In The States: The Last Few Days And The Trip Home

Jordan showing off some pig tails.

Jordan wearing Mommy's hat while playing the Ipod.

All of our bags ready to go besides carry-ons. Can you believe there are 9 bags there?
Because Jacob was gold status, he got 3 bags for 70 pounds each. We took advantage of his status. The girls also accompanied Jacob in the lounges too thanks to his gold status while I rearranged our carry-on bags for the next leg.

The girls getting ready to go through security in Springfield for our trip back to Taiwan.

Keely sitting on the luggage trolly while we are waiting for our bags in Taipei.

Jordan taking a load off by sitting on a carry-on while we wait for our luggage.

In The States: Week 8

Our last full week in the States was filled with playing, packing and spending time with everyone.

As we were packing one day, the girls discovered some tulle I had bought for a project. They used their creativity in how they thought it should be used.

Jordan dancing and playing with her guitar.

We had a baby shower for Amy while she was in town. Emily was in town too. The three of us (who grew up together) got a picture together along with our children and coming baby.

The kids playing together.

Liam playing with the Fisher Price farm.

Liam checking things out.

The guys staying out of the way.

On another packing day the girls decided to use the packages of pull-ups for chairs.

Keely in front of Papa classic car.
(Yes, Keely was still in her PJ's -- she'll wear them as long as we will let her)

The girls in the back seat.

Daddy and Jordan.

One night Jordan decided to show us what Uncle John does.
Could conducting be in her future?

In The States: Christmas Family Pictures

We took these pictures Christmas Day. Enjoy!

In The States: Christmas

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve our family, Mimi and Papa and Bob and Cathy went to a church at the corner of our neighborhood for their Christmas Eve service. It was snowing both on the way there and on our way home, so it was nice we didn't have to go far! After we returned we had Spaghetti with homemade sauce and meatballs made by Cathy!

The girls with Cathy!

After dinner we opened some presents! All throughout my childhood we opened presents on Christmas Eve and then our bigger gift gift was opened on Christmas Day (i.e. a puppy dog, my dad's snow blower (that was hidden at the neighbor's house) , and an ottoman for my mom one year (that was hidden in my dad's classic car). The way we have mixed my childhood tradition to what most people do is this year we opened the gifts from Bob and Cathy and they opened the ones from us on Christmas Eve. And then on Christmas we opened the ones from each other.

Jordan with her new kitty.

Jordan showing Papa her kitty and Keely showing Papa her puppy.

The girls got PJs with masks. Keely's is a snowman.

Jordan's is a monkey.

Reading Keely some of her new books (and Jordan's too).


Christmas Morning

The girls opening Jordan's new dollhouse from us.

Keely opening her Angelina Ballerina doll from Mimi and Papa.

Keely opening her Lite Brite from Granny.

Jordan showing off her new personalized Belle fleece blanket.

Keely performing on her new keyboard from Mimi and Papa.

I got a new hat from Jacob, which the girls love to wear.

The girls helping Mimi open her present from Papa.

The girls playing with their dollhouse wearing their masks.

Jesus' Birthday Party.

The girls getting excited while we sang Happy Birthday.

The girls blowing out the candle.

Happy Birthday Jesus.

In The States: Week 7

The girls always ask for the towel to be wrapped around them after their bath and I just couldn't resist capturing the moment.

After a month and a half of being in the States we finally made it to one of the jump places. It was too bad that Jordan still didn't like the feeling of unstable ground under her feet. So Jacob and I traded out going with Keely through the different structures and then hanging out with Jordan.

Jordan did enjoy watching Keely and Daddy though.

Of course Keely enjoyed it!

And Daddy did too.

On the day before Christmas Eve, the public schools were already out for the holidays so the cousins came and played. The girls went and practiced and Christmas carols and then came out and sang them to me while holding our Go Pirates sign from the football game we went to after Thanksgiving in North Carolina.

My Dad, Jacob and Bob were uninstalling the old dish washer and installing the new dish washer this day and thankfully Cathy came too. I wasn't feeling too well that morning, so Cathy entertained the girls for me. I woke up to Jordan looking over me with tape all over her face. I found the other girls looking very similar -- except Keely. She had an experience with a band-aid taking off part of her eyebrow and she doesn't put anything sticky on her face now.

I announced that Mimi was on her way and Jordan grabbed the step stool and put it next to the window at the front door to watch Mimi. Unfortunately Mimi was about 15 minutes away! But Jordan didn't care!

Jordan watching out the window for Mimi. This sight could be seen on other occasions when the girls waited for Bob and Cathy to come over too!