Pictures of our last week or so.

We have not done anything exciting, but we always seem to be busy! Ramzie and Meina have been doing swimming every day for the past two weeks. The lessons are scheduled at 12:45pm so right in the middle of the day. I wasn't thinking that all the way through when I signed them up. It really makes it hard to do anything in the afternoon because we have to go straight home for nap time. Meina must have a 3 hour nap and Ramzie is still taking about an hour or so. I am trying to get her out of it because she starts school in August, but she will even ask for a nap if she is tired. She isn't getting to bed at her usual 8-8:30 either, so I think that doesn't help matters.

Ramzie has had quite a few play dates which are good for her and it gives Meina and I some special alone time. It seems that most of the pictures below are of Meina and I took them while Ramz was either at the neighbors or out on her trampoline (another favorite activity). Meina is getting quite the personality. She LOVES music and starts dancing and laughing every time she hears Taylor Swift. This happens to be quite a bit because Ramzie has the CD and plays it ALL THE TIME.

Speaking of pictures, last Thursday we had family pictures and pictures of the girls taken. I cannot wait to see how they turn out. I am hoping there is one or two that can be put on a canvas to cover some of the bare areas on our walls. We have been in this house almost five years and I still have some VERY bare walls in places.

Mike has been out of town on an assignment so it has been just the girls this week. As always happens when he leaves town, we had a few minor issues...
First and (kinda) minor, my washer is blinking an error code during the final spin cycle. I was sure we had not had the washer more than 3 years and "thought" I had bought the extended service plan. Turns out we bought it 4 years ago on July 30th AND I did buy the extra plan...... a four year plan. Yes, we lucked out and it had issues just days BEFORE it ran out. The not so lucky part was they did not have anyone to come out to repair it until Friday (tomorrow). I really hope it is a simple fix and they can do it while they are here. Otherwise, I will not be able to find my children in the piles of laundry that are forming downstairs!
The second thing that happened this week was I got rear-ended sitting at a stoplight. My car is only 5 months old! There does not appear to be much damage, small crack in the bumper, but it sure made me think twice about going with a smaller type vehicle.
So that about sums up our lives. Things are good.....

Sister gave me a makeover!

I gave myself a makeover and Mommy took the make-up away!

Best,

Joanie

A full life

Sisters holding hands after a long day at the Zoo!
The New Mexico and Montana Smith kids

Exploring the Zoo

Hubei girls

Daddy and his grils looking at the Tiger

Day at the park

Wading pool fun!

We have been busy this month so not much time to post to the blog.

I will start with an update on the girls.

Meina is really walking (and running) everywhere now. She has suddenly become fearless and has many boo-boo's to show for it. We are not going to get by without gates for the stairs with this little one. Several nights ago I was cooking dinner while the girls were downstairs playing in their "kitchen". Anyway, I heard a sigh or grunting sound coming from the stairs. I thought uh-oh she is going to try to come up the stairs by herself so I ran over to look. Well, the little bug was AT THE TOP ALREADY! Our staircase is not a few steps either- it is fifteen and steep. I was scared to death since 2 days earlier Mike was teaching her how to go up the stairs and had to catch her from falling back no less than three times. That is what we get for teaching her how to climb them- Lol.

We had a pediatrician visit last week for more vaccinations and she is growing well. She has grown 1 inch and gained 1.5# in 7 weeks! That places her in the 40% for weight and 90% for height. We are not surprised based on how much she eats. She will eat anything.... not picky at all.

She continues to be a easy-going kid. She does not like to be told no though and I get big tears when I take something away from her that she thinks she should have. She follows Ramzie around everywhere goes. She also loves for her daddy to wrestle and chase her.

She has wonderful receptive understanding and will follow directions very well for a 15 month baby.

She is saying many words now like- Yes (ye), more (mo), please (pss), hungry (ungy) mama, Elli (e-ie) I love you ( I uooo) and finally in the last days -dada. So all around she is doing great and we love watching her personality blossom as she starts to understand that this is IT- we are here family.

Ramzie is becoming quite the girl. all signs of baby and toddler hood are gone (sob). She is loving summer and all the swimming we get to do. She is growing like a weed also. She is 43 inches tall and 37.5#- staying steady at 20% on the growth chart. She continues to love gymnastics and has really improved. All of a sudden she can pull herself around and do a back walkover and swing around twice on the bars. She is excited to start Kindergarten in August- I am having a hard time with that thought! She is such a good big sister! She plays with Meina all the time and is VERY patient even when she is getting into her things.

We took a quick trip to Denver this last weekend to meet some dear friends from New Mexico. We met them on our first trip to China when we adopted Ramzie. We get together every year for a vacation with them and the Rice family (from New Jersey) because we love to see the girls together AND we really enjoy the company. This year, we have not been able to do a long two-week vacation together mainly because of our circumstance- trip to China and Mike starting a new job. We decided we had to at LEAST see each other, so we met up in Denver on Friday and had a great weekend. It was 103 degrees so we spent the AM at the Zoo and the PM at the Museum. We also planned to stop by CCAI (the agency we used for both adoptions) but never got there. I did call and talk to them to see when the best time to stop in was because they had just received referrals and were making calls and they said to come by in the afternoon. Well, time just got away from us so that was a bit of a bummer! But we will plan to make another reunion in the near future.

We also hit the American Girl store for a new outfit for Ramzie's Carissa doll. Wow- that place is fun!

I only have two more weeks until I head back to work so I have a lot to get done. The big thing this week is applying for Meina's passport.

Enjoy the pictures!

Joanie

Our 4th of July with our newest American

We had a very nice holiday weekend. It started Friday when I picked up the mail and Meina's Certificate of Citizenship was in the box! Yeah!!!!!

We live in a subdivision that is zoned out of the city limits so everyone in the neighborhood had been previewing their firework supply most of the week but Saturday it sounded like a war zone around here. We did yard work and played most of the day before hitting the local firework stand ourselves :-)

On the 4th we went to T and M's house to enjoy the local festivities and a BBQ before heading home to spend the rest of the evening watching fireworks and hanging with the neighbors.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

Joanie

Daddy and his girl

One night last week after Meina had gone down to bed Mike, Ramzie and I were sitting out on the front porch enjoying the evening. Ms Ramzie got the bright idea to get out her super-soaker and.....I am sure you see where this is going. Mike warned her not to spray us but it was more than any 5 year old could resist and she did. So Mike got up and dunked her in the little pool and the next thing I know BOTH of them are in! I could not resist and ran for my camera!

They had a lot of fun and this is why I love my husband so much- he is such a kid at heart!

Joanie

Summer Pictures

We are having a great time so far this summer. Other than our scheduled activities like swimming and camp activities, we are spending alot of time outside. Most of it is during the heat of the day since we have been having TERRIBLE thunderstorms in the evening. So far we have lucked out and not had any major property damage from the hail. Some of our friends have not been so lucky :-(
We are not planning anything to exciting for the holiday weekend. I am on call during the nights (yes-even though I am still on FMLA until August) so we will just have a BBQ and watch some fireworks. We have a friend who lives in an area that has a parade and community BBQ so we are planning that for Sunday. We are also planning some type of weekend trip in July- just have not decided when and where. I know- this is soooo NOT like me! I love to plan but it is Mike's schedule we need to work around so we should know soon.

Here is wishing everyone a great 4th of July. We will so enjoy it and celebrate it as the first for Meina as a US Citizen. God Bless you and God Bless America!


She cannot quite reach the ground, but loves to be pushed on this old tricycle I picked up 5 years ago at a garage sale when Ramzie wasn't even here!
She is getting closer to not needing the training wheels

We had the first 90+ degree day this week so we had to pull the plastic wading pool off of the garage wall shelf. It was too hot to drive into town for one of the park pools or I was too lazy.....

She really is having fun I promise- she just won't let me catch it on the camera.

This ball is for what?

My sweet girl is getting so big!

They can have fun anywhere!

Ramzie's newest obsession- Bouncy Balls

Sisters hanging in our "pool"

Hey Mom- I want that!

I will come get it myself then!

Yes Mom- I KNOW I should not be getting into this cupboard!

Joanie