Crazy American Vacation!

These are photos from our recent trip to the Lake of the Ozarks and our exchange student, Eugene.  We had planned a road trip to the Lake to visit with my mom and Fred before we knew we would be hosting our exchange student from China, we decided to keep our plans and bring Eugene with us.  Eugene didn't quite no what to think.....he has never been swimming, never been on a boat, never fished, basically this was literally a whole new world for him.  He called it a "crazy American vacation."  We had a great time!  

Jack on the waverunner

Lucy on the waverunner.  By the way......we brought it home!

Eugene video taping our "crazy American vacation."

Daddy's Girl

1, 2, 3...

JUMP!

SPLASH!

Eugene and Olivia 

Beautiful sunset over the Lake of the Ozarks

Cutie Pie

That's our Lucy.....fishing in a skirt.  :)

Sparlins Visit

Jeff's sister Julie, her husband Todd and their boys, Blake and Grant came to visit us from St Louis.  We found out 2 weeks before their visit that Jeff would have to be in Japan for business during their time here.  Jeff was bummed that he wouldn't be here to spend time with them.   Here are some photos we took while touring the Garden of the Gods.  We had fun catching up with them and the kids enjoyed playing together.  

Blake holding up "balancing rock" with one finger

Cousins

Sparlin Family photo

Our "Adopt Teens"

Our adoption agency, CCAI asked if we would like to be a host family for their annual "Adopt Teen" conference.  It is a conference for teens who have been adopted from China to come to Denver and spend the weekend with other kids just like them.  We were honored to be a host family and had a great time getting to know Jo and Marianne.  These two young ladies were absolutely amazing.... sweet, articulate and polite.  They were so candid and open about how they feel about their adoptive families and how they feel lucky to have been adopted by loving parents.  I made sure to tell them, their families are lucky too to have them as their daughters.  These girls really impressed Jeff and I and we can hope that our Lucy views her life and circumstances the way they do.  We hope to host them again next year.  

Enjoying yummy treats at Dairy Queen

Silly faces....fish on a hook!

Cheese!

Saturday morning, playing ZINGO

Friends from Tennessee

Our good friends, the Turner family from Tennessee came to visit us.  We met the Turners in China, they were in our adoption travel group.  Their daughter, Zoe and our Lucy were in the orphanage together in China.  The Turners also have an 11 year old boy, Jackson.  We had a great time.  We went to Red Rocks Park and to Colorado Springs to the Garden of the Gods.  Lucy and Zoe are just too cute together.  

Family photo at Red Rocks

Turner family photo at Red Rocks

Red Rocks amphitheatre

Olivia and Jackson

Lucy and Zoe with my lillies

Group photo at Garden of the Gods

The kids

Ancient Dwellings

Lucy and Zoe holding up Balancing Rock

Skipping and singing together!

1st Day of School 09-10

I can't believe I finally have all 3 kids in school!  Here are the photos of their first day.  Olivia, 6th grade, Jack 3rd and Lucy's second round of Kindergarten.  

Lucy Lu all smiles, ready to go to the "big school"

Jack looks thrilled...don't you think?

Stinkers!