JANUARY
traveled to U of Idaho • sledding at Farragut State Park • built a snowman at Grandma Huckleberry’s house • off to California • ate In-N-Out with Kristen • visited CBU friends • ate In-N-Out with Bruce and Erin • back to Idaho for final supply shopping • goodbyes • hopped on a plane Asia bound
FEBRUARY
enduring lots of changes • celebrated Lantern Festival • moved Schäfer from the crib to the big boy bed • Schäfer is happy to be reunited with The Lotus Pond Gang • Hubs is happy to be reunited with the bike clubs • found a wonderful Ayi to play with Schäfer in Chinese and help me around the house • Hubs discovered a dairy nearby • began pasteurizing our own milk and making yogurt
MARCH
workers completed taking down the moldy wallpaper in 2 bedrooms • ordered Schäfer’s bike off taobao.com • enjoying playing outside with neighborhood kids • Lotus Pond Gang traveled to the island for the first time • took the dinosaurs swimming in the sink • made playdough • started looking into preschool options • made our first cheese • Hubs and I slipped away to Beijing to notarize adoption paperwork • while in Beijing I enjoyed a perfect hot chocolate at a German bakery • played outside in the rain • planted our herb seeds • completed medical updates for adoption paperwork • enjoyed peach blossoms and felt that Spring was on its way
APRIL
purchased a soy milk maker • saw that Walmart was coming to town • played at Jump Zone • everyone visited the farm and bought fresh milk • Hubs took a personal retreat • buzzed Schäfer’s long winter hair away for hot weather • 1st visit to the Yichang Zoo which now has a seal show • celebrated Easter with several egg dying parties • ate our first block of homemade cheese • moved seedlings to pots • traveled to Beijing to turn in updated adoption paperwork for new 1-700A • walked around Olympic venues including Bird’s Nest and Water Cube • climbed the rugged JinShanLing part of the Great Wall with Schäfer in the Ergo • picked fresh strawberries at farm • said goodbye to buddy MiLe
MAY
Hubs competed in 1st bike race at WuDangShan • bought Sandra a bicycle • began family bike rides • celebrated Mother’s Day • Sandra began to systematically clean through the house • Hubs was certified to teach a Red Cross curriculum • potty trained Schäfer in 3 days • made dumplings with friends for Dragon Boat Festival • listened to frogs in the lotus pond
JUNE
Celebrated Children’s Day • found a new indoor sand box play area with air conditioning • buzzed off Schäfer’s hair for summer heat • made a quick trip to Wuhan where Hubs and Schäfer had a great time swimming in the hotel pool • celebrated our 7th anniversary • celebrated Father’s Day • hosted American students on a culture exchange • found blueberries
JULY
swam in the campus pool • play dates at the sandbox and zoo • a visit from Sandra’s BFF • celebrated Hubs birthday • experienced a total eclipse • stocked up on blueberries • said a very emotional goodbye to friends
AUGUST
ate blueberry pie • climbed Mt. Moji • went on family vacation at ZhangJiaJie National Park and scenic FengHuang • Schäfer passed his medical exam for preschool
SEPTEMBER
1st day of preschool • traveled to Hong Kong for dentist and doctor appointments • visited Disneyland Hong Kong • on our way home stopped in Guangzhou to see Aimee from college who was adopting baby Deacon • enjoyed the Yichang International Tourism Parade • worked on letters a, b and c
OCTOBER
had 10 days national holiday in honor of China’s 60th National Day and Mid-Autum Festival • at the local zoo Schäfer had his photo taken with MiMi the seal • Schäfer wore his Thomas overalls to Rong Rong’s 2nd birthday • ate his first tang hu lu • traveled to Nanchang to assist a friend’s adoption • saw Nanchang University where Sandra taught English 10 years ago! • orange groves are ripe for the harvest • Schäfer’s preschool had a crab dance competition • Schäfer loves wearing his lion costume • actually found a pumpkin to carve for Halloween
NOVEMBER
enjoyed flying our kite by the Yangtze • visited San Xia Ren Jia • visited local Chinese Sturgeon Museum • Schäfer had a mild case of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease • Jie JIe came to live with us for seven days • it snowed! • traveled to Shanghai • picked up a turkey on our way home • turkey is too big for oven • had a duck roaster cook the turkey • spent a delicious Thanksgiving meal with friends
DECEMBER
found a Christmas tree • perfected hot chocolate from scratch • celebrated Sandra’s birthday • hosted 10 Christmas parties • received our adoption referral • signed paperwork to adopt a 7 month old girl in Jiangxi • celebrated Schäfer’s birthday
and many more special memories that we hold close to our hearts
I’ve been around many children, but the ones in this picture, at Schafer’s party, are the most beautiful children I’ve ever seen. Sandra do most families really only have one child?
Joy
Yes, one child is all that a family is suppose to have.