First Day of School

M is off to school, all by herself this year. She continues to attend 2 days a week at a Chinese immersion preschool with me, but is going to our public school preschool the other 3 days of the week. She loves both! She was super excited her first day at the public school. She marched in the building and didn't even look back. The second day I walked her to school she said, "Are you going to leave me there again today?" "Yes" I responded to which she hollered, "YEAHHH!!!" as she threw her hands up in the air. I had to smile. Yeah, she was ready to start school all on her own.

A trip to Navy* Pier*

One Saturday in August, John and I took M to Chinese school for a make-up class and then went on to Navy* Pier* for the Cirque* Shanghai* show.

Baba and M checking out the view of Lake Michigan*

These bug like costumes were my favorite. M would look so cute in one for Halloween, don't ya think?

This was impressive!

We've seen 3 different Cirque* Shanghai* shows over the years and they are always good.

Before leaving we grabbed some lunch and M took a couple of rides on Thomas*.

A good time was had by all!

Longabeger* Bee- July

Ok, really behind here! Where has the summer gone??????

At the end of July we headed to the Longaberger* Bee. It's a convention for Longaberger* consultants where new products are introduced and many good times are had.

We made a visit to Dresden*, home of the world's largest basket*, a Longaberger* basket of course!

One of the many fun things about the Bee are the Bee Boyz* These are regular Longaberger* employees 51 weeks a year, like basket makers, office personal, woodcraftsmen, etc., but when the Bee rolls around they are celebrities hamming it up for the masses. They dance, joke, entertain and are just plain fun to be around. Last year M was terrified of them. This year she told me she was not going to be afraid. Well, the first evening we headed into the convention center there they all were. They were dancing and posing for pictures. M was a little hesitant when one first approached her, but I reminded her she wasn't going to be afraid and that was all it took. As she sat to pose for her photo, she proudly showed them her purse and informed them it was a Longaberger*. As you can see in the pic, they got quite a kick out of that!

Here's my big girl with the Bee Boyz*.


Here are the Boyz in action on the big stage. This year they even had their own beehive. M got soo excited every time they came on stage.

During the convention there are displays set up showing new and existing products with ideas for usage. This garden market was M's favorite. She enjoyed playing with the market wares.

M and I at the Longaberger* Homestead*.

Blueberry Pickin'

Oh the blueberry goodnesss!!!!!!
M following her cousins into the blueberry field with her bucket tied around her waist.

M and her Nai Nai

Picking some big Blue Crop* berries

I'm not sure why she is making the weird face, but that's her bucket with almost 2 pounds of blueberries she picked!

All together we went home with about 10 pounds of berries. Baba made one batch of blueberry jam and the rest WE ATE! YUMMY!!!!

M and The Bean*

Ok, it's late and I just realized I loaded these pics in reverse order. Oh well! A few weeks ago, (more like a month) M and I went downtown to see a Chinese dance performance that was a part of Chinese Cultural week. It took place in Grant Park* where the famous Bean* is. I know The Bean* has a real name that the artist gave it, but have no idea what it is. It got dubbed, The Bean* and has remained so ever since. This is the first time I was up close to it and it is pretty neat. The whole thing is like a big mirror and you can walk underneath it.

Here is M standing under it checking herself out. She is holding a Monkey King* mask she made at the cultural festivities.
M in front

One of the performers we saw.

Another performance. M liked the dances so much that we stayed to watch them twice.

Travel Reunion- July

Ok, I know I am long overdue for a post! Sorry to those of you who have been checking faithfully. Things were crazy at the end of July. Also I have started using Photoshop for my pictures and although I do like the editing it is able to do, it's just not been easy to figure out how to use it. So I am behind on my editing and these photos are as taken.

We were priviliged to meet with 6 of the 12 families we traveled to China with for a reunion in Chicago during July. It was wonderful to see how God has transformed these families through the miracle of adoption. The girls have all grown soooo much and have adjusted soooo well. It was a great weekend. We share a bond with these families that is hard to explain. We have experienced such a range of emotions together during our adoption journeys that link us to one another in a unique way.

Our first day together, 3 of the families went to Pirate Cove Park. Here are M and A together on the playground.
Tiffany sliding down with her daughter R, and M riding down on MR's lap. MR is Tiffany's older daughter. It was a super fast slide!

The little Merry Go Round was so cute. It had minature size horses on it.

M, MR holding A and R posing on the playground.
After returning to the hotel and meeting up with the 3 other families that had arrived, the girls got reaquainted as they swam in the pool together. Later we all ordered pizza and hung out together.

The second morning we headed downtown. Here are R, Z, L, G and M waiting for the train at the station. They range in age from 2 1/2 to 4.

M and Z refusing to have any more pics taken on the train. M is sitting on Lao Lao's lap. My mom traveled with us to China and so was very happy to be able to join us for the reunion to see some of the girls again.

We took the Metra, the El, and the Subway and then hoofed it a few blocks to get to American Girl Place for lunch.

G, M R, L and Z after lunch. M was hamming it up for the cameras and totally stepped in front of R in her coupe to take center stage. One of the families along with all the men and boy folk went to check out the Sears(Willis) Tower while the ladies dined at AG.

After a walk to the Lego store to meet the other half of the group, we caught a trolley to Navy Pier. Some families rode the BIG ferris wheel. M thought the ride was pretty cool! We took the water taxi back to the train station and the last group of families made the train just in time!

Our third morning together, we were headed back downtown to Chinatown for Summerfair. First, of course we had to re-create the red couch photo from China on the pink couch at the hotel. The girls are wearing adorable panda jumpers created by Tiffany, R's mama. Tiffany was kind enough to send me a fabric swatch and some ric rac so I could create matching bows to accompany the dresses. The girls were really squished on the couch, but no one complained!

L and M in Chinatown playing with a silk umbrella. All the families were able to enjoy a group lunch together in a Chinatown restaurant. We also had plenty of time to shop all the vendors lining Wentworth street.

Opps! this one is out of order. This is the last evening together. The girls were playing London Bridges and really enjoyng it. Here M is being "locked up" by L and her big sister A.

One last group shot in Chinatown before getting on the train to head back. Do they look like they are tired of getting their pictures taken yet?????? R was crying due to being woken up for the photo. M is trying to comfort her by holding her hand. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to help poor little R.

We had such a great time with all the families. M is still talking about all her friends. We can't wait until next year when we plan to have a reunion in the Smokey Mountains! Fortunately we will have an opportunity to see some of the families before next year.

Happy 4th of July

We celebrated at the lake. The weather was perfect. We were joined by John's parents as well as mine. M got a few chances to practice her swimming skills. She is definately improving.
This is the same outfit she wore last year. It's a little bloomer set. I can't believe it still fit!

Here is M getting ready to decorate the boat for the "boat parade". We decided to use our decorations as props before putting them on the boat.

Towards the end M was getting a little cheesy!

Taking time to smell the roses.

Here is Baba, Lao Lao, M and Grandpa WaiGong driving the decorated boat.

M was our official flag waver.

Baba, M and Mama watching the fireworks, photo courtesy of Lao Lao. (It's nice to get to be in one once in a while!) The show was right on the lake so we sat on the pier to watch.

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!

And a special thank you to those who serve our country and protect our freedom!