AAC Adoption Annual Picnic

On August 13, we drove up to Berthoud for AAC's annual picnic.  We saw lots of friends and had lots of fun, as usual.  This was my 5th picnic.  The first was just after we received pre-approval from China to adopt Caylie in 2012.  (Boy, that seems like a r-e-a-l-l-y long time ago.)

There was a bouncy house and a bouncy slide.

And a climbing wall.  Samuel can scramble up these things quickly, but this time he was so quick, I didn't even get a picture.

Judy is AAC's awesome in-China liason.  She booked our in-country travel for both our trips, and was one of our guides for our Samuel trip.  She takes care of appointments, transportation, hotels, and all kinds of stuff for traveling AAC families.  Everybody loves Judy!  She had also met and spent quite a bit of time with Samuel before we traveled, and spent time talking with me on the phone about him.  We appreciate her so much.  We were very happy to have her visit Colorado with her family!

 Brittany got to meet her, too.

Samuel and Caylie hanging out with some friends.

Some awesome China mamas - Erin, Gloria, and Juleanne - and the amazing Nicole of AAC.

Samuel and our friend Emmy enjoying some cotton candy.
  (I think he might have developed a little crush, haha.)

Tessa liked the snow cones!

Brad blowing up a ball for Caylie.

This is the prize picture of the day.  These two sweeties - Jacob and Piper - were two of Samuel's foster siblings at House of Grace, and now the three of them are all living in Colorado!  I am so grateful to God for His providence in all of this, allowing these three to continue to have this connection.

Jim and our social worker, Jane, who's put up with us through two home studies and many post-placement visits.

Brittany, Jim, and Caylie, hanging out and looking at the goodies.

Samuel and Piper.

 AAC Staff - Judy, Christie, Nicole, Karen, and Alexa.  (Regina, where are you??)

Larry Bebo, founder of AAC, with Judy and Christie.

Jodi and Pete, and their China cuties, Maylee and Kylin.

 Two more awesome China mamas, Dawn and Ellie.

Vickie and Willow having fun with cotton candy.

 The Ainsworth family, minus mama Juleanne.  Their daughter LiLi is from Fuzhou, Jiangxi, the same as Caylie, and their daughter Piper is from Yangchun, Guangdong, the same as Samuel.  We will always be doubly connected.  :)

Judy with her husband and sons.

And with us!

It was a fun day.  We love AAC!

New School Year

All the kids are back in school now!

On August 9, Keelan started his senior year at Gateway High School.  He is also taking classes in Automotive Technology at Pickens Technical College. 

On August 11, Samuel and Caylie returned for another year at Global Village Academy.  Samuel is in 6th grade, and Caylie in 1st.  They both are in Chinese immersion classes half the day, and English the other half.

On August 24, Justin started 8th grade at Vanguard Classical School.  This is a new school for him, and we think it will be a great fit.

Meadowood Church Block Party

Every year our little church (meadowood.org) puts on a block party for the neighborhood.  It's always very hot and always lots of fun!  There is free food, fun stuff to do, music, and giveaways.  

The food tent is a favorite place.  

Justin is good at making the lemonade.

The guy on the left is our pastor, Michael Spottsville.  Years ago, he and Jim worked at Promise Keepers together.

Sam's giving bunny ears to face-painter extraordinaire and youth leader, Andrea.

Samuel helping some younger kids fish.

Keelan and his girlfriend Destiny racing Samuel on the big trikes.  Well, I think it was more like Sam racing Destiny, while Keelan looked on in amusement, ha.

Brice and Jermaine grilling, while Jim supervises.

Justin enjoying some popcorn.

And Caylie enjoying a snowcone.

Taylor was there, too!
(Please pray for Taylor.  He needs a new job.)

Of course there was face painting.

Sam loved dunking the kids in the dunk tank.  I'm pretty sure he didn't obey all of the "rules" of the game, though!

 Keelan making cotton candy.

Samuel shimmying to the top of the rock wall.

More grilling while Jim supervises.

Destiny and Keelan in the snack booth.  Keelan's gotten good at all kinds of snack making over the years.

Brad and Tessa.

And Tessa and Brittany.

Caylie fishing with a friend.

Tessa deciding about some popcorn.

Me with our friend Jeff, also our worship leader.

And Tessa decided on the popcorn.  :)

Caylie going down the big water slide.  She used to be terrified of this, but yesterday she did it over and over.  Samuel, however, is still afraid, which is amusing, because he is absolutely fearless about anything else!

Destiny's turn.

 Sam (in face paint, of course) helping to make popcorn.  

Our awesome chiropractor, Dr. Patti with her sweet Emilia, Caylie, and Tessa.

The Meadowood Church youth group, Crossfire, with leaders Jermaine and Andrea.

Justin at the end of the event.  Not looking quite so chipper, haha.

It was a great day!