Countdown to Lily -- Three Weeks!

Three weeks from today I will finally be holding our precious Lilyanne Kate XiaoXue. Our travel arrangements are all set -- we leave for China on 2/18 and receive Lily on 2/21. Since I am a world-class procrastinator getting the plane tickets is about all that is done to get us ready to leave. Our suitcases have been pulled out of the closet but not much has been packed in them. This week will be spent running around trying to pick up the rest of the stuff we need, getting a bunch of appointments out of the way, and basically trying to keep from getting too stressed! Woohoo!! China here we come!!

Lily and her special nanny who obviously adores her

First Piano Recital

Ellie had her very first official piano recital this past weekend. She loves her teacher, loves learning to play the piano, and had practiced her piece so many times that I found myself humming it at all hours of the day. Her best friend Emily is taking lessons from the same teacher so they were scheduled to perform in the same recital. Both girls had nervous tummies full of butterflies. These two have a such a special bond with each other, beginning eight years ago in a little town in China and continuing here at home with their forever families. It was so sweet to watch them support each other, cheer each other on, and share their success together. Gosh, I am just so proud of both Ellie and Emily. It is amazing to watch these beautiful little girls blossom.

Ellie with her BFF Emily

Serious discussions before their performances

The Big Moment -- she played her piece flawlessly

Their teacher has chosen Ellie and Emily to play a duet in the Christmas recital next month. I can't wait to see what these two can accomplish together!!

Our Sixth Ladybug!

This morning we received the wonderful news from our agency that the CCAA has issued our Pre-Approval to bring home our sixth little ladybug. Our dossier has already been logged into the system in China so we are now waiting for them to review it and issue our final approval. After that there will be a lot more paperwork to do on the US side. If everything goes smoothly we should be able to travel to China in February or March to bring her home. Needless to say we are over the moon with excitement around here!!

So without further ado, we would like to introduce you to our newest daughter:

Lilyanne Kate XiaoXue
9 months old

waiting for us in Nanjing, Jiangsu

We are so in LOVE with this tiny little one!

Summer Retrospect

Summer went by so fast this year. The weather here in Western Washington didn't cooperate much, but on the few occasions that the sun came out we played hard. Our days were filled with trips to the beach and reunions with dear friends. Our family from California came to visit and we went to our adoption agency's picnic. We took a road trip to Eastern Washington and we spent many days at the zoo. Tomorrow we say goodbye to summer as we start our new school year. So here, in no particular order, was our summer:

Ruby at the beach on one of our rare very warm days.

Emily, Katie, and Ellie -- the Hubei "sisters"

U-pick strawberries -- so so sweet and they literally melted in our mouths!

This is what you get when you mix the beach, s'mores, long hair, and really strong wind.

The Washington Coast -- and, yes, this was in July.

Ruby loves the ocean.

Isabelle, Millie, Abby, and Shae -- the Spicy Girls from Loudi, Hunan. We have had an annual reunion with these families from our first travel group to China for eight years now.

One of our many trips to the zoo.

Maddie on the camel ride at the zoo.

We take a photo of Abby sitting in this snake sculpture every time we go to the zoo. She was born in the year of the snake and loves anything to do with snakes.

Our favorite animal on the carousel

Ruby LOVES riding the carousel -- and any other carnival ride for that matter!

With our cousins hiking at Hurricane Ridge

Visiting the Bloedel Reserve with friends

The Bloedel Reserve -- one of our favorite nature walks

Watching salmon jump up the fish ladder at Rocky Reach Dam near Wenatchee.

Most of the children attending the Lifeline/Small World Reunion Picnic in Spokane

It's a Girl!

Introducing Our First Grandbaby!

Serenity Danielle Afsoneh Peterson

Born on July 21 in Honolulu, Hawaii

A healthy and chubby baby!

Our oldest son Rob, the proud daddy

Scooter Babe

This afternoon the big girls moved all the furniture on the deck aside and created a scooter race track around the table. Not to be left out, Ruby claimed the "baby" scooter as her own. She was pleased as punch to be included in the game. As I watched I had such mixed emotions. Seeing her so happy and hearing her giggle along with her big sisters was so wonderful. But my baby just isn't a baby any longer. Yup, they grow up way too fast!

Getting the hang of this.

Oops -- maybe not quite a pro yet.

So proud of herself. Ruby thinks she is one of the big girls now!

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.