LB's GOTCHA Day

LOOK at LB reaching for Xian's hair!!!

How can 5 years have flown by already?

On May 24nd, we celebrated FIVE glorious years since Miss Lily Bean has been in our lives. I vividly remember the emotions I felt as we awaited the escorts to walk them (there were 2 babies being escorted home) off the plane. When LB’s plane landed in Omaha, there apparently was an announcement on the plane before people disembarked. The steward announced that there were 2 babies on the plane that were meeting their forever families for the first time. As people came down that hallway, I wondered why so many of them gawked at us (with our full array of AV equipment) and stopped and waited. We didn’t know an announcement had been made on the plane. WHY didn’t they let these escorts & babies out first then?? :)

Anyway, it seemed to take an eternity and finally here they came! Through the tears, I could make out two babies. We were all shaking and nervous and excited – overwhelmed! Finally, I knew which baby was mine… the beautiful lady escorting her graciously handed her over to me and hugged me tightly. As we tried to soak in the moment, Lily was only interested in ONE thing = Christian’s hair! We figure she had probably never seen blonde, curly hair before.
The other travelers were surrounding us – many were cheering and there were lots of tears... very special!

I’ll save the rest of the novel I could write about what Lily has brought to our lives – all good!!!
We love you dear Lily!

End of the school year

AT LAST!!!!!!!!!

Usually isn't it supposed to be the student who looks forward to this day the most... not in this household! Ugh... this last week has been torture.

I'm so excited to be able to sleep in (for Mimi this means roughly 8 a.m.) and stay up late and no schedules and making time to do things we WANT to do vs. NEED to do.

LB had her pre-K "moving up ceremony" yesterday... very cute! We're definitely going to miss the teachers and some friends we've made there.

This morn, Xian had his Honor's Award Ceremony. He - almost - made straight A's this year (a first)!!! He got a "B" in band!

We started this school year out w/o Daddy and now ended it today w/o Daddy... I pray, for my kids' sake, that this status changes for next school year.

L&M's Ballet Recital

The girls had their ballet recital tonight. PIX & VIDEO BELOW...

Mimi is a graceful, floating swan who can already do point ballet (on her tiptoes).

I would liken Lily to a cutely-dressed lumberjack! She would rather be skateboarding! SO funny!

Xian's (Final) Band Concert

Christian played in what may be his very last band concert. That is unless he gets accepted into percussion next school year. He is officially done w/ the trumpet; just not his ‘thing!’ He'll be taking more guitar lessons this summer.

However, the 6th grade Spring Concert was last week and it was truly amazing to listen to how far they’ve progressed throughout the school year! They were awesome!

When passing out awards, you can see that Christian is nearly as big as the 2 band directors and head & shoulders above the other students! Everyone in the audience got a chuckle over the size different between him and the kid next to him!

Happy Mother's Day

I truly have the B E S T mom in the world!

I could definitely write an entire thesis on what she means to me, but I'll leave it at that.

I'm blessed beyond measure to have her and likewise, to be able to be a mother to my 3 darlings is a treasure I (try to) cherish everyday... somedays are harder than others :)

No really, considering the fact that I didn't really know I even wanted children, I am so honored to be their mom!

They made this Mother's Day poster for me and adapted this song (see pic & video below.)

Adoption Celebration 2009

We are so blessed to be able to attend the annual Bethany Presbyterian Korean Church’s Adoption Celebration! We look forward to this every year!

We’ve developed friendship there now that I cherish as it gives me insight into their culture that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. We love this church and only wish it was a little closer so we could attend more frequently!

The speaker had a powerful pro-adoption, pro-life message. As a blind child, she was abandoned by her mother at a busy market in Korea. She was eventually adopted by a blind couple here in the US. She had an inspirational, tear-jerking, heart-tugging story!!! She also sang a song and had a tremendous voice! What a woman!!!!

Photo Shoot

What fun we had a couple of weeks ago when the girls were involved in a photo shoot for ‘Paisley & Posies,’ a local boutique. (I don't think she has this shoot uploaded yet.)

Not only is the owner of this shop beyond talented, the photographers (Sugar Snap Photography,) are beyond amazing! I’ve admired their work for years!
We went into downtown ATL to a funky area known as Little Five Points; super cool area!!!! Not necessarily kid-friendly, but the graffiti’d walls that were used as backdrops were awesome!! The work can be seen on Etsy, too.

It was late in the aftn when the shoot started, so the girls were wiped out by the time it was done!

PS - these are just my snapshots from this day, certainly not the photographers shots. I'll post those later.