AAC 20th Anniversary Picnic!

Our adoption agency held their annual picnic on Saturday; this time celebrating 20 years!  We had a great time visiting with friends and meeting new ones.  It is so much fun having Caylie there with us, and having her see that there are so many other families like ours.  I think that will be more important to her as time goes on.  

I remember the first picnic we went to, back in 2012.  It was the day after we'd got Pre-Approval from China to adopt Caylie.  I met our social worker that day, and cried when I showed her Caylie's referral photo.  I looked at all the other adoptive families there with their little ones (and some big ones who had been home for several years) and they were all so normal and natural with their kids.  I couldn't imagine that at that point!  But now we are there, too, and so thankful.  

AAC Staff

Caylie with Erin from AAC, who got us through the adoption process!

Enjoying some friend rice.

Chinese dancing.  

These are some friends who went through adoption training with us in October 2012!  Both families adopted from Korea, and brought their children home over the last few months.  It was fun to have all our kiddos together!

I think Jim was waiting for his turn in the bouncy house.  

Keelan stayed up most of the night before at a youth group lock-in.  But he was still ready to enjoy the day.  He has a heart for orphans and for adoption.  And he loves anything about China!

Caylie and Daddy heading off to get tattoos.

Caylie's trying to show off her tattoo.

There it is!  

Caylie and me with our new friends Julie and cutie pie Sophie.  

My beautiful girl.

It looks like Caylie is making a new friend and sharing her fan, but she's not.  Haha.

Caylie and me with our new friends Cynthia and Emma, who we met right here on this blog!  :)

Caylie got a new "China dress" at the event.  She was so proud of it that she wouldn't even let anyone else carry the bag.  I need to get a photo of her in it!

Justin loves the picnic every year.  He was mostly off doing his own thing!

Me with Regina of AAC, who helped us get our adoption process started.

Yummy watermelon!

Caylie and me with Marissa of AAC.  We have some awesome video of Marissa meeting Caylie in China a month before we did.  

Caylie and me with Nicole of AAC, who helped us at the beginning of our journey to Caylie.  I still have an email from her in which she told me, "Your daughter's name is Fu Jiu Chang!"

Lots of friends!  Caylie and me with Vickie and her daughter Maleah, Erin of AAC, Christie of AAC and her sweet baby, and the West family.  

We are so thankful that God introduced us to our precious Caylie JiuChang through AAC, and so happy to have  the "family" that we have there!

Brittany's Baby Shower

Brittany's baby shower was Saturday at our church.  We had a fun time with friends, eating cake, playing games, and watching Brittany open gifts.  It's getting more and more real all the time . . . the baby will soon be here!

Yummy snacks.

 Fruit baby by Andrea!  Nobody wanted to eat his head, haha.  Isn't he adorable?

Baby gifts.

Brittany and Caylie

Julie calling Baby Bingo.  (I didn't win.)

Memorize these items in 15 seconds!  (I didn't win.)

More games.

Brittany opening gifts.

Caylie was very excited about Brittany's baby party.  Especially the gummy bears.

Me, Caylie and Brittany.

Jim's Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Daddy! 

Yummy tres leches cake!
  (Can you tell how old he is??)

Caylie playing "Happy Birthday" on the iPad.

The boys and Sammie, waiting for cake!

 Brad is so much fun at parties.

The soon-to-be mama!  

The best daddies wear red bows in their hair.  ;)

34-Week Baby!

Brittany is 34 weeks pregnant!  We are getting more and more excited about this new baby, who will be coming very SOON!!  Baby shower is this Saturday.  Yayy!