~ DADDY'S LITTLE HELPER ~

I really have the best of both worlds with Mia ~ she is a girly girl to the core, but doesn't mind getting dirty and running with the boys. I guess it comes with having two brothers, just like mommy did growing up (and still does :) I could just watch her for hours ~ she is so entertaining and interesting to watch, and oh so cute :)

Here she is helping daddy arrange our potted plants:

~ MEMORIAL DAY IN PICTURES ~

~ TWO YEARS GONE BY . . . ~

since I received THE phone call from our adoption agency; which would change all of our lives forever. Most importantly, it gave a baby girl a family; and completed a family ~ all in one phone call.

The first words I heard where, "we think your family would be the perfect fit for 'DanDan' "; and boy were they right :) Or, should I say I was right - because I just knew, deep in my heart, when I read about "DanDan", that she was our daughter and we were her family. My agency only agreed with ME :)

You can read more about that wonderous day here :http://chinaprincess.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html , just scroll down to May 22nd!

The first picture we ever saw of our daughter:

And, there were many firsts to follow...now as the months & years go by, we are celebrating seconds! These anniversaries/days will always be celebrated by this proud & blessed mommy.

I love you my darling Mia Hope "DanDan" !

~ BRAIDS ~

~ CATCHING UP ON OUR WEEK ~

I've been a bad blogger lately ~ this time of year is always busy ~ it's amazing that it is already the end of the school year! Time flies...

This week Meggie celebrated her 2 year family day! She is such a sweetie and Mia really looks forward to seeing Meg ~ they are just so cute together ~ especially when they were playing dolls together :) "Happy Forever Family Day Meaghan Grace!"

We also went to my nephew (and Godson's) Spring concert Thursday night. His orchestra was fantastic and they also played a song with the band, which was just great! I really enjoyed it and so did the kids! We left shortly after the orchestra ended, since Mia was opening up our umbrella's and dancing up & down the aisles :)

That's my Frankie straight thru to the back!

Mia gets such a kick out of daddy lately - too cute! Whenever she has a cupcake or ice cream, etc pj's on, she loves to show daddy so he will "eat her up!" Here they are during a quiet, cuddle moment:)

Eddie jumps in for a hug!

which always turns into a throw-around-session?!

fun!

"more daddy!"

Mia just loves to dress up - she clicks around in her princess high heels and it is sooooooo funny! This morning, she ran into the playroom and dressed up:

"Good morning Eddie!!!"

"Yeah, I made a little bit of mess, mom..."

On to next week ~

~ MY MOTHER'S DAY ~

The day started out with bagels, a much needed cup of coffee and presents! Anthony made me a votive candle holder; which is just beautiful and I added that to Eddie's custom-made flower pot on my window sill :) I also got some more beads for my pand*ra's braclet ~ (Eddie picked out a little car-"minivan" bead - too cute!). My braclet is really coming along... The weather was sunny & windy, but warm enough ~

My handsome guy

"modeling" like her brother :)


Her "Belle" - smile!

In the afternoon we headed down to a local village-by-the-water for some window shopping & ice cream. There is a nice park there too and the kids had fun running around, climbing & swinging ~

Thanks to my "monkeys" for a real nice day ~ even though life can be crazy and chaotic at times ~ my three biggest blessings are always "counted" ~ I just love you guys all so so so much ~ thanks for giving so much meaning to this day!

*Thanks to my husband for always making things extra special ~ he is always concerned with what I want to do and if there is anything else I need to make my day better :)

He did surprised me with a fig tree yesterday ~ which is very meaningful ~ my great- grandmother had a fig tree which she has given pieces to my grandmother & then my mother ~ it has moved around from house to house when my mom moved. It has not been doing very well lately and therefore, I couldn't get a "piece" for my yard. Well, when we were in the car a few weeks back, we passed a road-side-stand with a sign for fig trees for sale. I told my husband about the fig-tree-story and he ended up surprising me with my very own fig tree for Mother's Day!

So sweet! He was concerned that it was not big enough though...

it is just perfect :)