Anya at her pre-school Christmas Party
Mary Claire at her 2nd grade school party
Avery played Santa Claus in his pre-school Christmas skit!
Avery's pre-school parade float. The parent's put together the float and the kids ride on it in the parade. This was our 3rd year to have a child in this preschool and we have never worked as long on a float as much as this one....thank goodness we won!!!
More pictures of Anya at her Christmas Party
Anya with her teacher, Ms. Cammy. Check out all of the spilled juice and yummy cupcake all over her shirt....she sure did enjoy the food at the party.
Family pictures at the end of Avery's Christmas skit.
Mary Claire and Anya
Mary Claire all fancied up!!
Mom and Anya at Pre-school Thanksgiving Feast
The following 2 pictures were taken at a pageant that Mary Claire and Anya were in. Before, you start wondering if we do pageants and the thoughts of Toddlers and Tiara's come to your mind. The answer is "no" we do not do pageants. However, my 8 year old came home one day from school asking me if she could please be in the "prom"....what the prom???? She meant the pageant that was a fundraiser for our school. It was a "natural" pageant, meaning no makeup, no pageant dresses, no fake hair, and no fake anything for that matter. After asking a few more questions about the "prom" I told her yes and then decided I would also put Anya in it. We had no idea what we were doing, but they both did great....Mary Claire got 2nd runner up and Anya did too....Anya also got the People's Choice Award in her group. The audience voted in each category who they thought should win and Anya got it in her category. It was fun and my oldest enjoyed it. I've been told that the pageant is supposed to run on one of the next episodes of Toddler's and Tiaras, so watch for us!!!! Just kidding.
Granddad and Anya at the pageant
Pageant Girls!
As I finish this post...and it's past time for me to go to bed. I just want to speak to any of you who may be viewing this and wondering about the thought of adoption for your family. To be honest; going through the process of adoption is hard. BUT, as I was looking at all of the pictures that I have from just the 3 months that Anya has been home with us I am amazed at how well Anya is doing. She is a complete blessing to our family. She is a blessing who was months away from being transferred to an adult mental institution. I am so thankful to God for giving us Ellis Anne and through her, opening our eyes to the children of Reece's Rainbow. Adoption is worth every bit of worry, every fundraiser, every piece of paperwork, every sleepless night, the travel away from your family; adoption is worth it and it changes lives. It changed Anya's life and it is changing our lives. We are blessed. It is worth it.
In case you missed the family that adopted through Reece's Rainbow here it is....
Stephanie
