Irish Dancing

Anna and Kate's Irish Dancing recital was Wednesday night.  It was so fun to see what they've been learning this year.  The dance school is run by one of the daughters of the wonderful Wood Family.  The school is still in its infancy and is very family-friendly.  They don't compete.  Everyone is welcome.  Low key is perfect for us right now!  I can see this school taking off, though, and hope that more families join.

Kate's in the 1st class and she just has fun with it.  Right now, she's dancing in soft shoes, but if she keeps at it, as Anna has, she can move up to the 2nd class and start hard shoes.

  
Anna has completed 3 years of Irish Dancing.  The first year was hard for her.  She was (is) very shy and I feel that this year she finally is enjoying herself.

This year she also started on hard shoes, which I think has made dancing even more interesting for her!

Good jobs girls!!  We look forward to next year!!

Kate already changed out of her costume!

Isabel's Birthday

Isabel's birthday is at the end of this month.  We are sending her a birthday care package this week and hope it will get to her soon.  We have to send it to the orphanage and then we are not quite sure how they will get it to the foster family.

The candies are for the foster family.  We don't know if there are other foster children in the home, but if so we wanted them to have some treats.  Also, we are sending the foster mom some nice lotion.  I've included a disposable camera to have the family take pictures of our little girl over the next few months.  The idea is that they will give us the used camera when we get her so that we can have the pictures developed when we get home.  The adoption agency kindly supplied us with the instructions in Ch*nese to send with the camera. : )

Sending lots of love with this package to our daughter!

Awesome Fundraiser!

Just want to let you know about an awesome fundraiser for an awesome family.  They are bringing home 2 treasures from Ch*na very soon!  Check out Jennifer's blog and give to their ChipIn for a chance to win an Ipad and other great prizes.  But hurry... the giveaway ends this Tuesday, June 12th!!  Good luck!!

Our Daughter

Our adoption journey has been many years in the making.  All those years of dreaming, praying, enduring disappointments, and waiting has got us here.

Meet Isabel TaiYu...

Isabel is now 11 months old and living with a foster family in Ch*na.  She is fearfully and wonderfully made with some orthopedic special needs and developmental delays.  There is a great story to tell about how God worked out some amazing details years ago.  I'm working on that post and will share it soon.  For now, we are just so thrilled to share our daughter with you all!  We love you, Isabel TaiYu, and can't wait to bring you home!!

My Boy Scouts

I've always referred to my husband as my "Boy Scout."  He is the most honest, kind and helpful man I know.  Well, now my son is officially a Boy Scout.  How sweet it was to see my husband, the "Boy Scout" present my son with his Scout badge.  Love those boys!

The Beast

Well, we did!  We traded in our minivan for a 12-passenger van.  With 4 children in car seats/boosters seats (once our daughter comes home), there was NO WAY we'd fit in the old minivan.

We're in the big league now!!  I officially look like I'm driving a day care or preschool van.  It's not any bigger than my husband's truck, but all I can say is thank goodness for parking sensors! : )

Meet the Behemoth:

(No, this is not the great news that I mentioned in my last post.  That post is coming soon... I promise!)

News

I am bursting to share the news.  I cannot share it yet... hopefully next week...  ohhhhh, it's just so wonderful!! : )