We're Home!!!!

Hello Everybody!

We are really sorry about not posting... we forgot to say this but no blogging sites are allowed in China. China was amazing and we all had a great time. Jake is a happy energetic 5 year old who loves to try to say English words. Our trip started at 8:00 in the morning on Christmas Eve when our flight took off for Seattle. From Seattle we flew to Tokyo, and then on to Beijing. We got to our hotel at 12:01 in the morning on the 26th. In Beijing we spent a day sightseeing at the Great Wall and Summer Palace. The next day we toured the Olympic Village before driving to the airport. At the airport we flew to Chongqing, and had barely an hour before going down to the lobby where Jacob was waiting for us. He seemed very quiet at first but then as we stayed down longer he grew more and more used to us and grew more and more energetic. When we got to the room he immediately started jumping around the room and pretty much going crazy. Our family spent the next few days in our room and exploring Chongqing, the biggest city in China. We had met another family who spoke fluent Chinese, and was adopting a eight year old girl named Sophie. So the last night in Chongqing we went out to dinner together and Jake and Sophie seemed to like each other. Then it was time to leave Chongqing to fly to Guangzhou. Jake was very excited and scared for his first airplane ride and was very anxious to get on the plane. After a short plane ride we arrived in Guangzhou and met the other babies and one of the new families. When our bus came we drove to our hotel, The Asia International, and had a few hours to settle down and unpack before going down to our group dinner. The dinner was good and we celebrated little baby Ava's 1st birthday. We went to Shamien Island the next day for a physical and 6 shots! Poor Jake!! The entire time he got them he was yelling "be gentle, be gentle!" We went back to the island the next day for shopping and lunch at Lucy's! We did a lot of sight seeing over the next few days and made friends with one of the guys who ran a shop on Shamien Island, Jack! We visited an outdoor exercise park one day!! It was awesome! On Thursday, the 7th, We drove to Hong Kong for the night. We flew out early the next morning to Tokyo. Then on to Detroit from Tokyo. We were finally home!! It was so cool to see the sign that said welcome to America! The VandenBrinks had decorated our house with streamers and a sign that said 'Welcome Home Yacullo Family' in Chinese! It took us all a while to get over our jet lag. Jake has transitioned into his new life very nicely. He is such a sweetie but he also loves to tease his sisters. Every morning he makes his own bed perfectly and it has got Ryan doing the same. (minus perfectly.) He is going to start kindergarten at Moorsbridge next month and we are hoping that will improve his English. We all love him so much and hope he will soon love us just as much back. We will post pictures soon!



With Love,
Sammy
and
Casey

Getting ready to go to China

Hey guys!! sorry I haven't posted in forever!!! We have been so busy getting ready for China!! Only three more days!! On saturday we celebrated our Christmas because we are leaving the 24th. It was really fun! My grandparents came today to help us celebrate Christmas. Yesterday we all ordered t-shirts for gotcha day. Anna, Ryan, and I all got I heart jake shirts; Casey got a Jie Jie(big sister), and my mom got a ma ma (mom) shirt. They will get here on tuesday!! I am soooo excited!! Merry Christmas!!

With Love,
Sammy<3

We're Going to China!!

We got our TA (travel approval) yesterday!! We were so excited that we forgot it post about it!

This means that we will be traveling to China on Christmas Eve! With this date we will probably be with Jake on the 28th! Our family(minus Jake) will spend Christmas on a plane. Not many people can say that. So please keep us in your prayers as we prepare to bring our little brother home! Merry Christmas!

With Love,

Sammy<3

and

Casey

Thanksgiving!!

We met our cousins and grandparents in Lexington,Kentucky for Thanksgiving. We stayed in a hotel for six days. We had Thanksgiving dinner in a conference room. It was different. On Thanksgiving night some of us went to see The Blind Side. It was sooooooo good!! We didn't go shopping on black friday but we did go to a Christmas parade. On friday night from 7:30 to 12:30 the electricity was off. It was so creepy. We had to celebrate Christmas in the dark!! On saturday we hung out and went to see New Moon again with Mycah and Sissy. We also took some very unfortunate family pictures! All of the older cousins(minus Sissy) watched Get Smart in the hotel lobby. The people at the hotel let us use the lobby like a living room the whole week. I had a lot of fun playing with Lila and Kaleb and Quin and Hunter. They are all so cute!!





Ryan and Quin doing the laundry


Our crazy family picture


The Murdocks


Matt, Nell, Hunter


Us


Lila Looloo


The kids table


Thanksgiving dinner


Kaleb and I


Kaleb doing what he loves-watching tv


Our very unfortunate family picture


Kaleb watching tv again


Lila playing basketball


Kaleb shooting


The conference room where we had Thanksgiving dinner


Hunter!!


Mom and Casey setting up the chocolate fountain




Eating the chocolate fountain


The little cousins (minus Hunter)


Anna, Lila, and I


With Love,
Sammy<3

Dressing Up

Marissa came over today and we dressed up. We decided to make the craziest outfits we could. Casey went first and then me, Marissa wouldn't do it. Casey's outfit was the best.(if I do say so myself.) Here are some pictures of the finished products.

The lovely Casey

We thought the barney

mask was the perfect touch

Casey and Marissa

My gorgeous outfit

The lion hair kept falling off

With Love,

Sammy<3

Trick-or-Treating

 Hi! Sorry this is really late.): I wish I could have put this out sooner.  Anna, Casey, and Ryan went trick-or-treating but I stayed at home to pass out candy.  They went out with Ryan's friend Riley and the VandenBrinks.  They had a lot of fun!!

                                                 My little princess

                                                   My big princess

                                                          All the trick-or-treaters

                                                Sorting the candy

                                                    With Love,

                                                            Sammy<3