Thursday, August 18, 2011

First Day of School 2011

The first day of school went smoothly for the Stotts family!
As you can see we were all smiles!

Jacen is now a Freshman in High School.  He's playing football this year and is so athletic.
I had a story I meant to post a few weeks ago about our church softball game and never got around to it... so I"m posting it now so I don't ever forget that day!

Church softball is co-ed... and honestly, pretty competitive!  Our church plays just for fun, but it feels good to win on occasion to.  But we let everyone who wants to play have a turn at playing. 
We were down by 4 when the last inning started.  Jacen was playing catcher.  The entire game was very tight.  3 up, 3 down for both teams.  We were evenly matched and nothing was getting by either team.

Thanks to me, Jacen has developed a love for Mocha Java Chillers from Sonic.  This summer he was on a serious Sonic kick and the night of this game, he had Sonic the night before and for lunch earlier this day.
He walked by me and asked if we could have Sonic after the game... it's going on 10 PM already!
I told him if he caught a pop fly I would take him to Sonic for a Mocha Java Chiller. 

Well, 3 up and 3 down, but no pop fly's for Jacen.
I told him as they come in to bat that if he hit a home run I'd buy him a Mocha Java Chiller.

Jacen certainly has the potential to hit a home run.  Some of the bigger guys hit it to the fence.  I"m always in 'awe' of how hard some of the guys hit.  But remember tonight... both teams were catching everything.  A homerun was a long shot.

As he comes up to bat with 2 outs... a girl a year older than him on first.... I reminded him of our deal.  Jacen had told everyone in the dug out about it as well, so they were all cheering him on.

He gets up to the plate... totally laid back.  Acting like he's not even trying.  The first pitch.... (it's slow pitch... so it has that arch to it).... he upper cuts it and sends it sailing to the fence. 

And this kid can RUN!  Fast.  He was yelling at Beckah in front of him, "I'm not stopping!"  Poor girl!  Jacen was rounding 3rd before the other team had the ball picked up and was throwing it in!  Everyone was screaming and this momma was so proud!  He came over and gave me a high five through the fence.  It was so fabulous that I told him I was gonna buy him a MJC every night that week!

He just shrugged and acted like it was no big deal.  All a day in the life of being "Racin' Jacen"
Man I love this kid!  I can't wait to see what he does in football!


Jory is going into 3rd Grade.  He is so easy going and generally happy.  Not much gets him down.  Let him play outside and he's good to go!  It hasn't been easy on him getting booted out of the baby spot of the family. But he has taken it all in stride and most times is a really good big brother.  He has his moments of tormenting, but he was taught well by his big brothers.
This summer he has become quite brave on his 4 wheeler, figured out why his momma doesn't eat much meat, and was quite a little baseball/soccer star himself.  Oh, and most importantly... this summer he went forward at a Strength Team event on his own and asked Jesus into his heart.
He sure knows how to make a girl happy!


Jia began Kindergarten this year.  She has been such a joy to have in our lives.  She is so completely prissy and girly, but also independent.  The first day of school was no problem for her!  No hanging on my leg, no tears...
Today when I walked her to the door... her Elementary Principal, Elementary Counselor and the district Superintendent were all outside welcoming students as they entered.  When we walked up, her principal said "Oh I remember you from Preschool Graduation.  You want to be a doctor when you grow up!"
Yep, that our girl!
She is beginning dance next week and is growing up too quickly!
We love her so much and can't imagine our lives without her.


This is the door into Jia's classroom.


I would say we're all off to a good start this year!  I pray it continues! 

Friday, August 12, 2011

Hair Cut and Sewing

"SOMEONE" is gearing up for Kindergarten...
and that means a BIG GIRL haircut!


I love this picture!
I think she likes it.


She has to go to Kindergarten in style...
Here she is picking out her feather!


The finished result!
We all love the new 'do'!


Here's some of the latest sewing project.
Renea and I are having a booth at Art in the Park the last weekend of August...
But I seem to make everything in Jia's size.  Hmmmm....

Here are new keychains.
They can be personalized anyway you want.


A baby size peasant.  My neice wanted this for a friend with a new baby girl!


Jia's Oh Jackie dress!




Stay tuned... I still have Minnesota Vacation Part II and more Lake of the Ozarks pictures to add.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Together Again!

I received an email a couple of weeks ago from Jen letting me know they were going to be at Lake of the Ozarks, and wondering if that was anywhere close to us.
Well.  CLOSE.  ENOUGH.

We were all with the same agency and just met each other in China the morning of getting our girls!
June 22, 2009

Something like that just sorta bonds you, ya know?

This is June 23rd, when we went back to finalize everything.

(Horrible picture of me,  but sharing it anyway)

We spent a lot of time with Jeff, Jen, Matthew and Megan after that.
Both girls are from MaoMing in Guangdong. 
But different orphanages.



Jeff and Jen's Red Couch photo


Our Red Couch photo


Jia and Megan!


And this was taken last night! 
Just a few day's past 2 years....
Together again!


Megan is 3.5 and Jia is 5.5
Megan is going into preschool.
Jia is going into Kindergarten.


Both girls are sassy, bossy, dramatic, tattle tales, love Strawberry Shortcake....
The list goes on and on!


By the end of our dinner, they were holding hands saying they were best friends!
Megan even told her mom she was coming to our house!


It was so great to get together with this family again!
We loved to see the girls together and got such a kick out of them!
Matthew and Jory got a long great to! 
I hope that all these friendships continue to grow and bless both families!
I can't wait to see them again!

Friday, August 5, 2011

We are headed to Lake of the Ozarks for a quick weekend trip.
We are meeting Megan and her family from Wisconsin.
We met them in China the morning of our 'Gotcha Day'.
We got our girls together, then spent much of the rest of our trip together.
Jia and Megan are both from MaoMing.
Megan from MaoNan.
Jia from MaoGang.
Here is the last time the girls seen eachother!


I. CAN'T. WAIT.