Softball Season Over

After an extremely rainy spring we finally had enough make up games to call it a season. Deanna had a great time playing softball and socializing with the girls. My friend Debbie made it to a game and took these awesome pictures!

Deanna is actually a good hitter! Her form may need some work, but when you're hitting why mess with it.

Never to serious to wave to the fans.

Never too serious to have some fun, and can't resist doing cartwheels (with the glove on)!

Baby Girl

On a whim, I contacted an American organization that does surgeries on children around the world with cleft lip and palate, and they work in the region of Ukraine where Deanna is from. I had seen some before and after pictures on a website and wondered if any existed of Deanna. This wonderful doctor took the time to locate her file and send me a picture. While it is not a baby picture it is the youngest picture we have of her. This was taken when they were going to repair her palate, but she had an abnormal lab test so the surgery was cancelled. I don't know if any pictures exist when she was a baby, but for now we are thrilled to see this.

The Graduate

Last night we celebrated Deanna's Kindergarten Graduation. It was a fun event complete with pomp and circumstance, cap and gown and diplomas. Mimi and Grampa as well as Aunt Susie joined us (the brothers could not be persuaded)
This was a bittersweet event for Deanna, as she realizes she will not see her teachers or friends every day. Also the kids will be going to various schools next year and there are only three girls that will be going to her school next year, and this does not include her best friend. The kids all got an awesome memory book, with photos of all the activities of the past year. When we got home Deanna was looking at the pictures and crying. We tried to reassure her that she would make plenty of friends next year.
We are very proud of her, she has gone from a little child that could not speak and did not know English, to a beautiful young girl who can talk, sing (sort of), and even read and write!
Truly the most beautiful girl there.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Deanna is playing softball this year. Last year she played T-Ball with boys in little league so this year we switched to girls softball. She is the youngest one on the team, but keeping up with the others, and can often be seen doing cartwheels on the field.

Unfortunately our weather has been horrible this year and most of our games have been rained out. However in my opinion being rained out is better than watching a game in the cold rain and having a muddy kid to take home! School will be out next week and we have not yet worn spring clothes!

We continue with our other activities, mainly gymnastics and speech therapy. Those are going well.

Maybe when the rain stops I can get some more softball pictures.

There is always time to love on a dog around here. With 3 (plus Becky) there are plenty to go around.

New Boss in Town

Presenting our newest addition, Baby Josie!






She is a 1 pound 4 ounce bundle of joy. While very tiny, quiet and shakey, in true chihuahua fashion she has let the other dogs know that she is the boss.
While I knew I would someday get another chihuahua after my beloved Tia died, I hadn't planned on getting one so soon. When I found out about little Josie she seemed perfect....and I think she is.
Guess we're just a bunch of dog lovers!

April Update

Deanna has been busy with school and activities. She is loves school and is beginning to read pretty well. She is very active though, and while she does well working alone she has trouble sitting still and paying attention during group time. We are always working on impulse control!

She continues to enjoy gymnastics and has progressed quite a bit the last few months. She is also playing softball this spring, our first game is coming up soon. She is the youngest one on the team but able to keep up physically. Pictures to come.

We continue to have speech therapy two times a week. Most of her sounds are fine, with L and R giving her some difficulty. She is improving all the time and we are working on using complete and proper sentences. She loves to talk on the phone and calls me when I am on my way home from work. She also has Mimi's number memorized and calls her often too. Thankfully Mimi enjoys this. She is now memorizing Jeremy and Jordan's numbers but somehow I don't think they will be as receptive to her chatter!

Deanna continues to be happy and excited all the time. Although she can be sassy and very dramatic she is incredibly loving and affectionate!

Spring Break

I can't believe it has been so long since I've updated the blog. March went by very fast. We went to the beach for spring break. Here is Deanna on the carousel, one of her favorite attractions. The weather was mostly nice and it started out to be a good time. Sadly, while we were there our sweet little chihuahua, Tia "Tortilla" passed away unexpectedly. She apparently suffered some sort of seizure or stroke and was gone by the end of the day. She died peacefully in my arms but it was a heartbreaking experience. She was just six years old. These pictures were taken just the day before and she was having a great time.

Becky

Jeremy recently added an addition to our family. She is an adorable puppy named Becky Buckwild. While we weren't sure about him getting a dog, she is sweet lovable, and incredibly smart. Even though she does not live with us she visits often to socialize and run in out field. We LOVE Becky!!!

Disneyland!!

Jon and I took Deanna to Disneyland for a fun little vacation. It happened to be at the same time as her 2 year anniversary in our family, so there was extra cause for celebration. Jeremy and Jordan were invited but did not go due to work and school obligations.
Deanna has never even been on any amusement park rides, with the exception of a merry go round, so she really didn't know what to expect.

We had 5 days of fun, non-stop activity. Deanna loved most of the rides, but not the ones with big drops like Splash Mountain. She loved Indiana Jones and Grizzly River Run. With Deanna, excitement = hyperactive behavior, so she would be the child in line jumping up and down and climbing all over the ropes, bars and rocks. At least she wasn't alone, where were several in every line!

She also loved all of the characters, especially Mickey and Minnie Mouse. We waited in lines all over the park to hug everyone!

At California Adventure they had a live High School Musical performance. Deanna was chosen as one to join show and dance. She of course loved this, but I wasn't prepared with the camera so I just got one quick shot.
The hotel we stayed in had a fun water feature for kids. A large pirate ship with water slides, fountains and giant water-dumping bucket. Deanna insisted on playing here at the end of every day despite the chilly evening temperatures. Her goal was to make a new friend every day at the pool....mission accomplished. I don't know how all these kids could run around for hours soaking wet in their bathing suits!

We also enjoyed returning to the park after dark. The lines were very short! All of this made for a very action filled adventure. We had to return home to get some rest!

Disneyland Pictures

Gymnastics "Meet"

Deanna participated in her first gymnastics "meet" today, really just a practice meet or exhibition. We have been practicing at home and she did very well. She didn't even fall off the beam! The awsome picture above is by my friend Debbie. It is amazing, especially considering it was taken across the gym during her performance! Mimi, Grampa and Daddy made it to the meet too. She was very happy with the flowers her Dad brought her!

Celebrating afterward with her biggest fans!