Exercise?

Even home school students need recess but I'm not sure this counts as exercise.

This was more of what I had in mind...lol

Favorite Photo Friday

Do you think the story still ends the same when read upside down?lol

First Day-First Grade-Follies

Today was DD's first day in 1st Grade. How can that possibly be?  It just doesn't seem real.   Oh how I'd love to keep them small for just a few more years....Oh well...enough of that.  I've already been there and done that twice and I know how fast time flies so I'll just have to enjoy each day as it comes.  However....If these pictures are any indication of how our year is going to go...We may be in BIG trouble! LOL  They were SOOOOO silly!  (Just like little girls are supposed to be.)

Actually, Desheng Darling worked very hard today. She's so eager to learn.  It was Mama Darling who was ready for RECESS! lol

Celebrating Gotcha Day-2 Years!

August 20, 2007

August 20, 2009

So much has changed! The fear that once filled those little eyes is gone, replaced by a sparkle of confidence and happiness. Those quiet, sad, pouty little lips, once a prominent part of DB’s appearance are seldom ever seen. Instead we see a beautiful smile, followed by a precious giggle and questions…more questions…and more questions (although most of them are “Why?”) We’re no longer strangers like we were 2 years ago on that hot day in China, but now we’re a family connected by an indescribable love. Doodlebug has been such a blessing.... especially to DD. They are constant companions and best friends. DB seems to provide DD with the tremendous amount of attention she craves and is happy to do it. What a blessing!!!

Doodlebug is our “Girly-Girl”. She loves jewelry, make-up, frilly dresses, high-heel shoes, pony tails and kittens. We bought her this 

 “gotcha-day” kitten charm in a store filled with girly stuff.

I think she could have stayed in there all day!

Next, it was off to the mall to buy something from the Disney store.

Doodlebug decided on a cat….just like the one she bought last year! As a matter  of fact, she chose a “kitten charm” last year too. This girl loves cats!   

As you can tell, DD is more into the "fairy stage" right now.
Sister Darling was able to leave her job and join us for lunch. The girls were thrilled that she came to help us celebrate. Lastly....THE CAROUSEL! 

Notice Doodlebug's ride...A CAT! 

DD and DB have been the best mid-life crisis decisions we’ve made thus far….

Happy Gotcha Day, Doodlebug! We love you.

Summer Reading Program Success

(The last picture taken of Desheng Darling with all of her front teeth.)

After all of the tooth excitement, DD and DB went to a special carnival at the library to celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program. The children participating in the program earned tickets based on the number of books they read during the months of June and July. DD read approximately 220 books and received 195 tickets! There were lots of games and activities at the carnival. Each one REQUIRED ONLY 1 TICKET!!! Needless to say, we ran out of energy LONG before we ran out of tickets!

Doodlebug loved the limbo!They both enjoyed "dunking" the volunteer!Time for a little lolli-pop picking!And "ringing" the octopus.And before leaving...they both had to have their fingernails painted! The good times continued when the girls got home with a visit from Sister Darling and a little fun in the sun. (We can always count on Doodlebug for the latest in swimsuit fashions!) lol

What's Missing?

Notice anything different about DD? Yep, there's a tooth missing. After days of wiggling it back and forth and refusing assistance from Mama D and Daddy D, Desheng Darling's tooth finally came out while she was eating breakfast. She just looked at us and calmly asked, "Is this what a tooth looks like?" She was holding a little tooth and smiling from ear to ear as if she had accomplished something amazing! It's hard to believe how fast she is growing up.