Merry Christmas to all...Santa is coming tonight!

It's Christmas Eve...I have so many amazing photos to upload but we have to go to bed so Santa can come and bring Halle-Grace some Christmas surprises! Here are a few pics from our family time tonight! Thanks to Jason for an excellent dinner!



The Turners

Nanny & Papa Gene with Hunter, Hannah & Halle-Grace
Jason & Hunter prepare dinner for all!

The stone of heaven...

Today I received my make-up order in the mail from my great friend Jamye Shaw. Now she can make a killer swimsuit (the best) and her make-up is flawless but today she had her own mascara running down my face!!!
She sent Halle-Grace a Christmas gift that holds SO much meaning! I am incredibly touched and I know someday when Halle-Grace is old enough to understand, she will be as well (and equally excited about the swimsuits..lol)
Halle-Grace can use the jade cross as a piece of jewelry or to hang on a ribbon as a bookmark in her bible. Here is more about this symbolic stone (keep in mind "Khanh" her given Vietnamese name means precious stone). God is cool, huh?
"The jade stone is very symbolic of the Asian culture and therefore holds a special meaning for Halle-Grace's culture...it is the stone of heaven, and signifies BEAUTY and SPIRITUALITY...it's strength and quality is 2nd only to diamonds. Today it remains a symbol of the good, the beautiful and the most PRECIOUS!!! Some even believe it brings good fortune and protection!"
Jamye and the entire Shaw family, thank you, we love you and Merry Christmas!

More fun photos of Miss Personality...Princess Halle-Grace
Playing dress-up again with mama!
Please daddy, look how cute I am!
What kind of caption goes with this??? She is full of surprises. A new trick from our little character...you know I didn't do this because I wouldn't allow a Halloween pacifier in sight at Christmas!!!

Happy Birthday Mamaw Devine

Mamaw Devine is 85 years young and today the family threw a SURPRISE party for her. She is one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet and her legacy is beautiful! She has 4 children, 8 grandchildren and currently 11 great-grandchildren...and more to come in the future! You can only imagine what the holidays are like at Mamaw Devine's house! 5 of the great-grandchildren were not with the family last Christmas so we are all excited about this Thursday! She had NO idea about the party and when she walked into the church fellowship hall...all she could do was cry! She is a GEM! HAPPY 85th Birthday!


"Happy Birthday to you Mamaw Devine"

Halle-Grace, Lizzy and Zoey


I sang to Aunt Amy but I went to sleep instead!?

Aunt Judy is too much fun...I cried for her!!! WHAT? You don't even cry for your mom or dad Halle-Grace!!

Ready for bed after too much partying!

OH NO mama has a new toy!

If you are logging on to the blog, you know I LOVE to take photos. Jason gave me my Christmas present early...a NEW CAMERA! Thank goodness he did because I have SO much to learn. It has more bells and whistles and it will take a lot of practice, reading and maybe a class or two!!! Here are some shots on "regular" settings. Madison, Halle-Grace and Jason will all be glad when I get the hang of it! LOL!
Thanks Jason, I LOVE IT!!!

A letter from Kay Kay & Papaw Ronnie

Halle-Grace received the most precious letter in the mail! Kay Kay and Papaw Ronnie, thank you! It is in her "storybook". I can't type too much or I start to cry! We love you all so much and Kay Kay feels and knows the magic and incredible blessing of adoption just like we do! We are incredibly blessed to have you in our lives and you better stay around forEVER!!!
WE LOVE YOU & THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Halle-Grace is 13 months old today!

WHY is time flying? Halle-Grace is AMAZING and just too much fun!
NEWS ALERT: FINALLY, someone Halle-Grace didn't show off for, didn't reach for, flirt with...SANTA!!! She DOES NOT like Santa Claus! Jason took her to spend the day with Nanny while he went Christmas shopping (Santa just happened to be at Nanny's school) but she wanted NOTHING to do with the jolly ole' man! If I had to put a bet on this deal...I would guess that Halle-Grace already knows the phrase "WHO NEEDS SANTA WHEN I HAVE NANNY"...and the rest of this family? Have you seen the way they all act? WOW, she is a blessed little girl!

Tonight we all had dinner with Jessica & Evan. It was great catching up and Halle-Grace was definitely back to her wild self! Jesse, I am sorry she flirted so much with Evan once we were back at our house! Jason really was jealous after witnessing all the SMITTEN! She knows he's in a band! LOL! Seriously, CONGRATS Evan on the awesome news...we will follow the music tour across the country, I bet your new fan, aka..Halle-Grace...will follow you and head up your fan club!


Log on to listen to Jesse!! www.jessicacampbellmusic.com

~Devine Christmas Card...a creation by Angela Shea Photography~

Angela Shea was the official photographer for Halle-Grace's 1st Birthday Bash and she also traveled to our home the weekend after the party for a photo shoot. WOW...she is an excellent photographer and we LOVE the photos of Halle-Grace. Angela is WONDERFUL with children and I highly recommend her to anyone who wants THE BEST!!!

She is planning on coming back in January for another shoot because the day she was here, the weather was not cooperating with us and she did not want to "just take photos" she wanted to take the BEST in the best lighting, etc. YES, she is that professional.

Photograpy by Angela Shea (visit and book her today)
www.angelasheaphotography.com

LOVE CHRISTMAS CARDS!

Nanny's cards..yes, I say cardS because she had two different ones printed...this one below and another with Hunter, Hannah & Halle-Grace in their Panther Gear!

AND...Kay Kay & Papaw Ronnie's Christmas card also features Hunter, Hannah & Halle-Grace...man these children are like celebrities to the grands. What would we do without you all??? Don't let us ever find out! The three monkeys SURE do love you all so much!!!
Jason & I just loved the photos of Halle-Grace in the Santa hat sitting in the gift box, so we ordered more Christmas cards...here's a peek at the card (I know, we DO have issues)!!!

I really love Christmas cards! This time of year is always exciting at the Devine Home. We LOVE checking the mail each afternoon! Christmas cards are just so exciting and anticipated! Here are some photos of the cards we have collected this year. Every year, I save all of the cards and compare them to the next year and so on...it is amazing to watch families grow...what a BLESSING! Our refrig. is always a bulletin board of Christmas cards and WE love it...

What list???

Mama told me "he's making a list and checking it twice...well I'll look and see for myself"

"AND, I'll add my name just in case"


Speaking of a list, Jason is on the "sick list". He has not been feeling well today! He never complains about feeling bad so I know he is feeling ROUGH! We hope & pray he is all better soon!

Peanut Butter Junction Doll

Rene, She loves her doll! The funniest thing...she can't understand why the pacifier doesn't work in her own mouth! She looks at it and then the baby doll...and vice-versa. She doesn't understand how magnets work just yet. Here are some pics for your friend who made Halle-Grace's beautiful baby doll!

The Jolly person in red came early?

No, that was Nanny wearing red and Aunt Suzie! Thank you both for helping make the outside of our home look so FESTIVE...and Halle-Grace's Christmas tree for her room is just adorable! Hannah, I hear you've selected a PINK tree for your room! NICE!


Nanny, I love my new big girl high chair!

Post-Placement visit

We had our first post-placement visit tonight and all went well. Halle-Grace entertained Lisa and it was neat to re-visit "the journey" to our tiny miracle as we talked about the trip, living in VN, etc.
It seems strange because Halle-Grace seems like she has ALWAYS been here...since day one! God had a definite plan and we remained faithful (even though it seemed impossible at times) and just look at the master's work!!! COOL, huh?
Earlier this week, I had an in-service with one of my accounts and I carry a brag book in my brief case...it was on the table...a new employee in the account asked if she could look at the pics. OF COURSE! I love to show off Little Miss Magic! She went on & on about how Halle-Grace has big eyes like her mom but looks JUST LIKE HER DAD!!! Actually, we hear that often, especially in public and even a few times in VN! I guess it just goes to show that the plan was in the works from the start...why do I say that...well, she may look like Jason but she ACTS just like her mom! POOR JASON...keep him in your prayers!
She is a sweet baby! So tiny, so funny!
This weekend, she is going to stay with Nanny on Saturday while Jason & I attend a Christmas party...but Nanny, you need to get my room ready too, we will also be staying!

Well visit

Today Jason took Halle-Grace to her well visit at the pediatrician's office. Jason is the BEST DAD EVER!!! Halle-Grace had 2 shots today and they did some blood work. During the visit, Jason was sending text/pictures to me...the one that stands out in my mind the most...she was looking at her bright pink band-aid and the caption read "she cackled at the nurse". She didn't even cry when they took blood! Heck, I was crying and I was in Seneca, SC working not getting stuck with needles!
The doctor says she is doing well and her blood work looks great. She is STILL 16 pounds(actually lost 2 ounces since last week when she was there for the croup...which by the way she no longer has) She eats very well and looks very healthy! She is in the 4th percentile of weight for her age but doc says don't be concerned. Like we have said many times, she is our TINY MIRACLE!

Thank God she is happy & healthy!