Happy Forever Family Day Ashlie!

Six years ago today our precious Ashlie was finally in our arms. I can't even say those words without tears. So tiny and vulnerable, she needed us as much as we needed her. Our lives were changed forever in that moment. The first picture here was taken at the orphanage before they left with the five babies for Nanchang. & the last picture was the photo of those five precious "babies" today, taken at China Camp!

My Little Cheerleaders

I heard some cheering for the Cardinals coming from the guest room (aka "the dolly room") and had to go check things out upstairs. Ashlie was up there leading her sissies in their cheer. So cute! Allie and Annie were perched on Lego bins, Allie wearing a gorgeous head covering and Annie was in semi-princess attire. Had to grab my camera. Catch Annie's wink in one photo.

A little time with Poppy

We had the time to run up to Indiana (for only one day!) this weekend and the girls really enjoyed seeing Poppy and Grandma Mary, Great Grandma German, and more relatives.

You know, our girls are such sweethearts. We didn't get there until almost 9:30 Friday night and they stayed up late visiting that night. They all three slept in their sleeping bags on the floor of our bedroom (!!!!!!), had a full day of visiting and playing on Saturday, and we drove home late Saturday night. (Got in just before 1:30). They were so worn out but we never heard any fussing or complaining. They slept all the way home, only waking up at our bathroom break stop. What little angels they are!

It was great seeing Rick's Dad and everyone again and we hope to make another trip up in a few months.

China Camp!

Dillon International, our agency for the three girls' adoptions, hosts an annual heritage camp for children from China (and siblings). I think they hosted 238 campers this year - WOW! This year Ashlie and Allie were both old enough to attend and they were beyond excited!! They got to spend priceless time with their friends and experience a little Chinese at the same time. When I asked what they liked best their answer was always "EVERYTHING!" They learned some Chinese songs and language, cooked dumplings, danced with umbrellas, fans and ribbons, learned a little Kung Fu and more. Annie got to hang out with her friend Alayna while big sissies were at camp.

For us parents, the best things about China Camp include spending time with many old friends, meeting friends that we've only talked with via the internet before, and then making new friends. & perhaps the very best thing of all is letting our children be surrounded by families that look just like ours, rather than being the conspicuous family that we usually are.

All five of the Guangchang girls in Ashlie's group were at camp and four of the five Zhangzhou girls in Allie's group were there, so we took advantage of the photo op. It's so special to see all the girls as they grow and change.

Many of the families stayed together at the Radisson hotel where they have an outdoor pool and an indoor water park. The girls LOVED it. In addition to camp, they swam or played at the splash park every day, plus we ate out with friends a lot. They wrapped up camp with a Chinese meal for the campers and their families and then the classes each performed for the parents. We came home, exhausted, Saturday evening.

Allie loved the camp experience so much that she woke up Saturday morning, the last day of camp, just sobbing. She cried and cried because it was the last day of camp and the last day at the hotel. It was hard for all the fun to come to an end, but we'll be back again next year!

4th of July

LOL, I know it's the 13th. But we've been a bit busy. I still wanted to share some pics of the girlies on the 4th. We celebrated with Mom and Dad here at the house for dinner, and then we headed over to their place to watch fireworks and enjoy yummy ice cream sundaes afterward. It was a very good day (and night).

Simple Pleasures

I am such a lucky mama.

After Kristi left, the heat wave hit. As I dragged the wading pool out of the shed I started dreaming, once again, of having a big back yard pool that we could really swim in. I started dreaming of the beach vacation that isn't happening this year. I resigned myself to spending summer days in the itty bitty pool in the hot, humid back yard. Sigh.

and then I saw the excitement in my girls faces as they watched their little pool fill with water. I declared it a "Back Yard Beach Day" and saw the excitement build even more. We drug out tons of beach towels and spread them all over the yard. Loaded their picnic table with bowls of fruit, cold drinks, peanut butter sandwiches, chips and packages of cookies. Lathered on the suntan lotion. Found the radio and turned on oldies music. Brought out books for the girls and put them on the shade towel, and chose one of the books that Chelle had sent me for the summer (The Beach House, I believe it was! Thanks Chelle!)

The girls played and played in their pool and I got to read my summer fiction. Heaven. They took breaks and ate, we read their books and we had a beautiful day. and then it hit me. That day was a gift. This may be our only summer that all our girls are young enough to still love their little pool, yet all old enough to play for hours and love what they're doing. It may not be so simple next summer. It may not be so simple a week from now.

So for now, I choose to spend each hot sunny day in the back yard with my blessings, and I choose to thank God for the gift of simple pleasures this summer.

Fun with Kristi!!

We love sittin' on the hill at the Cardinal games. It gives the girls room to move and play and have fun. They often do forward and backward rolls down the hill. Ashlie and Annie were showing me their sideplanks (??!!) at this game, and Allie was busy forever trying to catch moths. :-)

Still havin' fun with their signs from Grandma and Grandpa.

Ricky and Adam didn't bring flipflops to wear in the water so those rocks were a little sharp on their tender feet! We were laughing SO HARD at Ricky crossing the water like a little ol' man ~ every now and then he would throw his arms up like a bird in an attempt to keep his balance. I had tears running down my cheeks watching him and then we noticed that everyone on the bank was laughing just as hard!

Does Annie look ornery or what?

Allie was getting a little hot.

and she was trying shoot the minnows.

Ashlie was having fun staying cool in the water.

We were so lucky to have Kristi spend the weekend with us late June! We all loved having her here and packed the weekend full of fun. Somehow we managed to pack in a Cardinals ballgame and fireworks, wading and hiking at Roaring River State Park (thanks Kim and Brad!), Fun Acre miniature golf for Fathers Day and Andys Frozen Custard after golfing. We were busy and fun and we miss you Chichi!!