IMG_6579

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

We made it in!
We went to Muir National Park and saw the beautiful Sequoia trees. We had to cross the Golden Gate bridge to get there and it was fabulous! The road to get to the park wound up and down and was the curviest road I have ever been on in my life! Worse than the one to Tortilla Flats in Arizona! There there is this amazing fog. It is the craziest! I tried to capture it in photos, unfortunately they did not upload last night and we aren’t sure why.
We ate some amazing sushi last night at 8 which is 10 back home. At 4 we had my first In N Out burger! Yum! I am going to gain 10 lbs this week! Oh well, gives me something to do when I get home, lose wait!
Today we are headed to Fisherman’s Wharf and we are doing a tour around the town. Will fill you in later, gotta run!

Lauren’s 9!!

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

As of July 10th, Lauren Amy became a 9 yr. old! She is full of life with lots of singing Justin Beiber, pictures of Twilight’s Taylor Lautner, and dancing. She has now added tumbling and really likes it as well! She is 100% girl and we love her!

July 4th, 2010

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

I can not believe how time has FLOWN by!! This is Ava’s second 4th of July! She is doing so well! She has grown like crazy! She is in the 50% for height and 40% for weight. That is really good for her being Chinese! They are smaller people and for her to fall where she does on the American pediatric growth chart is crazy! I guess she really is tall! In China, we would get asked how old she was. When I told them, 2, they would say, “Oh, she tall, she tall!” Wow, she really is tall for a Chinese!

July 4th, 2010

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

Ava does not like loud noises. Last year my hands were over her ears the entire display. It is funny now to look back at Ava’s paperwork describing her personality before we had adopted her. It actually said, “She does not like fireworks.” Boy, they weren’t a kiddin! We laugh at how right it was! We thought, ” Oh yeah, they probably just fill this stuff out. How can you peg a barely 2 year old and her personality?!” Well, let me tell you, they pegged our Zhihui(Ava)! The Chinese know something about this stuff because they are also so good at matching these children with families. Ancient Chinese secret I suppose!

Lauren’s Dance Recital

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

This is Lauren with one of her best buddies in the dressing room before recital. Lauren is in her “Sophisticated Lady” costume that was a jazz routine. She was stunning!

Lauren’s Dance Recital

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

This was Lauren’s tap dance outfit in “Take me out to the Ballgame”. It was super cute! They used baseball bats in the dance!

Jack’s 11

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

My sweet boy is another year older! We celebrated with family and ice cream cake! Yuummm!!

Jack’s 11

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

Jack sitting with cousin Madi eating ice cream cake and working on the lego set he received for his birthday!

Lauren’s Dance Recital

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

Ava started swim lessons! She likes it, she just is not that fond of jumping in! I think it helps we have a pool. She looks like our little froggy!

Baseball Tournament 2010

Originally uploaded by ChrisValier

Jack ended his ball season on a great note. They got 2nd in the tournament. They played hard and 1st of course is nice but they all did really well. Jack was lucky having his Dad and Papaw as his coaches. Jack found out that he is a pretty good catcher! I guess we all found that out!