Beauty! 
Sydney was so stinkin' excited to go to Ashlyn's birthday party! 
Philip had fun even though he thought he was too old to hang out with 8 year olds! 
Birthday Girl! 
Hamming it up for the camera & friends. Monday, April 11, 2011
Ashlyn Grace turned 8!
Where did the time go? I can not believe that Ashers is 8! I think we celebrated her birthday for over a week (might get that from her mommy :)!). We had a wonderful party at an art store in our town with her close friends & siblings plus some other fun activities. We love you Ashlyn Grace!
Beauty!
Sydney was so stinkin' excited to go to Ashlyn's birthday party! 
Philip had fun even though he thought he was too old to hang out with 8 year olds!
Birthday Girl!
Hamming it up for the camera & friends.
Beauty! Sydney was so stinkin' excited to go to Ashlyn's birthday party! Philip had fun even though he thought he was too old to hang out with 8 year olds! Birthday Girl! Hamming it up for the camera & friends. 
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Update on our house
We are six weeks out from our house fire. The house is still not finished :(. We can see the end (sometimes it is very blurry) but it feels like this fire re-do is becoming never ending. Bright side--we are able to use our house like almost normal. The non bright side--not a lot of work going on at the Vinyard house!!!!! (please note my irritation by my exclamation marks!)
The next paragraphs will probably be boring to most--feel free to skip!:
What I'm loving about this "new" room--the wall color & flooring! PJ & I were planning on painting this room eventually so I already had a paint color picked out. I love the paint colors in the Pottery Barn magazine! Our contractor/guy in charge of our house suggested a brown glaze on top of the paint. LOVE IT!
I really like to have matching carpet when rooms meet up. Our living rooms adjoin each other. Insurance company only gave us a carpet allowance for the "fire" room & our master bedroom. We decided to use a wood tile (which really looks like wood but easier to clean) around the room & hallway and then have carpet in the middle of the room. I think it is worth it to spend extra money on a really great carpet pad!
We are hoping that our wood burning stove will be correctly installed this week & the rest of my clothes will be returned. But we have been thinking that for the last two weeks!
Not a great picture but you can see the room!
The next paragraphs will probably be boring to most--feel free to skip!:
What I'm loving about this "new" room--the wall color & flooring! PJ & I were planning on painting this room eventually so I already had a paint color picked out. I love the paint colors in the Pottery Barn magazine! Our contractor/guy in charge of our house suggested a brown glaze on top of the paint. LOVE IT!
I really like to have matching carpet when rooms meet up. Our living rooms adjoin each other. Insurance company only gave us a carpet allowance for the "fire" room & our master bedroom. We decided to use a wood tile (which really looks like wood but easier to clean) around the room & hallway and then have carpet in the middle of the room. I think it is worth it to spend extra money on a really great carpet pad!
We are hoping that our wood burning stove will be correctly installed this week & the rest of my clothes will be returned. But we have been thinking that for the last two weeks!
New wood burning stove & wood tile.
Not a great picture but you can see the room! Sunday, January 30, 2011
So we had a fire....
So we had a fire in our house a little over two weeks ago. Never thought anything like that would happen but it did! Thankfully, PJ was home with the kids when the fire started. PJ was able to get the kids out & nobody was harmed in any way.
The firemen were awesome! They said if you are going to have a house fire than this is the kind to have. The fire started in our woodburing stove in the family room & spread to the attic. Thank you to the firemen for saving our house! Also, thank you to our family & friends that have helped out (doing our smokey laundry, cleaning up right after the fire, neighbors taking our kids into their house, feeding us, keeping our kids, listening to me whine about not having clothes, loaning me clothes, texting, emailing, praying, keeping us sane, etc). Love you guys!
Also, thank you to the cleaning guys that made our house not smell like we had a fire! I really did not believe it was possible in the "fire" room. But we do not smell any smoke or anything from the fire right now.
I don't even remember taking this picture on my phone? This must of been right after I pulled up.
What the house looked like when we were able to come back in. PJ moved all of the furniture away from the fire when it broke out. We think all of it will be fine.
Right after the fire.
This is now being replaced!
Insulation from our attic!
I was not trying to be "cool" with this picture! I could only come in the rooms so far--so I just took random pictures.
New ceiling going up & smokey wood coming out! Will post new pictures when the room is complete. Probably about two weeks out for it to be complete.
The firemen were awesome! They said if you are going to have a house fire than this is the kind to have. The fire started in our woodburing stove in the family room & spread to the attic. Thank you to the firemen for saving our house! Also, thank you to our family & friends that have helped out (doing our smokey laundry, cleaning up right after the fire, neighbors taking our kids into their house, feeding us, keeping our kids, listening to me whine about not having clothes, loaning me clothes, texting, emailing, praying, keeping us sane, etc). Love you guys!
Also, thank you to the cleaning guys that made our house not smell like we had a fire! I really did not believe it was possible in the "fire" room. But we do not smell any smoke or anything from the fire right now.
I don't even remember taking this picture on my phone? This must of been right after I pulled up.
What the house looked like when we were able to come back in. PJ moved all of the furniture away from the fire when it broke out. We think all of it will be fine. 
Right after the fire.
This is now being replaced! 
Insulation from our attic! 
I was not trying to be "cool" with this picture! I could only come in the rooms so far--so I just took random pictures.
New ceiling going up & smokey wood coming out! Will post new pictures when the room is complete. Probably about two weeks out for it to be complete. Sunday, January 9, 2011
Prominent Pioneer
Philip was honored at our middle school for being a Prominent Pioneer during the first semester. The teachers select the students who excel in academics, behavior & general school conduct (returning homework, participating in classroom activities and actively engaging in the learning environment). This is Philip's first semester at the school so we are super proud of him!
"Tall Mountain"
We took the kids to the mountains right before Christmas. This was Sydney's first trip to Red River. She started calling it Tall Mountain! Sydney is not skiing this season but she tubed down the mountain & played in the snow. We love Red River & its family atmosphere. 
Ashlyn in her ski gear.
Fixing to tube--Sydney was very cold!
Hanging out with Philip while they wait their turn.
Back at our condo watching the snow fall.
Sydney has the best laugh & smile!
She just warms our heart!
Catching the snowflakes!
Ashlyn in her ski gear.
Fixing to tube--Sydney was very cold!
Hanging out with Philip while they wait their turn.
Back at our condo watching the snow fall. 
Sydney has the best laugh & smile!
She just warms our heart!
Catching the snowflakes!Christmas 2010
We had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas this year with our friends and family. Looking forward to a new year & what it brings for our family of 5. Happy New Year to everyone!
Ashlyn & I enjoying the fire (we do this almost every night in the winter!).
Sydney is still saying "Merry Christmas" to us!
Handsome Philip opening presents at one of our many celebrations.
Ashlyn Grace also opening presents.
Sydney Hope was really excited about Christmas this year!
Ashlyn & I enjoying the fire (we do this almost every night in the winter!).
Sydney is still saying "Merry Christmas" to us!
Handsome Philip opening presents at one of our many celebrations.
Ashlyn Grace also opening presents.
Sydney Hope was really excited about Christmas this year! We have so much to be thankful for.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
How love changes one little girl....
Gotcha Day. Pictures from this day break my heart. Sydney's eyes look so sad. 
Before Chinese New Year Celebration.
Love this smile!
Sydney loves the lake & swimming pool!
1st day of Mothers Day Out.
Sydney Hope--you have blessed our lives!What we were doing a year ago....
Hard to believe that this time last year we were freezing in Burrjing! These last 12 months have flown by. I have been looking back at pictures of the first few days with Sydney. She does not even look like the same child. Shows you what love can do for a child!
Freezing! But so excited to finally be in China!
This is my favorite picture that I took in China (obviously not included the ones of Sydney)
I pray that more people would take that leap of faith and adopt! And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. Matthew 18:5
Freezing! But so excited to finally be in China!This is my favorite picture that I took in China (obviously not included the ones of Sydney)Thinking about blowing it up or putting it on a canvas for the house.
Great Wall. Would love to come back here one day.
Awesome!
Great Wall. Would love to come back here one day.
Awesome!Friday, December 3, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
November Recap
Yup--I'm behind (in so many areas!!). I used to love to blog but it is becoming a chore. Need to fix that. We have become very boring which is fine but I do not have things to post about!!
Our 1 year anniversary with Sydney is coming up! So that should give me something to blog about!
Daddy's girl & Daddy at the Thanksgiving party at school
Pilgrim! Not so thrilled about the hat.
My adorable kids. God has blessed me. Love these kids like crazy!
Our 1 year anniversary with Sydney is coming up! So that should give me something to blog about!
Daddy's girl & Daddy at the Thanksgiving party at school
Pilgrim! Not so thrilled about the hat.
My adorable kids. God has blessed me. Love these kids like crazy!
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