Happy Holidays to all our friends and family!!

Here is the Ringelberg 2012 update:

Tim is still at Trans Ova Genetics and enjoying his job as Inventory and Purchasing Manager.  It the company had a bang-up good year so job security is good right now! J  He is currently enjoying watching the boys in Hockey and Band.

Kari is still at the Orange City Library and loves being part-time so she can be home more.  Tim and Kari are the Team Managers for Zach’s hockey team which keeps them out of trouble from October to March.  Kari also gets in some reading time, a little sewing and lots of brain activity keeping tabs on Lexi.  With the boys’ schedules and keeping Lexi entertained, there is never a dull moment around here.

Chris will be turning 16 on Christmas day – where has the time gone?!?!?! He is having a good time in his sophomore year and has gotten involved with the Pep Band recently.  Chris is looking forward to the Marching Band’s trip to Pasadena in a couple of weeks to perform in the 124^th Tournament of Roses Parade!! Watch for him in the Pride of the Dutchmen Band to be marching in WOODEN SHOES!  It will be the longest, most exciting 6 miles of his life! J  Chris decided to “retire” from hockey and get more involved with school and band this year and it is treating him well so far.  His hockey team last year finished really well and going out on a high note is always good! J Chris continues to enjoy creating with Lego (he designs guns modeled after real ones), 3-D origami (pictured at left), drawing, and watching movies/tv series.

Zach – what can I say about Z?  Zach is in 8^th grade this year and looks like he should be in High School.  Both boys are about 5’11” (almost 6 foot –YIKES!) and Zach is growing a beard!! Yes, that is right (hard to see in pics but it is there)! Zach did give in to his friends and joined football this fall.  He had a blast and will continue next year as a freshman. He is now in full hockey swing as one of the goalies for his Bantam level team.  He continues to hate school, but we love that he doesn’t let that interfere with his grades. J Z also loves to online game with friends as well as watch movies and (his most favorite pastime) EAT!

Now to Miss Lexi!  Lex has grown a lot and keeps astounding us all with her 3-year-old intellect!  She has almost completely mastered potty-training (though not early enough to make it into preschool), knows colors, shapes and counts to 10 on her fingers by herself.  Lexi continues to give much love to her stuffed hedgehogs and Snoopys, has developed a love for our cat, Latte (who is fine, by the way – thanks for asking) and LOVES to read!!  Her new interests this year have included Batman, Spiderman, and LarryBoy!  (yes, she has brothers, but they didn’t influence this!) Lexi readily rejects all Hello Kitty and Dora as well as Disney Princesses.  Pray for Kari as she is still hoping for that little girl she has always dreamed of! J Lexi has developed a love for singing as well and will gladly sing “The Lord’s Army”, “Jesus Loves Me” and many others if you ask – though I warn you, she isn’t always in tune. 

That about sums it up! We pray the New Year brings peace and happiness to you all!

 Merry Christmas!

Tim, Kari, Chris,

Zach and Lexi

 

Miss Lexi - the singer (Sept 2011)

I know I haven't published anything in a LONGGGGG time, but here is a little tidbit from Miss Lexi.  She has come a long way from last year when we got her home.  Lexi talks A LOT! and is such a mimic.  Some of her favorite sayings: "By the way mom.."  "It's alright, honeybear..." "You kidding me?!?!?" "Not again!" and there are many more.  I have been told that she is quite entertaining at church - as we are trying to contain her in the row, everyone else enjoys watching her dance in the aisle during worship.  She loves to greet and has even extended that to our shopping trips to the gorcery store - greeting everyone with a handshake and a cheery "Good morning!".  Lexi has not ceased to keep us entertained! As you can see - there are no glasses - she just won't wear them anymore! Lexi adores her brothers still and has even developed a bit of a relationship with the cat (he may define it differently than she does though).

 We have not gone through all this easily - there have been many ups and downs over the last year and we praise God everytime we get through a rough spell.  Sleeping issues still arise here and there as well as behavior troubles are still present.  So to all our fellow adoption parents - we did NOT get off easy with this one! :)

Enjoy these little videos and hearing her little voice - I am sure she had changed "just a little".

Lexi singing her version of Zaccheus.  She usually does a lot better with the hand motions!

Lexi doing "Airplane" from Wiggles and Giggles class:

Airplanes fly in the sky- Zoom zoom

Flying high, flying low

Round and round they go

Shhhh! I think I hear one...

ZOOM!

Yes, FINALLY!

I told someone when I created this blog that I would not be very good at keeping this up, and, true to my word, I am not!  I apologize!  I am including a little video of Miss Alexis singing her favorite little song (the only one she currently knows): Row, Row, Row Your Boat.  Enjoy!  Sorry it is sideways - I can't figure out how to turn it and get it saved that way! :}

First day of school (for boys)

In Chris' size 9s

Now on to some updates!  We have had quite the summer starting with the flooding and then trying to get that mess fixed.  The boys are still sleeping in the living room now 3 months later and they are sooooo anxious for their rooms.  Besides sleeping on the sofa or bed (we put a twin in the living room and they alternate), I think they just want their own space.  Chris and Zach have been awesome about this "living arrangement" and I know it can't be easy with a new sister in the mix!  Lexi, I think, has loved having them at her disposal for the summer and she misses them while they are at school.  What a day that was!  The boys disappear for the better part of the day and she's stuck home with mom!  Just after the boys started back to the Middle School, I quit one of my jobs.  As hard as it was, I know it will be great for both Lexi and me.  I quit the paint store and am now just working at the library.  I am able to work more evenings and less daytime hours to be home with her and so far I am really enjoying it.  By the time I reach my actual goal of stay-at-home mom she'll be starting school and the boys will be graduating!  UGH!  Oh well, baby steps.  Lexi and I have gotten into somewhat of a routine and that is good.  I love having my laundry and dishes done and she is quite the helper!  She is a total girl and LOVES shoes.  We change them at least 4 times a morning and they get placed EVERYWHERE around the house.  And if she's bored looking at her shoes, on she goes to the pile of the boys' shoes or she'll tackle my closet and out come my and Tim's shoes.  According to Lexi, shoes look great on the dining room chairs, in the boys bed, and on the shelves in the living room.  I even found one in the pantry!  What a decorator!!

In July we had Lexi dedicated on July 25 which would have been her sister's 10th birthday. It was kind of bittersweet as we dedicated Lexi in person and in our hearts were dedicating Danielle, too.  We hadn't had her dedicated before she died and even though we know she's been in our Lord's care all this time - it seemed fitting to do both girls. 

Alexis has been growing in size and speed these past few months, learning to "dance", sing (as you heard), and speak some words.  She now says "Up!" all the time as well as "Hi", will occasionally say "dadda", "Bye", and "no".  We are still trying to get her to say the boys' names and they come out sounding quite interesting!  I guess "Chris" and "Zach" will come later.  I am still not hearing "mom" or "momma", but am trying to be patient as many other words may make themselves heard before them.  Lexi has cut more teeth which were not a lot of fun for any of us, is eating a variety of food and shares her mom's sweet tooth.  This picture shows her in a rocking chair I was given about her age.  It has seen many years - and is in better shape than its owner! I wanted to put this in for my grandma to see as she and my grandpa gave it to me.

As you can see, Lexi doesn't have her glasses on in all the pics - they are off more than on and whoever came up the idea of having a 1+ year old in glasses is truly crazy!  We fight (and fight and fight) about having them on and I inwardly groan every time I hear someone exclaim, "she seems to be keeping them on good!"  Not the case at all, as I and the boys can attest, as well as the dear women at Family Eye Care who adjust Lexi's glasses on a near weekly basis! :)  Oh, well, we go to see the eye specialist in Oct. to get an update on her vision and any next steps to take.  

I don't know what else to report.  The basement should be finished in the next couple of weeks, Chris starts hockey on Oct 12, and Chris marches this weekend in a parade for band.  Everyone seems to be staying healthy, jobs are good, and school has started well for the boys.  Lexi seems to wear us out daily with all her energy, but her smiles, laughs, and funny little quirks are all worth it!!  Enjoy the fall everyone!

Oops - it's been too long!

Sorry, I have to apologize for not keeping this up!  I had such good intentions when I started this; but, well you know how things can be with 3 kids in the house, one of them a one-year-old, and it being summer.  Enough excuses...

 Alexis has been growing so much in these few months we've had her home.  All the worrying I did after we first got back from China about "how are we going to do this?", "is she ever going to be happy?", and "what does our future hold?".  Well, it was all for nothing!  God has a plan and it is always good.  I am amazed at hoe quickly she has taken to our family and her surroundings, as well as how much she has advanced!  Lexi is walking by herself (mostly because we refuse to hold on to her anymore), starting to feed herself cereal (Cheerios type stuff), and has started to wave Hi and Goodbye to people and blow kisses.  I can't believe this was the same little peanut that we received in Chengdu 3 months ago who cried, wouldn't eat much, and wouldn't sleep unless it was with us.  Lexi LOVES taking a bath now and will try to climb in the tub herself at various times during the day.  Our "new addition" has been her glasses.  The doctor mostly wants them to protect her right/good eye and they are slightly  magnified.  I don't know how much they make her see better with how much she TAKES THEM OFF!  It is a source of frustration - as it should be with an 18-month old, right?!?  She looks too darn cute in them - I was really upset when she first got them, wondering if I'd ever really like them on her; but they've grown on me and I love them - even as I put them back on repeatedly throughout the day!

Lexi has been enjoying her time with her babysitter on Wed. and Fri mornings going to the park and "hanging out".  But my biggest joy is her smile when I get home and the fact that she "wants Mom"!  I know many struggle with getting the bond and the adjustment down with an adopted child and we've been so blessed to have it work so well.  I get asked all the time how the adjustment is coming along and it feels like we are beyond that stage and really just dealing with her at her age and having a pre-toddler in the house.  She is definitely a stubborn one and my first child to ever have a real temper tantrum (we applauded when she finished - was that wrong?). 

Meeting cousin Alysa!

For the 4th of July we went to Michigan and had a great time visiting our family and friends.  I decided to have a "meet and greet" for Lexi for everyone at the zoo and God couldn't have blessed us with a more perfect day!  You know when you picture where you want to be, what weather you'd like, and how it should happen - IT DID!!  I rarely ever have that happen and I really feel like God answered that prayer.  We had a SUPER time with everyone that came - Lexi met relatives, friends of the family, my friends from when we lived there, and I had the advantage of visiting with everyone that I haven't seen in a long time (thanks, Lexi, for bringing them out!).  Tim's sister and her family were able to make it and we were able see our new niece/cousin Alysa who was born the day we got our traveling papers!  It was awesome that our China traveling buddies, the Dugans, were able to make it and we could see Riley and them again!  She has grown and is doing so well!  There were many that we couldn't see and we are sorry we missed you - another time, I guess!!

After we visited with everyone, we did go through the zoo. Lexi seemed intrigued with many of the animals and even got to pet a skink!  She really liked that - more so than petting any of her stuffed animals!

 The rest of the weekend was spent with Grandma and Grandpa getting as much Lexi-time as possible.  It is hard living so far away!

The rest of the summer is just work
and try to stay cool. The boys have
been awesome with babysitting Lexi on a couple afternoons a week (they don't always enjoy it, but they are great big brothers).  We are currently trying to price out a new furnace and possible air conditioner :(.  Due to some flooding in the basement the end of June, we are having to redo a whole half of the basement, including the boys bedroom and rec room; the furnace was rusting out from water damage.  They are now sleeping on the living room sofa and love seat until their bedroom is "rebuilt".  It has been a bit rough all living on one floor of this ranch home, but we are making due.  Zach and Chris have been pretty good about playing with Lexi and putting up with her "giving tours" of the house (her holding our fingers while she learns to walk) when they have no place to escape.  I have the feeling once their bedrooms are done, we won't see much of them for awhile!

getting Chris tummy!

Well that about brings you up to date on all that is "Ringelberg" right now.  Tim has been busy with work, I have been working both jobs this summer, and the boys worked/volunteered at the library for Summer Reading.  We are excited that this Sunday, July 25, will be Lexi's Baby Dedication at church. Tim and I wanted to do it this Sun. as it is Danielle's birthday.  She would have been 10 years old. (For those of you who don't know, Danie, our daughter, died in a car accident when she was 6 months old.)  We thought it would be neat as it is Lexi's half birthday the day before; just like her actual birthday is the day before the accident in January, Danie's half birthday - isn't it just like God to put things like this together!  We can celebrate the birthdays knowing that Danie is celebrating in heaven.

Let me know what you think, or any questions you have for the family!  I look forward to your responses!!

A note from Lexi

Hi all!

I wanted to let you know how I think things are going: I am loving my new home - the boys are entertaining to say the least and I am getting them wrapped around my fingers (and I thought my dad was easy!!), the cat is a curious creature who seems to want to be around me, buy when I go to pet him - he takes off!  I will just continue to torture him by playing with HIS toys instead of my own! :)  Mom and Dad are doing pretty good with getting to know my likes and dislikes.  I didn't know I was that hard to figure out, but I guess the different country thing is what they blame.  Here are some of my likes and dislikes that I have discovered since being in America:

Likes:  empty water bottles (I hit everything with them and mom doesn't seem to mind too much -until I go after the breakable stuff)
playing cards with Chris (52 pick-up is my fave!)
anything that crinkles (travel tissue packages, magazines, bags of chips mom puts next to me in the grocery cart, you get the picture)
brownies!! , noodles (especially in lasagna and alfredo), and music (any type - the louder the better I say!)

Dislikes: an IV in my hand, not getting fed fast enough (when I'm hungry there should be no hesitation!), being told "NO!" (that word stinks!), milk, poopy diapers while taking a nap (they make me cry = and people respond! :))   and green vegetables.

The boys say I talk too much, but they have no idea of my true potential.  They will just  have to wait and see! I am getting used to the cage they put me in to sleep during the day and night (it isn't so bad, but they don't need to know that: SHHH!)
I love getting to know new people and if they have fun jewelry, I am much more apt to go to you.

Mom and Dad have dragged me to a few of these doctor people and I am not a big fan.  They poke and prod and I find it all annoying.  They seem nice enough until they look up your nose, in your ears, or are putting a needle in you somewhere - SHEESH! Mom and Dad just look relieved every time we leave the doctor people - I guess I am ok then with my funny eye and bad teeth.  "It's all good!" as my Aunt Becky would say.

I hope that gives you a little sample on how I'm adjusting - mom and dad say I'm doing great and I think so too!  Life here isn't too bad. Until another time....