NEVER say NEVER -- What a Great 4th of July Week!

"Never say Never" -- how many times have we said that? I will tell you that there was a time that Mike and I said "we're NEVER going to buy one of those" & "we'll never need on of those" & "we'll never be that un-cool" -- Well we now are MINI-VAN owning parents!! How funny!!?? I have to tell you that we were not looking for one, it just happened that a family member had one they were selling, and after our last weekend trip, we realized that it might be something we needed to think about when they told us they were selling! I have to say, it's great for space (bad for gas) but a small 4 door car gets VERY full VERY fast!! So...... never say never!


Anne Marie & cousin Naomi ready to go & a family shot @ the 4th picnic.


Daddy & Anne Marie "chillin" @ the cabin & Aunt Wendy, "Nana" & Anne Marie visiting.

Well, the week of the 4th Mike was able to take a couple of days off, and we packed in quite a few things since we finally had daddy to ourselves for a while! My family had a 4th of July picnic at their cabin. Anne Marie was able to meet a few family members she'd not met before and all the kids enjoyed running around the woods, finding snakes (ugh), and eating & playing with each other. We enjoyed visiting everyone & who doesn't like a "potluck" picnic! We left in time to get home to watch the other families in our neighborhood light fireworks, so we sat on our front porch and watched -- she just laughed and gasped the whole time.

The next day we had a get-to-gether with local families that have adopted from China. It was great to visit with everyone and have everyone meet Anne Marie. The last time we were able to get together with this group was about a week after we got our referral. We feel so blessed that we are in an area that has other families that have adoption in common.

Our friends from our local adoption group.

We also spent a day at the pool where Mike works. Mike's place of business has a gym, playground, sports field, and pool that is available to their employees. It's GREAT in the summer. She has been to the pool a few times, but this is the first time I actually took pictures. How cute is this child in her little bikini!! She LOVES the pool, she through a fit when we had to leave.

Pool time fun - what a cutie!!

This past weekend was also Anne Marie's first time on a bike. Friends of ours bought us a bike seat and helmet for our baby shower. Two of our friends came over and we all went for a bike ride w/ the kids. She seemed to really enjoy the ride -- she even fell asleep in the seat before we got home!! I think all the kids really enjoyed it!!

Anne Marie & friend Elsie ready for a ride -- and Anne Marie asleep during the ride.

Mike said to me after the long weekend was over "what happened to my time off" -- I have a bad habit of planning every minute of every day that we have off together. It's just such a blessing to have this child in our family I want to make as many memories as possible.

I just had to include these shots -- This is our child eating her own corn on the cob -- She begged me for a bite of my corn & then took over!!

I hope that everyone had a fun & safe 4th of July!!

Melissa & Mike & Anne Marie