Category: Travel

We woke up the last day of China Camp, had a quick breakfast at the hotel and got the girls dropped off. Then Mike, Dani and I headed back to get the place packed up and ready to check out. Mike’s sister Sharon was driving back down with our other niece Gwen so she could meet Dani and see the rest of us too. (So sweet for Sharon to make the drive twice).

Dani happily entertained herself while we cleaned everything up. We then went with Sharon and Gwen to grab lunch at Subway and then head back over to the church for the closing ceremonies. It was great to see that they shortened the time of this because in the past it has been too long and the kids are tired. Plus most people have to travel home. The girls did a great job – Amelie’s class did a song called “2 tigers” and Nadia’s class did Kung Fu.

Amelie’s song

Nadia’s Kung Fu

After the kids were dismissed we met up with the Cannon family for our yearly photo of the girls. We also had a nice visit with Sharon and Gwen.

Once we packed up and started on the road for home, Dani started to have an over-tired meltdown in the car. She put her little duck in her mouth and was swinging her head back and forth. Then she fell asleep like that which made me laugh.

This year we took a photo of Taggie at the back of the church. The drive home went well and we were so glad to have attended another successful China Camp. It was also a sweet time for Mike and I to spend with Dani and watch her maneuver around cast free.

On day two we dropped the girls off at camp and then headed over to the mall to walk around for a bit. Then we went back to the hotel to have leftovers for lunch and watch Dani work her way around the hotel room exploring and using her leg. After all of that she needed a nap before we could pick up the big girls from camp.

It may be hard to tell in the video, but she was working so hard and sweat so much just to get over to me and pull herself up.

We picked the girls up from camp and heard all about their fun day. Nadia was very excited about a parasol craft that she put so much detail into that she had to have help to finish it in time.  She told us that we could see it the next day after it was dry. Amelie was so tired that she needed a nap and Nadia just wanted to color before the family swim night.

For some reason Amelie was really nervous about swimming with the other kids and wanted Nadia to stay along the side with her. Nadia on the other hand wanted to swim and play and jump in with the big kids, so I told her to go ahead and do that. We had a good time and were able to chat with some parents we knew and meet some new parents. It was nice that it wasn’t as dreadfully hot as last year and the girls had so much fun. Then it was time to head back to the hotel and get our tired girls to bed.

We got up in the morning and got the big girls off to camp. Nadia was surprised to find that she was moving to upper camp so her and Amelie would be in two different parts of the building and on two different activity tracks, but she was very excited to be with the big kids. When I dropped Amelie off I saw that one of her teen counselors was the Dani that gave us the idea for our Dani’s name last summer. After that Dani, Mike and I headed over to Target. Dani needed a couple of new outfits since we had given away all the 2T clothes last year before we knew we were going to adopt again. I am thankful we also got some hand-me-downs from friends at church, but she still needed a few things to get through the summer. Dani made us laugh and laugh trying to get the clothes on while we were doing our other shopping.

We went to lunch at a pizza place called “Top That Pizza” and my little foodie split a pesto chicken pizza with me that was so tasty! We picked the big girls up and waited for Mike’s sister Sharon, Jade and Karsten to arrive. They were driving down from Missouri once Jade got off work, and then we were going out to eat at Fuddruckers since they were offering .99 kids meals! Nadia and Amelie had a great time at camp and told us about their day while we waited. Nadia liked Kung Fu and lunch. Amelie liked the bounce house the best.

After dinner we returned to the hotel for the girls to get ready for bed and then spend some time visiting. Nadia loves to draw with Karsten, and I know her wish to become a good artist came from all the drawings he did with her at China Camp 2 years ago. We had a great time laughing and talking until the girls were just too tired and had to go to bed.

*A highlight of the afternoon was when Dani saw Nadia put her rainbow loom bracelets on the ottoman and worked her way over to it and pulled herself up. We all clapped and cheered for her since it was the first time since the cast was removed that she tried anything like this!