Lillie’s Birthday 17!!!!!

Lillie turned 17 this year. It is hard to know where the time went. It really seems like just yesterday we came home with her from China. Since then she has been such a wonderful child!  From when she was little she was always so good. Always listened to us, never fussed, was friendly and nice and helpful!  So many of our friends warned us about becoming parents warning that as a little child they would be a handful. We never saw those terrible days. As a teen, people warned us again. But overall she has been so good as a teen—smart, studious, musical, helpful, again always listening to us and generally very happy. She had a great birthday weekend, beginning with dinner at her favorite restaurant—Melting Pot!!  Then some birthday fun with friends at Panda Express and the laser bowling!  It was a lot of fun!!

Panda Express with friends—a nod to her Chinese lineage. 

Finally some bowling fun. She had great fun with her friends!!

One of the funnest parts of the night was singing happy

birthday. We got this cake where we put a baby picture of her on it. We remember when we took that picture of her like yesterday, in the hotel in China just hanging out!!

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas together!  On the Eve we made Hawaiian food. It was such a treat for us. We made everything but the squid luau, which we ordered from Highway Inn. Everything was just perfect and we are having a lot of leftovers in the next few days!!

The house was perfect!!  It had all the Christmas vibes!!

Christmas morning was festive as well. Lillie got some nice things. 

The best gift was Lillie’s sweet gift to us. She wrote out little cards, all homemade and folded intricately, with the twelve days of Christmas. On each card we’re things she was thankful for about us. Beginning with one thing through twelve. It was very thoughtful and made us feel that we are indeed lucky to have our little Lillie!  It was such a great Christmas!!

Christmas is music!!

We just love playing our music together during the Christmas season!  

Lille plays in her high school musical

About two months again, Lille was asked if she wanted to play in the pit orchestra of her high school musical!  Since then it has been such a learning experience. First of all she is the only first violin. There are a total of four string players and some band instruments. So they are totally vulnerable. And it was a lot of music to learn. And it was difficult. High registers, difficult time and key signatures and difficult rhythms. But did such a good job learning and practicing with the group. Last night was the parent night. The musical was so good. It was Little Women. The pit orchestra did an amazing job!! We were so impressed with the singers and the orchestra. They were amazing. 

Christmas is coming!!!

 We love Christmas. Can’t wait!!

All County Honors Orchestra 2021

Our Lillie was the concertmistress of the all county orchestra. We are so proud of her. She has worked so hard at her violin playing. She certainly deserves to be the concertmistress with all her hard work!!!!  The orchestra sounded so good  she was a real leader.

National Honor Society

We are lucky to have Lillie. She has always been so diligent in school. She is a natural leader, and service oriented. She is always where she is supposed to be and helpful. Tonight she was inducted into the National Honor Society. Only a few from her class were recognized with such an honor and Kim and I were so proud. We sure love her!!  

Homecoming

Lillie went to a homecoming dance with a good group of friends. Andrew,Lilly, Cassie, Jaeden, Nolan, Caleb and Lexi. We are glad she has a good group of friends. They had a lot of fun. After the dance they came over for some snacks and just to hang out. 

First Day of School Junior Year

Lillie is a junior!!  Can you believe it??  We are so proud of her. She is so smart and is a leader, musician and all around very good girl!  

Someone is learning to drive

Today we hit a super big milestone. Lillie got her learners permit and took her out for a drive. Well actually she took us out for a drive. Like anything she does, she made us so proud. She got a perfect score on the written driving exam and she did such a good job at the wheel. No jerking no excitable moments. Just slow cautious driving!!  She did a good job.