Updates from Olivia

 I've been in touch with Olivia just about every day of her China trip.

She is having such an amazing experience.  

Here are just a few of the photos she has sent me. 

Olivia texted me last week and said she had fallen in love with a "little sister." Yes, that's right... she feel in love with a little girl named Rose and begged us to adopt her.

Well, luckily we didn't have to make any decisions on whether or not to bring home child number 4.   Rose already has a family in the process of bringing her home.  :)

Rose will have a permanent place in Olivia's heart. 

Olivia sent me this pic and my heart melted too.. What a little doll!

Olivia and her group went to the Agape Children's Home.  This is an orphanage for kids who have brittle bone disease. 

At this facility they have children's artwork hanging on the walls for sale. 

The money for the artwork goes to support the children's home. 

Olivia bought this painting and they asked her if she would like to meet the little boy who painted it.  She of course, said "Yes!"

She met this budding artist and had him sign the painting. 

She can't wait to hang this in her room.  

Olivia's room is done in aqua blues and I think this pop of orange will be gorgeous in there. 

Olivia also had the chance to meet up with Jing Fei (Jennifer).  Jennifer is our newest exchange student and will be joining us for the 2014-2015 school year.  

Olivia says Jennifer is super sweet and is looking forward to her staying here. 

Olivia arrives home tomorrow afternoon.

I cannot wait to see her and hear more about her trip!

My Boy!

My boy...

Jack rarely lets me take his photo.

My girls are all about getting in front of my camera, but Jack avoids it.

I had a photo assignment last week.. "close up, raw, unfiltered"

I knew I wanted to capture Jack for this assignment.

It didn't take too much convincing, especially when I told him he didn't even have to smile. :)

I did have a small window of opportunity... after a sleep-over and before heading to the lake with a friend. 

I took this in my office at about 11:00am.  I have 3 beautiful floor to ceiling windows and the lighting is perfect.  This allowed me to capture those great catchlights in his eyes.

I did minimal processing and converted it to what I call "dirty black and white" 

I added noise to give it more of a film look.

I love my boy, his witty personality makes me laugh everyday.

She's off...

Olivia left for China yesterday morning!

This is a photo of her and I taken at the airpot.

I cannot tell you how excited I am for Olivia to travel to China for two weeks and serve in 6 different orphanages!

Not to mention, this is a perfect chance for her to use and improve on her 5 plus years of studying Mandarin.

I already miss her like crazy and I know these next two weeks are going to seem like two months. 

Olivia is also going to be able to meet our new exchange student who arrives the end of August.

How cool is that?   

I know this trip will leave a permanent marker on Olivia's heart. 

I cannot wait to hear all about it and see photos!

Jeff and I are passionate about raising our kids to have hearts for others and to think globally, despite the nay-sayers!  

I have a feeling.... this is just the beginning! 

Go Livs! 

Solo

 Jack had a solo again this year in the school choir concert.

He sang Benjamin Calypso from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. 

You may remember this post from last year... when Jack was Mr Morton from Schoolhouse Rock. 

This year he told us himself, we didn't have to hear about it through the grapevine.  :)

He did awesome!  

Right when his group came out to start, the microphones stopped working... he had to grab a handheld mic, but it didn't phase him... the show must go on.  

I'm so proud of my boy and his love of performing! 

I can't wait to see what he does next year!

Prom

 Here's a few before prom photos from last weekend. 

 Group shot smiling...

  Group shot with the "model pout"