I wonder if. . .

….what they say is true?

Will a frog REALLY turn into a prince if I kiss it?

I guess it won’t hurt to try…

What?

Nothin’?

You’re outa here buddy!

BLEH!!!!

(That was my take on the above pictures. In actuality, she was smooching that thing all over for the sheer joy of it. She loved that thing to the point that I told her she needed to let it go or it would die. I missed the shot (darnit) where she was kissing that frog up good before she put him back in the creek.  She later told me she was whispering to him how much she loved him and that is the reason she was letting him go. She then told him she was going to miss him as she gave him his freedom. Ahhhhh…..love, ain’t it grand?)

There is NO way. . .

NO WAY that I have a 14 year old. Nope.

Don’t believe it…no sir.

What????? I can’t hear you.

La La La La La La La La La La…

What?

Did you say something?

Gotcha!

3 years ago this very day, 1:45 local time, we walked out of an orphanage in Vsevolozhsk, Russia with our daughter Caroline Hope. She was 14 months old, weighed about 14 pounds with beautiful, soulful brown eyes.

After 2 LONG years, we were a family. Together at last!

Saying good bye to the only home she had ever known.

She cried pitifully for about 5-10 minutes in the car until she finally fell into a peaceful sleep on my chest. It was the first time I had held her while she slept.

We were dropped off at the hotel while Brent and Irina finished up all the last minute paperwork that is infamous with Russian adoption.

It was my first time alone with my daughter…

That was THREE years ago. Shocking. Was she really ever THAT little? Wow!

Here she was this morning…

What a beauty she has turned into.

We had Chinese food for dinner and an array of goodies for Caroline to chose from for her dessert. She of course ate it on her special “Gotcha” plate.

Here she is eating off of her plate for her 1st Gotcha day!

We love you Caroline and are so happy God led us to you half way around the world…..3 years ago today.

I have posted our Gotcha video before, but thought I’d bring it back for an encore.

 

Fun that never stopped. . .

We spend every spring break in Memphis with my parents, my sisters and the cousins. This year was no different. The kids look forward to it for months before (so does their mama).

One of the first days was rainy. So after seeing the movie “Rango” with Grandad, the kids decided to have a spa day.

  

We also always celebrate a gazillion spring birthdays!

Jackson turns 14 on March 27th….gasp!

Graceyn turns 3 on April 29th.

Angie turned 42 on March 20th.

Daddy turned 64 on March 22nd.

Daddy and his girls!

Another thing we always do is make smores…

 

Over spring break we ALWAYS dye Easter eggs…

The youngest 5 cousins… We always have Easter egg hunts (this year we added hats)…

The competition is fierce…trust me.

Angie’s youngest is 12, so she gets to silently observe from the sidelines.

  

Well, the Zoo of course!

Have you ever seen a Panda smile???

Lovin’ my parentals!

Who knew Charlie Sheen had been hanging around Memphis? Hee hee!

  Lucky us, the Zoo has a water park area.

Another little thing we always do (at least for the last 3 years) is celebrate a special little girl’s Gotcha Day!!!!! She is thrilled, can you tell? Lol

Tomorrow, March 25th, makes 3 years she has been home.

Soooo loved, soooo happy!

To be continued…