Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Black and White Wednesday

It's time for some more Black and White fun, curtesy of Lisa's blog at The Long Road to China.

Update: What with the massive amounts of snow falling in places that never get this much snow, check out this site for fun things to do with the kiddies on snow days.http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/crafthappyebook.pdf

I had so much fun just watching these two monkeys, hamming it up for me. All I said was ok - kiss and they were off. There may be some acting blood in their veins too.

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Today is Black and White Wednesday but it is also Milana's 6 month anniversary of our Gotcha day (August 10th). I'll do a post later today to mark it. Boggles my mind that it's been 6 months already.

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Poor Milana doesn't know what's hitting her at times. Dahlia takes her sisterly responsibilities very seriously.

And due to popular demand ( umm...more than one = popular) here are some more glimpses
of our China trip last August

China trip Aug. 2009 206
Summer Palace - Beijing
China trip Aug. 2009 045
Below are some shots from a wonderful place called the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is a huge park with oodles of activities. It took us about 2 hours to walk through it without stopping and we still didn't even see half of it.

But the thing that was so awesome was what happens there everyday of the year. Dancing, singing, playing instruments and so many other ritual activities that I should remember the names of but by that point in our trip, I was brain-dead. (A state of mind that I am not altogether unfamiliar with. Ahem.)

China trip Aug. 2009 349

Here was this cute couple, really dramatically doing the tango. There must have been about 200 tango dancers with the music just blaring from loud speakers all over the place. I could have stayed there all day just watching them. It was the strangest sight. And they all took their dancing very seriously.

China trip Aug. 2009 350

China trip Aug. 2009 358
I love the elegant pose of this lady. I found her all by herself, in a secluded area, just gracefully moving to the music.

China trip Aug. 2009 426
Each area had a different type of music playing, many bands and musical groups and always dancers, dancing all types of styles.

China trip Aug. 2009 443

China trip Aug. 2009 386 And there's my girlie....getting in on the action.

Happy Wednesday!


41 comments:

Lisa said...

Am I really the first??

I took a chance and peeked as I know my morning will be nuts!

How thrilled I am to see these beautiful pics!

LOVE LOVE all the ones of the girls, but the last one takes my breath away. Happy happy 6 mos. home with your littlest darling ~ I can't begin to believe its been that long already!

And I think I'm part of that popular demand...thank you my friend! Something about the photos in black and white really brings other details and textures to the forefront ~ they are amazing! As are you!!

Happy almost Wed.....I can't play tomorrow but still hope to make the B&W rounds as time allows!

Unknown said...

Oh Wanda! This looks so amazing. I love the girls kissing pictures. They are just too precious for words. Seriously. SO sweet!

The park is SO cool! I love the pictures you got of the action. What a fun place!

Your girls are so beautiful! I just adore seeing their pictures. In every shot I can feel the love and it touches my heart!

M3 said...

Those are some seriously precious puckers! Love them.

Katy said...

Amazing pictures! They look so cute together. I love the pictures from your trip to China too!

Michelle R Photography said...

Beautiful, beautiful images!! We were there just a month before you and I think we had some of the same dancers. How funny!! I LOVE that last picture. The movement is great!

Formerly known as Frau said...

As always so beautiful your pictures. I love how you capture their love for each other it so precious.

Sonya said...

Simply stunning..your ability to capture the love in each photo is just amazing! I would be framing those top 3 for sure!!!

Buckeroomama said...

Has it already been 6 months?! It felt like I just read your post about bringing Milana back. :)

I've been to the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven at least a couple of times, but I never really paid any attention then. For me, they were just stops on a tour then. Next time... :)

jenbusymom said...

Wow, that looks like an awesome place to be, love the dancing!

Love Letters To China said...

Love, love, love these pictures. Those little girls are adorable!

Your pictures of China are beautiful. I think turning them in to b&w has really enhanced the beauty.

fleur de lis cottage said...

These are great. I especially love how her dress just pops in the last picture.

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I love these Wanda.... the way the girls are kissing on each other is so precious!! I love all the photos, but the third one down from the top is my absolute FAVORITE!!!

Happy 6 months to Miss Milania.... I can't believe it has been that long since you were in China.....seems like yesterday!! You are more than blessed with these beautiful little girls in your life.......so amazing that this journey lead you to the two girls who were meant to be your daughters.

Enjoy your day my friend!

xo,

Lisa

Sarah Andrews said...

Beautiful captures today! I bet that these last 6 months have just flown by and have been the best of your life!

Shelly and Family said...

Happy Wednesday to you too!

Love the B&Ws!

Just looking at them makes me smile (on this cold & very snowy morning)...Thanks for sharing!

Gail said...

These are all perfectly lovely Wanda!!! Love your 2 little kissers, you need to frame some of those I think.

And I never tire of photos of China, you're inspiring me to convert some of our's to black and white tpp.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Sharon said...

I always enjoy your China pics and the B&W's of the girls are just so tender and beautiful!

Kate said...

What beautiful black and whites!

Ok seriously...I am in LOVE with your girls!! They are so.darn.precious!!!

Don and Lisa Osborn said...

Happy 6 months with Milana! Time DOES fly, doesn't it?! These pictures make me long for the day we will bring our mei mei home. I think Lindy will be very hands on like Dahlia. :-)

I can't get enough of your China images. Sometimes I wonder if I even was on the trip to China. I think I was so overwhelmed as a first time mom that I forgot to soak in all the sights and sounds. Your pictures help remind me I WAS there. They are awesome!

Many blessings~
Lisa

Chasing Dreams Photography said...

LOL look at those beautiful little hams!!! So cute...love the pictures from China too...great shots!!
We are snowed in here...so MUCH SNOW!!!!!

Sandra said...

Love the kissing sisters!!!!

Michelle said...

Wonderful pictures ... love the kissing sister pictures!!

Bellismom said...

What love they show for each other. Pure sweetness!

Anonymous said...

That third one is priceless! Love her sweet face :)

CM said...

So stuning! Just gorgeous!

mountain mama said...

wow...beautiful pics!!

Christine @ 12,450miles said...

Oh, these are all so beautiful! I love the density you get in your blacks and the contrast is just stunning!

Donna said...

They look like sweet little cherubs in those top photos! Perfect in black and white!

Donna
Our Blog: Double Happiness!

Marla said...

Amazing, I love them all! You got some amazing shots in China. And in black and white they are just stunning!

Robin said...

What great memories of China ... love the picture "in motion". Thanks for stopping by my blog & your nice comments!!

Lori Lynn said...

Your girls are so precious! I just love their pics.

Your China pics are great too! That first one of the Summer Palace really brings back memories for me. I think we spent over an hour letting Chloe play under that pavilion and walking across that bridge.

Lucy said...

phenomenal shots! love the ones of your two girls together. so so sweet. these would all look amazing framed together!

Mei Mei s and Mayhem said...

These are fantastic!!! Brings back memories of our trip!! And what a couple of cuties your have!!

Lisa (Briana's Mom) said...

I love, love, LOVE the first three! They are amazing!

I'm not able to see some of the China ones for some reason. The site is saying they are unavailable. :(

Our family said...

OH Wanda, you are simply amazing my dear! I have missed popping in the last few days,and am LOVING your last posts (as always!). The pictures are gorgeous and the recipes are making me hungry!!!! Thank you!

xo Jen

a Tonggu Momma said...

I can't believe it's been six months already. Gorgeous photos. But I can't believe it's already been six months. Wow. Six months.

Jodee said...

Adorable pictures of your sweet little girls!

Wanda said...

My apologies. If you came for a visit within the last few hours, you probably noticed some pictures missing. I was fooling around in flickr and deleted some pics - not realizing that they disappeared off my blog too. (D'uh!!)

They're back now.
:)

Super Mommy said...

Seriously Wanda, these are some fabulous photos. Your girls are gorgeous and I love, love the dancing photos :)

Mahmee said...

A feast for the eyes...that post. Smooches, smooches and more smooches. A mama can never have enough photos of smooches or well, smooches.
M.

Dita said...

Wanda...these B&Ws of the girls should be a book entitled SISTERS. They are just so simple and so incredibly beautiful. I love watching them grow together as sisters and seeing Milana open up to her big sissy before our very eyes.

The pictures of your trip are just great. You really captured so MUCH there with a hubby, and two kids in tow...what is your secret?

Sugar Cookies And Hope said...

Wow!! Those photos are so beautiful and so well done. I am taken by the composition and the detail.

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Hi, I'm Wanda. I am a happy woman, wife to Danny for...oh....lots a years and finally Mom to THE most adorable little girl from Hunan, China - Dahlia. And now we have been blessed again with another daughter, Milana, from Zhejiang, China. (The 2 best things I've ever done!) We live in the Montreal area. After a loooonnngg wait for Dahlia's little sister Milana (pronounced - Mee-lana, like banana), we finally brought her home in August 2009. Dahlia came to us in Nov 2004 (at 20 months of age)and a year later we began the application for another baby - at the time the waiting period was around 8 months. Almost 4 years later (say what!?!)we, at last, brought Milana home. This began as the story of our journey to bring Milana home and life with her big sister, Dahlia. It now continues as we live as a family of four!
God. My (growing) family. Hangin' out with my girlies. My wonderful friends (you know who you are!). To laugh (out loud and a lot!). Music. Painting. Hugs. Long chats with my buds. My garden. To read (ha...when I can!). Sunshine. Spring, Spring and more Spring. Building things. Cooking. Decorating. Parties (ahem). The internet. Life. Movies. A.I. Dancing with the stars. So you think you can dance. Travel. Umm..did I say laughing my head off. Oh Gee...everything actually!!
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