CNY Festival, in Pictures...

Game Time

Sorry!

They like this revenge based game, hmmm... wonder why? :o)

and now...

The look of concentration.Whew, successful so far...

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Happy Birthday Dinner at Red Lobster... The Admiral's Feast! (She loves seafood!)

Next stop:
Build A Bear Workshop...Hannah is in Bear Heaven.

She chose Hello Kitty, with a singing happy birthday voice box.Perfectly fluffy, lovable, and hugggable!Bringing Kitty home. Hello Kitty, and Hannah's {homemade} cake!

Don't laugh she loved it!!Kitty Dressed for the Party!

Her cousins came over to enjoy the cake and to share her birthday.

Hannah,

You are our sweet, wonderful daughter & sister.

We are overjoyed you are here with us, Forever!

Happy First Birthday! #8
With Our Deepest Love,

Mommy, Daddy and Jacob
**************************************************

Dear Hannah-
I know we haven’t met yet, but I feel like I know you because your Mom has shared you with me from the very beginning through email and pictures.
Today is a really special day for you…..your first birthday with your forever family! I hope it is a wonderful day and I hope all your wishes come true!
Happy Birthday, Hannah!
Love,
Marcy

Happy Birthday, Hannah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
much love,
Nicole

Hi Hannah ,
We're wishing you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
may all your dreams come true and more .
Love and hugs,
Faith Meng and family

Happy Birthday Hannah!!!

From, The Mei Girls & Moms

The First Family, Family First!

The 44th President of the United States of America!

This has nothing to do with adoption, ... but we Love, Love Kurt Warner the QB for the Arizona Cardinals!

Super Bowl XLIII, Here we come!

Happy New {Dossier} Year!

It is official we are adopting again!!!

We have just completed our 2nd Dossier for another Chinese adoption. We are awaiting a referral from our Agency for a son, a daughter or both!
What is this?

This is our Dossier (french word, pronounced Doss-ee-ay).
This is the beginning to adoption. It is affectionately called the "Paper Pregnancy" in the adoption community.
Dossier {definition}: When used in the context of adoption, this term refers to a set of appropriately translated legal documents, County notarized, State certified and Chinese Consulate authenticated that tells a story about your life...who, where, what and when you were and are today. These documents are used in international adoption cases to process the adoption of a child in his/her own country by the adoptive parents. This happens during the parents travel & stay in a foreign country. The minimum in~country stay to finalize an adoption in China is currently {approximately} two weeks. After that,...then the family may return with their adopted child to the United States, for Happily Ever After. :o)

~

It was a year ago today that we completed Hannah's Dossier for her adoption... and wow, time sure flies... she has been home with us for six months. We have had a very Blessed 2008 as a family and we can only Pray our family will be so Blessed in 2009 and beyond.

Happy New Year's to everyone & best wishes for a bountiful of Blessings from our family to yours.

Happy Forever Family Anniversary!

We adopted Hannah only 6 short months ago, and it already feels like a life time. Jacob was recalling a past moment (two years ago) and referred to Hannah as "being there"... Wow! It seems like she was always here with us, even for her brother! I think that is wonderful and it certainly sums up "Forever Family"!Civil Affairs Office, Guangdong China 7/01/08

My New Sister...(summer 2008)

Fast~forward.......................................

Hannah and Jacob... Typical brother and sister! ;o)

Merry First Christmas!

It was a Great Christmas, full of laughter, joy and family.

Two happy kids that couldn't wait for Christmas morning...

Hannah almost jumped out of her dress when she saw all the Barbie dolls that Santa had brought...

... and Jacob was hamming it up like he always does. :o)

He had to show his excitement for everything he got.

Birthday Bowling

Happy Birthday Jacob!

The Christmas Box

A box was outside on the porch when James went out to get the newspaper this morning. So this afternoon, I told Hannah and Jacob let's open it and see what Grandma sent you all.(Of course I knew it was going to be wrapped, it is every year...so it would be safe to open in front of them.) So, I opened the Fed'Ex box... and the first present was wrapped & labeled To: Hannah!
I said "Oh Hannah, a Christmas present from G'ma & G'pa"...
she jumped for a little joy and had her every so happy smile, and...
I said "take this and go put it under the tree"...
she said "under tree???"
I said "yes!"...
and I turned back to the box at hand to get the next gift out of the box.
It said To: Jacob!...
he ran up quickly and proceeded to the tree with it. Then he shouted...
"MOM!!!!, Hannah is opening her present!!!"
Precious Hannah, was sitting "under" the tree opening her first gift!

First Christmas' are the best, even when they are 7 years old!