Disney on Ice and more

Rieley and Nadia at dinner
Rieley and Nadia at dinner, and more (click to see album)

We have some friends we met through the adoption community who have a little girl who is 6 months older than Nadia. When we met online we figured out that we were in the same province at the same time in 2007 and even stayed at the same places, but never met. Of course this was back when there were a lot more adoptions from China each year. It has been fun to become friends in real life even though they live in another city. Rieley was about to turn 8 and her parents were going to bring her to Dallas for “Disney on Ice,” and they invited Nadia to go along and celebrate with them. We were so happy that we were going to be home from China in time for Nadia to go on this “big girl” adventure. Tim, Kathy and Rieley came by the house first to meet Dani and then they were off to the show. Kathy said the girls had a blast and the show was great (Nadia talked about it for DAYS).

Tim and Kathy – Thank you so much for including Nadia in the fun.

Dani playing with Daddy's childhood truck Dani playing with Daddy's childhood truck

Dani playing with Mike’s truck from when he was 1 year old. So cute.

Amelie playing with Schoolhouse Cookies. Schoolhouse Cookies

Amelie playing with her food.

Amelie, Rieley and Nadia at dinner.
Amelie, Rieley and Nadia at dinner.

After the show we met up for dinner at Niki’s Italian and it was delicious as always. The girls told us about the show and the parents visited. Near the end of our meal a guy dressed like Captain Jack Sparrow came in and sat down to eat by himself. Nadia wanted to say hi and ask him if we was a “good pirate or bad pirate” and he told her that he was good. I thought she might like a photo with him, but I think she got embarrassed. After we said our goodbyes to the Easons we headed home where Mike introduced Dani to an important part of life. 😉

Dani with Lightsaber

Dani with Lightsaber

Dallas Blooms 2014

Dallas Arboretum - March 2014
Dallas Arboretum - March 2014 (click to see album)

The Dallas Arboretum plants over 500,000 spring bulbs each year in preparation for the Blooms event and the display is amazing. Here are just a few of my favorite photos from our day.

Dallas Blooms 2014

Dallas Blooms 2014

Dallas Blooms 2014

Dallas Blooms 2014

Easter 2014

This Easter I have the same message as I did the last – in fact the only thing different is that last Easter we didn’t have a clue we would be adding another child to our family 🙂

Easter is the most important holiday even though it has been covered over via bunnies, eggs and chocolate. It’s about the most amazing thing ever done in the history of the world. The horror of the crucifixion has past and Jesus rose from the dead fulfilling all of God’s promises from the Old Testament. It’s a gift for all – freely given if you only believe.

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Joy to the World, He is Risen.

Dallas Arboretum – March 28, 2014

This was the best family photo we could get all day.
Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014 (click to see album)

While the Petermans were here the Dallas Blooms event was going on so we made plans to see the flowers and attempt photos with the kids. First off, the flowers were amazing and I loved the tulips so much!!!! I am going to do a separate post just to put the flower photos in because they are so pretty. Dani was so upset at any movement towards group photos and pretty much stayed cranky the entire day, but we just rolled her along in the wagon and continued on our way.

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014
Dani wanted no part of this family photo. 😉
Cranky Dani
I can’t stop laughing at this one. Oh how I love her!

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014
In the end Mike got a smile or two out of Dani.
Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014
Group shot at the end of our day.

And now for my favorite photo of the day – Mike and Randy. After all the flowers and girly stuff they did this for me. Total awesomeness!

Dallas Arboretum - March 28, 2014