Call us crazy, but Jeff and I decided to take the girls to the State Fair Friday evening! (Thanks Mary T. for understanding!) It was a gorgeous night, and Ainsley and the "littles" had been looking forward to our annual visit to the "Great Minnesota Get Together!" Miss Emme has been blessing us with sleep, so we decided to give it a whirl!!! Well, other than some "whining" from two little girls about walking, we had a pretty fun night!!!! These photos will speak for themselves, but food was definitely the focus of our attention! And, let me say, Emme Jade learned pretty quickly, that food on a stick tastes pretty good!!!! The one thing I was looking forward to was the tasty fair Pork Chops.. I gave Emme one bite and I never saw it again!!!! I think she ate more than I did at her first state fair!!!! No clue where the "little bean" puts it all, but she LOVES to eat!!

The funniest line of the night came from Ruby... We arrived at 5ish.. She ate or tasted: Pork Chops, Pronto Pups, French Fries, Strawberries and Cream, Cinnamon Rolls, and the beloved Martha's Cookies... As we were getting ready to leave around 9:00, she turned to me and said, "What are we having for dinner Mama?" Not kidding!!

Emme continues to remind us why the miracle of adoption is such a blessing! When we look at her at our table, we just can't believe she just got home! She has definitely won our hearts! (Especially her Daddy's!) She is sleeping most nights, and napping everyday!! We are so proud of her! Tomorrow Ainsley starts 5th grade, and Sienna and Ruby start Kindergarten!!!!! It will be a big morning at our house!!

I think it is time for me to write something that doesn't make me cry or you cry! Thank you again for all of your sweet messages. I am blessed!

Well... Today we had our Social Worker visit for Sienna's 1 year post placement. It is due March 1st in China, so we were getting it checked off the never ending "to due" list. It was a great visit. The last time Ava saw Sienna was in late June. So much has happened in her life since then. Today Ava saw a well adjusted, happy, healthy and articulate little girl coloring with her sister and playing lego's on the floor. She has even grown 2"! I was able to share with Ava the great news we had on Friday. Sienna's Hemoglobin levels are still NORMAL!!! Three months post surgery! It truly is a miracle. Dr. Steve admitted he was surprised at the number! AND, he does not want to see us for six months!!! God Rocks!

So, when you do any type of update for China they want pictures. One must be a family photo! Since I did not think China was looking for a photo of us with Santa, I called in "Camp H" to help. Liz snapped these in about 30 seconds after church on Sunday. The girls were so good! They knew their grieving Mama didn't have the energy for any family photo drama!.. I think Liz took 12 pictures, and everyone of them looks the same!!! So, I finally have a family photo. and so will the the CCAA, (China Center of Adoption Affairs!)

Poor Jeff has to leave sunny and warm Southern California tomorrow and return to the frozen tundra.. I believe I heard the words "40-Below windchill for tomorrow night!" Should I believe him if he calls and says his flight is cancelled? Seriously... Why do we live here? Summer seems like a very long time away right now!

So, I am thankful today for my wonderful husband, awesome friends and family who have checked in on me, and my blog pals with their notes of comfort. Thanks to my sweet friend Sherri for the sweetest book called, "Dog Heaven" that I received today! And, I am thankful for an amazing, almost one year of milestones, with Sienna Grace and her sisters. Lastly, I am thankful for a pic with me in it, so my children can remember that they had a mom one day!! (Even if her eyes were puffy!)

More soon! If I survive the cold!!