Sunday Snapshot {celebrating 4 years}

Four years ago today my life was revolutionized when I became a mommy for the very first time at 4:06 in the afternoon.  At that very moment time stood still and Ian, Kylie and I were the only three that existed in the world...

But it wasn't just our family in the room.  Between 4:03 and 4:08, ten other families grew by one beautiful little girl.  And by the time those five minutes were over, we all realized that we had become, in a sense, family.
 

So today, in recognition of our big girl becoming the first of the M kids, we gathered with two of her sweet "China sisters" (who happen to live in the same greater metro area) to celebrate.

And since the Lunar New Year just started, we decided to create jiao zi.  After a quick round of instructions  (from me, the "well we've made them once now" expert) the kids got to work.

Techniques varied.

Concentration flowed.

Fingers were wiped.

Edges were crimped.

Superhero capes were even donned in order to produce best efforts.

The speed was pretty amazing.  Even with only one person (Ian) using a melon baller to scoop filling onto wrappers, the nine kids turned out two trays of jiao zi in a matter of minutes.

While the dumplings, and the methods we used to create them may not have been completely authentic, our girls seemed to enjoy making them together (along with their siblings).

Though it is possible that they enjoyed eating them even more.

And then, at the end of our meal, we took a little time to celebrate the reasons that our families know one another in the first place.

Our Guangdong girls.

Each one strikingly beautiful.

Each one delightfully unique.

Each one blessed to have the others in their daily lives.  After everyone had left and the last dish had been washed, Kylie came, hugged my legs and said, "Mommy, that was the best forever family day ever."  I asked her if there was anything else she wished we had done to celebrate.  She thought for a minute and said, "No, it was perfect!  I loved making dumplings with my China sisters!"

And we did have fun. 

The only thing that could have made the day better?  Having Kristin, Sarah, Marisa, Olivia, Caroline, Nellie, Grace and Hallie (and their families) here to celebrate with us.

Kylie Baozhen, you are truly our priceless treasure.  Thank you for teaching us a little more what it means to love.  Happy forever family day!

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