2011 already?!!

I can't believe it has been over a month since I've made a post. Guess we've been busy! I'll update with lots of pictures what we've been up to. First of all, an update with adoption stuff. Not much to report right now. We are still waiting for our first immigration approval. They are running way behind due to the holidays and lots of applications coming in, so hopefully it will be done soon, but who knows? We did get fingerprinted while vacationing down in LA, so that was nice to get done and behind us, and didn't have to make a separate trip over the mountains to have them done in our state. As far as my guess on when we would travel?? Your guess is as good as mine. I really have no idea.

Joel and Hannah were in the Nutcracker ballet for the second year. Joel was Fritz' friend and Hannah was a soldier. They both did great!

We had a little birthday party for Jesus, cake and all! Really trying to focus on God's gift to us this year.


Then off to Disneyland! David's parents gave us a trip to Disneyland as our Christmas gift this year. We drove down over three days (extended the trip due to a snow storm coming) and got to meet up with some friends who we met in China when we were there adopting Josiah.

We got to enjoy a couple hours at Disneyland (which by the way was Olivia and Josiah's first time) and then got to take a trip to the wonderful Orange County Children's Hospital ER.

Josiah chilling at the ER. A couple stitches later, Josiah was all better!

We got to meet Joanna and her family and had dinner at their house. Joanna lived in China in the same city that Josiah is from and got to spend some time with Josiah, even bringing him home for a weekend while we were waiting to get him. It was wonderful to be able to meet her and her family and boyfriend. They are great people.

The first few days at Disneyland were very wet and rainy. We tried to stay dry with ponchos, but still ended up soaked to the bone by the end of the day.

David and I went on California Screamin (a fast roller coaster ride at California Adventure) while it was pouring down rain and got SOAKED!

Josiah and Olivia found me a ladybug!


Olivia was very brave and went on pretty much any ride she was tall enough to do. Here she is on the swing ride that goes pretty fast and high. No fear!

Josiah also loved every ride he went on, especially the bumper cars and the Autopia cars (he's all boy!) Oh and of course he loved shooting things in the Buzz Lightyear Astroblaster ride.
It did end up getting nice for the last few days there, along with the nice weather came the huge crowds.

Hannah's favorite thing was meeting as many princesses as she could. Ariel especially spend a LOT of time with Hannah and Olivia (might have helped that Hannah was decked out in Ariel apparel and Olivia was dressed up as a princess!)

They had to visit whatever character they were dressed up as for that day! Here's three Minnies!
And three tinkerbells!

Don't worry, Joel got to meet his fill of characters too! Josiah wasn't very much into meeting the characters, they were scary for him.

Joel turned 9 at Disneyland. His whole birthday was his choice of what to do, which of course Joel loved.

Any trip to Disneyland with Uncle Mark and Aunt Carrie is extra special because of all the fun things they add, such as lots of glow sticks.

We smuggled the kids' stockings into Disneyland on Christmas morning.

Well, we started off the week with Josiah's injury, and ended it with David getting strep throat. Poor guy!