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SMORES

SMORES!! none of the kids ever had a smore and it was on their list of things to do this summer and one of the easier ones to accomplish! Little John is taking his smore making very serious!

Two sick girls.........

Last week the girls were sick. They were both sleeping where ever they landed. Tori fell asleep laying on the coffee table. One minute Tori was playing and the next minute she was asleep on the table. As for Bella, she was playing in the laundry basket and then I guess she decided it was nap time! Luckily little John remained healthy and took total advantage of having mom all to himself while the girls rested!

July 3rd Is A Special Day For The Franco's

I am posting now because I have time!! There are several things that are special about July 3rd. First off, It is my husband's birthday. So...Happy Birthday!! Birthday's are special enough in and of themselves but on John's birthday in 2005 we held Isabella for the first time! What an awesome birthday present...a beautiful daughter! Isabella you continue to amaze us and we love you more than you can ever imagine! Isabella's favorite book is "I Love You as Much" It is mothers mostly creatures describing how much they love their young. Each one starting out by saying I love you as much as....... On the last page is a mother and very young baby (humans!). Isabella says that is her and I. How I wish I had had the priveledge to hold her at such a young age! The last line of that book is " I love you as much as a mother could love". When Bella goes to bed at night she will say ..mom, I love you as much as the stars up above and then she will wait until I say....I love you as much as a mother could love. Bella has come such a long way in three years. And indeed I do love her as MUCH as a mother could love!

Ava and Tori

Victoria Rae and Ava Rae

I met Stacey in line while we were both doing our first Chinese adoption. We were talking about baby names and we both had picked the same middle name.....spelled the same way for our girls. The wait was L-O-N-G ( not by todays standards) and we communicated on line when ever. Then came SARS and again more waiting. Turns out we were with the same agency and had the same DTC date. So we knew we would travel together! We met Kevin and Stacey at LAX airport and immediately hit it off. The day we got our babies we were all exhausted and nobody met up for dinner. Bright and early the next morning we were off to breakfast with our new baby and stopped by Kevin and Stacey's room to see if they were ready. We sat Victoria on the bed next to Ava and the two babied hugged each other. It was very emotional. I asked our guide Peter and he said they could have shared a crib. We see them as often as possible and it always amazes me how Tori and Ava act.......like sisters. They clearly care for each other. We met up with them this week and as always it was awesome. The girls were on a couch in the lobby of a hotel and Ava was sitting and Tori was lying with her head on Ava'a lap, they were chatting and Ava was stroking Tori's hair....of course I couldnt get the camera out quick enough and by the time I snapped off a picture they were both laughing.....but Ill know what was going on when I look at that picture! Today was the day we got the girls referrals in 2003 ! How amazing for them to be together on this day! Happy referral day..Dana, Ann, Renee,Stacey, Pam,and Michele! We miss you all and hope to see you soon

I Lost My Camera and Some Mindless Chatter

I have not been able to find my camera since we got back from Florida. I took some special pictures with friends we visited in North Carolina and am sad not to have them. Im unsure of how to use John's camera , and I miss my camera. So...Whats new you ask? 1. Tori lost her two bottom teeth. She is adoradle...hard to understand but adorable! 2. Bella turned 4 and she is a beautiful child with a beautiful spirit! It was worth the wait for her to trust us and love us! 3. John Jr. continues to be a live wire!! If there is trouble he will find it and if there is no trouble to be found he will invent some! 4. Tori and Bella have developed a beautiful relationship, it is not with out the occasional fighting but they are for the most part the best of friends! Tori has a full size bed and the girls initiated sleeping together a month ago. It warms my heart when they are all snuggled together when I check on them! 5. We are ALL enjoying summer. John put up a swing set and a pool and the kids are loving it. I am enjoying watching them play. The days are not long enough! So...summer is here! Enjoy Pictures soon