Obviously I have been so behind (as usual) in blogging. This summer has been extremely busy and now here we are into the schoolyear. Where does the time go? In July the group that we traveled with in China met up in Pigeon Forge, TN. The Cirque de Chine Show performers sent out a notice that they were have a reunion of sorts for families with adopted children from China. One of the members of our group who lives in TN sent the notice out to us and we decided to make it a reunion time of our own.
We had such a great time. The theatre had activites set up during the day on Saturday that consisted of Chinese games and crafts, then they served an authentic Chinese food buffet followed by the Cirque de Chine show, which was wonderful. The most incredible part of the weekend though was getting our girls together and watching them interact after this last year and a half. 
It was amazing to see all of there little personalities and see how they had all changed and become these active, independent little girls.
All of them now with families and some with their siblings. It was just great. 
At the theatre on Saturday a woman approached me and started asking some questions. Come to find out she was from the local paper and Zoey ended up on the front page with one of the other girls baby sister. 
It was so neat! We had about 20 people approach us and ask me if I had rolled Zoey's hair, she definitely was the ONLY one with curly hair. She is absolutely one of a kind.
These were some of the performers that would let the children have their pictures made with them. They actually did a big group picture on stage after the show, but Zoey pitched a fit so she and Madison didn't make it into that one.
Madison picking up marbles with chopsticks.
These drummers were amazing! They performed several times throughout the show and Zoey would drum right along with them, it was too cute!
Where has the time gone? Of course I've said that on every single one of Madison's birthdays too and she just turned 9. 
We just did a family celebration for both of the girls. Madison wanted to go to Alabama Adventure on her birthday, May 23rd, so we went and she took a friend. It poured down rain the whole day (that's why there are no pictures because our camera is not waterproof), but she had fun anyway. For Zoey we went to the park and had a picnic, then came home played in the baby pool and then had cake. For her it was the perfect day, spending it all outside, her favorite place to be. Too bad the heat index now is 105 because it is too hot to go outside unless you have a pool, which we do not. 
Zoey can't wait until she can get up there and boogie too. I think she'll be doing backflips and handsprings though. During the video Madison is the third from the right, if you can tell.
I can't believe she is about to be in the fourth grade! Where have the last nine years gone? 
We were under tornado warnings twice last week, with thunderstorms and hail both days as well. This small hail sounded like bullets hitting the windows of the house.
After a day of rain and storms on Friday night into Saturday, we woke up Sunday morning March 1st to this.
This was Zoey's first time in the snow (aside from her time in China and we didn't let her play in it then). 
She didn't know what to think at first, but then loved it! 
She ate some and then tried to share some with us. 
When I made her go in to get warm you would have thought I stole her ice cream cone, she was devastated. 
I did let her go back out for a little while, but she was a popcicle. This is our snowman, sadly he can't eat, speak, hear, see, feel, or smell because our plan was to finish him after lunch, but he fell over and died before we got back outside.
Of course the snow was completely gone by 3:00 in the afternoon, but it was really fun while it lasted!
I hadn't been in years and Suzanna had never been before. 
We had a really good time and the girls got to meet some of the circus stars before the show started which they loved (sorry the pictures are so small). 
The show hasn't changed that much, but some things are different. There was no trapeeze, instead there were alot of acrobats on different swinging objects and the clowns were scary. They did alot of magic tricks. The next morning we went to a Chinese festival at Boutwell Auditorium to celebrate Chinese New Year. 
We got to watch the Dragon Dance and follow in a parade of children. 
We also got to watch some Chinese dance, eat Chinese food, and look at different items from China. There was also someone there from Ed's Pet World with these snakes. We were going to take my picture with one when he put them both around my neck. 
Next thing I know that are getting tangled in my hair! 
The girls, especially Madison, was so grossed out. Anyway it was a really fun and interesting day!
