A Dress-Up Kind of Day

What a fun day! Despite the rain and storm this afternoon we've had some real bursts of creativity. A dress-up trunk full of costumes and shoes, and magical light-up wands, made the time pass very quickly. I've seen princesses, pirates and wizards, oh my!

Thanks to our friends Ms. K, M, and A for passing on their dress-up trunk!

I also found time to take a few pics of the most adorable baby:-)


"AAARRRGGGHHH!" said the pirate


Is she just the cutest witch?


The wizard is in!


Two peas in a pod :-)


I love this beautiful smiley girl!

An Earthquake in VA, really???

Did we really have an earthquake in VA today? I'm still trying to process the reality that it actually happened. An earthquake was most certainly not on my bucket list of things to experience. In my east coast perspective, we are only supposed to hear about those on the news happening on the west coast to other people.

It was freaky and scary and unbelievable as it was happening. I was in my office at the computer and my first thought was a trash truck was going down the street outside. It started as a low rumbling sound that continued to get louder as things around me started to shake. My computer monitor was shaking and the cats were scrambling to get away from it. I'm not sure I can explain the feeling of absolute panic I felt when things started falling off shelves.

G was at school and the little girls were napping. K was upstairs and Baby M was asleep in her carrier in the family room because we had just gotten home from the doctor's office where she was getting her check-up.

Adrenaline must have kicked in because I remember sitting at the desk and then in the next step being upstairs snatching K off of the bed and then grabbing Baby M's carrier as I'm running into the backyard.

It seemed like one of those moments where time stops and then all of a sudden it was over and K and Baby M were still asleep and my heart was racing so hard that I could hear it. Not a good thing for middle-aged, out of shape people like myself :-}

According to the news it was a 5.8 magnitude earthquake-one of the strongest recorded on the east coast in the last hundred years. There were were several small aftershocks that I didn't notice but then there was one that measured 4.2 in the evening that started with that low rumbling sound again. I'm hoping that we are now at the "been there and done that" moment and can mark earthquake off of the list!

Now for some happy news-Baby M had her check-up today and weighs 10lbs 12oz and is 23" long. Her birth weight was 6lbs 6oz and so at 10 weeks old she is well on her way to making the "double the birth weight goal" by 6 months. I really wouldn't be surprised if she makes the mark at her 4 month check-up in October.

Here's a pic taken on Sunday at cousin J's birthday party:

Baby M meets Cousin M

Time for School!

The past two weeks have been a blur! We've been trying to squeeze in so much before the end of summer! G had her haircut for Locks of Love (and I got rid of my gray--one more time), we had the opportunity to attend a reunion for Pacific Island adoptees, we traveled to Williamsburg to meet with G's China travel group, we went to a party for two very special cousin's birthdays, G had school orientation and her first day of school. All of this in two weeks!

In the middle of that, R and I have been making plans for our trip to visit our Arkansas family next month and then a return trip to Sesame Place for the girls in October. It would be nice to throw in a one or two day trip to the beach but that may just have to wait until next year. I'm finding that the logistics of moving a family of five take just a bit more planning :-)

And I have I mentioned Baby M is growing incredibly fast? We go for her next check-up tomorrow, so stay tuned for an update.


The "before" pic with Flat Stanley


The "after" pic


The East Coast Pacific Islands Reunion-kids and siblings


Our family of 5 and Grammy


G and K in Williamsburg


Lunch at the Cheese Shop


The Girls all dressed-up for dinner


The girls and their siblings


Smiley Girl


Watch out Tiger Woods....


Singing "Happy Birthday" to Cousin J


Happy 5 1/2 Birthday Cousin L


Baby M meets Cousin W


Aunt M and K


G and her 2nd grade teacher, Ms.Berkley


G and one of her friends

8 weeks old and grinning :-)

No commentary needed :-)

Maddie's Welcome Home Party

Our family and friends got together and gave Maddie a very warm "Welcome Home" party. There was lots of food, love and fellowship. R and I feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends!


Smiley girls getting ready for the party


Loved the logo on Maddie's cake


Maddie with her two favorite aunts


Visiting with Aunt C and Cousin J


Maddie visiting with family at her party


The big girls


The big kids went swimming


All partied out :-)