A New Look

This is just too cool -- my blog has a wonderful new look! My friend, Michelle, Day by Day recently got a new look on her blog and I decided it was about time for somthing spiffy myself. Since I am totally clueless about how to go about designing great blogs, I contacted Diana at Custom Blog Designs. I told her the colors and general style I wanted and sent her a photo of the girls to work around -- look at what she came up with!  I think it is absolutely gorgeous! Diana was so patient with all my silly novice blogger questions and guided me every step of the way. I highly recommend her if anyone is interested in a blog makeover.

SIX years ago today

SIX years ago today, June 4, 2002, Brian and I stepped foot in China for the very first time. We were expecting to spend a quiet evening resting and getting settled into our room at the Dolton Hotel in Changsha, Hunan. We would meet the rest of the families in our travel group and prepare for the next day when we would all receive our new baby daughters. Well our facilitator met us at the airport with the news that the schedule had changed and the babies would be brought to us at our hotel THAT evening! We were on our way to our facilitator's room around 4:30 for a briefing on how the process would go but were met in the hall by one of the moms saying "go get your cameras -- the babies are HERE!!" I held my first beautiful daughter, Abigayle Rose YuWei, a few short minutes after that.

Oh my, where has the time gone? My tiny little baby girl is now 6 and a half. She is a spirited dancer and a wonderful artist who can draw anything (her exact words!) She can hoola hoop like you wouldn't believe. And she is the absolute best big sister to Ellie, Annie and Maddie. Our “great rare treasure” is definitely a reflection of her perfectly chosen Chinese name.

A month from now we will travel to Longview, WA for our 6th Annual Spicy Girl Reunion. Abby is so excited to be with her special friends again. It is always so fun to see how all the girls have grown and spend time with the other families who shared that life-changing moment in China with us.

Happy Forever Family Day sweet Abby. Mommy and Daddy love you so very very much!!

Abby's referral photo

Finally in our arms!!

Two years old - Chinese New Year

Three years old and enjoying the beach in Hawaii

Five years old -- growing up way too fast!

Our beautiful free spirit

Abigayle Rose YuWei -- our "Great Rare Treasure"

Happy Birthday Annie!

Today is Miss Annie's 4th Birthday! Today is also the one year anniversary of our Forever Family Day! We celebrated with all the special things that our little girl loves to do. She got to pick out her favorite meals all day long -- chocolate chip granola bars and bananas for breakfast, ramen noodles and strawberries for lunch, and pepperoni pizza and grapes for dinner. After lunch and opening presents, we went to Chuck E. Cheese to play games. This evening all the girls got to take a bubble bath in mom and dad's big jacuzzi tub, followed by manicures and dressing up as "fashion girls". As our evening treat -- pink and white mini-cupcakes and singing Happy Birthday to Princess Annie. She had a smile a mile wide on her face all day long. Some of you may remember that Annie's very first English words were "happy birthday" since we celebrated her 3rd birthday in Nanchang, China. We sang to her over and over and over. She still loves that song. Happy Birthday "Peanut", and happy Forever Family Day!!! We all love you so very much!

Annabelle Mei ChuanYan -- Four years old!

Getting the spa treatment

Lost in the bubbles!

More Bubbles!

Are we all hot stuff or what??

Singing Happy Birthday to Princess Annie

Kindergarten Graduation

Today was our last day of school so we now officially have two Kindergarten graduates and First Graders-to-be in the family. Abby and Ellie both completed the entire homeschool Kindergarten curriculum with flying colors (and Mom survived too!). At the end of class I presented them with certificates of completion for History/Socal Studies, Science, Math, and Language Arts. They are so proud of all their accomplishments and Brian and I are very proud of them too. Way to go girls!!

A Taste of Summer!

We had a glorious weekend -- just a sample of the nicer weather that hopefully will finally arrive in a month or so. Big brother Jason came home to visit and of course the girls were absolutely thrilled to see him and our good friend Kalani. It was sort of bittersweet as K is moving back home to Hawaii so we won't see him for a while. I guess we will have to start saving up those airline miles again!

Ellie, Jason, Abby, Kalani, Annie, Maddie

Spring is slowly arriving

We have had the coldest spring this year. It just doesn't seem to want to warm up around here. The girls have been dying to get out and work on the gardens so we finally just bundled up and started, even though the temperatures have barely been above freezing.

Four Years Ago

Four years ago today, April 20, 2004, Brian and I were sitting in a large reception room at the Civil Affiars Bureau in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Six other families sat there too, nervously chatting, double-checking cameras, clutching stuffed toys, bottles, sippy cups and snacks, knowing that within minutes we would all hold our new daughters for the first time.

Ellie's Referral Photo

And suddenly there she was!! Our beautiful Nathalie Tess QianYu. Peering nervously through the door to the room, clutching the bottle that rarely left her hands for the next two years. She was scooped up by an orphange worker and brought to us when our names were called. We were completely overcome with joy to finally have our daughter in our arms but the feeling was definitely NOT mutual! She screamed, she kicked, she struggled to get away from these strangers who looked funny, smelled funny, and spoke a language she couldn't understand.

Our first glimpse

Finally in our arms forever!

That scared and sad little baby that we first held in our arms four years ago is today a strong, vibrant, compassionate, confident little girl. She wakes up every morning with a smile on her face and love in her heart. Ellie's Chinese name means “beautiful”, and that is exactly what she is both inside and out!

Ellie, two years old

Ellie, three years old

Ellie, four years old

Ellie today on her special day

Happy Forever Family Day sweet Ellie! We love you more than words will ever be able to express.