Hello There...

...to anyone out there who may actually still be checking in from time to time.:o) We are still around, though our old computers are not. Note I say computers...plural. My laptop died quite a while back and Robert's computer finally took a dive a few weeks ago. But we are now up and running again and Robert is loving his new MAC! Several of his friends convinced him it was the way to go and he seems to be very happy with it...I love the 24" monitor.:o) Anyway, now that I also have a new computer (not a mac though), it has some features on it that make it very easy to get pictures uploaded and organized which in turn will make it much easier for me to get them up on my blog.:o) Here are a few and I hope to update with more very soon.

These were taken at a park while we were on vacation in Oregon. Robert was doing a photo shoot with my cousin Lisa so I took a few shots of Lily while she was being somewhat cooperative.:o)

That smile just lights up my world.

Back on August 12th Lily went from a crib to a big girl bed! We had been talking about it for weeks and she was so excited. She has done so well with it. She only fell out one time on the first night and not once since then. It took her a while to figure out that she could get up on her own in the morning...now she has no problem with that.:o)

Look Who's 3!

On Saturday, August 15th, we celebrated Lily's 3rd birthday. I can't believe it. Didn't we just come home from China and celebrate her 1st birthday? I don't know what is going on with time, but it's just going by ridiculously fast. We had our friends and family over for the celebration and we all had a fun time. Lily got a little overwhelmed with all of the people and presents, but for the most part, she did pretty well.

This was her present from mommy and daddy...a ladybug car. How could we pass up a ladybug car?? During her party she was so sweet and showed her best friend Rachel how to use it too.

Great-Grandma, Grandma (Lao-Lao) and Auntie Jenny with baby Sara.

Lily wondering what to do with all of these presents!

Aunt Paula, Larry and Auntie Ellen watching the fun.

Mommy helping Lily open her presents. After the first one, she was so excited she ran right into the living room to play with it. I guess it is kind of mean to have a child open a present and then take it away from them to make them open the next one! Anyway, I ended up finishing the gift-opening for her.:o)

Kitchen Littles! She LOVES these. Every time we go over to our friend Mantha's house, she makes a bee-line right for these toys and plays with them for hours. She was so excited when she saw these!

A girl can never have too many clothes!

A brand new tea set from Lao-Lao. She loves to make us tea and coffee.

This is Kai-lan from the show Nihao Kai-lan. It's kind of like Dora the Explorer, except kids learn Mandarin, Chinese instead of Spanish. She is so cute!

3-D sidewalk chalk! I can't wait to try this. I'm not sure what my nervous expression is about...hmmmm.

Lily sharing her new toys with her friends.

I think someone is ready for cake!

As per Lily's request...a flower cake with M&M's.

She started trying to blow out her candles before we even finished singing!

Blowing out her 3 candles.

Mantha and Rachel.

Mike and Jenny.

Mmmm....I think she likes it!

Sean and Marley...Rachel's' daddy and baby sister.

Flowers, bugs and M&M's were the theme of the day. I had so much fun making these party favors for her friends.

These dirt cups were another special treat. They were so easy to make and came out so cute. Almost too cute to eat....almost.:o)

Mommy and daddy love you sooooooo big baby girl. You are a blessing to us each and every day and we are continuously thankful to God who in His infinite wisdom decided we were worthy to be your parents. I don't know what we did to deserve you, but we will cherish and treasure you always. Happy birthday to the sweetest girl I know.

A Lovely Surprise

Waaaaay back on Sunday, May 3rd, we threw a surprise ??????th birthday party for my mother-in-law. Robert's sister and I had a lot of fun planning and preparing and not so much fun sweating it out hoping no one would spill the beans (especially Lily who was very much in on it). Lily didn't talk to Nai Nai very much before her party! After throwing something like this, I've grown a whole new respect for wedding and party planners. Anyway, she was surprised and I think she had a great time.:o)

One of the tables set up in our backyard.

A beautiful shot taken by a very special photographer we hired for the day.
(I hope he wasn't expecting to get paid though!)

It was a tea party theme so we had lots of sandwiches, salads, cheese trays and yummy snacks.

The coffee, tea and water table.

We did mini cupcakes for dessert and made a special cupcake holder for Jewell's.

Jewell's niece, Cheryl, flew in from Arizona. I think that surprised her more than anything!

After the initial surprise, we hit her again with another one...

...all of her friends surprising her as she walked into the kitchen.

Aunt Paula and Lily...I just love this picture.

Lily with my mom, Lao Lao. I think Lily was having a good time!

Jewell's good friend Edy reading a special poem she had written just for the occasion.

Robert's sister Ellen and her friend Jon-Marc who we hired to help for the party. Not only was he a great help, but he was also a very popular guest.;o)

Lily helping herself to some food.

Cheryl made Jewell a very special scrapbook for her birthday. They actually share the same birthday, although there are a few years between them.:o)

Jewell with her friend Dori...the Cuban firecracker!

The whole gang.

What better gift to give a grandma than pictures of her granddaughter? Gift giving sure has gotten easier since Lily came along.:o)

The Sweetest Thing

Ain't she just?

I Wish...

I wish I didn't feel so helpless
I wish I didn't act so selfish
I wish I didn't wring my hands night and day
My hair was a little bit smoother
My jeans fit a little bit looser
And I always knew the right things to say
And I wish I wouldn't hide what's been going on inside
And I wish you wouldn't get scared and run away

Chorus
I wish I was doing better
With all the things that matter,
I guess I got some learning to do
I wish everyone had someone
To hold em and to love em
The way I'm always gonna love you
I wish wishes came true

I was there was a cure for cancer
I wish somebody had an answer
And all God's children, never got hurt
I wish Eve never bit that apple
You men never went to battle
And I didn't get so mad at the world
I wish I was more like Jesus
And could pick up all the pieces
And make a better life for my baby girl

Chorus
I wish I was doing better
With all the things that matter,
I guess I got some learning to do
I wish everyone had someone
To hold em and to love em
The way I'm always gonna love you
I wish wishes came true

For everything I am wishing
I know someone up there is listening
So, I say my prayers when I go to bed
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Oh pray my wishes come true
Oh

Chorus
I wish I was doing better
With all the things that matter,
I guess I got some learning to do
I wish everyone had someone
To hold em and to love em
The way I'm always gonna love you
I wish wishes came true

I know wishes come true
I wish, I wish



More pictures coming soon!

She Colors My Day

A beautiful song for a beautiful girl.




here and now i'm going to stay
in her world i'm going to play
rolling in her cartwheels,
feeling just like she feels
lost inside her curls and her sun rays

she colors my day
in red, pink, blue and shades of grey
whenever we play, she colors my day

in the night she's a flashlight
in her skin i end and begin

to a smile that's always dreaming
to a song that's always scheming
to hands that hold my own
like warm sun rays

she colors my day
in red, pink, blue and shades of grey
whenever we play, she colors my day
in a green and violet skirt
she magically plays
she colors my day

i need her light - she's warm, she's cold she feels just right

she's my best friend - she takes,
she gives, it just never ends

i feel so real - in like, in love
i'm head over heels

she's my best girl - she runs, she jumps she spins and she
twirls

— written by cristina carlino and stuart mathis, produced by stuart mathis

Time is Flying...

...because we are having fun! I can't believe that two years ago on May 1st we received the news that we finally had a daughter. Two years! What happened? Where did it go? Our little girl is growing up right before our eyes. And she is just that... a little girl. My baby is nothing more than glimpses seen on rare moments now. I fully appreciate the statement heard so many times from my own mom..."You will always be my baby". No matter how old Lily is, she will always be just that...our baby.

Meet Jumpy Squirrel. He is a frequent visitor to our backyard as he loves feeding off the fallen seeds from our bird feeder. He got his name from Lily's favorite show, Curious George. Jumpy is fun to watch...especially when our cat (Stella) and dog (Shayna) are trying to chase him out of the yard! This is one brave fellow and Lily just loves him.

One of Lily's favorite things to do with a PB & J...smash it all over her face to make a "mustache" and then ask for a mirror to see her work.

Asking for the mirror...

Proudly displaying her work for the camera.

Yesterday Lily had a play date with her best friend Rachel (we just love that she calls Rachel her best friend!). We went to the mall fully expecting just a nice leisurely lunch and a stroll. Lily and I got there first...and then she saw it...a water fountain to run in on a very warm day, ever so gently calling her name. Lunch ended up not being what I expected...it was even better.

This is my absolute favorite picture of the day...the joy on the faces of two little girls having a great time together. Precious.

Can you believe this? This from a little girl who at one time would scream her head off when we rinsed her hair in the bath tub. Those days are definitely over!

There must be some perfect caption for this shot...I just can't think of anything right now!