Two years ago

All of her clothes minus the hat, they took it from me.
Layer one
Top layer
Checking out the hole in her split pants

January 2005
January 2007

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Two years ago today we met Ana Claire briefly in the lobby of our hotel. I tried my best to hold back my tears of joy so that I would not scare her. I couldn't believe all those months of waiting, dreaming and wondering, there she was in my arms. God had finally answered my prayers. I had three children. I had my two boys and I finally had my daughter that I thought I would never have. Ten minutes later they were taking her away from me and told us we couldn't have her back until after we went to the civil affairs office. I thought to myself no way, so did the other mother of the family that traveled with us.

We ended up riding on the same bus to the civil affairs office, but we weren't allowed to hold them on the bus. After the girls were taken off the bus, we had to sit there for about 5 minutes until we could go inside. After checking our papers and passports we were united with our daughter forever. It is so hard to believe that it has been two years. God is so good!

Today I was talking to Ana Claire about this special day. I asked her if she would like to go and try the clothes on that she was wearing when we were united for the first time. She was so funny. She asked why were the clothes so little. I told her she was a baby when we got her and she was a big girl now.

She had a couple of layers on. When we were trying the clothes on she noticed that one pair of the pants had a large hole in the crotch of them. Of course she thought the pants just had a big hole in them. I told her these were split pants. This was what children wore in China. They rarely wore panties or diapers. If they had to go potty they just squatted and pottied through the opening. She thought it was very funny. She laughed and said "No they not."

Happy Forever Family Day Ana Claire

We love you!

I love this photo of Ana Claire

A friend of mine took this photo of Ana Claire at a play date a couple of weeks ago. Ana Claire was standing there watching some of the other girls playing. Karen is taking a photography class and wants to take professional photos in the future.

I thought she did a really good job. Her website is:

Karen Epperson

Forever Yours Photo Keepsakes

www.foreveryoursweb.com

Chuck E Cheese and teenagers

Happy Birthday LeAnna

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I can honestly say life is never dull in our home. This weekend Ana Claire and I went to Chuck E Cheese two days in a row. One for a playdate and the other a birthday party. The same evening we let Josh have some friends over and grill burgers and hang out. Dealing with both ends of the spectrum, toddlers to teenagers. Life is never dull. They definitely keep us on our toes.

AC playing in her room

Recently we rearranged AC's room so we could put more of her toys in there. We did this hoping she will want to play in her room more. Her room is upstairs and most of her toys have been downstairs. She is playing in there more but one of us has to be in there with her. Hopefully soon she will see it is a fun place to play.

A Trip to the Dentist

All three kids went and got their teeth cleaned today. Good report that no one had cavities. Ana Claire did not want to have her teeth cleaned and let everyone know. This was her second visit. They just brushed her teeth with her new toothbrush. Maybe next time will be a better experience.

What a BEAUTIFUL weekend

Pretty girls in their panda dresses.
BIG HUG

We're surrounded by pandas.

Ana Claire ready to go.
AC and her baby both have their seatbelts on.
Notice her jeep tag. It has Ana Claire on them. Her friend Aimee gave these to her. I thought that was pretty neat since we spell her name differently that they were able to find her name.
Aimee jumping in for a ride.

We had met Aimee and her mom Teri for lunch at the Red Geranium. It was soooo good. I can't wait to go back.

Getting ready to go ride in the mud.

Clay riding his skateboard

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What a beautiful weekend we had here in the south. We had weather in the 70's in the middle of January. We took full advantage of it. Josh went dirtbike riding with some friends and Clay hung out and rode his skateboard and played around with some of his friends.

Ana Claire and I went for a walk and she drove her jeep. She drove around the neighborhood and then we went down to visit her friend Aimee. Being outdoors felt so good. According to the weather we have cold weather coming our way, so today was very refreshing.

Hannah Grace is finally coming home

Our dear friends, Greg and Stephanie finally after waiting over 100 days got their TA. They will be leaving Friday, January 19th to travel to China to bring their sweet baby home. We can't wait! Ana Claire asks everyday when are they going to get "her" baby. Now she doesn't have to wait too much longer.
If you would like to follow along on their journey, I have posted their blog site below.

http://chinesetreasures.blogspot.com/

Ana Claire loves practicing on her beam

ABC's All about me

ABC'S all about me!
I have been Tagged by Tammy!
A - available or taken: Taken
B- best friend: My husband
C- cake or pie: key lime pie
D- drink of choice: Diet Dr Pepper
E-essential item you use everyday: microwave
F-favorite color: Purple
G-gummy bears or worms: Neither but if I had to choose...Worms
H-hometown: Alabaster
I-indulgence: Chocolate
J-January or February: February (my bday month)
K-kid's names: Josh (15), Clay (12), Ana Claire (3)
L-life incomplete without: Family
M-marriage date: March 28, 1987 (20 years this year)
N-number of siblings: 1 younger sister
O-oranges or apples: Apples
P-phobias or fears: One of my children dying
Q-favorite quote: Live, Laugh, Love
R-reason to smile: My kids
S-season: Fall
T-tag 3 people: Sonya, DeEtte, Lori J
U-unknown fact about me: I have a very small foot, I actually wear kid shoes
V-veggie I don't like: Butter beans
W-worst habit: Second guessing myself
X-xrays: my ribs, my mom hit me with the car accidently while backing out of the garage and insisted that I be xrayed. No broken bones, sure there are more, just can't remember right now
Y-your favorite food: Seafood
Z-zodiac: Aquarius

Holiday Break

We had fireworks on New Years. Ana Claire tried to enjoy herself even if she was running a fever of almost 102.
Josh had a few friends stay over a couple of nights. Here they are being goofy! Notice Clay's hair, this was part of a Halloween costume from a couple of years back.
Here is Greg eating a bowl of rice. I told him to make a funny face while he was eating. This is what I got.
This was Ana Claire's funny face.

Ana Claire and I visited Hannah and DeEtte. The girls had a great time playing with all of Hannah's new toys she got for Christmas.
Anyone home?
Hannah is!
Clay climbed 3 of the 4 walls at the mall. The only one he didn't master was called the expert wall. He went right up the other three, even the hard one. He is our monkey.
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The latter part of our break all three kids started getting sick with Ana Claire being first. We have had a house of runny noses, ear infections, fever, sinus infections, bronchitis and really bad coughs. I guess it is just that time of the year. All three kids are on antibiotics and on the mend.

This crazy weather is making everyone sick. It is supposed to be cold in January. Some of our trees are thinking its spring, since it has been so warm and starting to bloom.