Party On!

Blowing out the fortune cookie candles

I just wanted to share a few photos of Maimie's party Saturday evening. The weather held out for us so we were able to be out in the yard to celebrate. This was good considering the size of our house. We would have liked to have invited so many more people to help us celebrate, but felt we needed to limit the numbers in case we were forced to try to hold the party inside.

We had homemade Chinese lanterns and a Chinese dragon decorating the fence behind the food table. Maimie's birthday balloons were embellished with Chinese "happiness" symbols, and we had a bib made with the Chinese symbol "love" and her name on it. Are you starting to sense a theme?



I painted the symbols for "Guo Zhen" (Maimie's given Chinese name) on her shirt and tugged on the last pair of squeaky shoes that still fit (barely!).
We started our evening with takeout Chinese food, complete with chopsticks and fortune cookies. For dessert, we enjoyed two birthday cakes and ice cream.

Fortune cookie cake

Cheongsam (Chinese dress) cake

Maimie played with the other kids and then unwrapped some presents. She had so much fun! Our evening ended with Maimie giving kisses to everyone to thank them for coming.

Happy Birthday, Maimie Beth!

Today is Maimie Beth's birthday. Because there was not a note left with her at the Social Welfare Institute, Maimie was given an estimated birthday of October 11. Doesn't she look like a pumpkin pie in her little fall outfit?

Maimie showing that she is now "2"

Although we are having a larger party for her on Saturday, we couldn't let today pass without any celebration. We had a little pink cake and ice cream. I had set a couple of things aside for Maimie before we even had her referral information, so I wrapped them up for her to unwrap tonight. It was too precious watching her tear off one little piece of wrapping paper at a time. After each piece, she motioned for us to wait where we were--she'd be right back. Then she went to the kitchen garbage can to throw each piece away before ripping into the next.

Look out, Rachael Ray!

Here is a video of Maimie's birthday wish. It's a little long, but she's persistent!

Mikaela's 13th Birthday

Birthday Girl

September was a big month for Mikaela. On the 17th her braces were removed, and her smile is beautiful!

Mikaela and her orthodontist

Mikaela turned 13 on the 26th of September.

This past Saturday, we had a party for her and some of her friends at Amazing Glaze. The girls chose pottery pieces and painted them, ate snacks, and talked.

Maimie, Jacob, Mikaela, & Joseph



I can't believe we have a teenager in the house. Where has the time gone?