Chinese New Year, Veggie Tales

It's been a while since we had an update, so here goes.

On Feb. 21, most of the families who have adopted from China (as well as ones from Taiwan and Korea) got together for our annual Chinese New Year dinner. There were 3 more kids this year than last year. Our group continues to grow. It's such a good time getting together.

As usual, Jake hams it up



Most of the gang. Trying to get all the kids together and standing still at the same time is nearly impossible.



We also headed to the mall in town Saturday for a free showing of the latest Veggie Tales CD, "Pistachio: The Little Boy That Woodn't," thanks to Ruth's Christian Bookstore, which puts on similar events every so often. They give all the kids a goody bag and let them spin a wheel for other prizes. Jake won another Minnesota Cuke umbrella. It's the second time we went. Jake got to meet Bob and Larry again, and this time we had our camera!



After the show, Jake rode a couple of the rides the mall has.





And, it has nothing to do with Jake, but Violet caught one of our cat food bandits in the act.

An important dignitary

The other day we were in Oklahoma City for an appointment with Jake's cleft surgeon. Everything is going well.
So, after the doctor visit we decided to stop by the state Capitol. Not really sure why, but it was my idea. As they say, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Any way, while we were there we noticed OETA (the public television network here) had sent up booths in the rotunda. We spied a familiar face a floor up from us. Jake saw him, too, and waved and got a wave back. So we decided to go upstairs to say hi.





A woman with OETA was kind enough to take a couple of pictures and took down our e-mail address. A few days later the pics showed up. They also asked if Jake would like a book. Sure he would. He likes Clifford.

I'd say a visit with Clifford the Big Red Dog was better than meeting a politician, don't you think?

How much do I love you?

Apparently a lot, judging from the size of Jake's balloon.

He had some money and this is one of the things he wanted to buy. Wow, that balloon is bigger than he is.

The other day, all on his own Jake came up to Kevin and grabbed his leg and hugged. Then he looked up and said, "I love you Daddy."

And, Saturday morning he came in and crawled in bed with us. First he reached over and hugged Violet. "I love you Mommy." Then he reached over and hugged Kevin. "I love you Daddy."

It's just recently that he has said this all on his own without any prompting. No other four words sound so good.

A Saturday afternoon drive

Yes! The sun came out Saturday and the temperature went up to nearly 60. After days and days of mostly cloudy skies and cold temperatures, it was good to get out in the sun.

Jake took advantage of the day to take a drive in his pickup. He needs to work on keeping it straight, but zig-zagging around is more fun.

Happy Chinese New Year ... Xi'an style

This AP photo shows workers setting up a giant lantern ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations in the old city district of Xi'an in northwestern China's Shaanxi province. It looks like they are setting it up on the city wall, touted as the best preserved city wall in China. It's several hundred years old and was pretty cool to see and walk on when we were there. It encircles the old city area of Xi'an and is 8 miles all the way around.



This AP photo shows a dust storm hitting Yulin in the northern part of Shaanxi Province earlier this month. We were nowhere near Yulin. It's hundreds of miles north of Xi'an. All that dust sure doesn't look fun.

I'm rooting for the Colts

My favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings, didn't make the Super Bowl, so I'm rooting for the Indianapolis Colts. I like them, too, and I've always been a Peyton Manning fan. He seems to be a pretty classy player and a good person. But, there is another reason I'm rooting for him in the Super Bowl ...

During our research after we received Jake's file, I found several references online to Peyton Manning being cleft-affected. He has lent his name to the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St.Vincent in Indianapolis, which has a big pediatric craniofacial center that treats, among other things, cleft lips and palates.

It gives me a feeling of comfort when I look at Jake going through surgeries and speech therapy to know that Peyton Manning went through these issues, too, and now he has won one Super Bowl and may win another. All things are possible.

Kevin