Really, April?

I think about updating our blog alot but where does time go? At the moment I'm avoiding the last few minutes of the VCU Final Four game because I get too darned nervous when it's this close. And, and this is a big and, Jia actually went to bed before me! Jia is bursting with energy and intelligence these days and simply doesn't want to sleep! She talks in her beautiful little voice from waking until reluctantly falling to sleep. She loves school and knows all of her letters, how to spell her name, how old she is, exactly when her birthday will come and just about everything else you can imagine. Her sense of humor is amazing. She loves to sing and dance. We just got her a new big girl bike and she rides it like a wild child! When we visited the bike store it was only to buy a second helmet since her one helmet never seemed to be where we needed it to be (either home or school). While at the store she picked out a smokin' cool red mountain bike and JUST HAD TO HAVE IT! So now she is officially a bike riding (with training wheels of course) "big girl"!

We are all just great. Sadly, Cousin Duncan has decided to move out and back to IL. Sad for us but happy for him. He misses friends and family and has decided to return home to school which I think is a great plan.

Spring is here and we've started our tomato seeds and they've just begun to sprout! All of our outdoor flowers are starting to reach out of their winter homes soon to bloom and give us all what we need - a lot of color and beauty to go with warmer weather!

As Promised

A few pictures from the holidays! Jia has started her new Pre-School class and is now with the "big" kids! She was a bit apprehensive at first but now seems to be in the groove and adjusting wonderfully! Winter is plodding along and this week-end we're going out to get all kinds of pretty things to decorate for Valentine's Day! Hope you all are doing well. Terrell and I are working hard and Jia is thriving under much love and learning!

All is Wonderful - I'm Just Busy!

Sorry for lack of posts. I'll try my best to get some up this weekend along with some pictures of our wonderful Christmas! Don't want anyone to worry - we're all good, I'm just busy! Hope all is well. Check back soon!

More Fun Pictures!

Adding a few more pictures reflecting what has been going on around our house these days! With is being so bitterly cold outside (teens!) lately, we've been stuck indoors. While I remember loving those days full of old movies, blankets and the couch, Jia doesn't love these kinds of days so much! So she loves to ride her bike around the house and create general chaos around here. We wouldn't have it any other way (the chaos, I mean)! Jia is so very wonderful but I've said that many times before. She is smart and clever and funny and beautiful. Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Holidays!

Hi all! We're fulling embracing the holiday spirit around here! We've made sugar cookies, ginger bread houses (not yet decorated but made from scratch by Jia's fabulous daddy) and have the house fully decorated! How do we find the energy? Your guess is as good as mine! Hah. But it's been a delightful several weeks leading up to Christmas. Jia is very excited for Santa to come. She is beginning to understand a bit about how cool Santa is to bring gifts each year. It's very hard for her because she feels the excitement all around but doesn't yet fully grasp it all. Everyone here is great. Cousin Duncan is visiting with his family in IL and she misses him but knows he'll be back soon! We're all ramped up and ready for the holiday! Hope you are all well and enjoying your time with family and friends.

Lazy Holiday

We had a lazy, lolly gagging, fabulous holiday at the Drum house this year. We hosted Thanksgiving dinner for my parents, Duncan, T's mom and brother and of course, the star, Jia. Food was fabulous and the company more than fabulous. Jia took her Papa's hand at the end of dinner in order to make him some coffee. Jia has a little toy coffee maker that she adores so she delighted in making her Grandpa some after dinner coffee and then proceeded to come get me (still at the table not having any wine (hah)) to explain that her Grandpa had "made a mess"! I'm including some pictures from around the house these days including what the guys in my house do - watch pumpkin chuckin' while I try to get a little down time! Happy Thanksgiving to all and love to all!

We're Still Here!

Each month seems to go by with increasing speed. I look up and it's November? Really? Everyone is doing really well here in Jia land. Jia is growing, both physically and developmentally, at warp speed. She is thriving at school and we can just about understand every word she says these days! And boy, does she say alot of words these days! She is kind, loving, empathetic, demanding, exasperating and everything we could possibly ask for in a beautiful, sweet 3 1/2 year old! I'm including some pictures of various events over the past months. We've had birthdays (mine and the dads), pumpkin picking, Halloween and the busy life that accompanies a 2 working parent household! Jia's cousin Duncan is living with us now as he has moved to VA to start work, school and this phase of life! We're very happy to have extended family among us and Jia loves having her "Duncan" around to play with, taunt, fuss at and adore! I hope all is well with everyone. Happy Fall!

Some More Vacation Pictures

I'm adding some more pictures over the next couple of posts depicting our adventures. These are pictures from the beach. We visited beautiful gardens (same gardens MY parents dragged us to many, many years ago and now look what has happened - I'm hooked! What seemed like torture then has turned into a life long love of gardening - go mom and dad!) Hope you enjoy.

Beach and Boat Fun

We had a great family vacation at Myrtle Beach this summer! Unfortunately Jia was sick for most of our trip and we even had a dismal trip to the ER to check for strep and stomach virus. Yuck! But the good news is that all ended up well and we had so much wonderful family bonding time. That is the thing about vacation. It's just the family, like a warm and enveloping blanket for a whole week. Jia and her Daddy were best friends and the mom got some much needed (understatement) sun and pool time. Nothing like some vitamin D to boost the spirits.

This past weekend we tried a visit to the boat again. Our visit in the Spring didn't go so well since Jia was not quite ready but this most recent visit was a vast improvement. Jia is getting braver and more inquisitive by the day. She says such delightful things these days. While on the boat we were keeping her entertained by drawing pictures. I'd give the dad some ideas (a camel in the desert with a cactus) and he'd proceed to draw. Jia kept asking, "are you done yet Daddy?". When his art work took too long at one point, she said "focus Daddy,focus!". Ahhhh, my sweet Jia.

Where Oh Where Have We Been?

Having tons of late summer fun! We've had such a great time together as a family these past 6 weeks or so! I have lots to share and many, many pictures. But just getting back from a week at the beach and I'm a bit tired. Just wanted to let any readers we may have know that all is good and sorry for lack of posts! I'll get some up over the next week or so detailing our adventures!

Jia's Sunflower

For Mother's Day this year Jia surprised me with a great big "Happy Mudder's Day Mommy" squeal, a bear hug and a sloppy kiss. I'd never had a better day. Along with her dreamy greeting she presented me a gift she made at school. It included an organic pot with a Happy Mother's Day note from Jia that promised the delight of a sunflower. We arrived at home and T promptly planted the seed (snugly inside the organic pot)into a big container. It sat and sat and sat. T lovingly watered and fertilized. These pictures show the bounty of Jia's sweet Mother's Day gift oh so many months ago. Thank you sweet daughter. I love it now just and as I loved it then. The first picture is especially poignant for the mom. While all sunflowers may present in this fashion, I will attribute the heart to a higher power!