Show Off!

Just finished picking up a basket full of toys

Mothering her neice Audry

Happy Birthday Ben!

Hope is so much fun, and kinda smart too. She is intrigued with words and letters. When she hears us say a word that is new to her she will ask us what it means and actually remember it! Yesterday she was digging holes with Sunnie while I worked on the chicken pen. Hope was waist deep in the hole and wanted Sunnie to pull her out. Sunnie was amazed when Hope asked her in Spanish,"ayuda me"! Hope watches Dora the Explorer and Nihao Kailan. Maybe she will be tri-lingual.

Last week Hope and Becky brought home a Pinewood Derby car from church. Hope wanted to play with it and I told her that it wasn't ready, it needed to be sanded, painted, and the wheels attached securely. "Let's read the instructions first", I said. Hope grabbed the instructions and said, "I will read them". She looked intently at the paper and said,"It says that you don't have to paint it, and babies can hold it, and go Vroom, Vroom." I gave her the car.

Ronnie

A Fashion Challenge From Salsa In China

Hope has a mind of her own when it comes to clothes and to smiling for pictures...this picture show one of her choices in dressing herself. One of the blogs I read is Salsa in China. The family has really really cute twin daughters and their mom recently spent a week letting the girls choose their own outfits and they really picked some cute stuff. The mom suggested links for other families to post pics of their kiddo's choices. Here is the first one for Hope. She really has some little pants that look so cute with the dress but I do believe I like the tights just as well...and those shoes well lets just say they have seen their better day. Does anyone know what you can use to glue the sole back to the shoe? Hope says those are comfy shoes!!

I think maybe Ro and Ree win this round!! Really cute outfits girls!!

A Wonderful Day

Recently it rained a lot during the day and Misty came over to take Hope walking in the puddles. What a wonderful day... and a wonderful Sissy!!

Hope Visits The Zoo

Click HERE to read about Hopie's first visit to the Zoo.

Helping Grandpa

The past few months have been a whirlwind of travel for us. In caring for my stepfather we have made several trips to Oklahoma City to help him transition into his new home at a beautiful assisted living facility there. He is a doing so well and we are so very thankful to have found him such a good place to live...actually that credit goes to my brother Billy and his family who did the research and legwork to find the best possible location and facility for him.

Hope is doing so great now traveling!! A huge milestone for her. There were times when we thought any trips longer than about 20 to 30 minutes would never happen again. Now we are planning a VACATION...the first since CHINA. Our little Hopie is a treasure and every day we know that even more. Here is a picture of Grandpa in his new home. Hope has been such blessing ... his face lights up when he sees her come in. My brother Billy and his family have really been the stabilizing force for him since they spend hours each week with him helping him get settled in and taking care of any shopping for him. It takes a loving family working together to get this type of huge lifechanging event to go smoothly.