1st Family Day Reunion

February 18, 2009 was our One Year Family Day. We can hardly believe Adelyn has already been here a year. We celebrated with our travel families. Everyone was able to make the trip except for one family. We all decided that Louisville was the most central location for the group. We had a celebration party Saturday with lunch, cake, arts/crafts, music, dancing and just catching up on happenings throughout the past year. We dined at Lynn's Paradise Cafe that evening then came back to the conference room in the hotel for storytime. After breakfast the next morning, we said goodbye to some then swam for a while before checking out. We ate lunch with the Bakers at the North End Cafe before driving home. Adelyn is still talking about her China friends.

We feel so blessed to have such wonderful travel families. It's really interesting that we don't really know alot about each other since we were all so preoccupied with our babies while in China but we feel so close anyway.

All the girls have changed so much and are so happy and expressive now. I tear up when I think about that moment that we all shared with each other as our daughters were handed to us in the large, extremely loud Consulate room. What a frightening day for them. But look at them now.......

Amelie

Cara

Audrey

Grace

Alivia

Emma

Adelyn

Sacha

We had to include this picture 1) because it's so cute and 2) because Audra will be growing up with all these Chinese girls!

1 Year Ago on the Red Couch!

Famous red couch picture (orange in this case) reunited.

Rachel made these awesome photo books of the past year in review for everyone.

Adelyn loved the ladybug hats but decided to skate on them instead. Sorry Tom and Karla!!!

Playing abracadabra with Grace's Mom, Jennifer. Grace gave the girls beautiful handmade bookmarks along with a special book. Thanks, Grace!

Having fun at Lynn's Paradise Cafe!

Daddy having fun too (without the camera).

Brrrrr! Adelyn was shivering but didn't want to get out!

Stretching and bedtime stories

Lil' Buddies huggin' at lunch-getting ready to say bye-bye.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

February 14th sure was a "sweet" day for us this year!

ICE STORM 2009

Luckily, our landscaping didn't suffer much damage from the ice.

Two huge bradford pears planted by Don at our old house 15 years ago were not so lucky!

We wanted to share a few pics and experiences over the last 2 weeks as we weathered the ice storm. We were without power for 6 days but thankfully had wonderful family to take us into their homes. We spent one night at home without heat. We were able to use a propane camping stove to cook some things, but we decided it was just too cold for Adelyn. We stayed with Dennis and Michelle for the next 3 nights, then stayed with Doug and Debbie for the remaining 2 nights. We are so thankful to them for sharing their homes to make us comfortable!

Cousin Lauren teaching Adelyn about Ipod technology. (Yikes!!)

"Uncle" Shell (Aunt Michelle)

Uncle Dennis trying to check his email.

Adelyn thought we were on vacation during the whole ordeal.

One night during our stay with Uncle Doug and "Uncle Ebbie" (Aunt Debbie), Adelyn wanted a snack. Aunt Debbie gave her 5 mini oreos. Adelyn didn't eat them right away. She shared 3 of them with us before eating the remaining 2. She is a very generous child. We hope she continues to learn the meaning of sharing and generosity.

After we returned home, my sister, Gracie and her family came over during the next couple of afternoons to warm up. She and her husband Paul have 5 children and still do not have electricity. It has been 10 days since the storm. They have proven to be one resilient family to pull through so many days without power. We are praying that they have heat soon!

Uncle Paul and Nemo having tea with Adelyn

Playing with cousin Laken

Posing with cousins Bradley, Jared, Michael and Christian