The 1st SNOW of 2010

They said there was a 100% chance of snow and for the 1st time they were RIGHT!  The snow started to fall mid morning and continued to fall all day just like powdered sugar from the sky.  It was beautiful.  We went out to explore after lunch and had a great time.  At this point there was an accumulation of 2 inches, but it was not sticking to the roads yet.  The boys played with their trucks and Super Heroes in the snow for awhile.  Batman and Superman were made into frozen pops and seemed to love it?!  Then we went on an exploration walk along the creek.

Plowing the snow in the John Deere

Lov'n the SNOW!

The making of frozen Super Hero Pops

Following Papa's footprints in the snow is not so easy

Taking a break and enjoying the scenery together

Our creek

WOW, look at our ice castles!

We can break ice with ease.  Hayaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Getting ready to make snow ice cream for the 1st time.  See the snow we just dug up from the front yard.  Be careful you may find a few blades of grass in your ice cream.  More importantly, don't eat yellow snow!

 
The total snow accumulation- 4.5 inches!

Happy Birthday Papa!

It may be Papa's 37th birthday, but Jin got a great present too...NOODLES

Today is Papa's 37th birthday and we celebrated Chinese style.  We had dinner at Fulin's in Brentwood.  It is a wonderful Chinese restaurant plus it was voted the best Chinese restaurant of 2009.  Jin, as you can see, is grinning from ear to ear.  Noodles make him happy all the time.  The noodles were then followed by broccoli and snow peas.  Jon Campbell surprised us all and ate the deep fried chicken and really liked it.  Jin's eating habits just may be rubbing off on him.  We had a great time together.  We sure do love our Papa.  He does so much for all of us and for that we are very grateful.  I especially need to tell him that say more often.  THANK YOU PAPA!  WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

Jin loves snowmen

All throughout Christmas Jin was amazed and thoroughly excited about Baby Jesus, snow and snowmen.  He was able to play in the snow at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Indiana, but sadly there wasn't enough to make a snowman.  Have no fear though... He was able to create his own snowman at school.  Jin brought it home Friday so please take a look.  We hope you enjoy it!

TaDa!

Pancake & Pajama Day in Ms. Cheryl's class

Jin was very excited to wear pjs to school today.  In Ms. Cheryl's class they made pancakes together and wore their pajamas all day.  Jin chose his new camo pjs which have a matching robe.  He loves his robe because he often says, "COLD, COLD!"  What a treat, Papa was on hand to assist as well.  He makes one mean pancake.

Camo is the way to go

Stirring the pancake mix

Yum, yum, yummy!

"No butter on mine, please and thank you."

The many phrases of Jin...

Jin is beginning to put several words together and using them correctly too.  Take a look at a few.  It is amazing to see his vocabulary grow and his repertoire expand. 

I want Gugu.

What's this?
Excuse me, please.

I don't know.

Jin is Ultraman

I want to pray.

Milk please.

Please read.

I love you.

SMILE!

Gugu, I want to play.

Jin's been home for 2 months

BROTHERS

Jin has been home with us for 2 months now.  We can't believe how quickly time has flown.  Jin is adjusting very well and is quite happy.  Jin and Jon Campbell love playing together, reading together, watching dvds together and most of all laughing together.  There are many "ah" moments.  Tonight before tuck in time I noticed Jin's very dry, chapped lips.  Jon Campbell jumps out of bed to grab his chapstick.  He leans over Jin's bed and says, "Jin, do your lips like this."  Jon Campbell patiently applies chapstick to Jin's lips without being asked.

Jin loves Thomas the Tank Engine, Percy, milk, chocolate, bananas, oranges, veggies, rice, crackers, noodles, cherry tomatoes, fish, Lightning McQueen, Batman, books, and the list goes on and on.

Jin completed his 1st week of school at Judson Baptist.  He loves his teacher, Ms.Cheryl and playing, playing and more playing. 

Jon Campbell loves his brother.   Every evening wearing matching pjs is a must per Jon Campbell.

We are very fortunate to live in a city with a wonderful children's hospital.  Jin has been examined and observed by numerous doctors since his arrival.  Currently, we are working to complete all needed shots.  It is very common to discover the ones he had were not "active" or "good".  The vaccine serums may have been old or not properly stored at the adequate temperature.  He is a trooper!

 Do you know what this is?

After failing his hearing test we realized Jin's ears were clogged.  Clogged is an understatement.  Apparently Asian ear wax is different than others.  When it hardens it turns to cement and cement it was.  Sweet Jin sat with a towel around his neck, I held a small basin on his shoulder while the nurse flushed his ears with a bottle and a half of warm water with a hot pink liquid.  Once freedom was found the wax balls each dropped with a thud into the basin.  WOW!  

Their 1st joint cooking venture

The Holloway Pizzeria is open for business

Jin's 1st Day of School- YEAH!

Wednesday, January 6th was Jin's 1st day of school at Judson Baptist.  He was very excited!  He could be heard throughout the house calling out, "School, School, I'm going to SCHOOL!"  Armed with his new shoes, Lightning McQueen lunchbox and turtle bag, Jin marched into his new classroom ready to start his 1st day.  Honestly, I was a ball of nerves and very unsure how Jin would do or what he would understand.  As usual I was wrong and Jin had a simply perfect day.  Clint and I walked him in where he was all ready to jump in and play with the toys.  He didn't even look back which is a good thing, right?! 

Jin with his Gugu (big brother)

As Jon Campbell walked out the door for school, he called back to Jin, "Have a good day and be a how bow, bow!"

I am ready to go to school!

The turtle bag is all packed and Jin is ready to go,

But Mama has to snap one more picture!

 

Jin and his teacher, Ms. Cheryl

Our family is blessed by Ms. Cheryl.  She is very warm and loving and greets Jin with a hug and huge smile.  She is a perfect 1st teacher for Jin.  Ms. Cheryl's note after his first day read, "Jin had an awesome day!  He is so sweet and obeyed extremely well!  He ate every bite if his lunch and our snack.  The only area that is hard to understand is routine (when we can play with toys, when we read books quietly, etc.)  I will try to make a picture schedule to help with that.  He is precious!"

1st piece of artwork

                          

To celebrate Jin's 1st day we celebrated with gelato at Whole Foods

We're going for a ride!

Ringing in the New Year with Yong Ming

Jin's best buddy and playmate in the orphanage was Yong Ming.  Two newborns growing up together, there is a good chance they were in the same room.  Yong Ming, now named Joshua, was blessed with a forever family last summer.  He was adopted by wonderful people, Doug and Terrie Pilz, from Michigan.  The Pilz family had earlier adopted a little girl from the same orphanage. Her name is now Brianna and is approximately the same age. For more than a year all three of these children would have been together in the orphanage. We were told from the orphanage officials that Jin became very depressed and withdrawn when Joshua left.  Can you blame him?  He lost one of the people in his world he loved the most.  Doug and Terrie have been a blessing to us from the moment we received the first email.  Their wonderful advice, important information, wise experience and many prayers eased our anticiapted trip and adjustments with Jin.  We knew we had to meet and reunite the boys. What a blessing it was!    

We love to play

My dear, thoughtful husband loves surprises.  He is good at keeping them and this one was a doozy!  The Pilzs drove to Indiana to meet us! Yes, can you believe it?  Clint told Terrie we would be there for Christmas and wondered the possibility of meeting them half way?  After looking at the map they are only 4 hours away from goood 'ole Bluffton.  Jin was very excited and repeated Yong Ming's continuiously until his arrival.  Our entire family awaited this exciting event.  For Jin to see and spend time with his best buddy and "family" was going to be just perfect.  And perfect it was.  The boys seemed to pick up where they left off.  They played, laughed, ran around, colored, ate, hugged and read together just like brothers.  Jon Campbell didn't want to miss one bit and loved sitting next to Yong Ming for dinner.  As for the adults, we laughed, talked, talked some more and shared stories.  Yet again it was perfect!

Jin and Joshua

The sweet little girl in the picture below is Joshua's sister.  Brianna or "B" was adopted by the Pilzs when she was 14 months old.  B is from the same orphanage as the boys; it is likely that all 3 kids were in the same room as babies.    So we had a house full of 4 year olds- Brianna, Joshua, Jin and Jon Campbell. 

Merry Christmas 2009

"B", Jin, Joshua

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

TOGETHER AGAIN

Meeting more family

Jin met his Great Grandmother, Ferne Holloway, for the first time. Great Grandma Holloway is his Papa's Grandmother, and Jin's only living Great Grandparent. The mother of 12, Grandmother of nearly 30 and Grant Grandmother of an ever-growing clan, Ferne is the matriarch of the family, no but's about it.     

SAY CHEESE!

The boys with Great Grandma

OH, BOY!!!!

Clint, Jon Campbell, Great Grandma, Jin, Samuel and Uncle Clif

"Please read me Thomas."

Jin with Great, Great Aunt Marie

The boys never had a chance...

Uncle Boots terrorizing the boys

Who will win?

Our trips to Indiana must always include a visit to Decatur to see Uncle Boots and Aunt Marie. Uncle Boots is the brother of Clint's maternal Grandmother. It is always a treat to visit these dear, Godly people, full of wisdom and love.  Uncle Boots turned 90 this year, the last of his generation and one of the Greatest Generation who fought in World War II. He also has a great sense of humor which loves to banter back and forth with Clint.  Uncle Boots always wins with his zingers.  For our boys Uncle Boots and Aunt Marie represent a link to their history and heritage. AND Aunt Marie is the best cook ever!    

Uncle Clay, there are fun things to do in Bluffton!

During our Indiana Christmas celebration, Grandma made surprise arrangements for the boys which knocked their socks off!  Jin and Jon Campbell received a private tour of the Bluffton Fire Department from Fireman Tim.  They tried out Engine 101, along with the ladder and rescue trucks.  They absolutely loved the tour topped off with a ringing of the fire bell.  Jin was amazed while Jon Campbell was full of questions and added his own fire details from his classroom fieldtrip. 

Bluffton Fire Department

Jin and Jon Campbell with Fireman Tim

READY, AIM, FIRE!

Steps of the Bluffton County Courthouse

The Holloways hit the BIG SCREEN!

With it being so cold in Indiana, going to the movies was a great choice.   WOW!  Jin's eyes were as big as saucers when he saw the movie screen.  The theater was full for the showing of Alvin and the Chipmunks- The Squeakquel so we had to sit on the second row.  Sam was very excited as well because this was his first big screen adventure.  Armed with drinks, pretzels, crackers, a lot of popcorn (emphasis on a lot) plus soda, the boys were glued, for the most part, to the screen.  Those chipmunks are hilarious and Grandma enjoyed them too.

Simon, Alvin and Theodore

Christmas in Indiana

Grandpa and the boys

"Can we open the presents now?  PLEEEEEEEEASE, can we?"

Santa came to Bluffton instead of sleeping after the big day

Grandma and Aunt Tammy arranged for a special, surprise visitor to arrive for our family Christmas festivities.  We heard a knock, knock, knock at the front door Sunday morning.  Jin answered it to find Santa  awaiting with his arms full of gifts for all the boys.  Jin was very excited!

Playing with Uncle Pookums... He is the best toy unpackager/assembler

Batman with his Batcave along with the Space Shuttle were the highlights.  The boys played with all their new toys all week and enjoyed every minute.  It was a wonderful 2nd Christmas!

The Cousins- Jin, Sam & Jon Campbell

You want us to smile for another picture?  HA, HA, HA, HA!

Being a Connecticut gal myself I love the snow and wish we had more in Tennessee.  Seeing that my wish is not often granted I wish very hard and maybe throw in a few Hail Marys when we are in Indiana for Christmas.  Although, I believe I am the only one over the moon when the snow falls during our visit.  This Christmas my wish was granted once again!  We had a blast outside throwing snowballs and catching snowflakes on our tongues!

Mama, you better duck! 

Upon seeing the snow fall Jon Campbell exclaimed, "Mama, we got our Christmas wish!!"

Jin had a blast sweeping the snow

Jin was so happy to play in the snow.  Jon Campbell tried to hit him with a few snowballs, but Jin did not retaliate at all.  Jin found a broom on the front porch and amused himself sweeping off the sidewalk and cars.  Who would've thought?! 

Papa had to hold the boys in place for this picture!

Who has ants in their pants? Aunt Tammy or Jin?

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

The boys were a glow with excitement and wonder with Christmas just a short sleep away.  Christmas Eve we spent together at church where the kids watched the latest Veggie Tales story called St. Nicholas.  Check it out, it's great.   On our way home Christmas lights are a must with drive bys of our favorite locations.  After dinner with the little ones dressed in their new Christmas pjs Papa read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Christmas Story from the Bible.  With the boys calmly tucked in and prayers said they drifted off to sleep awaiting Santa Claus' arrival.  Clint and I starred in amazement at our lovely boys.  Again we are amazed how this year unfolded.  Jin is now our son, Jon Campbell has a brother and God has completed our family.  THANK YOU

and all thru the house

2 small creatures were stirring

with the help of a mouse

the stocking were hung

by the cardinal tree with care

in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there...

Stocking straight from China

Christmas Twins

Papa's boys on Christmas morning

I LOVE Thomas the Train

Now Buzz Lightyear has a buddy

"It's what we always wanted...  Thomas the Train Spin & Fix!"

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.