Ashlyn & Earrings

After almost a year of wanting to get her ears pierced, Ashlyn gets her ears pierced! Ashlyn told me this morning that she wanted to get her ears pierced today. We have heard this SEVERAL times before with nothing happening. But she was determined to get them pierced today. And guess what? She did it! We are all so proud of her! She is very afraid of needles so this was a big deal for her. You can't really tell in the pictures but her earrings are pink flowers. They are really "fashionable" (that was her word!).

What the Kids Have Been Doing!

The kids started martial arts 2 weeks ago. And they LOVE it! They want to go every night during the week. They even went on Saturday morning last week. One thing really nice for PJ & I is that both of them can attend the same class.
We are enjoying the summer. The girls (my Mom, Aunt, GG, Ash & myself) started on changing Ashlyn's room to Ashlyn & Sydney's room. The bedroom is the old master from the original house. It is a BIG room with two walk-in closets. We are still waiting on our RA. The 100 day mark will come next weekend. Hoping the RA comes soon! I'm trying to remain somewhat positive during this wait and not enter my pity party again.

***not sure why Ashlyn's head is cut-off in the pictures. Sorry!

All About Sydney Hope

We received our Sydney update early this morning. All four of us just stared at the pictures. She has grown so much since the last March pictures (yes as in 3 months ago!). Sydney is just so cute! Super chubby cheeks. The update included the answers to almost all of our 10 questions, new measurements & 4 photos. I'm sure this sounds bad--but I really wanted the new pictures. Sydney is still sporting the orphanage haircut but she is rockin' it. Her face is just so cute!
One of Sydney's favorite activities is going out to morning tea. In Guangzhou, people enjoy morning tea. They also have some congee and dim sum. And then she also enjoys going to the park in the afternoon. There is a sad answer to our question of how she soothes herself. She will calm down after crying for a little while. I was expecting them to say she sucked on her fingers or had a special something for some reason. Breaks my heart to think about her crying for any length of time.
Sydney's personality is self-willed & obstinate sometimes. She is fairly active, pungent & extroverted. What does pungent mean? I wondered if this was a translation thing. But it was kinda funny reading that word next to fairly active! The orphanage calls our little Sydney--Bao Bao Lian. KM's mom said Bao Bao means "Hold Me". Philip & Ashlyn used to say this all the time to me. OK--how did Bao Bao Lian come from Li Si Xin? I would love your comments about this.
Sydney's favorite food is fried tomatoes with eggs and Chang Fen. I'm going to need to learn how to make a few things other than Tex-Mex, pasta & scrambled eggs! She has grown a little. And her arms are really chubby. I love that!
We are wanting to hold Bao Bao Lian. Can't wait for Gothca Day and to be able to post her pictures! Come on RA (referral approval)!

Summer is Here!

OK-so obviously I have not posted in a long time. Sorry for the 3 people that follow me on a regular basis (just kidding)!! The kids had so much "stuff" going on school--it was crazy! And then Memorial weekend & my grandparents came for a visit. We went to my parents house in Clarendon over the holiday weekend. I apologize in advance--the pictures are not in correct order but blogger was not cooperating tonight.

Ashlyn taking a rest from ladder ball at the ranch.
Philip getting the potato launcher ready to shoot. (The gun in the background is not real.)

Philip & Ashlyn on the last day of school. Kinda a sad day for me.

Ashlyn at her Author's Tea Party. I thought she had the best book.

Philip at his track meet at school.

We placed the order for an orphanage call for Sydney earlier this week. With this call, we can ask 10 questions and hopefully pictures and updated measurements. We are praying that her orphanage answers the questions & sends pictures. The last 3 months have been long. We are on day 82ish waiting for our RA (referral approval). With the kids being so busy, the days have flown by! Other than the call, we have no "new" adoption news.

Please check out our friends Dave & Sheri for really great news! We hope that everyone has an awesome summer!