Summer Vacation Wrap Up

Well, we have definitely kept busy the last couple of days before school starts (tomorrow).

We visited my sister and two nephews on Thursday. Briana got to hold and help feed cousin N...

Friday, Gramma and Papa came over to our neighborhood to go swimming to celebrate Papa's birthday (which was on Saturday)...

We had to go to one of the other pools in our neighborhood due to "contamination" in the pool near my house. It takes about 24 hours to decontaminate the pool. (I'm sure I don't have to explain what kind of contamination it was.) But the other pool is beautiful too - just doesn't have the bells and whistles the one close to my house has, but Miss B got to swim so that is all that mattered...

She had a blast...

She started hiding under the towels because she is so sick of having her picture taken...

After swimming, we came back to my house for sandwiches and a pineapple upside down cake for Papa's birthday...

And Papa opened some gifts...

Saturday evening, Doug, Bri and I went to a BBQ at our friends Khalid and Ansu's house and visited with Miss Kira...

They had several college friends in town (they all get together every year), so Doug and I got to meet all of their friends and Bri got to play with their kids. They were all about the same age as Briana and she was in heaven...

Monday was our Gotcha Day anniversary...

She opened a couple of small gifts from me and from Gramma. Gramma gave her the HK panda pencil pouch and I got her the little panda in the middle and the China girl nesting dolls...

It was also school orientation day. Briana met her teacher (who seems very nice) and found out one of her good buddies was in her class. She was a very happy camper.

That evening, we tried out a different Asian Bistro for dinner than we usually go to. Briana dined on goyza and long noodles...

Doug and I opted for sushi...

And the best part, stopping after dinner at Menchie's for frozen yogurt with lots of toppings...

Today we had one final play/lunch date with friend Mary Lin and now the day is almost over.

School starts tomorrow...

I'm going to miss this little munchkin when she goes back to school. She had quite the summer ~ swimming, sliding, play dates, shopping, camps, roller skating, bowling, jumping, vacationing, boating, firework watching, blueberry picking, sleepovers, partying and she even got a brand new baby cousin. 

I think we had a very successful summer vacation. Don't you?

5th Briana Day Anniversary

5 years ago today, this beautiful baby girl was placed in our arms.

(To view our China Travel/Briana Day video visit -
http://gotchadayvideo.com/medium/)

We became a family of three on July 30, 2007...

Briana was hot, terrified, exhausted, covered in sweat and bug bites and she cried and cried...

That moment was filled with a mix of emotions - excitement, happiness, joy, love, overwhelming fear...

We tried to comfort...

And managed to get a couple of smiles out of her at the registration office...

Once we got all the paperwork signed, we were finally back on the bus and Miss B was so happy to be out of that noisy atmosphere. I gave her a bottle and she fell asleep...

Back at the hotel was the moment of calm and peacefulness that we had waited for to soak in the moment...

She awoke with a few more smiles...

Many people say on the first night to let children sleep in the clothes they came in so they can feel more comfortable and secure. But, Briana's dress was two sizes too big with a huge knot tied in the back so it would stay on. And she was so sweating so badly. The dress needed to come off. Doug and I gave Bri a quick sponge bath and stuck her in some jammies...

She was so exhausted, she fell asleep the entire night...

I couldn't stop looking at her. The beautiful girl that we had waited for so long was finally with us.

Back To School Shopping and Bowling

Yes, this is Miss B checking herself out in the mirror. She is such a hoot!

Monday, Bri and I met my mom at the mall for a little back to school shopping. B did walk away with this adorable purple sparkly cardigan...

She enjoyed a few 50 cent rides...

And loved eating lunch with Gramma...

Tuesday, Bri and I met Suzanne and Matthew at the bowling alley. Bowling was one of the items we hadn't scratched off our summer bucket list yet. Bri had a ball (literally)!

We all stopped at Moe's for some food and we ended up chit chatting for several hours. The kids played on our phones and Bri's iPad...

We hadn't had a chance to get together with Suzanne and Matthew all summer, so I am so glad we were able to spend time with them before Briana's starts school. 

School starts this Wednesday! Ack!!!

Professional Photo Shoot With Portraits By Julie

You might remember that I mentioned in my "Fairly Quiet Week" post that Briana had a photo session with my friend Julie. I have been friends with Julie since we were 13 years old. She started a photography business several years ago. I had seen some beautiful pictures that she had taken in front of a barn and in a sunflower patch. This is the time of year that the sunflowers bloom, so I booked a session.

I couldn't be happier! The photos are so beautiful and I am sharing them with you.

I know Bri is my kid, but she just takes my breath away.

Here is Julie's website for you Georgia folk ~

http://portraitsbyjulie.com
 

And how can you not take a picture with beloved Pink Baby?

I love that J was able to capture all the many expressions of my sweet 5 (almost 6) year old girl.