First Day at Grandma and Grandpa Freed's in Minnesota

Today is a first full day at Grandma and Grandpa Freeds and we are enjoying a day of relaxing.  We went downtown Edina for ice cream in the evening and met an Asian family.  Some were from China and some from Vietnam.  Carissa met a little girl, Janessa, who was 18 months old.  Soooo cute!!  After some yummy ice cream, we walked around a little then went to have some fun at a local playground.

Carissa's new Chinese/Vietnamese friend, Janessa, we met at the Ice Cream Shop

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This is fun!!

Happy 4th of July 2010

My beautiful Chinese-American Girl!!

Ryan and Carissa playing nose-nose

Carissa is leaning in for a kiss or a "lick"

One of her favorite things to do at the park is swing

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Second Chinese New Year Party

Carissa in one of my favorite Chinese outfits

 Carissa Making her Chinese mask

Getting ready to make her Chinese Lantern

Natalie, Carissa and Megan

Tonight we were invited by some friends to a Chinese pot luck sponsored by the language school their two daughters attend in Zeeland.  The food was great and they had several crafts for the kids and some of the classes performed traditional Chinese dance for us.  There were several Chinese exchange students there as well and one performed a beautiful dance and the other played an instrument (can't remember what it was and as of right now, I am unable to upload the videos. 

My Little Valentine!!

Not only is it Chinese New Year today but it is also Valentines Day. Carissa got a few fun gifts for both Valentines Day and some new Chinese children's book for CNY.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Today we had the pleasure of attending our first annual Chinese New Year Party at Rivertree Community Church.  It was fun to meet new families and to also see some of our new friends.  There were crafts, food and some great entertainment.  This is the first of four celebrations we will have this busy week but it so fun to share this adoption experience with other families and enjoy Carissa's heritage with her.  I am having trouble with the spacing with my pictures so I will describe then here.  Picture (1) New friends Kate and Carissa (2) Abigail and Carissa (3) Carissa with her Chinese dragon (4) Dancing dragon (5) Carissa and Natalie

Finally home!!

Hanging out in the Tokyo airport ready to fly home

We have finally arrived at the Minneapolis Airport

Our welcome back home at the Grand Rapids Airport

Feeling the carpet for the very fist time after

a long screaming ride in her first car seat.

We finally landed in Minneapolis 24 hours later than planned and Carissa became an official citizen of the U.S.A. She slept through it since it was her night time in China. We met with some of Curt's family that lives in the area, then got back on the airplane and finally headed by home to Spring Lake. Our journey home is over!!!!

A year ago today, Carissa left China for the good ole U.S.A.

A year ago today Carissa left her home land of China headed for the U.S.A. Little did we know at the time that we would be stuck in Tokyo for another 24 hours before heading home. She didn't seem to mind!!