20/52 - dress rehearsal

This week has been a busy one with preparation

 for Grace's upcoming dance recital on the weekend.

Taken on Tuesday before professional pictures and a rehearsal,

I captured Grace right before we left.

The girls have to wear foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and lip color.

I got a little verklempt in the car on the way to the dance studio,

and couldn't help but look at her in the mirror as she was sitting in the backseat.

Why was I emotional?

It's a mama thing I suppose...maybe because she looks very grown up

and I love her so much.

black and white Wednesday - my little buddy

I find age 5 a very helpful one...whether it's putting away toys,

 his dishes on the counter after a meal...

Or going to the flower farm to help me choose flowers to plant...

Mr. Will happily complies and goes along with me (every Friday he's with me all day)

to wherever it is that we may need to travel.

This particular day he met a new friend.

And checked out the red tractor,

then excitedly ran to tell me all about it.

We walked back and he sat on it and pretended to drive of course.

I was looking for a certain color of flower (yellow) and stopped to look at these herbs.

We walked to the back of the farm and Will navigated the wagon.

He demonstrated some awesome wagon handling skills if I say so myself.

We then hit the jackpot at the greenhouse at the back of the farm

where I found just what I was looking for...

and Will took a little rest.

It was right about this time 3 years ago that we received

our PA and then LOA (letter of approval) from China to adopt Will.

 I've been moving a lot of my pictures off
my hard drive to make more room.
I found the below black and white scan of one of the first pictures we saw of Will
in his file in 2008.
I don't have an original picture, it's a copy (not a great one) but I treasure it.
I have no idea how old he was here,
but he's just precious and you can see why we said YES to this little boy!

Presently there are many more little boys than girls on the Waiting Children or Special Needs

lists for China.

If you're thinking of adopting, please consider a son.

They're wonderful.

i heart faces photo challenge - May flowers

Magnolias

Our Spring in southern Wisconsin has been slow to arrive and pretty rainy and cold.

Recently we've had some beautiful sunny days and I noticed this Magnolia tree

in full bloom near my son's preschool.

The fragrance was heavenly!

Check out more beautiful flowers for the i heart faces photo challenge this week.

Sunday snapshot - growing up too fast

Childhood is a short season.

~ Helen Hayes

Last week we went to one of our favorite parks to check out the new playground equipment.

As I watched Grace and Will happily play,

I was struck by how long their legs are getting

and how much they'd grown.

I've never been someone who says, "I can't wait for my children to grow up."
I don't wish away the time.

Although it is pretty great when they are a little more independent.

I am one who cherishes all these moments and different stages of childhood

and knows that living in the present is what matters most.

And I'm also well aware that one day I'll look back and remember that these will be some of

the best years of my life...and the ones that went by way too fast.

Grace getting close to 9.

And Will now 5 and 1/2.

19/52 - May

I don't have to look at my calendar to see that it's May.

That's when they appear.

There are thousands and they seem almost to spring out of the ground overnight.

I have a love/hate relationship with them.

Don't particularly like dandelions in my yard,

but I like them because they are a sign that Spring really is here.

 I do love their pretty color.

And that my 2 littles give them to me.

(Taken today at a nearby park, a yellow and green carpet that seemed to go on forever).

Sunday snapshot - Mother's Day

My Mother's Day started out with bright and beautiful smiles and hugs and kisses.

Which went with the perfect Spring weather today, it couldn't have been better.

I received flowers, lots of them (there were more than the ones in the pictures).

And handmade gifts made with love.

A flower pot painted by Will with seeds to plant.

And a clay dish made by Grace to hold little treasures.

Tonight will be a cookout with my 3 kids and dear husband...which to me is the best gift.

Spending time with my family.

And of course Superman had to make an appearance!

I hope your Mother's Day was lovely.

black and white Wednesday - a boy's life

A boy is Truth with dirt on it's face,

Beauty with a cut on its finger,

Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair,

and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.

~ Author Unknown

He was born with a gift of laughter.

~ Rafael Sabatini

Tall oaks from little acorns grow.

~ David Everett

(Will was fascinated with the lichens growing on the log, so we had a little discussion about them).

What a life this little boy leads.

One of climbing, jumping, exploring, running,

playing with a stick or pretending he's a Super Hero.

Will can be... gentle but also strong.

Dirty but cleans up well.

Loud and clunky.

Quiet and thoughtful.

Mischievous and funny.

He picks dandelions and often gives them away to his mommy.

And he's always a sweet and loving little guy that gives the best hugs ever!

Last week, Will and I attended his Kindergarten registration meeting

at the school he'll be attending the Fall.

He met his teacher and spent about an hour in her room, getting to know her and the other children.

I couldn't be any more proud of him because he's worked incredibly hard to get to this place.

And what a journey it's been. :)

I'm so fortunate he's my son and wouldn't trade the nearly 3 years with him for anything.

Happy Wednesday!

Check out Lisa's blog, The Long Road to China for many more black and whites.

And meet some wonderful people too.

18/52 - hard work and commitment

I've mentioned before that this is Grace's first year and experience taking dance.

In 3 weeks she'll be performing in her first recital.

She danced in a little Christmas show her school put on in December.

These girls have been working hard since last Fall for this special weekend.

She'll perform in 'Swan Lake,' and two other dances (one tap and one jazz).
You can really feel the excitement in the air at the studio...

She tells me ballet is her favorite and will also be taking it this Summer too!