ICE – 2010 at the Gaylord Texan

ICE - 11.17.2010

Click the photo above to see the whole album. It’s a lot of photos, but they are cool *wink*

This year the ICE display was a Charlie Brown Christmas. We learned our lesson last year and decided that we were going ASAP when it opened this year so we wouldn’t have to fight the crowds. We had the place practically to ourselves and it was a great time. Nadia had a lot more fun in the display this year even though she did complain about the cold at the end, but I don’t blame her. It was cold!

Here are some of my favorite photos. This was a great way to kick off our Christmas season!

ICE - 11.17.2010

ICE - 11.17.2010

ICE - 11.17.2010

ICE - 11.17.2010

ICE - 11.17.2010

ICE - 11.17.2010

Nadia did the “meet and greet” with Snoopy. She gave him a hug, high five, poked his belly and scratched his ear!

ICE - 11.17.2010

ICE - 11.17.2010

ICE - 11.17.2010

Is this cute or what?

ICE - 11.17.2010

On the way home I asked Nadia what she liked best about our night. She said, “Seeing the ‘tivity’ scene….. oh and meeting Snoopy!”

ICE - 11.17.2010

Chinese School Open House

Open House - 12.18.2010
Click the photo above to see all the photos.

Nadia has been in Chinese Language school this fall and her last day was Saturday the 18th. They had class for 2 hours and then an open house with all the classes doing some kind of performance. In the middle of the semester when they had the speech contest Nadia was the only child in the school that refused to say anything so I was not holding out hope even in a group setting. She told her teacher she was not doing anything unless I was with her. So I went up with the class and sat on the floor behind her. In the beginning she had a death grip on my hand but by the last song she had relaxed enough that I could move back to my seat.

She knows all the songs and loves to sing them at home, but in front of the crowd she was a lot quieter.

Open House

Open House

Here she is with most of her class and her wonderful teacher Miss Elaine.

Open House

A new photo of Amelie

Haydens friends 001

Hello all! A mother from Canada adopted her little boy at the end of September from Ningxia and she was going through the packet they gave her. They said this was her son and his “friends”.I know it’s a little photo, but Amelie is being held by the woman on the right.

It’s like getting a 6 month sonogram or something! HA HA!!!

Our article 5 was dropped off at the US consulate in China this morning and will be ready in exactly 2 weeks. Then we can FINALLY apply to travel.