Natalie and the Newfs On a Nature Walk

We're ready to Go!


Seriously, let's get going!


A view inside our clown car.  People can't believe we all fit.


Pinnacle Mountain in the distance


Family portrait


Natalie developed a fondness for runners when she watched the Marathon last month.  She still likes to cheer for them, give them applause and wave to them as she is doing in the picture below.


It was a beautiful spring day with a gorgeous blue sky


Katie and Louie enjoyed the cool morning walk.

Slide

Tomorrow marks 5 months since we brought Natalie home from China to the Happy Haus.  Physically she has grown about 3" and gained 5 pounds since we met her.  Intellectually she has learned a great deal of English as well as how to do hundreds of things that 2 year olds know how to do.  Emotionally she has come to realize that she is so very loved by her Mommy and Daddy.  Her nightmares have become infrequent. I think Natalie is starting to have faith that her family is for real and forever.

As of yesterday I am letting her play on the big kids' playground at school for a few minutes after I arrive to pick her up.  I was amazed as I watched her today to see how much more confident she looked than when she tried out the equipment for the first time yesterday.  When I arrived at school she ran to me with a huge smile on her face and was laughing as I picked her up into my arms.  Then she started pointing at the playground which adjoins her "baby" playground. As she pointed she said "outside, outside" like she wasn't already outside :)

A Visit From the Easter Bunny

Miss Messy Chocolate Face

A Dream Come True

During the years we were waiting for Natalie I spent a lot of time training Katie and Louie.  One of the things I trained them to do is to pull kids around in their little red wagon.  Last weekend we finally we got to take our own daughter for a ride.  It was so much fun.  I think Katie had the best time of all; her tail was wagging almost the whole time.






Let's get this show on the road!






Louie gets a turn at pulling the wagon.



It's so wonderful to see a dream we visualized for so long become reality.

Hoppin' Down the Bunny Trail

Natalie, Katie and Louie are getting ready to go hoppin' down the bunny trail


After the official photo session was over we got this beautiful smile :)


Ready to be picked up

A Trip to The Zoo

Natalie looking at the monkeys


The monkeys were busy exploring some cardboard boxes they had just been given.


Daddy and Natalie in the bird house




It was amazing to see this bald eagle sitting so calmly on this man's arm.  These 2 have worked together for 10 years.


Hi Mr. Tiger




Riding the Arkansas Horse on the Carousel




Whee!

Looking at the Giraffes








Feeding the Lorikeets






Thank goodness for the glass between them.  Otherwise Natalie would probably walk right up to the Lion and try to pet it.