Lindsay now has a job (for the summer, anyway). She is working for Neil in 'the family biz', which is guaranteed to ensure she goes to college since who really wants to take over the family business?!?! Now that she has a job and a paycheck, the next step was a checking account. Lindsay is putting 1/2 of her earnings in her checking account and 1/2 in her savings account. In approximately 5 days she should receive her debit card.

Looking over the bank documents

Getting started on her checkbook

Lindsay (who is now on the cell phone and refusing to take any more photos...bratty teenager!) with her dad, Neil


Wow. They grow up so fast!

Mary

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Neil has a theory that children who will be...ummm...a bit more 'naughty' are made by God to be especially adorable. In essence, the cuter the kid, the more you better watch out! Interestingly, I am beginning to think he may just be on to something with that theory.

I will never forget walking into the conference room in Wuhan, Hubei and seeing Sophie in person for the very first time. The first thing that Neil said was, "Uh-oh. She is REALLY cute. I think we may be in trouble!"

He was right.

So, fast forward to present day and I decide to take some candid shots of The Littles. Just as I SNAP my camera I catch Miss Naughty Pants in action. Check out her left hand. Yup, after polishing off a bag of mini-marshmallows, she proceeds to TOSS THE TRASH UP AND OVER THE COUCH! I had been finding random trash behind the couch, but I couldn't figure out where in the world it was coming from. Now I know!




I immediately say, "Ah-ha, Sophie! I CAUGHT YOU, and I have it all on film!" Livie begins cracking up (nothing makes a sibling happier than to see their sibling getting busted! LOL).

Ooops! Did I just throw the trash over and behind the couch?! Silly me!

Sophie picks up her trash...


...and throws it in the trash.

Good girl, Sophie!

Mary

Celebrating Our Forever Family

On June 6, 2005, in a small town called Fuling, Chongqing, China, we were united with Fu Ai Man...who became our Olivia Grace AiMan. Almost 2 years to the day later - on June 18, 2007 - in Wuhan, Hubei, China we were united with Lin Xu...who became our Sophie MeiXu. What an incredible journey we began back in 2004! I never in a million years could have imagined how full and blessed our family would become with the addition of these two precious girls. I thank God every day for the blessings of my children - both those who came to us by birth as well as those who came to us through adoption. Today we celebrate our family, and in particular the miracle of adoption known as Forever Family Day.

We began the day with spending time with some of our friends and their children at Chuck-E-Cheese, with I swear is also known as H*ll On Earth! While The Littles LOVED it, I thought it was perhaps the longest two hours of my life!

PHOTOS OF MY TIME SERVED AT CHUCK-E-CHEESE H*LL:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Off to a Polynesian restaurant called Mai Kai for our celebratory dinner and a show!

Neil & Chris

Lindsay brought one of her BFF's, Madison

Livie & Sophie in the Mai Kai garden. Sophie had fallen asleep in the car and is clearly unsure of what in the world is going on! Bless her heart!

Sophie made a new friend. ;o)

Me with Chris & The Littles

My homeboys

Chris hits on a cute little Polynesian girl

...and she takes my breath away...

Enjoying the show

"Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone, But still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, You didn't grow under my heart - but in it."
Author: Fleur Conkling Heylinger

Mary