ADOPTION DAY!!!!

On March 11, 2010 the Ugandan judge made me legal guardian of my sweet girl....On July 27, 2011 the American judge made me her mama forever!
(Think she's grown much???)

We had a wonderful day...

Waiting to go into the courtroom....Meeting the judge....Making it official...she's mine!Making it official...I'm hers!We were just a little excited...!!!We had a party at Jaja Nana & Jaja Papa's house. Dorie wanted Miss Bekka to do some facepainting...

Papa and friends got the barbeque going...

Uncle Freddie loved helping with the pinata....

And the day ended with a quick swim. A perfect day.

Lifelong Friends and Special Memories

My college friends are lifelong friends. You know the kind that you don't see for a while, but when you do, you pick up right where you left off? Like no time has passed? My college friends are like that. I love them so much! Look at this amazing group!! And we were missing some, too. (Love you, Ronda and Rachel!)

We've committed to getting together more often...we want our kids to grow up knowing each other. They had so much fun playing together. Made my heart so happy.

One Happy Girl!

We found a delicious East African restaurant very near our house. Though the food was technically Kenyan, there was enough crossover that I had one happy little girl! And I was one happy mama with my cup of African tea...how I miss that!This is the face of a tortured child...they brought out the food, but no plates. She had to wait and it was painful!!
So thankful for special friends who love exposing their kids to new cultures! Robyn and I have been friends since college. The kids had a blast together. The adults did, too, by the way!

Soccer Season

Dorie's second season of soccer has begun. She absolutely loves it! We are so thankful that she has many of the same teammates from her spring team. They are a welcoming, sweet bunch of families. Dorie really loves the girls and I really enjoy hanging out with the other moms so we are both happy. There is even another little girl who is adopted, which Dorie thinks is just so great!

Apparently Dorie is a naturally gifted athlete...it's a sweet thing to have other parents approach me to comment on how well she plays. I've even had one parent offer to personally coach her in track and field!

I must say I love soccer season. I am one proud mama!

And here they are (can't miss them, really)... the Glow Kix!

Anyone still here?????

I have been plagued by computer problems the past few months. My laptop screen died, so I bought a new desktop. Within a few weeks I was having problems with it. My sweet friend Karalyn loaned me her old laptop (I have been taking some online classes to be "highly qualified" to teach 6th grade math in September). Well, the power cord snapped in half. So I ordered a new one. It came quickly, but then her screen died. Seriously. Now my desktop is being sent back to the manufacturer for some repairs. I love when things break and they are still under warranty...it rarely happens for me.

But I do have a lot to say and a lot of photos to post. Hopefully someone is still around to read it. I know Sarah will be...she just bugged me on Sunday and told me I'd better post something soon.

So, Sarah (and anyone else who is still listening), give me a couple of weeks and my desktop should be back home. Then I promise to post photos and updates!!

Beach Day!

Even though we live so close to the beach, I have never taken Dorie. I'm not sure why...I guess the thought of sand in her hair just sounds miserable to me.

Today, on a whim, we drove down there for lunch. We went to Ruby's Diner on the Huntington Beach pier and then walked down to the water to get our feet wet. We didn't bring suits or anything...it was supposed to be overcast and cool. I forgot that we live in sunny southern California. The day was gorgeous! Needless to say, Dorie didn't exactly stay dry. She loved it! We just laughed and laughed. It was such a fun day!

The water was cold!

The waves were a little intimidating, too! I can't figure out how to upload the video, but here's a link...I love her giggles!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CpWbKtDQas

Heard At My House

Dorie is really developing a sense of humor. We were riding bikes in the park the other day. It was really windy, so she started singing "Dum-da-dah-da-dah-dum...Dum-da-dah-da-dah-dum..." like the scene from the Wizard of Oz where the witch is riding her bike in the twister. Then last night while getting ready for bed:

Dorie: Oh, I have a headache. It must be all that sugar.

Me: Sugar?! What sugar?!

Dorie: You...My Sugarbaby!

Oh geez. Total cheeseball. That's my girl.

Dorie's First Easter

Sorry for being late with this post! I only have a few shots, since BOTH of my cameras did not have fully charged batteries. Geez. When I was just the auntie I always had my camera and it was always fully charged. Not so much now that I'm a mom. What happened?

Anyway, Easter festivities officially started on Saturday with a combo egg dying and birthday party for cousin Maleah. It was Dorie's first time coloring eggs and she was so excited! She and Maleah were the last ones at the table...in it until the bitter end!
Very detail oriented! Dorie and cousin Makaela

After coloring eggs, Maleah and Dorie went with cousin Lily, Auntie Heather (Lily and Maleah's mom), Jaja Nana, and me for pedicures. So fun!

Sweet girl all decked out for Easter! I'm bummed the pretty pink-ness of her dress didn't show up in any of the pictures. Trust me, it was precious!

Dorie's Ugandan Easter basket. We had this especially made for her from one of the ladies at the local Friday market in Uganda. When we ordered it, Dorie had no clue what it was for!

Even on Easter, everyone has to be on the trampoline. Watch out for Uncle Mead!

Group shots are almost impossible...and Dorie was not helping much...well, she was trying to help get the little ones to smile, and she succeeded here. Too bad she didn't get her head up fast enough!

Another good shot of everyone except Dorie! Goof ball!

Happy First Easter, Sweet Baby Girl!!!

Tea for Two

This past weekend Dorie and I went on an adventure with some other women and their children. Dorie has been asking to go on a train ride, so we rode down to San Juan Capistrano. It was an absolutely perfect day. I had kept the whole day a secret, so it was great fun watching the surprises unfold.
First train ride...with new friend Juliana!

We arrived in San Juan Capistrano and made our way to the Los Rios Tea House, where I'd made reservations for "tea for two." The rest of the group decided to join us...uh, make that tea for 15! How fun is that?!

The tea house had pretty hats for the girls to wear. Dorie was so excited. Julie only wore hers for the picture.

Tea and scones are served....

She insisted on a picture with her tea. When the waiter suggested a nice, caffeine-free herbal tea, I knew it just wouldn't cut it with my Ugandan princess. She got the real stuff. Poured in the cream and sugar like a good Ugandan would. And loved it.

So overjoyed for her tea party! The tea house actually had a child's tea...pb&j finger sandwiches and fruit! Perfect!

Uh-oh...someone got ahold of the camera when mama wasn't looking!

After tea we walked across the street to this sweet nursery. Dorie wanted to buy some flowers to plant in our yard. When she very politely asked the price, the woman said she wanted to give both girls one for free!

Gotta do the goofy stuff sometimes...and yes, she asked to be the boy!

The grounds at the San Juan Capistrano Mission are absolutely spectacular!

All tuckered out on the way home...she missed most of it! What a fun day!