Snow Gurls

We got hit with a big snow storm today (big for Rhode Island) and everyone got a free day home!

The girls had lots of fun in the morning doing all kinds of crafty things.

They tried out some of their writing workbooks from Christmas.

Clara Rose dressed in layers-- Princess style!

Shortly after their nap, they were feeling a bit stir crazy-- and making mommy feel a bit crazier than she normally feels so Daddy and Ge Ge took the girls out in the snowy tundra that was once our backyard.

 Ge Ge built a snow tunnel for him and the girls to crawl through.

 Wow! Two Thumbs up for Ge Ge!

 Despite the snow, the girls managed to get in some fun on their swing set!

This is fun!



Snowy Hills

Sunday morning we woke up to about 3-4 inches of snow-- not so much that we were snowed-in, but enough to have a bit of fun with!

We decided to head early and take the 'gurls' for their first real sledding experience.

They really enjoyed it!

Nobody else was at the snowy hill so we had it all to ourselves.

We started off slow on a small hill.  

It didn't take too many trips before our little daredevils were zooming down head first!

 Nothing but smiles the whole way.

 Next up-- a bigger hill.

"Here We Come!"

"I wanna go again!"

 Wim and I were a bit surprised at their determination to have sledding fun-- we weren't sure how this was going to work out.

Each ride down the hill-- they grabbed their sleds . . .

 and headed back up the big snowy slope.

 It was so much fun-- even Daddy had a turn!

 AND MOMMY!

 The girls thought it was really funny for mommy to sled down the hill.

With more and more runs-- there were a few wipe-outs

 But that made it even more fun!

Nothing is more funny than watching your big bossy sister wipe out!

Birthday Party_Trial Run

Christmas is over-- life should settle down a bit to a slower pace-- right?

Not quite! January is time for Birthday Party Fun!

The girls had a super fun time at a gymnastics birthday party for one of their friends.

Josie and a friend trying out some of the smaller uneven bars.

Clara Rose getting her balance after jumping from daring heights. 

The Birthday Girl!

Josie showing off her jumping and landing skills!

 Not to be out done by her big Sis-- Clara Rose astounding us all!

 It was whopping good time!

 Clara Rose's friend Grace showing her how to swing on the bars.

 They amazed the crowd with their double stunts.

 All of the birthday gang lined up on the flat pad . . .

 that filled-up into a fun bouncing pad!

Josie is in the middle and Clara Rose is on end- right side.

 Everyone took turns jumping across-- Josie jumped super high!

 Clara Rose leading a trio of her friend across the pad.

 It was a super fun party and a great preview for Clara Rose--

 Next Up on the Birthday List. . .

I'm turning "Fee!" I gonna be a big gurl!

One Year Ago today

One year ago today was the day after the worst snow storm to hit Beijing and Tianjin China in 16 years.

On this day we drove through the very snowy streets of Tianjin, China to meet our youngest daughter for the first time and assume custody of her.

Words can harldy express the feelings one experiences in this situation-- excited, nervous, worried. Josie was beside herself in the van-- she knew this was something big-- HUGE and she was nervous.

So many adoptive families write about this day, the happiness, the joy. I cannot really convey those feelings. I am not really sure what we felt.

Clara Rose, Rao Rao, was living with a very loving foster family. She had a Mama, a Baba, a Ge Ge (big brother), and a Jie Jie (big sister). Meeting us was not a happy day for her-- and witnessing her heartbreak was not a happy moment for us either.

A feeling of joy is not what I would use to describe this moment, this day. I am still looking for the right description. I am no poet, so I guess bitter sweet is as good as it gets for a descrtiptor from me. It still seems to fall short.



Our first glimpse of Clara Rose. She was inside the glass doors of the SWI. Her Foster Mama was holding her hand.
I wonder what emotions she was feeling on this day-- the grief, the heartache, the worry  . . .
Clara Rose's family brought her to the SWI the day we assumed custody of her and they refused to leave before we arrived. It is because of their actions that we-- that Clara Rose will be able to have a relationship with them.

Wim and I questioned adopting Clara Rose, because it was so obvious that she already had a family who clearly loved her. Meeting and talking with her family helped us to know that we were doing what was best for Clara Rose Rao Rao, as well as for our family.

We do not "celebrate" adoption day-- we acknowledge it, reflect upon in it. We give thanks that Clara Rose had and continues to have such a loving foster family in China.

We are grateful to have Clara Rose in our family-- in our life.

I will not say blessed though, to say that we are blessed implies that we are more deserving than a different family and this is not true.

Happy Zhu Zhu Year!

Happy New Year to all our family and friends out in blogland. New Year's Day was like another mini Christmas for the "gurls."

Sine we were unable to get together with the fam over Christmas due to the snow storm, we all exchanged presents at the family New Year party.

Clara Rose and Josie were/are more than delighted with their new Zhu Zhu pets and world

 from their Nie Nie.

 A sweet pict of cousin Nate and his Daddy.

 Wim getting a nice vest from his mom.

 I think one of the gurls took this picture of me-- trying to talk them while opening a zhu zhu pet box.

It was a bit chaotic!

 Uncle Steve enjoying the food-- another wonderful pict by one of the gurls.

 Cousin Ethan showing Josie how the zhu zhu pets work.

 Clara Rose blowing kisses to her, "pupel mouse."

 Josie scratching her zhu zhu's belly. She named her pet Sammy.

 It was another day of frenzied present opening--

then all of the kids went upstairs and played hide-n-seek-- no presents involved!

 Clara Rose took this picture of Uncle Martin-- our Party Host.

 This morning the gurls started their day playing a Zhu Zhu game.

See their 'lil babies' in their beds watching the game.

 Clara Rose showing off her baby, "MY pupel mouse."

 Josie and her little baby, "Sammy."

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Happy New Year.

May 2011 be filled with lots of love, good times, good health-- all that good stuff!