10th Briana Day Anniversary

I've been having a difficult time finding time to write on my blog (I have the whole summer to still blog about), but I couldn't let today go by without acknowledging our 10 year Briana/Gotcha Day anniversary.

I can't believe it was 10 years ago today that we met Briana for the very first time...

 I look at these pictures now and I can see how scared and confused she was in those first few moments. She cried and cried and cried. She was also tired, hungry, hot and full of bug bites - so that didn't help the situation.

All I wanted to do was try to show her that Doug and I would do everything in our power to make her feel safe and loved.

When things calmed down a bit later, we could finally see her sweet and happy personality start to shine through...

Briana hiccuping for two minutes (heh)...

Funny thing - she still hiccups all the time. LOL!

And here is the video I made a year after Briana came home chronicling our journey to Briana (you can see when we met Briana for the first time around minute 9)...

China Travel Video from Lisa Lu on Vimeo.

I can't believe Briana has been with us for 10 whole years. And I can't imagine our lives without her now. She is our ray of sunshine (well, most of the time - lol).

I want to wish a Happy 10 year gotcha/family day anniversary to Bri's Dianjiang sisters who also met their families that day too ~ Madison, Leah, Anna and Eva...

 Briana is a shining example that dreams do come true...

We are beyond blessed!

Newport, Rhode Island ~ Day 5, Part 2

My final post. I actually love blogging about my trips because I am able to reminisce about and almost "relive" my experience.

I have to admit - after several days of touring around Newport (and eating way to many delicious meals), we were pooped.

I said to Doug after visiting the last lighthouse, "I am so tired. I don't think I can go one more place or eat one more huge meal." He said, "I'm canceling the reservation and we are just sticking around here." 

There was a bathtub in our suite, so Doug suggested that I take an aromatherapy bath to help me unwind. He had noticed all the available aromatherapy scents at the reception desk. I was against it at first, but then I thought - what the heck. So, I picked out a scent I wanted to use (the de-stress one - sounds like me, right?)...

Then, housekeeping came up and drew the bath for me. She even lit candles! Yikes - I'm never this fancy! It was quite relaxing (though I do have a really hard time turning my mind off because it's always racing!)...

After I freshened up, Doug and I headed down to the hotel restaurant for our last dinner in Rhode Island. Look at all the sun we got...

Our last nighttime view...

Maurice was working that night and we got to thank him and say goodbye...

Doug got a seafood platter...

I went for another pizza...

Doug and I split some lobster bisque (seriously, one of the best I've ever had)...

After dinner, we walked to the fire pit and talked for a little while...

Then it was time to turn in.

We got up in the morning (Day 6), had some breakfast and drove to the airport. When I got in the car at the hotel to head to the airport, I seriously started tearing up. I had such a wonderful time. I didn't feel ready to go home and get back to reality. Of course I missed Bri, but I didn't miss my responsibilities.

Doug gets so busy with work and I get so wrapped up with trying to be "supermom" sometimes, we just don't always find the time to talk and catch up with one another. I told him I was going to miss him because I knew life was about to go back to "normal."

Also, you all know I had experienced some "big time" anxiety toward the end of last year. Sickness spurred all of it and to be honest, I still battle anxiety each and every day. I was very worried I wasn't even going to be able to go on a 20th anniversary trip with the way I had been feeling. Not only did I go, it went perfectly and I had a wonderful time.

Believe me, I don't take for granted how blessed we are to be able to go on an amazing vacation like this. Doug and I will hopefully get to go away again alone together in another 5 years. Not sure how he'll top this trip though. LOL!

When we got home that afternoon, I was super happy to see my sweet girl and give her a big hug.

Thanks for reading along. Now back to your regularly scheduled Briana programming. ;)

Newport, Rhode Island ~ Day 5, Part 1

We weren't super hungry when we woke up on Day 5 of our trip, so we thought that we would hold off a bit on eating and drive over to the Castle Hill Inn to enjoy their delicious brunch.

The Inn was so quaint...

Brunch was served at "The Lawn" restaurant...

Of course, it was right on the water...

There was a little wait, but we were fine with that because we wanted to see the Castle Hill Lighthouse on the property. It was a short walk and we knew we had enough time to go before we were called for a table...

There it was...

Pretty view...

It was very windy that day...

Doug always teases me about my selfie stick, but I can't tell you how many times we used it for outside shots on the trip. It does come in handy! (Even though it might be a bit dorky!)...

We headed back toward the restaurant and waited for our table...

So many sailboats came sailing by. I loved the super colorful ones...

We finally got to our table and the food and view did not disappoint.

Clam chowder...

Doug's lobster burger. He absolutely loved it. Probably his second favorite meal of the trip...

I opted for a chicken salad sandwich...

After lunch, Doug wanted to take me to Goat Island. There is another lighthouse that sits on the property of a hotel.

I didn't snap a picture of the hotel front, but snagged one from the internet. It used to be a Hyatt as you can see...

It is now Gurney's Newport Resort. We walked through the lobby to the back of the hotel to get outside. Lots of construction was going on.

Below is "Pineapples On The Bay" restaurant. We didn't stop for a drink there, but I've heard good things about it...

If you look above, you can see the whole hotel is being remodeled. I believe it has been worked on for a few months now, but boy it has a lot of work still to be done on it. It's very outdated. People were actually staying there. I wouldn't have - there was a ton of loud, annoying construction going on.

It does have a pretty view though...

And I guess these are the actual goats of Goat Island...

We sat in some Adirondack chairs and looked at the lighthouse. You can see behind me a yellow building. It is part of the hotel I believe. Pretty outdated...

Newport Harbor Lighthouse...

We could also see the Rose Island Lighthouse from where we were...

Since I am on the subject of lighthouses, we also spotted the Plum Beach Lighthouse on our drive crossing the Newport bridge...

My useful selfie stick coming in handy again...

I'm a lucky girl...

After visiting Goat Island, Doug wanted to visit one more lighthouse.

Newport sits on Aquidneck Island. We drove over the bridge from Aquidneck Island to Conanicut Island to visit the Beavertail Lighthouse...

It was so windy everyday, the kite flying was everywhere...

The lighthouse museum closed at 3 and we arrive around 2:50. Heh...

We were able to go in a walk around for a few minutes. They left it open about 10 minutes longer than they were supposed to and that was nice...

They finally kicked us out closed the museum, and we looked around outside...

Another amazing ocean view...

Instead of enjoying a day full of mansions, we ended up enjoying a day full of lighthouses (just like when we were in Maine). I love visiting lighthouses.

We had another dinner reservation at the wharf (compliments of Kate), but when we got back to the hotel, we realized we were just too tired to head out again. We opted for a quiet evening at the hotel instead.