rip Mr Monarch

The butterfly hatched but his wings didn't dry properly so he didn't survive.  We read online that only 2% make it in the wild so his chances were pretty low anyway.  Even with his withered up little wings he was very pretty. 

It was a fun learning experience for Grace. Gerry & I learned a lot of facts about butterflies too.  Lila has added butterfly to her vocabulary.  These things make it all worthwhile. 

Season of Change

I'm sitting here fascinated by the chrysallis our caterpillar spun today and thinking of all the changes going on around me. 

Becky, Natalia, and Connor are flying home as I type.  I keep thinking about what we will do together this week and then realize our wonderful summer together is at an end.  Thanksgiving seems far, far, away. 

Grace starts first grade on Tuesday.  I will miss her being home every day but know she will have so much fun and learn so much this year, like she did last year. 

Lila starts preschool on Thursday.  It's a big change when your baby will be gone every morning.  She will do so well and will change and learn so much!  What will I do to keep busy when she's not here? 

It's a beautiful cool day, only about 80 degrees, with a light breeze.  Is this change in the weather the beginning of fall or just a break from the heat of this past summer?  I love fall and that peaceful, reminiscent mood it invokes. 

Happy Anniversary to us!

August 4, 2009 was the day we officially adopted our Lila.  We met her on August 3 then returned to the adoption center the next day to sign the final papers and take the oath.  It doesn't seem possible that it has already been a year. It seems like we were just in China. Look at the changes in her in the slideshow.  It amazes me to see how much she has grown and the happiness in her expression.  She was so scared at first but her true happy, outgoing, silly, sweet, loving, affectionate, personality has shone through.  Our baby is now a little girl ready to start preschool in a couple weeks.   She is all we hoped for during the long, long wait. The perfect little daughter for our family.

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Happy Birthday to me!

Today is my birthday which so far has been a great day but it in no way compares to last year on this very day when we were on the plane on the way to China!  It does not seem like a year already. 

(self-portrait on the plane or "Lila here we come")

I'm working on my big post for our 1 year Adoption Day anniversary next week. 

And before I forget again, who was it that told Gerry her kids read our blog at the CHI reunion?  Hi!! 

Children's Hope Reunion 2010

AJ with Lila, Me with Mikayla, Gerry with Grace

The big girls in the hot tub. Christine and the little girls in the pool.

Bec trying to hide from the mosquitos (I'm STILL itching...)

At the zoo (Maryn, Maelyn, Lila, Mikayla, Grace)

How cute is this??? (Lila and Max)

Playing at the huge playground at the reunion.

Have you ever seen a face this sweet? (Mikayla)

We just returned from a long weekend in St Louis. Our adoption agency is based there. They have a reunion every 2 years for ALL the families that have ever adopted through them all around the world. It was a great reason to go to St Louis to see the friends we traveled with. We were able to get together with 5 of the families that were in our travel group of 19 families last August. We were all together at the reunion, then had a smaller gathering at Kevin & Stacy's Saturday evening, Sunday we headed to the zoo then back to the pool at the hotel. So much fun to see the people that we have shared so much with.

3 year portraits

I like to play with my camera. Lila and I spent about 1/2 an hour taking pictures the other day. These are my favorites of those we took. (Thank you to our wonderful Secret Pal, Jodi, for the darling dress & headband!)

Lila had her 2 week post-surgery appointment this week. They are very pleased with her progress! We return in a month for her next check-up.

We have finally settled into a summer routine since being home from the hospital. The girls are sleeping in, playing outside, watching movies, and having a great time. My sister, niece, and nephew are here from Texas for the whole summer so have been here to play, stay all night, or go see movies. Toy Story 3 was awesome!!!!

The birthday party, the hospital stay, and it's good to be back to normal!

Grace with her candles on the cake

A couple hard days of recuperating after surgery

Waiting to check into our hospital room

The birthday sisters!

Lila blowing out her #3 candle

Grabbing the pinata loot!

Grace takes a swing

Lila was the first to try

Ladybug pinata!