Thank you for everything you do! Thank you for teaching us,

playing with us, praying for us, protecting us,

for putting our family first always,

and most of all for loving us to the moon and back!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

We LOVE you!!!!

~Ainsley, Sienna, Ruby, and Emme Jade

Friday while I was enjoying my last cup of coffee in Chicago with Bridget, I received a surprise email from Emme's Guardian Angel in Yangzhou. She sent us a little gift from Emme. Four photos of her out celebrating "Children's Day" and the "Dragon Boat Festival." I love this first photo.. It looks like she is in the "Priscilla's of Boston" in Yangzhou City! I have no idea why she is in a boutique, but it makes me smile. She is going to fit in so perfectly here!!!! It is such a blessing to know that she is experiencing life outside of the orphanage! This second photo is for Jeff... While she is not holding a fishing pole, it sure looks like one. It is actually a duck egg! She explained that all of the children eat glutinous rice dumplings and salted duck eggs for safety and peace! I am assuming this is one of their Dragon Boat Festival traditions.

Finally, I am posting about our great vacation to visit Miss B, Rich, Lucy & Kit. We had a wonderful time!!! Thank you "K" family for blessing us!! There were so many highlights for all of us. Just being together was enough.. But, meeting Kit for the first time just melted my heart. Almost one year ago I saw her picture for the first time... And, now she is home where she belongs and doing beautifully!!! We are all crazy about Kit!!

Ainsley did a great job being "Camp Director" for the girls! She kept them busy and happy! It gave Bridget and I the chance to catch up which was so fun for us! Thank you Ainsley!!

I have to say, that all of the girls did great. They got a long so well... And, when there was a little drama, it didn't last long! I think I got a glimpse of what it will be like to have four girls! It's going to be loud, and it's going to be fun!!

As you can imagine I have a ton of photos from this trip. So, I pulled some of my favorites so I could post them. Thanks again Bridget for a wonderful and relaxing week! And, for the delicious food!!!! You are am amazing hostess! We miss you already!!

We did arrive to B's house in style... The car service sent a stretch limo! They were so excited when our driver pulled up!

Ruby and Lucy back together again!!

Beautiful Lucy!

It didn't take Kit long to warm up to Ainsley!!!

They had a mutual admiration for each other all week!!

Ainsley has always loved Lucy!!! She was so happy to see her again!

Sorry no pics of the four littles in the tub together. It was so CUTE!!!

Ready for bed on the first night!

Sienna was so happy to be back at the beach!

This pic is soooo Ruby! I love it!

I love how they were holding hands here... There is a special bond between

Sienna and Kit. It started for Sienna long before Kit came home!

I had to post this one again.... It was such a fun day!

(These suits came from Target.. I just had the monograms put on them)

Day 2! The Bikini's came out!

The Sisters!!

Adorable Kit!!

Sienna went with Kit to a doctors appointment to hold her hand..

When she came home, she told me Kit was very brave!!!

We had this blanket made for Kit before she came home.. I had to get a photo of her with it!

Waiting for our car to pick us up to take us back to the airport....

We hate that our sweet friends are so far away... Thankfully, it is a very short plane ride, and a manageable drive... Next year there will be 6 girls playing on the beach! :)

It is hard to believe that this beautiful little girl that came into the world on our 2nd wedding anniversary is turning 10 today. Before our eyes she is growing up.

Ainsley we are so proud of you! Thank you for being such a wonderful sister and daughter. We have watched your heart grow this year, and we can't wait to see Emme Jade fall in love with you! God has blessed you with many gifts... Our job is to help you discover who God has created you to be! What a privilege it is to be your parents! We pray that you have an amazing year!

We love you Ainsley Kathryn! Happy 10th Birthday!

We have had so much going on that I have not had time to post any photos from Sienna and Ruby's last day of Pre-School... It was a sweet day as they said goodbye to their beloved teachers and friends. Even though they won't be students at Wooddale again, they will be back to visit. Wooddale will be Emme Jade's school too!

This week the twosome went to three days of "Spring into Kindergarten" at their new school. They even got to play on the playground with their big sister and her friends... There favorite part of camp... Art and music!! The good news is they liked their new teacher very much!! They walked into the building hand in hand with The Pearl between them today! It was so cute!

Tomorrow is Ainsley's last day of school. She is more than ready for summer vacation! We are going to hit the pool to celebrate!!! And, then Monday we start our real vacation! Five days in Chicago with our favorite pals!!!! I finally get to meet Kit! And, I can't wait to catch up with my sweet friend, "Miss B"!!!

Have a great weekend! I will be back soon! Most likely with some cute pics from the beaches of Lake Michigan!

We had our annual weekend with "Camp H" at our cabin over Memorial Weekend. We all look forward to this time together. We have a routine that works so great... Lots of fishing, great food, and fellowship with our favorite family! Even though the weather wasn't the best we have ever had, we had a great weekend! Thanks "Camp H" for sharing your long weekend with us!

We love you guys!!

The first catch of the 2011 Season!!! He went on to catch 7 more, so it was a good start to the year!! Ainsley had fun keeping track of all of the anglers... I think in numbers, Jeff was the big winner!!

"Her Rubiness" taking a little exercise break on the dock while her sister reeled in one of the big fish of the weekend!!!!

Well, not only can this girl do gymnastics, she is proving to be quite the little fisherwoman too!!!! She caught this 15" bass on our infamous Mickey Mouse pole. That pole has seen a lot of action throughout the years. There was an actual "Take your Kid fishing" contest on our lake for Memorial Day. Sienna's big catch came in 5th overall. There were over 100 fish entered!

This very sad face from Sienna came after Jeff and Jon let her fish go... She didn't understand why she couldn't just keep him.... We convinced her that perhaps she would catch him again this summer!!

We have an annual tradition of Jon's famous pancakes during our weekends together. Jeff and Jon managed the kitchen which of course I loved!!! Thanks Jon and Jeff for the awesome breakfast!!

Sienna and Ruby love building things together. They packed Sienna's legos for the weekend getaway. They were hoping Jake would help them make something special. Which he did!!

The director of "Camp H" and Ruby Mei back together again!!

Jon's big Bass of the day!!!! Although a kid at heart, he was not allowed to enter this big one into the "Fishing Contest!"

Jake, Ainsley & Luke... We have been doing these fun cabin weekends together for five years now!!

Always a highlight... ATVing around the cabin with fun Mr. Jon!!