Mid-Autumn Moon Festival{Sept. 8, 2014}

 

Our sweet adoptive friends hosted a fantastic Mid-Autumn Moon Festival party at their beautiful home last night.  This was the first Chinese celebration that Ruby was home with us for and it was so special to celebrate with her.  It was also the first time she wore her pretty dress we bought her in China- she was so sweet!  She loves to go places and loves new experiences- she is actually happier when we are doing these things- so she had a great time!  So did the other kids- I vividly remember being at this same celebration last year and just staring at the other little baby girl that came home from China a year before we went and imagining what it would be like the following year when I had my little one in my arms.  I do that a lot since we have been home.  It is such a dream that she is here now- we can't believe how lucky we are to have her as part of our family.  It was definitely more special for our older kiddos to have their baby sister at this festival too.  They doted on her and wanted her to be part of all the activities.  We are so fortunate to have met this supportive group of adoptive families in our town.  I don't know what I would do without them- I look forward to watching all of the little ones grow and thrive... and hopefully there will be more families that join the group as the years go by!

Ruby's first 4th of July {2014}

We had such a fun 4th of July!  It was Ruby's first of course(as an American citizen) and naturally she had no idea what all the hoop-la was about but she was a good sport and seemed to have a really fun day with us.  She made it through our little party in the evening but then headed to bed so she missed the fireworks(and then, so did I!).

"Are you done with this photo shoot yet mama??" :)

 The kids walked around the block and delivered some patriotic treats to their buddies in the morning.

 Then we tested out the new patio set and ate our traditional red, white and blue pancake breakfast outside.  It was a beautiful day out!

 Poor peanut can't eat pancakes yet but hopefully by next year she'll have a big plate of her own in front of her!  She ate her usual bowl of oatmeal with mashed up bananas instead. :)

After John and the kids got home from watching the fireworks in Moorhead, the kids did some sparklers- we let them stay up late and do this every year.  It's always something they look forward to.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Mid Autumn Moon Festival

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sept. 25th we got together with the families we have met in town that have also adopted from China.  Every year they get together to celebrate the Mid Autumn Moon Festival(we were a week late but not a big deal!) and this year we were so happy and grateful to be included in the festivities!  The kids had a blast- we had a delicious meal, moon pies, craft time-the kids made their own Chinese lanterns, and then they all went on a lantern parade around the block.  It was really something seeing all of the kids together on the parade- there were 12 kids between all of us there- running around with glowing lanterns.  They loved it and the parents loved watching them.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love Cinco de Mayo around here!  I really wanted to have another big party this year but tomorrow is our home visit by our social worker for our home study and the day was spent cleaning.  Also- parties are expensive!  So hopefully we can bring it back next year- I know everyone had a great time last year and the kids love it so I really want to try and make it an annual event if possible.
We still celebrated today though- bean tacos, margaritas, homemade spanish rice by Mary Beth and John(it was delicious!) and homemade tortillas from our local authentic Mexican store La Unica.  Sooooo good!  It was a fun night and a very busy cleaning day but we are all ready for our final home study meeting and excited to move along in our adoption process!