And we are here!!!

Well, we are here!!!! Sorry it has taken a bit  to post. It took a couple days to get our computers and internet set-up and then yesterday we were "ting dian" (which means no power) ALL day.

But, after packing up a room that looked something like this

into LOTS (10 checked and 10 carry ons to be exact) of these....

 we were set!

We said our good-byes all weekend long, and on Sunday morning we packed up 2 SUV's and headed to the airport.

Here we are waiting  to check our bags. It took almost an hour. We almost missed our plane. We could feel your prayers as we made it on (we were flying stand-by) and had 6 seats all together!

(these are just our carry-ons--we were quite a sight to be seen going through security)

When we got on the plane we did a lot of this....

eating and watching movies.....

a little bit of this......

yes, Reid actually slept like that for a while.

and after being hurled through the sky in a tin can for 16 hours, we made it to our country!

We had to gather ALL our luggage and recheck it in Shanghai. We kind of felt like we were foreigners on parade as we walked through the airport. Matt, Kadie, Everett, and Reid were pushing a cart FULL of luggage, and Ry was being pulled in the stroller. We had more stuff with us that day than most Chinese people would ever travel with. 

Here we are in the Shanghai airport

We then caught another 3 hour flight to our city. It was not documented because the main camerawoman proceeded to fall into a coma-like state before the plane took off and the back-up cameraman was very busy trying to console 3 WAY overtired, starving children. You can probably picture the plane ride pretty accurately in your head. 

And then we landed in our new city! Home!

Some friends picked us up at the airport and helped us get all our stuff up to our apartment. 

our super fun welcome HOME sign!

Here are the kids with all our luggage in our new apartment! 

(a post with pics of apartment coming soon!)

We are so happy to be here and are so thankful to all of you who helped us get here! We are excited to start this new adventure!!

Easter Morning

This year we spent Easter down at moms's beach house. We went to Saint Simons Community Church, and loved it! If you are ever on the island on Sunday morning you should definitely try it!

Here is Rylie trying to sneak away

My three precious blessings!

Dying Easter Eggs......

.......on the porch at the beach......nothin' better!

working hard.....

Mommy and her boys


The boys with Nai Nai

Matching!

Not the greatest picture, but Reid almost always asks me to make a shirt to match Rylie's when I make her something. I thought these chocolate bunny shirts turned out cute!

I am really going to miss my machine when we move!!

Egg Hunt!

Mimi with the kids as they got ready to look for eggs!

Reid reaching for a high one!


Rylie found one.....and looks like she's a bit scared!


putting them in her basket!

showing off her full basket!

At the beginning of May we celebrated Critter's wedding to Camille. We had such a great time seeing lots of fun friends and we are so excited for them!

My Terrific Kid

In February Everett received the Terrific Kid award from his school. We are so proud of how well he has done this year in school, and are so excited to see what God has for him next year. He got into the gifted program for next year and is the reading king for the whole school! I know I am a bragging mama, but I am so proud of how he is using the gifts God has given him!

E with the other award winners and the principal.

Beach Weekend

Here are a couple of pictures from a quick weekend away to Myrtle Beach in May. Rylie had a great time in the sand for the first time!

I'm back.....

ok--I know I am so behind on posting! But I am determined that Ryie will NOT be the 3rd child who doesn't get recorded--pictures, baby book, blog, etc. So, I am BACK!

Here is a teaser until I get the posts rolling.......

baby girl is ONE

Christmas time already???

I think this is my front runner right now....

Ok--I know it is still October but I LOVE Christmas time. One of my most favorite things about Christmas is Christmas cards. I just love seeing pictures and hearing updates about friends lives. Shutterfly ( http://www.shutterfly.com ) is a site that I have used for forever for photos, photobooks, and cards. They have so many fun designs that I always have trouble choosing! The cardstock is great quality and the printing is beautiful!


Here is the link to the Religious Christmas Cards.......after all Jesus is the Reason for the Season :)

www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationary/religious-christmas-cards

But they have lots of choices here too--

www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationary/christmas-cards


Right now they have a super 20% off sale going on, so if you are like me and are already in the Christmas Spirit (even though it is 89 degrees here today...ugh) you can go ahead and get started on your cards!!

www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationary

They also have really cute address labels, Thank You cards, and invitations for your holiday gatherings! Check it out!

Sassy's Wedding

Memorial Day weekend one of our good friends from China, Kelly Sasser, got married! We are so excited for her and Mark! In fact tehy were so popular, we couldn't even get a picture with them--ha ha!! It was SO fun to be able to celebrate with them and to see SO many people from China days that we have not seen in forever!

We also got to hang out with the Nolans and the Lovekamps, which is always a good time :)

Me and Susie

Billy, Matt, and Joe

And I had to include this one of Billy being Billy :)

Hope we get to see you guys again soon!

Rylie's Dedication

On Mothers Day, we had Rylie dedicated at our church. It was a special day and my mom was able to be there with us! We love dedicating our children to the Lord and, with the church family, commiting to raise them up in a Godly home. After all He gave them to us!

I also made my first smocked dress for her dedication. I had less than a week to make it, but it came together! I also learned A LOT :)--mostly what NOT to do next time!

My mom and Rylie

Mom and all the kids

Grandma Nellie's 90th Birthday!

Can you believe this BEAUTIFUL woman is 90??!

At the end of April Matt's family got together in Augusta to celebrate Grandma and her 90th birthday. Aunt Mari came in from florida with her daughter Moriah, and Matt's brother and his family came from Birmingham. We all gathered with LOTS of Augusta friends to celebrate!

I am so thankful that my kids have the opportunity to know this amazing woman! She is so caring, giving, and loving! She is fabulous example of a woman in love with the Lord! Matt and I were both blessed with wonderful grandmas, and we are so blessed to still have them in our lives!

Granma with Aunt Mari and Matt's mom--Kit

Grandma had 6 children, 12 grandchildren, and 5 GREATgrandchildren!

Here she is with two of her grandsons, and her 4 great-grandsons!

We love you so much Grandma and are so thankful you are in our lives!

sweet pics

So I thought I should post these sweet 9 months pics of Rylie before she turns 1! Where does the time go??

Daddy, can we please play Nerf?.....

........Is Rylie sleeping? Where is Mommy?

Those are the two things that must be taken care of to PLAY NERF (as the boys say)

The boys LOVE running around the house looking to get the stolen treasure from the other team, shooting each other a LOT along the way, and laughing it up :)

Am I the mom of boys or what??

Wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

My awesome boys

getting ready to attack

go get 'em boys!

And he's off...........

After he finished school in May, reid quickly got working on his goal for the summer--to ride his bike without training wheels!

I don't know if I said this on Everett's learning to ride a bike post, but my husband ROCKS at teaching kids to ride a bike!! Seriously, E was riding about 2 hours later, and Reid learned in just a couple days of short riding sessions! The three of them have a ball riding around the neighborhood now!

There you go...

a little help....

and he's off!

We are so proud of all the wonderful things you are learning and the amazing boy you are becoming!

K-4 Graduation

In May, Reid graduated from K-4! I can't believe how big he is getting!

He had a GREAT year with Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Dampier and learned so much.

We are so proud of you !

Ready to graduate!

receiving his certificate


So proud!

His WONDERFUL teachers Mrs. Williams (l) and Mrs. Dampier (r)

Easter

This was the first Easter we have been in Summerville since we moved here 4 years ago--kind of crazy! But we loved being at our church on Easter Sunday! Matt's parents came in for the weekend and the kids loved playing games and reading books with KK, while we worked in the yard and got a lot done!

We made Resurection Cookies and read the story from the Bible---I love celebrating Christ rising from the dead with my children!

Rylie's First Easter! She loved her Easter Basket!

sweet smile!

KK and Papa with the boys