Saturday, May 29, 2010

Playing Serious Catch Up

So far this Spring, I have been quite busy taking photos of other families - something that I am loving doing- but it has left me little time for updating my own blog or reading other blogs. I am still trying to figure out how to balance my new workload with ease, and blogging has just been forced to fall at the bottom of my list. I have yet to see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of other things that are on my plate right now, but I refuse to give it up completely. So, I am going to attempt to play catch up with this post. It's going to be rather long and photo-heavy. You've been warned. :) This is just a bit of what we've been up to...

All Spring, we've been keeping a watchful eye on the wreath on our front porch. The girls checked it every morning before they left for school. One day recently, this is what they found.

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There is only one who has been watching it more carefully than we have... Mama Bird.
And let me just tell you - she is scary!!
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But, she's a good Mama. She's constantly bringing a beak-full of worms back to her little babies. And my, they are growing fast!!
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As you all know, Spring at our house = Soccer, soccer & more soccer.
Leila has had a great season, which is ending this weekend with their final tournament.
She has found her place on the team as the starting goalie. Although she enjoys playing other positions as well, this is where her sweet spot seems to be.
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Kara's 5th grade choir held their Spring performance last week, featuring "Oliver Twist." Kara was cast as an orphan. Don't get me started on this topic. You may notice she is the only girl not covered in dirt and ragged clothing. I happen to think that spending 11 years of her life as an orphan is quite enough, thankyouverymuch. Ironically, this is a dress that she brought with her from China. Regardless of how she was cast, I was proud of my girl. She spoke not a word of English 11 months ago, and now she is performing with her 5th grade choir.

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Her teacher gave Kara a flower at the end of the performance.
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Last week, I shot the cover photo for the 2011 COFCC Calendar, featuring these little cuties below. (This is not the cover photo. This is the post-session popsicle treat.) If you are an adoptive parent of a child from China, stay tuned for more details on how you can participate in this calendar!
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This morning, I took Kara & Mia to the Asian Festival. I really do not like crowds. At all. The thought of parking my car miles away and catching a shuttle bus is just not appealing to me. Instead, I try to beat the crowd and arrive early to secure a decent parking spot. Yep, I'm one of those people. LOL. So, we arrived an hour early and walked around the beautiful grounds, of course snapping pictures along the way.
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Oh. My. Word!!! This is the coolest sport I have ever seen!! It is called Sepak Takraw and looks much like volleyball, but hands are not allowed. Instead, they use their heads, as in soccer, and their feet, as in hacky sack. They even serve with their feet! Using moves similar to martial arts, they are able to rotate in the air and get their feet up over the net. Seriously, this was just the coolest thing.
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And, as we were sitting watching some of the pavillion performances, we were thrilled to see some very near and dear friends.... aka Mia's BFFs. They adore Kara, too. They always come running to her yelling, "Da Xin, Da Xin." Too cute!!
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And at this point in the day, after we had been at the festival in the seriously hot sun for five hours, it was our cue to leave as Mia began a mini-meltdown as Kara gave the other girls piggy back rides. Mia doesn't like sharing her sister too well. It's rather sweet that she adores "her Kara" so much, but we're working on the sharing her part. ;)

Whew, now I feel better to have some of this documented. Now next month when my horrible memory fails me, I have it all here in writing.

And in closing, I want to wish all of my friends
a very Happy Memorial Day weekend!!
Thanks to all of those brave men & women who have served,
or are currently serving, this great country!

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13 comments:

Tisha said...

Michelle,

What a wonderful update. Your photography is so beautiful and vivid. I feel like I am right there in each of your pictures. And those pictures of the baby birds; they look like they are straight out of National Geographic!

You must be so proud of Kara and her choir performance. Who would ever know that she has been here such a short time!

I always enjoy seeing photos of Leila and her soccer. Starting goalie, way to go! Good luck with the tournament.

And Mia. . . What more can one say about that effervescent smile of hers! How sweet that she is so loyal to Kara.

I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Glad to see you are all doing so well.

Blessings,
Tisha

Michelle said...

Absolutely amazing photos, the girls, the birds, wow! Great update!!

fleur de lis cottage said...

I'm so behind on blogging (my own and catching up with everyone else). Love your update. Always love seeing what you and your beautiful girls are up to!

Have a great Memorial Day!!

Missy said...

I've missed you, Michelle! While I do keep up on FB, somehow it's just not the same! This update was just what I needed :) The pics of the baby birds are soooo sweet! What a great thing to observe for your girls. I am SO proud of Kara and all she has accomplished in her short time here. Good for mama not to put that beautiful girl in rags and dirt on her face...that kinda stuff burns me up! Grrr!
Congrats to Leila on her great soccer season. She looks so athletic!!!
I love the pics from the asian festival. I am one of THOSE people, too. I arrive everywhere early just to avoid chaos.

Anyway, congrats to all you've had going on! Miss you!

a Tonggu Momma said...

Thanks for updating... you've been missed. Great to hear an update on all three of your girls and the robins, too. (Saw that on Facebook... they are gorgeous.)

Shirlee McCoy said...

Michelle, you are an unbelievable photographer. Thank you for letting me view your world through the lens of your camera.

Mei Mei s and Mayhem said...

Nice catching up with you.

I have to say that is the wildest sport I have ever seen. How do those guys come out of those kicks???

ellieshine said...

wonderful catch up! Love love love the photos, really beautiful. I think the photo of Kara & Mia in front of the flowers is amazing! Just stunning. Can't blame Mia for not wanting to share Kara - she is a pretty special sister. (and a pretty sister too!)

Roselawn said...

I always love looking at your beautiful pictures! You truly have a gift for photography!

Steffie B. said...

Beautiful inmages as always Michelle....I love the one of the girls in front of the flowers....darling.... ;)

Chasing Dreams Photography said...

Michelle I am so behind!!!!! I'm trying to keep up but let me tell you...it's not easy sista!!! I love the pictures...the pictures of the birds are awesome!!!!! And the girls are so beautiful!!!!! Happy to hear that your photography business is on fire!!!! You are good girl!!!! You will find the right balance : )

JinXiu said...

looks like you have been very busy

i really enjoyed all your catch up photos. beautiful as ever

mom said...

glad you had fun at the Asian festival. Wish i could have been there, but we were had two soccer tournies in 2 diff cities. How did Layla's tournament go?