What Do You Do During A Tropical Storm?

Play in the rain of course.  LOL

Now before anyone thinks I'm a bad mom, the tropical storm is out in the gulf.  We are just getting some outer bands of rain.  No lightening. No big winds.  Just a lot of rain.  So the kids played out in it for a little while. And for a while, I was "the bestest mom EVER!"   :-)

Look Who Has a Volunteering "Job" This Summer

We are so proud of Miss Tiff.  She started volunteering today at the All Children's Outpatient Center here in Brandon.  She said today they worked on charts.  Thursday they will get to work with the physical therapist team.  She is super excited.

Tiff has shown an interest in nursing. I hope that working this summer here will keep her excited and let her know if nursing is what she should pursue.

Keep checking back for future updates on Miss Tiff.  :-)

Does Not Feel Real

Today, I took Tiff to get her senior pictures taken.  I am in denial. There is no way that she is old enough to have senior pictures taken.  I wanted to cry while we were waiting for our turn.  But I didn't. I didn't want to embarrass her.  :-)  I don't know if I was allowed to take pictures, but I did. And I think the photographer saw me and he did not say anything.  So here are a few.  I can not wait to see the proofs. And then I plan on comparing her senior picture with my senior picture. :-)

Patiently waiting for our turn

After almost 2 hours of waiting, Time for pictures.

I promise I will be crying when she wears this for real. 

Summer Is Here!

Today is the last day of 2nd grade for Abby & Jadyn.  Where has the year gone?  It's been  good year for them. They loved their teachers.  Abby came home crying yesterday because yesterday was her teacher's last day (she has family obligations today).

Tiff finished school yesterday. She is officially a senior now.  Unfortunately she did not really pose for a picture for me.  She was home for 10 minutes to pack some clothes and then she was off with friends.  She is officially a senior now.  Makes me want to cry.

But, since Abby & Jadyn are still willing to take photos for me, I did snap a few this morning.  I will put a photo from the first day of school and from today, the last day of school.  My how they've grown!!!

August 23, 2011

June 8, 2012

My Brother Is Getting Married!

I'm so excited. My brother is getting married.  And this weekend my sister & I threw his fiancé a bridal shower. We had so much fun.  We are excited to welcome Edie into our family.  It's different having to share my brother with someone.  :-)  But it's also good.  I'm so glad he's happy.  I'm excited for him & Edie.

Here are a few pictures from the shower.

Edie, Daniel & Mom

Edie, GiGi and Daniel

Everyone

Tiffani & Edie

Denise, Edie & Me

Abby, Edie & Jadyn

Me, My Girls & My Grandmother (GiGi)

Mom, GiGi, Me & My Girls

My Brother, My Sister & Me

Friends!

We were able to fly to Maryland last week and surprise my friend Dawn at the airport. She flew home from China Thursday evening with their new daughter Joy.  It was fun watching her walk out and see her family and she looked right at me and did not "see" me.  Then she saw Bill and did a double take. And then RAN to me. It was so much fun to surprise her.  We have known their family for 8 years now. We met when we were adopting Abby.  Abby & their daughter Kya were from the same orphanage in Sichuan. We have remained friends ever since.

We had a great time in MD.  We spent a lot of time with them and all of our kids got along great.  It was so nice to just sit outside and watch them play.  It was hard to say goodbye.

Here are some pictures from our trip.  OH, and while we were there, our adoption agency called with GREAT news. Our LOA's arrived. You can see the story on our adoption blog And the Tampa Bay Rays were also in town playing the Baltimore Orioles.  So Bill & the girls went to the baseball game on Friday evening. They had fun. Unfortunately the Rays lost. But they still had fun.

When our families met, Tiff was the only child. Soon we will have added 10 kids to our families. All through adoption.  

Joy. She never stopped smiling

Can't wait to see Hope & Maggie in this photo

 

Little Man

Sunday afternoon, Bill said to me "You're not going to be happy."  (I don't like sentences that start like that).  Then he showed me this picture.

I went to Ethan's room and he was sleeping, on his train table.  He was obviously exhausted.