tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35163560955032124402024-03-05T01:33:48.500-06:00Family of Four"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break." -- Ancient Chinese beliefdavgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-64254061563390214702012-02-17T14:01:00.002-06:002012-02-17T14:01:55.138-06:00San DiegoWow...it's been a while since I've posted....sorry!<div><br /></div><div>We headed to San Diego for a long weekend to see Bill's parents who winter in Yuma, AZ (about 3 hours from San Diego). The weather was great - mid 70's, blue skies, brigh<span>t and sunny. San</span><span>Diego is quite beautiful with a small-town feel to a bigger city. The first full day there, we drove through the mountains to get to Bill's parents place. They were the most a</span><span>rid, rocky </span><span>mounta</span>ins I have ever seen.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoa7xmlRjCP0XnCsEPjsEvfTCN4MylHPjKymd1-_-ErOZeN5jkYr1Yvjk6n-gLfOFloHhQSwA04KMkrmwFHBP5dxUGWVrcgcpHr5psOWF1GIAPPQnfEBDpjvDma3qqSOGMRiTiaMZwpM/s320/80-mtn_spring.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710191854960577474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 220px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMcSmCIWWcJ7JJn-aJE5s8uMiwt65-CUaYYT3HMQhVlLyyFDhITqDMojIHCvwl7dZL9fZ-e5C4hB_A97Tfp6EbuFYRO2rhY6vhdJR231CgxfJeev4_rJK302Nvzr6U0L3as-lpys7_q4/s320/80-mtn_sprng_old_rd.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710191857157344866" style="cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 220px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>The next day, we headed to the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Not only is it one of the top zoo's in the world, it is also a registered botanical garden. It was absolutely beautiful and someplace that should everyone should see at least once. They are also one of 4 zoo's in the world that house the Giant Pandas from China, and have also been successful in breeding them.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1LIp1MG8Da_N8bnaJVphJ6dVvB7JJyWPHhUP0AsOOG88m8WyfbXyyAkjrLpRYt2WPrtTQszBGXhe9ECkL2sWvybZN0wcHVkIseOTkrG-lYTeAejaeWXvcrSJBdFzKNo6lt5zPReWgos/s320/IMG_0624.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710194074279597138" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXphYXawKEsDw-Hw-lj5Lz2lrF9RaKFWHp9bpBHh7qtAyqZPPQcJa9l0IiONBEEByp-1bZCCYpYgko1tuBWXfB_nkArOWfNrZxbsMuul1R_MzFxv3LgFOr2nU1TgolZzeUKoQs9Q9yiU/s320/IMG_0635.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710193495102609042" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFJ8rI_K6dtvalFwkrHqmsFMnm1zEfpO7kw87qQC4pgpRYVCje_dI8r832d6c3IvPV08XJJQ9gsfUJN7OANgEug4qsK5Ew6LTOHrCLdzM-S0kaqQwURpwo41j-VaI5iSfuTbV4QoGo3U/s320/IMG_0627.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710193500097828594" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfr4g22dBlOHpiyBQ_zFtWio1LHrRu7uVwfi_4qPKQwIZ0yfIAcUfhufwuYxdmlAw6hhP1FTYe1J3Lg6HkLUAFc3mbkHNY0pKleKwespJ0SukM41Hk1BH3qrEcTI6vgHpntOTJ0L9Rtk/s320/IMG_0575.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710193487521408690" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div>Here are also some random pictures from our short stay. Our hotel overlooked Coronado Island, and every day we could see the Pacific Fleet go by, cruise ships depart and various yachts and fishing boats floating by.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvVAAvFLOBAzvFK8hOzt-WRHBwW3-hpUyBQylEZt0ZAtKi8Pa9Wu7FT3i8mPxFN9c2u_EKYvr8sJltDI8dMQLi2xWG8p4Z53HaRFi_Ti9Q3pXAx4GCvyRdwcq4uuFRg2IsgW9s9O7lAU/s320/IMG_0556.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710195967815756626" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsJleulKv0QtX037wX6G8V-fInz_6sKsK4FavqILONvUSBFR-OaISKOT2m1gpPXx2sx0W6Vf_K5oIluBaeHjsgXbI9-OOlETVBldfDzW4xVaqI_JQwkPulgFNtbwls3879ur43CwY2go/s320/IMG_0644.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710195931364382098" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcflnBvMYpVAtbHserqhdHTasVqSaQA1B9qKIgZOEgt5IT6EkE2cytlm8r_ZVOjgd1ldgAyMQMiGQY8rqhbyueviNoa0snz_xd7zHmSJuvt1pfYNzBTjWkH8NSnxzJL9Rr4QamKW8yAvs/s320/IMG_0647.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710195939307474850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT6_8D-FnAbEnuuytv_BI0UID6e8Bf9Yd2Jg2ySgspjip4LgN_ZRhQM_0hZhkzmcgj_aXwmo03lIwjdC874PfegWuXrWYTDLXFr5pNcdDoa9E6B8JiGf8q9aefEIcG4adEik66L3z-b4/s320/IMG_0672.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710195956727212338" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hxRabruvZQuIP1v2IOqqftO9p0N8g7G_wYwtj7uORXuCZZntKnQcK0Echb8m30DStjG3qGzxty0tU5fkYuI-DPhSpStZUH_4YF5_oRRWtGdZB9VHZ5j19irM-w-1bV2izOSiCJzvA7g/s320/IMG_0663.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710195960309654850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-71304786773676112492011-01-30T19:32:00.008-06:002011-01-30T20:17:07.349-06:00Costa RicaWe decided to escape the snow and cold (-21 with the wind chill when we left). We spent last week in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. It was wonderfully warm...low 90's and not a cloud in the sky. The kids loved being able to swim every day. We did a few excursions: 4-wheeling in the country, zip-lining through the rainforest, mud baths and hot springs at the volcano basin, and deep sea-fishing.<br /><br />The whole group from Wisconsin.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ly31_CBzZFpgKQKJL0ZfkHQVEXGwQV08FPhQoZ2AQZ7paXow3iMTWr2MOP9B85TZqqL4YgnlpVY92AbnVL4HIn3bZSzMpT13mpX0_CgEBXuSxPFW5ADFpR8sjVrZlmdyxMG3gQvi4Gc/s1600/IMG_2946.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568164884378530690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ly31_CBzZFpgKQKJL0ZfkHQVEXGwQV08FPhQoZ2AQZ7paXow3iMTWr2MOP9B85TZqqL4YgnlpVY92AbnVL4HIn3bZSzMpT13mpX0_CgEBXuSxPFW5ADFpR8sjVrZlmdyxMG3gQvi4Gc/s320/IMG_2946.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Ian and Ella zip-lining. One of the guides hooked Ella to his harness.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqlFQjNH8DZaIsDQL1-tKQ9cIeVzHK21Nw2IMj2PlX77kkgh6qm-97Y3ogllzhubRZNctY5sCyhwm7OBSnbI2M2HSlaigZwNqIAtbjzyY-8CVfJlS0MVDk80EWZrD9MOFrGEQroB7LBA/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568165131474392306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqlFQjNH8DZaIsDQL1-tKQ9cIeVzHK21Nw2IMj2PlX77kkgh6qm-97Y3ogllzhubRZNctY5sCyhwm7OBSnbI2M2HSlaigZwNqIAtbjzyY-8CVfJlS0MVDk80EWZrD9MOFrGEQroB7LBA/s320/IMG_2986.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8SeKjrY1GvixisbTCp5xDinD86wyhQ_bjmqU6Wjup5LLUA7bn6dnYUtBq1-oxu2b2U_Z5uhFgDugj1Nc4X_gthyphenhyphen-pr-C4_r9N-uyaD_FJBNo89kOuw2oBhp0PYtu5GBBA_X3JFoLUHs/s1600/IMG_2957.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568164877149150930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8SeKjrY1GvixisbTCp5xDinD86wyhQ_bjmqU6Wjup5LLUA7bn6dnYUtBq1-oxu2b2U_Z5uhFgDugj1Nc4X_gthyphenhyphen-pr-C4_r9N-uyaD_FJBNo89kOuw2oBhp0PYtu5GBBA_X3JFoLUHs/s320/IMG_2957.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Yes, we cheered on the Packers in our swimsuits. All the commentary was in Spanish!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl-NqHQL9ErUyRbD8Sf7mOCgcWmy60M1v0HGmCC9gFGIeynekDkW5KaAaTU6MAa2AXfOSrKq4zhSPlB3wzX1J4uSk3ORE_T8zcV6sbGqPsobhGGp3XkQIveNblr2U8F9d5KOTgzhgMoI/s1600/IMG_2853.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568165130811718210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl-NqHQL9ErUyRbD8Sf7mOCgcWmy60M1v0HGmCC9gFGIeynekDkW5KaAaTU6MAa2AXfOSrKq4zhSPlB3wzX1J4uSk3ORE_T8zcV6sbGqPsobhGGp3XkQIveNblr2U8F9d5KOTgzhgMoI/s320/IMG_2853.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJC_MC8OKHQWdpJ8KV0CkFsKFtONS5FnLPGTHgkKZvrgcOL0oeQpG77uGdDn0zH88KgNbDjrXNw1SorjWuOkUi0wXAuFTwXJ7rif-LycZdChntAgjd59ISjBNhXW50oelbpwYEoqNlzYU/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568164881157138722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJC_MC8OKHQWdpJ8KV0CkFsKFtONS5FnLPGTHgkKZvrgcOL0oeQpG77uGdDn0zH88KgNbDjrXNw1SorjWuOkUi0wXAuFTwXJ7rif-LycZdChntAgjd59ISjBNhXW50oelbpwYEoqNlzYU/s320/IMG_0238.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCzpkIh9jWIkZNdfA7i4eW-o8y3eXqnuY1D2uoIu1NHXiqkOz8qrOEUI41_Y_JmiHyViYFvXXqj3IG8M6RS-3yjLPrHrxGy3pBAcFmVOrwa7qpOwzLv7caXY6knVojDii8gyNG3Va4y8/s1600/IMG_3042.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568164873347592850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCzpkIh9jWIkZNdfA7i4eW-o8y3eXqnuY1D2uoIu1NHXiqkOz8qrOEUI41_Y_JmiHyViYFvXXqj3IG8M6RS-3yjLPrHrxGy3pBAcFmVOrwa7qpOwzLv7caXY6knVojDii8gyNG3Va4y8/s320/IMG_3042.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>The swim-up bar was a hit!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mkoAYKEjBnqLg-ZFX6dtdSaF3DQyRiyzKo1n-JRvspcedsKTL4cRtlA1mV5wr_OMyn0vzfPXLluZJhmT4yKd_zvklTic5Q9TDbuZYreKIlRXq-ULg6Bo6mDkaSD0NDv_k4hJEQfkcyQ/s1600/IMG_0260+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568162350101648290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mkoAYKEjBnqLg-ZFX6dtdSaF3DQyRiyzKo1n-JRvspcedsKTL4cRtlA1mV5wr_OMyn0vzfPXLluZJhmT4yKd_zvklTic5Q9TDbuZYreKIlRXq-ULg6Bo6mDkaSD0NDv_k4hJEQfkcyQ/s320/IMG_0260+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>Bill was always first to volunteer to give Ella a nap!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZJ1ZuLLAQNzDkvVGamT1XRLTbzKzlumphtnuA1GOZ-7DbF6WmM9v4I6bhhaGlCMIODtRKM95owkspOKbT4TvSn7NxugJiRPLCrvjzPxKtxcDFbSezcWOs3hsjr5m3yo2TZg6ncVCKH8/s1600/IMG_0251+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568162346125056594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZJ1ZuLLAQNzDkvVGamT1XRLTbzKzlumphtnuA1GOZ-7DbF6WmM9v4I6bhhaGlCMIODtRKM95owkspOKbT4TvSn7NxugJiRPLCrvjzPxKtxcDFbSezcWOs3hsjr5m3yo2TZg6ncVCKH8/s320/IMG_0251+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The beach was dark, volcanic sand. A nice beach, but I think we prefer the white sand beaches. The dark sand stained everything!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNhZOBHI_Xv_T8zI9VvlM9DtE4PVFRR7I-3YtUBq6fV8cAk11TErXBBmzvnD8OAskGftCfskebeU21VDqeLdEO4wyY8bkrmu-tOtavO_MZNKs4D3CZiiLIbjj1hl1jBaDdP8_SeWbQi0/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568162345557009554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNhZOBHI_Xv_T8zI9VvlM9DtE4PVFRR7I-3YtUBq6fV8cAk11TErXBBmzvnD8OAskGftCfskebeU21VDqeLdEO4wyY8bkrmu-tOtavO_MZNKs4D3CZiiLIbjj1hl1jBaDdP8_SeWbQi0/s320/IMG_0227.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The guys took Ian fishing. 3 hours and 45 minutes of boredom, but the last 15 minutes were worth it. They caught a Rooster fish that was as tall and weighed as much as Ian! Unfortunately Rooster fish aren't good eating, so they didn't bring it back for the resort kitchen to cook for us.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiaWOvzKH4YvBO6e5Qa_qKiHgNKjO7nzRioeCIw20AjG4MiTJF_7t_Zkety2DpWqVtG0k9UJnJ0bdOG8LdnLdSscrr0UCNxnAuPszmic3OYrIpkiwBsSFUxEJwY1PpAPWeDIT2lXQbFY/s1600/IMG_0443.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568162339600252082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiaWOvzKH4YvBO6e5Qa_qKiHgNKjO7nzRioeCIw20AjG4MiTJF_7t_Zkety2DpWqVtG0k9UJnJ0bdOG8LdnLdSscrr0UCNxnAuPszmic3OYrIpkiwBsSFUxEJwY1PpAPWeDIT2lXQbFY/s320/IMG_0443.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The mud pits and hot springs near the volcano.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg357oJRnZIF8RILijXGthE4T4hCJn-XI1H3x-i5lDW46OkJTlNl70mci_1gonmX71toAH5ZOUMRnvGeAYTpchLUu_bXHqJ8kMPQl9vMiYF0kB9vtmh2K9xl3qUXsbtvHjb6mFbI5j9v1I/s1600/IMG_0382.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568159160263113554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg357oJRnZIF8RILijXGthE4T4hCJn-XI1H3x-i5lDW46OkJTlNl70mci_1gonmX71toAH5ZOUMRnvGeAYTpchLUu_bXHqJ8kMPQl9vMiYF0kB9vtmh2K9xl3qUXsbtvHjb6mFbI5j9v1I/s320/IMG_0382.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>We were woken to Howler Monkeys in the trees each morning. There is a reason why they are called Howler Monkeys...they were loud!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVcb1NLsZ3RKcXeCs-R7ihzOMP2EXD5qcNSSMAiFN5NTKBlMUdfkM2fp-qkFB8Y09TEftUJLk8d_TVYYjose_u_NDewAh9i4Sz5jMyN75MzY0KYslAmC0pryJIvHggTsGOV41Efkw9Bg/s1600/IMG_2832.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568159157367895730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVcb1NLsZ3RKcXeCs-R7ihzOMP2EXD5qcNSSMAiFN5NTKBlMUdfkM2fp-qkFB8Y09TEftUJLk8d_TVYYjose_u_NDewAh9i4Sz5jMyN75MzY0KYslAmC0pryJIvHggTsGOV41Efkw9Bg/s320/IMG_2832.JPG" /></a><br /><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaJft_gmQ6d8ALVb5rJPKyr4zUMTAkf9iGgJ5lulb4M2TqkFwuMlXYAbi463F1c6p2Vv8ZHuyZ7DXMAvB5-P28SWSUXnsvEckhrPBPdclQBnRis_y-foA-n6tzK7oHIMjIV-iHKLXndI/s1600/IMG_2843.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568159154706770338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaJft_gmQ6d8ALVb5rJPKyr4zUMTAkf9iGgJ5lulb4M2TqkFwuMlXYAbi463F1c6p2Vv8ZHuyZ7DXMAvB5-P28SWSUXnsvEckhrPBPdclQBnRis_y-foA-n6tzK7oHIMjIV-iHKLXndI/s320/IMG_2843.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-46615482226225236412010-11-29T16:11:00.007-06:002010-11-29T19:04:49.814-06:00Ella Turns 3!Ella's third birthday was this weekend. We had a party with family and friends. The big hit was the pop-up-tent with 300 balls! She absolutely loved it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm-TGCg5ME5iAOZGljHHyYI3m0LTkJEktORVB0BGxzRio1tYb4BSXZG1ZgBMkV1V-QeaavZjgz61jsmujWO_cLoVNcHtrOZA4lbwMW5b7yTwfhi5lP1durcPk22ZsIIH4PxMaDQhTdAU/s1600/IMG_9180.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545141306425622034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm-TGCg5ME5iAOZGljHHyYI3m0LTkJEktORVB0BGxzRio1tYb4BSXZG1ZgBMkV1V-QeaavZjgz61jsmujWO_cLoVNcHtrOZA4lbwMW5b7yTwfhi5lP1durcPk22ZsIIH4PxMaDQhTdAU/s320/IMG_9180.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi532AYbUQlZWzBmhf-ZeDAYzmxqfaZXz7peCifRfunypL5RKtWcuYkWcTYPqLbcuJOgBltJmas0d6vDflm5hZf8Awn0YJ81c229AFUhoG7DEzYT2XJOtCbwmjrJtaCZC4Ircj5_L31b1A/s1600/IMG_9209.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545141315785178898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi532AYbUQlZWzBmhf-ZeDAYzmxqfaZXz7peCifRfunypL5RKtWcuYkWcTYPqLbcuJOgBltJmas0d6vDflm5hZf8Awn0YJ81c229AFUhoG7DEzYT2XJOtCbwmjrJtaCZC4Ircj5_L31b1A/s320/IMG_9209.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-og8lpNi5p7Nzd6Q-D4ooeFYIoitbR-i4f_B_jecc5VAM51xowSQ85cTin4QRi28kVIRHsRQPimtHEXDBpKAFaoW5VVz9J528ksDldm7fRlyjaRCFoCzl89FAjHkfutmWXSyuCtQvAI/s1600/IMG_9217.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545141320246278754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-og8lpNi5p7Nzd6Q-D4ooeFYIoitbR-i4f_B_jecc5VAM51xowSQ85cTin4QRi28kVIRHsRQPimtHEXDBpKAFaoW5VVz9J528ksDldm7fRlyjaRCFoCzl89FAjHkfutmWXSyuCtQvAI/s320/IMG_9217.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZDBVOs-ZMzFxgWVhGE78cOnMEffDJwKbbVk3-hqLdyYTfvUNe8QwLg58EjSmyzpHV45X-6V_9WvIsGioQ8PyQndPQRxlOQbavo1RNhruDJUOSpyXN83ODRxSs2iN7R3Pp-pXbOOXSWM/s1600/IMG_9224.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545141584691610354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZDBVOs-ZMzFxgWVhGE78cOnMEffDJwKbbVk3-hqLdyYTfvUNe8QwLg58EjSmyzpHV45X-6V_9WvIsGioQ8PyQndPQRxlOQbavo1RNhruDJUOSpyXN83ODRxSs2iN7R3Pp-pXbOOXSWM/s320/IMG_9224.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiUuLcOWEydrYwolPNuht_brJn4F3S9MfBwB1gHckAuCmreMQgo4TlifyfAR4D0H40E-souxEVrpj7mjXbg53CUxuuIAlhY-WxfJwimJw9cT7-ricOBZni_TUdF8K3f383GZZd2bn_vk/s1600/IMG_9159.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 251px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545141292915979282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiUuLcOWEydrYwolPNuht_brJn4F3S9MfBwB1gHckAuCmreMQgo4TlifyfAR4D0H40E-souxEVrpj7mjXbg53CUxuuIAlhY-WxfJwimJw9cT7-ricOBZni_TUdF8K3f383GZZd2bn_vk/s320/IMG_9159.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDe2K1rBa6xlEJZ1x-ELVJTSA4SrJtOsvSSohHrncWNtnwG2lZ6AHHiu9LInSng63eU5r7umX8dD4lmU5e6fmsBF8B4sYpx80mJVANjg86m2qS1JADDeFbxj7gxyV43dP05svNLqecxc/s1600/IMG_9149.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545141295348151010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDe2K1rBa6xlEJZ1x-ELVJTSA4SrJtOsvSSohHrncWNtnwG2lZ6AHHiu9LInSng63eU5r7umX8dD4lmU5e6fmsBF8B4sYpx80mJVANjg86m2qS1JADDeFbxj7gxyV43dP05svNLqecxc/s320/IMG_9149.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpevEXZ4gKJ-YxuBTUkPbH4XBzAyiorYoeoMu6VpKIq3pgpjzAxdUEy22PBHrRi3beHybDJKn0tFJhyYbI_tLWagTKE39wIkpPeHyQhv6BKMRf9DkMBjpDWspKMaSuljSpe5nZ-xirHn8/s1600/IMG_9123.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545140652305166898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpevEXZ4gKJ-YxuBTUkPbH4XBzAyiorYoeoMu6VpKIq3pgpjzAxdUEy22PBHrRi3beHybDJKn0tFJhyYbI_tLWagTKE39wIkpPeHyQhv6BKMRf9DkMBjpDWspKMaSuljSpe5nZ-xirHn8/s320/IMG_9123.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMmQ3BZ12XHJtqjvcwNySqOm-i7AaWaKX0gHdnAZa3UO_KmxiBN2Azp4z8mnxaYyu7_mq8nisEDrPguWjAvVbuTrJwHuUBG3N6RsvezmGzCjkQYge2h4EIHpwgDepmn1So23bso7yhlk/s1600/IMG_9104.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545140654518986930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMmQ3BZ12XHJtqjvcwNySqOm-i7AaWaKX0gHdnAZa3UO_KmxiBN2Azp4z8mnxaYyu7_mq8nisEDrPguWjAvVbuTrJwHuUBG3N6RsvezmGzCjkQYge2h4EIHpwgDepmn1So23bso7yhlk/s320/IMG_9104.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCMlrN1JOX5a1NwuMNLr9QDiDpsvwVpzgrhq3D3P5FP67slF7aHpwzD_WQh4MhtmiFNFua-WxjseO7ZKDuAZRsVrQoL2wSbt3kGrQmfRTE895VgVzTSB46EZN1ePOm_N9ZItxYXFAXEQ/s1600/IMG_9088.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545140649042993922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCMlrN1JOX5a1NwuMNLr9QDiDpsvwVpzgrhq3D3P5FP67slF7aHpwzD_WQh4MhtmiFNFua-WxjseO7ZKDuAZRsVrQoL2wSbt3kGrQmfRTE895VgVzTSB46EZN1ePOm_N9ZItxYXFAXEQ/s320/IMG_9088.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-46877812126734405282010-11-22T19:48:00.009-06:002010-11-22T21:01:56.280-06:00Weekend with Friends<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xZhTWnTLxUQz3103UFwmzuI2n6-C5s2UMshpqY82NTzjtzM34D5sMiHKqS7bQx3lURf2krDkuv0GQw6gKUcmeUTXix5RzDq01b_wKZteVzfl9v4tMyE8GnNEI9TtQuoMsm4V0zIX9MQ/s1600/DSC_0732.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542572618311296850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xZhTWnTLxUQz3103UFwmzuI2n6-C5s2UMshpqY82NTzjtzM34D5sMiHKqS7bQx3lURf2krDkuv0GQw6gKUcmeUTXix5RzDq01b_wKZteVzfl9v4tMyE8GnNEI9TtQuoMsm4V0zIX9MQ/s320/DSC_0732.JPG" /></a><br /><div> </div><div>We spent the weekend in Stillwater, MN with Jen, Jason and Addison. Ella and Addison were orphanage sisters back in China. It was great spending time with their wonderful family. We caught up on each others' lives, did some early Christmas shopping and went to the Science Museum and the aquarium at Mall of America. The guys went to the Packer/Viking game on Sunday. We stayed at a beautifully restored farmette owned by a cousin of Jen's. It was a wonderful weekend and it makes me wish we lived closer to each other. We have made some life-long friends with their family!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EiLJ25K1ExR0m2iFabhFbT4TxNLfvmOzWoMsgT9qXbMrgHUntA4Sai7kfNkPtIxl_HrWpPAMFb7HJFF1w0XDCkRWUBKYLJAtujuIReFrInfYva87eDJ-V-he2Itgl_2pxouoDJlalAw/s1600/DSC_0725.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542567823386048946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EiLJ25K1ExR0m2iFabhFbT4TxNLfvmOzWoMsgT9qXbMrgHUntA4Sai7kfNkPtIxl_HrWpPAMFb7HJFF1w0XDCkRWUBKYLJAtujuIReFrInfYva87eDJ-V-he2Itgl_2pxouoDJlalAw/s320/DSC_0725.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO-OuCUx0mbyE1vllyx3cBABbGOHC7GcyNtvSomws1aDrhHsUtkjmwBpJstC1WNT6GC-yUaAEHWyFpYfWJANrPV6WhsgqHvoA7jHWHcixbeKN3XNenj59RAoMSn7Miqvzx6wFJGXVKwc/s1600/DSC_0643.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542573823875752530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO-OuCUx0mbyE1vllyx3cBABbGOHC7GcyNtvSomws1aDrhHsUtkjmwBpJstC1WNT6GC-yUaAEHWyFpYfWJANrPV6WhsgqHvoA7jHWHcixbeKN3XNenj59RAoMSn7Miqvzx6wFJGXVKwc/s320/DSC_0643.JPG" /></a></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-62322739504414681532010-11-17T19:33:00.002-06:002010-11-17T19:39:58.885-06:00Fall 2010It's been a while since I posted some pictures. We've been extremely busy with Ian in 3rd grade. He turned 9 in October. And Ella will be 3 the end of this month. She'll start "big girl school" after she turns 3. They are both growing up so fast!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFWGeAN_qMhyphenhyphenQ5wC8UKquhMHzf9wxCI1znV9Lu1LbaTovVXh6JKSHv717G0ecxMiCs2eXMpUDtzH_1C1VI9IbmZRI9m_YLVvWRLJs9zf34mMNGKBVSqu81giveJ9ZCrLAjE_db1c0cko/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540698290461328914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFWGeAN_qMhyphenhyphenQ5wC8UKquhMHzf9wxCI1znV9Lu1LbaTovVXh6JKSHv717G0ecxMiCs2eXMpUDtzH_1C1VI9IbmZRI9m_YLVvWRLJs9zf34mMNGKBVSqu81giveJ9ZCrLAjE_db1c0cko/s320/IMG_0167.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLP_jXqN2aUWjCPrWqTrk8A_702q3-W_XU9TzA3IrSfzvN6RRLIeFyYdTxFhM8r8Tn17tIpSf_-0Ff6h1Dz0gcge8R2TdxsFkvOMzfQGcB771UpQafDT3R06niSYK0uEkd_COw5DfbKT0/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540698300585044450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLP_jXqN2aUWjCPrWqTrk8A_702q3-W_XU9TzA3IrSfzvN6RRLIeFyYdTxFhM8r8Tn17tIpSf_-0Ff6h1Dz0gcge8R2TdxsFkvOMzfQGcB771UpQafDT3R06niSYK0uEkd_COw5DfbKT0/s320/IMG_0178.JPG" /></a>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-79875289509060002010-08-03T19:37:00.005-05:002010-08-03T19:54:22.310-05:00China 'Sisters' Reunion<div><div>In July, we drove to Memphis, TN for a reunion with the 5 other families that adopted in our group. It was wonderful seeing how the girls have all changed. And it was great reconnecting with the families. I really wish we all lived closer together so we could meet more frequently. Even though the girls all had similar upbringings for their first year of life, they truly all are different people. Some are shy, others social. Some are climbers while others a still tentative walkers. But all were extremely beautiful, happy girls. And I think the mom's and dad's were a bit less stressed than the last time we all saw each other too!!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>March 2009 from left to right:</div><div>Addison, Carmen, Ella, Jaidyn, Emma and Kaleigh</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqE7Bu3Hqw2aAqzKKnEtuD5dxTHlPqel3aI0EqbM2u7Y2FO7isgjgZ_vsxToIDh1RQaUmWIimvfiHIUhpJtboH-sqchEdUmV015UANccY_VDyPR7IE_ODt-eLHvwmZhipEX6Etfdb0QKw/s1600/IMG_2720.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501349759794554962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqE7Bu3Hqw2aAqzKKnEtuD5dxTHlPqel3aI0EqbM2u7Y2FO7isgjgZ_vsxToIDh1RQaUmWIimvfiHIUhpJtboH-sqchEdUmV015UANccY_VDyPR7IE_ODt-eLHvwmZhipEX6Etfdb0QKw/s320/IMG_2720.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>July 2010 from left to right:</div><div>Emma, Addison, Kaleigh, Ella, Carmen and Jaidyn</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sAPjSbe6z2gJ55n1HAUHFvNTxqpbv12JMeA6lJWCgoGpEvhURHiyYJUN-x14YkSvS8SJ0ip6g7LW4WY2oyG2jLQc4eq5k-TNM84HF0VohRJrvK0yZh-EjGkRAEJbGipxCA04mLi5u_g/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501349766678566450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sAPjSbe6z2gJ55n1HAUHFvNTxqpbv12JMeA6lJWCgoGpEvhURHiyYJUN-x14YkSvS8SJ0ip6g7LW4WY2oyG2jLQc4eq5k-TNM84HF0VohRJrvK0yZh-EjGkRAEJbGipxCA04mLi5u_g/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-28706150223578156572010-06-28T19:53:00.016-05:002010-06-29T20:59:32.788-05:00Back to China<div><div><div>Our good friends - Cathy, Dave, Collin, Brennan & Maeve - are living in Shanghai for 3 years for Dave's job. We decided to take advantage of having built-in accommodations and tour guides, and headed to China for the 2nd time. This time we took the kids. They did wonderfully on the 14-hour flight. Ella didn't squawk at all, and Ian told me he was just "too prepared" (I wonder where he gets that from?!) with a whole backpack full of snacks and time-consuming games.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div>Our friends' house was like an oasis in the big city of Shanghai. The neighborhood was quiet, lawns manicured, and goldfish lazily swimming in the canals behind the houses.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxsRBBrm1qLhmGMrohm4eQOQ4U5XwCSex5XTSSqGHN2lGDvED4NC3W49b2EG-oT9neyAXy-c1WQqIwZqOWWIoF_yPvjQqC7dW8STzxd9BnBXyvFPhNKpA1WCP9uPh75rRbEOO_RBT-LE/s1600/IMG_3914.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487995385786283506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxsRBBrm1qLhmGMrohm4eQOQ4U5XwCSex5XTSSqGHN2lGDvED4NC3W49b2EG-oT9neyAXy-c1WQqIwZqOWWIoF_yPvjQqC7dW8STzxd9BnBXyvFPhNKpA1WCP9uPh75rRbEOO_RBT-LE/s320/IMG_3914.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc5Tia2oBZtAonguCyxbwx7QroanoqBgs5h1PB2RcZzDYiwge5u-8wLECa8cv6U82TBJYO-ZnbW9bJD_D_KaOy6YLVX_BqRZ0kpXBkthPU4WF6Xc_SpXehVY_Oa5PVBvRi-CPuOEWzi4/s1600/IMG_3952.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487995402314499042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc5Tia2oBZtAonguCyxbwx7QroanoqBgs5h1PB2RcZzDYiwge5u-8wLECa8cv6U82TBJYO-ZnbW9bJD_D_KaOy6YLVX_BqRZ0kpXBkthPU4WF6Xc_SpXehVY_Oa5PVBvRi-CPuOEWzi4/s320/IMG_3952.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBrn89c32-eEggsgbYkJxorM_jNB5YrDAMxu7PPvVxaL6y6NhIC17HxRfNzGTUoDxC8gJxx6i0X9_Fa8CJI9W4BPyKnhp4sxTAI9GlS6ZgRYybyld1L6j2rOZyBIRQJoe-E3T_ou3D2U/s1600/IMG_3960.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487995419767477346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBrn89c32-eEggsgbYkJxorM_jNB5YrDAMxu7PPvVxaL6y6NhIC17HxRfNzGTUoDxC8gJxx6i0X9_Fa8CJI9W4BPyKnhp4sxTAI9GlS6ZgRYybyld1L6j2rOZyBIRQJoe-E3T_ou3D2U/s320/IMG_3960.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After a couple of days getting over jet-lag, both families (5 kids age 11 to 2 and 4 adults) flew to Guilin in Guangxi Province, which it the province that Ella is from. We drove about an hour south of Guilin to the town of Yangshuo and stayed at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat <a href="http://www.yangshuomountainretreat.com/">http://www.yangshuomountainretreat.com/</a>.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-hPuBjYafb2_4AGGLwjc-_nCjmjxBxRBvJkgW50J6z4tB0zVl0nLX3nXIVo4HPguceU0PIXGjHN0u1-e42xv8I1SpGctKsw6f3aqWeL5wbVMTb10-U93Ul_CDXSpbPAT-MP-jxSEMhE/s1600/IMG_0091.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488007738663039746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-hPuBjYafb2_4AGGLwjc-_nCjmjxBxRBvJkgW50J6z4tB0zVl0nLX3nXIVo4HPguceU0PIXGjHN0u1-e42xv8I1SpGctKsw6f3aqWeL5wbVMTb10-U93Ul_CDXSpbPAT-MP-jxSEMhE/s320/IMG_0091.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The hotel was beautifully located along the Li River. The scenery was breathtaking. Even though it was the rainy season, quite hot and humid and very overcast, we hiked through the local villages. We had planned on rafting on a bamboo raft down the lazy river, but with all the rain, the river wasn't as 'lazy' as we'd hoped, and they cancelled all rafting trips. The next day we had planned on biking through the rice paddy country, but again it was raining, so we just hired a van who drove us around the countryside, through the rice paddies, and to a town with the 600 year-old Dragon Bridge. Yangshou was definately one of the highlights of our trip to China...it was so beautiful and gave us all great memories of the province where Ella is from.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpXP8ZO5QcPLKbHkqvdUHsXIwM6P4xRISQfWZ4-RIRdCFNQ3WGs3zrUgaqDaWza_SkOPawkJlYIqVsMpARvMwCo693z5_30oeKRl63gNAd0ifLPNK9T7ZhGzjqUivIxaa6mfD0Rna6Mo/s1600/IMG_0056.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488007728855952482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpXP8ZO5QcPLKbHkqvdUHsXIwM6P4xRISQfWZ4-RIRdCFNQ3WGs3zrUgaqDaWza_SkOPawkJlYIqVsMpARvMwCo693z5_30oeKRl63gNAd0ifLPNK9T7ZhGzjqUivIxaa6mfD0Rna6Mo/s320/IMG_0056.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX3_Y8JfoWfiddqwiVa3DrO_5zVaNVUz7X2LUquLQd52-iKsB-pNgMTj7PvzLFUVWgpidcXMmSu8HAj1BzYzOtHF4MCf6kV8XjgTBIuMEjsnucQ-PhbufL2IvZ_EWQVpPXzsrRwrPdhQ/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjvRtsgtgDvag27E7Jh1WNpiAnRfSwQ4bRC9HTD4Lz4jTTa6Ua_RqLGDLShSInZ4SXvffCqsZW4W0XG2UdJgrLOTKnjQ9Lvk5KuG9anCrHopnYjZnJgG6zxOTIOigX5my_lE_o_iIFBI/s1600/IMG_4177.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488007750038631650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjvRtsgtgDvag27E7Jh1WNpiAnRfSwQ4bRC9HTD4Lz4jTTa6Ua_RqLGDLShSInZ4SXvffCqsZW4W0XG2UdJgrLOTKnjQ9Lvk5KuG9anCrHopnYjZnJgG6zxOTIOigX5my_lE_o_iIFBI/s320/IMG_4177.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwJY9rJbQjRWwwk8kHqcnMBqCxjnSqBDNd8VuL1ACyz2RDwzhF-IsD7wzsMz3reS-NPVXGlhDlGyNmJj84M38EQNMJjbpXCbWnfYAI3SPIDfBG-rnEwdlY-XX97qR5EPre1bBtg-CSUE/s1600/IMG_0178.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488162178504135106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwJY9rJbQjRWwwk8kHqcnMBqCxjnSqBDNd8VuL1ACyz2RDwzhF-IsD7wzsMz3reS-NPVXGlhDlGyNmJj84M38EQNMJjbpXCbWnfYAI3SPIDfBG-rnEwdlY-XX97qR5EPre1bBtg-CSUE/s320/IMG_0178.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IqK0uVwwnxlVsTt_CaOkiv3nIIkj5Pf84WI6htCWNDswns8RaOiZU78JX65jXZ8UfkpkWoIwOimTQrhdJ10dvUFdLEDdmlZQTmNTu3hm8N2lWdzqQxh8aHpwniMKzfaqYYkYh4_CoZk/s1600/IMG_0193.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488162193529580978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IqK0uVwwnxlVsTt_CaOkiv3nIIkj5Pf84WI6htCWNDswns8RaOiZU78JX65jXZ8UfkpkWoIwOimTQrhdJ10dvUFdLEDdmlZQTmNTu3hm8N2lWdzqQxh8aHpwniMKzfaqYYkYh4_CoZk/s320/IMG_0193.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrMthcb-8Rb3rdHD7IAkDTEzMwh9LVLSeOy6pfWt27j0r61GYiB5eOs-ddi0wnvrCYOEKceH5QHkzgvJKBtA1dgLTNrt3xW1yDN2YL-ohbcTK0fwMbEKOCASJDZa7bS65GIXJIDzWyNg/s1600/IMG_0133.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488162168422199394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrMthcb-8Rb3rdHD7IAkDTEzMwh9LVLSeOy6pfWt27j0r61GYiB5eOs-ddi0wnvrCYOEKceH5QHkzgvJKBtA1dgLTNrt3xW1yDN2YL-ohbcTK0fwMbEKOCASJDZa7bS65GIXJIDzWyNg/s320/IMG_0133.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBFFvJ52JkI1mlilPEtcUMRJgGoD4Jm6EfOJtVsLEz3PcMEWRMfS-rfqzr1NiPXjmltdL2L5E2shHq2_leabGSmwyzxo7DcBvpX9Y0aW9tQ6avpePzvB7dEHVSGX6LgOAOdg-9kSEPk8/s1600/IMG_0452.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488364081844301298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBFFvJ52JkI1mlilPEtcUMRJgGoD4Jm6EfOJtVsLEz3PcMEWRMfS-rfqzr1NiPXjmltdL2L5E2shHq2_leabGSmwyzxo7DcBvpX9Y0aW9tQ6avpePzvB7dEHVSGX6LgOAOdg-9kSEPk8/s320/IMG_0452.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGE0NZ88HKYUJ1btHFafqDrpDSfrZWctMIwdW8QxVEe2u8i2bd_8HGbsPU4hZjjoYvoumP2o3lOile_q9VFur66teIYJKGOHGHMlVu1qpYd9HEd2uVoMukH7-tw2HgQI0ei5-qP2U9oo/s1600/IMG_0471.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488364093784650706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGE0NZ88HKYUJ1btHFafqDrpDSfrZWctMIwdW8QxVEe2u8i2bd_8HGbsPU4hZjjoYvoumP2o3lOile_q9VFur66teIYJKGOHGHMlVu1qpYd9HEd2uVoMukH7-tw2HgQI0ei5-qP2U9oo/s320/IMG_0471.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDHy5VCnog47Mo_VfgJExmEFZNVZ50_E9j9cqjcoH1JC-eoP8qsjOveT5IiK1JdOP6DaFnAz5aboODYLgCZKjv5kMXJAA7F9eqDv9H51JdOJgNIDCR5xekEzxD8485OlFgQMXG_fPywc/s1600/IMG_4298.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488364069250594242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDHy5VCnog47Mo_VfgJExmEFZNVZ50_E9j9cqjcoH1JC-eoP8qsjOveT5IiK1JdOP6DaFnAz5aboODYLgCZKjv5kMXJAA7F9eqDv9H51JdOJgNIDCR5xekEzxD8485OlFgQMXG_fPywc/s320/IMG_4298.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQYrLOHo6ap_anInaGJnZUpnZAZVqmJ7utRLBXey67X5xLyCr03cqryeSxjfZVWeIIqwtVo6PRnjULIyYsclPgy88ozgliY9uvMvZP2snPCHp8soWfd8Uksi-HB64TXLOI3y-KH_awXs/s1600/IMG_4261.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488365847169168930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQYrLOHo6ap_anInaGJnZUpnZAZVqmJ7utRLBXey67X5xLyCr03cqryeSxjfZVWeIIqwtVo6PRnjULIyYsclPgy88ozgliY9uvMvZP2snPCHp8soWfd8Uksi-HB64TXLOI3y-KH_awXs/s320/IMG_4261.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Back in Shanghai for a few days, we toured the city...the World Financial Center (tallest building in China with a glass viewing floor), the Bund (area along the river where the British settled), the markets. The highlight of this part of the trip was a personal tour of the French Concession by a Chinese friend of Cathy's. She took us in a lilong, which is a old-style Shanghaiese neighboorhood. It is basically an alley with walk-up apartments on either side. The children play in the alley, and all neighbors take care of one another. We went into the house of a 78 year-old woman and her husband. The main living area was about 10 feet square, and she raised 3 kids there. Every square inch of space was used.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4qQokALR6ud72sauyQYgBIHD0dFs01710MZMDd467peTMwJiD0NmZyM-smhCuNCn-Qf69_m23s0wG3Wc3kR9VkCxkjmiESWUnYYI461jYpa0OBlftvyESs6JjeIYDKtpmjfmPl8fIu4/s1600/IMG_0713.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488374051793783090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4qQokALR6ud72sauyQYgBIHD0dFs01710MZMDd467peTMwJiD0NmZyM-smhCuNCn-Qf69_m23s0wG3Wc3kR9VkCxkjmiESWUnYYI461jYpa0OBlftvyESs6JjeIYDKtpmjfmPl8fIu4/s320/IMG_0713.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNomtVD4uPxopqTv2KZxmhHaoWrVlCS4yp9abG1U7VCreAQicOPTUB0YAxbQkq6uNAU1cYot9ok82rKbrjKefk1z4eeaS262UG5iBBeJz78uPRfrNp3v86MOQSQrTQ3OKZpMkQ7OoHHRg/s1600/IMG_0727.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488374039382677474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNomtVD4uPxopqTv2KZxmhHaoWrVlCS4yp9abG1U7VCreAQicOPTUB0YAxbQkq6uNAU1cYot9ok82rKbrjKefk1z4eeaS262UG5iBBeJz78uPRfrNp3v86MOQSQrTQ3OKZpMkQ7OoHHRg/s320/IMG_0727.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjbAcGWHEWS4XQxyfacqQinW8koZDOIrvhaAtL8AOZg9LjohpJeoqK6KCFeOkZxFHa96HaHNWStRo0pgkZDtD4foU0zjVcsABvvBj3J3S1cE26dW87-FA-sNvP7KUyOjQYIXiLK-k82c/s1600/IMG_0668.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488374063655823346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjbAcGWHEWS4XQxyfacqQinW8koZDOIrvhaAtL8AOZg9LjohpJeoqK6KCFeOkZxFHa96HaHNWStRo0pgkZDtD4foU0zjVcsABvvBj3J3S1cE26dW87-FA-sNvP7KUyOjQYIXiLK-k82c/s320/IMG_0668.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div>If you would like to view more pictures from our trip, click on the More Pictures link at the top right of this page. Then click on the China June 2010 folder.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-46987680987031970722010-01-10T16:36:00.005-06:002010-01-10T17:15:00.115-06:00Goodbye, Casey<div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCLEMbagm63NyXeC9KprsjIXLPhQpObi_k7U1wjozwMUGOJEh9-cPyHNgCM5_jdR9tcxJxZCXZjRvjWADE5Fn4ns9FnR6rLm1emXzQKdbHx0JQulABwoWDycXytbG2ZVlx5By-NVUEno/s1600-h/scan0001.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425251167717891314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCLEMbagm63NyXeC9KprsjIXLPhQpObi_k7U1wjozwMUGOJEh9-cPyHNgCM5_jdR9tcxJxZCXZjRvjWADE5Fn4ns9FnR6rLm1emXzQKdbHx0JQulABwoWDycXytbG2ZVlx5By-NVUEno/s320/scan0001.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb22YPkPhfWgP9TrGAPuVYBsrcbvCmP9XMWjvliPrZFrc2IbxcMSraFssxxp8TTyVWRKzISsAnopHP1Gzl4cl1TBLw8k1_rWkJc9NC0DAGF0RQGqKk6KeITFoFTIlIL6izCv8Xnj6jPA/s1600-h/IMG_0992.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425251189713779154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb22YPkPhfWgP9TrGAPuVYBsrcbvCmP9XMWjvliPrZFrc2IbxcMSraFssxxp8TTyVWRKzISsAnopHP1Gzl4cl1TBLw8k1_rWkJc9NC0DAGF0RQGqKk6KeITFoFTIlIL6izCv8Xnj6jPA/s320/IMG_0992.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><br />We had to put down our old Springer, Casey today. She would have been 15 years old in March. She was our "first child" and the original "Daddy's girl", and was everything you could ask for in a dog...extremely loyal, great with kids, wonderful termperment. She will be missed dearly....but we feel comforted that she will be sitting by Grampa Russ's side in Heaven!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2-K_psNpAhuMUK4E9f6RKeJ9Kk3rS9r6xveQ1E44NTZ1YODNA859d6WBHS7RMJLFlagFCyr1Ocoshvhl2nZB5jYCCeEewQH8lr3nwMpkmXkSu18Y-pba4xZRvH5JnXOkd7e6qqvPd8w/s1600-h/P8240109.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425251179241687842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2-K_psNpAhuMUK4E9f6RKeJ9Kk3rS9r6xveQ1E44NTZ1YODNA859d6WBHS7RMJLFlagFCyr1Ocoshvhl2nZB5jYCCeEewQH8lr3nwMpkmXkSu18Y-pba4xZRvH5JnXOkd7e6qqvPd8w/s320/P8240109.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmDww2aRJYJv6Dglng6Fz-ldB-hww6gClsvoH-NqS_xjJOjw7Y1VFAK0Gnlrb4Nhomq9NaKwsdZJkdKVJemTF8VskNciF3KtI-7v-cApii-dAbXBmVKiSLNYBWn97bwJDBgKMcRLeR3E/s1600-h/P6050028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425251185649536498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmDww2aRJYJv6Dglng6Fz-ldB-hww6gClsvoH-NqS_xjJOjw7Y1VFAK0Gnlrb4Nhomq9NaKwsdZJkdKVJemTF8VskNciF3KtI-7v-cApii-dAbXBmVKiSLNYBWn97bwJDBgKMcRLeR3E/s320/P6050028.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHkKTp1vijLSbeubu0wuGY1Iy3mSlS9cIh4khiMVUBXKgh9eQgTjwAFg6ZTrTCGqbVxLdLYE2-Pm1uGrhypfeU87HX0FlhA4pnvXfjKTixafXFIud6WTGNqgQ3iDV1gU5HD58Z35UxD4/s1600-h/IMG_6099.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425252760963493522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHkKTp1vijLSbeubu0wuGY1Iy3mSlS9cIh4khiMVUBXKgh9eQgTjwAFg6ZTrTCGqbVxLdLYE2-Pm1uGrhypfeU87HX0FlhA4pnvXfjKTixafXFIud6WTGNqgQ3iDV1gU5HD58Z35UxD4/s320/IMG_6099.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ecLUR1wfVToKWXbfC0WZnqgBBLcARX2gJfXLB1xXR7T6pP5uyLEop9rMw0EDyr8BOyfVPOcwNb54Uplg623QisDk0srixqPX2zxSXy5V5m6ar-ma-GmoeYf01s82a7iGfc45_S7_rTs/s1600-h/IMG_1654.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425252766547887986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ecLUR1wfVToKWXbfC0WZnqgBBLcARX2gJfXLB1xXR7T6pP5uyLEop9rMw0EDyr8BOyfVPOcwNb54Uplg623QisDk0srixqPX2zxSXy5V5m6ar-ma-GmoeYf01s82a7iGfc45_S7_rTs/s320/IMG_1654.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-18246520349278129222009-12-31T21:12:00.004-06:002009-12-31T22:00:43.570-06:00First Christmas as a Family of 4<div><div><div><div><div><div>It was our first Christmas with two children. Ella was a bit overwhelmed with the whole thing, and like a typical 2-year old, was most interested in the wrapping paper and boxes! I swear the toys are now breeding and multiplying in our house...where will we find room for it all?!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRb1nvCtyHrRWdx4qQT5l9VBIWYHrMTQ1QM-tmtMmBu-8AlfRFMFXyFt0peYAahmWTY7L2H5t1oD4L6A36_NmlcGUDCiiY2536LxYJ0lwWBNz1zFHZhPaLoUzxvka6WM7pELIWrK0oLQ/s1600-h/IMG_3691.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421614787643292338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRb1nvCtyHrRWdx4qQT5l9VBIWYHrMTQ1QM-tmtMmBu-8AlfRFMFXyFt0peYAahmWTY7L2H5t1oD4L6A36_NmlcGUDCiiY2536LxYJ0lwWBNz1zFHZhPaLoUzxvka6WM7pELIWrK0oLQ/s320/IMG_3691.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoffIrIAIeFWapYrLw2L_oag5lH7ni2Wn-cLqZEBVa-6iz7XRTjvS982MUY9QDM0Qc7L5MrpOAa_G65TqYvBfX6FOblO2dBMPQgmAAVufUoztrFjq-W61AvVUmGV76HH99FVjEjui8rs8/s1600-h/IMG_3661.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421615729232024418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoffIrIAIeFWapYrLw2L_oag5lH7ni2Wn-cLqZEBVa-6iz7XRTjvS982MUY9QDM0Qc7L5MrpOAa_G65TqYvBfX6FOblO2dBMPQgmAAVufUoztrFjq-W61AvVUmGV76HH99FVjEjui8rs8/s320/IMG_3661.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcyxpctMg6l6LLzOBqnkAJWUECgZxETavana8mcbcGwO8m9vOkn3XG3QGXyjQ-TmIjorvqUoEapYX0qNxVWuL60sOfvG6vGGqXSJntnUWzY4YrcWfw6iG51TNsK0F0sI6xuP5SXHJpnc/s1600-h/IMG_3678.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421612176284861618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcyxpctMg6l6LLzOBqnkAJWUECgZxETavana8mcbcGwO8m9vOkn3XG3QGXyjQ-TmIjorvqUoEapYX0qNxVWuL60sOfvG6vGGqXSJntnUWzY4YrcWfw6iG51TNsK0F0sI6xuP5SXHJpnc/s320/IMG_3678.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGku0MzWLHy7YsvXL8dTB-r1MKF1CYaaoDVveh4i_Ebg6sREx4sjMYnxEuseY3MtlR6JT5PTfJJilLd_Z30DY2HakLjnLi5IzeS9osFcCUi38wnC4QtKK9hMD2e6-aVE695UwYamCDcrA/s1600-h/IMG_3672.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421612166539672082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGku0MzWLHy7YsvXL8dTB-r1MKF1CYaaoDVveh4i_Ebg6sREx4sjMYnxEuseY3MtlR6JT5PTfJJilLd_Z30DY2HakLjnLi5IzeS9osFcCUi38wnC4QtKK9hMD2e6-aVE695UwYamCDcrA/s320/IMG_3672.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8f-Owlkov1EO32oAFryGZZ9Y0BhXSRbWtAB1SLJ_HmwqoI7rlYZjPMDERJCOY2LIUytI8NH7CHVsoA00sHYsLIqoSkV7Hpv2ypKBzdWwx2m-w1pmfZlA4vFxSaV0yp400_ciiC2FeP9s/s1600-h/IMG_3682.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421614782818701202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8f-Owlkov1EO32oAFryGZZ9Y0BhXSRbWtAB1SLJ_HmwqoI7rlYZjPMDERJCOY2LIUytI8NH7CHVsoA00sHYsLIqoSkV7Hpv2ypKBzdWwx2m-w1pmfZlA4vFxSaV0yp400_ciiC2FeP9s/s320/IMG_3682.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PWWYqZsVplifyxkMBuHDM3Ul_N47TmS0QfJWhe2zuPlVxuFivEsl-2yl4tkixy_yL3JLWkvud2XO7TX9opSCZms7DCwZLPAIy8691X6tIDXlvtO45oUr-EYu1j_N9ZEsrip6MxGY6Q0/s1600-h/IMG_3683.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421614773187627810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PWWYqZsVplifyxkMBuHDM3Ul_N47TmS0QfJWhe2zuPlVxuFivEsl-2yl4tkixy_yL3JLWkvud2XO7TX9opSCZms7DCwZLPAIy8691X6tIDXlvtO45oUr-EYu1j_N9ZEsrip6MxGY6Q0/s320/IMG_3683.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-23866321467628983072009-12-12T15:32:00.006-06:002009-12-12T16:02:18.365-06:00One Year Ago Today....<div><div><div><div><div><div>....we saw Ella's face for the very first time. On December 11, 2008, we received "the call" from our social worker with Ella's information. The next day, December 12, 2008, we saw pictures of our sweet girl. All I can remember is laughing at her crazy hair! Needless to say (and to Bill's dismay), I've gone a bit crazy with the hair accessories in the last year! It sure feels like we've known Ella for far longer than just a year. Enjoy these first pictures of her and some recent ones!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9H2g8qreSUfpJNlcggXZ1U1aJclPdK1mE19R0GKL-4nI3jL_bRWz4ZynH7vLSQra5Z4f8TrWqNJ06VI_cdLLNnaCSPMQO_ownBwmSGaamunRtY7ptcMqTmBrAnFFTm6OpCkdw5yRHVF4/s1600-h/64113846.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 223px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414472017993006306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9H2g8qreSUfpJNlcggXZ1U1aJclPdK1mE19R0GKL-4nI3jL_bRWz4ZynH7vLSQra5Z4f8TrWqNJ06VI_cdLLNnaCSPMQO_ownBwmSGaamunRtY7ptcMqTmBrAnFFTm6OpCkdw5yRHVF4/s320/64113846.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOrG73-9NV80_9mIAc2DFT9VVEDmfKxrNUkViThizH__6noAcFq7JsTj3UQSBa3-YwD0Xh6E8vnnsw-c_dRRyEC0w9OergUcwwxbA73UWvMBlw4zb-9KY7Wggbo0nyKvzSgqxHoNI8Jc/s1600-h/94413666.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 217px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414472020299325250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOrG73-9NV80_9mIAc2DFT9VVEDmfKxrNUkViThizH__6noAcFq7JsTj3UQSBa3-YwD0Xh6E8vnnsw-c_dRRyEC0w9OergUcwwxbA73UWvMBlw4zb-9KY7Wggbo0nyKvzSgqxHoNI8Jc/s320/94413666.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTtHJCMt9eoKsY16zJoVK_oIH-iwgHX0IYG_x7M2ZMYapvu-XOIhoUcf38mhDs_by6M9mZt91J08q40GQnYr4WlVaOgtkC5Dfh40Q4JcHCCoq1QktkXyQo_Afv1NQNyKXLK-kWVJpmDk/s1600-h/50239221.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414472034993508866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTtHJCMt9eoKsY16zJoVK_oIH-iwgHX0IYG_x7M2ZMYapvu-XOIhoUcf38mhDs_by6M9mZt91J08q40GQnYr4WlVaOgtkC5Dfh40Q4JcHCCoq1QktkXyQo_Afv1NQNyKXLK-kWVJpmDk/s320/50239221.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrQOxO_in8cxS_NmuIvmcGaR_P2LnfUzogSO7ObhRJgBQ0H4eOoovjNmlt6Be5rssHI1L8Ef0fJ4kr5eVUeqeyD5DNjnznMrwMseutvCps07TK0dR67bgruEn1LPTKN-HPNW7nqnPcbw/s1600-h/26188522.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414472028242336178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrQOxO_in8cxS_NmuIvmcGaR_P2LnfUzogSO7ObhRJgBQ0H4eOoovjNmlt6Be5rssHI1L8Ef0fJ4kr5eVUeqeyD5DNjnznMrwMseutvCps07TK0dR67bgruEn1LPTKN-HPNW7nqnPcbw/s320/26188522.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RCxv-4ztMCDnRcnhfkDrGS6InirOdqPn1J4dNaCyCQ13o_6jGLEzZpXoFp6UNHm_qJ_fzo0u_WAINr7GTXTOEIpGJbedQeIw5WqeclDOlkyjNX-wp1UN_xhIAM-lmw5vzGFtz69FJWk/s1600-h/IMG_3438.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414472039205737938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RCxv-4ztMCDnRcnhfkDrGS6InirOdqPn1J4dNaCyCQ13o_6jGLEzZpXoFp6UNHm_qJ_fzo0u_WAINr7GTXTOEIpGJbedQeIw5WqeclDOlkyjNX-wp1UN_xhIAM-lmw5vzGFtz69FJWk/s320/IMG_3438.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR1G2seuylrfrC8E881fV7bhWFmKeOFpILXXX08u-xeTX8LwzDi7XJebnttd0e1-RFSK-eGPuUeKCcfbkVIPRYb5IZydGxwaTuU90qENxpFhG69v1hdWtE-aGKtRD_quIKNN2CVclnGA/s1600-h/IMG_9815-1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414472855568868834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR1G2seuylrfrC8E881fV7bhWFmKeOFpILXXX08u-xeTX8LwzDi7XJebnttd0e1-RFSK-eGPuUeKCcfbkVIPRYb5IZydGxwaTuU90qENxpFhG69v1hdWtE-aGKtRD_quIKNN2CVclnGA/s320/IMG_9815-1.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-71274392922552399222009-11-29T20:14:00.005-06:002009-11-29T21:02:34.678-06:00Ella Turns 2!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruX7bcZGJlUqH4GZcmVc2F82IP-4HJGUaiDm4pr8hwJITFkKGU-hzHBl_Bh4Fs5dmsMmIQi4GcjFWmUYiddgy4XpHf7dLdAwdWjV3b1ruX5EaMrUSBqvYQ_dnEVNlezVMaM4W3XvDTBE/s1600/IMG_3594.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409722757189095778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruX7bcZGJlUqH4GZcmVc2F82IP-4HJGUaiDm4pr8hwJITFkKGU-hzHBl_Bh4Fs5dmsMmIQi4GcjFWmUYiddgy4XpHf7dLdAwdWjV3b1ruX5EaMrUSBqvYQ_dnEVNlezVMaM4W3XvDTBE/s320/IMG_3594.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVZkvwPFx7FD5roddrdfA2PBZ04XXnAVNB9waO9GHiws6Xd-U4aavTj8KFoiEkS9HNfyvz-4czXWIYA7LxoETptfEiK4pvCMxoltRGFMxra-EoUIQBTPL4D1REW8_S2ebU3mvkzJINaU/s1600/IMG_3601.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409722766534968306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVZkvwPFx7FD5roddrdfA2PBZ04XXnAVNB9waO9GHiws6Xd-U4aavTj8KFoiEkS9HNfyvz-4czXWIYA7LxoETptfEiK4pvCMxoltRGFMxra-EoUIQBTPL4D1REW8_S2ebU3mvkzJINaU/s320/IMG_3601.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>On Friday, Ella turned 2 years old. We had her birthday party today. She did really great, considering all the people here in our house. Although she wasn't really interested in opening presents, and would have much rather played with the wrapping paper instead! Ella was definately interested in the pink cupcakes though!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXw1XrE1fJifxLHw6ATwWxbRxV-8zqi3U6D99DVRpcFr93EWoZuNH3tfXZzNnPF-rR20IRK5f9UMiGY_B1MRgdRr6aokbNEgNW3skSAq4v5PwlWZU-p_3-7ZGY0CTh0-65yQms4oz5xOU/s1600/IMG_3613.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409722773888968770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXw1XrE1fJifxLHw6ATwWxbRxV-8zqi3U6D99DVRpcFr93EWoZuNH3tfXZzNnPF-rR20IRK5f9UMiGY_B1MRgdRr6aokbNEgNW3skSAq4v5PwlWZU-p_3-7ZGY0CTh0-65yQms4oz5xOU/s320/IMG_3613.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK74zEJkZ7Lvgu7gRMFmsrzAoyn77QJanSBXuYaj-kv4i_RMYN4-gWVqbmtugT8fYDKCdeOROsnch_bY50kAADYfDSRlHSduX1ChWPnAxAlE2IBvVEYGNwr9K5Drge-m8ZuCCQt8E0TU/s1600/IMG_3620.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409722781884942994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK74zEJkZ7Lvgu7gRMFmsrzAoyn77QJanSBXuYaj-kv4i_RMYN4-gWVqbmtugT8fYDKCdeOROsnch_bY50kAADYfDSRlHSduX1ChWPnAxAlE2IBvVEYGNwr9K5Drge-m8ZuCCQt8E0TU/s320/IMG_3620.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1acQ1vR9wyxS5QQSq7R5gIy_8Ns3ME9Ao-D0qj6EHoGVuKmrXT2ucsItcY8lrD1jXgJv_LTmG2twjkNT4bfTTZgsbGWVSrJd-DkC1cYkg9cuWW4ZudnOdcv3NQp2T5_R7_7PniAFpEI/s1600/IMG_3624.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409725082045200034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1acQ1vR9wyxS5QQSq7R5gIy_8Ns3ME9Ao-D0qj6EHoGVuKmrXT2ucsItcY8lrD1jXgJv_LTmG2twjkNT4bfTTZgsbGWVSrJd-DkC1cYkg9cuWW4ZudnOdcv3NQp2T5_R7_7PniAFpEI/s320/IMG_3624.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3njIx47bf6QoYlExbLiYHv_m-VqFjhnvsy7CfYKwV43qBT03GEg10szFvVwMAR9opgh4CzOMIRvfjgKGSQOMgwBc0tcJ03C-NgBmmSvodmVr7yLo_k0HKQfH2UsNPAzzWTURJLOWXK7I/s1600/IMG_3621.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409722788460057330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3njIx47bf6QoYlExbLiYHv_m-VqFjhnvsy7CfYKwV43qBT03GEg10szFvVwMAR9opgh4CzOMIRvfjgKGSQOMgwBc0tcJ03C-NgBmmSvodmVr7yLo_k0HKQfH2UsNPAzzWTURJLOWXK7I/s320/IMG_3621.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-70796420431304471012009-11-25T19:34:00.010-06:002009-11-27T16:26:27.957-06:00Visitors for the Weekend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWALX2_4K3vtiDYOryCvPF9sRzb9tebnzUl5o0kw2jq2smcfqxSLYeUSItgK3JI7Q_aifeCkkPcDJ4IS9cRuYWPyh9RWkeUCJ2p098hy29AGekySGozs09NaXtYT9gARewMLTolsvGuQ/s1600/IMG_3588.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408596625616476690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWALX2_4K3vtiDYOryCvPF9sRzb9tebnzUl5o0kw2jq2smcfqxSLYeUSItgK3JI7Q_aifeCkkPcDJ4IS9cRuYWPyh9RWkeUCJ2p098hy29AGekySGozs09NaXtYT9gARewMLTolsvGuQ/s320/IMG_3588.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><div>This weekend our good friends Jason, Jen & little Addison drove over 7 hours to stay at our place. Ella and Addison were 'sisters' in the orphanage in China, and we first met Jason & Jen in the airport last February on our way to China to pick up our girls.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSe-8Y_FTGQi5uByq0CsEoWfCTVnmWZT4VwuvnyqDE2fTNOmJBgOP7REqOobGObxBo_ihS8m7pU8RGZKI2o3Df_tnE29LznBWvJozO77KPtFhPLD5GdlnOSc8WL9ZWLceGQ5ZBzS4GPw/s1600/IMG_3557.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408592173372935522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSe-8Y_FTGQi5uByq0CsEoWfCTVnmWZT4VwuvnyqDE2fTNOmJBgOP7REqOobGObxBo_ihS8m7pU8RGZKI2o3Df_tnE29LznBWvJozO77KPtFhPLD5GdlnOSc8WL9ZWLceGQ5ZBzS4GPw/s320/IMG_3557.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>Jason and Bill went to the Packer game Sunday. Jason got the required good-natured ribbing from Bill's friends about wearing his Favre #4 Viking jersey. But tailgating and a few beers and it doesn't matter what color jersey anyone is wearing anymore! Little Addison even wore the green & gold while in Wisconsin!</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzNLt99nEA5XVj1VPH5Ho0ue0c6-fEg_oNuiw_nPtisdmWfNcGTsTJqi67SyeaEkghJkGzfVle2tn8-tbB165DNy1fpdfkxpjigbpPJh3Dr0n2zHz8szh5ZIliuKRbIUc6i1ekI89JSY/s1600/IMG_3579.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408596620639714962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzNLt99nEA5XVj1VPH5Ho0ue0c6-fEg_oNuiw_nPtisdmWfNcGTsTJqi67SyeaEkghJkGzfVle2tn8-tbB165DNy1fpdfkxpjigbpPJh3Dr0n2zHz8szh5ZIliuKRbIUc6i1ekI89JSY/s320/IMG_3579.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aN7CzKxiatPo8kvdWviFFYdj8Xj0lP57W880PhEsXAR0raw-PbW1TEHhx6DvfaWaR4QSrcUgc8eR4a3BSe7dxWUeuSkCAg4LtrtMLOO3Sr-EpmfdbBKMqOH99rNAb87avvklMxzoJIU/s1600/IMG_3576.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408596612993081634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aN7CzKxiatPo8kvdWviFFYdj8Xj0lP57W880PhEsXAR0raw-PbW1TEHhx6DvfaWaR4QSrcUgc8eR4a3BSe7dxWUeuSkCAg4LtrtMLOO3Sr-EpmfdbBKMqOH99rNAb87avvklMxzoJIU/s320/IMG_3576.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuQtUkkRFds6pROJpKfa1lWqWmNozsm3vLg39J2_LmxUKNQ7sGohVWVCtED6pfJaQeDeG2jPROutad1_myKwGO7EzIY50WfRy7E4_CD0p2EbTA-BHQgwTj-usY2Gq3aX89DszuKYHjuk/s1600/IMG_3575.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408592182776073122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuQtUkkRFds6pROJpKfa1lWqWmNozsm3vLg39J2_LmxUKNQ7sGohVWVCtED6pfJaQeDeG2jPROutad1_myKwGO7EzIY50WfRy7E4_CD0p2EbTA-BHQgwTj-usY2Gq3aX89DszuKYHjuk/s320/IMG_3575.JPG" /></a><br /><br />While the guys were cheering on the Pack, us girls hit the outlet mall. Of course we were drawn to the cute little girl clothes! And we did our fair share of Christmas shopping and stimulating the economy...</div><div><br />It was a fun weekend...very laid back with good food (Ian said to make sure to mention the cool spray cheese, Jen!!!), good friends and great fun. The girls did great and there have been so many changes in each since the last time we saw each other. Both have grown so much and their personalities are really starting to shine.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh-ntTiidzgAo1ePSlPLrI8Xtzqohmn7SjFcw_IiFjQnvAbgcqKi6Fvkan4qdoOvu_jiih6f3gdbeOeNRpqE_Gf0cDY9rNvR-INBYOlukP4RKsL3vB_9zyxRz7eqPUX8B5leMj609dUk/s1600/IMG_3570.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408592178584129778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh-ntTiidzgAo1ePSlPLrI8Xtzqohmn7SjFcw_IiFjQnvAbgcqKi6Fvkan4qdoOvu_jiih6f3gdbeOeNRpqE_Gf0cDY9rNvR-INBYOlukP4RKsL3vB_9zyxRz7eqPUX8B5leMj609dUk/s320/IMG_3570.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>We can't wait to get together again for Chinese New Year!</div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-1546385718411493372009-11-24T19:43:00.013-06:002009-11-25T19:07:59.006-06:00Grand Cayman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xAOQN9qEuC5aPyqyDW9Pj6POs8Xybf0YWRYaU_jfcX3Irs6GxFY5WiheUNnBA-SEuE2jKM9fCyAEpycQVhbo0txrNnR7zk3JrXma-GGeQQyjN8Gm4C3qGcggOb1uWtiFF_ch6w4ntF8/s1600/IMG_0293.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407870289831188754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xAOQN9qEuC5aPyqyDW9Pj6POs8Xybf0YWRYaU_jfcX3Irs6GxFY5WiheUNnBA-SEuE2jKM9fCyAEpycQVhbo0txrNnR7zk3JrXma-GGeQQyjN8Gm4C3qGcggOb1uWtiFF_ch6w4ntF8/s320/IMG_0293.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiL4AcvxSz5wVEJ3XKthTqz5JRmHoyE6E9thwYOo-kK9zE0BGTOLuq-_ddLa2xlBad86JOVZeAyM9QAYE26YS4VLzbWpz18eXnb0wP6CbG7RA7JbkW4s6g7HtFws8LfqCoA5COGTEt94/s1600/IMG_9360.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407861679611666450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiL4AcvxSz5wVEJ3XKthTqz5JRmHoyE6E9thwYOo-kK9zE0BGTOLuq-_ddLa2xlBad86JOVZeAyM9QAYE26YS4VLzbWpz18eXnb0wP6CbG7RA7JbkW4s6g7HtFws8LfqCoA5COGTEt94/s320/IMG_9360.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOe-2CPTe4li7cMn5w9ZBxHWK8ILyREaet6m9WbqNW3QQsYm8EUXxmYInHSjyw9gbGMgcUwvpNL691NpLAp-_g7ifHyyfKKD7bsjDN64H01dvsdItGqclzm6wIX2ZAcNgYbYjuuesFmg/s1600/IMG_9432.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407864983883261362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOe-2CPTe4li7cMn5w9ZBxHWK8ILyREaet6m9WbqNW3QQsYm8EUXxmYInHSjyw9gbGMgcUwvpNL691NpLAp-_g7ifHyyfKKD7bsjDN64H01dvsdItGqclzm6wIX2ZAcNgYbYjuuesFmg/s320/IMG_9432.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBdNBVmsYdldBLnNGPeu9x5xc7zWFTbPQo8UxnfhJDAUVz8CR6skQtEaD4LX6x4C_-YJ8yW4efnEm8lpm9Lyn46ir2CWMuLpuamcMPT3y15ST6Y3DAc9ESnvEAmlT2jobomBXhk3e_G4/s1600/IMG_9320.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407861673685646306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBdNBVmsYdldBLnNGPeu9x5xc7zWFTbPQo8UxnfhJDAUVz8CR6skQtEaD4LX6x4C_-YJ8yW4efnEm8lpm9Lyn46ir2CWMuLpuamcMPT3y15ST6Y3DAc9ESnvEAmlT2jobomBXhk3e_G4/s320/IMG_9320.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjISPTytROLHrlJDz3qVM_-MFjXNG9uOwXMYU1yTLrf_OPY5wBdDseNwlpV4V9BUeCWQYlWEtIC2nrzJPbUksM_YTG5Hz7EgC_7rTo-PxWIjrrfu9dT2RK6blm38KeGXaMM8J-MxVXFA/s1600/IMG_9701.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407861682758736226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjISPTytROLHrlJDz3qVM_-MFjXNG9uOwXMYU1yTLrf_OPY5wBdDseNwlpV4V9BUeCWQYlWEtIC2nrzJPbUksM_YTG5Hz7EgC_7rTo-PxWIjrrfu9dT2RK6blm38KeGXaMM8J-MxVXFA/s320/IMG_9701.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-nnlptOKiU04TxZqfB5-riruLJM9b48p666SLQcWP5GySLuODg3X7h-Y3lmgi3_V7ODWEgpQHgrYza_Md_arsyZIQciegHvofBJYkeK3pBYQVw8CRsmzt5_xzvdQqE7sIoloHVz9SnU/s1600/IMG_3540.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408211059962817330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-nnlptOKiU04TxZqfB5-riruLJM9b48p666SLQcWP5GySLuODg3X7h-Y3lmgi3_V7ODWEgpQHgrYza_Md_arsyZIQciegHvofBJYkeK3pBYQVw8CRsmzt5_xzvdQqE7sIoloHVz9SnU/s320/IMG_3540.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5RK9Rz-T0L6kln9BTdzGof-SE7hmDuVumC3qsA-c6ITQUjSrkJHn2_8n-P-E5aIocGADDv2BwpS7T9xIh131RwnWePFf9cO7S7_8PCeB61VvYuOSTDhqfmyAldXJq49UQeSzPrIGY1k/s1600/IMG_9877.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div>Bill's sister moved to Grand Cayman this summer. Bill, myself, Ian (8) and Ella (2 - almost!) decided to take a trip to see her. My brother and sister-in-law, Dan & Candy, and their kids Carissa (16), Angela (13), Sean (7) & Drew (5) came along.<br /><br /><br /></div><div>We had to get up at 3am to catch our flight, but it was no problem since no one slept the night before anyway! The kids all did great on the flights, and we landed in Grand Cayman to the 'perfect' summer day - upper 80's, low humidity, and not a cloud in the sky. We were greeted off the airplane with rum punch and Mardi Gras beads by pirates, as it was the start of Pirates Week in Grand Cayman. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>We picked up our cars from the rental agency, and started to navigate the roads. As the Cayman Islands are part of the British West Indies, they drive on the left side of the road. It was quite odd and did not come naturally at first. Not to mention the millions of roundabouts that we were not used to navigating, and having to stop for the iguanas crossing the road. Dan & Candy's van was very odd looking - narrow and tall. It was immediately nicknamed "The Toaster", and the name stuck all week! Dan said that his kids learned to lean to the inside around corners as it felt like it would tip over!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9dLuF-6fsl0ZdX0GzQ2Pa8M1nOqqmNJwtfzS8h5mwCJSJXlqLSLU9q315DwOCQyl7Q6kCYC5ahs4XKAHIuBnAn1HKsVE6YBDt58dbcH8Gx30P6xInLpnPACEMvQyK22TP06LdT7Be94/s1600/IMG_9218.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407855715101358466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9dLuF-6fsl0ZdX0GzQ2Pa8M1nOqqmNJwtfzS8h5mwCJSJXlqLSLU9q315DwOCQyl7Q6kCYC5ahs4XKAHIuBnAn1HKsVE6YBDt58dbcH8Gx30P6xInLpnPACEMvQyK22TP06LdT7Be94/s320/IMG_9218.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhzsHQJli0ccjpvZccnapie9tS-hngNQKL7WGH8PNM3JnplU9YQHteC1814gdhIxthyphenhyphenMzhauHuFL4SN8Zt1CXlc7KRq8fS9TKKQ_9UUruAe_r0Nc920DMEqvXex7lMEZaF-2zbPjrPX4/s1600/IMG_9383.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407855717820720034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhzsHQJli0ccjpvZccnapie9tS-hngNQKL7WGH8PNM3JnplU9YQHteC1814gdhIxthyphenhyphenMzhauHuFL4SN8Zt1CXlc7KRq8fS9TKKQ_9UUruAe_r0Nc920DMEqvXex7lMEZaF-2zbPjrPX4/s320/IMG_9383.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div>The condo was perfect, ours a 2 bedroom garden view and Dan & Candy's a 3 bedroom ocean view. They were quite modern and very nice. And as it was low season in Cayman, we were the only occupants in the complex! We had the whole pool and beach to ourselves day after day. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c7wI9y7OLpGeAKaYDndhTBapb14rH0kNc7fhqJs0-cFN7LojUfnIKpAcvhIxHBtLd_peIRit8L95Ss04JFS373Bn_6EKH__c7t2lHUZcvmYbPRwkCGrJU3gVhOQWE62cFXqwjoCzC-k/s1600/IMG_9248.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407855727584817794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c7wI9y7OLpGeAKaYDndhTBapb14rH0kNc7fhqJs0-cFN7LojUfnIKpAcvhIxHBtLd_peIRit8L95Ss04JFS373Bn_6EKH__c7t2lHUZcvmYbPRwkCGrJU3gVhOQWE62cFXqwjoCzC-k/s320/IMG_9248.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcn_SEH7pW8L5ye9ViEf8HpjGBCzNei4JK4_JNij2pUDB5lwUJQeBl2v0kRrcZN1NGPBUNVcdImMkHTnLiXpjSE00x3xa8uT4eA_v6uq5vyVVFo5GGrgd2u0PcarY5fMMI-KvgjEd6Dh8/s1600/IMG_9233.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 146px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407855721238530642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcn_SEH7pW8L5ye9ViEf8HpjGBCzNei4JK4_JNij2pUDB5lwUJQeBl2v0kRrcZN1NGPBUNVcdImMkHTnLiXpjSE00x3xa8uT4eA_v6uq5vyVVFo5GGrgd2u0PcarY5fMMI-KvgjEd6Dh8/s320/IMG_9233.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2izIo5z86MQhj9XbPFXGk-VO6JK7LJrpSiHms0D21GV9UXzaotMM0qu4f-q6Bt9F6JchWGVUcZVuzjFZkNzOPXS7xoBYvBCw8BEuoYmaRL_gsR7P6UrJfuNXa1m7Ur7Z-rS-Tl318yTE/s1600/IMG_9278.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407857208549503730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2izIo5z86MQhj9XbPFXGk-VO6JK7LJrpSiHms0D21GV9UXzaotMM0qu4f-q6Bt9F6JchWGVUcZVuzjFZkNzOPXS7xoBYvBCw8BEuoYmaRL_gsR7P6UrJfuNXa1m7Ur7Z-rS-Tl318yTE/s320/IMG_9278.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>The second day, we headed to downtown Georgetown to witness the Pirate festivities. There was an pirate invasion, complete with capture of the British army. A parade followed. There were floats and steel drum bands.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqL1Q9xNYcm1AF6_nBD1MOukeQByKx0Azl7ELLJf5r7eye0I8N7w7fGRVG4_tZpi5T0M5gNdAGfEOQM5nbvQwX3KCQhl6zzmrWecV6pndmh0AVDDWrO9kuCw6OOtuldgB3L6dXDWMb4Sc/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407861670750983874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqL1Q9xNYcm1AF6_nBD1MOukeQByKx0Azl7ELLJf5r7eye0I8N7w7fGRVG4_tZpi5T0M5gNdAGfEOQM5nbvQwX3KCQhl6zzmrWecV6pndmh0AVDDWrO9kuCw6OOtuldgB3L6dXDWMb4Sc/s320/IMG_3406.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h66RPnRoDWS7AVLxnz3ThtYvSZNOiEuE02eEmtm3ui2Wpds3ne5_R0reMj1q__9XiGIJDx4XqO0gC9H6_u5ZUkgEcjUWHqyQIkxXeLTOo0m9Uh43tqugZe5GLMdQMMnSkhNx-zzM_7I/s1600/IMG_9604.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407861671630411090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h66RPnRoDWS7AVLxnz3ThtYvSZNOiEuE02eEmtm3ui2Wpds3ne5_R0reMj1q__9XiGIJDx4XqO0gC9H6_u5ZUkgEcjUWHqyQIkxXeLTOo0m9Uh43tqugZe5GLMdQMMnSkhNx-zzM_7I/s320/IMG_9604.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qmbLmkxYbHR5prfSB-3i0DalUSFKtOIpCGoXWMENx17whhjO6Uf0JkZgrJZdc9K6Gbs3m29L7jj54E28b-L7zJO3wuUPWEUtx1Mp1oTDFNJj2teSCtNMCD93dOOngmdRT3FU9u8OfuY/s1600/IMG_9554.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407864984148699138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qmbLmkxYbHR5prfSB-3i0DalUSFKtOIpCGoXWMENx17whhjO6Uf0JkZgrJZdc9K6Gbs3m29L7jj54E28b-L7zJO3wuUPWEUtx1Mp1oTDFNJj2teSCtNMCD93dOOngmdRT3FU9u8OfuY/s320/IMG_9554.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfvLF6y4tz_OrZTv-xx50FCRmpyzzta2ulEmbKw_u6Bu4rW8y9cAfxcAqfxJMPgeIlfmGopP-bYAstqEX8cQTJ5nD11WyDdVw9VW2sQneTr4z9ZXeFhKF_hq8ZNF64MBcsp5j8GlzgWE/s1600/IMG_3424.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407864977095236434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfvLF6y4tz_OrZTv-xx50FCRmpyzzta2ulEmbKw_u6Bu4rW8y9cAfxcAqfxJMPgeIlfmGopP-bYAstqEX8cQTJ5nD11WyDdVw9VW2sQneTr4z9ZXeFhKF_hq8ZNF64MBcsp5j8GlzgWE/s320/IMG_3424.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Polly, Bill's sister, took us to Rum Point (beach) and siteseeing around the island. We had a wonderful day in the sun and water. We snorkeled, built sand castles, and generally lounged around.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX97M1urO15DqjLKrJexOXHMKGiOb_M0E-H0bg4oirItLbBONAs5R1ViHEf1lk2WHU3xl6RsyMs_K6kRVh_kMupR3gx63XyZJLkP3k446makKSf2kRVxnwKoaCgIeRNQecwzSooeYIuo/s1600/IMG_9872.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407870275311820546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX97M1urO15DqjLKrJexOXHMKGiOb_M0E-H0bg4oirItLbBONAs5R1ViHEf1lk2WHU3xl6RsyMs_K6kRVh_kMupR3gx63XyZJLkP3k446makKSf2kRVxnwKoaCgIeRNQecwzSooeYIuo/s320/IMG_9872.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtHi5A1LrG9NfR0-e6YBMEkORS9WxRBpLdaa2DB8btcz4uLov-MSiW6Ug9cj-2YPQA0WeDjKdpL7lMXO9Kat9Vw0UgPj52-d_EI-L5CWTzraXTK6PrP2P1QchSYbH-JnrbGHWRYlq2ko/s1600/IMG_9465.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407870288571863858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtHi5A1LrG9NfR0-e6YBMEkORS9WxRBpLdaa2DB8btcz4uLov-MSiW6Ug9cj-2YPQA0WeDjKdpL7lMXO9Kat9Vw0UgPj52-d_EI-L5CWTzraXTK6PrP2P1QchSYbH-JnrbGHWRYlq2ko/s320/IMG_9465.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3njtp8EafePqLw_hE5Zum8maJbKYY2e-8P2b6oihjC7J2cPx1aZJvi-01tNqMaKRfSP45cuebxikO9xUJhyphenhypheniLOIvhbRWsi3pY8TLDAQgFTaASQE_0DIDg5MiJqayJBP3QwetVA65MAA/s1600/IMG_9909.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407870285755904978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3njtp8EafePqLw_hE5Zum8maJbKYY2e-8P2b6oihjC7J2cPx1aZJvi-01tNqMaKRfSP45cuebxikO9xUJhyphenhypheniLOIvhbRWsi3pY8TLDAQgFTaASQE_0DIDg5MiJqayJBP3QwetVA65MAA/s320/IMG_9909.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5RK9Rz-T0L6kln9BTdzGof-SE7hmDuVumC3qsA-c6ITQUjSrkJHn2_8n-P-E5aIocGADDv2BwpS7T9xIh131RwnWePFf9cO7S7_8PCeB61VvYuOSTDhqfmyAldXJq49UQeSzPrIGY1k/s1600/IMG_9877.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407870283547406962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5RK9Rz-T0L6kln9BTdzGof-SE7hmDuVumC3qsA-c6ITQUjSrkJHn2_8n-P-E5aIocGADDv2BwpS7T9xIh131RwnWePFf9cO7S7_8PCeB61VvYuOSTDhqfmyAldXJq49UQeSzPrIGY1k/s320/IMG_9877.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We took a cruise on the Jolly Roger, a restored pirate ship. We were the only ones on the cruise, and the crew did a wonderful job with the kids. They were lined up to check the new "deckhands" for lice, how big their muscles were, and to make sure they'd generally be good sailors. Then the kids were each given a scrub brush and had to scrub the deck! How hilarious! Then the crew tied my brother to the mast and dumped ice water on him as punishment for telling his kids "because I said so". Then the crew made us all "walk the plank" and go snorkeling! </div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6ShZmta-qLOssMrE3DXEoBs99UQ5QUvsEH7KksqlhtTEJZzKEqX-cD9ij_v4j4PHiNBrL3Ky8qm9EEhkXcsfbtfrus7FzqKD9FUdP-Bm6f3yyyoBX1Xqqc7ZsVc6sbiJyDWzTLxeRIA/s1600/IMG_0114.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407876877072114306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6ShZmta-qLOssMrE3DXEoBs99UQ5QUvsEH7KksqlhtTEJZzKEqX-cD9ij_v4j4PHiNBrL3Ky8qm9EEhkXcsfbtfrus7FzqKD9FUdP-Bm6f3yyyoBX1Xqqc7ZsVc6sbiJyDWzTLxeRIA/s320/IMG_0114.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpmJ3rhD7D-YnasdsJLq4xRaHTqZDEI-pbboLeupjWDZNy37aD30KSa7KYQ74sCWQrHogFmo4jCYYDbHCKF_ie2Bi6lAW-xzVdFWHUoWjulU-fT8NiUjvuOdgyOmXmSMgqrGT_937Lgk/s1600/IMG_0146.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407876878318230178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpmJ3rhD7D-YnasdsJLq4xRaHTqZDEI-pbboLeupjWDZNy37aD30KSa7KYQ74sCWQrHogFmo4jCYYDbHCKF_ie2Bi6lAW-xzVdFWHUoWjulU-fT8NiUjvuOdgyOmXmSMgqrGT_937Lgk/s320/IMG_0146.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuj-szLwoA2ohuvncYfRXSCuQuVK6Iqxt8-_5CFl4ywgaeRPNDHTMm28kjAE2JPoz1DR74tDhsKe-GSA3iPnsI0ZWC0jRlaErrqKihzkOFSl8ocqN0DCQqyUkf-mAw5iMZrDYbuJVZjqg/s1600/IMG_3518.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407876888620338146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuj-szLwoA2ohuvncYfRXSCuQuVK6Iqxt8-_5CFl4ywgaeRPNDHTMm28kjAE2JPoz1DR74tDhsKe-GSA3iPnsI0ZWC0jRlaErrqKihzkOFSl8ocqN0DCQqyUkf-mAw5iMZrDYbuJVZjqg/s320/IMG_3518.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyGdPyk2zCATHT0UeNQg8zxX0OGASDsLyCNqhGRxY6qysVF7_8j5GPqVmjSQXnStK1HfyFpnfeqwmv6ejW_rYWodWakL0fOTweNTrOWz4bk6UyaGB6i8F_HJIwrV8g84YfqS_4qHNow8/s1600/IMG_3528.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407876891824433730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyGdPyk2zCATHT0UeNQg8zxX0OGASDsLyCNqhGRxY6qysVF7_8j5GPqVmjSQXnStK1HfyFpnfeqwmv6ejW_rYWodWakL0fOTweNTrOWz4bk6UyaGB6i8F_HJIwrV8g84YfqS_4qHNow8/s320/IMG_3528.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>The last thing we did was take a charter boat out to StingRay City, which is a sandbar in the ocean that is about 3-4 feet deep and swarmed with stingrays looking for free handouts. It was all I could do to be in the water with the huge stingrays swimming around my feet and rubbing against my legs. Ian did awesome with them. It was quite an experience that I'm sure the kids will never forget.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiktbnZx3tVn18cHRsjrL4ynxQKVMdVtrJnssiWDyMgAMlWuZURBuTDqQf8mR7a8qrTB3na_h9D6nxIQQapXBEM1Oxy43vqCadJbTMYElwQg_OZC366TrBgovWoSDi-nWMvji3IR0CtjU/s1600/IMG_0341.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407879737512500098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiktbnZx3tVn18cHRsjrL4ynxQKVMdVtrJnssiWDyMgAMlWuZURBuTDqQf8mR7a8qrTB3na_h9D6nxIQQapXBEM1Oxy43vqCadJbTMYElwQg_OZC366TrBgovWoSDi-nWMvji3IR0CtjU/s320/IMG_0341.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWREEr-RjkR8iAsOT6E5AwgQlPZbQEdqib-z558sllmlcTINFiwIJQJp9QDbNx_qdAY_VgmY9h0AX59oYw4gHEHHg8fyQdKAo5GqJA8hxiu1_6BVFBfsmgEm5bmLpXJ4krfiVahUZB_4/s1600/IMG_0355.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407879744187546626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWREEr-RjkR8iAsOT6E5AwgQlPZbQEdqib-z558sllmlcTINFiwIJQJp9QDbNx_qdAY_VgmY9h0AX59oYw4gHEHHg8fyQdKAo5GqJA8hxiu1_6BVFBfsmgEm5bmLpXJ4krfiVahUZB_4/s320/IMG_0355.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA0uxzKfJXOonVYd5ofgNn-9QL9FRnh4yTonllf5TOExKQgmGV2o47NfXtQal4ab2d57U5E7w-fFrnwTcvfaHs_dIYUa4lTI_Qi30XjMUO-U0ZdGxV567rsPQtomPH8ah19rS6IZCFRc/s1600/IMG_0363.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407879747802519394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA0uxzKfJXOonVYd5ofgNn-9QL9FRnh4yTonllf5TOExKQgmGV2o47NfXtQal4ab2d57U5E7w-fFrnwTcvfaHs_dIYUa4lTI_Qi30XjMUO-U0ZdGxV567rsPQtomPH8ah19rS6IZCFRc/s320/IMG_0363.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>It was a wonderful trip. I have to again thank my sister-in-law Candy for all the great pictures...she took over 1,000 pictures during the week. She has her camera out so much that I get lazy and don't take mine out! If you'd like to view more pictures of our trip, click on the More Pictures link at the top right of this page. Then click on the Cayman 2009 folder.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-47863805119389443622009-09-10T20:22:00.013-05:002009-09-10T21:16:40.773-05:00Labor Day CampingWe took Ella on her first "camping" trip last weekend. I use the term camping loosely...I'm sure some of you wouldn't call staying in a 27 foot camper that sleeps 7, has a fridge, microwave, stove, toilet, shower and tub camping! But it was a change from the cottage, and we were in a campground, so I'm calling it camping. This is the second Labor Day weekend camping trip we've taken with the same group. We borrowed the camper from some good friends...the sister of Ella's godfather.<br /><br />The group we went with included 14 adults, 11 kids and 3 dogs. The kids ranged in age from 21 months (Ella) to 14 years old. Most of them fell in the 5 to 8 year old range. The campground was totally geared towards children, with plenty of activities. There was a bouncy-pillow, playground, plenty of strange-looking bikes of all sorts, mini-golf, swimming pool and swimming/fishing pond with inflatable obstacles. The kids participated in t-shirt decorating, a glow party and parade, magician's show and play-dough making. One of the dad's in the group organized a great scavenger hunt one evening that was a total hit.<br /><br />Ella did awesome - better than I was expecting. She was laid-back and easy-going. She had a ton of fun (especially in the pool). She was a hit with all in the group, but I must say, the dogs won the popularity contest with all the little girls! The 8 girls were constantly walking the 3 dogs around the campground...to the point of exhaustion for our 12 & 14 year-old Springer Spaniels.<br /><br />It was a great weekend, the weather was absolutely perfect for the first time this summer. The friends we went with were tons of fun, and all the kids got along wonderfully. We've already agreed to doing it again next Labor Day!<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLlpqEqVnZRdQYRVeNGPjWoLfRRtXlKbFJJc5mQRNIbSRqfhPw0WATm3Ul3N55Zecnj-Sv0oRnRp6nxd8Ez1A4UzR5xyOb_uwU3cDwnzvtm8Fvb_0iC6i4cb2myVJSjtvLSqGDnaj0xg/s1600-h/IMG_7894.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380024868822031858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLlpqEqVnZRdQYRVeNGPjWoLfRRtXlKbFJJc5mQRNIbSRqfhPw0WATm3Ul3N55Zecnj-Sv0oRnRp6nxd8Ez1A4UzR5xyOb_uwU3cDwnzvtm8Fvb_0iC6i4cb2myVJSjtvLSqGDnaj0xg/s320/IMG_7894.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbIY4sEvawq_qsDqIW2Ze1w6m8CpTh7C1e9dbJKw1k9azrr72F-t5E7JnT75Q68WYx8w3H8MtuVTZ89OHxZFeI2Jn_HHCkHWtJs_S9aGJRxihDJhwosAhYzN6CUJVTovv7d7E4S_TfqE/s1600-h/IMG_8194.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380023520996700210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbIY4sEvawq_qsDqIW2Ze1w6m8CpTh7C1e9dbJKw1k9azrr72F-t5E7JnT75Q68WYx8w3H8MtuVTZ89OHxZFeI2Jn_HHCkHWtJs_S9aGJRxihDJhwosAhYzN6CUJVTovv7d7E4S_TfqE/s320/IMG_8194.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnipMeMJMmHO_HJ4Vs4AAI6Nj1Gy5mnsR3S8LSBsM8s6u7Ki5VdXRTBRxoolbJgCDAE_pzsOK16D_sa4uK7sMQBvPGEgJpyYJumEZhCfkHnMGba9S98-j4ekAqUxnnrSyoe-3ADWYJIg/s1600-h/IMG_8177.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380023513702643170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnipMeMJMmHO_HJ4Vs4AAI6Nj1Gy5mnsR3S8LSBsM8s6u7Ki5VdXRTBRxoolbJgCDAE_pzsOK16D_sa4uK7sMQBvPGEgJpyYJumEZhCfkHnMGba9S98-j4ekAqUxnnrSyoe-3ADWYJIg/s320/IMG_8177.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEzE9U4mcBduFabnmSUi77X9eXNgyhjc1xlFV7qlD8MAWB42riN6uELQXpvH3rwCVnrNWZK5vNNRs-hxzR5BJmTc32IBIqlgawfq94ZzDbe4u6mG1IbAIIkVa46FZtDkoSKmk_C-VuFk/s1600-h/IMG_8126.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380021724533244962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEzE9U4mcBduFabnmSUi77X9eXNgyhjc1xlFV7qlD8MAWB42riN6uELQXpvH3rwCVnrNWZK5vNNRs-hxzR5BJmTc32IBIqlgawfq94ZzDbe4u6mG1IbAIIkVa46FZtDkoSKmk_C-VuFk/s320/IMG_8126.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMNRaVgfSpDtOvwyLpn1IaTplUA39VWjnOvXRrONuFhcOHZl0pVoJnCVgdKuV45yESnwCfM6e3s_4e2pwaPgvaMkTTxLQe3dgTuohkB29ZQQb1RBBSPGNWPesUS_PvczqFHdiseOUkFU/s1600-h/IMG_8112.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; 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HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380021711212220658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZiYtfZ140ACqzXjg2Euqy2TgidWHeV1207gt_Q0zWI4ayVJYGvoARRAuDUVlcmqxc98SozKVu061kWbkkasVn-TRSdryqmVR4HyGkDJZK59wDEa5Ga2Ra0FSYajT5eAoBpQnd0WMoPM/s320/IMG_7949.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUK7sGw0ho0eBJgVYxAQbzJ1_wFvbY8pjeio4Cq-4xtnRnm1OiWhRkOXgplt3INUwTxfjThS921nBVHPz1uXOPUOTw2VlBoVyENW9LPjpPU9d_DF3HUD-dtO61GWKjPuEBigaJRajZtE/s1600-h/IMG_8261.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380023531212070738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUK7sGw0ho0eBJgVYxAQbzJ1_wFvbY8pjeio4Cq-4xtnRnm1OiWhRkOXgplt3INUwTxfjThS921nBVHPz1uXOPUOTw2VlBoVyENW9LPjpPU9d_DF3HUD-dtO61GWKjPuEBigaJRajZtE/s320/IMG_8261.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-13093508121415099182009-08-17T19:15:00.006-05:002009-08-17T20:35:15.302-05:00Mini-Reunion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcB4jE6n3oZyO1DTwwgOS9DN_BxUwSIfnkipdCZJQYrzXDM_yx_AqLW_hKFmc3hrXzuPZcEzuSIHsktY98i4ukX52_VdrPYNdn38X3vpwIjANLtiZ8g4Xov52Uw1dTUQMe6KlIvQ1xrg/s1600-h/IMG_3281.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371108875732809410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcB4jE6n3oZyO1DTwwgOS9DN_BxUwSIfnkipdCZJQYrzXDM_yx_AqLW_hKFmc3hrXzuPZcEzuSIHsktY98i4ukX52_VdrPYNdn38X3vpwIjANLtiZ8g4Xov52Uw1dTUQMe6KlIvQ1xrg/s320/IMG_3281.JPG" /></a><br />We spent last weekend with Jason, Jen and Addison - our extended "China Family". Little Addison was Ella's orphanage "sister", and our families really enjoyed each others' company during our trip to China. We each had a free weekend, and decided to drive across our respective states and meet at a hotel. The setting was quite beautiful, along the Mississippi River, with cliffs and rolling hills everywhere. Unfortunately it rained the entire time we were there! So we didn't get to take advantage of the beautiful outdoors as much as we would have liked. Yup, being stuck in a hotel was definately reminiscent of our 2 weeks in China!<br /><br />The girls were wonderful. Ella greeted Addison as she does other babies: a hug and either a kiss or on her way to a bite (I don't wait long enough to find out!). I don't think the girls remembered each other in case you are wondering. It was amazing to see how much each of them has grown in the 5 months we've been home: Addison has grown 4 inches, but not a lot of weight; Ella has grown 3 inches and 3 lbs.<br /><br />Considering both girls had almost the same background for their first months of life, I would have thought they'd have very similar traits. But they are truly their own persons, and couldn't be further from opposite in many ways: one girl loves to look at books, the other only to eat them; one girl is wary of strangers, the other is a social butterfly; one is loud with random noises, the other is quiet but can definately communicate her wants; one girl is always on the move to destinations unknown, while the other contemplates her route with quiet determination.<br /><br />There were some similarities between the two though: the girls are awesome eaters, both in quantity and variety; both have very laid-back personalities and are able to go along with any situation as long as Mom & Dad are there with them; and both are as cute as two girls can be!!!<br /><br />It was wonderful being able to visit with our dear friends and see how the girls are progressing. We have plans to get together in the fall and then again for Chinese New Year. I can't wait...I wish we lived closer to each other!<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz_ewr2cvEFzqdGY1fZhqOMvlem-WjpmP5BUNnp1BdphPeFjFUrNDrTmWDZVv9uyDYpZBXOfoBiF6fWK_ZG29psgAC6s9HkreHa88QfHp2mGtdO7d1607Q5pLU1GAGBZ3f2RXY6G57lA/s1600-h/IMG_3316.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371108884146471090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCz_ewr2cvEFzqdGY1fZhqOMvlem-WjpmP5BUNnp1BdphPeFjFUrNDrTmWDZVv9uyDYpZBXOfoBiF6fWK_ZG29psgAC6s9HkreHa88QfHp2mGtdO7d1607Q5pLU1GAGBZ3f2RXY6G57lA/s320/IMG_3316.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVTv0Z0fVkgRlAdvuo-zbnuvL7YM0YXsx0Md7-wtaNrD5L7Jt0MqzyhrTQmmv4qbC23zlR12rJXnxODl_ldG6aZFu2s913a0-Ty5opg1WlFjHIvItSPNG1j9iKNNSThmLD0tfgenCZqY/s1600-h/IMG_3258.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371108895776846402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVTv0Z0fVkgRlAdvuo-zbnuvL7YM0YXsx0Md7-wtaNrD5L7Jt0MqzyhrTQmmv4qbC23zlR12rJXnxODl_ldG6aZFu2s913a0-Ty5opg1WlFjHIvItSPNG1j9iKNNSThmLD0tfgenCZqY/s320/IMG_3258.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzb-Ve3mc5BA3zC_qZfHM6JjWifM9Ael1jUU9XLWw96fUK1U50hymJNBCImEYYwozQa8LJmftP7sTkSKH4Ujg4imeAhQac4jPDpc6e-s3tVF0hox-GEmdlGnyTVKQAs0cAlxFivQB0pk/s1600-h/IMG_3309.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371105150980171618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzb-Ve3mc5BA3zC_qZfHM6JjWifM9Ael1jUU9XLWw96fUK1U50hymJNBCImEYYwozQa8LJmftP7sTkSKH4Ujg4imeAhQac4jPDpc6e-s3tVF0hox-GEmdlGnyTVKQAs0cAlxFivQB0pk/s320/IMG_3309.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08BOkrSjFGFED6izC2Pjc5kmv1xRdRfWEI_2rMx9aq31-FHq86VlYBYerAGArylaVbJ0ELuMnXsEXEoRuk6YsJL0fWjCHm1cc5YsCzvkWn7uGw_J0gN3eZsa9dZM7Tvau9C9UUCH9jDM/s1600-h/IMG_3294.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371105141581686130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08BOkrSjFGFED6izC2Pjc5kmv1xRdRfWEI_2rMx9aq31-FHq86VlYBYerAGArylaVbJ0ELuMnXsEXEoRuk6YsJL0fWjCHm1cc5YsCzvkWn7uGw_J0gN3eZsa9dZM7Tvau9C9UUCH9jDM/s320/IMG_3294.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08BOkrSjFGFED6izC2Pjc5kmv1xRdRfWEI_2rMx9aq31-FHq86VlYBYerAGArylaVbJ0ELuMnXsEXEoRuk6YsJL0fWjCHm1cc5YsCzvkWn7uGw_J0gN3eZsa9dZM7Tvau9C9UUCH9jDM/s1600-h/IMG_3294.JPG"></a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08BOkrSjFGFED6izC2Pjc5kmv1xRdRfWEI_2rMx9aq31-FHq86VlYBYerAGArylaVbJ0ELuMnXsEXEoRuk6YsJL0fWjCHm1cc5YsCzvkWn7uGw_J0gN3eZsa9dZM7Tvau9C9UUCH9jDM/s1600-h/IMG_3294.JPG"></a></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-66658046522163300142009-08-04T19:38:00.008-05:002009-08-04T21:06:28.216-05:005 Months HomeWe brought Ella home 5 months ago today. It feels like she's been part of our family for years. We've been quite busy this summer, thus the lapse in posts here on our blog for 2 months! Ian has been busy with tee-ball, golf lessons, and now has started soccer. He is growing like a weed this summer and I'm betting that none of his jeans will fit him when school starts again!<br /><br />Ella is also growing. As of last week's pediatrician appointment, she was 24 lbs 10 oz, and 31.25 inches tall. She just turned 20 months old. She is almost running when she's in a hurry to get someplace (the dog food and water dish are always favorites). Ella loves to swing. Any given day, you will probably find us out on our home swingset.<br /><br />Every weekend, we head to the family cottage. Ella took a few weekends to get used to the idea of spending time at another place, but now she is so comfortable that she is just at ease at the cottage as she is at home. She is starting to understand that wherever we go, we always come back home. That has taken about 4 months for her to understand. She still gets excited when we pull into our driveway at home...jumping up and down in her car seat and giggling.<br /><br />As you can see by this picture, Ella is just at home at the cottage swing. So much so that Bill and my brother rigged a pully system so we don't have to stand there and push her - we just sit on the big swing and and pull the rope and like magic, Ella is swinging too!!! Yes, it is the lazy way out, but it frees up a hand for the necessary weekend beverage, and hey, all are happy and that's all that matters!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWzSyn0gI1ueCiLOx5bQ9gGhPT5fn4Aoih0VZre8ZVOltyAbLHKMf2w8ekoj86wpwiI5zEHUtFgsihygCQICrvtPpD-K3aYzRTPoJOBplUWOYQmaKbuxbh5hpfwhjD_hK_WnfQc_6HH8/s1600-h/IMG_6640.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366283894169953090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWzSyn0gI1ueCiLOx5bQ9gGhPT5fn4Aoih0VZre8ZVOltyAbLHKMf2w8ekoj86wpwiI5zEHUtFgsihygCQICrvtPpD-K3aYzRTPoJOBplUWOYQmaKbuxbh5hpfwhjD_hK_WnfQc_6HH8/s320/IMG_6640.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I have to give credit to my sister-in-law for most of the pictures. She has camera in hand as much as I have Ella in my arms. It's been quite an adjustment for us having to watch someone so closely again. The other day I heard Ella babbling away and after looking all over the house...finally found her at the top of the stairs! She was so proud of herself, and I didn't even know she could climb one stair as she'd shown no interest in the stairs up until then. Needless to say, the baby gate is always closed now!<br /><br />I hope you enjoy the great pictures below. And stay tuned...this weekend we are meeting with one of Ella's "China sisters" in La Crosse for a couple of days. It will be wonderful to see our friends again and have our families together! I'll make sure to post pictures soon...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EXBpZpjoSMVe_9KzZUKl9nVeUarFuojMdHJZ1vUdGMhuXKDH3l5r683pPnxc6UaKECgw50_qbgsu0BXuH_Bb8ixpbTCF2XSQU6FugsqWq6d0I2GnijbCrBQkax4SR2R-sKxQ52Tgw4M/s1600-h/IMG_5312.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366278104265774498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EXBpZpjoSMVe_9KzZUKl9nVeUarFuojMdHJZ1vUdGMhuXKDH3l5r683pPnxc6UaKECgw50_qbgsu0BXuH_Bb8ixpbTCF2XSQU6FugsqWq6d0I2GnijbCrBQkax4SR2R-sKxQ52Tgw4M/s320/IMG_5312.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCPA42ZbSIU4jm-Q-0Yzu65XUHnmtGvo3EFzJnpIWnxGUFRdJNLVxRms8wXEase3ZtryqUcPzY6t2LfUqLO10v5X-v9QuFvIkokoN4AMbKg4qQ5JKhk-fy8YMtOaC_RU5degkQPPyj6k/s1600-h/IMG_6643.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366283900855273090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCPA42ZbSIU4jm-Q-0Yzu65XUHnmtGvo3EFzJnpIWnxGUFRdJNLVxRms8wXEase3ZtryqUcPzY6t2LfUqLO10v5X-v9QuFvIkokoN4AMbKg4qQ5JKhk-fy8YMtOaC_RU5degkQPPyj6k/s320/IMG_6643.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXpJYKc4nyawwbMcuB86PTOy3h5S0CcOQRxIZTjC54G2RZMYBNdk4nRPiHVbADMtzMfprrA9Vm_ciz9twVfg5WLgjJYQbnRO4EZot0OvRHiWZFaLrqu4JsVtG9h_ZoXAlFoJZjCfJETI/s1600-h/IMG_6088.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366279557153473714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXpJYKc4nyawwbMcuB86PTOy3h5S0CcOQRxIZTjC54G2RZMYBNdk4nRPiHVbADMtzMfprrA9Vm_ciz9twVfg5WLgjJYQbnRO4EZot0OvRHiWZFaLrqu4JsVtG9h_ZoXAlFoJZjCfJETI/s320/IMG_6088.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNIy0nekl4ewBnIZbIxOuxJmv3NnKaDR7Gjo9uS7H4LWnH_tWDI9qM0azd67E8cyZQqgwk2dIXCx2b9Wmf4YuMbZ9nj2Vm4m2NpnWDimVrFuq_lF2fCUSMZteYsPKIInOSr4t71s-Rxk/s1600-h/IMG_2981.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366282555938447362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNIy0nekl4ewBnIZbIxOuxJmv3NnKaDR7Gjo9uS7H4LWnH_tWDI9qM0azd67E8cyZQqgwk2dIXCx2b9Wmf4YuMbZ9nj2Vm4m2NpnWDimVrFuq_lF2fCUSMZteYsPKIInOSr4t71s-Rxk/s320/IMG_2981.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTtnytZ__MfJb6FJAPMASUx46qFEXAAgDfnlqmfwPlYckJOKmvb9iMcjo8fdHyKmeI-hKw0_FNE7OB4duaWUoeWQqRrwGQCWgmYkGHDn1_sYYof7W-WBEF8dcy0vqwP72cDn8zm3x6sY/s1600-h/IMG_6117.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; 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HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366279572237092690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuZBpQKuvVS8u6HkLWkKLGUDtpA7lNQWvpcSIR1GP1yb1nB_Y0HiP4ALFPQmHFgdT6RqlKk9_MmEnKxAvZo5ruTMMGoo4cGtUbvW_tLqopp-xCELBC9DMkHW8PhXxh-2ugV8sFb2T6As/s320/IMG_6110.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl66V1AkjoCXDkUIRGGUIlnZ-lmAyqXsiNLxhnLbK9gtKUgjDBPZOxqtJIZ0ZEKJd4_2A7IWQJZ6guwCG1i0Oj5u-znrWDbg5g1nZQMlQd9mDPBr4c6JOsZ8NKoinRc6XlWrLY9eJOduY/s1600-h/IMG_6099.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366279566213936146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl66V1AkjoCXDkUIRGGUIlnZ-lmAyqXsiNLxhnLbK9gtKUgjDBPZOxqtJIZ0ZEKJd4_2A7IWQJZ6guwCG1i0Oj5u-znrWDbg5g1nZQMlQd9mDPBr4c6JOsZ8NKoinRc6XlWrLY9eJOduY/s320/IMG_6099.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwIO_PBoVuBIaj-SMYVIuIb5h2p98stVby0LKR25IMiilsN7HWdxZUEZZGJ1qufPRlEiHmHRmodYItdBOTu0ediztYj7Cjxz5ID7Ff0-pRCfGqDTDa-gB-1MEk4XV7lQcg_Y290kbn-k/s1600-h/IMG_6095.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366279562528231490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwIO_PBoVuBIaj-SMYVIuIb5h2p98stVby0LKR25IMiilsN7HWdxZUEZZGJ1qufPRlEiHmHRmodYItdBOTu0ediztYj7Cjxz5ID7Ff0-pRCfGqDTDa-gB-1MEk4XV7lQcg_Y290kbn-k/s320/IMG_6095.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_REP2s7Sp_m5LhCQ5GwvapoBtaaHGX5xWxHgipxkfFcsZ0bgShlU39l07NUjZiCo3ydYN2LoXJA2fGX3eKg5MaXGQJN8voqKcaKj6S6hB7Sf7ZG6YeX9iBUnkdTO-yC7ojO8CNe3zVHE/s1600-h/IMG_6006.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZJ7228cRrOd4C9uJ8CpH4Ld7SydBW8d3bnwZ4-HiBzVgWdSZGiDQ4sU9uVuxXYURHVxlVVm9Blu8U6m9suwodTk1Tl6ddSmArpC9JG7MJHhKpVHligC2iSy8HSoNTtNA-Zv1vgG8JVY/s1600-h/IMG_5945.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366278113871734754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZJ7228cRrOd4C9uJ8CpH4Ld7SydBW8d3bnwZ4-HiBzVgWdSZGiDQ4sU9uVuxXYURHVxlVVm9Blu8U6m9suwodTk1Tl6ddSmArpC9JG7MJHhKpVHligC2iSy8HSoNTtNA-Zv1vgG8JVY/s320/IMG_5945.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzFwZeTiDOGCkT3oKdsqPAU3JPbBWdqLUqP8m2ZZ_Mwvjulq29V2uy9sD0lRmgePCziuIir9C6O2qu8xxJDpJCFju67r2Gb2ETtgLWqRn5rimsk4dtmGiPhy7dAxLa5JPxykCVHCTws8/s1600-h/IMG_6023.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366279553121125938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzFwZeTiDOGCkT3oKdsqPAU3JPbBWdqLUqP8m2ZZ_Mwvjulq29V2uy9sD0lRmgePCziuIir9C6O2qu8xxJDpJCFju67r2Gb2ETtgLWqRn5rimsk4dtmGiPhy7dAxLa5JPxykCVHCTws8/s320/IMG_6023.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmlUK0oQRzVe56UgeHi6XWqZX7sEs0-vl-Eokx265MLjQc9SpgLTGEY4P1_PXe-z4cOyfiw9uqEldKOhr2qIAI68_NVLc3tRDZmbZ6ukM-fhXFLzE02hVaHgG-K3TJs2HWKXtaZZilKk/s1600-h/IMG_5837.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366278116579005762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmlUK0oQRzVe56UgeHi6XWqZX7sEs0-vl-Eokx265MLjQc9SpgLTGEY4P1_PXe-z4cOyfiw9uqEldKOhr2qIAI68_NVLc3tRDZmbZ6ukM-fhXFLzE02hVaHgG-K3TJs2HWKXtaZZilKk/s320/IMG_5837.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjPYlKP91W_VdGUo9zOwbbmF9jOQRS7JyTH0TXhyphenhyphenRSLIQc1DEAFubdppUB4S4ozvjQYW4SnZwwefQK90xLFkmWGu0tAHw2Ff7e5SY1C0gxhbOic0KQtvVLqZvFlkpYLlYxoP_aF8zaVw/s1600-h/IMG_5372.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366278110743934578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjPYlKP91W_VdGUo9zOwbbmF9jOQRS7JyTH0TXhyphenhyphenRSLIQc1DEAFubdppUB4S4ozvjQYW4SnZwwefQK90xLFkmWGu0tAHw2Ff7e5SY1C0gxhbOic0KQtvVLqZvFlkpYLlYxoP_aF8zaVw/s320/IMG_5372.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-132599459691737242009-05-31T20:16:00.010-05:002009-05-31T21:24:41.935-05:0018 Months Old<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguj4ESa4IotdxGEk3Hbg3XENJ6Sdjz0ssWueJl058wPS5fp9xo-wyKV6j4CIRSA7HJMlYfj3uWc5-DA-n9ab1aONLfOjYgSSgG3cg7oJDLIt3bS00wZQ6xWYRto3wMPlx16JhOf-VbEs/s1600-h/IMG_2935.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342174245797188306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguj4ESa4IotdxGEk3Hbg3XENJ6Sdjz0ssWueJl058wPS5fp9xo-wyKV6j4CIRSA7HJMlYfj3uWc5-DA-n9ab1aONLfOjYgSSgG3cg7oJDLIt3bS00wZQ6xWYRto3wMPlx16JhOf-VbEs/s320/IMG_2935.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSktfOtHftsFIFyx6aQS0C5QKqz22kDKVHvqx1Kii1qi9mDbCBoHqikpwvLqvEatAZ5NoB7Yo3lJvynuU0fZ6nXdouQ42eWAJbJD1Lg5wPzjlH_K4XciDLGiSxrTtF5L2FzPZauR5wp8/s1600-h/IMG_2883.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342174236779269554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSktfOtHftsFIFyx6aQS0C5QKqz22kDKVHvqx1Kii1qi9mDbCBoHqikpwvLqvEatAZ5NoB7Yo3lJvynuU0fZ6nXdouQ42eWAJbJD1Lg5wPzjlH_K4XciDLGiSxrTtF5L2FzPZauR5wp8/s320/IMG_2883.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><div>Ella was 18 months old on 5/27. What a milestone! Considering that 3 months ago, she'd basically just sit in one position on the floor and not crawl or venture anywhere, here is a list of things she now does:<br /><ul><li>She is now walking (almost running!) everywhere</li><li>She has totally mastered using her fingers to put things into her mouth</li><li>She eats every type of solid food we put in front of her</li><li>She has gone from 5 bottles a day down to just 1 before bed</li><li>She hums all the time (when that girl does start talking, she won't stop!)</li><li>She recognizes our house when driving down the street (she bounces in her car seat and giggles when she sees our house!)</li><li>She knows what both the toothbrush and comb are for and will grab them from me to do it herself</li></ul><p>Ella has done pretty good at adapting to our busy life. Ian has swim lessons, flag football, and now tee-ball. Ella is on the sidelines cheering him on (ok, she's actually trying to eat the grass!) at every event. Now that summer is on its way, we've started spending weekends at the family cottage. This was our second weekend overnight and she's definately becoming more comfortable with the surroundings. Although the water is still quite cold, she enjoys dangling her feet in off the dock, and swinging on the porch swing with Bill. But I think she likes the company of all her cousins most of all.</p><p>Below are some pictures taken over the last few weeks. She was baptized at the end of April. We went swimming at an indoor water park in April.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X4PvzK_LmdyZ1pISoq6lFqEReadmQEaCM1PaBuelQ9VgXF1T2imYMIEKfK5Rk5KMmZtFvxb3ALxa9PkUOQzqETUd0_eoVJWhYghhaBLKY4ITLkoEv6Z12vhWOQPeymYbYpN67ONJ2ys/s1600-h/IMG_2910.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 304px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342177910747544818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X4PvzK_LmdyZ1pISoq6lFqEReadmQEaCM1PaBuelQ9VgXF1T2imYMIEKfK5Rk5KMmZtFvxb3ALxa9PkUOQzqETUd0_eoVJWhYghhaBLKY4ITLkoEv6Z12vhWOQPeymYbYpN67ONJ2ys/s320/IMG_2910.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aS_qGhPwf0k_Ft0DFJxqJKjQU2dR50AlL78eua7xwIWPMs5Wk6p8Opa63OvJiqqBUJo8uk6MO-dPSYzUuyN-hi5JtLSJY0yfsD7oDd5BFdZqoPfGmqs5DxDNFRmwTDi7Kh-URqhTQXo/s1600-h/IMG_2893.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342170377583413490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aS_qGhPwf0k_Ft0DFJxqJKjQU2dR50AlL78eua7xwIWPMs5Wk6p8Opa63OvJiqqBUJo8uk6MO-dPSYzUuyN-hi5JtLSJY0yfsD7oDd5BFdZqoPfGmqs5DxDNFRmwTDi7Kh-URqhTQXo/s320/IMG_2893.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrzVla4kD1Bm7eDdlJcyUMFAvclyD-tskE8oA-k7W9SReguaumHP5yZCye75HUIb9SijyRoq8VR76YEI0E3vWBXf0NRiw6-A4kgNnAfLtOFuYuzRWm1sR88IThyphenhyphenOKlPnU1I6LMg6hqmc/s1600-h/IMG_2913.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342177917883503234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrzVla4kD1Bm7eDdlJcyUMFAvclyD-tskE8oA-k7W9SReguaumHP5yZCye75HUIb9SijyRoq8VR76YEI0E3vWBXf0NRiw6-A4kgNnAfLtOFuYuzRWm1sR88IThyphenhyphenOKlPnU1I6LMg6hqmc/s320/IMG_2913.JPG" /></a><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ0_TVQNBgFiJ6gNDk0Equz2avkIu7fuVjAR8tmjIDeKpmujMj6SJG5TdEbt1U9RkEuS6gJzdznEae0guaI0Fj5YBu7sxECV1V3lE6514N38e-HVf-0iBuL4oNsESus_eQkuHafQPpQE/s1600-h/IMG_2957.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342174244150985410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ0_TVQNBgFiJ6gNDk0Equz2avkIu7fuVjAR8tmjIDeKpmujMj6SJG5TdEbt1U9RkEuS6gJzdznEae0guaI0Fj5YBu7sxECV1V3lE6514N38e-HVf-0iBuL4oNsESus_eQkuHafQPpQE/s320/IMG_2957.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mSB_LwIVwv47u-2JAtyB_kNTKDkBM9kOSrmtxwftSGdUkcWpnUr1A8CNSXuoOKpyXyLB_j9uElaZ2pp4-WjTLmWrUDRS7WoT15LQWg6mNP76AnDkbXVLyIULQJmceJ1YvR4sZwHSegE/s1600-h/IMG_2918.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342177923092321282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mSB_LwIVwv47u-2JAtyB_kNTKDkBM9kOSrmtxwftSGdUkcWpnUr1A8CNSXuoOKpyXyLB_j9uElaZ2pp4-WjTLmWrUDRS7WoT15LQWg6mNP76AnDkbXVLyIULQJmceJ1YvR4sZwHSegE/s320/IMG_2918.JPG" /></a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-24018304840636842552009-03-23T19:47:00.013-05:002009-03-24T15:13:17.557-05:00One Month Ago Today....<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA4P47PiWMmqiUkiH7MWVur62ybWfBE2o9CvjVCa2mt7UEguEaLS01-D3f7LGQ1tg6rqv1TL0u3iQukMwqeN5ggp0jOALNt52nVkVItlOvuY8fBud7idnhqJRA8RDBW5axCEbFhfIHRQ/s1600-h/IMG_2858.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316849351603187874" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA4P47PiWMmqiUkiH7MWVur62ybWfBE2o9CvjVCa2mt7UEguEaLS01-D3f7LGQ1tg6rqv1TL0u3iQukMwqeN5ggp0jOALNt52nVkVItlOvuY8fBud7idnhqJRA8RDBW5axCEbFhfIHRQ/s320/IMG_2858.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div>....Ella was placed in our arms for the first time. It definately feels longer than a month ago. Ella has come so far in such little time. Her personality comes out a little more each day. She is turning into a giggly, smiley little girl.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGo7K9r7_rB1pb0K9PAy1rjmQlgb-SGtiEK6EuvhtWnBY2tETH6s87OlJ9L9f8kFDRRsn2pzsU97562UudAsfdSNmslAXTCRCEH22u6XxxTtBQLqgRyiYL_WMR4MF6A3jab8wYdJ84rE/s1600-h/IMG_2802.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316849343596936114" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGo7K9r7_rB1pb0K9PAy1rjmQlgb-SGtiEK6EuvhtWnBY2tETH6s87OlJ9L9f8kFDRRsn2pzsU97562UudAsfdSNmslAXTCRCEH22u6XxxTtBQLqgRyiYL_WMR4MF6A3jab8wYdJ84rE/s320/IMG_2802.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7RTvnCfWBm_30-so-HduNhoWYSR5guQgy7syvTn2R_tSO-f4YfGkry_vt0NwFoWbQkkE9uM-N3s4aQ5bhqmNc_txZiVIPLy4R1XshatvNKjz1Qv6-9X0WXU2nJ6ygQ6T6Ka9k-iQEfA/s1600-h/IMG_2798.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316849336903537794" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7RTvnCfWBm_30-so-HduNhoWYSR5guQgy7syvTn2R_tSO-f4YfGkry_vt0NwFoWbQkkE9uM-N3s4aQ5bhqmNc_txZiVIPLy4R1XshatvNKjz1Qv6-9X0WXU2nJ6ygQ6T6Ka9k-iQEfA/s320/IMG_2798.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />She is soooo close to walking! She moves around rooms by holding onto furniture or walls to balance herself, and will even venture to take a couple steps to be able to reach something. For the first week, she mostly stayed confined to the living room with her toys. But now she is venturing around the house. I'm finding out quick the things that need to be baby-proofed!<br /><br />And the girl can eat! As much as an adult at some meals. She eats all soft table food that we eat (she doesn't have any molars yet). And we have yet to find something she doesn't like, which works for me!<br /><br />Ian is an awesome big brother. He wants to feed, hold, play, walk and cuddle with Ella. "Everything but the dirty diapers", as he tells me! He is just smitten with her. I think her favorite activity is when Ian lays down and Ella crawls all over him.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOBOi2PGdo3I6oMpPd1k9daqC56IXaAGq235JHaG1kbcFDcL_6zJ_GLwESCw0yX8HNgpnyKKMGlljDZXJd-SgIep4ViX2izNQanVLY2nr-oM2mKRdxP9GoezXCiAQ35dupIU0lg3QHvE/s1600-h/IMG_2775.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316838242822415986" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOBOi2PGdo3I6oMpPd1k9daqC56IXaAGq235JHaG1kbcFDcL_6zJ_GLwESCw0yX8HNgpnyKKMGlljDZXJd-SgIep4ViX2izNQanVLY2nr-oM2mKRdxP9GoezXCiAQ35dupIU0lg3QHvE/s320/IMG_2775.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It's amazing how our family has fell into a routine. It's kind of like we've been a family for longer than just one month. Ella fits our family perfectly and we can't imagine life without her!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Se3wqfGg1Qiz_OoS5KAMvi18dz4iU-Kcs46kKnVg52XJPoPlYomKAYJ16ndrF7r83wiVDf4RW7D0eLyLph5-UYx-34dE4-sFhz3S1UAMsRFzBsrYaWeUEU8y-aNT4_u6aDBz_77CHnE/s1600-h/IMG_2878.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316849352025897074" style="WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Se3wqfGg1Qiz_OoS5KAMvi18dz4iU-Kcs46kKnVg52XJPoPlYomKAYJ16ndrF7r83wiVDf4RW7D0eLyLph5-UYx-34dE4-sFhz3S1UAMsRFzBsrYaWeUEU8y-aNT4_u6aDBz_77CHnE/s320/IMG_2878.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Enjoy some of pictures of our happy kids!</div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-50103041775534223542009-03-09T14:47:00.004-05:002009-03-09T15:28:44.085-05:00We're Home!!!Sorry for not posting sooner....the jet lag is kicking our butts! <div><div></div><br /><div>Our trip home was long but uneventful, thankfully. Ella slept most of the ride from China to Chicago. Unfortunately, neither Bill nor I slept due to a circus of misbehaving kids across the aisle. I was just waiting for the toddlers to give up, and after 9 hours of flying they finally did!</div><div></div><br /><div>We made it through customs and immigration (Ella became a U.S. citizen when we passed through immigration) and walked out into the arrival hall. Bill's mom and sister had brought Ian down to meet us at Chicago! It's a good thing Ella was strapped to me in the baby carrier, because I dropped all my bags onto Bill when I saw Ian and ran (or rather waddled with a 22 lbs baby hanging from me!) over to him. I didn't realize how much I missed him until I saw him. I was so happy to finally have both my children with me that I started sobbing. Of course Ian got embarassed and asked me to stop crying - he's becoming such a little man. The others in our adoption group were standing there witnessing it all, and all the women had tears in their eyes also. Although we were so happy to finally be home, it was kind of sad to think that we won't be seeing this group of people whom we've grown close to over the last 2 weeks. We did plan to have a reunion in the summer of 2010 in Memphis (Graceland, here we come!), so that our daughters can keep ties with each other as they are 'sisters' from the orphanage.</div><br /><div></div><div>Unfortunately the transition home has been hard. Bill and I have experienced jet lag...waking up in the wee hours of the morning because our bodies are still on China time. Bill even gave up trying to sleep and went into work at 4am last Thursday and Friday. It was Sunday before I felt like my old self. But Ella is still on China time. She's been waking up at 2am and wanting to stay awake until 6 or 7am. Then she wants to sleep all day. We've been trying to limit the napping during the day, with hopes of her sleeping more at night. Last night I was so excited because she made it to 3am before waking. Then I realized that with Daylight Savings time it was still 2am! Oh well, a girl can dream about sleep! Friday was the first of many 39th birthdays to come for me, and for my gift I asked Bill to let me take a Tylenol PM and sleep through the night in my own bed. He took care of the baby duty for the night. Best gift I've ever received!</div><br /><div></div><div>Ian is one excited big brother. He loves to play with Ella (or rather reacquaint himself with all the baby toys he used to play with!). The only thing he's not interested in is diapers and feeding, as "that is just gross, Mom"!!! He always wants to give Ella a bottle, burp her and hold and snuggle her. And he's such a good helper for me. And he had the house decorated with Welcome Home signs and balloons.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311287208985837714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVmD29XCiHx2HF4Tpn3A6xkwXeG7txZc57aLaa1_-ngJw6fFsQUa38dl1bwbXbJyy5hpjGhCJujoVUCR_sz5SCaJBEkDTVSbQrU18WKep2renJk7XRoLsAoBuRZm1TJlwS_Zxo_kUJ34/s320/IMG_2764.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311287198169837826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_BlrXZ0gyKNDUMJx35dM6EptOoDnnjp-vV3nBeADoCnWT1ybLuT8Cqrp9c3xGV3vTbcAgzTSBypLtR4pBIeju07JskAhRA-kwLgiSgW3oZhn0kqATwiLTe-4IEpZnx6_v7wVQ02InCI/s320/IMG_2760.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><div>We can't thank enough all the friends and family that have supported and prayed for us. We couldn't have done this without you.</div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-14734942455329535502009-03-03T06:14:00.010-06:002009-03-03T06:49:47.267-06:00Goodbye ChinaHere we are on Day 13 already. We leave at 5:45am tomorrow. Today we had the famous "Red Couch" picture. For all adoptive families that stay at the White Swan, it has become a tradition to take a picture on the red couches that are in the lobby. All the girls wore traditional Chinese silk dresses. (I'm bringing a whole suitcase of them home - they are only about $5 each!!!)<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC3CqvyASM3n9klHQg5hfgdiHZoot0EU06w7WR1UW1s_VtZtot4O4RlSMAvhAxzuVkRp-LjssplRLzikoAjr-SPUoFoYeXhzCmBTrIZMQjEipB6RO1nE-zhpljC4RLl5MaMfSl_6xgBQ/s1600-h/IMG_2720.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308938949992869090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC3CqvyASM3n9klHQg5hfgdiHZoot0EU06w7WR1UW1s_VtZtot4O4RlSMAvhAxzuVkRp-LjssplRLzikoAjr-SPUoFoYeXhzCmBTrIZMQjEipB6RO1nE-zhpljC4RLl5MaMfSl_6xgBQ/s320/IMG_2720.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SvN2Nnzn9FPTG8TG1JJ9XSA14w95LZXGuzqIJ5yKnE5e5ApwOj3-rGLObGy5ngoWTG9xffUoc0YPRCBcpCX0GjevQui09zLOs6R7xYz4bQF4LYCklFUqwe8AV_Sfq9nEGae576ys8R8/s1600-h/IMG_2701.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308938945275549330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SvN2Nnzn9FPTG8TG1JJ9XSA14w95LZXGuzqIJ5yKnE5e5ApwOj3-rGLObGy5ngoWTG9xffUoc0YPRCBcpCX0GjevQui09zLOs6R7xYz4bQF4LYCklFUqwe8AV_Sfq9nEGae576ys8R8/s320/IMG_2701.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC3CqvyASM3n9klHQg5hfgdiHZoot0EU06w7WR1UW1s_VtZtot4O4RlSMAvhAxzuVkRp-LjssplRLzikoAjr-SPUoFoYeXhzCmBTrIZMQjEipB6RO1nE-zhpljC4RLl5MaMfSl_6xgBQ/s1600-h/IMG_2720.JPG"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkC3CqvyASM3n9klHQg5hfgdiHZoot0EU06w7WR1UW1s_VtZtot4O4RlSMAvhAxzuVkRp-LjssplRLzikoAjr-SPUoFoYeXhzCmBTrIZMQjEipB6RO1nE-zhpljC4RLl5MaMfSl_6xgBQ/s1600-h/IMG_2720.JPG"></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>After the picture, we all loaded onto a bus and headed over to the American Consulate. It was a welcoming sign to see the U.S. flag. We were handed our daughter's passport with a visa stamp inside. This visa indicates that the moment she steps foot on American soil, she will be a citizen of the U.S. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">administrator</span> at the Consulate told us that they have processed over 70,000 adoption visas for U.S. families that have adopted from China, making that Consulate the busiest in the world for adoption visas. All the families had to raise their right hands and take an oath stating that all information that has been provided to the government is correct and that we intend on being the new parents of our daughter. Unfortunately they did not allow cameras so there are no pictures.</p>Tomorrow will be a bittersweet day. On one hand, our daughter will become a U.S. citizen. On the other, Ella is leaving her home country, its heritage, and the only 'sisters' she's ever known. Tomorrow also marks the one year anniversary of the death of my grandfather. He would have wanted so much to see another great-grandchild of his. I'm sure he would have been tickled to meet Ella and see her personality.<br /><br />We have made some wonderful friends on this trip. We hope to stay in touch for years to come, with annual reunions and periodic updates of how the 'sisters' are doing. It's been amazing to see the progression in each of the girls just since a week ago when they were handed to us. I can't imagine what a month at home will do!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZdOEAFF6_dGAzzg2P5DLmuT0VxIYVvVrnQq3wChAU4jRt_-iamb8A_WjGZgSpWxhQPhyphenhyphenVIVrrThQqigOhUm5DajLy2ff6OTKjTTlwiNcHrniNuxOHOGgmQEdjpsytN5nP5gHOVJ8Sbk/s1600-h/IMG_2734.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308938955556146290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZdOEAFF6_dGAzzg2P5DLmuT0VxIYVvVrnQq3wChAU4jRt_-iamb8A_WjGZgSpWxhQPhyphenhyphenVIVrrThQqigOhUm5DajLy2ff6OTKjTTlwiNcHrniNuxOHOGgmQEdjpsytN5nP5gHOVJ8Sbk/s320/IMG_2734.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We can't wait to get home and see Ian - we have missed him very much. Thanks to all who have emailed and posted well-wishes to us....we love to read them! We just can't wait to get home and start the next part of our life together as a family with our new daughter!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h8LDQA0Gxa-6qdj4_4nskb772IOehorU67pr0AbylFzcj4K_IHLHZG0cRl-xyvix20TMFNwia7fUoPIgSKNG3ZjLumfxYps1hXRZ7dtyxb483ChSYL2qd4feUxsVuaBFi7gVc8azesg/s1600-h/IMG_2725.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308938951205081746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h8LDQA0Gxa-6qdj4_4nskb772IOehorU67pr0AbylFzcj4K_IHLHZG0cRl-xyvix20TMFNwia7fUoPIgSKNG3ZjLumfxYps1hXRZ7dtyxb483ChSYL2qd4feUxsVuaBFi7gVc8azesg/s320/IMG_2725.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If you would like to view more pictures from our last day in Guangzhou, click on the More Pictures link at the top right of this page. Then choose the folder called Day 13 - Tuesday.davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-5315822454108239852009-03-02T20:07:00.005-06:002009-03-02T20:25:38.146-06:00Monday - Day 12<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPu81xsgBOJpP7v8p34pRqO3qc-eA6h6huy5aaQaWb5l6wzQss1m73NyNWkJZ1aO-V-cA1Wqw3wRMfx1ZEdbHleTkzJWTtYT5IKD-HWQ3SREANhrqXGEMX6voIx7je_2H_B1iU7Gk4Us/s1600-h/IMG_2685.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308781321920793330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPu81xsgBOJpP7v8p34pRqO3qc-eA6h6huy5aaQaWb5l6wzQss1m73NyNWkJZ1aO-V-cA1Wqw3wRMfx1ZEdbHleTkzJWTtYT5IKD-HWQ3SREANhrqXGEMX6voIx7je_2H_B1iU7Gk4Us/s320/IMG_2685.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div>Another free day for us. Bill, Ella and I explored the hotel a bit more. There are 2 beautiful pools, and we brought our swimsuits. But unfortunately the weather has been gloomy and only in the 60's. It doesn't stop Bill from wearing shorts though!</div><div> </div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308781303136265890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVMHV6sC2O-rvuTQsKgPDkk1q_dcVW1hQ-HtE111vM3o1F1Ul1QYLba9Tk0KfDTYz74bVucgDFUgT2WZh37pLUIFUrJbyGw927gQfI-TI_KAFiTenvwVNSsSTq8wvG807FpqlGcj5rVk/s320/IMG_2621.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Then we found the Swan Room. It's a playroom sponsored by Mattel in the hotel. That's how many adopted babies come through this hotel - enough to warrant a manufacturer to sponsor a playroom.</div><br /><div>In the afternoon we took a taxi to the Guangzhou Folk Art Museum. It is a complex of buildings dating back to an emporer in the 1800's. The architecture was beautiful. My favorite exhibit was the embroidery that this province (Guangdong) is known for. It was so detailed and intricit that it looked like an oil painting.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308781318499324482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTVezBkUvP8UIiuwJF61z8kxcR9OqtrjN-enUMCOiFrrzVE-N35My30ovGAPHTjuCv2DT_Mxms4DBssuPYD-AG8Y-4qDPl0yY407Z4iIQ_h3fKOAsKCDIuR5HECXxBLXZWsDmhQzw59c/s320/IMG_2655.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308781324609686274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmElkvvzWX4dKnoOJYcWNhD4rY3xkpY-q0LrZ18quJJPLwlfENXEBaI_f3vht8wZfT6dei7EnlSS8Lv0DxXDuiN_q82DDyV4Dj2cgpvw6VEpOJS5q4DahtX25YPNraX-ijN0Jno1UfkTU/s320/IMG_2696.JPG" border="0" /> <div>I most likely won't be able to post again until after we're home. Tuesday we'll be packing and later in the afternoon going to the U.S. Consulate to take the oath for Ella's citizenship. We leave for the airport quite early Wednesday morning.</div><br /><div></div><div>If you'd like to view more pictures from our day, click on the More Pictures link at the top right of this page. Then choose the Day 12 - Monday folder.</div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-45827944700582131882009-03-02T06:28:00.007-06:002009-03-02T06:55:23.007-06:00Sunday - Day 11<div>Sunday was a very relaxing day for us. We had nothing scheduled and were able to enjoy Shaiman Island. Cathy flew back to Shanghai around noon, and then Jen (MN) and I did a <em><u>lot</u></em> of shopping! I have no idea how I'm going to bring it all home!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uq0iYYyessUUKFfvSF62x5XOwck_mCX-ymdOadUfVr7ZSSZ573d4OgjI5Cx5nFWHNjDr3aO5Z5CNf7ttBlJH69lHUfMERUrNau_DQLkJJi3GMzaPudktATAm2qYqkD1cpWtUnFu1hL4/s1600-h/IMG_2583.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308569437513652850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uq0iYYyessUUKFfvSF62x5XOwck_mCX-ymdOadUfVr7ZSSZ573d4OgjI5Cx5nFWHNjDr3aO5Z5CNf7ttBlJH69lHUfMERUrNau_DQLkJJi3GMzaPudktATAm2qYqkD1cpWtUnFu1hL4/s320/IMG_2583.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For dinner, our guide took us to a wonderful Italian restaurant. We had a birthday cake and celebrated all the girls 1st birthdays, as we had missed them while they were in the orphanage. Ella <u>loves</u> anything sweet, so the cake and frosting were a hit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwHOoaANBOcnK3MnKrUuxIhAAPVKEWsxpw7ZHsew02opIyF9I-XTnQOWmoLMsyLGnjLDwjbqZg1ti9BEY0IcMbmE55BEHSkF7bSaVQVSQO4UKlYz2ZQrkUpTm6heJCHkBoBoIVuT-OCc/s1600-h/IMG_2591.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308569442561658482" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwHOoaANBOcnK3MnKrUuxIhAAPVKEWsxpw7ZHsew02opIyF9I-XTnQOWmoLMsyLGnjLDwjbqZg1ti9BEY0IcMbmE55BEHSkF7bSaVQVSQO4UKlYz2ZQrkUpTm6heJCHkBoBoIVuT-OCc/s320/IMG_2591.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZPckTjYZ8Av-q-ONovDs3lC7c3XZA_Kb963tAt19bWg59LmbPRhdHg3tX1SF5QRxkOSs7YpZ5qPOHl8gYNroDDirVht9B8KRexRCIkID9HCsotIGnes6kxKXTuiLPDOUyRFdRk7gST4/s1600-h/IMG_2607.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308569450571237442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZPckTjYZ8Av-q-ONovDs3lC7c3XZA_Kb963tAt19bWg59LmbPRhdHg3tX1SF5QRxkOSs7YpZ5qPOHl8gYNroDDirVht9B8KRexRCIkID9HCsotIGnes6kxKXTuiLPDOUyRFdRk7gST4/s320/IMG_2607.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After the dinner, Jen, Jason and Addison strolled along the Pearl River with Bill, Ella and me. It is a lovely, quiet island and it was beautiful to look across the river at bright and bustling Guangzhou.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb67OMEBFRNfASNqblO8i19OtRjUIDX3NA2tqtTrLo1qI1UhpMA8RviNcIxGqKlErDPIexMsDKX8zcWHna5CVko9gCTci-M1wqo6w5CwJwff6AB9ZNaSZNgJyWd-l8e_J2ZrTVvI32Q44/s1600-h/js_030109-81.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308573111794738338" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb67OMEBFRNfASNqblO8i19OtRjUIDX3NA2tqtTrLo1qI1UhpMA8RviNcIxGqKlErDPIexMsDKX8zcWHna5CVko9gCTci-M1wqo6w5CwJwff6AB9ZNaSZNgJyWd-l8e_J2ZrTVvI32Q44/s320/js_030109-81.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Ella is doing wonderfully. She snuggles up to us, and we even got belly laughs from her last night when Bill tickled under her armpits! And of course we're falling in love with her more and more each day. I just wish Ian was here to bond with his <em>mei mei </em>(little sister).<br /><br />To view more pictures of our day, click on the More Pictures link at the top right of this page. Then choose the folder called Day 11 - Sunday.</div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-73900501478438763872009-03-01T00:57:00.005-06:002009-03-01T01:23:47.509-06:00Guangzhou<div><div><div><div><div>Last night my friend Cathy met us at the airport in Guangzhou. She is living in Shanghai with her family for 3 years and flew in to stay with us for the weekend. Here is a picture of Ella opening her first 'Welcome the Family' gift from Cathy.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7cw1KRSQTT-s4t93N1p3dhdOZdCgMEVuyOh0M9DipeSP-_KveBvW5twa0NDwSH2wcWOvrzbJufxNpiYAvpERkybBChND5xzi3rdmrkzv0yDV9db38OV5KfH8iWmpdYMs_JReUZ8kiUY/s1600-h/IMG_2514.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308116059586319602" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7cw1KRSQTT-s4t93N1p3dhdOZdCgMEVuyOh0M9DipeSP-_KveBvW5twa0NDwSH2wcWOvrzbJufxNpiYAvpERkybBChND5xzi3rdmrkzv0yDV9db38OV5KfH8iWmpdYMs_JReUZ8kiUY/s320/IMG_2514.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>We are staying at the White Swan Hotel. It is the most beautiful hotel we've stayed at so far this trip. It has a waterfall in the lobby, and many Chinese antiques. There is a coy pond and even a huge birdcage filled with songbirds.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvJTVsAHhdVqnnq11fnYO5HbYKWof4k7hw8fe71utMot3Hh4qdQxcGev8aXphIW4VilGIz8RWd3w9W2tDM1OOXZnJv_Emp7oV-wezRJhtUtre6yNHwHazLVKImkzBHs3uzIZk4tg06q0/s1600-h/250px-White_Swan_Waterfall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308116056812390594" style="WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvJTVsAHhdVqnnq11fnYO5HbYKWof4k7hw8fe71utMot3Hh4qdQxcGev8aXphIW4VilGIz8RWd3w9W2tDM1OOXZnJv_Emp7oV-wezRJhtUtre6yNHwHazLVKImkzBHs3uzIZk4tg06q0/s320/250px-White_Swan_Waterfall.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavNoY44w6AZWXqzb9dUa4_aNI8HjGIss4NQFZ0UU6Pw3tFnP3WWyL7jDTjvVHtFUl4ahsU4mfDaICrr__OHqHci5YLwG0hdQtitd8jlExsvject9TWd4HFGNvt14d5f5To0ESSysv1UI/s1600-h/IMG_2535.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308116066118498610" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavNoY44w6AZWXqzb9dUa4_aNI8HjGIss4NQFZ0UU6Pw3tFnP3WWyL7jDTjvVHtFUl4ahsU4mfDaICrr__OHqHci5YLwG0hdQtitd8jlExsvject9TWd4HFGNvt14d5f5To0ESSysv1UI/s320/IMG_2535.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>The White Swan is located on Shaiman Island. The island is on the Pearl River and was originally settled by the English and French back in the 19th century. All the architecture is very European. It is very laid-back and relaxing compared to the cities in China. The streets are lined with trees, boulevards have parks in the center, and there are very few cars. There are a couple of big hotels on the island and many shops that cater to the tourists who are staying at the hotels. Every adoptive family from the U.S. must come to Guangzhou to go through the American Consulate, and most families stay on Shaiman Island. We are definately not an oddity being a Caucasian couple with a Chinese baby like we were in Nanning. The breakfast buffet at the White Swan is lined with high chairs. We've met so many new families with daughters from all over China. Of course I think we have the cutest one!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKctKh_8cvWNwq9LfdqUegDxzrlC_WsIVcBeIcZnOSg69m9Dk-kHkjMugYiuyTU9bcVAjW_uUfKUQCC-GThLDjBzgPLRFlOetTwLLe-rFyR4MIgj17enkQmiMHVgUHv4U3OFrXYdLn5I/s1600-h/IMG_2564.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308116074031681746" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKctKh_8cvWNwq9LfdqUegDxzrlC_WsIVcBeIcZnOSg69m9Dk-kHkjMugYiuyTU9bcVAjW_uUfKUQCC-GThLDjBzgPLRFlOetTwLLe-rFyR4MIgj17enkQmiMHVgUHv4U3OFrXYdLn5I/s320/IMG_2564.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>As a requirement of the American government, Ella had to have her first medical exam today. It was quite cursory, with a quick check of temerature, height (30 inches), weight (23 lbs - yes, she is a chunk!!!), hearing and heartbeat.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_q9Me1uOjYtrSID-LSvYnQBuDpEY-VcwnuvlQsbCgZF_e5aHTKAYLEE3VgtPRYKyaVPGEaN7dlNBfYWy24_hH09LQp7ITN9wIM8vHtEShwHd3hIMON5u08bUbxj0cGpDV4-EvbmNlcA/s1600-h/IMG_2554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308116070039895298" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_q9Me1uOjYtrSID-LSvYnQBuDpEY-VcwnuvlQsbCgZF_e5aHTKAYLEE3VgtPRYKyaVPGEaN7dlNBfYWy24_hH09LQp7ITN9wIM8vHtEShwHd3hIMON5u08bUbxj0cGpDV4-EvbmNlcA/s320/IMG_2554.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>After the medical exam, Cathy took Jen (MN) and I shopping. She's quite the bargainer and able to converse somewhat in Mandarin with the shopkeepers. She drives a hard bargain and sticks to her guns. Jen and I bought so much that we also had to have Cathy bargain for a new suitcase to haul all the stuff home - and we each got a suitcase for the equivalent of $11 each!</div><div></div><br /><div>My sweet husband watched Ella for the evening and told Cathy and I to go out to dinner and have a drink. We ended up at a wonderful Thai restaurant and talked for 2 hours over a bottle of wine and some seafood. Who knew I'd have to come all the way to China to have a long, uninterrupted chat with one of my dearest friends?!</div><br /><div></div><div>If you'd like to view more pictures from our first day in Guangzhou, click on the More Pictures link at the top right of this page. Then choose the folder called Day 10 - Saturday.</div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-14505264342152405552009-03-01T00:38:00.004-06:002009-03-01T00:54:42.841-06:00Day 9 - FridayDidn't do too much today. Packed up the suitcases to head to Guangzhou this evening. I haven't bought many souveniers so far, but my suitcases sure aren't packing as nicely as they did before! <div><br /><div></div><div>It's the last day in Ella's province. I think all the families are ready to move on to the next leg of our trip. It is sad to think that we are taking Ella from the only place she's ever known though.</div><br /><div>We've had many interesting encounters with food here. Most everything we've tried is very good. However there are some things we haven't tried. There was a super-long cafeteria style restaurant near the hotel. Bill took some pictures of the menus. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nWNX3g78QhAmzmkg1hkwJfLqTElAJc8-MorOUlAXGBIzm9vhEeJ0ButRUlPiK-trkdqSWOEa2XdQt6JWftMjB_bXDwiLjNpsGGcLToZOTMu_1kfawVHaX5EnEiGSjg9wbabJpX2wJyA/s1600-h/IMG_2504.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308108727998978994" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nWNX3g78QhAmzmkg1hkwJfLqTElAJc8-MorOUlAXGBIzm9vhEeJ0ButRUlPiK-trkdqSWOEa2XdQt6JWftMjB_bXDwiLjNpsGGcLToZOTMu_1kfawVHaX5EnEiGSjg9wbabJpX2wJyA/s320/IMG_2504.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipt_Q7SjUb6ZOBVeB8tiCGIBbaLBWwIoVR9icT3h6Fd6uD6eR0gPUGfuOUt3vjUw_faQ9vCWJ8ii1aEmtDh7BbWBMmszk0_fRWe_aeCOeG550C5kwDGRyFLZOTScvrlDuiq_uKz34fPg/s1600-h/IMG_2499.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308108724043077746" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipt_Q7SjUb6ZOBVeB8tiCGIBbaLBWwIoVR9icT3h6Fd6uD6eR0gPUGfuOUt3vjUw_faQ9vCWJ8ii1aEmtDh7BbWBMmszk0_fRWe_aeCOeG550C5kwDGRyFLZOTScvrlDuiq_uKz34fPg/s320/IMG_2499.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you'd like to view more pictures from our last day in Nanning, click on the More Pictures link at the top right of this page. Then choose the Day 9 - Friday folder. You may be able to zoom in on some of the menu pictures to get an idea of what kinds of food are available.</div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516356095503212440.post-25410277813597283842009-02-26T20:53:00.006-06:002009-02-26T21:29:02.932-06:00Ella's Back!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf40we250C8P0a_qGh252f-C4-qLr1tLwHh-fg1NPjlYvhYmO1DDT0bOcfgPHsTeP7B1GoAbYfzui7eHaH1S_pUgE4KqHC0p6WYzs5pdZypF0y2i9V-R4yDZERbCuUKf91BPGNzNbUy6Y/s1600-h/js_022609-13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307313094917536850" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf40we250C8P0a_qGh252f-C4-qLr1tLwHh-fg1NPjlYvhYmO1DDT0bOcfgPHsTeP7B1GoAbYfzui7eHaH1S_pUgE4KqHC0p6WYzs5pdZypF0y2i9V-R4yDZERbCuUKf91BPGNzNbUy6Y/s320/js_022609-13.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><div><div><div>It's amazing what 24 hours can do! Last night Ella started to give us eye contact while feeding her. And she woke up smiling and giggling this morning. What a relief! And we found out from the other families this morning that they all had a rough day yesterday. It must just be something about that 3-day mark. And I'm guessing the adoption agency probably knew it, as they had nothing scheduled for us that day.<br /><br />Today we went to Green Mountain Park. It was very beautifully landscaped with temples and relics, gardens and towers. There was a coy pond with an unbelievable amount of fish waiting to be fed by the tourists. It was an overcast day, which helped keep the heat down. But the humidity was so high.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkv9aYUH6HqmSz8e3VqrwwmzKe1U9hwhBk8p3NW3Ip-nqt2N6R38htri-zEn0Ug8fGudK17M9sK0N0KieDMkQJU8sk2R_9AWPFHxaovjM-la_0vlVlnl4345LlSR4lNSY7DRuKlBXmU3A/s1600-h/IMG_2422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307313066281235634" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkv9aYUH6HqmSz8e3VqrwwmzKe1U9hwhBk8p3NW3Ip-nqt2N6R38htri-zEn0Ug8fGudK17M9sK0N0KieDMkQJU8sk2R_9AWPFHxaovjM-la_0vlVlnl4345LlSR4lNSY7DRuKlBXmU3A/s320/IMG_2422.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMi82AHPRDhD6eViUJYb0BPhH1S-nclXL0YelD94TA_OWMhArfOQ8FFrqdfBopFZpUbgEfYQp2U73QgsAhk_4MOoSS9nkWLluIVCwaa8jbgCL7PwWl3zqbkipIst1bB-3_c5pFfMy-NQ/s1600-h/IMG_2437.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307313080214769474" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMi82AHPRDhD6eViUJYb0BPhH1S-nclXL0YelD94TA_OWMhArfOQ8FFrqdfBopFZpUbgEfYQp2U73QgsAhk_4MOoSS9nkWLluIVCwaa8jbgCL7PwWl3zqbkipIst1bB-3_c5pFfMy-NQ/s320/IMG_2437.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt5oCKEb-pG8aKxuIZXXqyDq75X5qFaIirSCHD23IBkQX3u-lto6M4WfPJ0keX76JoBHmVa-5gwQYBJxJdnAiioSxzrRUMJngguxZKnGwEFzYPHZx67IXC5N4iESIQkC3PGRKp9J-to4/s1600-h/IMG_2424.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307313069552132194" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt5oCKEb-pG8aKxuIZXXqyDq75X5qFaIirSCHD23IBkQX3u-lto6M4WfPJ0keX76JoBHmVa-5gwQYBJxJdnAiioSxzrRUMJngguxZKnGwEFzYPHZx67IXC5N4iESIQkC3PGRKp9J-to4/s320/IMG_2424.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdin8TJ1P15maPPQAP8jWXf-5MEsoq1fp5TSAwQUKt7R6lvwWfd-SL7OLuKVwUiU5fInEtP9ltLBBkDQ2kFvNLLvMRI25W5ic0CWyoiWbTqNbwjMptJuXdRCDxiZPAA1FNp827FsTML3E/s1600-h/IMG_2480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307313089190481954" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdin8TJ1P15maPPQAP8jWXf-5MEsoq1fp5TSAwQUKt7R6lvwWfd-SL7OLuKVwUiU5fInEtP9ltLBBkDQ2kFvNLLvMRI25W5ic0CWyoiWbTqNbwjMptJuXdRCDxiZPAA1FNp827FsTML3E/s320/IMG_2480.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>After the park we went to the Pearl Market. Guangxi province is known for the pearls from the South China Sea. We are about an hour from the sea and 2 hours from Vietnam to the south. The ethnic minorities are apparently very similar here to what they are in Vietnam, and there is a large population in Nanning from Vietnam and Laos.<br /><br />Friday we fly out in the afternoon to Guangzhou, the last stop on our trip. My dear friend Cathy, who is living in Shanghai, will fly in to see us. We get in late in the evening so I probably won't get to post.<br /><br />If you'd like to see more pictures from our day, click on the More Pictures link at the top right of this page. Then choose the folder entitled Day 8 - Thursday.</div></div></div></div></div>davgfdlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11051324149606020117noreply@blogger.com2