Getting Caught Up!

As I had previously mentioned May presents with a calendar conundrum of fun events. I know it is not over yet, but I like to preserve some of the more memorable items here, since I am a scrapbooking failure. I look at the big box of scrap stuff and become instantly intimidated by the mess I will make if I begin pages and then force myself to complete them. All the while, we know the laundry is glaring at me, the vacuum heartbroken at my disloyalty and the kitchen, well, it is often saddened by my trigger finger for take-out:) Sooo, since beginning this blog, the memories land here. At some point, I will become better versed at making it look like a true scrapbook; for now, I do my best.

MOTHER'S DAY

We enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day. Rob and the girls made breakfast -- it was supposed to be pancakes, a measurement faux pax created crepes, either way, it was perfect. They brought gifts to the table and I was so humbled and graced by the tenderness of what they selected for me this year.

Rob is working relatively close to the agency we used to bring our Hannah home. If any of you have ever read anything about Pearl Buck, then you know she was an ambassador in many ways. I do not perch her on a pedestal for her life choices that changed children's lives, but I applaud her courage, artistry and compassion that provided her own family a lovely upbringing (I believe she adopted 13 Asian children during the course of her life) as well as a legacy that has brought so many children home to their forever families. She brought positive attention and education to international adoption and made it her life's goal to ensure adoption practices with integrity and stability. I had the unique opportunity to meet one of her daughters and hear her amazing story at a Christian Women's breakfast two years ago. It brought new light to the agency I already loved simply because they would help us bring home our baby girl.

The agency has "minted" a limited number of decorative tiles, beautifully handcrafted at a local tileworks museum. Rob, in all his contracting glory was taken with these tiles when we first saw them, but I was drawn to one. This is what was wrapped so beautifully Mother's Day morning...



Emily's teachers helped their students prepare beautiful gifts for all the mommies. I have always been blessed, in that every teacher Emily has had, has valued the mother-child relationship and made a huge deal out of Mother's Day.



The previous day Emily and I attended the birthday party of her dear friend Gabrielle. I have often gushed about Em's school and I feel every ounce of that, but one of the perks is the great friendships we all have made there. Thank you Gabrielle for including us in your special day - we had so much fun.





Since Gabrielle's party was flip-flop themed, I had painted Em's finger and toenails. On Mother's Day when I asked Emily if she'd like to go to have her nails painted with me, she politely declined and said (drum roll............) I want to get my ears pierced. Huh? She has been hinting around and now, her little sister wants "eeeeernns, just yike Mimi".

Pre-piercing

Enjoying the post piercing pretzel!


And it would not have been complete without the post-piercing penny pitch:) I wonder what she wished??


CIRCUS

For the first time, Hannah got to join us for our traditional day at the circus. Emily loves to do this for her birthday and we surprised her last week and instead of driving to school, we drove to the big top. Both girls were thrilled and their favorite event was by far the "effafants" (according to Hannah):)



By this time Hannah had pulled out her bow and Emily's bow, kicked off her shoes, eaten half a pretzel and clapped her heart out (and we weren't even to intermission yet:)



Emily even noted a ladybug siting


Having piled a lot into this post, I will go away now. I have some favorite pictures I will post in the next week. A big thank you to all of our bloggy friends who have sent well wishes for our birthdays - I hate to celebrate them now;) But, it was so sweet to receive so many kind comments. Blessings...