Brown County weekend

Just now posting pictures from our big weekend in Brown County. We go with my sister's family every year and it is a sacred tradition that drives our husbands crazy. It's kind of a joke that each year we say we are going to go during the "peak" of the season, when the leaves are the most colorful. Well, every year the leaves are either completely green (like this year) or have already fallen off the trees. Anyway, we always stop at the park to take family pictures (in front of the very GREEN leaves...breathtaking) and then go into Nashville for the rest of the day. This year we had one more kid making 5 between the two families and this was pushing it a bit. We decided that neither of us can have any more children because it would make the Brown County trip too challenging.

As a side note, it is very interesting being in Southern Indiana with a daughter from China as this is not a very ethnically diverse area of the state (ok, who am I kidding, it is lily white!) As we strolled past the onlookers they immediately honed in on Alina's cherubic face, then, without fail, their eyes would begin to dart around, looking for the parents that matched this child!

Afterwards, we headed back to our place to celebrate Chris' birthday by watching the Purdue game and the whole gang spent the night. Alina is like a live doll for the older kids. Their favorite game to play with her (or TO her I should say) is called "Queen Nini" (Nini is what we call Alina at home...it was her nickname at the orphanage and is still really the only name she responds to. We think it suits her) Anyway, the game consists of Alina sitting in the laundry basket, and the kids carrying the basket around the house chanting "Queen Nini!" Sometimes they make a crown for her and a little container for snacks. As you might suspect, Alina thoroughly enjoys this and will sit very still for her loyal subjects. Hope you enjoy the pictures