December

Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Dec 31, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 13 View Album

Josie's Baptism

Josie was baptized on Sunday, December 29, 2002. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Dec 29, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 10 View Album

Sledding

Every Christmas, we take the kids sledding at the school near their grandparent's house. Location: Byron Center, MI Date: Dec 25, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 6 View Album

Christmas

Lots of yuletide festivities this year. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Dec 25, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 29 View Album

Paul Goes to France

I went to Nice on the French Rivera for meetings at the IBM lab there. Tough gig. Location: Nice, France Date: Dec 12, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 12 View Album

November

Leaves fell late this year. Here are some November highlights. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Nov 30, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 12 View Album

Thanksgiving

Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Nov 30, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 8 View Album

October

Here are some photos and movies from October, 2002. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Oct 31, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 19 View Album

More October

Here is another batch of photos from October, 2002. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Oct 31, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 18 View Album

September

Here are a few more photos of Josie's arrival and the two weeks following. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Sep 30, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 24 View Album

Picking Up Josie

If you haven't been keeping up... It all started in May when we found out about Josie. Then in June, Paul went to Korea for business and got to visit with Josie. In July, we received some more recent photos of Josie from the agency in Korea. Then in August, the day-to-day waiting started in earnest.'+ ' Finally on Septemeber 12, we got the call to come and pick her up! So now Paul and Bryant are going to Korea to pick up Josie! They leave on Tue-17-Sep and return on Tue-24-Sep. Each day of the trip, they will update this page and post new photos. So make sure to visit every day to see the latest! (latest photos will be at the bottom) Location: Seoul, Korea Date: Sep 26, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 127 View Album

School Starts

School started last week. Here are a few pictures from Summer's last days and the first week of school. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Sep 3, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 10 View Album

August

Here are some photos from our very busy August, 2002. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Aug 31, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 15 View Album

Hudsonville Fair

We made our annual pilgrimage to the Hudsonville Fair. Location: Hudsonville, MI Date: Aug 30, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 18 View Album

Michigan's Adventure

We spent a day at Michigan's Adventure amusement park in Muskegon, Michigan. Our friends Ben, Alison and Nancy (Meyer) Hopp joined us. Location: Muskegon, MI Date: Aug 22, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 7 View Album

July

Here are a few photos from July, 2002. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Jul 31, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 4 View Album

Northwest Vacation

We spent a week in Seattle and Portland on a summer vacation. Location: Seattle, WA Date: Jul 17, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 41 View Album

Josie Update

We received two new photos of Josie from Korea. Location: Seoul, Korea Date: Jul 7, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 2 View Album

June

Ah, June in Michigan. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Jun 30, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 7 View Album

Fishing

For three Fridays in a row in July, Grandpa took the boys fishing at Sandy Pines. Date: Jul 24, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 9 View Album

Paul Visits Josie

I will be going to Seoul, Korea on business on Sunday, June 9. I arrive Monday afternoon, Korea time (13 hours ahead of Michigan). I will be meeting Josie and her foster mother at Eastern Social Welfare Society. While I am there, I plan to post photos to this page, so keep checking back for updates starting Tuesday morning in North America. Location: Seoul, Korea Date: Jun 16, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 67 View Album

World Cup Soccer

Our last afternoon in Seoul, Brett and I had the opportunity to go to the USA vs. Poland World Cup soccer game in Daejeon, Korea. Location: Daejeon, Korea Date: Jun 14, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 15 View Album

Maria's Portrait

Maria recently had her portrait taken (age 3). Here are the proofs. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Jun 7, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 12 View Album

It's a Girl!

Today our adoption caseworker called and told us about our new baby girl. Josephine Carole Tong-Hee VanderLei was born on January 19, 2002. Tong-Hee Jeong was the Korean name given to her by the Korean adoption agency (not her birthmother). We will call her Josie. Now we wait anywhere from three to four months until Korea calls and tells us she is ready to travel. Then Dad and Bryant will go to Korea and bring her home. Location: Seoul, Korea Date: May 12, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 3 View Album

Maria Turns 3

On May 1, Maria celebrated her third birthday. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: May 1, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 18 View Album

April Wagon Ride

On a relatively warm day in April, the kids went for a wagon ride. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Apr 23, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 3 View Album

Spring Break in Arizona

Paul took the kids to Arizona for Spring Break. Location: Phoenix, AZ Date: Apr 13, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 38 View Album

Bryant Turns 7!

On April 10, Bryant celebrated his seventh birthday. Actually Bry had a big party at Craig's Cruisers, but we forgot the camera. Here are some photos of his celebration at home on the actual birth date. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Apr 10, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 2 View Album

Andy Turns 9!

On March 9, Andy celebrated his 9th birthday. Location: Grand Rapids, MI Date: Mar 9, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 4 View Album

Paul Goes to Korea

Paul recently went to Korea on business. Location: Seoul, Korea Date: Feb 22, 2002 Number of Photos in Album: 20 View Album