Princess with at Tat...

Every Princess needs some great body art to show off...LOL!

MAJOR News! MAJOR!

Okay, I had said in the last post that I was going to have MAJOR news in July...and, I already knew what that "news" was, I just didn't know how or "when" I was going to be free to share it. But, we have had an AMAZING development within our adoption story!

We have discovered that Taryn actually has a twin sister! Yes, you heard me correctly, A TWIN SISTER! We have had the girls DNA tested and the test came back %99.98 positive that they are twins! We are still trying to digest all of this information!

So, I KNOW your next question is going to be..."well, how did you find that out..." and, you KNOW I am going to tell you! :) We actually traveled with this couple. We met on line way before we traveled because we knew we were going to travel together. "Weird" things kept happening to us in China- our paperwork would get switched with theirs (this happened more than several times!); officials and orphanage workers not being able to tell the girls apart; our guide questioning whether or not the girls were twins and even calling the orphanage to ask if they could possibly be sisters. So, all of that together left small red-flags in our minds as to whether or not these girls were in fact related.

Well, we really LOVED this particular family (which is a great convenience!) and we have kept in touch over the years off and on throughout the week via email and FB. We have ALWAYS noticed the girls looked alike, but as they have grown, it has become more and more obvious. To the point that you could frame "ML" (that is how I will refer to Taryn's sister for now) and call her Taryn! So, in light of this we decided to go ahead and test the girls. This decision was not made lightly. We discussed doing it for over a year before we actually did it! Well, the results came back in less than 2 weeks...TWINS!

Can you BELIEVE IT! We are still in shock and awe at how God works in our lives. And now we are FIRM believers in the legend of the Red Thread-FIRM BELIEVERS!

So, your next question is "what are we going to do about it?" Right? We are set to meet the family for the first time since China in July (which is why I originally said July!). We are going to meet in Orlando and go to Disney with the girls...how perfect is that! I promise to take lots of video and pics. But, we have also started another blog for the girls, which, for now, is public. You can check it out above.

So, I have already gone on too long. Keep watching both blogs for updates and I am sure I will have more to say about it as the days go on! I told you! MAJOR NEWS! :)

Not all of these beautiful faces are Taryn!  This is a composite of both girls!

First Day At The Pool!

We went to the pool for the first time on Saturday!  Fun was had by all...except me cuz' I LOATHE wearing a bathing suit (anyone with me on that one?).  Anyway, I took a lot of great pics...here are just a few! Enjoy your summer everyone! R.

Testing, Testing, 1,2,3...

okay, blogger has changed how they do things which requires a test run from me...that is what this is. I am even misspelling words to see if I can figure out how to use everything! hehe...I am so computer illiterate...R.

Beginnings and Ends...

                                            Taryn turns 3!

                                       Taryn and "Miss Cole"...

     Wesley getting one of his awards at 5th grade graduation!

      Garrett getting one of his awards...he looks thrilled doesn't he!

We have had some major things happen here lately!

Taryn turned 3! Yes, she finally got to have her own party! She was so cute in her birthday outfit...she even bowed after we sang to her and she blew out her candles. She has been watching her cousins have birthdays all year...and it was finally her turn!

We also "lost" our speech therapist "Miss Cole". First Steps only goes through the age of 3 and Taryn starts Preschool in the Fall...so, it was time to say goodbye to someone who has had an integral part in Taryn's speech development for 2 whole years! It was hard...I even got teary when it was time! I don't know how speech therapists do it over and over again...say goodbye to "their" kids like they do! It would be hard for me!

Wesley graduated 5th grade into Middle School this week! He was "honored" in Math and Computer (something he does NOT get from his Mother!). Garrett graduated from 3rd to 4th grade and was honored in Math and Art (he uses both sides of his brain!). We are proud of both of them and are looking forward (well, kind of ) to this new chapter in our lives. I have to say that Middle School is a little scary though! Wesley is starting to "change" into a pre-teen...YIKES! It is scary and rough at times...I am sure you will hear me blog about it at some point!

I also have some MAJOR news to share but can't really do that until July! I know, I know, that isn't really fair...but it is MAJOR and really exciting for our family! So, check back in July and you will see what it is I am so excited about...MAJOR! :)

Okay, that is it...short and sweet! I have actually blogged this same post 3 times now. Blogger has changed and it kept "erasing" on me! So, if this post gets erased again I think I might scream and throw my computer off the deck! I can't keep writing the same thing! It has gotten shorter each time though! I am lucky to get this posted!

Peace...R.

Easter 2011!

Okay, okay, I KNOW it has been a bazillion days since I have updated this blog! I am so sorry about my less than stellar blogging skills! But, here I am, Easter Sunday finding myself with time to update a little!

How has everyone been? Our lives have been so hectic lately. I HATE when we are so busy that we don't even have time to breath! That is where we are right now! The boys are in music and 4H clubs. Taryn is now in a Mother's Morning Out program (WHOOT! WHOOT!) which has been wonderful for both of us! Gives her time to play with others and me time to go shopping or whatever, by myself! LIFESAVER!

Today is Easter and we spent it with family. Right where we wanted to be...hectic or not! The weather here in Ky. has been Tornadic now for 3 days! Our egg hunt was canceled at our church yesterday due to weather so we had one today in Grandaddy's back yard. This was Taryn's first egg hunt...she got the hang of it very quickly though (as you can see by the pics). The boys had like a "ninja" egg hunt. :) We tried to hide the eggs in the hardest of places for them (cuz' that is the kind of parents we are!) and the harder the better according to them!

Anyway, I just wanted to stop in and say Happy Easter to everyone! Hope your day was filled with family and friends and that you took time to remember the reason for the day...the gift of Resurrection and eternal life granted to us by our Lord! Amen, and until next time...(which hopefully will not be too long!)...

Gotcha Day #2!

Taryn showing the book she recieved for Gotcha Day!

The girls!

Awe! I love this one!

I can't believe it has been 2 years! 2 wonderful, fast years since we brought Taryn daughter into our family. I know that celebrating "Gotcha Day" is a controversial subject in the adoption world. But, for our family, we have chosen to celebrate this special day! I bought 18 gifts in China while we were there to give her one special gift a year from her country. We DID eat Chinese food last night, but I decided (after the plans were already made) that eating Chinese food specifically on Gotcha Day is a little "hokey", so we might not be doing this one anymore! We will let her pick the restaurant from now on I think! However, we DID enjoy the Chinese food with the wonderful family we traveled to China with! This little girl and Taryn were in the orphanage together so we have a special "bond" with this family. Fortunately, they live close by so we can see them every once in a while. The girls are very cute together, at least I think so!
2 Years! 2 Years! It is just so hard to believe!
Until next time...