Filling in the gaps

I have to apologize for the delay in getting back online with the posts. A lot has happened in these past few months and I really don't want to skip anything. I'll try and cover the highlights.

On June 12th, Anyssa was baptized. Baptizing a 6 year old is a little different than baptizing a baby. For starters, she wasn't too keen on that whole "water on your head" thing. Luckily, Reverend Heidi had a talk with her and it was cool. She climbed up on a chair by the font and "went swimming." She was a very good sport and the beauty of it was that she really seems to get the gist of who Jesus is. Patrick, Linda and Gigi also came which was good for Anyssa because Gigi is her "mei mei" which is "little sister" in Chinese. No, they're not really related but they both went through the whole adoption thing in China and got to hang together in Guangzhou. She is the daughter of Patrick and Linda and just turned 2! We know that these 2 girls will be an important part of each others lives growing up.

Gigi Coyne and "big sister" Anyssa

We took our first family trip to the Brookfield Zoo in May. Wow...the zoo is a lot different than when I was a kid! She loved seeing the animals, petting and feeding the baby goats and sheep in the Childrens' Zoo and seeing the dolphins (from the underwater viewing windows.) I made sure to grab some change to get her her first Mold-a-Rama figure. Go figure...it was the dolphin! We now know to bring a wagon with next time. That and a cooler. They have the butterfly exhibit going and she absolutely LOVED THAT. She got the butterfly to land on her and was helping other kids hold them. There was a lady in a wheelchair and she went over and showed her the butterfly in her hand. I know I'm her dad, but she really is a great kid.

Anyssa and her first Mold-a-Rama figure

Also in June, we went to the Summer Solstice event at the Bolingbrook Park District. They had an exotic animal show, marshmallow toasting, a bubble making station and other neat stuff for kids. I need to say something about Anyssa before I show you all the final picture of this post. Imagine being in an orphanage your entire life. No parents, brothers or sisters. Imagine having a cleft lip and palate and needing surgery. Imagine being in a hospital for surgery with no parents brothers or sisters when you are 3. Imagine being adopted by 2 strangers and then travelling FAR away from everything you know to go to a life you have no idea of. What do you do with all of that? Well, Anyssa has decided to not look back. She is, to a certain extent, fearless. She approaches challenges with a bravery I have rarely seen in kids her age or even older.

That said, here is how she handled herself when they came around with a tarantula.

While the other kids ran, Anyssa stuck her hand out. Like the sunglasses??

Oh...and she won her frist contest ever...she won us a beautiful, hand-painted rain barrel!! Way to go! Now for the rain...

OK...we're back!

Due to popular demand, a nagging sense that I've left this hanging and a desire to tell everyone about our princess, we're back! I've got Laura set up again so HOPEFULLY, I can get her to start posting as well.

A lot has happened since Anyssa turned 6. School let out and she started summer school. She is also in swim lessons. Today is the last day so after this post, I'm going to change and get ready to take her to the pool. She also experienced her first American 4th of July and, if you can believe it, FIREWORKS for the FIRST TIME! I guess that even though they make them there and they would be celebrating Chinese New Year, the kid at the Social Welfare Institute might not be able to watch them. She was mesmerized. Of course, like every kid, she was getting bored by the end. So be it...we got home and our neighbor had a stash he was blowing off. It was kind of rough that the 4th was on a Monday this year and there was school and work the next day, but we pulled it off. All of us had sleepy eyes on Tuesday but isn't that the sign of a good time??

My 2 favorite girls in the world!

OK everyone, I PROMISE to be back VERY SOON!!

Waiting for the school bus.

Outside church on July 3rd.