Just Happy.

This picture deserves its own post.  Not because I look so beautiful "au naturelle", but because it represents the happiest I've ever seen Gracie.  Gracie always exudes joy, but this week on vacation...she was just happy.  I don't know if I can really explain the difference, and it was subtle... but I saw it.  This was the first time since she has come home that we were all in the same place for an extended period of time.  We didn't get in the car for entire week, and she loved it!  She loved spending time with her family and even though she only got one nap the entire week, she was sweet and pleasant.

I think this is the first time she ever fell asleep on me like this :)

Vacay, cont...

I'm just going to warn you...there are lots of pics in this post. I have got to get the rest of these posted so I can move on!!

 If you know anything about my girls, you would assume that Gracie is my brave child and Wesleigh is more timid about new things. That would seem to make more sense, but it's actually not the way it is! Wesleigh is much more adventurous than Gracie at this point. Wesleigh was so excited to go on this slide. Cade brought her up thinking he would go down with her, but when they made it to the top he found out they would not let them go at the same time! He ended up going down first so he could wait for her at the bottom. Wesleigh was not upset one bit. She let the worker at the top give her a shove and down she went! She got out of the pool and walked straight back to the stairs to do it again!! She must have gone down this slide about 15 times! About half of those times she didn't have enough momentum to make it to the bottom so she had to push herself to the end and jump off...so cute! Once the counselors knew her a little better, they would almost throw her down the slide a bit so she would go fast enough to reach the end. She loved it!!

 So what did Gracie say when we asked if she wanted to go? "No way! Scaaawwwwy!" lol...















My goofball Cade.


Lori and her new friend Gracie Joy!  Lori....I lub your flowers!!  lol...


Hudson was such a cutie taking these pics!  At first, he acted like we were torturing him, but then he didn't want to get up!  He just sat there grinning surrounded by all those girls!  lol...


Three spicy Hunan girls!!  I think they resemble each other...although I have no idea where Gracie's wavy hair comes from :)




Cade and Trey...a friendship that began in China over 2 years ago (see next pic).


Cade and Trey in Guangzhou.  Love their shirts :)


We have been loving summer and spending lots of pool days with friends.  That is my favorite thing to do in the summer!  We are busy too, though and I know summer will be gone before we know it!  Time just goes too fast!!!  I haven't figured out how to slow it down yet though!!!  Hope you are all having a fun summer!!

Nerf Heaven

If you've ever been to my house, you know that my upstairs is kind-of known for its nerf wars. The boys own a whole arsenal of Nerf weapons and they love nothing more than to turn all the lights off and go for it! One of the activities at Kamp was a huge nerf war...so fun! The big boys got to stay after this war for an older (more serious) war :)

Bryce takes these things very seriously :)

 I've never seen so many nerf guns and bullets in one place...they were everywhere! In fact, Bryce said they only let the big kids have some extra fights so they could get them to help clean up :) lol...

Summer Fun

We're Back!!

I didn't share before we left, but we just got back from Kanakuk's family camp!  Last Saturday was the girls' revue and Braden was playing in his baseball State tournament.  As soon as his team lost Sunday, we hit the road for Missouri!  We were 2 days late getting there, but that's as good as we could do.

What a great vacation!  We went because we wanted to spend time with a family that we became friends with in China on our first trip, and also got to meet Lori and her precious family!!  I have been following Lori's blog since she traveled to pick up sweet Rachel (who waits now for a heart transplant).  Lori has made me sob more than any other blogger.  Her heart is as big as they come and getting to know her was a special treat!

I am still going through all the vacation pics, but here are a few:

Lori, Stacy, and I. These Hope shirts are available here to help support sweet Rachel! You can also read Rachel's story there.


Our expanded families. Since the original trip to bring home Isabella and Wesleigh, 3 more children have come home from China between the two of us!

Stacy, Isabella, Wesleigh and I in China, 2009
  


 Isabella and Wesleigh today! What a difference 2 years and lots of love makes!!!
 


 Add the McCary crew:
 


 That's alot of sweet Chinese children! 7 girls and 1 boy!!


 Sweet Rachel:
 


 The McCary's brought Rachel home not knowing if she would be operable or not. She has had major heart surgery, but the doctors say she needs a brand new heart. This family is waiting for the call that tells them their daughter will get a second chance at life. Rachel was so sweet. She is very matter-of-fact about the fact that she's waiting for a new heart. I am so humbled by her spirit and zest for life!