~ ANOTHER GOTCHA DAY 'ROUND THESE PARTS ~

well, i blew it (i know, what's new!), but i totally forgot that today was ruby's 2nd gotcha day ~ now, i knew/know it's july 17, but all day long brit & i've been thinking that today was monday the 16th EEEEK! ~ it was just minutes ago i finally realized that it's tuesday the 17th! ~ i've been braiding hair today (not thrilled with the outcome, but it only has to last 2 weeks & then it's being redone to get on our 'normal' schedule of doing it the beginning of every month) ~ i can't believe it's been 2 years ago that we brought our sweet little girl home from haiti ~ she's a blessing as they all are, but to think back on her homecoming day's been a sweet end to a busy day ~ the first pic's of her homecoming night & meeting her big sister for the first time ~funny story to share about her homecoming: our family goes camping a lot & plans our camping trips waaaay in advance ~ well, spike & i had a 9 day camping trip with the girls & my parents to go to holiday world, leaving on july 15th & returning on the 24th ~ well, the 13th came & we knew it'd be close to getting ruby home, the 14th came & we were getting worried about what to do with our reservations ~ we phoned the campground & explained the situation & they allowed us to bump out our dates & they'd not charge us a 'changing fee' ~ we bumped them out to us arriving on the 18th & still returning home on the 24th, praying ruby would be home by then ~ well, as things fell into place, we got 'the call' on the 15th, flew to miami on the 16th & back home with ruby on the 17th, just in time to pack up the camper & leave with all 4 of our girls & my parents on the morning of the 18th (as planned!) ~ poor little thing arrives to a very nice home at 11pm, gets tucked into her bed after being totally FREAKED OUT by seeing her 2 cats (freaked out's an understatement here) & then immediately upon rising the next morning, being thrown into an RV & calling it 'home' for the next 6 days ~ then, while there at holiday world, she's put on rides (which she threw fits to ride 'with her sisters', only to throw fits to get off, once the rides started) ~ oh the memories *insert smile here* ~ here's a picture of her on her first morning of camping (wonder if she's thinking, "gosh, they brought me out of haiti for this???") ~ we love you ruby & can't imagine life without you ~ you've come a long way baby & you've taught everyone that knows you, so much ~ happy gotcha day sweetheart!

this bottom pic's of ruby this week ~ my how the time flies!