Out Like A Light

Mommy ran some errands this afternoon with Ming...by the time Linda pulled into the garage after some running around, Ming Mei was sawing logs. I couldn't resist the photo opportunity...

Friday Night Games

After being out of town for a week and a half (first to Sitka, AK, then to San Diego, CA) it was great to get home tonight and enjoy hanging with my family. Here's a shot of Ming Mei playing the Dora match game.

Coupla Hotties

Sunday Noon after brunch at Huckleberrys...

2nd Day of School

Ming started pre-school this week. She's one of the younger students, but that doesn't keep her from enjoying the fun with the other kids. She's on a two-day-a-week schedule (Tu & Th) in the mornings. Because yesterday was Ming's birthday, Linda was asked if she wanted to bring 'treats' for the kids today. She did, and everybody was glad. (I *think* this will be the last birthday celebration for Ming this year.)

Happy Birthday to Me!

3 Years ago today a little girl was born in a village the Jiangxi Province of China. The morning she was born she was placed in an apple box and abondoned at the gate of the Civil Affairs building in the town of Yong Feng. Whoever decided to leave her there, perhaps her mother but more likely another relative, included in the box a small red tear-off note that identified her birthday at September 10, 2005. Red is a sign of 'good luck' in Chinese culture.

Today that little girl has become an essential member of our family. The joy and blessing she has brought to us is way more than the word 'luck' can convey. She is a true blessing and a gift from God. And that little girl, Ming Mei, has a new bike for her 3rd birthday.

B-Party Numero Dos

Fixin' 2B Three

Tonight was the first of a couple of different celebrations as we count down to Ming Mei's third birthday on Wednesday, September 10. Tonight we were at Grandma Szym's house for dinner and cupcakes. I rushed in from the airport after a weekend in Boulder, CO to catch the party halfway through the yummy meal...fortunately I didn't miss out on the candles and cupcakes!!

Ming got them all in one breath.

Ahhh...the delicious prize.

Summer's Waning Maize Morsels

I think Ming would rather have corn-on-the-cob than candy!

Bulldogs & Ladybugs

Pebbles and the Other Lil' Pebbles

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Sunday Nap on "Mama's Bed"

Hop Sing's Great Granddaughter

What?! You don't know who Hop Sing is?

Caught On Film...

...at a recent Spokane Indians baseball game...the M-Dawgie and the L-Dawgie.

2 Years Ago

Tonight we celebrated our two year 'Mingaversary' with our precious little daughter. Two years ago we saw Ming for the first time at the Civil Affairs building in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China http://storyofmingmei.blogspot.com/2006/08/arrival-of-ming-mei.html . She's come a long way in 24 months.

We celebrated this special day by having Chinese food on the back patio with Keith and Stacy Nelson, our adoption friends from Spokane who we met during our trip to China as they were adopting Lily Mei from the Yong Feng Orphanage in which Ming lived. Lily and Ming are 16 days apart in age, lived in the same orphanage for the first part of their lives, and now live a short distance from each other in Spokane - thousands of miles from their birth place.

Lily still likes to put her hands in her mouth for pictures, and Ming has grown a little more comfortable with her Mommy and the camera.
Kylie is Lily's older sister...she also joined us on the trip to China so it was fun seeing how she has grown.

Thanks Grandpa!

Grandpa gave Ming an ice cream pie today. Man, does she love her "i-peam!"

Friday Night In Montana

Throwing sticks in the river for Joe the dog.

Eating my favorite C-foods on the back deck: Cantaloupe and Corn on the Cob.

Enjoying the blue sky with Mama.

Both Daddio and me look kinda sleepy in this pic.

Makin' Cookies

Here's our little kitchen princess making honest to goodness [wink, wink] cookies. These culinary creations kept her busy for about 40 minutes. (Thanks for the photo, Aunt Cindy.)

Nate's 21st Birthday

Ming likes to get in on the candle blowing action.

I know what you're thinking...How can that woman have a 21 year old son? (Just call me 'cradle robber')

Nate and his twin brother Levi. Nate came out of the womb first...Levi was came second 8 years later.