So much!!

Junie Bug has been home for just about 10 months now and I can not imagine life without this lovable, giggly, little beam of sunlight adding so much to our every day!  She has made this transition nearly seamlessly and continues to impress me on a daily basis with what she has learned and what she is capable of doing.  She is a little superstar!

So much has happened in this short time.  We've celebrated many  "firsts" with Junie Bug:

 first Halloween

my little angels

first snowfall (my hot, tropical southern China girl loved the snow!)

first Christmas tree shopping adventure



cutie girls

first annual Christmas cookie decorating with The Gang 

The Gang

first New Year's Eve celebration

 

 

first Chinese New Year celebration

 

 

first Easter

 

 

first egg hunt

 

first trip to the beach

 spontaneous beach yoga

fun in the sand

first Mother's Day (spoiling Mommy with breakfast in bed)

first trip to the amusement park

loving every minute

 

first gymnastics class and medal

first puddle stomping adventure

 

 

 

enjoying the wetness with her big sis

 

just to name a few!

 

  

And firsts were not the only excitement we've had around here.  Little Miss has had a few moments of her own.  This happened . . .

 

Little Miss turned 5!

 

 

She was so excited and promptly informed me that she is now "a whole hand" (must use all the fingers now when indicating her age).

 

 

She advanced 2 levels in gymnastics and is constantly seen doing this in any open area she finds (including parking lots, the bank, the grocery store, etc.).

 

 

Little Miss also completed a year of ballet and tap and had her first dance recital.

Clearly she was a lion dancing to The Lion King's "Just Can't wait to be King".

her ballet finale

 

 

And we can not forget this . . .

 

 

Yes, Little Miss had her first graduation . . . from Preschool!  It was a very emotional and moving ceremony complete with slide show and heart wrenching songs about how quickly they grow up!  Not a dry eye in the place!  I am so proud of my big girl!

Junie Bug was proud of her too!

 

 

Little Miss and her absolutely wonderful teachers!

 

And among all of the things Junie Bug has done over these 10 months I think one of her personal favorites was this  . . .

 

Her Hello Kitty cake made her very happy!

 

She is quite proud to be 3!

 

 

 She had a grin from ear to ear for weeks before the big day saying, "Junie Bug's birthday soon, right?"

 

 

Both of the girls have grown and matured so much over the past ten months.  We have had some big events and celebrations.  During these events and in the small ordinary moments of every day, these little girls have become sisters.  They have each shown so much love for the other.  They have each learned so much from the other.  They bring so much joy to each other (and to their mother). The bumps and bruises of those first few months - when we were all learning our new roles, our new give and take, our new balance - they have healed and we are solid now.  We still have challenges, tears, and tantrums often enough, but those are just the normal shenanigans of a family.  And the joy, oh it far out ways the tough stuff!  I love these girlies of mine more than words can say!  There is just so much to be thankful for . . . so much!!