Back Yard Fun!

Ok, I think this is one of the best purchases I've made this summer. I'm always looking for a "deal". God has given me the chance to be a stay at home mom, but that has meant loosing one income, so I've learned how to "shop on a budget". I feel I've made some great purchases this summer for some great "toys" for Anne Marie. First we found her blow-up pool on clearance @ K-Mart for $5, then we found her cute little pic-nic table at BigLots for $18.

Then, a friend of mine(who is part of a mom's group where she lives) called to let me know one of the ladies in her group wanted to get rid of a tent she has recently bought for her kids. For those of you who do not know, ladybugs are special in China adoption community. It's a long story, but I'm sure most of you know it by now. Anyway, when my friend told me that the tent was decorated like a ladybug, I knew I had to have it. After searching around, we found this tent @ a popular toy store for close to $60!! Well, I was able to buy it from her for $15!!!

Anne Marie just LOVES it. We set it up for the Ice-cream party, and left it up today so that she could play in it another day. The smiles and laughs say it all when it comes to wondering what she thinks of it!!



Little Ladybug Tent




Having so much fun inside!



Sharing our tent w/ cousin Naomi



"Mom, I'm loving this!!"



Just had to add this photo. Our neighbors are building on to their patio in their back yard. They were working on it while the girls were out playing in the tent. Anne Marie just loves them, they are so sweet to her. Well, "Nosey & Rosey" just had to take a little "neighborly fence time" checking up on what they were doing. I just had to laugh at this picture.


Who knew the back yard could be this fun?!?!!

I Scream, You Scream, We all scream..........

For Ice-Cream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today we had some of our friends over for an "end of summer ice-cream party". I set up the back yard with tables & chairs. Everyone brought their own lunch and an ice-cream topping. I bought a HUGE tub of vanilla ice-cream, and after lunch we had sundaes. YUM!! What a fun way to have lunch -- food, friends, and ICE CREAM! There were some awesome toppings -- even chocolate cool whip -- I didn't even know they made that!! Here are some pictures of Anne Marie and her friends enjoying the day.........

Growing up...

I sat here last night w/ tears in my eyes as I saw this little girl acting so grown up. A friend of ours gave Anne Marie a gift the other day -- a baby doll! Anne Marie has been OBSESSED with babies lately. Here's how it all started..


I have her referral picture framed in the living room & as my screen saver on my computer. (I think I should update that eh??) Anyway, not too long ago she learned to say the word baby (pronounced beeebeee). Well, every day I get the computer out to do a little work, she starts screaming beeebeee beeebeee!! She also runs up to the referral pictures we have framed & points & says beeebeee beeebee! Then by accident, our friends left her baby doll in our van. We ended up having the doll for about a week or so before we were able to give it back. Anne Marie fell in LOVE! So needless to say, when we had to give the doll back, she was not happy. But these very loving friends of ours showed up with a gift for Anne Marie a couple days later. A baby of her very own!!! She has become a little mother -- and I just can't stand it!! It's too cute for one thing & for another -- it shows she's growing up!!

Anne Marie "feeding" her baby a bottle.

Then, this past week Grandma "H" gave Anne Marie her very own pocketbook. Now, Anne Marie has a couple pocketbooks, but this one is SOOOO cute, and even came with it's very own little stuffed puppy dog in it. (Or as Anne Marie would say "woo woo" - this is what she says when she sees a dog). She carries it every where!

Too cool in her shades & w/her pocketbook!!

Wow how quick they grow up!! So many new things she does every day... You really have to look at the fact that she's watching everything you do & you don't even know it. How did she know to carry her purse on her arm like that, take the keys & run to the door, put the keys in the doorknob & say bye bye! We sat here in amazement last night as she held her baby, brought me a towel (from the stack I was folding) to wrap around her baby for a blanket -- cuddle & hold her & feed her the "bottle" (of water that is). I just hope that she only copies the good things we do -- haa haa!

Happy Grandparent's Day!!

We just wanted to take time to say a quick "We Love You" to Nana "Z" and Grandma & Grandpa "H" & Great Grandma "P" & "H"!!

Anne Marie can't ask for better Grandparents!! She loves you all bunches and sends her love on Grandparent's day!

Nana "Z" and Anne Marie

Grandma & Grandpa "H" & Anne Marie Great Grandma "P"

**A quick note to Great Grandma "H" --we're sorry, but we've printed out the pictures we had of you from the 4th of July picnic, they've been deleted, so we can't post them -- but we're thinking of you all the same! **

Love,

Anne Maire

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH.... The Beach!!!!!!!!!

There is no other place that Mike and I enjoy more than the beach. As we've already seen, Anne Marie obviously now feels the same -- YEA!!

We had a long 4 day weekend at the beach this Labor Day. We were invited to the beach by some friends of ours, and we can't thank them enough!! (Thanks guys!!)

The weather was beautiful, the company was great, and Anne Marie seems to have more fun each time we visit the beach -- and as Mike pointed out -- she's already been to the beach 3 times this summer, so she had a GREAT time this past weekend. (We are actually due for another trip the end of this month -- for a whole week this time -- so we're REALLY looking forward to that week!)

We thought you all might enjoy a couple pictures from our weekend getaway....

Anne Marie happy to be @ the beach!!


Family photo.

Group pic @ the beach.

Love,

Mike, Melissa & Anne Marie