All played out Saturday, Mar 29 2008
Adoption 6:18 pm
Hi All,
Here is a precious picture of Gabe. After a busy day of destroying the house and playing hard with big brother and sister Gabe literally fell asleep on his feet.
Dana
Meeting Old Friends Saturday, Mar 29 2008
Adoption 4:47 pm
Hi All,
My long-time friend Michelle was in town for a meeting on Thursday. She stopped by to spend a little time with us. Gabe proved he wasn’t shy at all by climbing on her lap and helping himself to the food off her plate. Here is a picture.
Dana
Happy Easter Sunday, Mar 23 2008
Adoption 7:39 pm
Hi All,
We celebrated Easter weekend with family in friends in my hometown of Buffalo, Oklahoma. We had a wonderful time. This was the first time that Gabe met most of his Oklahoma relatives and of course he fit right in.
Here are some pictures from the weekend.
Dana
Gabe, Grace, Noel, Will and Jackson at the Buffalo City park. Noel and Will are the children of Dana’s best friend Michelle.
Grace Jackson and Rowdy.
Gabe coloring Easter eggs with Daddy.
Grace coloring Easter eggs.
Gracie Jo in her Easter dress right before church.
The Gokey grandkids - neither Rhiata nor Gabe look too happy to be posing for this picture!
Zachary and Gabriel hanging out at the two-year old table.
Some Olmstead cousins: Amber, LaDawn, Dana and Heather
Gabe with his cousin Rholton.
Rhiata is only truly happy with her Mama!
On your mark, get set, go! Easter egg hunt at Aunt Ruby’s house.
Group picture after the Easter egg hunt - notice that there are four 2 year olds!
Our little princess Sunday, Mar 16 2008
Adoption 9:03 pm
It was 3 years ago this week that we first met a frightened baby girl in the Hunan Province. Today Gracie Jo YingZhen is spirited, opinionated, loving, smart and beautiful.
Tonight we played “model” and had our own little photo shoot.
Dana
Little Fonzie Friday, Mar 14 2008
Adoption 8:21 pm
This evening Gabriel found the sunglasses big brother wore for 50’s day. I was able to snap this picture. I can just imagine 16 years from now him looking over the top of his sunglasses flirting with the girls. What a cutie!
Dana
You Know You’re An Adoptive Parent When . . . Friday, Mar 14 2008
Adoption 3:10 pm
1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.
2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.
3. You can’t watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.
4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.
5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.
6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child’s ‘real’ parents.
7. You have ever been ‘pregnant’ with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)
8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.
9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.
10. You believe God’s heart is for adoption.
11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.
12. You know what the word ‘Dossier’ means, and you can actually pronounce it!
13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.
14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.
-Author unknown
50’s Day Friday, Mar 14 2008
Adoption 7:38 am
Today was 50’s dress-up day at O’Loughlin Elementary. Of course we had to explain to Jackson how they dressed in the 50’s. Here are a few pics of our little Fonzie.
Dana
Gotcha Videos Wednesday, Mar 12 2008
Adoption 10:57 pm
Here’s the video of when we got off the plane in Wichita on Wednesday, February 6, 2008.
Here’s the video of Daddy getting Gabe on Sunday, January 26, 2008 in Xian, Shaanxi, China
First Grade Musical Tuesday, Mar 11 2008
Adoption 8:10 pm
Hi Everyone,
Tonight was the night for the O’Loughlin Elementary First Grade Musical. We knew that Jackson had the role of Papa Bear, but didn’t know that it was such a major role.
!!!WARNING PROUD MAMMA TALKING!!!! Jackson had more lines than anybody else and (in my opinion) said his lines better than anybody else. He also had a small singing solo. During the whole performance he was mouthing everybody elses lines and kept trying to tell everybody where to go. When the performance was over, he was the one who went off stage and brought the teacher out a bouquet of flowers. He is such a little ham! I don’t know where he gets it (sarcasm)!!
Here are some pics.
Dana
Before the performance. Check out the costume Mom had to make!
Daddy enjoying Jackson’s performance. Gabe was very attentive (the supply of Goldfish crackers didn’t hurt).
Not a very good quality picture, but you can Jackson in action!
Baby Bear, Papa Bear & Mama Bear after the program
Grace and Jackson after the program.
Trip to the Park Monday, Mar 10 2008
Adoption 8:02 pm
Hi All,
The weather was so nice we took a trip to the park after school and work.
Here are a few pics.
Dana
