Summer in high gear!

Our friends Kate and Doug are here visiting us from Hong Kong. Marlee is really enjoying the company. Its a good ole american summer day with hotdogs, swimming, sprinklers and other backyard fun! Here Marlee (2 1/2) plays with Evan (4 1/2), and Nathan (2). They sure do love those hotdogs!

She Measures Up!

Marlee is an absolute joy! Here she is posing at the Newport Aquarium just south of Cincinatti, OH.

One year ago yesterday....

we saw these images for the first time

:

And here's the light of our lives today. She's been with us for 10 months. We love this beautiful, brilliant, strong, funny, talented, amazing child more than words can describe. The wait may have been excruciating, but she was worth every minute and more. Hang in there, waiting parents!

Feeling at Home

It has been such an amazing journey. I can't believe we have had Marlee for 10 months! Sometimes it feels like she has always been with us. She is quickly turning from a baby into a bright and happy little girl. We went fishing together. She follows directions so well and was really able to participate.
	We planted some roses together in the front garden.
Marlee decided to have a picnic in the living room (I mean the park) with her friends.

Marlee meets Uncle Bill and Aunt Beth

My brother and sister-in-law came to town to meet Marlee this weekend. We had a great time and look forward to meeting the newest addition to their family in the fall (Marlee is going to be a "big cousin"!).

Marlee and Mia together again!

Marlee and Mia were best friends at the Zhanjiang Social Welfare Institute in China. They were adopted at the same time (nine months ago), and their parents became friends, too. We were all able to get together for a fun-filled weekend to celebrate Mia's second birthday. Here are some pictures of our beautiful, thriving girls. We're all so proud!

Marlee and Addison

Lou and I have moved several times, and we've learned the value of finding good friends at each stop along the way. We recently met the Greaney's. John and Kathy are a lot of fun, and their daughter, Addison, is Marlee's age. Actually, we met through the kids (Marlee and Addison took gymnastics together), and they have become great friends, too. Here are a few pictures of the girls on recent outings to the zoo and Children's Museum. Aren't they adorable?