Monday, July 2, 2012

"The Campers!"

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Yesterday afternoon I delivered the Campers to Trout Lake in northern, MN!  Based on what I saw just for drop off, they are going to have an action packed, and very fun week!!!  Their counselors seemed very nice, and their cabin was great!  The whole thing reminded me of "Parent Trap!"  Today I mailed Ainsley a little care package with some sweet cards from her little sisters!  We miss our big girl, but are so excited for her to be having this fun experience!!!!

It's a very hot week to be at camp, but hopefully she is spending her day playing on the water!!!!

My final words to Ainsley and Kate...  "Make some fun memories!"  Can't wait to hear all about it when they come home!!

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Friday, June 29, 2012

Sienna's Dental Surgery...

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Just a quick note to say Sienna's oral surgery went well today!  They ended up extracting 3 teeth, including the "extra" tooth that she was born with.  She was amazing leading up to her surgery..  It was obvious that her previous experiences had prepared her..  She was so calm and happy while we waited.  She fell asleep with no issues..  We were so proud of our brave girl!!!

Post-Op was difficult for Sienna this time...  More than it has ever been...  They actually had us come into the first phase recovery room to help her calm down...  It was the end of the day and she was the only patient left..  Eventually we gave her some meds to relax her, which did the trick..  We got home around 4:00, very relieved to have this one behind us!

The 3 teeth she had pulled are quite impressive!  She has earned every penny that will be coming from the Tooth Fairy tonight!!!!  Praying this is the last dental surgery for our beautiful "Spicy Girl!"

Thank you for your prayers!!



Wednesday, June 27, 2012

TWO Yellow Ribbons Today!!

Another Wednesday of the crazy Mom yelling at the side of the pool today...  I must have been loud because Ruby told me she could hear me!!!  :)  Anyway, I had good reason...  Sienna Grace won her heat without being Dis-qualified in the Backstroke!!! And, Ruby Mei rocked her heat and won the freestyle!!!!  They both did their best and we are so proud of them!!!!  What a great sport we are blessed to be a part of this summer!!!!!  

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Monday, June 25, 2012

"My, How You've Grown!"



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When Sienna came home from China she and Ruby were almost exactly the same height and weight. In the last year we have really seen Sienna begin to tower over her sister...  Well, Friday it was confirmed!!!  She was at the doctor and measured exactly 48" tall!!!!  She has grown 7" since March, 2010!  WOW!!!  And, to add to that good news, her Hemoglobin was at an all time high on the normal charts!! We are so thankful for this great news for our girl!!  When we brought her home we never imagined she would be transfusion free for this long!   THANK YOU Jesus!!

So why were we at the doctor...? Unfortunately, Sienna is having more dental surgery on Friday, the 29th....  Our special girl has an extra tooth that has to be surgically removed along with another 1-2 teeth on top..   This will be our third summer visit to the hospital for oral surgery...  Hopefully, our last..  Dental surgery is just no fun...

Sienna and I had some time alone last week, and she was up for a photo shoot.  I couldn't resist taking pictures of our tall girl!!  Gaining seven inches is just one of the many ways Sienna Grace has blossomed!  She is a constant reminder to me of what love and trust can do!!

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Sunday, June 24, 2012

{Sunday Snapshot} Sapphire Blue



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Ni Hao Yall


I know I posted this photo of Ruby the other day..  Thank you for your comments about it..  It's always fun to get one special picture from an event!  I am so thankful for this blog for many reasons.  But, mostly because it gives me the opportunity to document special days, special words, and special moments with our family and friends...  This picture is special to me because Ruby was very hesitant about her first swim meet...  But, I think this smile says it all...  With some sisterly encouragement from Sienna, and her supportive team she jumped in that pool with a little more confidence than she had on the bus ride over!!  All we ever ask from our kids is that they do their best....  And, she did!


I processed this photo with Florabella's Sapphire action.  It is the exact same action I used on one of my favorite pool photos of Emme Jade from China last summer!!  It's my favorite action for turquoise!!  In some ways the emotions of these two little girls was the same...  A little hesitant at first, and then all smiles!  

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August, 2011

Photography continues to be a passion and a journey for me...  It started when we were preparing to bring Ruby home in 2007...   Thanks to some gifted friends, and amazing teachers like Lisa I continue learn and to push myself... And, thanks to my supportive husband and kids I get to practice a lot!!!!  I will always be a work in progress (in many ways)...  But, hopefully along the way I will continue to get a few favorite photos as I build a book of memories for my kids!!

This photo of Ruby Mei was taken with my Nikon D700.
Exposure ~ 1/1000
Aperture ~ f3.5
ISO ~ 200
Focal Length ~ 200mm

If you want to check out some more special photos, go to Stef's "Sunday Snapshot"..  And while you are there please pray for the family in Ghana who has been falsely accused of child traffic-ing!






Ni Hao Yall


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

First Swim Meet for The Middles!!!!

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For the summer I get to be a "Swim Team Mom!"  I have to say, for a super fan that gets to yell really loud at sporting events where her children are participating, this is the place for me!!!!  Ruby and Sienna made me one proud spectator today!!!!  Their first meet, and they did so great!!!  Sienna won her heat in the back stroke, and Ruby won her heat in the butterfly!  They did their very best in the breast stroke, and before they could finish off their day with freestyle the meet was called for weather!

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I learned from some of the other Mom's that the young kids often get "Dis-Qualified" for touching the rope, or not doing the stroke right...  That did happen today to the girls..!!  They took it in stride, and we decided we would go to "DQ" to celebrate completing their first swim meet!

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My favorite moment of the day...  When Ruby finished her first and third race, her biggest fan was the one waiting at the edge of the pool for her...  She wiggled her way in there to be the first one to say "Way to Go Ruby!!!"  Yep, it made me tear up!!!

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Best Quote of the day was from Sienna when Ruby was grumbling about doing the breast-stroke... "Ruby, you have to swim it to win it!!"  Wise words from the big sister!!

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I think I am going to like these crazy Wednesdays!!!  Congrats Sienna and Ruby!!!  We are so proud of you for helping your team!!

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Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day!!!!

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"A man is LOVED not for how tall he stands, but for how often he bends
to help, comfort, and teach."  ~Anonymous

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Thank you for everything you do for our family!
You do an amazing job of taking care of us and loving us!  Today, we give thanks for the very special man that we are blessed to call Daddy!!

Happy Father's Day!!

We LOVE you!!



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