinda! ha!)She was definitely the busiest little one in the class!

She is having more and more success on the potty these days! She is motivated to wear her Dora pullups, so has to potty first to get them on! Her language is really improving- she surprises us many times with the words she knows! She loves to pray at the table, often 2 or 3 times during a meal!