Lily and Lyla together again!

When I first saw the picture of these two little girls,

Lily

Lyla

and heard the story and saw their video I knew that they needed to be together.  They had grown up in their orphanage together.  They were sisters.  Maybe not biological, but still sisters.

I asked my agency if it was possible to adopt both of them.  They told me that China would not allow the adoption of two healthy 6 year olds.  

So I decided that I would try to find the family that would adopt Lyla and try to keep in touch.

As it turns out they live in Arkansas and they are the perfect family for Lyla.  

Lily and Lyla were adopted in February 2010.

Last August, 2010, Lily and I flew to Arkansas to meet Lyla's family.  

Then in December 2010 Lyla and her mom flew out to California to spend time with us. 

Last week for the 4th of July week Lyla, her Mom and Dad and her awesome brother Liem came to California to spend time with us.  I am so happy that we have been able to keep these two in touch with each other.

 Welcome to California!

 There they are!

 Lyla and Lily

 Together again!

 So happy!

 Jilliana just loved Liem. She decided that he was hers and Liem was so sweet with her and all of the girls.

 Meghan and Nick came to the Welcome BBQ

 It was so hot!  Everyone was enjoying the pool.

 Visiting in the pool

 Mike giving Liem a little help.

 Lunch on the patio

 Visiting

 Liem got to lick the beaters.

 After a day at our house we went down to Carlsbad to the beach.  This was our first walk on the beach.

 Lyla and Jennifer

 Emma testing the water

 Happy 4th of July!

 Goofy faces

 We went to the Pancake House

 This was Jeff's omelet.

 Decorating the bikes for the little parade that they do in our little beach community.

 Meilynn with her pinwheel

 Emma cutting the plate to put in her bike spokes.

 Lyla

 Jilliana getting in to it for her first 4th of July

 Silly Lyla

 Getting ready for the parade

 Cute baby at the parade

 In line for the body painting after the parade

 Snow cones after the parade

 Happy 4th!

 At the fireworks

 Legoland

 We got Jilliana on the cars but when she found out I wasn't going that was the end of that ride!

 Lily and Liem

 Daddy and Jilliana

 Jennifer and Meilynn

 Oh this was so funny.  Lily and Lyla went out on these boats alone.  They got their boat turned around and could not figure out how to go.  After trying to tell them what to do the worker had to jump in with them to get them back.

 Getting boat driving lessons.

 Liem

 Emma

 Lily

 Jilliana

 Lyla

 Meilynn

 Not loving the log ride

 Lily talked Jeff in to taking her on this ride

 The group on the way to the beach

 Beautiful kids

 Emma learned to boogie board on this trip

 So did Liem and Lily

 And Lyla

 I love this one even though you cannot see Lyla's face, you can see her happiness

 And Meilynn too!

Friends and Sisters

We miss you!