Special Gifts

When we arrived home from China a package awaited us on the counter! When I looked I noticed it was for Sophie Wei and Simone. It was from Denise and Maggie!

I met Denise through her blog and she is the mother to five adorable children. Here daughter Maggie is from the same Orphanage as Sophie Wei in Chengdu!! She answered a lot of questions about Chengdu, etc. She also gave us one photo of Sophie Wei that she received from her disposable camera that she sent to the Orphanage.

I also followed her while she was in Chengdu and Guangzhou. It was so neat to see photos of the places they went while in Chengdu knowing that we would be there soon.

I also enjoyed reading her posts about Why Special Needs. Part One and Part Two. If anyone is reading this and is considering and have not made up your mind you need to read this! Reading about their blessing will bring tears to your eyes.

Thanks Denise for thinking of our girls. You are so thoughtful!!!!!!! God Bless YOU and Your Family!!

Here is part of the Big Sister Gift that they sent Simone. She loved every thing about the Fairy Set!!! You can tell by the smile on her face.
And her bling ring :O)
The cute dress they sent Sophie Wei.
Fun lady bug bowl, plate, fork and spoon. We love lady bugs at our house!!!
Maybe this Fairy Wand will work as a spoon.
The girls were snacking on some liquorish.


Thanks again Denise and Maggie.
Photos taken on June 23rd, 2008.

Brace and Shoes Ordered

Today we went to have Sophie Wei fitted for her Dennis Brown Bar and Shoes. This will help continue with her club feet therapy that she has already started in China.

While in Chengdu she wore the brace from 5pm until she awoke in the morning, around 12-14 hours we were told by the physical therapist at her orphanage.

Sophie Wei was amazing with the Doctor and all smiles. Simone was so well behaved. Things are moving along nicely.

The brace and shoes will arrive in six days.

Cousin Brandon and Grandma Jones

Sophie Wei meets her one of her big Cousins, Brandon, for the first time today. We also had a nice visit with my Mother In Law, Grandma Jones.
Sophie was treating Brandon just like her Babba. She was playing ruff with him, it was so funny.
Brandon and Simone playing on the electric piano. Can't wait to spend more time with you Brandon in a couple of weeks.


Sophie Wei enjoying the tiny doll house toys that Grandma Jones gave Simone a few years ago. Look at her smile, she is such a JOY!

Ice Cream Cones

Sophie Wei is not too sure about this cold stuff??? But knows enough that she does not want to share! Here Sophie Wei is wearing a swim suite that use to be Simones from Grandma Lina and Grandpa Gong Gong.

Simple days of summer!!! Love it!!!! Love my life.

Fourth of July

We started our day with a slow morning and then lunch at a local park with our friends Lisa, Craig, Ally and Abi. We had such a great time.

When we first arrived at the park the Undercover Area was filled with a large group of people. When I first saw them my heart sunk because I was thinking that we were not going to have as much fun with this large group there too. But we did and they were nice. The children from that group also had very good manners and were friendly.

It lightly rained off and on but then cleared up with a sunny sky.

I am so thankful for Lisa because she brought her camera and I forgot mine. Thanks Lisa for these photos above.

Later that afternoon we played around the house and in the front yard. Here is Sophie Wei below running away from me as I sit on the front porch. I was trying to get photos of her and she thought it was funny to run away.

Simone enjoyed playing with the sidewalk chalk. Happy First Fourth of July Sophie Wei!!!

We forgot to turn up our time on the sprinklers when it started getting really hot outside so part of our yard was burnt. This happens because there is not a lot of top soil in the front. Rick was trying to save other parts of it withe the hand sprinkler and also turned up the time on the sprinkler system, we hope that helps. We hope to some day redo the front yard and landscape/widen the driveway on one side but that will be a while.

This is what the girls like to do when Rick goes into the bathroom. It cracks me up and I had to get photos of it. They knock on the door and put their fingers underneath the door.

New Big Sister Gift and Visitors Today

Today we had visitors from Kris, Alyssa and Jessica P. Then Tia and Drew stopped by and brought Sophie Wei a very cute American Bathing Suit from the Gymboree!! Then Hannah and Tami brought by a new big sister gift for Simone but she was taking a nap. Since the girls were napping and Hannah had not yet been able to meet Sophie I had her go up to there room so I could take a picture of her by them. Here Hannah is below holding up Simone's new big sister gift, a PANDA GYMNASTICS OUTFIT!!!!! She is going to be one happy little girl when she sees it.

The girls slept through the photos. Emily F. do you remember this pillow case that Sophie Wei is sleeping on?? I purchased it from your Aunt TT at her garage sale years ago. I think it use to be yours??? :O)


This overall outfit is the same outfit that Jessica purchased for Simone when she first came home from China. I could not find the matching light pink shirt that goes with it but it is such a neat feeling to see Sophie Wei in the same outfits that Simone had.



Simone was SO HAPPY to receive her new big sister gift!! You can see by the smile on her face. Sophie Wei was happy just to watch her big sister. She is now getting closer to saying Simone, it sounds like Smone.




Simone was also enjoying the fact that this outfit came with a new hair pretty!! She loved this outfit so much that she had it on all afternoon. She was so sad when I asked her to take it off for dinner. I had to explain to her that we do not want to get food on it. Then Simone asked me if she could wear it all day tomorrow..........
You can see in the above photo the two bracelets that Kris, Alyssa and Jessica P. brought over for the girls today. One says has a charm that says big sister and the other one says little sister. Simone loves them and I am sure Sophie Wei does too. They are adorable and Simone wanted to wear them both which was OK because I need to make Sophie Wei's a little bit smaller. Thanks Jessica and Kris they are a hit with the girls and we also enjoyed our time together today.
"Take a photo of me now Mommy, like this!" I could of used this Panda Outfit when we were taking our Red Couch Family Photos in China :O)

We ended our day with a short visit with the Craig, Ally, Abi and Lisa.

Great day, getting into a routine and visiting with friends!