Dance Dance Dance

We debated this winter about taking Hope to dance class...we opted to just play at home. :)
3/8/09

More Museum

Since Ron posted a few photos, I thought I'd add a couple more...just a very quick crop...no editing and not very high quality...

We had a fun time visiting with "Clippard and EmmyBeth." :)

Children's Museum

Today we went on a fun family outing.























It had been about a year since we'd been to the Minnesota Children's Museum and heard that Clifford was there so we had to go.

Just 4 Fun

Here are a few more fun photos of our cute "Valentine."
This first one is from church that weekend. Hope is forcing her smile a bit, but I still think it's a pretty cute picture. :)

Grandpa took these next three one afternoon when we came to pick Hope up after work.



And this video just makes me smile. Hope has three main canines in her life. Ella is our 115 lb. Newfie/Lab mix who has a deep "woof." Stella belongs to Mark and Andria and is a less than 10 lb. Shi-Poo who pipes up with a piercing "bark-bark." George is the "bow-wow" Beagle who lives across town with Brian and Tami. Too funny. :)

Fashion Show

2/21/09
I started pulling some things out of Hope's closet that she hasn't worn in a while. Also, it is time to start making some room for the next batch of hand-me-downs. I have bins to go through when I have some time. Although, it sounds like we're going to be cold here again this week so I guess there is really no rush. Anyway, you know clothes on the floor are fair game, right. :) Hope thought she should try each piece on and walk around the "loop" (kitchen, dining room, living room) modeling for us. I can't believe how quickly she outgrows things!

Photos from the "sweater/sweatshirt/coat" series...

This post is brought to you by the letters...

H...



...and ILY



Happy Valentine's Day 2009!

(YES!!!! We make Hs here! I just about came out of my skin on Wednesday night when Hope and I were making valentines. I heard, "One line. Two lines. Swoop." Sure enough....voilá!)

These are the flowers Ron brought home for his Valentines yesterday. So pretty!

CNY Wrap Up

Well, CNY 2009 has come to an end. We had so much fun this year. Here are some final photos of our last two celebrations.

1-30-09
SIL Lisa and our two nephews came over for dinner. We had a great evening, yummy food, red envelopes for the kids, and a little extra happy noise in the house.

I took these first two while I was getting the veggies ready for the stir fry. I had to get a shot of that cute ponytail. Hope thought she was pretty hot stuff doing her own veggie prep, too.


Hope is blow drying her hair here with the Little People Pet Shop dryer. :)

Hope and Aunt Lisa

Cousins





2-8-09
The Midwest FCC Chapter hosted an event last Sunday. It was so fun to see so many happy children
celebrating with their families. It is so important for us to attend things like this...to be around other transracial adoptive families....for Hope to play with other Chinese children...for us to honor Hope's culture by celebrating the most important holiday of the year. What a fun afternoon!

Crafts & Games



This is Emma with Ron and Hope - We actually met her and her family last October when we were on our north shore vacation. It was so much fun to run into them again.





So much for tossing. :)

This was a little different than fishing with Daddy and Grandpa.


Mattea, Charlotte, & Hope had a good view of the fireworks at the end of the afternoon.



Hope going for a "ride" on her balloon puppy on our way out the door.

Our Precious Girl - She had so much fun running around with all the kids.

I may just have to frame this one.

Blessings and prosperity to you in the year of the Ox!