Now you see it, now you don't

No big plans this weekend, just running errands and doing chores. K's parents arrive on Wednesday, and then his brother's family arrives next Saturday night, and we'll all be celebrating his parents' 50th wedding anniversary next Sunday!

Here's what EJ did today:

BEFORE:

THE CUT:

AFTER:

The hair, all 9 inches of it, is wrapped tight in a ponytail and will be sent off to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program, where they make wigs for those undergoing cancer treatment. She loves her new cut and hasn't shut up about it all day. We just told her we didn't want to hear another word about her hair today!!! She's been wanting to cut it for a few weeks, but we had to leave it long for dance season.

While running our errands this afternoon, EJ and I stopped and picked 4 quarts of strawberries, and they are delicious! I made strawberry shortcake for the girls for dessert, and Sophie loved it...well, the berries and whipped cream parts.

Piano Recital

Tonight was the last of our end-of-year important dates...the piano recital! Here's a pic of EJ with her teacher, Miss A.

And now that I figured out video...look out! She did a great job. There is some amazing talent at this show, both with the younger students and the more advanced.

Okay, I don't take enough video to really know how to do this well, but after minimal effort (thank goodness for the software wizard!), I've managed to get video of her four dances up here! We are allowed to take video at dress rehearsal, but there will be a professional filming at the show tomorrow and we'll get a DVD a bit later in the summer.

Hip Hop:

Jazz:

Ballet:

And tap:

Dance 2009

Tonight was dress rehearsal for EJ's dance recital. I took a good book, but never even cracked the cover...this stuff is too cute to not watch. The wee ones are just adorable and make everyone giggle. EJ's in four classes this year, so we were there quite a while, but everything ran on schedule and we were done on time.

Hip hop, dancing to "Don't You Evah"

Ballet, dancing to "Dream Land"

Dressed as a bride for jazz, dancing to "Love Will Keep Us Together"

And last, but not least, dressed as a dog catcher for tap, dancing to "Who Let the Dogs Out?" This one will be a real crowd pleaser, as half the girls as dressed as dogs and the other half are dog catchers. Very cute.

EJ and I had just arrived at rehearsal, and I noticed that I had a message from K. Daycare had called and said that poor little Sophie was sick! So, he went to pick her up. They hung out at home and did puzzles and watched videos. She seemed okay. He was reading to her when EJ and I got home, and she was sick a little more right before she fell asleep. It's been going around daycare this week, and rumor has it that it's all over in about 8 hours, so we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Storyland!

We had a great weekend at Storyland...the weather, despite the forecast, was beautiful--mid 60s and sunny. We left early on Saturday morning and arrived at Storyland around 9:45 AM. It's about a 2 hour ride (in the off season). We were there until the park closed at 5, and then we checked in at the Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, NH. We've never been there, but it's a stunning historic hotel in a beautiful location. Not quite as fabulous at the Mount Washington Hotel, but much quieter...and MUCH cheaper! We had a fabulous dinner in the dining room and took a little walk around the property. Much to EJ's dismay, the outdoor heated pool wasn't open (it would take too much propane to heat it just yet). But she and Sophie had fun in the gameroom. We had a great breakfast this morning and then drove down the road a little to the Jackson Falls to take a few photos.

Family Day 2009

Today, we celebrate Family Day 2009! Two years ago today, shy and curious little Long Li Lei, now Sophie LiLei, was placed in our arms in the first floor conference room at the Gloria Hotel in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. It was a calm moment, not nearly as crazy as I expected it to be. Sophie was quiet, just studying us intently, unaware of the dramatic changes yet to unfold in her young life. We took her to our room and changed her, and she took a long peaceful nap. She wimpered a little when she woke up, wondering why everything around her was so new and different. EJ had her smiling and giggling in no time, and we've been head-over-heels in love ever since.

Today, she can tell you her story...that Mommy, Daddy, and EJ came to China to meet her, while she waited for us. And that the anis (nannies) took good care of her while she waited. She loves looking at photos, videos, and blogs of other families with stories like hers, and proudly says, "She's from China too, just like me!"

To read the blog posts while we were in China, click here. To read my one-year-later posts, where I recapped the trip and explained most of the photos, click here. At the bottom of each post, you can click Newer Post to follow it.

EJ's 10th birthday!

EJ celebrated her 10th birthday this weekend. My brother's family came for the weekend, and we had a great time. My niece went to school with EJ on Friday, and then EJ celebrated with her cousin and friends on Friday afternoon.

But first, her birthday gift. She couldn't decide what she wanted this year. One day, she happened to mention that she wished her room was painted aqua. It was just painted about 4-5 years ago in a nice lavender and I wasn't willing to undo that just yet. But I told her we could look for an aqua and purple comforter...and that kind of evolved into a room makeover for her gift. We rearranged the furniture, so it really does feel like a new room when you walk in!




Grandma and Grandpap H sent the cool "bendy" lamp, which EJ has wanted for a long time.

We even found a matching aqua area rug that's very shaggy for her "reading area" at the foot of her bed:

And these sheer aqua curtains make the room glow in the evening:

EJ found these cool curtain rods and matching tiebacks:

The view from her bed:

On Friday afternoon, she had a party at a local movie theater that has table service. We went to see Night at the Museum 2.


On Saturday (her real birthday), we went with the whole clan to southern Maine to have a lobster lunch (my niece wanted to have a whole lobster!). After that we walked around Portsmouth NH for a while. It was a beautiful day. That evening, my cousin and her daughter came for dinner, and EJ blew out the candles a second time on the leftover cake!

The three cousins snuggled up on the couch with their sock monkeys (thanks Uncle T!) and watched Paul Blart, Mall Cop:


Can you believe she's into double digits already? I can't! Happy Birthday sweetie!

Another unbelievable thing...you might remember that we left on EJ's 8th birthday to go to China, so it's been two years already since we traveled to meet Sophie. We'll be celebrating our 2nd Family Day this Thursday!