A Couple More

We are finally home and I have well over a thousand (yep.... true story, 8 memory cards and 15GBs) pictures to sort through. Losing Internet access halfway through our trip (middle of the mountains... hmmm... who knew? lol) I thought I would at least post two more group photos. Will post a slide show later in the week. We had a blast and the girls had a ton of fun. Suffice to say, first of many reunions a complete success!

First Group Photo

Hello From the Smokey Mountains

Two years of planning have brought us to today. Seven Chongqing Spicey Girls reunited in the Great Smokey Mountains! The last time they were all together at once, they were just babies...now they are a bunch of squealing 3 and 4 year olds!

It was great fun seeing everyone again... it truly felt like we had just seen them all yesterday. But I guess that's what happens when you talk on the phone on a regular basis, exchange cards and emails and chat on line almost every day! Some people don't get it but we truly have a beautiful bond. AND we all like each other so much, we rented an 8 bedroom cabin together!

The girls travelled from as far west as Wisconsin... as far north as Virginia and as far south as Florida. As each girl and their family arrived, we all ran down to greet them with much fanfare. I am still in shock at how quickly they all picked up and played. It is so much fun watching them. Each time a family arrived, a few of us moms just got so teary-eyed. :)

The view out side our cabin is beautiful....


The view inside? Breathtaking!
Group art! Anne brought adorable butterflies that the girls decorated and they all drew pictures. Shortly after this photo, the rest of the girls arrived.

Too funny.... Gracie was excited when she found her backpack and invited the girls to our room to play "dollies".

To be continued...

Never A Dull Moment... Revisited

Ever wonder what life is like in a house with a 17 year old almost high school senior and a 4 year old princess?

17 Years Ago.....

My first baby.... my son..... born today, 17 years ago. I cannot even begin to explain how fast the time has flown. Wasn't he just a baby with crazy hair? Or the three year old chasing us with water guns? I just heard him telling us jokes that didn't make sense.... I swear it was just yesterday he talked us all in to getting roller blades (ack!)... He did, after all, just start high school... didn't he? Right before he became the best big brother, like 5 minutes ago... really!

I am so proud of the young man our son has grown to be. His love for his God, his family, his friends and his country are such a beautiful example to his little sister and those who have the privilege of meeting him.

Josh... you have been an amazing blessing to us and we are so proud of who you are and what you will be. I only wish there were words to describe how much you are loved. Thank you for being such a great kid! I love the relationship we have and I love that you love it as well. You have accomplished much and will be successful at all you put your mind and heart in. Now... about that room.....

Happy Birthday Josh!

Queen Bee

Gracie gave me this picture a few days ago.... she made it at school:

Gracie: Mama, I made this picture for you.
Me: Thank you Gracie!
Gracie: It's you Mama! And look, you have a crown!
Me: I do? Why does Mama have a crown?
Gracie: 'Cause you the queen!

As queen, I thought it would be a good idea to hang this beautiful picture on our kitchen refrigerator as a royal reminder to the rest of the family...that I am the queen. :)

We Picture {this} - Hats

Found this great website for mamarazzis and photographers alike. This is my first time entering their monthly "themed" contests. This months photo theme at we picture {this} is "hats". I had already planned spending the morning at a nearby historic town to scout out new and different locations for some upcoming senior photograph sessions I have booked. I brought my son and his girlfriend along as "models". When I saw this month's theme was "hats", I asked Josh to bring his fedora (he uses it in Jazz band) and knew I would come up with something interesting!


Canon 5D
24-105mm f/4L
focal length 105mm
f/5
exposure time 1/125 sec.
ISO 400

The second picture is of Gracie. It took a little more effort to get what I was looking for but being the resourceful mom that I am, I bribed her with her frozen chocolate Easter bunny that we hadn't cracked open yet! I had fun grabbing this shot today too!


Canon 5D
24-105mm f/4L
focal length 75mm
f/8
exposure time 1/60 sec.
ISO 800

Be sure to click on the We Picture {this} logo at the top of the screen to see the rest of this month's entries! :)

CD Giveaway... Enter now through May 23rd!

One of the first things I bought Gracie was a Chinese lullaby CD, Disney Princess lullaby CD and a Hello Kitty boom box. Gracie loves listening to soothing music as she goes to sleep each night and it's the perfect way to calm her down when things are not quite going her way. Even though her music collection has grown over the past couple of years, I still find her playing in her room, listening to her lullabies... in the middle of the day! Why? Because it's peaceful!!

One of Gracie's favorite Cd's is called "Praise Baby"... she loves the songs and sings right along... but they are just too peppy for bedtime. Fast forward to this week when I discovered two lullaby collections that are just perfect for Gracie!

Faith, Hope & Lullabies: Songs of Worship

Faith, Hope & Lullabies

I have the opportunity to not only share these beautiful music collections on my blog but two of my readers will receive a copy of Faith, Hope & Lullabies: Songs of Worship!

Just let me know if you would like to win a copy in the comments below and I will enter your name in a database that will randomly select my two winners! I will post the winner's names and contact you for delivery information. The CD will come directly from the distributor... FREE!

I will keep this post open through Noon on Saturday, May 23rd. Good luck and enjoy the music!

***Update*** We received our copy of the cd today and Gracie has already listened to it twice! I listened once and it is sweet. :)