"Trick or Treat"



We had such a fun time at "Trick or Treat" tonight!  Last year Shu Shu would not come out of the house in her costume because she was afraid people would laugh at her.  This year she was so excited to be an "Astronaut Girl" she willingly came out of the house without any worries.  Jie Jie on the other hand has no trouble collecting "free" candy from the neighbors.  And her costume . . . . well, it was too cute for words!

Jo Jo and Astronaut Girl!

 Jie Jie's new Hair Cut!

Yes, I finally decided to cut Jie's hair!  It was a hard decision up to the very first snip but I'm so glad we did it!  She looks absolutely adorable!  It is so much easier to manage one long haired beauty instead of two in the mornings!  What will I do with all those hair bows now!



Too cute!




The back view!




The girls started dance class this fall and are loving it.  They practice their dance moves every day.  Here they are practicing before class on Wednesday!

My beautiful ballerinas!

Bower's Annual Clambake/Pony Ride Picnic!

Our travel friends Dan & Julie invited us all out to Julie's parents farm for another wonderful time learning about horses and just having fun together.  Our other travel friends, the Aschenbrand family were able to make it this year as well and it was so much fun to see the girls all together again.  We agreed this definitely has to be an "annual" event from now on!  Thanks so much Dan & Julie, Papa Pete and Mrs. Thornton!


Trying to get a kiss from Shu Shu!



Shu Shu taking a riding lesson from Papa Pete!

She is such a natural on a horse!



Jie was a little nervous at first but in no time Papa Pete had her smiling and giving the horse commands!




Soon she was riding like she had done it all her life!



Papa Pete taught the girls how to feed the horses and give them treats too!




Everyone loves a cowgirl!



Taking some time out for nutrition . . . Gia with her sister and brother Lily and Colter.



The three reasons why we traveled to China together!

Our three beauties . . . Gia, Jie Jie, and Kim Kim

Back to School!

After a great summer with Grandma and Miss Ellen the girls started back to their daycare/preschool program at Kindercare.  Shu Shu was all smiles entering her new classroom while many of her old schoolmates gave her a warm welcome.  Jie on the other hand was her usual timid self while making Daddy feel really bad as he handed her off in tears to Miss Toni.  I think if Jie had her choice she would prefer to be homeschooled!  Shu Shu also started a program at the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center.  It is call the Log Cabin Exploreres Club and she will be learning all about nature, and doing crafts and science experiments  while building important school skills.  She loves it already and has so far learned all about rats and rabbits!

The Log Cabin School House

Making a rat puppet!

Shu Shu says rats are O.K. but she really loves snakes! 

Jie Jie says me too! 

Happy Birthday Shu Shu!

Five Years Old!

Oh my goodness, it seems like we just celebrated your first birthday and now you are five! I told Shu Shu today I did not want her to get any bigger and could she just stay five. . . . she said "O.K.!"

Shu Shu at her One Year old birthday party!

Happy #5!

Shu Shu has been asking for a Guinea Pig all summer . . . . . she finally got her birthday wish!

Here is the newest member of the Harp family . . . . Lennie the Guinea Pig!


The Happiest Five Year old I ever saw!



The Harp Family . . . Shu, Jie, Mickey and Lennie.

Shu's "Gotcha"/Family Day

July 10, 2010

Every year we celebrate the day Shu Shu was placed in our arms. We also think about her birth Mom and pray that somehow she knows Shu Shu is well and happy. We will be forever grateful that she chose life for her precious daughter. We are so blessed we were chosen to be her forever family.

We celebrated at Vieng's Asian Bistro in Crocker Park twice! Once with the Corcoran family and once by ourselves! We love Viengs!

Sister's Forever!

A beautiful profile!

Looking cute with a Lady Bug on her cheek!

Summer Fun 2010!

As usual I have not found time to post anything all summer! We have had lots of fun this year and are sad to see it come to an end. Shu and Jie have grown up so much this year and are turning into two amazing little girls. Here are some glimpses of everything we enjoyed this summer. There was a lot more but it's hard to catch up on 3 months!

Lorain County Fair

Shu Shu holding a newborn Guinea Pig . . . . she is a natural and would love to be in 4H. She has been wanting a Guinea Pig for her birthday this year . . . . we'll see!

Learning about Guinea Pigs.

The fair girls looking cute!






Fishing
The girls have done a lot of fishing this summer. They love it and are so good at it . . . . take a look at some of the amazing fish they have caught!



Shu's first catch of the summer . . . a small mouth bass!

Catching fish at Grandma Betty's and Grandpa Bob's pond!

Jie is a very patient fishergirl!



Swimming
We have also spent a lot of time in our neighbor's pool, at Lake Koinona and at the water pad. Shu Shu learned how to swim all by her self this year without any floatation device and Jie learned how to swim under water!

Shu Shu swimming all by her self! Amazing!

Looking for fish . . . . . .

Enjoying the lake with friends!

Shu's best friend Maddyn at the water pad!

Fun at the Lake

We even had fun in our little backyard pool!

Preschool Graduation

Shu Shu graduated from pre-school and will start the Kindergarten readiness class this fall at Kindercare. We thought she should enjoy one more year at home before starting Kindergarten. Mommy really was the one not ready to send her!

Memorial Day Weekend

Wuhan Group Reunion

Shu Shu, Emily, Maddyn, Jie, Beatrice & Olivia

The Wuhan Girls-Hubei 2006
Beatrice, Julia, Emily, Sarah, Shu Shu, & Maddyn

Uncle Zhou with Shu Shu at the EAC Memorial Day Picnic!

Thank You European Adoption Consultants (EAC) for our beautiful girls!