a not-so-typical event

(this is from last Sunday... no new pictures and I hate not having pictures at the top of posts)

At school today we had a tornado drill. Except it wasn't a drill... it was real. What would you call that? A real tornado drill? But it's not a drill... oh well, whatever it's called. Our first lunch starts at 11:30 and we weren't even upstairs (we don't have a cafeteria... we eat in class rooms) before our principal came on the intercom saying there was a tornado like 7 minutes away and so we needed to go in the hall and do what we do for drills. So all 250 something of us gathered in the halls of our not-so-large school for the next hour and 5 minutes. We came up with all these random games to play, sitting in our very uncomfortable positions. This is going to sound so bad, but I was bummed we didn't have a class during it! Second lunch people missed their entire 5th period class. We missed our whole lunch and half of our next class. Thankfully, they let us eat our lunches (probably not the best idea during a tornado warning, but oh well). So there we were, sitting toward the wall, eating lunch. Finally the tornado warning passed and we went back to the normal day at like 12:35. (By the way.. it never touched down it was just passing through. I think it actually touched down in other parts... but not by us.)

Other than that, it was a normal day. Track practice was cancelled, which was nice. So I got to come home a little earlier than normal and play choo choo with AnnaClaire. Pretty fun!

Two [point] Five.

My sweet baby girl,
As of today, you are two and a half! You have grown so much in our time together! I cannot believe how big you have gotten. It truly is hard for me to believe that you are 2.5. Two and a half used to seem so old. There really is a difference between 2 and 2 1/2. And now you, my sweetie, are 2.5! It's hard to believe that 6 short months ago, you turned two... seems like ages! And then I look at pictures of you last year on this day... turning 1 1/2. How much you have grown since THEN! You were such a baby then! Now you are a beautiful, outgoing, precious, darling, crazy toddler! However, no matter how big and old you get, you will always be my baby. No matter how old you are. I love you so much arch we had and am so thankful that God place you in my life to be my SISTER. You mean more to me than you will ever know.
I love you forever!
Sissy

[note: she looked so cute for church today but I didn't get a chance to get a picture because after Church we had a luncheon and once we got home, she was too tired for pictures. However, after her nap, she found some change and wanted to put it in her bank. She even found "six dollars" (what she calls a dollar bill) and put that in her bank, too. Oh and did you notice her little braid in one of the pictures? she had fun with that! So here's some pictures from our afternoon. She is so sweet... can't believe she's 2 and a half!]

Who Am I?

Okay, so I realize most people reading my blog know about me. But then I was thinking that unless you followed my original blog (www.emilysmeimei.blogspot.com) you might not know anything about me... So. My name is Emily and I turned 15 at the end of March. I'm a freshmen at a private, Christian high school nearby. I have two older brothers- Drew, a sophomore in college and Will, a junior at the same school I go to. I obviously also have a little sister, AnnaClaire, who was adopted from Hunan, China over 16 months ago. (LID: 7/22/06, DOR: 7/25/06, LOI: 8/11/06, TA: 11/20/06 Family Day: 12/11/06). We are now awaiting the [sn]referral of a second Chinese princess who will be known as Kate. (DTC: 12/14/07, LID: 12/19/07) I was able to go to China with my family, and it was such an unforgettable/amazing trip. I am already looking forward to going back for Kate!

International adoption is my passion and I love following websites and blogs people who have the experience of adoption. Needless to say if you're on the blog, make sure to comment and I'll check our your blog as well!

email- emilyh331@gmail.com

PS pictures of our 2 1/2 year old girl are coming later! Stay tuned!

Just Two.

If there's one thing she has brought to us in 16 months together, it is JOY.

If you asked how old she was this week, she would answer "Two October and almost a half!"

my love

my beautiful ballerina

Still the infamous, cheesy smile that we have known since Family Day! She only gets more beautiful/grown up everytime she does it :)

Today is the last day that my sweet Annaboo is just 2. Tomorrow, is her half birthday and from then on she will never just be "two". When people ask how old she is, we'll say 2 and a half. I don't know why this even matters to me. Maybe because right before/after AC turned two, I remember seeing 2.5 year olds and thinking there was such a difference between 2 and 2.5. Maybe because since we didn't have AnnaClaire by her first birthday, her 18 month birthday was kind of like her birthday celebration. Maybe just because 2.5 seems old. Either way you look at it, my sweet, beautiful, amazing, Asian beauty is no longer just two. She's offcially two and a half... a toddler full of spunk, spirit, and fun! Can't wait to see what the next 6 months have in store for us! I leave you with pictures... the last pictures of being just two and nothing else.

Have a good night! (PS... these are all from tonight. We were dancing and she wanted to wear her tutu and then I was trying her sweet little Chinese girls dress on! Love it!)

My beauty.

Out of the mouth of the princess...

"Don't be bossy, Daddy!!"

The other day, AnnaClaire was sitting on the rug wearing all the goodies that her friends brought her this weekend. One of her favorite little gifts was her "lipstick" (chapstick). So she was sitting there putting it on when Dad came in from work. Shortly after, he said, "Don't put on so much lipstick! It's all over your face!" AnnaClaire looked at him and smiled to which she replied exactly what is written in the italics. Oh, AnnaClaire.

By the way... today marks 500 days with our Annaboo! I love you, sweet girl!

Forever and Always Friends!

"Amazing" would be an understatement to describe our weekend. It truly was a time well had by all and I thank the Lord for putting such good friends into our life. People we would never even know, he put in our lives because we have something in common... adoption. So on with our weekend...

Robin and Maddy arrived on Thursday evening. I already posted about Thursday night, so check a few posts down for pictures. But anyway, the girls were cute. They were only together a couple hours before bedtime, but they enjoyed taco soup, playing on our swing/slide thingy, playing dolls, etc. They were so cute together! Jeanette and Elizabeth were supposed to get in later, but they ended up getting stuck in Baltimore and got here on Friday morning. Before they got there, AnnaClaire and Maddy went on our trampoline. We've had it for years, but AnnaClaire had never been on it. Needless to say, they had a BLAST. They jumped so much and got filthy from all the black on the trampoline (luckily it came off with just a little water!) Soon, Elizabeth and Jeanette arrived. How fun it was when the doorbell rang and sweet Elizabeth and her mom were on our front step! Elizabeth is so sweet. She is teeny-tiny. AnnaClaire looked huge next to her! Maddy was a little bit taller than AC, but a lot thinner. Anyway, the three little ones read books for awhile, played makeup, played on the swing/slide thing, and played kitchen. (With a few snack breaks to eat the delicious Chinese snacks that Jeanette brought!) Then we had lunch. After lunch they played more with the kitchen. It was definitely a hit. One, two, or all three were constantly at the kitchen... They also all loved AnnaClaire's cutting food. AnnaClaire was very good sharing, although she had to have a few reminders. Overall, I was amazed at how well she shared all her things. Sometimes she would even point our that she was sharing :). We went back outside and jumped on the trampoline, took turns swinging, and pushed the lawn mower before nap time.









Shortly after the three princesses awoke, we headed off to Jeanette R's house for a pizza dinner! She had little bags for each girl with ladybug sunglasses, panda bears, a bow, chalk, etc. The girls quickly became in love with their pandas! Robin also had sweet gifts for every girl with all sorts of summer goodies in little purses! (Thanks again!!) Jeanette R had prepared a delicious meal for us and we had a very fun time. We also got to see the "bow factory". Should never have gone in there... way too much CUTE ribbon!!! :) Anyway, after dinner, Alex, Christopher and I played wii. AnnaClaire, Maddy, and Elizabeth were so interested in the wii and loved watching. We all had so much fun at dinner. Can't wait until little Sara Beth is home to play, too! We were there until after 8! On the way home, I was dropped off at a friends house to spend the night before driver's ed on Saturday morning.





Drivers Ed was NOT fun. 6.5 hours of a small room with 60+ people from 14.5-18 is not exactly what I love to do on a Saturday. I didn't get back home until after 3. All the girls were napping and I heard all about their morning adventure to "squirrels park". They had fun! We had to wake AnnaClaire up from her nap close to 5, and got a picture of her with Will before prom. Yes, in the midst of all our fun, Will's prom was on Saturday! Dad and I went to one of the girl's houses to take prom pictures. Will said prom was very fun.








Right when I got home, Jeanette R had gotten to our house and all the ladies enjoyed On the Border while I babysat the little ones. All three were VERY good. Jeanette had little gift bags with nail polish, bracelets, and lipgloss. We did manicures and pedicures, played "choo choo" around the house, played outside in the house, and spent awhile in the bathroom! Elizabeth even went tinkle on the potty for the first time!! The girls never let go of their chapstick, which they called lipstick. All three were obsessed with it. They also wore their bracelets, which were also a huge hit. Jeanette knows just what two year old girls will like :). (Thanks again!) I can actually say that we were having so much fun, that know one even realized the garage went up and everyone's mommies were home! Jeanette R spent awhile with us and we all talked and the little girls went night night.






On Sunday morning, we dressed all the little ones for Church. They all looked so pretty in their Sunday school dresses! We even got a few pictures by the azaleas before we had to go! The girls all did look so cute! Maddy and AC went in the nursery. I helped in it, just in case. They both had so much fun at did great. It was fun to see what AnnaClaire does in there, because I have not been in the nursery since right when she got home! We were probably quite the site walking out. All the girls in mommies were in a line walking hand in hand. So sweet. We then headed to Pei Wei and had a great lunch. It was enjoyed by all and all the girls showed off their skill with chopsticks. I was amazed that they could all use them! (I never even knew AC could actually get food with hers, but she did!) We even got to go to Starbucks afterwards, which was fun. It started raining just as we left... perfect napping weather! Maddy and her mom left after naptime to go see Robin's sister (who lives nearby) for dinner. The weather had cleared up, so Elizabeth, AnnaClaire, Mom, Jeanette, and I went on a wagon walk and played outside. They both loved the wagon ride. It was so cute because they were just talking away the whole ride. I have no idea what they were saying, but they were happy, whatever it was! We got home and had dinner on the porch before more playing. Soon Maddy got back and the third girl was back in the mix! Elizabeth took a bath and Maddy and AC then decided they wanted one, too. So they then went in the tub and had so much fun together. AnnaClaire would wash Maddy's hair and then Maddy would wash AnnaClaire's hair. They also loved pouring water on eachother's legs and arms. We heard lots of giggles coming from the bathroom. All the girls went to bed while we all talked.






Then this morning we had to say by to Robin and Maddy at about 9. They had a 9 hour drive back to Ohio. It was sad to see them go, but we will see them again soon! Jeanette and Elizabeth packed all their stuff and we headed to Chickfila for lunch and playing. The girls loved their chicken and even got to have some ice cream for desert. We played outside for a long time and they had so much fun on all the play equipment! They played for a long time before Jeanette and Elizabeth had to go on their way. Elizabeth and AnnaClaire had lots of kisses and hugs before we left, as did we all.







We got home to a quiet house. It was sad. AnnaClaire heard the garbage truck come and wanted to see it. So we went outside and watched it and waved to all the garbage truck people. While she watched it, she did some chalk. Ben (Will's friend who AnnaClaire absolutely loves) came by with Will and AnnaClaire gave him a piece of chalk and wanted him to draw with her. After they left again, we went back inside and AnnaClaire has been napping since. I miss having 3 little girls in the house... it was definitely a fun weekend and I am already looking forward to when we can get together again!! Every just had so much fun. And.. it was so fun to see all the girls personalities. They are cute in pictures, but they are even cuter when you get to meet them and see their sweet personalities! We love you Elizabeth, Maddy, Jeanette, and Robin! Can't wait till next time!!!


Oh and AnnaClaire? Well she just had a blast. She is exhausted from all her playing and fun times with friends. All day she rubbed her eyes and said, "I'm tired", although she slept awhile last night. She has been napping for 3 hours and is still asleep at 5:00!

...Hours later... So here's some pictures to recap the weekend. This is probably enough, however I have to many more cute ones... maybe I'll do a couple of slide shows at some point with more. We really had a great weekend and the pictures DON'Tr do it justice!