Happy 4th of July

We had a great 4th, we started our day with breakfast outside.

this shot was right next to our table




smelling more flowers.

we spent most of the day at the pools, Jadyn has never been in a pool.
She was pretty nervous at first.






That didn't last long and she was ready to play!



this helicopter flew over the pool area and dropped thousands of tropical flowers, some had tags attached you could turn in for gifts! The kids really enjoyed watching this.

On our way to have ice cream.

Today we are going to Maui Ocean center. We are told they have a special dive planned for Jadyn.

We made it to Maui!
This place is amazing! The weather, the breeze, the scenery. I could move here tomorrow!.

Make a Wish has gone beyond what we expected, Jadyn has been treated like a Princess today.

Our name was called over the intercom before pre-boarding at the airport in our home town, they invited us to board early as VIP's. Once in Seattle, we were greeted by a Alaska Air employee who had a lei for Jadyn and a bag full of treats. She took us to the VIP section for more snacks and to meet some employees who were anxious to say hi to Jadyn. The pilot also invited our family to have our photo taken in the cockpit. I clearly instructed the kids not to touch anything, just as Jadyn grabs a large steering type device.

We landed in Maui and were greeted by and beautiful lady who had fresh, purple lei's for each one of us. We felt like royalty today.

they smell so beautiful!



The boys even enjoyed wearing them.

Our hotel resort is beautiful. It has an open air lobby, Jadyn really enjoys the birds and fish. Jeron loves to stand behind this waterfall.

I don't know if I'll be doing a update everyday, the Internet here is slow!
These pictures took an hour to upload.

(Dad, the Koi fish are huge, you would be impressed!)

Aloha!

Look Out Maui, Here Comes Jadyn!

We leave first thing tomorrow morning for this....



and this!

We are packed and ready to go. Our flight is wayyy too early, but we will deal with it!

Check our blog over the next few days, as I will try and update often.

Boats, Beaches and Dry Bottoms

We finally had a free weekend with sunshine. We got our boat cleaned up last week hoping that the nice weather would hold. We wanted Jadyn to experience her first time in the boat.

After the hunt for a blown fuse, we finally got out on the river. (Good job Daddy) Jadyn loved the boat, she showed no fear even when Daddy decided to "open it up" as he calls it.

I, for the first time and hopefully the last, forgot to replace my memory card in my camera. So these pictures were taken with my cel phone.

Jadyn tried to climbed out of the boat and jump into the water when we got to the beach. She wasn't to impressed with the temperature, it made your feet numb pretty fast. She really enjoyed playing along the shore line.

Jadyn is going to have to learn some river/ beach etiquette quickly, she was upset every time she got sand on her hands or feet. And after a couple juice bags, she had to go potty. How do you explain to a 3 yr. old that you have potty trained to use one means of...... well, you get it.

The river or bushes just was not going to work for her! She was plain miserable trying to hold it. Next time the potty chair is coming the the river with us! Just in case your wondering, Yes, she did finally go.

"you want me to go where?"

enjoying checking everything out


Jeron will show her the ropes, this boy has spent hours here on this very beach!

Grandpa and Flowers

Jadyn got to meet her other Grandpa this weekend. He is on vacation visiting his siblings and happened to be close enough for us to make a day trip to see him.

They were very excited to see each other.

love at first sight



and the hug!

Grandpa's brother has such a beautiful yard, it is full of all kinds of flowers. Jadyn really enjoyed smelling all of them



This was her favorite flower

I had to remind her a couple times that we are just smelling!

No flowers were actually picked during our visit!


Despite a case of bed head and the sun shinning in just the wrong place, this is one of my favorite pictures. She is watching a bee with such interest.


Thank you Grandpa, for a great day!

No Nap

This is a result of no nap today. This doesn't happen very often, thank goodness!

7:30 pm

It's so rare, that I think it's funny when she gets in these moods. So out came the camera, which she wasn't too happy about either

She tried to block my view of her in any way she could

She's saying "no smile Mommy"



Her fingers and blanket always make her feel better


This picture really shows Jadyn's personality, she just couldn't stay cranky when I tickled her!

We simply adore this little girl!

Smile

Ames and the kids got me a light meter for Mother day and studio lighting for my birthday. I'm trying to learn how to use it, correctly. Jadyn is the only child in our house that will actually sit and smile for me. The boys will entertain her in the background but prefer to stay behind my camera.

Don't laugh, I wanted to see if she had enough hair for braids!


Maybe it needs to grow a little longer.

More practice. She's on the horse again, because she stays put loves him!

Jadyn, Thank you for being so patient with Mommy.

I love you!!

Memory Lane

I can hardly believe it's been 10 months since we met Jadyn!. She has grown and changed so much, she was so baby-like. Now she is a busy, talkative, happy little girl.

August 3, 2009



Oh how I loved this moment, she hasn't done this for months!


She still wears her bracelet daily


May 2010
10 months, 10 pounds, and lots of love!
ohh and some hair!
I had my camera on the wrong setting, but like the pose: (


It's boring hard work being a model for Mommy

Hawaii

We have some wonderful news! We have not shared this with too many people, yet we've known for some time now.

Jadyn has been selected and is receiving a WISH from a wonderful foundation called Make a Wish. I'm sure most of you have heard of this foundation and connect it to terminally ill children. I want to calm your thoughts, and tell you Jadyn is not terminal. This foundation grants wishes to children who have a life threatening illness as well. Children, like Jadyn, who's heart if left un-repaired would have been fatal.

Our daughter fought a very tough battle living with a un-repaired heart for 2 years in a poor orphanage. And getting handed over to funny talking white people she is being told are her 'Mommy & Daddy'. Just two short weeks after coming home from China, Jadyn had her first open heart surgery. Her oxygen levels so low, she had doctors and nurses coming into her hospital room; to meet the little girl who lived with these levels that would have killed most.

goofy girl!

Just look at her now. We are so proud of this little girl and so excited for her to experience this gift. Jadyn's wish has been granted for her and her family to travel to the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii for a week of fun, sun, and sand!
We are so excited to witness our daughter seeing an ocean for the first time, swimming in a pool, and playing in the sand.

Jadyn has never been able to enjoy a summer. She was not allowed to play outside in China as the Nannies worried about her heart. We arrived home from China on August 14 2009, and she was in and out of doctor appointments and the hospital the for rest of the summer. Needless to say that her summer fun was cut very short. Jadyn will celebrate her first 4th of July in Hawaii. We leave on Saturday, July 3rd.


I'm hoping Jadyn will enjoy learning these moves!

A week after we get home, Jadyn will have her final heart surgery.

Construction Zone

UPDATE:

It's done, I hope you like it!

My Blog is getting a little professional face life.

So if things look a little weird the next few days thats why!