Bigs And Littles

Carrie and Jon Make Us Grandparents

2011-07-28T10:51:00.003-05:00

Papa is the first to hold her.

INTRODUCING ADELAIDE AMELIA

aka Addie

Of course Mya was in on the action.

Noah takes a peek.

Mya and he neice!

Got her some mittens so she won't scratch her face anymore.

The new family. SWEET!

Daddy Jon wrapped Addy up like a "burrito".

Just can't get enough!

Noah - the proud uncle!

Grammy V takes a turn holding that sweet bundle!

Birthday Cake Maker--Noah turns 6

2011-07-05T10:59:00.000-05:00

Reunion--Sunday Morning at the Pool

2011-07-03T22:46:00.000-05:00

Leah, Maggie and Mya--ready to jump.

JUMP!!!!!!

Maureen and Molly

Maggie, warming up.

Noah, Maureen, Molly, Mya and Leah--still in that cold water.

Indy Reunion--Photoshoot--Sat Eve

2011-07-02T23:00:00.002-05:00

The girls were messing around with cell phone pix prior to the big photo shoot.

Bored brothers.

Line 'em up, Gretchen

All lined up, looking good

Mia, Leah, Anna, Mya, Maggie, Olivia

Outdoor shots.

Nope, this is not much more fun than the indoor ones--too hot!

Ok, is this the last one already? It was very hot and time to eat!

Indy Reunion--Canal Walk--Sat Morn

2011-07-02T10:14:00.002-05:00

Johnson, Henderson and Anderson families headed to Canal Walk.
( http://johnlind.tripod.com/canalwalk/cw.html )

Anna, Mia and Mya on the huge artwork display.

I really liked this art. The colored panels are silver on the back. They move in the wind and glitter in the sun.

Checking out the big bikes.

Off we go!

Halfway around.

The way back.

Playing in the park after the bike ride.

Tag in the park.

Erin Gets Married

2011-05-24T09:18:00.000-05:00

Melana finalizing the "do" and Jennica gives to OK.

Close up of the hair.

Mya gets zipped.

Noah's tie is all ready.

Waiting for the ceremony.

Arriving at the reception.

Carrie gives her speech.

Dancing at the reception.

It was raining so hard most of the morning but at 2 pm there was just enough break for Erin to make it to the church without getting soaked. Because of the rain, everyone dressed at the church. We had pics before and after. Then they took some of the bridal party at the Town Green. This photo was taken by Jon as the newlyweds arrived for the reception. It was a lovely setting with GREAT food and fun time of dancing.

Look Who Turned Seven

2011-05-16T12:24:00.000-05:00

It is kind of a tradition for the birthday person to stand in the kitchen corner and have
their picture taken. We started it 2 houses ago. Erin wanted Mya to be added to that tradition.

Purple frosting, of course! Yum!

DIG IN!

Good sized crowd to eat the icecream cake.

New inline skates, pads and a helmet for the birthday girl.

Getting SO big!

Noah is getting a bit big for this but he still loves it.

Pillow and Pet = Pillow Pet?

2011-01-04T17:52:00.000-06:00

Keeping busy on Winter Break

2010-12-30T13:08:00.000-06:00

Noah got fingerpaints for Christmas.

Hey, my little hand makes great tulips!

Bathroom decorations??

A last photo with the decorations.

Noah in his new glasses
{he broke them 2 days after getting them and had to have the frames replaced :( }

Mommy teaches Noah to write our last name.
Good use of winter break.

Christmas Highlights

2010-12-27T14:29:00.011-06:00

The best daddy in the world bought Mya and Noah fold up scooters for Christmas
AND let them try them out in the house!

Mya was happy to get her art supplies.

Little boys need at least one motor vehicle for Christmas. Noah also got a pickup/boat set including fish and men.

We had a great Christmas. Charlie, Donna and Jenny {or is it Jennee or Jennie ;) } came over to help us eat some turkey and socialiaze for a bit. Of course, they brought gifts for the littles--Panda Pillow Pet and Tron motorcycle. We had fun hanging out.

"Rockin' in the Kitchen" Aprons special ordered from Red Thread Stiches. Way cute!

Sporting Ordinary Hero clothing from Here: http://ordinaryheroblog.blogspot.com/

Christmas day brought tons of gifts being opened--early rising little ones got to open stuff from mom and dad. The big ones all opened stuff at 10:30. It was the first time ever that we all slept in the same house. Everyone enjoyed opening the crazy stuff that this mom got them--aprons, tools, vacuums, thermos, socks, single serving shake makers and the like. Mom tried to support adoption with some of her purchases.

At noon, Linda, Jim, Ben and his daughter came over. The kids had so much fun--indoors and out. Ben's girl cried pretty hard when it was time to come in. Who would want to leave all that fun!?!

A Ride on the Sled.

A hole dug by Aaron.

Inspecting the construction of the "cave".

GIRLY FUN!

Guess I could just keep posting but I think I'd better stop. We had a wonderful holiday. It was really great to have ALL the kids home at one time. I hope this is something we can keep going forever!

White Christmas Guarenteed

2010-12-20T18:00:00.000-06:00

I put Joe to work blowing the newest 4 inches.

Christmas Card 2010

2010-12-19T10:06:00.000-06:00

Family Photo from Thanksgiving Day

A Day Well Spent

2010-12-09T14:30:00.000-06:00

THE OFFENDER IS GONE

2010-11-03T13:12:00.001-05:00

I finally got a shot of Noah with a big cheesy grin so that you can all see his "hole". It's all healed up now and feeing much better.

Not So Scary

2010-11-01T13:12:00.000-05:00

This Halloween was again greeted with anticipation for the kids. After finding candycanes at Sam*s club, we decided that we would hand those out for the occasion. I got the bright idea that it would be fun for Mya to dress as Mrs. Claus. I found the cute dress at Goodwill and then got some boots and leggings at W*M--she should get lots of wear out of both. Noah had planned to be a fire fighter but changed his mind when he saw this running suit I bought him. He just wanted to wear it. So he became the athelete. Unfortunately, Noah bonked his hurting tooth with a basketball and did not go out to collect candy. [The tooth is bad and will be removed tomorrow morning :( ] So much for Halloween 2010. On to Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Carving

2010-10-22T18:28:00.000-05:00

Boomerang!

2010-10-21T13:33:00.000-05:00

Photo from Christmas 2009

This is the boomerang generation-leaving and coming back home again. Well, it's our turn to have Joe home with us. We are happy to have him (and Rachael) here. For them, it's not so much of a boomerang as a new beginning. They have not always made good choices and have ended up in all kinds of mischief but now they are starting fresh. The cost is high--all have had to swallow pride, all have had to learn to respect and be patient. With time, all will be back in order and they will once again fly the nest but until then, more living and learning. We love them dearly!

First Day Excitement

2010-09-07T17:32:00.004-05:00

Documentation is good.

Last year, Mya fell asleep on the bus and didn't get off at the daycare as she is supposed to. I was sure she was on the wrong bus --239 to school, 238 on the way home. Nope, just sleeping. She arrived safe and sound.
Well, this year when Noah didn't get off the bus at the daycare, it had happened. I mixed up the numbers and Noah was on 239, not 238. After 40 minutes of wondering and calling, he showed up at the daycare--acting all cool and calm. Turns out he told the driver he was supposed to be at Maple Grove Academy and even helped the driver find it. When I asked him about it, he said " I wasn't scared. I guess I was brave!" What a guy!!

School Starts

2010-09-07T15:24:00.000-05:00

Visiting Fargo

2010-09-06T11:18:00.000-05:00

Shoe Shopping

2010-08-12T12:28:00.003-05:00

Most days are pretty quiet here in our Maple Grove Manor. No, not quiet in terms of silence but quiet in terms of activities. I am not one who likes to plan every moment. We kind of go with the flow here. Most days consist of getting up about 8 AM [kids idea, not mine] and lounging around, sometimes with TV, sometimes not, until I think of something that we can or need to do. Yesterday, that something was shoe shopping at Kohl's. I thought we had it all under control. We even picked out some new clothes 'cuz anyone who shops at Kohl's knows they have great sales. Plus we got 20% off for using our Kohl's card AND a $10 coupon to use the next time we shop there. Yee Haw!! Anyway, we headed home, happily believing we spent only half what we would have paid at full price. We were home about an hour, during which Mya ran a lap around outside with her new shoes on, only to be told "Mom, these are too tight!" They seemed fine in the store! [Did I mention the box played an annoying Sketchers tune when it opened?? See first picture--rainbow shoes. But, I dirgress.] Of course, in Mya's mind the problem needed to be remedied immediately. Not so for the Momma. It could wait. And it did. Until about 4:30 when I decided I could withstand another trek to K*. We exchanged the shoes for a better fitting pair [white/pink running shoes-second picture] and were off. {Noah's shoes [black running shoes] were a great fit and didn't need exchanging. He proudly proclaimed that they made him run faster and jump higher and repeatedly thanked me for them.} Now that we have been through shoe shopping, I am totally looking forward to school supply shopping! I think I will go by myself and boldly proclaim "You get what you get and you don't make a fit!"

Remember this

2010-08-06T13:08:00.002-05:00

2010-08-05T17:53:00.000-05:00

Putting the pictures into one photopage. Haven't done that for a while.
Forgot how fun it is.

Kitty pictures

2010-07-28T15:31:00.001-05:00

NAPPING BUDDIES.

CUTE AND CURIOUS.

A New Baby

2010-07-27T10:09:00.001-05:00

Last Friday, we had our 15 yr old cat, Peaches, put down. He suffered from Feline Uremic Syndrom and had developed either diabetes or kidney disease in the last couple months. His back legs were week and he barely groomed himself. He did not move much anymore. It was a very hard thing to do but it was time.

Kinko is still young (2) and plays quite a bit. I thought she could use a companion. So off to the Humane Society we went. Here is our new baby: Tigerlily! Yes, she is laying on MY bed. Kinko is stilly pretty hissy at her but it hasn't even been 24 hours. These things take time.

A Visit to Grandma's House

2010-07-24T10:01:00.000-05:00

Mya took a spin on Uncle Kurt's 4-wheeler.

Daddy gives Noah a ride on Grandma's 4-wheeler.

This cactus has been around since I was a kid.

Grandma's goldfish pond.

Always have to check the water temp!

Grandma's dog is camera shy. Oh, CJ, the camera can't hurt you!!

Always fun to visit grandma. Picked up sticks that fell in the big storm. Picked cucumbers. Checked out a tiny watermelon that will be big enough to eat in about a month!

2010 Swimming Lessons

2010-07-20T09:50:00.000-05:00

Good Will Hunting

2010-07-17T09:42:00.000-05:00

Mommy likes to go to Goodwill to see what treasures we can find. Often we get household items to decorate the top of the cabinets. This time we had Daddy along and he found some really nice TOYS!

Noah with his Recycling truck that he and daddy found at Goodwill.

Mya painting her winged horse bank that she and daddy found at Goodwill.

Sum, Sum, Summertime!

2010-07-07T21:14:00.000-05:00

SPRINKLER FUN!!

SANDBOX FUN!!

Got the Canoe Out

2010-07-03T12:28:00.000-05:00

Big Boy

2010-07-02T11:59:00.002-05:00

Look who turned 5!!!

We had lunch with Daddy at Wendy's to celebrate.

[The birthday boy is not fond of cake.]

Carrie Graduates College!

2010-06-23T18:00:00.007-05:00

We headed out to Denver last Wednesday to see Carrie graduate. It was a very nice day. She displayed her photos at a portfolio display. She is hoping to do photography for magazines. You will have to check with her on the specifics. We are very proud of her and so glad that she and Jon are moving on with life now.

Preschool Graduation

2010-05-30T10:06:00.001-05:00

Noah has finished preschool. He did a terrific job. On to Kindergarten!

Barn Hill Climb

2010-05-23T10:30:00.002-05:00

We had a lot of fun climbing Barn Hill near Red Wing, MN. My brother, Charlie, his wife & daughter, Donna & Jenny, had never been there. They enjoyed some wild asparagus along the way. The weather was chilly but we quickly warmed up walking through the woods. Noah was thrilled to see the bridge. He was tired by the end and we sang "The Ants go Marching" in order to keep going. Afterward, we enjoyed a cool treat at DQ.

Someone Turned 6 !!

2010-05-17T09:39:00.001-05:00

When we went to the grocery store to pic out a cake, we spotted these cupcakes--butterfly rings on top. Since it was just the 4 of us home, we went with them. Keith put all 6 candles in one cupcake, lit them up and we sang Happy Birthday. Tasty!!

Spring!

2010-04-11T19:01:00.003-05:00

Mya tries to fly a kite for the very first time. She did pretty will. Keith only

took it out of the tree once. Not very windy. So just a lot of up and then down for

Mya but she truly enjoyed it.

Noah kept busy with the playset, riding his jeep and even tried roller blading on the toy ones

we have from back in the day! (Our neighbor is raking his lawn in the background.

We dethatched last weekend--Thank you Charlie and Donna for use of your equipment.)

Keith stained our deck swing. Looks great! It was so dried out that it sucked up the stain.

Probably needs a coat of sealant.

Guess Daddy's influence is showing because Noah thought relazing to turn on an eoisode of

"Street Customs" (a program about rebuilding cars) and kicking back.

Five Years -- Time is but a Vapor!

2010-04-08T12:55:00.003-05:00

HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FIVE YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THIS LITTLE MONKEY WAS PUT IN OUR ARMS. WITH ALL HER CRYING AND FUSSING, I TRULY DID NOT KNOW IF SHE WAS GOING TO ADJUST OR IF I WAS GOING TO ADJUST.

TIME HAS PROVEN WE WOULD ALL ADJUST. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WITH US. LOVE YOU MYA!

This photo was take shortly after we got home. Mya loved being outside. Notice the apple juice bottle. We took it along EVERYWHERE!

Mya is busy kindergartener now. Here she is helping her Pingjiang sister, Leah, with a Flat Stanley project.

This little monkey needs to get into gymnastics. Mom just needs to get in gear!

Snapshot Update

2010-03-08T18:50:00.004-06:00

What do you do when daddy heads out of town? Head to the store, of course.

Each of the kids got new PJs. They are 3 peice sets. Noah put all 3 parts on. So, his shorts are over the Scooby Doo bottoms. Silly boy!

Mya has Hello Kitty on hers. Here she is eating her usual popsicle.

These two photos are for my sister, Colleen. She put together a bag of cool stuff she had around her house to give to the kids for Christmas. There were lots of neat things like construction paper and stickers. She also threw in a measuring tape for each of them. Noah has had great fun with his. Unfortunately, too much fun. Sadly, the metal tape broke and I found it in the garbage after work one night. No worries. Mya still has hers!!

I guess Noah thinks he's Handy Manny. Had to clip the measuring tape on his shirt!

The Snow, It is a Meltin'

2010-02-25T16:45:00.008-06:00

I'm getting a bit compulsive about making these premie hats. Not sure what I will do with this batch. Perhaps I will see if my hospital can use them. Otherwise they will be boxed up for China again.

***

28 and Sunny!

For three days now, when Mya gets home from school, the have taken out their bicycles and ridden around the cul-de-sac. While they are busy circling, I am using an old shovel to break up the ice at the end of the driveway. All of us get a good dose of fresh air and muscles get used. Today, there was a big puddle at the end of the driveway and the kids found out that their boots are not totally water proof AND jeans are very absorbant!

The moon makes an early appearance, rising in midafternoon.

Keith got the kids little DVD players to use on the plane. I am glad because they can plug in their favorite videos and watch as they wish. Here they are pretending tea party, watching Leapfrog videos and eating fruit.

Noah has come a long way on his alphabet learning in the last month. We have really been pushing it and it's paying off! Mya is reaping the bennies too. She gets more phonics lessons with the Leapfrog pack. I think I may have to invest in a couple more of their product.

Home Again

2010-02-20T08:56:00.004-06:00

The Holiday Inn Express had this sitting area. How very nice!

Whiling away the time til check out and then we will sit around the airport for a couple hours.

The Tampa airport had a kids play area. It was so nice. The kids kept busy for quite a while prior to our flight. Sorry, didn't get any pics of that.

Back to home life. Feels good.

Yeah, back to playing on "my" computer!

- - - - - - -

We have made it safely home. Our pick-up gal was a bit late. So, this momma did some creative playtime. Wish I had pictures but I'm pretty sure you can visualize this. At first we thought we were just waiting for a few minutes. Mya did some dancing, both jumped over my duffle bag and watched a bird fly around inside the airport. When we realized that is was going to be a while until Erin arrived, I took the kids and headed down the way to see what we could do. We found a small circular baggage conveyor. Mya ran around it about 6 times and Noah made it about 3 times. Then, we spotted an up escalator. Oh, the joy! Right next to it was a stairway. We went up the escalator, then down the stairs and up the escalator and down the stairs. Then mom stopped and the kids continued. Up, then down; up, then down for about 10 minutes, maybe more. They were the only ones using the escalaor for the most part. They kept going while I watched Keith for a wave to tell us to come on back. The kids were not ready to quit even when I got that wave. Bummer for them!

On the way home, Mya got fussy. Traffic was heavy and she was just plain tired of sitting and started complaining about a tummy ache--common for her. A game of I Spy was the remedy. What a great game to learn to describe. Noah did a terrific description of a fire truck. I got a bit tricky because Erin and Aaron were in the back seat. My clue was "something with holes in it and lines on it". Erin got it--the road! Roads in FL did not have holes in them and the tar was a nice, nearly shiney black. Hmmm . . . the blessings and cursings of road salt! Aaron did a good one too, a bit hard for the little kid though. I spy something makes you go faster and cars go slower?? No one got it--SNOW! You go fast sliding and cars have to drive slowly in lots of it.

Once home, daddy ordered pizza, and we ate off paper plates. Erin had to do a quick clean up. Her messiness had move up a level, literally spreading into the family room and kitchen. Bed time was abbreviated as Noah fell asleep on the sofa and Mya just went to bed. Our dentist would be very disappointed in us as tooth brushing took a back seat for a week. I was shot too and went to bed before 10!!! Keith stayed up doing whatever it is he does after we all go to bed.

This morning we are taking it easy. The kids had leftover pizza for breakfast and I got my morning coffee. The cat meowed for her food and dad is doing something in his office. Home life resumes as Noah goes to get a filling this afternoon and I'm heading in to work.

Tomorrow we will get up and go to church, another new church. For anyone who has done a "church hunt", you will know that this can be a difficult process. When we made the decision to find a local church, we knew it would not be easy for us. We have tried 4 churches so far. This will be the fifth. Please pray that God will guide us to just the right one. We'd like to have a great children's ministry, vibrant youth, good worship songs, family-like congregation and to feel the presence of God throughout our visit. No, we don't want it all!! ;) We have tried the local "mega" churches and while they have lots to offer, we felt cold and distance with the congregation. Folks have told us that the small groups are the way to shorten that distant feeling. Maybe so. We'll attend this one tomorrow and then consider our options once again.

Blessings to all of you. Thanks for your comments and for keeping us on your reading list.

2010-02-18T17:13:00.001-06:00

Two Years Ago, Beijing. Today, Florida

2010-02-16T09:48:00.005-06:00

As I sit here looking out at a Florida beach, I can't help but reflect on 2 years ago. This is the day we woke up in Beijing. Amazing how time goes by. It seems like Noah has been with us forever. We are just so blessed to have all of our kids--Bigs and Littles. Each came to us as God planned and they are special in their own ways, demonstrating His gifts in them.

You can look back HERE to stroll down memory lane.

( You will have to scroll down to find Feb 16 as this link includes all of Feb 2008. )

The waves are magnificent today. The wind has gotten stronger as the day goes on and the waves have gotten bigger. I wanted to include a video but blogger is not cooperating.

The kids are washing their shells today to get the sand and stink off of them.

Went to a botanical garden. It was nice but I forgot the camera in the car. We did see turtles, an alligator, mallords and other birds and, of course, lots of plants.

President's Day at the Beach

2010-02-15T16:49:00.004-06:00

Today is supposed to be the warmest day during our trip, getting into the 60s here at Indian Rock Beach. The kids spent much of the morning digging in the sand. We all tasted the water to make sure it really was salty. We at McD's for lunch and found a local W*M to get a couple more sweatshirts as the wind is making us cold. I also got a pair of slippers for me as the wood floors are cold and it goes right up my legs and chills me through. I packed assuming it would be warmer. Of course, we found a couple that say Florida on them. Nothing fancy but fun anyway. Hopefully they will have actual memories from the trip.

Keith is kind of a driving sort. So we headed south on 275, across a huge bridge. No, I don't have the name in my head but it was cool.

Now the kids are back on the beach and I've got a lasagne in the oven that we go at Target last night. Sure is nice to have a kitchen.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T13:09:00.004-06:00

Luggage laden family.

Moving sidewalks are fun!

Mom got us each a new book for Valentine's day.

The beach is way neat. The sand is so fine, like dust.

Great for digging and a whole lot warmer than snow.

Watch out for the waves!

Happy Valentine's day from Sunny (and chilly -50 degrees) Florida!

Time Surely Flies!

2010-02-08T10:28:00.003-06:00

Two years ago, we were preparing for the journey to Wuhan, Hubei, China to bring home our youngest son. What we knew was that he was nearly 2.5 years old at the time. A big boy from the measurements we had. He was pretty scared, I think. He has a little tear in his eye. I can only imagine that his foster grandma had said good bye and be a good boy. When I think of her, my heart hurts for her. We have no contact with her because the authorities do not share info about the foster families. What we do know is that she loved him and stuck up for him when a neighbor criticized her Ganggang (now our Noah). We are in debted to her for teaching him to love and caring for him with gentle hands. Some day, I hope to meet her. At the very least, I would like to send her an update so that she can know that her little boy is growing and learning and becoming a fine young man.

This video is from last week when Noah and Mya played outside for a bit. He is such a joy in our life. Thank the Lord for allowing us to parent this child!

Photo Catch Up

2010-02-02T00:33:00.012-06:00

Keith snapped this shot one night while I was at work.

Apparently Noah crawled into his sleeping bag and zonked on the rug behind my desk.

Keith just picked him up and put him to bed.

Somehow, sister is always taking the lead!

Can't you just hear Mya telling Noah, "this is how it's done" ?

Nap time! Notice kitty is rolled up next to Noah.

Noah got a haircut. Mom wanted pictures. A toy car is under his chin!

Pigtail fun.

Horseback rides! Giddy up, Daddy!

Log Cabin building

Official Documentation of Going Gray

2010-01-30T11:14:00.000-06:00

I made the decision last fall but it took a while to have it happen. What is that, you ask? Growing my hair out to it's "natural" color. Years ago, it was a nice deep brown. When the first grays appeared, I started coloring. Wow, that was over 19 years ago. I have tried to stop a couple times but a certain daughter told me I owed it to Mya and Noah, not to have gray hair. I had colored for so many years that I really did not know what my true color was anymore. I also did not know just how gray I had become. What a shock to actually cut off the bronzy red color that every box of color turned to and actually see my "true" color. I am still adjusting to seeing myself in the mirror. The hope is that, in time and with some length, I will not be so shocked at myself. For me, the decision was twofold. First, I was tired of the monthly ritual. Secondly, I was concerned at the continual chemicals that I was exposing myself to. Some folks are researching a connection between hair dye and diseases. No link has been officially made but for me, the risk is no longer worth the hassle of vanity. So, I am including a new photo of myself. I now look even more like a grandma to M & N but they don't care so why should I ????

Fun at the Maple Maze

2010-01-08T13:55:00.007-06:00

Just arriving at the Maple Maze. It is located in our Community center. Haven't been there before. What a nice facility. It has a pool too. Mya wants to go to it next time.

Mya and Jadyn stopped just long enough for me to snap a picture.

This slide was HUGE! It did not scare Mya! I don't think Noah tried it.

There she is up at the top.

And at the bottom.

All for kids ejoyed a ride in this Ice Cream truck.

We will definitely be going again!

Mommy's Going to Rest

2010-01-06T14:01:00.003-06:00

Often times when I am going to work at 3 pm, I will take a rest prior to leaving. So, I tell Noah, play quietly, Mommy's going to take a rest. As I lay on the sofa today, dozing, it got really quiet. I had set the kitchen time so as not to over rest. When I got up, this is what I found in the living room. Guess I am not the only one who needs to rest before Mommy goes to work!

A Couple Pix

2010-01-03T23:18:00.007-06:00

When I came home from work on Thursday night, it was already Jan 1, 2010. I walked into a quiet house, not because everyone was sleeping but because they were not home!! Keith and the kids were invited to my brother's home for the evening and stayed to ring in the new year. Here is Mya pointing to the clock to prove that they got home at 12:20 am. Fun for the moment but tired kids the next day. They have been running on fumes for so long that I expect them to crash soon. Tomorrow is back to everything. Let's hope for a smooth transition.

Here are the kids packing to drive out to my parents' farm on Friday. As you can see, they were ready to stay more than a few hours. I had to have them put some of it back!

Noah has become quite the computer boy. He plays many different games. As you can see here, he is not alone in his computer time. Kinko is his buddy! Here she is behaving. One shot has her nipping at his fingers! Such a stinker.

Brand New Year

2010-01-02T12:56:00.003-06:00

Wow! 2010 has arrived. We spent yesterday celebrating the holidays with my side of the family. Everyone had a great time eating, joking, playing with the kids and just chatting. With us living two hours away, it's not often that we get to spend time with the whole family. So these times are precious to us.

What does 2010 hold for us? More of the same. Actually, Carrie will graduate college, we will celbrate thirty years of marriage and who knows what else. Whatever is in store, we are ready.

2010 Chinese New Year's Gala: Carnival China Style | Hennepin Theatre Trust

2009-12-31T22:47:00.000-06:00

This looks so cool!

2010 Chinese New Year's Gala: Carnival China Style Hennepin Theatre Trust

More Photos

2009-12-28T13:41:00.002-06:00

TV time on CHristmas night.

Food, food and more food.

Snowman after dark.

Living room fun.

I like this popper thingy.

Christmas Eve/Day

2009-12-25T17:52:00.004-06:00

Time with family and a snowstorm to boot. What more could you ask for??

Holidazzle Parade 2009

2009-12-13T21:11:00.006-06:00

Last night was a mild night, 27 degrees,

perfect for going to the Holidazzle. We had never gone before.

Each of the kids got a fiber optic light toy to play with as we waited for the parade to start.

If you don't know about the Holidazzle, it is a parade of lighted floats and persons held in downtown Minneapolis (on the Nicollet Mall) each year in an effort to promote the downtown area. It is purposely a short parade as the weather is unpredictable.

Each of the displays had a fairytale theme.
This is the crocodile from Peter Pan.

This is the Gingerbread House from Hansel and Gretel.

This snowman is basically a giant baseball promoting the Minnesota Twins.

This float had a "bell choir", followed by people dresses as Christmas bulbs.

Preschool Program

2009-12-11T21:04:00.000-06:00

Noah had his Preschool Christmas Progam, today. Unfortunately, my batteries died and I could only get good stills. However, here is a VERY short clip of a movement song.

2009-12-08T11:31:00.001-06:00

Nativity Sets

2009-12-05T00:47:00.003-06:00

I found this nativity set at, of all places, Menard's. I bought it for two reasons. First, my old one had broken figurines (cat and kids). Secondly, I love the subtleness of the painting -- not so fancy, just lovely.

This set is pretty old but in good shape. The kids set it up in the porch (formal dining room that we converted).

We also have our manger with it's star and streams of lit silver tinsel set up in the living room along with a tree. I thought I was so smart, buying a pre-lit tree but within 24 hours, one strand is dark. Guess that will go back!!! When we get the bugs worked out with the tree, I'll post a picture of the decorated living room.

Thanksgiving Day

2009-11-28T14:48:00.003-06:00

We had a great Thanksgiving. Keith's parents, brother and family, Erin, and the 4 of us all had turkey and the trimmings. We relaxed and chatted, enjoyed dessert, laughed and played. Joe and Rachael joined us later in the afternoon. Mya and Noah took a nap with very little fuss! When it got dark, Keith and I and the littles headed out for a neighborhood stroll to find out how many more lights folks had turned on. When we returned, we were surprised by CARRIE AND JON. Carrie had gotten tired of being alone and her roommate ditched her (yes, Jenny, that's you ;)), so she headed up to Fargo to hang out with her hubby for the weekend. They spent some time with Jon's family and then dropped unannounced. What a wonderful surprise! Erin's friend Aaron came by too. Then all the bigs headed to a movie and us "old folks" and the littles settled in to an evening of National Geographic TV--great program on the Grand Canyon. Keith's parents spent the night. When I got up the kids were yakking their ears off at the breakfast table. Everyone had a very pleasant and memorable Thanksgiving!

==========================

Today, I will share my recipe for stuffing. It's not entirely mine as I learned it from my mom but have made it own over the years.

First, get all the giblets out of the bird. This includes the tail and the neck. Put them in a saucepan and boil in water until all the meat is cooked.

Chop one large onion (more if you like)

Chop 1-2 cups of celery

Sautee in butter until softened.

Put one large bag of sage and onion flavored croutons in a large bowl.

add one large apple - chopped and 1 (or more) cup raisins

When the onion/celery mixture is ready, add to apple/raisin/crouton mix.

Now, take the cooked giblets out of the water which is now more like broth. DO NOT DUMP broth. Pick the meat off the neck and tail and put in your blender. Cut the heart, gizzard and liver (I don't use the liver) and put into the blender. Pour the broth over the meat and put cover on blender. Starting on your lowest setting and working up, run the blender until the meat mixture is pretty smooth. Be cautious if you use hot broth. Pour this meat sauce over the crouton mixture and mix well.

Refrigerate until you are ready to stuff the turkey. This make LOTS of stuffing.

If it does not all fit in the bird, put it in a casserole dish and pour chicke broth over it, then bake for about an hour.

We love it. Hope you do to.

JUST HAD TO SMILE

2009-11-17T14:17:00.002-06:00

Today, both Mya and Noah went to school. It was so nice just knowing I had some time alone. I chose to go grocery shopping--always easier without kids. I walked through the store thinking about the items I passed and choosing which ones I needed or were a good price. It was indeed nice. After filling the cart with what turned out to be more than $250 worth of groceries, I pulled into a check out lane. In front of me was a woman unloading her cart. A little boy, probably 3 years old, sat nicely in her cart. He was trying to help the woman. She called him Noah. I quickly said, "we have a Noah", to which she replied "grandson" or something to that effect. I looked at her and said "No, He's mine." As her jaw dropped, I stroked the hair on my temples and said, "I know, it's the gray hair", meaning that is why she asked. The idea to tell her that our Noah was a Chinese adoptee, quickly went through my mind and was vetoed. It doesn't matter how our Noah came to us, he is ours and YES, I am old enough to be his grandma! Neither Noah, nor I care much about that!

All Better

2009-11-17T09:07:00.000-06:00

Noah has recouped from his illness and returned, almost, to his normal self. I say almost because he fell asleep on the floor yesterday aat about 1 pm. After a bit, he moved to the sofa and fell asleep again, not waking until nearly 5:30. So, while his behaviour--arguing with sister, playing with sister, returning to activities--is back to normal, the need for sleep remains. Thank you to all who prayed for him.

Still Sick

2009-11-13T11:51:00.005-06:00

Noah is still under the weather. He did eat breakfast this morning. Asked for noodles with Applesauce. Hmmm . . . I asked if he meant spaghetti and he said yes. He did eat well and things are staying down. This is the first time he has asked for food in a couple days. He has been asking for water, thankfully. He has spend a LOT of time watching TV--NickJr (formerly Noggin) is our pick. He is good for a while and then falls asleep again.

Yesterday, he fell asleep around 10:30 am and woke at 2:30 pm. I had planned to allow him to go to preschool but he slept right through it. Then when he woke and found out it was over, he pouted and then cried for about half an hour. Poor kid really did want to go.

I will go in to work 2 hours late so that Keith can come home and watch him. I've been feeling fatigued and coughing myself this week but nothing like Noah has.

We did not take him to the Doctor because we did not feel that he was in bad enough condition to warrent it. He was drinking, taking meds, resting and eating small amounts. His fever was under control. Unfortunately, the docs can't do much for the flu except to keep the kids hydrated and he was not dehydrated. Thank God and those who have prayed him through this.

Sickness and Some Fun

2009-11-11T19:40:00.005-06:00

This is how Noah fell asleep last night. Pretty sad but he was sick all day, throwing up occasionally, slight cough, complaining of sore legs and also had a fever. No preschool for him. Mya stayed home from Kindergarten as she had a fever the night before. I wanted her to rest too, which she did by taking a nice nap. [Noah fell asleep on the floor again tonight, in nearly the same spot.]

Noah did go outside earlier in the day and Mya nabbed the camera. Great picture, I think.

Of course, what child can resist pointing the camera at themselves. There were several versions of this one but I think this is kind of funny. It screams Facebook profile picture.

Tonight we skipped church as Noah is still running a fever and Mya is tired and grumpy and bossy and, well, pretty much just being herself ;) Keith had church bills to do and I'm feeling achy in the shoulders (could be the computer). To entertain them for a few moments we made these turkeys. Got the idea from Kim K. Noah added feet and Mya put a hat on hers.

Kind of a fun little project. Very Cute! Thanks Kim!

Nice Day

2009-11-07T19:46:00.006-06:00

Today was one of those really nice days that you kind of take at your own pace with no real expectations. We got up at our usual time as our alarm clocks (Mya and Noah) don't recognize the difference between week and weekend days. Anyway, I got the church bulletins together--my one major church responsibility. We had planned to go out to visit dad in the nursing home and mom on the farm. It is a shorter drive from our new home, which really is nice. We stopped for lunch at a Burger King about half way there. Then we continued on to pick up my neice, Jenny, from her other grandma's home and then went to the nursing home. Dad was as he has been and will be, not really recognizing any of us but still chattering on about things. I have to listen really closely as he mumbles now and speaks softly. Basically, we listen, try to converse and hope that somehow, this time, we will break through the Parkinson's/Ahlziemers and see the old dad but not this time. The visit is a laborious hour. We did take him outside to get a bit of fresh air but it was chilly for him. The kids played on the lawn while we "chatted". My sister, Colette and her new husband, Steve, stopped by along with Steve's two girls and Colette's son Alex. When dad said he was tired, we decided it was time to head out to the farm. We were greeted at the door by CJ, mom's little dog who takes her guarding job very seriously. After enjoying a snack together, we headed out to pick up corn ears from the recently harvested fields. It was a gloriously sunny day, probably 65 out. The breeze made it feel just a bit chilly, especially in the shaded areas. Mya, Jenny and I walked in the field with a bucket, searching for "gold"--corn ears that we can use to feed the squirrels. It was great. As we walked, I could smell the corn stalks. My nephew, Jordan, was chopping the stalks with a John Deere tractor pulling a chopper. If you are not a farm kid, this may be an unfamiliar smell to you but if, like me, you grew up in the country, you may remember that particular smell. For me, it brought back many a memory of harvest on the farm. One memory that came flooding back to me was of a cold fall day, I must have been about 6 or 7. Our whole family, all six kids, were out in the field of corn stalks, dressed warmly as the weather was pretty cold. We were walking and picking up ears of corn and tossing them on to a hay rack. In those days, the corn ears were picked by a 2 row picker, put into a wagon, hauled up to the farm and stored until the kernels were shelled off the cobs for use as feed or taken to the local elevator to be sold. There was much waste so ears of corn were fairly plentiful. Farming has become much more sophisticated. Nary an ear falls to the ground these days. We could only find them on the corners where the huge combine had knocked down the stalks when turning the corners. It was especially heart warming for me to turn around and watch Mya pick soybeans from some remaining stems in the neighboring field. She found them to be not only fun to pick but tasty to eat--not something I enjoy but she did. As we walked the rows, enjoying one another's company, I got a strong sense that this would be one of those days that she would one day remember fondly, just as I remembered gathering corn ears on a cold November day, probably 40 years ago. I thought how wonderful it is to help a child have roots, connections to those they love, and warm fuzzies as they see familiar childhood sites.

Yep, It's MY Birthday!

2009-11-06T10:34:00.002-06:00

Because I am working tonight, my dear hubby brought me these beautiful yellow roses last night--one for each of the kids and one for him! Yellow (pale) IS my favorite color! Mom called me at 9:00 AM--the time that I was born. Both Mya and Noah wished me Happy Birthday and Erin (and Koda Bear) did too. Joe sent a text. That leaves Carrie. Not worried, she will call too. So far, I must have received a gazillion well wishes from Facebook via email notification. [I have not been on FB this week as I am doing a 7 day FB fast but my blog posts go on through Twitter.] Thank you all for your wishes. What I would prefer to do tonight instead of work would be to go to the P,C&D concert but I did not think to ask for my BD off! Who would have know that concert would be on my BD! Thank you all for your well wishes. You have made my day much brighter!

Taking Advantage

2009-11-04T17:33:00.004-06:00

Did a bit of "after Halloween" shopping and picked up some dress up clothes for 75% off. Figured it was cheaper than going to the toys section and paying through the nose. Got 2 Doctor outfits (different sizes), a wedding dress, another frilly dress, and a fireman suit --5 costumes for $20. Not bad! No, I did not pick up any candy. We have some left yet and I certainly don't need more UNLESS it lasts until Christmas because I could use it for the bags that we give the kids after the annual Sunday School program.

Littles Go Trick or Treating

2009-11-01T11:34:00.003-06:00

For those who have know us for a LONG time, you will know that we have not participated in Halloween for years. Not because the big ones were too big but because of the history of this "holiday". I went out of my comfort zone to try to focus on the pretend side of it and the little ones had a good time. They are too little to realize the spiritual side of Halloween. We will discuss that as they get bigger. For now, it is just a time to dress up and collect candy from the neighbors. Keith took them out and then came back to leave Noah with me as he was tired. Mya went for a second round in the cul-de-sac behind us. Then they both handed out candy to whomever came to the door while watching Nick Jr's Halloween specials. They had a lots of fun and memories were made.

Fall after Winter!

2009-10-25T11:09:00.003-05:00

I'm playing a bit of catch up on my blog. I have been a bad blogger. I have been taking the pictures, just not posting them. I hope you enjoy catching up with our kiddos!

We raked leaves a couple Saturdays ago (post dated to nearly correct time). As usual, the kids had fun raking and jumping and hiding in the leaves.

They really did help us get them bagged up. They are great helpers when they decide to be!

I had to do more leaves on Halloween because other trees had fallen by then. It was much chillier than the posted pictures. The kids actually helped our neighbor, Dave, bag his leaves and also Dan in the back. Fortunately, unlike our other home, we are finished with the leaves for the year now. In EB, we had so many trees that we just kept bagging until the snow flew!

We love our new home and have not regretted moving at all. To everything, there is a season!

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT I CAN RECALL PLAYING IN SNOW PRIOR TO RAKING LEAVES. STRANGE YEAR HERE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST.

No Words Needed

2009-10-12T10:36:00.003-05:00

Getting Involved

2009-10-06T20:00:00.000-05:00

Today we got an email from Kim over at SEVENTH DIAMOND concerning the urgent need for medications at the Starfish Foster Home. Apparentlly they have been hit by a nasty bug and are running out of Aceteminophen and Ibuprofen for the kids. Both Mya and Noah had school this afternoon. So I ran to the store and picked up some of the meds to send off to China. After the kids came home from their schools, we headed over to the post office to get them going. In our discussion of the need, Noah seemed to think we were delivering the bottles in person. Hmmm . . . nope, the USPS will do that for us . . . they have special planes that fly to China on a regular basis. They were both very excited at the post office. It took me a bit to find the proper container--I settled on a large padded envelope after making sure they would fit. Then, I told the postal worker that I needed a picture. I put the kids on the counter and got out the camera. As I fumbled with it (realizing it was on video, changing it to regular picture) Noah picked up the large envelope, opening down and dropped all the items on the floor --Yee Haw! I quickly took the picture and promised all those present that I would not return at Christmas time!!!

Who's Kitty Is She??

2009-10-04T17:55:00.000-05:00

Noah just loves his kitty. Well, except when she bites cuz she is going crazy playing. Mya has lots of fun with Miss Kinko too but I haven't caught any of it on video--they typically run around with kitty toys!

Black Hills 2008

2009-10-04T00:40:00.000-05:00

This picture is from last year's trip to the Black Hills. Some times you have to look back to see how much things have changed. They have both grown so much!

Cute pics from the picnic

2009-10-02T12:34:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple favorite shots from our church picnic. The weather was cool but both my kids have sweaty heads. FYI, the man pulling Noah back on the swing is our Pastor. I didn't know he had been pushing Noah on the swings until I saw this photo. I think it's so neat that he was over playing with the kids!

I got these pictures from my friend, Linda. The blondies are her daughters. The other boy on the swing picture is our Pastor's son. Thanks for sharing!

Noah "Graduates"

2009-10-01T22:16:00.001-05:00

Yep, our little guy has officially graduated from speech therapy. He still has some letter combos to learn but all in all (and considering his arrival to the US was only 19 months ago) he is on target. Both the school and our therapist at Gillette Children's agree. We will continue to work at home but formal sessions are not needed at this time. Congratulations Son!

P.S. This picture is not from the day he got the speech news. It is from our church picnic. Didn't have my camera along to speech that day!

Woooo Hoooo!

2009-09-21T16:46:00.002-05:00

Today, Noah underwent yet another speech evaluation. He often times crosses his arms and doesn't want to do the whole thing. I was having him evaluated by the school system to see if he qualified for their speech therapy. I was greatly impressed by the results. Not only does he NOT qualify, the therapist said he is right on target!!! Great news!! We will continue with speech through the doc in order to improve the tough sounds but she felt he was doing just fine and even questioned his diagnosis. He has improved SO much in the last 6-8 months. I'm proud of our little guy and tickled pink . . . or should that be blue . . . What-Ever!!

"I'm NOT going to have fun"

2009-09-18T13:48:00.003-05:00

Those are the words I heard as we drove away, leaving Erin to put Mya on the bus.

Here is what happened. You decide if he had fun at preschool!

A Month of Firsts

2009-09-16T12:26:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was Noah's first day of Preschool. Unfortunately, we had an eye dr. appt in the morning and did not make it home to grab the camera. He went straight to school. He did extremely well and loved it! No tears. Just a wave good bye. I'll grab some pictures on day two, tomorrow!

Today is Mya's first bus ride TO school. She has ridden the bus to daycare but with the move, this is the first day they had her on the route. Had to grab pictures. Noah was less than happy that she left. :(

Buddy Rose's Birthday

2009-09-15T15:49:00.003-05:00

Not sure why or how she got that nick name but she did, probably due to her middle name being Rose. My dad called her Rosie for a bit. Now she is all grown up and off to college, enjoying a job and all that life has to offer. Happy Birthday Erin!

Please also note that our friends, the Bilbys, have gotten their daughter today in China. Check out THEIR BLOG.

One Big Day covered over with Another

2009-09-14T11:16:00.004-05:00

Twenty nine years ago, I married my sweet heart. He is such a blessing to me--patient, forgiving, understanding, courageous (he did say yes to birth kids and then adoption!), fixer of all things (the kids call him Super Dad) and so much more. Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Six years later, we added our first daughter. She is talented, cute as a button, smart, married to a great guy. Happy birthday Carrie!

Pre-K testing --Noah

2009-09-09T09:47:00.008-05:00

The school district called today and they have an opening at 2 pm. I really don't know how Noah will do. He has been evaluated for speech so many times that he just plain refuses to participate. I sure hope they make it fun cuz I'm just not sure he will cooperate. I'm actually hoping he qualifies for school based speech as that would save us some money but he is on the border for ability. Guess we will find out. No time for boredom here. Always something!

Follow up: The "testing" went well. At one point, Noah did refuse to participate. Apparently he had had his fill. Fortunately the tester mentioned a reward at that time. It helped so they could complete the activities. Noah is pretty much on target for Kindergarten next year. He starts preschool next week. Such a big boy!

First Day of Kindergarten For Mya

2009-09-08T14:05:00.007-05:00

THAT BACKPACK WAS LOADED!

It really was. 3 packs of crayons, 2 packs of markers, 2 bottles of glue, etc.

She was extremely excited to go. With afternoon Kindergarten, you have the morning to double check everything. You also have a child asking if it is time to go about a gazillion times.

No bus today. I drove her. Since we moved in during the summer, they need to create a stop for her. We'll have those pictures mid-Sept. By the way, Mya did her own hair. This is her pig tail look. Hope your first days of school went well!

My Grandma Drives a 4 Wheeler

2009-09-03T21:23:00.000-05:00

Did you think we were pulling your leg??

She also has a gold fish pond.

Daddy had to give us a ride too.

We each picked one of grandma's apples. They were sour but fun to pick!

Kindergarten Open House

2009-09-02T23:20:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again. Mya is going to Kindergarten next week and so glad of it. She is definitely ready. Can you see the excitement in her face??

Bubble Girl for Katie's Wedding

2009-08-31T18:07:00.000-05:00

Wedding Practice

Ready to Bubble all over the place.

Dinner with the Bubble machine and Family

It was a chilly evening.

Mya and the bride!

Birthday Weekend

2009-08-11T11:07:00.004-05:00

Noah and Ella sit together on the fireplace.

Linda with her grand daughter Ella and our Mya and a host of security toys.

Fun on the shore of Mille Lakes Lake.

Good Food.

Host and hostess dine with the little people.

Everyone had a great time!

A song and some yummy cake!

A Few Pictures

2009-08-07T12:36:00.006-05:00

This picture is from today. Mya and Noah are loving playing with Play Dough. Normally, I shy away from the stuff cuz it's so messy but this nice Carbria countertop is so easy to clean as are the venear floors. Now if I can just keep my socks away from the little pieces that fall on the floor, all will be well!

Oh so fun!

Both kids got their hair cut. Notice the spiffy new dos.

Yes, this is my new laundry room. It has a nice little window to let in the daylight and also allows me to see out into the neighborhood. However, it has been claimed by Kinko. As you can see, she is so very helpful with the laundry. She gets so comfortable that she is nearly falling out!

Oh the Life!!

Here is the pool that Katie gave us about 3 summers ago. I have to admit that I never even took it out of the box up there because the water wouldn't stay clean for even a day with all the trees and bugs. We are enjoying it her on our new deck.

For all you camera buffs, I got this really nice softened look from the child lens cleaning technique. I suspect a tongue may have been involved. Hmmm . . . sharper images are from after an adult lens cleaning!!

YUMMY!

2009-08-01T19:52:00.001-05:00

Mommy, take a picture of me licking!

Last Day of Lessons

2009-07-31T19:42:00.000-05:00

Look who came to see us swim!!

Mya swims to the noodle.

Noah learns to push off the side.

Lunch at Wendy's and then dad had to go back to work.

Mail from Colorado

2009-07-30T19:41:00.000-05:00

Big Sis sent the kids each a card. She's the best!

Swimming Lessons X2

2009-07-24T14:16:00.003-05:00

This was the first week of two for Mya and Noah to take swimming lessons. They are both doing extrememly well. I am particularly impressed with Noah as I had planned to take a parent/child class with him but it was cancelled due to lack of participants. So, I opted to let him go into the Level 1 for 4 and 5 year olds (Mya is in level 2 as she passed L1 last year). On the first day, he refused to be in the water but the teacher spent about 5 minutes after class just getting him acquainted with her and the pool. From then on, he has been a model student and has nearly mastered floating on his back by himself. I'm so proud of my little swimmers!

Kindergarten Enrollment

2009-07-16T12:27:00.003-05:00

Today was the day that we finally got it together and registered Mya for Kindergarten. It took me a bit to find out where to do that and then get all the paperwork together but is all in order.

Mya is over the top excited to go to Kindergarten. She had me print her very own supply list and would go shopping today if I would allow but as most moms know, shopping too early often means reshopping later. So we will wait until just before the open house.

When we find out if she is going to morning or afternoon class, I will make Noah's preschool arrangements and final daycare arrangements for the school year. All of that will happen in early August. Until then, we will be taking swimming lessons for 2 weeks. The fun just never ends!!

Mya Can Ride a Blke!

2009-07-14T12:53:00.003-05:00

She really did teach herself. We got this bike on Friday morning and this is how well she rides already--video is from today. She has spent some time on the red bike with the training wheels (Noah's bike) but I was not able to find training wheels for the purple one. So, guess she just got determined and did it! Great job Mya!

This is a fun video. --No, she did not crash into the garage. She stopped just in time!

Big News!

2009-07-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

Noah learned to pump the swing! He can do it when he wants to but it's still easier to have mom push. This is actually last week's news. Mom is just slow getting it on the blog :-)

Matching Shirts for the Birthday Boys

2009-07-07T18:52:00.003-05:00

I ordered some items from Cafe Press prior to the move. As life would have it, they arrived the day after we closed and got stuck at the UPS hub until I could call with our new address. WELL, they made it today and there was extreme excitement over the stuff. I got Mya this bag which turned out to be HUGE as you can see in the picture. I also got Noah and Keith matching motorcycle shirts. Both are July birthdays. Noah was WAY more excited than Keith. Here are some shots displaying the father/son look.

Nice evening tonight. Turned off the AC and opened the windows. Gotta love it.

Cul-de-sac Maniacs!

2009-07-06T21:48:00.001-05:00

If you can't have acres, a cul-de-sac is a great thing to have!

The New Playset

2009-07-05T21:18:00.000-05:00

OH YES!!! WE LOVE IT!!!

Happy Birthday to Noah! 4 ALREADY!

2009-07-02T20:19:00.000-05:00

Moving on the day before your birthday can truly put a damper on the festivities! We went to church on Wed evening and had cake with our church family. My neices dropped by in the morning and brought Noah a spiffy new Monster truck. AND mommy ordered this really cool PJ set from Robin it Red Thread Stitches. Noah has kept busy helping daddy with moving things. He is such a great helper! We love our little guy!!

Sing with Me . . .

2009-06-25T20:40:00.002-05:00

We have clearance for our closing!! Looks like it will be Tuesday, July 30--a mere 15 days after the original. Can't say it was fun but it is finally happening. The bad news is we won't be able to take our vacation to Tennessee to see all of Mya's Pingjiang orphanage sisters. Instead, we will be getting settled in our new abode in Maple Grove Minnesota. Wonder what kind of fireworks they have over there?? Will have to find out!

720th Post!?! -- Whoa!

2009-06-20T12:09:00.005-05:00

COMPUTER IN BOX, CHECK!

KINKO, GET OUT OF ERIN'S TV STAND!

Wow! I just noted that this is my 720th post. Amazing. If I ever take the time to look it all over, I'm sure I will be amazed at what is recorded here.

Our closing is still not set but we are anticipating next Wednesday. Since I work both Monday and Tuesday evenings, we are putting the big push in this weekend. The storage units will be filled to capacity soon. Renting a truck to transport stuff at the last day is not an option since we don't know when that last day is. So, the little trailer is getting a workout.

Knee update: Stopped wearing the peg leg and went to a neopreen support. It's not quite as effective but better than nothing. It is simply too hard to get things done in any type of organized fashion when you can't bend your leg. I have been very frustrated and resorted to yelling at times. NOT GOOD!

Above is a picture of what remains of my computer area. The box on the right contains the computer which I have now moved to the garage--one step closer to out the door. Carrie's room is empty as is Mya's, the porch, most closets and cupboards. The frig has once again been cleaned. I'm sweating and the air is on. This post is being done via Keith's computer in the lowest level. I suspect this computer will remain until the last minute as we would be pretty lost without anything. I guess we could use the laptop and it may very well come to that.

Hope you all have a great Father's Day! Squeeze those dads tight and let them know just how much you love them. Then, leave them alone to veg out because we all know they just want a day of peace!

Still Waiting but Getting Closer

2009-06-19T13:09:00.002-05:00

The appraisal has come through better than we had hoped. Now we wait for the underwriters (the ones who requested this second appraisal) to do all the necessary paperwork. Looks like middle of next week now. Not holding my breath. Don't want to change around my work schedule so thinking Wednesday is the best.

Still keeping busy with the Busy Mama Designs. The economy is stinky right now and people aren't buying anything too well. However, I have added a new design that I hope will catch someone's eye.

On a side note, I am very excited for the Bilby's as they have been offered a matching grant from Lifesong For Orphans. Go HERE to read the details.

Got Katie and Phil's wedding gift on order. Nope, no hints here as Katie pops in to see what we are up to. I ordered them from my friend, Robin, at Red Thread Stitches. It's a special wedding order. Enough said.