Benjamin aka Gong Gong aka Wild Child

One big event that happened recently was a trip to China. Stephanie, Chris, Lydia, John and Sondra all went to pick up Benjamin.

Here we are at the train station waiting for the Cliburns to get there. We were nervous that they were going to be late, but we are use to that when Stephanie is involved. (love you Stephanie!!)

Cliburn's arrive and are ready to go!

Thank goodness for fun suitcases to keep the kiddos happy!

The group (plus Cael) ready to leave for China.

Waiting for the train

Cael spotted it first and was so excited.

All Aboard....Cael was very sad he didn't get to go on the train with Grandma and Grandpa.

After 17 long days.....we traveled up to Chicago to welcome everyone back.

There they are!!!

Boy were they glad to be back on American soil.

Our first sight of Benjamin

Cael giving Benjamin the balloons he brought him.

Cael giving Grandpa some love!

Hanging out with Grandma (Sondra, how did you end up having to carry all my things?)

Here was our rental bus. Not as nice as the limo we picked Lydia up in, but much more comfortable.

We had a tired group on our hands.

It didn't take Benajmin and Cael long before they were playing together. They are going to be best friends before we know it.

John didn't last long....

He is so precious!

Lydia is going to be a great big sister.

The boys checking out the cat.

Finally...Lydia has her Benjamin!! (not sure she thinks it is such a good idea anymore to have a brother but she'll come around)

It's been such a long and frustrating road to get Benjamin and we are so glad to finally have him home and part of our family.

Cael & His Boots

If you have spent anytime around us you have seen Cael's yellow rain boots. He puts them on first thing in the morning and only takes them off to sleep and to take a bath. My favorite is when he wears them with his pj's. Way too cute for me.

And then when you throw Aunt Beth's camo hat into the mix....well you have a cute kid gone country.

And Bingo Was His Name O

A few weeks ago some us went to play Bingo. Oh my goodness did we have fun! Not the Bingo I am use to (we have some mighty funny stories, but they are not blog appropriate) and instead of saying BINGO the yell "Got It". Drives me crazy! I am determined to win just so I can yell BINGO.

Beka ready to go

Bingo is really about the snacks

What did Justin do before texting?? Seriously!

Beka and her famous puppy chow

So...you kind of had to be there, but Josh colored a piece of candy with his dopper and Steve ate it not knowing what happened. I seriously thought we were going to get kicked out because we were laughing so hard in the middle of a game.

Kim and some yummy puppy chow

These twizzlers would have been better if we were eating them while collecting money from our winnings. But then again, you would have to win to collect money.

What we do while we wait for the crazy people's game to get over.

Beka has doppers that smelled like fruit...Steve had to test them out. Although we are pretty sure others were doing this behind the Bingo hall, only they weren't smelling doppers.

We were a bunch of loser that night, but we sure did have fun!

And thanks to the Southards for watching Cael.