As half of the Morgan Family traveled to China to bring sweet Annie Joy home, we had our share of adventures here. We are so thankful and blessed to be a part of such a close family. To get to spend so much time together, making memories is such a gift. Forgive me for the long post, but I have been recording the days as we have been going along.
January 6-10, 2016 (Days 1-5) were spent with mostly Papa and Nama Knox. Although we had our share of fun on
Thursday, January 7, as we helped out while Lori had to work. Ashley was at school, but Beth and Emma came over for a few hours to play and rest. We played dress up, made headbands and ate lunch together. Emma was convinced all things, including herself, were sticky. Hmm. This is an interesting and sticky situation. We didn't have our favorite buddies or blankies, so Aunt Shelby made an emergency run to the store. She was kind enough to bring back some coffee for us. At one point, all four littles (including my two) were asleep at one time. We ended the day, sad to part ways, but a taste of what was to come in just a few short days.
Sunday, January 10, 2016 (Day 5)
Our day started with receiving pictures of our new little Annie Joy in the arms of her new family! What JOY it brought us to see them together and to share that with our church family. You are so loved by your new community Annie! We celebrated the news by taking Grandma Miller and Grandpa and Grandma Morgan out for our own "Authentic" Chinese experience at Eddy's for lunch. They were oozing with excitement as they looked at the pictures Shelby had printed out. Grandma Morgan wanted to share with anyone who would listen.
That evening, Uncle Dave and Aunt Shelby brought Emma and Beth over our direction to start our 12 days of fun! We took baths and everyone was exhausted. We got everyone settled into their new "home away from homes." Emma has a twin blow up bed in the office with cute pink sheets and a heart bedspread. She was asleep before the Colfax Crew made it back to Colfax. Beth has a fun teal and brown bed upstairs in Kayla's room. She gets the biggest bed as it is queen size! There are a few more toothbrushes in our basket now.
Just as we were settling into bed, we got a call from China!! Bridgett was calling us on a video chat through wee chat. Beth was still awake and shot up in bed when she saw who was on the other side of the phone. We were able to "meet" Annie briefly and see some of our dear family 5000 miles away!
Monday, January 11, 2016 (Day 6)
The day started with me being awoken by Emma's sweet voice talking in the other room. It was happy at first, and then turned to cries. She was distraught, I think, and unsure about her surroundings. Once she was settled, everything was fine, but it sure made this Auntie's heart race!
The day started with the girls opening their bag marked "Day 6." The cutest little pack of gummy bears were in there. Bridgett was kind enough to put enough in for our girls as well. They were all excited to eat them! Bridgett also wrote sweet notes to the girls, telling them what they were up to for the day.
It was two braid day, and all four girls got piggy braids. Emma was beyond excited to get her "Anna" (from Frozen) braids for the day. We did crafts and the girls made necklaces, and pictures galore! It was super cold here today, so we bundled up and went for a quick walk to the mailbox and back.
Uncle Dave, Aunt Shelby and Ashley came over after Ashley got out of school. We put together puzzles and spent time together.
Then it was time for Happy Meal Monday! We made it to McDonalds for 5 happy meals and mini cones. Just as the girls were playing, we got a call from China! We were all able to meet Annie as a family. What JOY!
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 (Day 7)
We started our day with the usual potty time, breakfast, getting dressed and doing hair. It's amazing how much time it takes just to do all that with four little girls! It was bun pony day for hair today, although Emma requested "Anna" braids again. Today in their bags they received princess fruities, and my girls' eyes lit up with they realized there was some for them as well!
It's gymnastics days for my girls, so Bridget Hahn came and stayed with them for a couple hours, while I took my girls to gymnastics. We got home in time to eat lunch together. The girls are all eating great and not complaining about my food. (Well, mostly...) :)
The girls had rest time again, and I actually taught one of my Tuesday lessons, so Bridget came back to play with them. They love being with her as well! I am a bit under the weather, but am doing fine, energy wise, as I am being held up by the prayers of many! Thank you to those that are praying for all of us and our strength! We got another quick call from China, and sweet little Beth is missing her mommy. There were a few tears, but then a silly photo shoot and some smiles came quickly. Beth is enjoying her cozy queen size air mattress with a satin sheets and cozy blankets in Kayla's room.
Beth is missing her big sister for sure, but Ashley is having a blast being on her own at Aunt Shelby's!
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 (Day 8)
There were small packs of gummie bears in the Day 8 bag The girls so enjoy hearing the notes each day and seeing the pictures that were sent the night before.
Dress up was on the agenda today and we had two Queen Elsa's, a fairy princess and princess Anna.
I surprised the girls with a trip to the library. I thought it took me forever to get packed up or anywhere with my two girls, but try two 5 year olds, a 4 year old and an almost 3 year old. Whew! It took us all morning to go to the library and make one other stop. They had a blast reading books and playing with toys at the library. I let them each pick out two books and they have been enjoying reading them.
We also did some coloring and had some more rest time. (I don't know if this is more important for them or for me.) We then set out for Cubbies! Audrey and Ben have come down with the nasty cough, so we sent Audrey with Aunt Shelby and Uncle Dave while the rest of us headed to AWANA! We were serenaded by 4 different songs coming from 4 different girls in the car. Some of the sweetest sounds I have ever heard. Love these girls and their hearts.
It's never a quiet ride and I have decided I have found a way to keep Kayla quiet in the car---Emma! Putting them together in the back seat is an interesting combination! The girls all did great and recited their verses.
Thursday, January 14, 2016 (Day 9)
There were pink and blue candy canes in the bags today! It is always so fun to read to the girls the notes Bridgett put together ahead of time.
After our normal activities of breakfast and getting ready, the girls played with play dough and did some great creations! Beth and Kayla made cupcakes and Audrey was into making cookies. Emma soon decided she would rather color. She is very focused and does a great job!
We then got 8 bows in their hair with bun ponies and decided to head out the door for a great adventure--Bonkerz! (An indoor play center in Moscow). I took all four of them over for a couple hours, and they had a blast! They were almost too tired to each lunch by the time we got home. This mommy/auntie may have gone through the Starbucks drive through on the way home. :)
They all rested and then we enjoyed dinner together with Uncle Ben. We had picnic beans and muffins. Beth loved the picnic beans! Uncle Dave, Aunt Shelby and Ashley all came over for a visit in the evening. The girls all played well together. Kayla went home with them as she had pre-school in the morning. She and Ash were looking forward to having a sleep over!
Friday, January 15, 2016 (Day 10)
With Kayla at pre-school, Beth, Emma Audrey and I had a quiet morning at home. We braided hair and played. It was soon time to pack up and head to Colfax though. I have a commitment on Friday's in January helping Mr. Cammack with the Jr. High girls choir and so Aunt Shelby had some special time with the girls. She was generous in feeding them lunch and taking care of them for awhile so I could also take Grandma Miller out to lunch and to her hair appointment. We picked Kayla up from school, and then decided that her and Beth would spend a few more hours with Shelby for some big girl fun!
Emma and Audrey came home for naps. They have a special relationship. They are usually fighting with each other, pushing each others buttons. But today, they did really well. We all sat on the floor together and built blocks. Emma is content to play by herself, but she is doing really well at playing together.
Once Kayla and Beth arrived with Uncle Dave and Aunt Shelby, we opened our bags for the day. I also had bags for the girls, as they all received new PJ's!
How fun to put them on and have a PJ party after our big ham dinner! What joy to have 5 girls and 4 adults around our dining room table.
We did a photo shoot, and made precious memories reading together on the couch.
Kayla, Beth and Ashley went with Aunt Shelby and Uncle Dave for a sleepover!
I'm afraid Beth didn't get much sleep. She really hasn't been sleeping well, and the poor thing is so tired!
Saturday, January 16, 2016 (Day 11)
Uncle Ben stayed home for the morning and made us waffles and eggs for breakfast! Yum! Emma and Audrey were loving their time without the big girls!
The big girls were having fun at the Ledbetters!
The big girls showed up around 10:30, and they opened their bag. Nail polish today! You know what that means for later on!
We all packed up in "Red" the minivan and set off for our "shopping" adventure. We may have only made two stops, but it sure was fun! We went to Walmart and picked out some shopkins, and made it to Wendy's for lunch.
We put everyone down for naps (except Ashley) and she rested by playing Shopkins. One by one as the girls got up, we painted their nails. It sure was fun painting 70 nails!!
Emma's didn't last too long, but we at least got it documented!
Kayla went back with Uncle Dave and Aunt Shelby for another sleepover. She is having a blast getting so much time with Auntie!
Sunday, January 17, 2016 (Day 12)
We woke up in time to get all three girls ready for church by curling hair, braids and opening their bag.
Today's gift was a new Strawberry Shortcake movie! How fun! They all went to Sunday School and did well sitting through church. We all took up an entire pew with Grandma-Great Miller in the middle! We took everyone to New Garden for lunch and Grandpa and Grandma Great Morgan met us. We shared another meal, more pictures, and lots of memories.
We then took Emma and Audrey back home to rest and the Ledbetters took the oldest three for a few hours.
It was then pizza and popcorn night!
The girls are all playing so well together, they hardly even ask for movies or the Kindle! We did watch Rapunzel tonight though, and Uncle Ben made us popcorn. I gave them the car for the camper we bought over Christmas (toys) and Beth and Kayla had a blast with that!
A big victory for the day was Emma woke up dry from her nap (with a pullup). We made a super big deal about it, and she was so excited about it! Go Emma! She has been wear panties, even when we go out and about and hasn't had an accident yet!
Tonight we went Audrey and Beth home with Uncle Dave and Aunt Shelby for a sleepover.
Ashley is staying here with us tonight and is in the room with Kayla upstairs. They were too tired to even talk and fell asleep within minutes of being tucked in!
Monday, January 18, 2016 (Day 13)
Audrey and Beth spent the night at Shelby’s and when they
showed up this morning, we all had braids in!
Even Shelby and I! You would have thought we planned it!
In their bags
were some more gummy bears. Sydne came
with us and we went over to Bonkerz in Moscow.
The kids had a blast!
It was
super busy, but we played for a couple of hours. Ate lunch at Wendy’s again, and that worked
well. We came home for naps, and Shelby
and Sydne took Kayla and Ashley back to Shelby’s. Their ride home was a slight adventure!
After the littles slept here for a bit, we
all loaded up and went into Shelby’s to head to Randy and Bobby’s for hot
tubbing. Kayla is still pretty sick and
got herself pretty worked up while at Shelby’s.
I stayed behind with her while the others went and had a blast!
Audrey even warmed up to Bobby. They all loved Beau and had a great
time. Shelby made dinner and we enjoyed
the yummy food at her place. We bathed
them all there, and I took the 4 littles home with me.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 (Day 14)
The girls were exhausted and everyone slept in! They had glow sticks in their bags today, and
were they ever excited about that.
Kayla
coughed all night so I moved her to the couch so she wouldn’t keep Beth
up! Bridgie took Audrey to gymnastcs so
I could stay with everyone else. We
played “birthday party” (it was Beth and I’s birthdays), and colored.
We ate lunch at home, and went down for rest
time. Aunt Shelby and Ash showed up and
we did our picture frame craft. They had fun making them for Mommy, Grandma and the Aunties.
Audrey
went home with them. You can only imagine the fun that was to be had!
We had a quiet
evening at home with dinner, baths and early bed times. Kayla ended up on the couch again, and Beth
didn’t want to be upstairs by herself so she moved to the other couch. It was another late night!
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 (Day 15)
In their bags today was a bag of licorice.
We have hardly watched any movies in two weeks so I let them watch a movie and eat the
licorice. They have been pretty homesick
the past two days, so we try to stay busy.
It’s so impressive to me how well they all play together. Of course there are arguments, but overall,
they are happy to just play.
They don’t
even request to watch a movie, even after all this time. We made our necklace craft this morning
too. We at lunch early so that our rest
time was early. We are so looking
forward to the arrival of everyone tomorrow!!
Thursday, January 21, 2016 (Day 16)
The day has finally come! The girls were bursting with excitement at the thought of seeing the rest of their family today and meeting Annie!
We got everyone ready and met Shelby and Ashley at her house. They had made adorable signs!
We headed off to Spokane to run a few errands before everyone arrived!
The girls did great as we did a potty stop at Nordstrom and ate lunch at Red Robin. An older lady came to our table and told us how well behaved "our girls" were.
It was finally time to head to the airport. Uncle Dave and Ben arrived before us and we all gathered in excitement! What joy to see them all walk out towards us! The journey has just begun.
We have memories we will cherish the rest of our lives, and hopefully by documenting them, the girls can someday read about all the fun times we had. We are so blessed to live so close to each other and we look forward to all the memories ahead with Annie now in our bunch!
Precious moments of meeting Annie
That moment when you see you Parents, Brothers, Grandparents, Nephews and new sister and niece!
The Morgan family is now complete--Annie Joy is Home!
