Clara turns 5

I can't believe how time flies! It seems like just yesterday we were preparing for our trip to China. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARA!.
We don't have many photos of Clara as a baby, so we treasure the few that we have. The face shot here is the 1st photo we ever received of Clara. This was our 1st glimpse of what our little girl from China would look like.
Next came this shot from the orphanage of her propped up against the wall. Funny thing she could barley sit up when we got her at a year.

This is our 1st summer with Clara.

Our family is so lucky to have this little peanut in our lives. She is a strong confident girl and she knows what she wants. Clara has so many little friends. She loves to play pretend. I find her all over the house with a little "store" or "office" set up. She talks to herself and loves to pretend to be a mommy or an "office girl".

She is starting kindergarten this fall and I am really sad about it. She has been my little helper for so long. I am having a hard time cutting the cord.

Clara loves to sing, dance, pretend and get what she wants. She can throw a fit and pout like no other kid. She has her older brothers wrapped around her little finger. She doesn't eat much, and she runs her self into the ground ever day. Going going until she just can't. Clara has the most contagious laugh. Her tickle spot is just under her neck. Sometimes she will laugh so hard I think she will not be able to catch her breath. She loves to talk and say that she is from China. I hope that she will always have pride in her Chinese heritage.

Boy, we just LOVE this little girl!

Happy Happy Fifth Birthday Clara!