Vacation 2010 - Day 1

Lauren at the St. Louis airport waiting for our next flight.

Enjoying the resort pool slide.

Ella enjoying the smaller slide.

Lauren and Ella.

This year we meet our good friends Kim and her daughter Ella in Orlando. Kim's parents joined us for the first week and allowed us to join them at their time share for that first week.

We left very early Friday morning and with a layover in St. Louis arrived in Orlando in time for dinner and a nice evening swim. Lauren enjoyed going down the big slide and swimming in the pool but most of all Lauren enjoyed seeing her friend, Ella.

It was a long day but it was so nice to be on vacation.

Happy 7th Birthday Lauren

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!!

Lauren this morning before we left for church. Lauren has always wanted to bring treats to school on her birthday. However, since she has a summer birthday that does not work. So we decided to bring them to sunday school instead.

Lauren received a card in the mail from Build a Bear for her birthday. It included a free animal. So after church we went there to get her free animal. They lady at the store told me that only a few kids gets the free animal cards. I guess it was Lauren's lucky day!!

Lauren with her new dog.

Lauren turned 7 years old today. I can't believe that she is seven years old and that I have had her for 6 years. It is just crazy how fast time flies by. This morning Lauren told me she felt that her arms and legs had grown now that she was 7. Although she is 7 years old she will always be my baby!!

Family Birthday Party

Posing for Mom

Having fun in the pool

Lauren and Blaire

Opening her cards and presents.

Lauren

Blowing out the candles.

Dinnertime.

Reading to Sammie and Jacob.

Saturday we celebrated Lauren's birthday with a family birthday party. We had a cookout and the kids swam a few times. Lauren had a great time and received so many nice things. It was a fun night.

Camp Zoo

Lauren is attending Zoo Camp this week. She really wanted to go to this camp so I signed her up for it this year. After the first day I was not sure she was going to last the week. I think she missed hanging out with her cousins and swimming all day. But as the week has gone on she likes it more and more. She goes to swimming lessons right after I pick her up from camp. She is a very tired girl when she goes to bed.

Fun with Sammie and Jacob

Lauren and Jacob!

Parade Time

Lauren, Sammie and Jacob all dressed up.

Saturday night Lauren and I went over to Brian and Diane's home. Diane and I were sewing some things and so the kids just played. They decided to have a parade and I had to get some pictures of the cuties.

Doesn't Jacob look so cute in his new glasses. He is so cute!

Vacation Bible School

Lauren on the big screen.

Lauren attended VBS this week. The theme was about Joseph. Lauren really seemed to enjoy it. Friday afternoon they had the VBS program. There was over 900 children that attended so the stage was pretty full. The only time I really saw Lauren was when she was on the big screen. I remember attending VBS when I as little and it is so fun to watch Lauren attend now.

Referral Day plus 6 years

I took this picture tonight before we went to swim lessons. Lauren was in one of her silly moods. (She was also eating goldfish, which is the orange color in her mouth.)

She always asks me if that is really her.

This is one of the referral pictures I received a few days after I got Lauren's referral. She was a very cute little baby!

6 years ago today I received word that I had a daughter waiting for me in China. What special day that was and what great memories. It is hard for me to believe that it has been 6 years since that day.

I can't believe I am the mother of this wonderful, funny, smart, beautiful, young lady. She brings so much joy to my life. When every I see her or think about her or hear her she brings happiness to my day. I am one very lucky mother.