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Violin recital

Hannah's Violin Recital

Pups

Everythings Amazing & Nobodys Happy

puppies

Puppies

Gotcha Day Anniversary

We are celebrating Hannah's "Gotcha Day" anniversary. It was 5 years ago today that this precious little girl was put in our arms. We are so blessed.

Fire Pit Fun

We are really loving our new house and the fire pit is a big bonus. Ron loves making fires and we enjoy spending time together making and eating smores.

Sister's enjoying yummy smores

A rare photo of just Ron and I

Dad and his girls

Wow it has been a while since I updated my blog but things have been a bit busy. We are enjoying our new house and location. The girls have so many friends to play with I almost never see them.

The girls are both enjoying school. Hannah says kindergarten is AWESOME. Molly is really adjusting to her new school well and is making friends. We are glad that we decided to retain her in 5th grade and moving to a different school district really worked out well (I like to call it a God thing). She is very intelligent and now after a year of ESL she is able to grasp what she is being taught.

The girls both have busy schedules: Soccer, violin, Kindermusik, swimming lessons, volleyball, Etc.

1st Day of School

Today is Hannah first day of Kindergarten. Dropping her off was harder than I had anticipated...I started crying as soon as I walked out of the room and I can't seem to stop. She has grown up so fast. Molly started school yesterday but only had a half day. She is at a new school this year as we moved to different school district but I think she is going to really like it. This will be Hannah's only day this week as they are having the kids meet in small groups until Monday when they will go all day everyday.

Blessings,

Bliss

Teeth Pulled

Braces

Molly got her lower braces today. She goes back in about 2 weeks to get an upper expander to increase her jaw size to correct the crowding she has with her teeth. It will take about 4 months for her jaw to be corrected before she can get her upper braces.

Blessings,

Bliss

It's been a While

The girls and I are back from China. So thankful that I got a chance to take Hannah back to her original SWI and share some of her culture with her. We had a great time with our team in China. I took about a thousand photos but have only so many I can share on my blog. Enjoy

Great Wall is a Challenge

Cute shot on the Great Wall

Sisters

The Great Wall is steep and tall...it is a work out

The girls & I on the Great Wall

Hannah and I on the very busy Great Wall.

Hannah at the Great Wall with the Olympic theme in the background

The girls and I at the Forbidden City

Waiting for our our guide as she went to get Hannah some mint for her raw throat

This is in the Forbidden City...it is a 4 star toilet...I didn't go in but I can just guess it stunk

Our guide Lilly and us at the Great Wall

Hannah and I on the Great Wall

Thumbs up for something Hannah would actually eat

One and only time on the trip Hannah ate some Protien...and it was this big huge rib

The team at the Yangtze River in Changsha (3,915 miles long)

Statue of Chairman Mao in his home city of Changhsha

The girls and I by the Yangtze River

Hannah insisted on taking my photo on the squatty potty

Squatty potties...suck but I couldn't resist a photo. Thank God you can't smell through the internet.

Tuckered OUT

Molly with our guide Lilly and the SWI director

Spoon Wars

The Chenzhou team...first mission team to visit the orphanage

Hannah with the SWI director...she is the woman that put Hannah in my arms nearly 5 yrs. ago

The team painted faces on the last day. As if Molly didn't already stick out in China

Molly with the Asst. SWI director

Molly as the Joker

Hannah with one of the nannies. Our timing was off as the nanny the cared for her was not there to see Hannah because she had just had a baby.

The girls at the entrance of the SWI (Social Welfare Institute ie: orphanage) This building also housed older Chinese folks...kind of like a retirement home for people without family.

Girls loved doing the chicken dance

A couple of the girls on our team organized a fun time of dancing with the children...so fun.

One of the Nannies looking at Hannah's referral photos. They all remembered her and were so excited to see how well she is doing. All we had to say was this is Chen Wen Shu and they got great big smiles and hugged her. She was the first child to return to the orphanage.

Hannah became fast friends with the oldest girl (12).

Molly and I ate a pigeon egg and it tasted like a sweet egg yolk

Room where Hannah's crib was

The old Chenzhou orphanage just behind the new one...this the building where Hannah was

Gate to the old orphanage where Hannah was abandoned at 1 day old

Molly with our guide Lilly and her nephew Carrie

Hannah with her favorite baby...she looked a lot like Hannah as a baby and was very content

It was so danged hot everyday...Hannah just about melted

Molly with her favorite baby in the toddler room.

The new Chenzhou SWI...it was gorgeous

Hannah in the baby room

Molly and I loved the chicken feet...they were like a sweet buffalo wing with lots of bones

Chicken feet...Molly and I had them for breakfast everyday

Molly's first experience with chopsticks and it was a bowl of noodles...challenging

Boarding the plane to Changsha