Welcome Home Day.......

This past Sunday Mike's parents came over to celebrate their "welcome home day" with Anne Marie. We returned home from China 1 year ago (February 16th). His mother has decided that they wanted to celebrate the day they were able to finally meet Anne Marie in person. I thought it was such a sweet thought.

We were actually out of town this past weekend on the 16th, so they came over for a visit w/ some special gifts to celebrate on Sunday the 17th.

Anne Marie & Grandma on Welcome Home Day

She got a tea set -- and was having fun searving up everyone a cup!

She also got a coffee maker -- and she LOVES making "coppie" for everyone!!

She also got a beautiful "fluffy" dress for this spring... she looked SO sweet in it!!

Happy Welcome-Home-Day Grandma & Grandpa!

Thanks for the wonderful gifts!!

Happy Valentines Day!!

If you can't read it - her shirt says "Daddy's lil' Valentine"

On Valentines day we has a pretty "basic" day. We grabbed a quick bite at a local greek place we like & gave daddy & Anne Marie their gifts. Then on Friday we went on a small trip. Just about 2 hours away. We just felt like we needed a little "fun" since Daddy's been working so hard. We spent the night at a hotel and the next day went to the children's museum. Anne Marie probably had more fun than we did!! It was a nice little "get-a-way" weekend!

Anne Marie getting her present from us - stackable blocks - and Anne Marie giving Daddy his present - however I can not show it as we made the same gift for the "grandparents" and have not given it to them yet!! (But it's cute -- I'll show more later!!)

I also got a gift - but it came in the mail a couple days early -so there is no picture. It's the book called "Motherbridge of Love" -- it's a sweet book about an adopted girl from China and how she has a birth mother and a forever mother. It will make any adoptive parent cry (and others I'm sure)

Anne Marie ready to hit the pool @ the hotel

All ready for bed - this is the "crib" the hotel supplied us -- she was almost too long to fit in it! My how this girl has grown!!

These are pictures from our museum trip....

Viewing the underwater aquarium & playing at the market

Sliding & playing in the sandpit at "dinoland"

"Hatching" out of a dino egg & making a crown in the craft area

Playing on the apple orchard truck & "pretending to be a tree"

Rushing the stage as they put on 3 little pigs play!! What a ham!!

Happy Chinese New Year -- A Little Late!

Wow! What a busy week we've had. We've eaten as much Chinese food in the past week and a half as we did in China last year! Just one year ago we had just been home one day when Chinese New Year started (or was it the same day?? The time change confuses me). What a difference a year makes! Anyway, last week we started with Gotcha Day lunch. Then, this past Friday we had a Chinese New Year party for some friends and family at our house. There were 27 people in our small house (12 of which were kids!!) We had food, fun, and chocolate covered fortune cookies -- (thanks to Grandma & Grandpa) THEN.. there was the CAKE... Have I ever told her how talended my friends are?? I'm sure I have -- Heather can make a cake (and cookies) like no-one I've ever met!! She made this beautiful (and I mean I didn't want to cut into it beautiful) dragon cake for our party!! It was awesome!!

The beautiful dragon cake. (A MILLION thanks to Heather)

We had a TON of food -- and Anne Marie LOVES Chinese food (and cake) so she ate a plate of her own & moved from person to person trying little bites off of each persons plate.




Anne Marie, friends Kate & Avery having a good time @ the party.

Then, Saturday it was the local adoption group Chinese New Year party. There were over 50 people (parents & kids) there! My, how our group has grown. Anne Marie had a great time - the kids made Chinese crafts, we ate tons of Chinese food again, make lion masks for the "lion parade" and ran around (and around & around) the school gym for a while to burn off some energy! We're so blessed to have a group like this in our area. It's wonderful to see so many children & families that are "like ours". It's nice to be able to talk to others that understand where we are & where we've been. It's also great to give encouragement to those that are still waiting!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Anne Marie ran around the gym & ran up on stage with all the other kids playing behind the curtains, doing little "dances" - she kept peaking in & out of the curtain. Our friend Jenny ran after Anne Marie throwing the little ladybug balls with her. (she & her husband are waiting for their little one -- we love you guys & can't wait until we can play with your little one @ the next New Year party!!)

Happy Chinese New year!!

A Walk Down Memory Lane.....

February 2007 - We were so excited! God had blessed us with a daughter - a dream & gift that only he could create for us. It was a LONG plane ride! We were so full of energy --- it was hard to keep ourselves busy as there was NO WAY we were sleeping much - no matter how long the ride! You'll have to forgive me, but the year anniversary of meeting our daughter has made me want to take a walk down memory lane - so here are just a few pictures of our very special trip to China February 2007 to meet our sweet Anne Marie.

When we got to China we had to wait a few days before we were able to meet Anne Marie. They kept us very busy -- which probably was a good thing. We went to Tienamen Square - The GreatWall - Summer Palace - The Forbidden City - Silk/Pearl/Jade Factory. It is an AMAZING country! The memories of the places, smells, sounds, it's something that will stay with us forever - and are such happy memories for us!!



Then .... Our day finally came.....

February 5, 2007 - The day that changed our lives forever!! It was such a blur - I'm just glad we have it on video, because I can not be sure that I would remember some of the things with out it. One thing I will always remember is the first time I saw her face. I saw her from far away, while she was still in the arms of the nannies - I knew right away - I told Mike it was her - I don't know if he believed me, but I just knew - then, there she was. So sweet, so calm - amongst all the noise, cries, confusion - she was so quiet. It was an amazing feeling.

The next few days we watched her personality come through. She was unsure of us (especially me) at first. She was very quiet, very observant - then she laughed - Mike got her to do it - and I can't tell you how my heart smiled at that moment - I will always remember that!! And her spoons - oh how she LOVED her plastic spoons - she even slept with them!!

Then, there were 3 - it was so much fun touring with our sweet child. We saw so many beautiful things - we bought her special gifts - we had "official" paperwork, appointments, and things to accomplish, but there were so many special "family moments" in-between.

They were getting ready for Chinese New Year while we were there. We left the day before Chinese New Year started. It was the year of the Pig. All the parks were being decorated with lanterns, pigs, flowers, and other decorations. It was such a beautiful time to be there. I would love to return to China one day during a New Year celebration.

The day before we left to return home, we took a group picture. The family picture & the picture of the girls is of the 13 families / children that went to Nanchang. There were more families that made the original trip with us, but these are the families with girls from our orphanage. What a blessing to meet each one of these families. They will always hold a special place in our hearts.

To our Jiangxi Families - God bless each of you today especially, we are thinking of you & to all the families that traveled with us that February we wish you a Very Happy Gotcha Day!!

Melissa & Mike & Anne Marie

P.S. - Just a special note regarding China & the orphanages there. As some of you may have heard - there are many places in China that have been hit HARD by very harsh winter weather. There are many orphanages that short on supplies, money, and heat during "normal" seasons, but with this storm, many orphanages need HELP! We ask that you pray for the people and children of China - and if you're interested in donating money to help this situation a non-proffit called Half-the-Sky has set up a fund to help : http://www.halfthesky.org/work/littlemouse.php