Life After the Orphanage

Life after a Chinese orphanage consists of many different experiences.  In Lily and Anna's case here are a few:


Saying the Pledge of Allegiance taught us by Nana.  But note that the Chinese flag is also represented.

 

Spring is here and it's time to do Spring cleaning on our playhouse.



Until Summer comes. it's fun to swim in the hot tub.



Anna loves to cook!  Here she is slicing onions for the salad.  Note that Anna can use a sharp knife!



Two favorite passtimes- coloring and computer games.  Lily has mastered the computer mouse.



Now I Know What Love Is

Every night we have routine when putting the kids to bed where we sing songs.  Pamela has written two little songs - one for each girl - that she  made up in China to help calm the girls down.  For Anna, it was a song with the lyrics, " Close your eyes and go to sleep, go to sleep, go sleep... Close your eyes to go to sleep....know that Mommy loves you."

Tonight when Pamela was singing the song, Anna stopped her and said, " Mommy, when you picked me up in China I didn't know what love means but now I do."   Pamela asked, "Anna what does love mean ?" and Anna answered in her matter of fact, sweet little voice,  "It means that you care about me and you want me to be safe." 

Pamela came downstairs with tears in her eyes and said. " It's been a great weekend and we have two amazing little girls."

She's right.

Lily the Ballerina

Lily has become quite the dramatic little lady.  Her days are filled with make believe, dress-up, and role-play.  She's at one moment a fairy, the next a princess, the next an actress, the next a ballerina.

Each Saturday morning she joins her classmates at her ballet class.  Three and four year old girls are fun to watch as their teacher tries to keep their attention for more than a few seconds.  It is fun because they are still free from being directed, free to act on their momentary impulses, free to just be what they want to me.

Don't we all wish we could be three or four again?