Good-bye rain. Please stay away.

I can't believe it but the rain has ceased. I was seriously beginning to wonder if we needed to get started on the Ark. This was Sunday. We got up and dressed and went to church with Mom and then I loaded up the kids and the camera of course, and went to Botanical. If I were a nicer Mommy I probably would have taken them to the Zoo BUT, in my defense, the Zoo would have been packed on a beautiful day and it was one of me and two of them. I do not like to be outnumbered in a crowd. Don't want to lose a kid. :)
They really did have a good time. They got to feed the turtles and the huge koi in the Japanese Garden. I bribed them with Starburst to tolerate the camera so it was a "win-win" situation for us all. Tomorrow is supposed to another GORGEOUS day so I think I'll opt them out of school and go somewhere diferent. A state park I think. Hoping to get to hang out with Diane & Ellie but we'll see. Fingers crossed.

my sweet babies

adore this shot of Jackson

dimple. :)

i love this pouty little face!

Happy Birthday Ben!

Today Jackson & I had the pleasure of celebrating our friend Ben's 2nd Birthday! We had a blast. It was at "Pump it Up" (one of those "inflatable, jumpy places"). Gotta love those big slides! We met Ben & his mom Daphne at one of our local adoption agency picnics over the summer. A few weeks before the picnic though I had actually met Daphne's best friend Buffy in my photography classes. Small, small world we live in.
I love, love going to birthday parties. There are so many adorable kiddos I can chase with my camera who don't know me well enough to run the other way. :)
We also ran into little Miss Hannah (China), met Miss Kennedy (Vietnam), and our Birthday boy was born in Ethiopia. What beautiful children we all have! Now I want to plan a playdate with everyone. I was really excited to meet Kennedy and her mom, Ashley. I get very happy when I find another Vietnam kiddo and Mommy to play with! :)
Isabel had ballet class today so she was with my Mom and Ella. Missed you Iz! Needless to say, I have no new ballet pics to share. Next week for that.
I want to thank Daphne for inviting us to the Birthday Bash! You threw an awesome party.

Ben & his Mommy (I love this one)

Hannah

My little man

Kennedy

A man and his phone (well, his Mommy's phone)

I think this is a beautiful shot of Kennedy