Fun with the Alsept's

Hi everyone. We haven't posted for awhile, but life at the Alept's is good. We have been playing around inside and out. The girls have decided they like to help mommy cook which is quite the site. They always want to be my helpers. We have been playing outside some since we have not had this much snow in a long time. We are supposed to get almost ten inches with this last storm. It is still snowing as I type this. The girls love to be pulled around outside in the sled. We had our twelve month follow-up with our social worker yesterday which completes the papertrail with Alexa's adoption. Yeh!!! We are finally done with the paperchase. We just cannot believe she has been with us for almost a year already. Boy does time fly when you are having fun!!! That statement is sooooo true. We just cannot imagine our lives being any different. The more hectic and crazy the better. Love, Lisa

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Alexa hamming it up with Lei, the owner of the Empire Chinese Buffet.

The girls didn't want much to do with having pictures taken after getting their treat bags. It was all candy at that point.

Just wanted to take some time to wish all of our followers a "Happy Chinese New Year". We attended our annual party at the local Chinese buffet here in town this evening. The girls had a great time. Aleia loves to dress up in her chinese outfits. This was Alexa's first party of sorts and she had a ball watching everyone and running around too.

The other photos are just some recents ones I have taken while clowning around here at the house. The girls love to play outside in the snow. I think they would stay outside all day if you would let them. We have been doing a little sled riding down our neighbors hill each time we get some snow. The girls just laugh and laugh. They also love for me to pull them around in the sled all over the yard. Before that day was all over, the three of us were playing on the slide, the glider, and the swings in the backyard. If you were a neighbor watching us, you probably got a hoot out of it. Have a great day. Lisa

2007 comes to a close.

The girls posing with their stockings.
A present from Daddy. Our girl loves bulldozers.

This Christmas thing is very tiring.
Alexa getting her first haircut.

Freckles the Clown. Notice that Alexa wasn't real sure about him.

The girls playing with their babydolls stroller.

Well, where do we begin. 2007 has been such a wonderful year. Another trip half way across the world to bring home another "china doll". Two sisters forming a bond that we hope they will always share. And finally a family who feels sooooo complete. Bob and I sit back and watch these girls everyday and thank God for blessing us with them. We laugh at them, laugh with them, and just are amazed how protective they are of each other in such a short time. We are looking forward to all of the fun things to share and all of the great times we will share in 2008 with our family. Love to all. Lisa

Happy Holidays from The Alsept's!!!

Our first Christmas photo of the girls together.
Can you smile and say cheese?
The girls having a heart to heart. Notice how intently Alexa is listening.

Hanging out with the Contini gals while cheering the "Buckeyes" on to victory over boo Michigan.
Aleia and Lili being silly at the preschool on pajama day. It was an extracurricular day when they talked about nighttime routines at school. The parents were invited too and we had a great time.
Aleia made her very own version of Llama, Llama, red pajama at school that day. Check out the title of Aleia's book. She picked the color purple because her mommy and nemaw love purple.
Alexa and Aleia with their first snowman. This of course was Alexa's first trip outside with the snow and she loved it. She wasn't real sure at first, but just kept saying ooohhh!! After playing for some time, the girls then did a little sled riding down our little hill. They both kept giggling. So cute.

We just want to wish each and everyone of you who read this blog often or occasionally a wonderful holiday. We hope everyone feels as blessed as we do. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love, The Alsept Family

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY ALEIA.

Aleia and her Princess cake. She was pretty proud of it.
The girls and some of their friends from Nemaw's grandma group.
Look at me guys!!
One of Aleia's favorite birthday gifts.
Kaitlin and Aleia enjoying some cake.
We celebrated Aleia's fourth birthday this past weekend. I just cannot believe our big girl is "4" already. It just seems like yesterday that we were bringing her home. We celebrated her special day with some friends and lots of family. Aleia received lots of nice things. She doesn't know what to play with next. Thanks to everyone who helped to celebrate with us. It was a great time had by all.

Happy Halloween

Here is a pumpkin just my size!!
Our very own "Princess"
What a pair.
The girls and their buddy Abby.
GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our first trick or treat experience with Alexa was great. We all had a ball. She loved it when people would put things into her pumpkin. And boy, she sure didn't like it if you tried to take something out. Wow!! The girls are having so much fun being sisters. Thanks for continuing to follow us in this amazing journey. I think it gets better everyday.

Family, friends, and lots of fun!!

Aliyah, Jack, Annie, Lili, and Aleia on the hayride.
Some of the kiddies from the pumpkin patch catching a Kodak moment.
The morning started out somewhat chilly. Brrr!!
Ella wants to be a big girl.

Aleia and her cousin Catie.
Alexa and her cousin Carlie.

Chillin out with some popsicles.
Aleia at school on pumpkin day.

We have had so much going on recently. Our cousins we here recently from South Carolina. They also have two little "china dolls" and the foursome had lots of fun playing. Their oldest daughter Catie is the little girl who Bob and I fell in love with initially in our adoption process. She is such a beautiful little girl. She is the one who got this whole thing started. Thanks again to the Ellisons. They recently went back to China for their second daughter also. Their youngest daughter and our youngest are one month apart. They are also from the same Jiangxi province. We also went to Aleia's preschool for a pumpkin day. We had so much fun reading books as a group, making our own books, and decorating our own pumpkins. All of the children really seemed to have a ball. And finally, our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with our friends. We did this yesterday and there were about thirty-four of us all together. We went on a hayride, picked out pumpkins in the field, took lots of group photos, and had a big lunch and lots of playtime. This is the third year in a row that we have done this at my parents house. It seems to get bigger and better with each passing year. Most of the kids crashed in the cars on the way home. Enjoy. Lisa