Forever Family Day

Today is Forever Family Day and also Forever Friends Day. Four years ago today we became a family of three (plus one dog). We shared the day with our travel mates, who became families of three, four, even five, and who also became our treasured friends.

Each year we say how much Bryn has changed our lives and how much we love her, and each year I think we should be saying more. But there are only so many ways to say how incredibly lucky and proud we are to be the parents of such an amazing little girl and how much joy she has brought into our lives.

Happy Forever Family Day, Bryn. We love you to the moon and back -- a boogazillion times. To paraphrase our girl, "A boogazillion million plus the universe, plus as high as an apartment, plus all the way to Jupiter, plus 24 and 63 and all the other high numbers." And more every day.

Today, Forever Family Day is being celebrated by our friends from Vancouver to P.E.I. and points between. To our Forever Friends, we miss you and hope the day brings special memories for your families. Hugs and love to you and your girls!

Our first night together in Beijing and the beginnings of a smile.

Bryn with her Chinese passport. The photo on her passport was

taken about an hour after we first held her. As you can see, she wasn't

as happy to meet us as we were to meet her!

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Party Girl

We're ready to party!

Wishing you all much love, health and happiness in 2011!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all the Merriest Christmas ever.

xxoo

Super Girl, m&m and a Minja

Bryn had a great time at Halloween this year. She was super excited because not only was she going Trick or Treating she also had a Halloween party at her school.

Supergirl for her school party.

Mrs. C (Bryn's preschool teacher) went all out and the party was lots of fun. The kids got to decorate and eat their own cookies, sing songs and make crafts.

There was even a fish pond with fun surprises.

Since her Supergirl costume wasn't very warm, Bryn was an m&m candy for Halloween. Jessie was Yoda again -- and not very happy about it. (Maybe if I get her a different costume next year she'll be more co-operative for photos.)

The costume inflated with a little battery operated fan. Bryn thought it was the funniest costume she'd had "in her entire life".

Off to get some treats!

A tired but happy m&m.

After Halloween I took advantage of the cheap prices on costumes to stock up Bryn's dress up clothes. This is one of her favorites, a "minja".

She even composed her own theme song!