A Catch-up Photo Journal...

So, for the final few weeks before school started, we did  alot of fun things (other than be amazed by natural disasters and the miracle of birth in our home.)  Here are some photos for your enjoyment:

Lilly at Orkney Springs, where Jared spent a week of overnight band camp.  We attended family day at the end of the week to see them perform their field show--fun day!
 

Reunited with Jared after his absence all week.

Lovin' on my Anna

Jared loves this little girl!  Fun to watch him walk around the grounds with Lilly on her shoulders. 
Hmmm...maybe a girl magnet?  Nah, not my Jared.

We had a special visit from one of the families in our adoption travel group, who were passing through VA on their way from FL to NY.  So exciting to see Kim, Michael, Sophia, and Bella and how much these girls have grown since we last saw them in Guangzhou!

The kids and I got to celebrate my brother, Justin's birthday at their home in Ellicott City.  I LOVE living closer to my family and being able to share special days like this!

Justin is officially a "coffee geek" and has his own facebook page called "saturday morning espresso."  He does some amazing latte art.

Here are LIlly and Anna with their cousins, Abby, Delaney, and Elli at the American Girl store in Tysons Corner mall.  We went to their American Girl Bistro for a back-to-school lunch with their dolls.  What fun!

Here's Lilly with her "Baby Kit" Bitty Baby

My sister in law, Lita, with Elli

Delaney and Lilly and their dolls.

Our dossier is officially sent to China...this is one of the last photos we snapped of ourselves as a couple as we still needed some "couple" photos to include in the dossier.  Now we are working on an update to our home study since we've moved...more paperwork and notarizations and fingerprints...ugh.  But we are still somewhat hopeful we could travel late this year or early next year!

My parents and my brother, Doug, joined us for Labor Day weekend.  Here, Nana is giving each of the granddaughters a special teacups from her collection.  They got to choose their favorite two.  So exciting!

Here's my brother, Doug (aka "Uncle Duck") at Justin's house.

Lilly saying thank you for the beautiful tea cups.

Anna loving her Nana.

The delicious 70th birthay dinner for Pap Pap.  Justin and Lita grilled salmon and Joshua made zucchini bruschetta.  Abby made goat cheese-tomato bruschetta.  And the meal was topped off with some yummy lattes!  How fun, once again, to live close enough to get together with my family!!

In addition to fun with family, we began a new school year on 6 September, with Jared starting high school, ANna starting 6th grade, and Lilly starting Kindergarten.  Lots of transitions for all.  Thankfully, Anna and Lilly are at the same elementary school, riding the same bus, which has made it a *little* easier for Lilly to transition to school, but she is still suffering from pretty severe separation anxiety and each morning we are still having tears before school.  Here are some photos from day 1:

Jared, ready to head out into the pre-dawn darkness at 6:15am.  He's been doing great at getting himself up and moving in the morning!  Long days with after-school band practice 3 nights a week...

I hated to wake Lilly on the first day, but now her body clock has adjusted and she is pretty much waking up before I go in to awaken her.

Anna getting ready on day 1.  Her outfit was chosen during our fun shopping outing with her friend Melanie and her mom Catherine back in Florida.  Great memories and a cute look for my growing-up-so-fast girl.

Start the day with a healthy breakfast!

Get those teeth nice and clean!

Ready to go!  New backpacks for both girls (thankfully found one small enough that Lilly can manage it but big enough to hold a folder and her lunch box). 

Waiting for the bus to come!

So glad her sister is with her...

Whole gaggle of kids at our bus stop!

The look of anxiety as the bus pulled up.  Today--day 5 of school--was the first day she boarded the bus with no tears, praise God!



So our first week of school went off well, except on Thursday the rains were so heavy that the roads to the girls' school had flooded and busses couldn't get through.  they were stuck at school until Tom could pick them up in his truck after 6pm...crazy long day!  School was cancelled on Friday becasue the rain was continuing and the roads were still flooded...so it was a long weekend for us, and we got lots done in the house.  Even had some friends over for dinner on Saturday!