Weekend Getaway

This weekend we had a little "get-away". Mike has been working between 55-60 hours a week the last couple of weeks, so I decided that we would go and visit friends of ours Di & Bri. They are getting married and one of her bridal showers was this weekend. We just had one for her where we live not too long ago, but I thought it might be nice to try to make it to one of her other showers as well since I'm one of the bridesmaids.

Mike also has family in (who live very close to Di & Bri) so we made sure to make a "pit-stop" there so they could meet Anne Marie. It was a very nice visit. He was able to visit one of his grandmothers, 2 aunts, 2 uncles, and just by chance two of his cousins children were visiting as well.

Mike and Anne Marie with Mike's family.

We spent Saturday morning visiting family, then on to the shower. (Mike and Anne Marie stayed w/ "Bri" and took a nap while the girls "played" at the shower). After the shower we 5 went out to eat and then off to the hotel for us.

Anne Marie ridding back to the hotel after a great dinner .

Anne Marie just loved being in a hotel. She jumped around on the bed, she ran all over the place giggling. Then it was bed time!! Well, it didn't go as bad as I thought, but it took her a little whileto get settled. We heard her toss & turn all night. She finally settled down though -- she just has not stayed in a hotel since China.

Playing on the bed @ the hotel.

Running around the hotel room before bed.

Hey!! What the heck is this thing & what am I doing in it??

Then on Sunday, we took her down to the beach. This was her first time at the beach. We now know that she is in love with the pool and the bath after a very rocky start in China with baths, but we wondered if the waves and sand would be a little scary for her --- well --- NO WAY!! She loved it!! She was ready to run in the waves with or without dads hand. She laughed the whole time (except the one time the wave caught her in the face -- but it didn't keep her down too long, she was right back in)

Loving the beach -- can you see that smile??


Wow!! Big waive -- but she kept on going!!

Mike and I are so excited that she loved the beach this much! The beach is the one place we try to make a point to visit every year. Usually a couple different beaches with friends of ours. We actually have a trip planned with our friends this September and can't wait!!!

She was so exhausted by the time we left the beach Sunday afternoon she slept for 2 hours in the car on the way home. And for those of you who don't know -- she NEVER likes to sleep in the car!!!

Sleeping on the way home.


Now, hopefully Mike got a little rest to start another week of crazy work ( he ended up working 11 hours yesterday) so maybe we'll have to plan a lot of "little get-a-ways" to keep him refreshed.

Melissa & Mike & Anne Marie

Father's Day Weekend

Our weekend started out with Mike's company picnic on Friday. So many people that Mike works with have been waiting to meet Anne Marie. They all have been so sweet with gifts and support as Mike and I were adopting. We had a cook-out and walked around visiting with people. She really LOVED the Schwan's Ice Cream they had there being handed out of the back of the truck!! One of Mike's co-workers even gave her a little stuffed dog that one of her kids had won at one of the carnival games. She just loved it -- she kept "woofing" all the way home in the car.


Anne Marie & Schwan's Ice Cream at the company picnic - YUM!


Anne Marie & her stuffed dog.

Then, Saturday, we went to a cook-out birthday party for some friends of ours. Anne Marie made a new friend (actually two if you count the sweet little boy that she kept begging to hold her -- isn't she too young to flirt w/ boys??? hee hee) She really put on quite a show. She was walking all over the place, showing everyone how she could sign please and thank you & more. She ate WAY TOO MUCH cake!! She was totally exhausted by the end of the night. She fell asleep on the way home!


Anne Marie & her new friend Emma taking a ride in the wagon.


The birthday boy & girl -- check out the size of that cake!! It was REALLY GOOD!!


Anne Marie flirting w/ a little boy @ the birthday party.


Finally Sunday was Father's day!! Mike's 1st Father's day. I was so excited that he was finally able to have his day! He's just a wonderful father and she is IN LOVE with him!! She bought him two books and a leather bookmark that has the word "LOVE" in Chinese & English on it. As many of us have said before who have adopted, I can remember sitting here two years ago during so many of the holiday's (Father's day included) that we were wondering if this would be the last holiday without our daughter. Well, finally!! 2007 is our year to have her here for ALL our holiday's. This child was SO worth our wait -- and God knew THIS child was the one for us!! So here's wishing Mike and every other father out there -- a (late) happy father's day!! I hope you enjoyed it as much as Mike did!!



Anne Marie bringing out daddy's gift for father's day Sunday morning.


Mike reading Anne Marie one of the new books he got. (the book is called: "I love my daddy because....")


Can you read the shirt?? (My daddy is handsome -- hee -- too cute!!)

Melissa & Mike & Anne Marie

Anne Marie's Dedication

This past Sunday (6/10) we had Anne Marie dedicated at Church. What a wonderful day!! We are just so blessed that God has given us this beautiful child. It means the world to us that we are able stand in front friends and family & show our intention to raise her with the full understanding of God's love for her. I can only hope that Anne Marie one day will understand the love that God has for her the way we have understood it through our adopting her. We picked a special verse that was put on her dedication certificate - It's a verse that is supposed to show our wish for her relationship with God & her future. It's just so exciting to think about the path that God has ready for Anne Marie. The verse was 1 Peter 5: 6-7. She did very well that day, we were a little worried that she might cry when our pastor took her in his arms and walked around with her, but when we got up at the front of the Church she waived at the whole congregation, and did really well with him, we were so proud!!!

Mike, Anne Marie and I at Church after her dedication.

After Church we had a cook-out at the house with my family, his parents, and some friends of ours. We just grilled out and ate outside since the weather was WONDERFUL!! A friend of mine that makes cakes and cookies made beautiful cookies for Anne Marie's lunch. They were so so so sweet!

The cookies that our friend Heather made for Anne Marie -little cross cookies & cookies made like a flower arrangement - aren't they too cute?!?!

Anne Marie, cousin Naomi, & best friend Avery eating lunch @ Anne Marie's new picnic table.

After everyone had their fill and talked for a bit, the kids were ready to run and play, so we broke out the bathing suits and the sprinkler & let them expel of some energy! They had so much fun!!!

Backyard Fun!!!

A very special Sunday that we will always remember!!

Melissa & Mike & Anne Marie

Another Visit With The Shartzer's!

What a fun Saturday we had!! We went to visit the friends of ours that adopted with us this weekend. I love that we live so close to them. We have formed such a wonderful bond from our paper-chase, to China and now as new parents. It's just great to be able to see Maggie grow!! She's gotten sooo tall! She's starting to crawl now, and talk a little, and is just so so sweet!!

The girls getting ready to drive through the zoo! Aren't they just too cute?

Well, we met up at the a local "drive-thru" safari type of zoo. It's the park where you are able to drive through the park and let the animals eat food from the car. We wondered how the girls would feel about very LARGE animals coming into the windows, but you know, they really thought it was quite interesting. We had a blast, I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard!

The animals coming through the windows of the car -- too funny!!!

They also had a little walk through area where we took the girls to see the babies and smaller animals up close. It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time!!

Pictures of the girls in the walking part of the zoo. Check out our "cool-cat" in her glasses!




Ok -- Mike might kill me for this, but this shows you that even adults can have fun @ these places!! (ha -- Mike's mama Kanga' and I'm baby joey! -- ha)

We have decided to plan more get-together's this summer & we can't wait!!!

Melissa & Mike & Anne Maire

A Family for 4 Months!!!!!

As we were sitting at the dinner table tonight having dinner as a family, Mike and I realized that today is June 5th ! It was 4 months ago (February 5th) when we were first able to take our little girl in our arms to love and care for her!! It actually brought tears to my eyes thinking back on the last four months. How special these thoughts were as tonight as our entire dinner time was filled with her wanting to give hugs and kisses every 5 seconds back and forth between her father and I. She would lean one way out of her high chair and lean towards me to hug and kiss, and then take a bite of food, then lean towards her father and repeat every 5 seconds for at least a half an hour!!! I have to say that we both probably received more hugs and kisses tonight than we have in the past 4 months! I just couldn't help but be brought to tears. This child has brought more joy to our lives than we could ever have imagined!!

Yesterday we took Anne Marie to a very special place that Mike and I share - Our Absolute Favorite Ice-Cream Shop!! The owners of the ice cream shop are members of our Church and last year their whole family became a huge support to our family, other families in our Church that are adopting, and the adoption ministry a few of us started in our Church. We have just been touched by them, more than they probably will know. She LOVED it!! (What child doesn't love ice cream??) She shared my blackberry ice cream AND daddy's dip cone! -- Of course we had to take the camera with us - you know I carry it in my handbag, because you just never know!!

Getting a taste of our favorite Ice Cream for the 1st time!!! YUM!!





Sitting outside after having a great treat -- can you see that smile?!?!

And finally -- the new hair-do .............. Can you stand how cute this child is with these little "sprouts" (as someone called them..) on top of her head.. hee heee

How cute is this hair ??

With Love,

Melissa & Mike & Anne Marie

Summer Time, Strawberries & The Lake

What a fun week we've had!!


First on Thursday we went to the local strawberry patch to pick fresh strawberries. Anne Marie loves strawberries, and there is just something different about fresh ones! Our friend Avery and Anne Marie have matching strawberry outfits, and we thought it would be cute to take their pictures out in the fields. At first she wasn't sure about it (see the picture of her crying) But after a while she was having a great time, eating strawberries, and as you can see by some of the pictures, getting them ALL OVER her outfit. (Thank heaven for Totally Toddler stain spray -- if you don't have it -- GO GET IT!!!!)










This holiday weekend (Friday & Saturday) we spent the night at our friends house who live near a nice lake. We cooked out, played games, and went to the lake. We weren't sure how Anne Marie would do @ the lake. As a lot of you know, she was afraid of baths for a long time, and had to slowly get into her little blow up pool the first 2 times we got it out. We were shocked and amazed at how much fun this child had. She wasn't afraid - not only not afraid, she made me afraid at how brave she was. She dunked her head, walked alone right out into the water, and let her dad toss her all around.






We can not wait until our beach trip this fall, I just hope she enjoys the beach as much as she did the lake. Mike and I enjoy the beach more than almost any other place on earth, so we're excited to see her enjoy water & the outdoors so much!!


I just love summer months and am so glad that we can finally enjoy all our little vacations with Anne Marie. I remember sitting at the beach last summer thinking how wonderful it would be to have her with us. I think I enjoyed the lake this weekend more than I ever have!


Melissa & Mike & Anne Marie