Pink Hobbits and Such

Summer is drawing to a close. Today we finally finished putting away the sunscreen, extra clothes, and assorted "stuff" in her camp bag. I know it's been a couple weeks but they've been busy (read: I just haven't gotten to it).
We also packed up all our school supplies which we shopped for last night. Well, all the supplies except the "Mead Primary Journal -early creative story tablet" which, despite what the school supply list claims, was not found at Target. I love walking through the Back to School aisles. There are so many pretty things! Unfortunately there isn't a whole lot that allows for individuality on the list but they were able to choose a few personalized things.

In the midst of unpacking from camp and packing for school Shiloh came across Celia's pink poncho and insisted that she wear it. So for the last hour she's been walking around the house like a little pink hobbit!

Wordless Wednesday???? Have you met me?

I love browsing blogs and checking out "Wordless Wednesday" pictures. I'm not sure who started this trend but it has really caught on! However, it's not Wednesday and I'm not "wordless". I don't think I'm ever wordless:) So I am instituting "I can say something about nothing Thursdays". Given my track record this may not be a long run but here is my picture for the day--Shiloh eating her meat bun with chopsticks and Barak lining up his grapes because...well because he's a boy!

Have I mentioned...

that I love it that my kids play well together. As the time frame for our adoption dragged on I worried that the big kids wouldn't play with our new daughter. You see, I thought it would be better if they were all close together. I'm so glad God had a different plan. I love to watch them all play together despite the 4 years between Barak and Shiloh. This morning they were singing a pirate song in the fort they all built and slept in last night. They were making one another "walk the plank", and oh yeah, Shiloh had an eye patch.

Yep, I'm glad things didn't turn out the way I planned!

And Two Years Later...

We had an awesome time with a few families from our China Travel Group at a reunion in Minneapolis this weekend. It was great to see the little kids, and big kids, have so much fun together. It was also good to reminisce and share about our shared but separate journey the past two years. The girls have changed so much.

In addition to riding rides at Mall of America, playing in an awesome park, sharing meals together, riding a steamboat, we reconnected and built on friendships that started at a very emotional, stressful time in our lives and we discovered that apart from our shared experiences we really like these people!!! And we can't wait to see them again!!!

Shannon & Avery Tarico & Shiloh & Jen Woyke (2009 & 2011)

Thanks for a great weekend Sheltons, Taricos, and Boltons!!!

A Treasure from God

Two years ago today we were in a hot room in Chongqing, China waiting to meet our new daughter. Of course we were the last of 11 families to be called (the joys of "W"). Lolo looked so forlorn in the pictures but she didn't cry at all. She just looked dazed. I wondered how she would attach to us, how she would adjust, how we would adjust. Adoption is so exciting but it's also scary.

Two years later I look at my beautiful, adventurous, bright, stubborn little girl and I am so thankful we took that scary step. The decision to adopt is not an easy one, or one that should be made lightly. We have definitely had our challenges--and realistically speaking I know the challenges aren't done--but isn't that true with all our children--no matter how they join our family?

God has blessed us amazingly through the life of our Shiloh Xiuzhen. The meaning of her name is so fitting: Shiloh--gift of God, Xiuzhen--beautiful/precious treasure. She is an amazing treasure from God and we celebrate her today!

So I've fallen off the proverbial wagon...

With blogging that is. Somehow, when I had foot surgery at the end of Nov. I managed to quit blogging. I'm not sure how that happened since all I did was sit around on the computer all day watching Pawn Stars and stalking FB but, it happened. And it's awfully hard to get back to it sometimes. But I'm going to try. Because, if nothing else, it helps me organize my thoughts.

There are some things I've been mulling over but it's like scrapbooking...where do you start? So I'm going to start right now and catch up as the mood strikes. We had a great time this weekend reconnecting with Todd's side of the family (G'ma, Uncle & Aunt, cousins, and families). One of the highlights of the trip was watching my previously nervous children spend hours in the swimming pool with little or no assistance from us. Yes, we were there, but they played with us and swam independently. And Shiloh...what will I do with her???? She wore her little waterwing/lifejacket thingy and she pushed off and paddled around the pool. C & B didn't do that until well, until now. She's going to give me a heart attack!

Adoption Video with 'One Less'