So long terrible two's and three's!

Despite all my efforts they went ahead and did it anyway ... the girls are now three and four! So, we are moving on to the terrific three's and the fabulous fours!
Always trying to be the optimist here :)

Seriously, where does the time go ?

The girls birthdays are on the 19th and the 20th but we felt rather than combine the celebration they needed to have a special day all to themselves.

Pei's day started with a picnic in the park followed by lots of swimming!

The girls are truly "girlie" girls but love any messes they can create with water :)

So, when I saw these dolls that you give a bottle full of water to (and you know the outcome) I knew that this was a must have item :)

Pei has been home 1 year in just a couple of weeks! She has truly become the most precious, giggling, snuggle bug ever!
BTW, Pei's favorite meal is cake and ice cream!

She thinks these two items are in a food group of their very own.

Make a wish my sweet beautiful girl!

She was so excited about her new bike!

Pei's love language is most definitely receiving gifts :)

Next is Ava's special day ... what a drama queen !

Make a wish birthday girl!

The "must have" barbie skates that might land me in the chiropractors office!

Yes, all birthday girls received the same presents! Everything with these two need to be matching but I will never be counting m&m's or Cheetos's to make sure they are equal ...Never!!!!
(I know never say never!)

Home three years in September, Ava has just blossomed over this past year. She has truly gone from a toddler to a beautiful little girl!

Happy birthday to my beautiful babies !

I am so blessed to be called your momma!

Look out Sports Illustrated!

Well the summer heat is definitely here and these two have a new uniform ... swimsuits!

I do believe that Pei (aka Ava's baby sister) is a bit taller than her older sis!

But despite any differences they might have they both share another obsession ... Cats !

So, when you are out shopping and Hello Kitty meets swimwear this momma can just do one thing....

just get out the checkbook!

Happy Monday to you all!

Happy Birthday Nick!

And in a blink of an eye Nick is 17 !

Where does the time go!!!! [ insert a long sigh]

I know you usually run from my camera and my blog :) But today is your birthday so I am going to write you a thank you card for all that you bring to my life.


~Thank you for being the first born and letting Mom experiment on you!!!!! Being an only child, I had zero experience with babies but you were aways such a trooper!

~Thank you for teaching me to be selfless. When they handed you to me wrapped up in that blue baby blanket I knew my life was no longer my own :)

~Thank you for being honest and trustworthy. You are going to make an awesome husband and father one day in the far ,far ,FAR future ;)


~Thank you for making my job easy. You are such a great kid! When you have been faced with a fork in the road you always choose the right way :)

~Thank you for opening your heart to Ava and Pei. Your ability to love with all your heart makes me so proud. BTW, Pei is completely taken by her biggest brother. You can make that little girl smile like no one else :)

~Thank you for stepping forward and helping when you see someone in need ,especially me.

~Thank you for just being you! As I watch you grow into a man I see so many wonderful qualities emerging. You bless my life everyday and I love you more than you will ever know . And never forget no matter how much bigger you are than me ...



YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY BABY!!!!!

I LOVE YOU !!!!!!!!

Forget Me Not Friday!

As summer vacation approaches ,we are all making some great plans to spend time with our children. I can not help but think about some of these children that will age out during our summer holidays. Forever losing their chance at knowing the love of a family!
Help spread the word about all of these beautiful kids!
Do not ever under estimate the power of one person!
Get involved!



Stunning Sophia 6/23/1997

CHD

Makayla 8/17/1997

CP; ages out Aug 2011!
Amazing little girl that has adapted with her SN and uses her feet!

Boy 7/1/1997

Postoperative VSD repair

Posing as if to say "Choose me" :(

Letting go

Some say there are five not seven stages of grief. I am not really sure who is correct because when you are living it there is no clear cut pattern that grief follows . I gave up trying to count them in fact ,I decided to just follow her lead.

I have learned that when people ask how Pei is adjusting and I say "great" I am setting myself up for another journey into the trenches of grief.

Or maybe we thought that she had moved on only to be reminded that in fact she was still silently struggling .

Or just maybe I had just begun to accept some of this as her personality.

Do not get me wrong Pei has an infectious giggle and a smile that can just light up a room . But there also is a serious side that is never far from the surface.

But we have seen a change recently.

I mean a drastic change.

We have seen less of this girl.

In fact, we have not see this girl at all.

But instead I would like to introduce you to who has taken her place.

A little girl who seems lost no more,

A little girl who radiates confidence and happiness.

A little girl who can not contain or hide her smile .

Grief is a complicated and often misunderstood emotion. Pei is a master at stonewalling. Behind that wall was fear, anger and sadness. That is a large load for such small shoulders to bear.

I realized that I could not force this process ,it had to be at her own pace.

But it appears that the walls have come down ...

and unveiled is the most amazing little girl just wanting to be loved ,accepted and belong.

This is the beautiful face of letting go

... and man it is beautiful!

Welcome to our new hangout!

To say that the girls LOVE the sandbox is an understatement! So, we decided to upgrade the little turtle sandbox that sat on the patio. After getting an umbrella ,a couple of chairs and 2,000 lbs of sand ... they have their own little paradise!

I think the girls are pretty pleased with the results!

But I do not think everyone likes the sandbox !

Look at that face!

Maybe I should have titled this post "Mischief Makers".

Forget Me Not Friday!

Every Friday I am focusing on children that are dangerously close to aging out in China. Once they turn 14 their chance to be loved and cherished by a family is gone.




Girl 10/1997

birthmarks, nevus
contact WACAP


Ages out in July (DOB July 1997)

repaired CL/CP; blood disorder

contact WACAP

Athletic girl 9/23/1998

Healthy - positive for HepB

Healthy Girl! Her special need is her age :(

~8-1997~ contact GWCA

This is just a beautiful group of girls !!!!! Please pass the word on about these precious kids and help them not be forgotten!!!!

Forget Me Not Friday!

I am back again with a few more precious children to add to last weeks list. If you have not seen the girls from last Friday that are still waiting scroll down to take a look.

All of these kids are dangerously close to "aging out" in China. When they reach the ripe old age of 14 their chances of ever knowing the love of a family are gone. Forever. At 14, they are deemed unadoptable and are considered "unlucky" in their society with their orphan status.

So please pass the word on about these sweet kids !

Beautiful girl ! 12/10/1998
cl lip palate, Hep B

I love this girl! Why is she still waiting!!!!!!

Boy albinism 9/14/1998
He wants a family! :(

His future is so grim if he does not find a family.


Beautiful Jennie! - Girl -Hep B -8/12/1998

CHY Fall 1997

ages out fall 1997

So precious !!!!!!

For info on any of these children contact Annie: 5puppies@comcast.net

"Forget Me Not" Friday!

This is my first Friday to join in to advocate for some wonderful waiting children who are dangerously close to aging out . When each of these children turn 14 they will loose their chance of ever knowing the love of a family.
As the mother of a soon to be 17 year old ,I could not even imagine him out and on his own in this world.
The girls posted below all age out this summer ! This means they have just weeks to find families. Please feel free to copy any or all of the photos and help spread the word .Just maybe someone will see their daughter and bring one of these sweet girls home.

Girl, outgoing 8/7/1997

repaired cl lip,cleft palate

Precious girl 8/1/1997

seizure free epilepsy

Girl DOB Summer 1997, deaf and mute

for more info contact Annie 5puppies@comcast.net

Girl DOB: Summer 1997, deaf and mute

for more info Annie 5puppies@comcast.net

Easter!

Here are some random Easter pics!

Ava was the winner of the golden egg!
Pei did not care about the golden egg ...she just wanted chocolate :)

All wired up on chocolate!

Wishing all a blessed Easter!