4th of July

Tomorrow will be 8 weeks that we have been home with Grace! We have all settled in so nicely. The boys just adore her and love to play with her. Grace loves them right back :) They are so much help! We have been working on transitioning to one nap. So far, it has been good. Not all days are perfect, but she is definitely ready for one nap. And I am definitely ready for her to be in bed before 9:30pm!

Grace is such a sweet little girl! She gives lots of hugs and kisses :) Her personality is such a mix. She is spunky and strong willed, but can also go with the flow. We are so blessed to have her and now that this long adoption journey is over, it is so clear why it took so long. We needed to wait for Grace. She was meant for us. She seems more confident and secure every day. We still have our moments (every time I try to cook), but she is much less clingy.

We went to the zoo yesterday (along with everyone else in the Phila. area). It was a gorgeous day and the kids all enjoyed the animals. It was very difficult to get up close to a lot of exhibits, but we saw enough. The boys were more interested in souvenirs and ice cream by the end :) Grace fell asleep on the way home and then finished her nap in the crib. She slept a total of 3 hours!!!!! We wore her out!

Today we had my sister and her in-laws from Michigan over for a picnic. They have two boys who are right around the ages of Nate and Aidan. They all got along great! It was a fun day by the pool!

I got this recipe from my friend. I tried it and it worked! I never got a picture, but it is a cute festive drink for the kids.

Magic Stars-and-Stripes 4th of July Drink Recipe
Ingredients:
3 oz. cranberry juice cocktail
3 oz. blue Gatorade (the brighter blue one)
3 oz. Diet Sprite or Sprite Zero (regular won't work!)
Lots of ice

Instructions: 1. Add a few ice cubes to your class, and pour in the cranberry juice.

2. Carefully add a few more ice cubes, and pour the Gatorade in over a spoon (this helps the layers to separate).

3. Carefully add a few more ice cubes, and pour the Sprite in over a spoon.

4. Serve with a festive straw.



Happy Fourth of July!!!!!

Miss America


Nate, Aidan, Evan and Jake


Lego Polar Bear


Pretty little birds!!!

My kids love feeding the lorikeets!



Checking out the giraffes.

Grace being oh so cooperative with picture taking :)

Nate, Aidan and Emily playing with Grace in her fort!