Take Us Out To The Ballgame

We ventured into the big city to take the girls to their very first baseball game. It was a special promotions day that the Mariners do every year to celebrate families touched by adoption and foster care. We received free baseball hats, a player poster, and we got to walk all the way around the field before the game. The weather wasn't the greatest (fairly breezy) but at least it wasn't raining.

Country girls having fun walking into the BIG CITY

Walking past the Seahawks football stadium on the way to the baseball field

Annie in charge of the requisite super-sized bag of kettle corn.

Taking our photo at the left field entrance gate along with the Ichiro fans.

Standing in the outfield

High-5's with a real baseball player.

Standing at the outfield wall

Waiting for Mom to hand out sack lunches, snacks, peanuts, kettle corn, and juice boxes.

Oh -- and for the game to begin.

Ruby sporting her new hat. She had it easy all day -- riding in the Ergo on Mom's back to and from the ballpark. Everyone else had to walk the 30 minutes from the ferry to the ballpark, then all the way around the field for the pre-game parade of families, and then back to the ferry at the end of the game. Needless to say, everyone slept VERY well after our long, exciting day.

RubyJane -- One Year Later

One year ago today, RubyJane Elizabeth XiaoJie became our fifth Ladybug Princess. Our lives have never been the same.

One year ago - her eyes so fully expressed her sadness. Little did she know how much she would be treasured by her new family.

Today! Oh how we all LOVE and ADORE this little one!

FIVE Ladybug Princesses

SIX Years Ago Today

Six years ago today Brian and I were sitting in a large reception room at the Civil Affiars Bureau in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. 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.

Shi Qian Yu - referral photo

And suddenly there she was!! Our Nathalie Tess QianYu - so breathtakingly beautiful and amazing - 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 one of the nannies 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 with all her might to get away from these strangers who looked funny, smelled funny, and spoke a language she couldn't understand. For the next few days she let us know, loudly and in no uncertain terms, that she was not at all pleased with us and that she wanted to go back to her "Ayi".

Our first glimpse of our wonderful second daughter

In our arms forever!

That scared and sad little baby that we first held in our arms six years ago is now seven years old (how on Earth did that happen so quicklly!?!). She is a strong, vibrant, compassionate, brilliant, confident young girl. She still wakes up every morning with a smile on her face and love in her heart. Part of Ellie's Chinese name means “beautiful”, and that is exactly what she is both inside and out!

Happy 6th Forever Family Day sweet Ellie! Your family loves you to the moon and back. :-)

Missing Our Big Brother

We are missing our big brother Jason around here. He moved to San Diego -- and that is a LONG way from Seattle. Hopefully we will be able to make a road trip down there some time in the next year or so. And hopefully he will be able to come home for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. But until then, we will miss him -- a lot.

4 Years Ago

Four years ago today we held our dear Maddie for the first time. She was so brave when her nanny handed her to us. She let one little tear run down her cheek but made no other sounds. Abby and Ellie were just in awe of her and she was pretty interested in them too. She wasn't walking yet but it didn't take too long for her to learn to run to keep up with her big sisters.

Sisters meeting for the first time at the civil affairs office in Changsha, Hunan

Back in our hotel room -- very serious and very quiet -- and very bundled up in four layers of clothes and bright red boots!

Our first official family photo with three daughters -- taken the next day at the adoption finalization at the civil affairs office.

No longer serious, sweet Maddie is our giggle bunny!

Today Maddie is still our quiet girl but beautiful smiles have replaced that serious little face we first saw four years ago.

Happy Forever Family Day Maddie!

I Goofed

Ellie's tooth was so loose that it was literally hanging sideways in her mouth. She willingly allowed me to do the quick and painless "floss around the tooth" extraction method that I have perfected over the years. Sadly, I goofed -- as her heartfelt letter to the Tooth Fairy will attest.

THREE missing teeth on top!

Look Who's TWO!

Happy Birthday RubyJane! On your first birthday we were only able to send you special wishes from afar. Today we joyously celebrated your second birthday with you home in our family. How blessed we are to have you as our precious daughter and littlest sister!!

Relaxing after a day of running everywhere at full speed -- turning TWO is hard work!

By the third present, she was a pro at tearing off the wrapping paper.

Mmmmmm

Ruby is a very picky eater but obviously CAKE is on her OK foods list.