Happy Easter

Wishing you a sweet and blessed Easter. Give lots of love to everyone around you.

Go Daddy!

Doug's race season started last month and it has been really good with top 10 finishes and even a third place. Today is his longest race, I think it is about 63 miles. The girls and I are crossing our fingers and our toes that him and his team have a great race. As Jetty would say... GO Daddy GO!

Spring is in the air

We have fully embraced spring and all the lovely pastels, birds, and chocolate candies that come along with the season. The girls have already enjoyed two Easter egg hunts and the big one is coming up on Easter at Grandma's and Papa's. Last Saturday we enjoyed time at the park and an Easter egg hunt with one of the local Families with Children from China and then Wednesday we had a great time at Caroline's and David's for yet another wonderful hunt and party. Elizabeth, Caroline's and David's Mommy always does such a great Easter hunt for our playgroup. I am not able to go the playgroup as often as I would like and I just love the time spent with a group of wonderful Moms.

The little birds scampering around the yard for bits of dog hair for nests has really entertained the girls. We watched a little finch picking up dog hair at the sliding glass while we were eating dinner last night. After dinner Doug brushed Hudson and put the big pile of hair on the back patio. The girls have watched the little finches come back throughout the day until the pile was gone. Now we have to be detectives in the back yard and try to find the nests.

Jetty also wanted to do some baking so we made little birds nest to bring to her class today. It worked out double good for us because the letter of the week was E. Not only was it a little Easter treat to share but it was also a show-n-tell Egg for E. Ella loves helping in the kitchen but I have quickly learned to have a separate little bowl because she eats most of the ingredients. As you can tell from the photos she was enjoying the chocolate.

On another note.... I was lucky enough to meet a fellow blogger and adoptive parent last year. They are in the process of adopting another beautiful daughter. Both of their daughters were waiting children and will need significant medical intervention for the rest of their life. They are an amazing family and I so admire what they are doing and the love that they are sharing. They are doing some different fund raisers right now so if you would check out their blog that would be great. http://aladyblog.blogspot.com/

Final Post Placement Report

Wahoo! We finally had our last visit with a social worker for Ella's post-placement report. It is so nice to have all of those visits behind us. Now I just need to finish the re-adoption paperwork so we can have a birth certificate registered with the State of Florida.

This is the newest thing the girls enjoy doing. They run to the couch and start cuddling each other while promptly yelling to me "CAMERA, CAMERA, PICTURE." Too cute!

A New Car

You know how things don't always turn out like you plan. I planned on keeping my mini-van for at least another year but it seems that the van had another idea. I know that a mini-van is ideal for a family but I was really getting bored with driving a mini-van and I needed (okay, wanted) something a little more hip. Doug soon convinced me that a Mini or Volkswagen bug convertible might not be big enough so I started to look at SUVs. I never realized how small SUVs seem inside. I guess anything is small after a van.
Doug and I always liked the Element but I wasn't completely sold on the idea. I know the Element is one of those vehicles you either love or hate. I have always liked the way they look. But then again, I have always liked boxy vehicles. My friend in high school had the coolest 1970s boxy orange Volvo. He did break down often but I thought it was the coolest car.
Well, I now have my own boxy orange car and I love it. Next to the Mini van it was the most kid friendly vehicle I could find. You can mop the floor, and vacuuming up beach sand is so easy. Another plus is that it came with a good sound system. We are usually rocking out to Dan Zanes and Father Goose but on the rare occasion there are no children in the car I have been enjoying some of my music. I finally deleted some of the kids music on my MP3 and started adding some new music for me. I love some of the kids music out there but I had over a 100 kids songs on my MP3. I couldn't tell you the name of all the kids songs but I bet I know all the lyrics:)

A Trip to Austin...

Our first big trip since coming back from China and we had a great time. The idea of sitting on a plane again wasn't that appealing to me but the girls were amazing and the flights smooth. Even when we were delayed and it took us 15 hours to get home (yes, 15 hours from Texas to Florida) the girls were such troopers.

I have been wanting to visit Austin. Whenever I saw it on the travel channel or read about it in a magazine it seemed so hip and bohemian. It was a very cool city. We weren't able to take in any of the rich music scene which they are so well known. Life is different when you have children and unless it was Dan Zanes in concert we are sitting out the nightlife. The city is filled with great parks, trails and family fun stuff. And did I mention the shops... I was in heaven in Anthropologie with a sleeping Ella in the stroller while Daddy and Jetty were next door at R.E.I. checking out the climbing shoes. I fell in love with the Children's museum and the Nature Center.

Speaking of wonderful stores... Our real reason for the trip was to visit Doug's Aunt and Uncle. We felt so loved and welcomed and we were sad to leave them. Jetty cried when we left and said that she wanted to stay in Texas forever. Aunt Kelly and Uncle Jim will have that effect on you. They own and amazing store called

Mi Casa Gallery. It is truly more like a museum then a store. We are so blessed to have such an amazing and loving family.

Another highlight of the trip is that we were even able to meet up with two other families that were in our first travel group to China. It was so wonderful to see them and the beautiful girls. It is amazing the bond that you have with other families in your travel group. Becoming a family together is an amazing connection to have with one another.