Birth Defects increase in China

A significant rise in birth defects in China,
http://www.lwbcommunity.org/birth-defects

Domestic Adoptions Increase in China

Domestic adoptions are on the rise in China.
http://www.lwbcommunity.org/domestic-adoption-on-the-rise

The Adoption of Boys in China

More boys are available from China than ever before.
http://www.lwbcommunity.org/the-adoption-of-boys

Changing Attitudes about China Adoptions

Part 2 of an excellent series about China adoptions.
http://www.lwbcommunity.org/changing-attitudes

The Changing Face of China Adoptions

Read this excellent article from Love Without Boundaries if you would like to learn more about adopting from China.  The process has changed a lot in the last 10 years.
http://www.lwbcommunity.org/the-changing-face-of-chinas-orphans

A Red Thread

There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says:

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break."

Wow! 2012!

Another year past! 2012 was great.  Rachel is 7 and started 1st grade.

We took our first trip to Disney in the fall of 2010

We took our second trip to Disney in the fall of 2011

We went to Hershey, PA and Wildwood, NJ in the summer of 2012

Rachel turned 7 and started 1st grade

Highlights of 2011

Where has the time gone?  I just can't keep up!  2011 was a fun year!

Rachel finished preschool

 Rachel turned 6!

Rachel started Kindergarten

 And we had an exchange student from South Korea- Yi Seul

Summer Summer Summer!

This has been such a fun (and hot!) summer. We did a lot of fun things and we went swimming a lot too. Rachel really turned into a water baby this year.

Playing soccer

Picking strawberries

Cleveland Zoo

Idlewild & SoakZone

Swimming lessons

Akron zoo

COSI

Birthday party!

2010 where have you been?

Yikes I've been neglecting this blog! Here's a re-cap of the first half of 2010, enjoy!

January was Disney On Ice with Papa & Mamu- which meant cotton candy of course!

February we went to Great Wolf Lodge- it was fun to swim inside with 80 degrees and snow coming down outside!
In March we went to the Akron Zoo on a rainy day to see Animal Enrichment Day- the tigers had a great time!

In April Rachel had her gymnastics Spring Show at Riverfront Y!

And Rachel started riding the bus to school!

June meant last day of school- boy the year went by fast!

Merry Christmas

We celebrated early with my family on December 19- then we went to church on Christmas Eve. Rachel was thrilled to sing her two favorite songs- "Hark the herald angels sing" and "Away in a manger". Santa did bring the hair salon- all is good! Have a very merry Christmas!

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Trees and Santa

We went to see the holiday tree festival and Rachel asked Santa for a "salon".

Thanksgiving

Rachel made some neat candle holders at school and my 92-yr-old grandma was here.

Trick or Treat!

Rachel was Belle- she loved it!

Fall is...

Pumpkin farm, leaves, Boo at the Zoo, hikes, Halloween parties, Trick or Treat!

Apple Orchard

We went to Beckwith Apple Orchard today with Rachel's class and it really rained. So we had an inside apple orchard tour. It was still pretty fun but cold. Rachel was happy to see all her school friends.

We have also been doing the Fall Hiking Spree, but we've fallen behind already- only 5 more to go to get our walking sticks.

Tooth Fairy

My poor baby girl had to have her tooth pulled today and we didn't even get to keep it. We had to write the Tooth Fairy a note instead.

Whew! It's September already!

Wow- I'm kind of behind on the updates- so here's a bunch at once!

Rachel's 4th birthday party- she wanted a princess theme again and a pinata!

First day of school- 2nd year of preschool- same school, new teacher.

Four year old check-up- she doesn't look too happy does she?

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to my 4 year old sweetie and happy back to school day too!

Trip to the Salon

I took Rachel to get her back-to-school haircut- she really enjoyed the salon.