Adoption Reunion - Saturday at the Zoo

The 2nd day of our annual adoption reunion was Saturday at the Cleveland Zoo.  The kids loved looking at the giraffes, zebras and ostriches as well as the lions and koalas.  We took part in the big parade of nations again this year and had a great time visiting with other people from our travel group and other friends we have gotten to know. 

Carter enjoyed seeing Uncle Zhou and Cass enjoyed some cotton candy!

Adoption reunion - Friday night carnival

On Friday we drove to Cleveland to participate in the annual reunion for our adoption agency. The first night is a carnival at the agency headquarters. After some good food, the kids had fun climbing on a fire truck and then jumping in the inflatable bouncy rooms. Then it was off to pet some animals in the petting zoo.  

Carter and Cass loving on the goat and then the goat nibbling on Carter...which he thought was funny. 

 All the excitement wore Carter out... 

Our Little Fish

This week saw another round of swimming lessons come to an end for the kids.  While they were not able to make it to each of the classes, both kids did very well in their respective classes.  Cassidy made great strides with a wonderful instructor she had never had before.  Carter also is feeling more and more comfortable in the water and is ready to move up a level next time.

Now they are ready for the pool this summer!

Growing Boy

Our little Carter Ming is growing like the proverbial weed.  He had his three year checkup at the pediatrician's office last Friday and the Doctor said that he is doing very well.  She also said that he has grown almost 2 inches since last December!!  We knew he looked taller and certainly looks so much longer when he is laying in his bed, but we had not measured him lately and therefore did not realize exactly how much he had grown.  The weather has been warmer lately and he prefers shorts (even when it is cold he wants short sleeves and short sleeve pants!), so we have not had as many pairs of pants on him to register how much he has grown.  He is actually in the 75th percentile for height...which is not something we expected. 

He continues to grow in our hearts as well!

Merry (and not so merry) Go Round

While Cassidy was very merry on her horse...

...Carter was not so sure.

Happy Birthday to you

Today is Carter's 3rd birthday and he loves singing Happy Birthday.  He will sing "Happy Birthday to Me...." and will say Happy Birthday to you...when someone says it to him.  He is something else and is quite the performer.  While today was his actual birthday and we celebrated with one of his favorite meals (fried rice) and a few presents, his big party was on Saturday. 

He had a great time and really got into opening his gifts and really liked his race car cake that he had requested.

West Virginia

This past weekend was our somewhat annual trip to West Virginia where we meet my Aunt Sarah, Uncle Steve and cousin Savannah.  This is the third time we have met in West Virginia for a weekend, but Carter's first time to join in this exciting adventure.  We pick West Virginia because it is halfway between the two families and makes for a fun weekend.  

This time we stayed at a hotel in Oak Hill just minutes from the New River Gorge.  At almost 900 feet, it is the highest vehicular bridge in North America and the 2nd highest in the world.  We drove down to it on Saturday and walked down the extensive wooden steps they have to a lookout platform that is still more than 600 feet above the river.  It was a beautiful day and everyone enjoyed the amazing view. 

We also spent time swimming in the indoor pool at the hotel and hanging out in our connecting rooms.  The kids loved having Savannah babysit them for a while in the evening while the grownups went to the lobby to talk  for a while.  Carter especially loved talking Savannah's ear off.

It was a great weekend and we look forward to next year!