What I did during my vacation...

Spent a few minutes catching up with Sleeping Beauty.

I hit the pool as much as I could. Went out to dinner.
Had a visit from my Uncle Pookers.
Took a nap during the parade at Disney World.
Went shopping and picked out a new Snow White doll.

Visited with Belle

Showed off for the boys.

Played some golf with dad.

Played in the pool.

Giggled alot with my new friend.

Had fun being silly.

Had a chat with Cinderella about where she got her gloves.

Checked out some cute boys.
Went to Pooh Corner.

Home 1 Year.

Happy First Adoption Day MG!

Can't believe it's been a year since the judge said Grace Viktoria was ours. What a year it has been for our little girl. She has gained 10 pounds and grew 7 inches. She loves her food and I'm not talking PB and J, she wants a real meal. A tough chore when Mommy isn't the best cook. Her favorite right now is Mena's cinnamon rolls. Seriously, she inhales them!

She is a such sweet little girl with a wild, silly side that makes you laugh out loud when she gets going. She still loves her shoes and trying on new clothes that mommy brings home. (oh the shopping for girls :)

We are so lucky to have found each other. While the journey was long and just gruelling at times it was so worth the wait! No question this has been the best year ever. Really I could go on and on ... but tonight we will celebrate with family and tomorrow we are off to Disney World and we need to get ready! Doesn't get much better!

Grace - beauty, sunrises, singing birds, blossoming flowers. All those things that remind us why life is worth living. Heaven on earth. A star to light your life.
~Urban Dictionary

One year ago right after court going to get her passport picture taken.

One year ago tomorrow...leaving the baby home forever.

National Lampoon's Photo Session

What do you get when trying to photograph an 8-year-old, a 5-year-old, THREE 2-year-olds and a 3-week-old baby ... COMPLETE CRAZINESS. (but lots of laughs)
In theory it sounded great...we'll get together and grab a few pics of the kids for the grandparents for Christmas and then have a little dinner. It was October ... it was nice out ... we had a bag full of bribes, including cupcakes with tons of frosting ... no problem. 350 shots later there were only a handful of keepers. Although all of the pictures in a photo storybook will tell a great story someday.
Luckily we were going for some casual fun shots because that is what we got. MG was still getting to know her silly cousins so most shots of her look like she is saying ... "What the heck is wrong with these kids?" Now, four months later she is just as silly as they are!

Groundhog Day. Gymnastics. Granite.

Last year on Groundhog Day we got the call to go back to Russia for court and bring MG home. It was a Monday and we needed to leave on Saturday! It has been a whirlwind ever since.

This year on Groundhog Day, MG went to her first gymnastics class. She did sooo good and loved it! We only saw tears (and some screaming) once...when they flipped her around on the uneven bars ... but who can blame her. She tried everything, waited for her turn and went at every activity with pure excitement. At the end of the class she got a stamp on her hand and piece of paper....she was so proud and marched out the door like she owned the place. It was priceless!

And last but surely not least ... 5 years ago on Groundhog Day Granite was born! Happy Birthday G!