First a Pearl, then Three Rubies!!: August 2013

9:10 AM |

I seriously can't believe it has been two years since our precious Emme Jade walked into our lives... We fell in love with our "Little (Joyfilled) Bean" that day... What a treasure she is!

While we waited for Emme we were blessed with so many photos of her from the orphanage. From these we could tell she was special... She has proven to be one of the happiest little girls I know! She LOVES big.. She makes friends wherever we go.. She is compassionate and sensitive. She is our social butterfly.. She reminds me daily that she loves me. Her hugs are the best!!!! I don't want anyone to get the impression she is a push over... She is all sugar until she thinks she needs to be heard!!.. Then our pig tail wagging girl can stomp her feet with the best of them.. I love that about her.. Sweet and strong!! That's our girl!

Emme shares a special anniversary too. Today my parents celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary!!! We have much to celebrate in our family this evening! Two Forevers!! Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! And Happy Forever Emme Jade! We LOVE you!!

July.... It's A "WRAP!"

11:07 PM |

Well, if you know us well, you know that July is the busiest month of the year at our house... Busier than December, and busier then the end of the school year... We packed in 4 birthday celebrations, cabin time, a weekend retreat, volleyball camps, swim team practices and the swim team Championships... Ruby closed the month on the 31st by turning 7 on us!!! Jeff and I left the same day for a long weekend in Aspen.. It was a crazy and special month!~

So, this post will really be a scrap book of the miles we traveled!!

Starting with Mr. Handsome's Birthday... I could not top last year's 50th celebration. Honestly, I couldn't even try... So we celebrated 51 with the kids and "Camp H!" I think he was OK with that! We even got a family photo.. A rare thing around here!

Next we headed to Stockholm, WI for an awesome weekend with our family group... We had no idea what to expect.. We were blown away by the beautiful retreat center we shared with our special group of friends. We spent Sienna's birthday on "the farm!" It was a two day celebration... Some of my favorite photos from our weekend in WI!

Next came Emme Jade's birthday on the 24th! We had a sweet celebration with a few friends and family. Sienna had swim Champs that day, so Emme had a great day with her BFF, Bella and her big sister, Emily. She was the sweetest birthday girl.. When we sang happy birthday to her, her smile lit up the room! I can't believe she's 5!!

We had two swim meets to wrap up the season. Sienna competed first in Jr. Champs... This is such a fun meet!!! She competed with 8 other 8 and under girls from our team. She swam all four strokes and she did so well!! I am so proud of how hard Sienna worked this summer. We are blessed with a great club and great coaches that love our girls!!

Two days later, Ruby Mei qualified to swim in Champs.. This final meet was for the top 3 kids in each age group from the clubs in the Western Swim League here. It is quite the event.. Unfortunately, we did not have the best weather this year.. It was COLD and rainy.. But, Ruby and the other kids on our team did not let that stop them from swimming their hearts out. Our club placed 2nd overall. "Her Rubiness" had a big day on Saturday! She qualified for the finals in both butterfly and breast stroke.. Like her sister, Ruby has worked so hard this summer.. Every week her times improved. We knew she had a chance to do well in the breast stroke final. It's her favorite.. We saw something in Ruby we had never seen that Saturday... The determination to win it!!.. She dove off the block seated 2nd against a very good year round swimmer... What we did not expect was for Ruby to out-touch her by 1/10th of a second to WIN!!!! It was so exciting to have such a close race!!!! Her coaches scooped her up with tears in their eyes.. It was such a fun moment!!!!

OK - I am not done yet.. One more birthday to go!!! Our sweet Ruby Mei closed the month by turning 7. She and Sienna decided to do a party together this year. We did it at a local art studio. They loved it!! (And, so did I!!!)

Lastly, on the 30th I escorted "The Middles" to their Swim Team Banquet!!! It's a special night for them to be recognized. The next morning Jeff and I headed to Aspen for a long weekend.. A little work, and a lot of play!!! We had the opportunity to catch up with old friends.. It was a wonderful four days away!!! Thank you Katie and Caroline for holding things down here for us!!! You are a blessing!!!!

That sums up July at our house!!!! Woohoo!

It's Been TWO Years With Emme Jade!!!!

July.... It's A "WRAP!"

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