Beach Baby

Cadence enjoyed her first trip to the beach this week. She liked playing in the sand...




She even listened when I told her that she could not eat the sand!

Then she caught a few waves with Daddy!






She was even a good sport about our changing her on the beach in front of everyone.

Just after this photo was taken, we felt a rain drop and all of a sudden we were caught in a monsoon. Sorry I didn't get any photos but Cadence was a trooper about getting drenched and having to go home that way as we walked back to our house, 10 minutes away!

Watch out world!

We had a great 32 hour journey back to Asia. Cadence was wonderful and loved meeting all the new people. She really enjoys the attention she gets as the only white baby on the block and is quick to smile at her growing fan club.

Cadence is adjusting well to life in Asia. She loves drinking water from her new sippy cup in the heat and trying to sit up by herself. It won't be long before she is mobile!

Winter wonderland

Yesterday we drove to North Carolina with Jody's parents and we were delighted to see snow for the first time in 4 years!

Our past 3 Christmas seasons we have had really hot, sticky summer weather in Asia, so this was a treat!

We visited the Grove Park Inn

They were having a Gingerbread House contest and these were some of the entries:

Everything was edible...amazing craftsmanship!



The Grove Park Inn

Cadence loves her bath time...she is all smiles!

I celebrated my birthday with the Blantons at Maccoroni Grill...what a treat!

Cadence's first Christmas (of 3 this year)

What a wonderful thing to spend Christmas with our families for the first time in 4 years! For the past few years, we have gone to the beach for Christmas because it was too hot to stay inside. This year we are holding our breath and hoping for snow. Cadence is even practicing making snow angels!

She has all kinds of winter hats.

This past weekend we went to Athens, GA to spend Christmas with Jody's family. Cadence helped Jody pack...

until his bag got too heavy!

She had fun looking at all the lights with her Mae-Mae,

And her Grampuh.

I made my favorite Christmas treat...Chex mix! We cannot get these ingredients overseas so we made enough to share with friends.

Cadence helped open her gifts.

What a sweet memory of everyone together!

Mommy's Lil' Helper

Thanksgiving

We are so thankful for our families and the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with them for the first time in 4 years. We enjoyed it all: food, decorations, cold weather and fellowship.

Cadence has found her feet. Unfortunately, she has lost her teething ring in the process!

We had a wonderful time last week in the mountains of east Tennessee at a Bed and Breakfast.

This was the view from our bedroom.

What a wonderful time of R & R after so much travel.

This is the first time we have seen fall in 4 years! How creative is our God?

Cadence is a great traveler. Just put her in the baby seat and we are off...across the country to visit family and friends.

It was a privilege to introduce our little girl to Jordan's 90 year old Grandma Betty (mother's mom).