January- Miah started the year off with day surgery to remove a tooth that had erupted in her cleft line. She had avoided surgeries in 2012 but started the down the road of bone grafting in 2013. The removal of this tooth was the first step in this process.
February- The last week of February we headed south to Anaheim and LA for seven days of playtime. This year we stayed at the Del Sol hotel and enjoyed our quaint room with bunk beds for the girls. We were very excited to see cousin Alyssa and spend a day with her on the Parks showing her the sights and and foods of Disneyland. Miah discovered that she really likes Splash Mountain and any roller coaster she was tall enough to ride. What a difference a year makes. We also had the opportunity to spend a day with Miah's friend from China, Tian. We enjoyed a day with Tian's family exploring Legoland and basking in the joy of their interactions.
March- This Spring Mackenzie participated in three dance competitions. She performed a Tap solo, placing third at one of the events and was also part of a small modern dance group. She loved this experience and has already started practicing for her 2014 competitions. (This coming year she has a character ballet solo, tap solo and a duet with one of her closest friends.) This girl loves the stage!
April- We welcomed our first teenager into the house! Mackenzie turned 13! She celebrated with some of her closest friends at 4cats. The girls worked together a painting that Mack got to take home and hang in our home, as well as a smaller painting each.
May- "A Time to Dance" Our highlight each year is Creators Arts Centre's year end recital. This year was especially fun as all three of our girls were in the recital. Both sets of grandparents were also in town to watch their performance. So special when everyone is all together.
Notice Miah's purple cast in the above photo? Another first this year for Miah!
June- Mack was asked to perform in a music video. She was so excited! We drove to Penticton for the day and she attended the shoot. The producer was very impressed by her and said she was easy to work with and was fascinated by her eyes. He even changed the script so that they could feature her eyes in one part. She signed with a casting agent this year and looks forward to working in the industry in the near future. She auditioned for a crayola commercial this year all well...too bad she didn't get that one, she could have paid off her dance fees for the year!
July- We started out our summer with a trip down to BC Children's Hospital for Miah to undergo her bone graft surgery. She was a trooper and was released to go home after one night. They took a piece of bone from her left hip and implanted it into her cleft line. She recovered well, but that hip did give her pain for a couple of months post surgery.
August- "Spectacular Spectacular" Mackenzie was involved in her fourth season with Bumbershoot Children's Theatre. This year they did a show that featured many numbers from different Broadway musicals. The singing and dancing was amazing. Mack's highlight was a solo of "Naughty" from Matilda. we were all proud of her for stepping outside her comfort zone.
In August Miah turned 6! I can't believe how fast she is growing up. It is hard to believe that she has been home for four years now! We celebrated her by having a Monsters Inc. themed birthday party. She was super excited and counted down the days for months in advance! Her favorite present was a G.I.A.N.T. Stuffed Panda!
September- Back to School! Miah started Grade 1, Madison grade 4 and Mackenzie Grade 8. Mack was asked to join the Senior Band and has been enjoying playing the trumpet with the high school band. They have a band trip planned for Spring 2014 and will travel to Whistler and Vancouver.
In September Mackenzie was also asked to be a part of Bumbershoot's Apprenticeship program.This will open so many doors for her and gives her more opportunities to sing, dance and act...the three things she loves the most. Miah was asked to be a part of the competitive gymnastics team at her gym and she is beyond thrilled...she L.O.V.E.S. gymnastics and loves to show off her moves. She is now training 8.75 hours a week and doesn't seem to tire of it at all. She will have her first competition in June of 2014.
October- We celebrated Madison's 10th Birthday.She decided that she did not want any gifts for herself and asked her friends to bring gifts for the kids at the New Day Foster home in Beijing. Four of their kids had birthdays in November and they suggested Madison send gifts for their party. Madison was thrilled to be able to send her package to China. The best part was seeing photos of the kids opening their gifts. For Madison's party she has a themed mystery party where each child came dressed up as a character and had to read some clues to figure out which one of them "committed the crime."
November- Both Madison and Mackenzie auditioned and received parts in Theatre Kelowna's Christmas Pantomime of "Cinderella and the Silver Twig." They performed 10 shows over two weekends. They had a great time meeting new friends and doing live theatre with adults.
December- Miah and Mackenzie had the opportunity to be a part of the live shadow dance performance at Trinity Baptist's Christmas Eve Services. They performed during 7 services. Miah was thrilled to be able to be in a performance with her big sister. Miah played the role of the young Jesus.
Madison got her first pair of glasses in December 2013. She will be starting school in the new year with a much clearer perspective.
We wish all our friends and family a very happy and healthy 2014.
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