Just enjoying our summer. Very much!!!

Aleia being the motherly figure with her little cousin Lilly.
Oh, I am really tired.
Aleia hamming it up with her cousing Kaden.

The girls riding "big sissy's" Dora 4-wheeler.
Our readoption process at the courthouse recently with Judge Kate and our attorney Brad Zimmerman.
Spending more time at the park riding the carousel. The ride that never ends!! ha, Ha
Alexa playing in the mini water fountain at the pool at the Portage Country Club.
Aleia just chillin on the noodles. Life is good.
We have had such a wonderful summer. We are all so sad to see it slowly coming to an end. The girls have had a great time. It is so amazing to watch them interact with one another. Now that Alexa is walking all over the place, they love to chase each other around the house. It is quite the site. I sure hope they continue the bond that they are forming. We have spent so much time swimming this summer. Both of the girls love the water and never want to go home when it is time. We went to court recently for our readoption of Alexa. Our attorney, Brad Zimmerman, represented us and Judge Kate presided over the hearing again. What a special day!! Please continue to follow this journey. It is so full of surprises and pleasant litle girls.

The CCAI Midwest Reunion.

Audrey, Kaitlin, and Alexa (Travel group #1147 buddies)
The girls sitting at the gate of our pavillion.
Aleia playing in the jumping water at Easton.
Alexa just wasn't too sure about the jumping water.

The girls were hanging out in the bookstore while the guys were having some daddy alone time.
Bob and his girls at the zoo.
Cheese!!
This is Lily and her husband Josh is in the photo below. They are the founders of CCAI. They began the adoption agency in the basement of their house originally.
We had such a great time this past weekend. We went to the CCAI Midwest Reunion held in Columbus, OH. There were folks there from over twelve states and there were approx. 500 families at the reunion. Aleia loved seeing all of the "Asian girls" as she refers to them. I was very elated to finally meet Josh and Lily. They helped play such a special role in us being the family that we are today. We sure couldn't have done it without all of their help. We attended the reunion with the McConnell's and had a fun time staying at Easton Towne Center. We ate at some fun restaurants and the girls spent some time in the jumping water one afternoon. We took the girls to the big bookstore and spent about one hour looking through books and destroying their shelves. Ha, Ha. Needless to say, it was an expensive stop. Aleia wanted one of every book. We did buy some educational things too!! Thanks for keeping up with our everyday journeys. The girls have made Bob and I feel amazing and so fortunate that they are in our lives. Love, Lisa

Visit with our friends from Texas.

Ashlynn, Alexa, and Aleia sporting their new jammies.
The girls calling for the horses Zip and Nanny at the Bichsel's.
The girls, except for Alexa, each took a turn driving around in the golf cart.
Having a ball at Tuscora Park.
The girls just couldn't stay awake any longer. We wore them out before they wore us out. That is something new. This past weekend we had some of our friends from Texas in town to visit. We were in China with them for our first adoption. We have been the best of friends every since. We had such a great time together visiting and watching the girls hang out. Aleia and Ashlynn will always have a special bond having been from the same orphanage in Gao'An China. They are also only thirteen days apart. The Tapley's are patiently awaiting their referral for their second China doll. While they were here, we kept very busy. We went to the Bichsel's to ride the horses, went to the Cleveland Zoo and Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and spent tons of time at Tuscora Park. It is just amazing to see these little girls interact with one another. As I have said so many times before, we are just soooo blessed. Lisa

Vacation at the beach

We were recently at Hilton Head for one week and Pawley's Island, SC for one week with our family. Lisa's parents were also along for the trip and we had a great time. The girls were awesome and Miss Alexa blossomed so much. Alexa started pulling herself up in Hilton Head. She began babbling more words. Her favorite on the trip was "bird". It is so cute when she tries to say it, because she makes a funny face when she does it. Her little legs are getting stronger and stronger. Aleia loved to be out in the waves with her daddy. They both love the ocean. They also enjoyed building sandcastles. They would build them and Alexa would destroy them. Sure hope you enjoy our pics. It was one of our best vacations ever. Lisa

Dance Recital/Baby dedication.

Aleia with one of her buddies, Lili, as they ham it up before the dance recital begins. They don't look like they are having too much fun do they?
CHEESE!!!
Daddy with his girl presenting the traditional flowers after the dance routine. Would you say that is a proud papa?
Alexa Lin getting dedicated at the church last Sunday with Pastor Dwight.
Lunch with Lisa's parents after the dedication.
Aleia had her first dance recital the night before we left for vacation. All I can say is it was quite entertaining. Aleia and ten of her dance mates performed on stage in front of a couple hundred people and everyone was laughing and carrying on. Their routine lasted about two minutes, yes you read this right, two whole minutes, but we all got our monies worth. They danced with their dolls which had the same dance costume to match the theirs. They all came onto the stage with their dolls in hand looking for their designated spot on the floor. The music starting playing pretty quick. Some of the girls danced, some were looking for their parents waving, some just stood there and smiled, and some of the girls froze when they saw all of the people. It was priceless!!!!!
Alexa was dedicated at church last Sunday with some of her Asian friends as Aleia refers to them. We were with the Bichsels', the McConnell's, and the Browning's. After the dedication we all went out to the lunch with all of our families to the Good House in Ragersville. It was a very special day for all.
Life continues to get better and better with each passing day. We are so happy with Alexa's day to day progess and just love being a family of four. Love to all, Lisa

Aleia, the flower girl, in Ashley's wedding.

Aleia Mei with Ashley, the bride.
Alexa and Aleia before the ceremony started.
Bob, Aleia, and Victoria hanging out at the reception.
Ashley trying to teach Aleia a few moves!!
Cheese!!!
We spent last evening at the wedding and reception for Ashley and Chris Wagner. Ashley is the second of six children of the family who babysits our girls. This was Aleia's first flower girl experience and she did great. She had so much fun. Our morning began going to a salon and getting Aleia's updo. She loves to be pampered already. Watch out Daddy!!! This was followed by an awesome brunch. It was then off to the church for pictures and the ceremony. Aleia walked down the aisle with the ringbearer and threw flower petals the entire way as she smiled. It was then off to the reception for boogy woogy as Aleia calls it. She was a big hit there too. She just doesn't meet a stranger. Thanks for sharing in Aleia's big day.

Our first trip to the pool.

Alexa loves to play with Mommy's cell phone.
Kaitlin and Alexa being pulled around by Aleia.
Mom are you sure about this?
Aleia loves to pretend she swims with goggles.
One of our bathing beauties!!
I took the girls to the pool for the first time on Memorial Day. Aleia of course loved it and Alexa wasn't quite so sure. She was pretty clingly. It may have been the fact that the water was kind of chilly too! ha, Ha!!! We went to the pool again this afternoon (Wed) and Alexa didn't want to get out of the pool. The moms sat on the bottom of the baby pool while the girls floated around. We had four of the girls Asian buddies in the pool. We had the whole baby pool to ourselves. The girls had so much fun and the moms enjoyed visiting. Life is good. Lisa

Mother's Day.

Our first Mother's Day with our three girls. Priceless!!!
Aleia loves to pull her little sister around in the wagon.
The best of buds hanging out watching cartoons together.
Alexa wasn't real fond of any more pictures. This is her great -Grandma Patrick and her cousins Logan and Kaden, along with her big "sis".

Our first Mother's Day as a family of four was wonderful. We could not have asked for a nicer day. We had lunch with all of our family, followed by lots of relaxation. Being a mom with these two girls is the best Mother's Day gift ever. What a blessing!!! Love to all, Lisa