Katie Min Min

Flashback ONE Friday

2009-07-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was our last day of vacation in the Outer Banks. I tried to take some beach pictures of Katie. It started to rain and I didn't get many but I love these two.....

Have a great weekend.....off to Cape May, NJ for Christmas in July.

Catching Up......FINALLY!

2009-07-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

We are back from vacation. We had an awesome time in OBX. Blog post and pictures to follow....someday...LOL. I have been such a bad blogger. Summer is so hard. We are so busy and really enjoying all things summer. I have been a bad blog reader too. I do catch up with all the blogs I follow about once a week. I don't always comment but I am reading and enjoying following along.

Now for the catch up. We had a busy May.....Here is what we were up too. I will tell the story with my pictures.......

Katie at Dress Rehearsal in May for the recital in June

Bailey and I at Dress Rehearsal

Happy Mother's Day to me. A beautiful Pandora bracelet with 2 charms was in that silver box.

Me and my Baby on Mother's Day. I can't wait to learn Photoshop so I can fix my gray roots in photos.....lol.

All the Mom's and kids on Mother's Day after dinner at Candela's.

Katie got a Big Girl Bed. She got a toddler bed when she turned 3 and was growing out of it. We promised her a Big Girl Bed for her 4th birthday and in March. We finally got the bed in May. She loves it. She looks so tiny in this big bed.

We planted our garden in May. Bailey and Brady have always helped me plant my garden. They love it. Now Katie loves it too. I let them have their our pots and pick their own flowers. They plant the flowers and take care of their pots all season. Some of the other neighborhood boys came over and helped too. They had a blast. It was fun watching the kids really get into it.

Brady helping Katie

All the kids working on their pots.

I attended Timmy's Graduation from Mulenberg College. I have known Timmy since he was born. Timmy is my friend Eileen son and my Best Friend Karen's nephew. I am so proud of him.

We had a Disney Planning Picnic at Emma's house. We are going to Disney in September with our good friends. Two of the families from our local adoption group and one of the families from our China Travel group. They live in Reno, NV and are meeting us there. Laura, Kate, Mimi, and I planned what we are going to do in Disney while the girls played and the men hung out on the patio. We called Erika in Reno and conferenced her in on our planning.

Emma enjoying her black olives.

Lia enjoying hers.

Thanks Kevin and Laura for a great time. We can't wait to go to Disney!!! 52 days!!!!

The Sunday before Memorial Day we attended Addie and Graham's wedding. Graham is my co-worker Ruck's son. We had a blast. I had some fun praticing still life with my camera.

Dan and I

Jeff and Karen

The girls

Me and my friends from work..Chris and Ruck

Our drinks

The centerpiece

The centerpiece again

The last weekend in May we went to The Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos. We had a blast! We will definitely go back.

Katie coming down the slide

Brady under the waterfall

all the kids under the waterfall when the big bucket dumped the water.

Well that was our May!

Stay Tuned.........

2009-07-09T20:09:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's July and we leave for vacation in 2 days. We are off to the Outer Banks, NC again this year with family and friends. I thought I would have at least blogged about what we have been up too in May and June before our vacation was here. I am bringing my laptop on vacation and hoping to catch up on my blog during our vacation. So stay tuned......I will be back to write and read!

One of my favorite beach photos from last year.

Happiness

2009-06-25T05:16:00.001-07:00

Katie running through the sprinkler at her friend Lia's house.

Keeping up is hard to do......

2009-06-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

NOTE~I started this post 3 weeks ago. Not only have I been slacking on my blog but I have been slacking on writing a post about slacking.......

I am been seriously slacking with my blog and reading blogs. We have been so busy and I just needed a break from the computer. I was spending way too much time on the computer. I miss blogging regularly and much to my suprise people miss me too. I know I have a few regular followers and some have even reached out to say...."Hey, we miss you". It's amazing how many imaginary friends I have out there in blogland.

So, let me tell you what we have been up too. We have been to a ton of birthday parties over the last 2 months. I went "Sewing by the Sea" again with friends in April and then the following weekend went to the Pixel Fairy Princess workshop in Philly. Being away 2 weekends in a row screwed me up for weeks. The weekends are usually when I get so much done around the house.

What we were up to in April~

Katie started Spring Soccer and Dan coached again.

Soccer Girl

We had a very Blessed Easter spent with family and friends.

Katie at our neighborhood egg hunt

Coloring eggs at Aunt Karen's house

Katie's eggs

Beautiful Girl in her Easter dress

We went to the Philadelphia Zoo with friends

This picture cracks me up. Katie is leaning against the glass but it looks like the gorilla is right behind her.

Pony ride

Well I was "sewing by the sea", Dan and Katie went to visit Aunt Kate and Uncle Tommy at their campsite at the Jersey shore.

Our Church had it's annual carnival

Karen and I working the First Aid/Lost Child station

The next night we had some fun at the carnival

Well that is the Highlights of April......May to follow.....

PFP Philly Workshop

2009-05-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to attend the Pixel Fairy Princess Philly Workshop last weekend. I was very excited and very nervous to attend. We have a great camera that Dan knows how to use but I do not. I didn't even know the lingo....FStop, aperture, etc.....????? So, that morning as Debbie aka PFP talked I started to have palpitations. How was I going to keep up? Well with the help of the amazing Pixel Fairy Princess I did keep up and I learned something along the way. I had an amazing time with some old friends and I made some new friends too.

Kate was the one who introduced me to the Pixel fairy Princess blog. I am inspired by Kate's photography skills and wanted to learn more myself. So I decided to join her for the workshop. Lisa and Ivy brought some amazing "models" for us to shoot. I was so happy to finally met Heather. What a fun gal! It was also great to met Bobbie and Cheryl. We had a wonderful time together. I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of the photographers or the Pixel Fairy Princess. I was too overwhelmed trying to learn.

I am going to post the link to some of my favorites from the workshop on Flickr.com

View slideshow

I am trying to practice my skills so I took Katie out last week for a photo shoot. Here are my favorites from that session.

View slideshow

I took Bailey out today to get some pictures for Karen for Mother's Day. Of course it was cloudy and raining. Here are my favorites. I am trying to decide which ones to enlarge for Karen as a gift. Which one is your favorite?

View slideshow

I am have been slacking lately in the land of blog. I was spending WAY too much time on the computer and I needed to stop for alittle while. The last few months have been so busy around here. I am hoping to catch up on my blog soon. I have so much to blog but so little time!

Bunny goes to work

2009-04-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I was leaving for work and I noticed Katie's bunny in my purse. It was the bunny she just got in her Easter basket. I asked Katie how the bunny got into my purse. She said she wanted me to take the bunny to work and show it to all my friends. So bunny came with me to work. I showed the bunny to all my friends. I work in a Cardiology office and do stress testing all day. So I decided to give the bunny a stress test! I am not sure if I have officially lost my mind.

Happy Easter and some rambling.....

2009-04-12T18:38:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful Easter. I woke up to screams this morning that "the Easter Bunny came, the Easter Bunny came". Katie had a great time looking through her Easter basket while Dan made breakfast. Then we quickly got ready and off to 10 am Mass. We went to Aunt Karen's and Uncle Jeff's house for dinner. We had an Easter egg hunt for the kids in the backyard. Then off to Uncle Ed's and Aunt Dolores's house for a second Easter dinner. I am stuffed! Pictures to follow this week.

I wanted to send out a quick post since I have really been slacking lately with my blog. We have been so busy and I have been so worn out at night that I just want to fall into bed. My plan was to get back to blogging this week but I just realized that Dan left our external hard drive at his Aunt and Uncle's house tonight. He is having his cousin upload music to the hard drive. So, now I don't have any of our photos because they are all on the external hard drive. I won't be able to blog about all the fun stuff we have been doing without any photos.

So stay tuned for me to finally catch up on this blog. Katie has been to 5 birthday parties in the past 5 weeks. Katie started Spring Soccer. We had our annual neighborhood Easter egg hunt. We went on a trip to the Philadelphia Zoo. I know there is more that I am forgetting. Once I get the external hard drive back I will blog about of these fun times with pictures!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.

Headband?

2009-04-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

So we are at Old Navy today getting a birthday present and Katie's walking behind me looking at everything. As we walked through the woman's dept towards the children's clothes, Katie stopped at a table covered with woman's underwear. She pulled a hot pink lace thong out of one of the bins and said to me...."Mommy, look isn't this a pretty headband?". I laughed and said "It sure is". She put it back in the bin and there was a lady standing there that got hysterical laughing. I said to the lady..."At least she didn't try it on".

Cinderella?????

2009-03-25T17:26:00.000-07:00

Katie loves to do the dishes! I hope she still likes to do them when she is 15!

Uncle Jeff for Supervisor

2009-03-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

On March 14th we marched in our local St Patrick's Day parade to support Uncle Jeff. He is running for supervisor of our township. The night before the parade we all helped Uncle Jeff get ready. We put Vote for Jeff RXXXX Stickers on lollipops and we tied Uncle Jeff's business cards on green beads.

The day of the parade we all wore green and Vote for Jeff RXXXX Stickers on our shirts. We gave out lollipops and beads along the parade route. Poor Katie didn't feel good. I didn't realize it until we got to the parade. She wasn't acting herself. She stayed in the wagon and I felt so bad. She wasn't sick the night before. She was sick through the rest of the weekend.

Getting ready for the parade

The beads

Poor Katie

Vote for Uncle Jeff

Uncle Jeff working the crowd

Uncle Jeff

Katie perked up alittle at the end

We had a great time supporting Uncle Jeff's campaign!

Catch me if you can.......

2009-03-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

On St Patrick's Eve we set a Leprechaun trap. I covered a box with white paper and Katie colored shamrocks and rainbows on the box. Dan propped the box up with a stick and we put a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal under the box to lure the Leprechaun into the trap.

The next morning the trap was down and there was shamrocks and gold confetti all around the box. Katie was nervous to lift the box up so Dan helped her. We didn't catch that silly Leprechaun but he ate all the Lucky Charms. He left Katie gold chocolate coins in the cereal bowl and he left Katie new shoes. According to Katie's "St Patrick's Day Alphabet Book" Leprechaun's are shoemakers.

The Leprechaun left us a note and it said Dear M>>>> Family, You can't catch me! Thanks for the cereal. Sorry I turned your milk green when I used it on my cereal. Sorry about your toilets(he turned the water green) but I had to go potty. I left some gold chocolate coins and new shoes for Katie. You can try to catch me again next year!

What fun we had trying to catch that silly Leprechaun!

Katie decorating the box

Getting the "bait" ready

The "trap"

Katie wouldn't lift up the box. I think she was freaked out that the Leprechaun was under the box.

But there was NO leprechaun under the box.

Gold chocolate coins

Lucky Charms for breakfast!

Katie Min Min is 4!!

2009-03-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

Katie turned 4 last Saturday March 7th. We celebrated with a party at a local Gymnastic's center. Katie and all the kids had a BLAST! I did a High School Musical theme for Katie with a Gabriella doll cake. I made music note and basketball lollipops for the favors.

Music note lollipops

Katie helping me wrap the lollipops and put the stickers on them. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the finished product!

Katie with her cake and cupcakes.

Katie ready to party

Frankie and Katie. Frankie delivered the pizza's right to the Gym for us for the party.

Katie couldn't wait to open her presents.

Katie had a blast!

Loved being the center of attention.

Happy Birthday to you!

Opening her gifts

She loved everything

She keep telling me that her Daddy was getting her a pink Buitar(Guitar) for her birthday. She was so happy when she opened her pink "Buitar".

Happy Birthday to our sweet girl!

Flashback February

2009-03-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

Since I used the whole month of February to blog about our China trip to adopt Katie, I didn't post anything about what we did in February. We had a FUN February. It started out with the Super Bowl. Uncle Jeff's Pittsburgh Steelers were in the Super Bowl and we were all on the bandwagon (well....Katie and I were on the bandwagon, not Daddy who was still upset about the Eagles) and ready to party. Of course you all know the Steelers won. We had a great time.

Steelers Cheerleaders

Katie and Uncle Jeff

February 7th we celebrated Katie's Gotcha Day. This day is also my Mom's birthday. We went out to dinner for Mimi's birthday the night before. On Gotcha Day we made homemade fortune cookies. Bailey helped and we had fun making up our own fortunes. We had a small family gathering and we enjoyed Chinese food and celebrating Katie's special day.

Happy Birthday Mimi

Making fortune cookies

The finished product

Katie and "Cookie" Uncle Tommy. Katie loves her Cookie Uncle Tommy. He always brings her cookies.

Celebrating 3 yrs as a family

February 8th we celebrated Chinese New Year. We went for Dim Sum with our local adoption group and then we watched the Lion Parade. The fire crackers were unbelievable.

Katie enjoying Dim Sum

Girlfriends~Katie and Lia

Katie's reaction to the fircrackers

Group photo

Firecrackers

Lion Dancers

February 14th~Happy Valentine's Day! We spent our Valentine's Day celebrating Aunt Mel's 40th birthday. Mark and Diane hosted a surprise 40th birthday party for Carmela.

Roses from Daddy

Making Valentine's Day cookies for Aunt Mel's party

Katie trying out the cookies

Our cookies

My lovebug

Happy Birthday Carmela

February 21st~We celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday. Happy Birthday Pop-Pop

Katie playing with Pop-Pop trains

Happy Birthday Pop-pop

February 28th~We went to the Please Touch Museum with some of our friends from our local adoption group.

Mia, Katie, Emma

The girls eating lunch

We had a busy but fun February!

MESSY.....I Heart Faces

2009-03-02T18:01:00.000-08:00

The theme this week is "Messy" over at I Heart Faces. Thanks to Kate for the suggestion. Dan took this picture of Lia and Katie enjoying the birthday cake at CJ's birthday party.

Head over to I Heart Faces and check out all the messy faces!

Missy......I didn't forget!!!

2009-02-27T18:28:00.001-08:00

My bloggy buddy Missy from "Live Big and Laugh Often" gave me this award about a month ago. At the time I just started blogging about our journey to adopt Katie. I made that the focus of my blog for the last month.

Missy's blog is one of the first blogs I started to follow after I became addicted to blogging. Right from the start I could tell that I would love to meet Missy in person someday! I just KNOW we would have a blast together. She is a warm, caring, and kind-hearted person. I love reading about her sister Paige and I enjoy looking at Missy's beautiful photos! Missy~I can't wait until the day we can chat in person.

Most of the blogs that Missy gave awards to are some of my favorites. So, I will pass on the awards to some of my other favorite blogs.

The RULES~Pass on to 5 other fabulous blogs and tag the blog that sent the award to you!

KATE from Livin Lavida Lia~Missy did tag Kate but I JUST had to shout out to Kate too. Kate and I became friends before we adopted our daughters. Kate is the reason I blog. Kate has such a wonderful way with words. I am in awe of her ability to express herself with words. I started my blog after being inspired to do so from Kate. I love to read about Lia and look at all the gorgeous pictures Kate has been taken of Miss Lia. Thank you Kate for inspiring me to blog. Thank you for being a wonderful friend.

Sue from Alexa's World~ Sue and Robert traveled with Dan and I to adopt our daughters. We will forever share a bond. I love reading what's new with Alexa. We were lucky enough to have a reunion with our friends in Oct 2007. We are hoping to see Sue, Robert, and Alexa again this year.

Laura from Enjoying Emma Everyday~ Laura and I met at the supermarket on a summer day in June of 2006 just a few months after we had both adopted our daughters. Little did we know that we were both in China at the SAME time and our daughters were both from Hubei! We live 10 minutes from each other. Our families became fast friends. I enjoy reading what's new with Emma.

Tamara from Cancer Sucks even with Lilly Pulitzer on your side~ Tamara and I met at the hair salon. We have the same hair stylist. While I sat in the salon with the dye on my hair I heard Tamara telling our stylist Judy that she blogged about her that day. I started to ask Tamara about her blog and told her that I blog too. She is a stay at home Mom and a cancer survivor with a GREAT attitude. I have such a soft spot in my heart for cancer patients. I was a oncology nurse for almost 10 years. I worked with inpatients and also in an outpatient infusion room administering chemotherapy. Tamara's attitude is infectious and I really enjoy reading her blog.

Ivy from Hunan Spice~I met Ivy on the land of blog and was lucky enough to met Ivy and her family in person. We live about 30 minutes from each other. I enjoyreading about Kira. I love to look at Ivy's photos on her newest blog Shutterbug. Ivy's is also running a fundraising blog to help bring Jailynn.

Thanks for the award Missy!!! I am truly touched!

Welcome Home Sweet Katie

2009-02-23T18:57:00.000-08:00

Aunt Karen tying the "Welcome Home" balloons on our mailbox before coming to pick us up at the airport.

We arrived at Newark, NJ airport about 6pm. We got our bags and went through immigration with no problem. We had the sweetest airport moment. Our family was waiting for us with a sign that read "Welcome Home Sweet Katie". Dan had the video camera to capture the moment and I had Katie. We didn't take many pictures at the airport or at Candela's afterwards. So most of these pictures are courtesy of my Mom who had her friend Liz come and take pictures at the airport.

Waiting for us to arrive....Aunt Nancy, AuntDolores, Aunt Karen, Mom-Mom Maureen, Mimi, Uncle Bill, Aunt Judy, Uncle Jeff. In the front row the kids....Katie's cousins.....William, Brady, Bailey, and Molly.

Katie meeting her family at the airport

We weren't the only ones having an airport moment. Karen meeting her daughter Mia. Remember Kevin and his Mom Carol traveled with us while Karen stayed home with there daughter Maddie.

Two couples who met in a social worker class a year and a half prior finally home with there babies.

We went right from the airport to Candela's for dinner. Remember this post.

When we got home there was a surprise waiting for us....a LADYBUG Christmas tree. We got Katie's referral on December 9, 2005. We bought Christmas presents for her and so did our family. My Mom and a couple of her friends from work put up this Christmas tree and decorated it with wallet size pictures of us in China glued to old Christmas cards. They topped the tree with a babydoll with ladybug wings and used a ladybug blanket for a tree skirt. So cute!

Picture of the ornaments.

After we got home, Dan walked Katie room to room showing her our home. Dan showed Katie her room and her crib. He tried to see if she would like her crib at home since she didn't like the crib in China. Well she didn't!

The next day, the tree with Katie's presents underneath.

The day after we come home we had a little welcome home party with family and friends. Karen did a great job with the cake and food for the party.

Katie opening her presents.

This picture makes me laugh. Katie checking out her new family.

We had a wonderful homecoming. Our friends and family couldn't wait to meet Katie Min Min.

I really enjoyed walking down memory lane and blogging about our trip to adopt Katie Min Min.

The rest of our time in Guangzhou

2009-02-22T07:17:00.001-08:00

February 15, 2006 we had the famous "Red Couch" photo at the White Swan. We also had a group photo in front of the waterfall in the White Swan.

Family Red Couch photo

Hubei Girls!!

I love these Red Couch photos

Our Travel Group

Todd, Erika, and Madison

Ray, Angel, and Samantha

One Happy Family

Susan, Jim, Kara, and Emma

Robert, Sue, and Alexa

Jacob, Lisa, and Sophie

With our guide Cindy. She was AMAZING! I can't say enough about her.

We had the best time with Jim and Susan's daughter Emma. She is the sweetest little girl. I was lucky enough see Emma again when I went to Georgia.

We also went on a tour of The Chen Family Temple and The Six Banyan Temple. Katie received a Buddist blessing at the Temple. Then we went to a nice market to buy Jade and Porcelain. I bought a circle of life Jade pendent for Katie and myself. I also bought a Jade Rooster pendent for Katie since she was born in the year of the Rooster. I bought a beautiful porcelan tea set to give to Katie when she is older. I have it displayed in our kitchen and I will give it to her when she has her own home someday.

The Chen Family Temple

The Six Banyan Temple

The Buddist Blessing

Buddas

View from dinner. I can't remember the name of this restaurant but we had dinner with some couples from our group at this riverside restaurant.

Feb 16, 2006

Meeting up with some of the other Mom's from our GWCA travel Group. Erika, Carolyn with Mac, Me with Katie, and Andrea with Gwen. Carolyn and Andrea's daughter's were from Guangdong Province. They were at the White Swan for 10 days so they were able to give us some shopping tips.

We went with Todd and Erika to the pearl market. The pearl market was very overwhelming. So many little shops with pearls. I bought Katie a pearl necklace, bracelet, and earrings to give to her when she gets older. Of course I got pearls for myself too.

Dan with Katie outside of the US Consulate. We were not allowed to take pictures inside of the consulate. It was a beautiful and emotional ceremony. We swore Katie in as a US Citzen with 60 other families from our GWCA adoption group.

Our group back on the bus after the Consulate appointment. Did I say already how GREAT our travel group was?????

Our last dinner together as a group at the Cow and Bridge restaurant. A toast to Cindy our guide. I started to tear up looking at this photos. It was an amazing end to an amazing trip.

Cindy

Me, Emma, and Katie

Katie back at the Hotel

February 17, 2006 our last day in Guangzhou. Most of our group left this day. We stayed an extra day in Guangzhou. We were flying home the next day with Kevin, Carol, and Mia. I made the most of our free day with last minute shopping. I did so much shopping during our time in Guangzhou that I had to buy an extra suitcase at Sherry's place for $10.

Shopping

We ran into Kate and Lia while shopping

With Jordan from "Jordan's".

Sketch of Katie's picture we had done at Sherry's Place

Saying goodbye to Cindy, Todd, Erika, and Madison. We were the last family left in Guangzhou from our travel group.

Katie and Mommy

February 18, 2006
Heading home!!! We flew back to Beijing and then flew from Beijing back to Newark, NJ.

Kevin and Mia in the airport

Katie and Mommy in the airport. Look at me I am hands free!

Katie and Grace Ingram. We also flew with Carolyn and family from Beijing to Newark. Carolyn, Kevin, Mackenzie, and Grace Ingram then flew from Newark to Altanta GA. When we went to visit Carolyn and family in GA, Katie had the best time playing with Grace Ingram.

Passing the time in the airport. Mackenzie and I playing "Miss Mary Mack".

Heading home!!! It was 6pm China time when we flew out of Beijing to Newark. Katie sleep almost the whole flight. We were very lucky.

Well that's my walk down memory lane to tell about our journey to adopt Katie Min Min. My last post will be about our wonderful homecoming.

Valentine's Day in Guangzhou

2009-02-15T19:51:00.000-08:00

We left Wuhan, Hubei Province bright and early on Valentine's day. Our guide, Cindy was already at the airport so I volunteered to make sure everyone was on the bus and I was dying to get my hands on her microphone. I gave alittle speech as we left Hubei. It was sad to leave Katie's province. We really enjoyed our stay in Wuhan. We didn't get to visit her orphanage in Qichun. This something that I really wanted to do. Someday we will take Katie back to Hubei and we will visit Qichun and her finding place.

We arrived in Guangzhou and Dan took Katie right to get her visa picture taken while I checked us into The White Swan Hotel. We decided to treat ourselves and upgrade to a suite at The White Swan. After being in a regular Hotel room for 10 days we needed alittle more space. The White Swan was Beautiful. Guangzhou was warm about 70-75 degrees which was great. The shopping was amazing. Shop after shop lined the streets. After we checked into the White Swan we had some time to get settled and then we had to go and get Katie's physical exam. We also met back up with all 60 GWCA families. I was anxious to see my friends that I had said goodbye to in Beijing. I couldn't wait to meet there daughter's.

That night we celebrated Valentine's Day at Lucy's. It was a PERFECT Valentine's day as a family. I love Valentine's Day because it was my first date with Dan. We met at Aunt Margaret's funeral on Feb 6th.

Playing tour guide at 6:30 in the morning

Sophie and Katie on the airplane

Daddy's little Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day

Katie and Alexa looking up at their Daddy's. Both new Dads look so proud!

Katie having her physical

We met back up with Kevin and finally got to met Mia.

Dinner at Lucy's

Fun in Wuhan

2009-02-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

WARNING~ LOTS OF PICTURE IN THIS POST. I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF!!!

Well by day 2 with Katie, she was feeling much better and just as happy as could be. Dan could really make her laugh and smile. We really made the most of our time in China. We also had a wonderful travel group. Everyone in our group was GREAT. We enjoyed each other's company throughout the trip and we made life long friends that we consider our extended family. We shared such incredible experience that it bonded us for life.

Feb 9th we went shopping at the local dept store. Then back to the 6th floor conference to receive our adoption certificates.

Shopping

Receiving our adoption certificate

Katie and Daddy

I love this picture of Katie. Dan was playing with Katie on the bed and I captured this picture of her. I used it for our announcements when we got home.

This is how I would get Katie to sleep every night. She refused to go into the crib. I had to carry her around and rock her. She would stuck her thumb and take her other hand and rub her sleeve or rub my shirt. Looks like she even drooled on my shirt.

Feb 10th we visited the Guiyuan Temple. It was beautiful. Dan and some of the other families rang the bell for luck. We attracted the local people to us everywhere we went. Our guide made us a card to wear that read "We are Americans and we are adopting this baby and that we love her and we are taking her to American with us". Most of the local people would smile and give us the thumbs up. After the Temple we went out to lunch with our group. Our guide always ordered for us and we had the best food. My favorite in Wuhan was the lotus root. We had it several times. Sometimes fried and sometimes sauteed. It was delicious. After our tour for the day Dan and I took Katie for a walk in the stroller. It was about 50-55 degrees in Wuhan. We walked to the Carrefour and then to the park across from our Hotel. There were alot of people in the park feeding pigeons. Dan bought bird food and we decided to feed the pigeons. Well they landed right on you. This did not go over well with me. I freaked alittle. Katie slept through the whole thing. I had some stickers with me and I gave them out to some of the children in the park. They loved it.

Our travel group. This picture was taken in the lobby of the White Rose Hotel before we left for our tour of the Guiyuan Temple.

The local people were very interested in us every where we went. This picture I had a crowd around me looking at Katie. I gave one man the card our guide made to explain that we adopted her.

Katie all bundled up in the stroller

Dan ringing the bell for luck

Lunch

This restaurant had the best green beans!

I loved going to the park across the the Hotel and watching the people. I thought this little girl was so cute.

Dan is calm while feeding the birds

I FREAKED! That was the end of bird feeding for me.

Katie slept through it.

Back at the room. Look at that face!

Dinner at the White Rose. The sauteed vegetable dish has the lotus root in it. Yummy!

Our happy girl

Feb 11th we visited the Hubei Provincial Museum. On display were the relics from the Tomb of Marquis Yi. Dan loved the Museum. Katie was falling asleep in the stroller so I walked around with Sue while we pushed the girls in the stroller. The most famous treasure is the Chime Bells, which is the largest bronze musical instrument ever discovered. We went to see a performance in the music hall of musicians playing of replica of the Chime Bells. I purchased a small replica Chime Bell for Katie. After the Museum we went to lunch. There was a wedding reception going on at the restaurant.

Chime Bells

Wedding we saw at the restaurant

At lunch. See how Katie sucks her thumb and rubs the inside of her sleeve with the other hand. She stills does this. LOVES cotton.

Katie took to Dan immediately.

Another one of my favorite pictures of Katie from China

Feb 12th we visited a local market with some of the other families in our group. One of the families got the idea to visit a local market. We skipped the tour that was planned for us that day. We got directions written out from our guide and took several taxi's to the market. We went with 6 other families. Dan was not thrilled with this idea because we were not with our guide. We had a really good time shopping at the local market. Later that day we met up with most of the families in our travel group and played beer pong in the Hotel. The girls all played together while the adults played beer pong.

Local market in Wuhan

Shopping. Not sure how I missed that piece of hair in Katie ponytail. Poor Girl!

Happy to find a McDonald's

Back to the park

The girls playing together while the adults played Beer Pong

Playing Beer Pong

Feb 13th we finished our "Brown Envelope" paperwork and then went out to dinner with our group. We packed our bags because we left for Guangzhou the next morning.

Leaving for Guangzhou

We really enjoyed our time touring Katie's province.

Stay tuned for our time in Guangzhou.

The Official Adoption Day

2009-02-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

On February 8, 2006 we went back to the conference room on the 6th floor of our Hotel for the official adoption of Katie. It was so fun to see all the families the next day with there new babies and hear about everyone's night.

Adoption Day Morning

Robert, Sue, and Alexa

Katie feel asleep while we waited. I love this picture except for my half painted nails. I guess taking the nail polish off of my nails was not a priority.

Putting our fingerprints on the documents

Picture with the Assistant Director of the orphanage

Later in the day we took a walk to the Carrefour to shop for snacks, water, etc. We came back to the Hotel room and set up our room since this was going to be our home for the week. We played with Katie in the room. She was starting to feel better and her little personality started to show. We could make her laugh and smile. We were told she was probably called Min Min. All the girls from her orphanage were named Qi Jia (fill in the blank). Katie was named Qi Jia Min. We named her Kathleen JiaMin. We started calling her Katie Min Min in China to put her Chinese name and American name together. This was not planned before we arrived in China. After calling her Katie Min Min we loved it and it stuck. The poor girl has so many names and she answers to them all......Kathleen, Katie, Kate, Katie Min Min, Min Min, Minnie, Boo Boo.....she calls herself Nin Nin. When she tried to say Min Min it came out Nin Nin. Well that stuck too and we will call her Nin Nin at times.

Ready for our trip to Carrefour

Gotcha Day

2009-02-07T13:45:00.001-08:00

We arrived in Wuhan, Hubei about 12noon. We checked into the White Rose Hotel. The babies were being brought right to the Hotel in the conference room at 3pm. We went with our guide and some of the families to the Carrefore(like a Walmart) for water and snacks.

Dan and I got to the conference room early. We couldn't wait around in our Hotel room any longer. The two of us and Susan, Jim, and there daughter Emma were the first ones in the conference room. All of a sudden the babies started to arrive. The Nannies carried in 4 babies all bundled up and dressed alike. We soon realized these babies were from the other orphanage(we had 11 babies in our travel group from 2 different orphanages). Susan and Jim's baby was one of the babies that was brought in. We picked her out and started to take her picture. Slowly the rest of our travel group and guide arrived. Finally the other 7 babies arrived. Most of them were dressed alike in little duck suits. We were told to have a seat and they started to give us instructions. I didn't hear a word they said. I was trying to figure out which little baby dressed as a duck was Katie. At first I thought the baby right in front of me was Katie. She was the only one that really resembled Katie's referral picture. She was smiling at me and I thought she knows her Mother already. Well I was wrong it was Erika and Todd's daughter Madison. Dan did not think it was Katie. Then I realized there was a baby we couldn't see being held by the Director of the orphanage. I could only see the back of her. Finally the Director handed her to one of the Nannies. It was Katie. She was sweaty, had a running nose, but she was smiling. It was the longest wait of my life. The instructions were finally over and they called each family up one by one to sign the guardianship papers. Then it was finally the "Gotcha" moment. They started to call the families up one by one. We had the greatest travel group and there was so much excitement and energy in the room. We all passed each other our cameras and video cameras and helped capture this amazing moment for each other. Our name was finally called. The Director handed Katie to me and she just fell into my arms. No crying at all. She was fascinated with my necklace and the lanyard that I was wearing with her picture in it. I sat down at the conference table and just stared at this little sweaty, runny nosed, beautiful baby. She was so fascinated with my lanyard and I just stared at her and cried. I was overcome with emotion. I can't even explain how I was feeling. There was so much happiness and excitement around me but I was in my own world with Katie. I was so happy and grateful for this child. I had prayed for a baby and my prayers were answered. I had prayed for answers on why it was so hard for Dan and I to have a family. I got my answers right there in that moment. Dan was taking pictures and videotaping. I then let Dan hold Katie. We had no problems with Katie going to either one of us. We were told by the Director of the orphanage that Katie was sick and she had been started on cough medicine and antibiotics. They gave us the medicine that she was being given but I had brought medicine from home so I started her on that.

We took her back to the room and just looked at her. We were in awe. She was so sweaty and had a runny nose. I took her temp and it was 102.8. She was congested and wheezy. I started her on the antibiotic that I brought. Dan had to go back to the conference room and fill out paperwork. He was gone for an hour. Katie fell asleep but I could not put her down. She would cry the minute I tried. Dan got back to the room about 6pm and I had to sign the paperwork and then deliver it to our guides room. Then we went downstairs for dinner. I was starving because I didn't eat all day. We met up with a few families from our group. We got back to our room about 8pm. It was 7am at home and everyone was anxiously awaiting to hear from us. We tried to get Katie to go to sleep in the crib. She would scream when I put her in the crib. I had to hold her. She would not take a bottle for me. I could not put her down and she finally fell asleep on me. I didn't sleep well at all. My Mom and Karen were at home waiting for news from us. I didn't call them until the next day. It was the middle of the night in the USA when we got her and when we could finally call that is when we were trying to get her to sleep. We finally talked to them the next day. They were ready to hop on the next flight to China to find out what was going on. Katie woke up at 4am and finally took a bottle for me. She still had a fever but as the day went on the fever broke and she started to look happier and her little personality started to show.

I can't even describe how amazing our Gotcha Day was. It was perfect. Enjoy the picturess below and I am going to continue to post about the rest of our trip this week.

Shopping at Carrefour

The crib that Katie never sleep in

Ready to be a Mommy. I had my ladybug pants on for the occasion.

The Nannies bringing the babies in

My first look at Katie. She is the baby on the right.

Signing the guardianship papers

The MOMENT I had been waiting for

Finally in my arms

Proud Mama! You can see Katie eyeing up my necklace and lanyard.

Our first family photo

Katie and Daddy

One happy family. Well at least Dan and I look happy.

This picture was taken right when we got back to the room. Katie looks sad. She was probably in shock by us. We were too thrilled with her to see it in her face until we looked back on this picture.

Katie at dinner that night. She wouldn't let go of my lanyard.

Finally taking a bottle for me at 4am

China

2009-02-05T18:35:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Beijing on Feb 4th and were greeted by our GWCA guide at the airport. We met up with a few other families in the airport. I belonged to our adoption agency's online DTC yahoo group and our travel group was from all over the United States. I corresponded with some of these woman for months online and considered them friends. To finally met them in China at the airport, at the hotel, in line at the breakfast buffet was another exciting part of our trip. It is amazing to me how many new friendships that I have formed just from adopting one amazing child. Anyway, we checked into The Plaza Hotel and relaxed the first night. We arrived a day earlier then most of our travel group.

One of the GWCA guides waiting for us at the airport in Beijing

Susan, Emma, and Jim at the airport. After months of chatting with Susan we were finally in China. There daughter was from the same province as Katie so we spent the whole trip together.

The next day(Feb 5th) we met up with a few other families that also arrived a day early and went on our own tour around Beijing. We went to an indoor flea market area and did some shopping. Then we went to the Temple of Heaven. We were not able to go into the Temple because they were getting it ready for the 2008 Olympics. That night we went to see the Peking Acrobats show. It was amazing. When we arrived at the show we were sitting behind a Chinese woman and she seemed excited to see Americans. She said to Dan in English "How are you?" and Dan said "fine". Well the lady said something in Mandarin and all of her friends got hysterical. She kept turning around and looking at Dan and laughing. Dan said maybe someday he will find out what the woman was laughing at. I think she was just happy to try her English on an Amercian. The rest of our travel group also arrived on this day. We were so excited to see Kate and Jim when they arrived in China.

At the Temple of Heaven

Dan and Kevin played "hacky sack" with some of the locals.

I was so happy when Katie and Jim arrived!

Acrobat Show

I was able to take a picture of the lady who was laughing at Dan. She was happy to let me take her picture.

Feb 6th was the day we toured with all the families that were in Beijing for GWCA. We split up into province groups for our tour. It was snowing in Beijing. We toured Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, and then climbed The Great Wall. The Wall was very steep and very slippery because of the snow. Dan went off with another couple from our group and climbed to the top. He left me in the dust. I stayed with a few girls that I had FINALLY met in person after months of chatting online.

Our guide Cindy. This woman was amazing. I didn't want to leave her after 2 weeks. I can't say enough wonderful things about Cindy.

Tiananmen Square

The Forbidden City

On The Great Wall with Susan and Gina

We had a wonderful time touring Beijing but we were ready to move on and travel to Hubei Province to adopt our daughter. We were so close. I couldn't believe the day finally arrived.

On Feb 7, 2006 all the families with GWCA met in the lobby. We split into province groups and headed to the airport to fly to the province of our daughters. I said goodbye to all of my friends that were flying to other provinces to adopt there daughters. We would met up again in Guangzhou.

Gotcha Day morning...leaving for Hubei

Jim and Katie leaving for Lia's province

Saying goodbye to Kevin and Carol. They were leaving for Mia's province.

We arrived in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Stay tuned for Gotcha Day moments....

I didn't have alot of pictures of the 11 families we traveled with at this point in the trip. We REALLY got to know our travel group after we arrived in Wuhan. We had the most amazing travel group. I will tell you all about our travel group over the next week during my walk down memory lane.

Three years ago today.........

2009-02-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

We left to fly half way around the world to adopt a beautiful little baby named Qi Jia Min. It was the day we waited for so long. We traveled about 8 weeks after our referral. I carried her picture with me everywhere I went and showed it to anyone who would look at it. I packed us up using all the information and packing lists that I had gathered online. We were so well prepared that we did not want for anything in China. I did have to pay an overweight fee on my suitcase but it was worth it.

After waiting ONLY 9 months for our referral and then waiting 8 weeks to travel the day finally arrived. We left from Newark, NJ and flew direct to Beijing. We traveled with our friend Kevin and his Mom. Karen stayed at home with there daughter Maddie who was born premature at 26 weeks the Oct before. We met Karen and Kevin at our homestudy agency adoption class. There were a total of 4 couples in the class including Dan and I and Karen and Kevin. The other 2 couples were adopting domestically. Not only were Karen and Kevin also adopting from China but they were using the same adoption agency as us. Great Wall of China Adoption in Austin, Texas. Since we were both PA residents we needed a local agency to do our homestudy. Karen and I exchanged phone numbers and became fast friends. We got our paperwork in at the same time and had the same LID(log in date). We were so excited to travel together to adopt our daughters. Karen's sister(Carolyn) was also adopting from China again and had our same LID. She lives in Georgia(remember the road trip Karen and I took with the 4 kids to Georgia) and we were going to meet up with her in China. A few months into our wait I also met my friend Kate online. She lived only 20 minutes from me and she was using the same agency GWCA and her LID was 2 days after mine. I was so excited another local family that I would travel with. We had 60 families total that traveled with GWCA that month but then we split into province groups. We had 11 families that traveled with us to adopt our daughters from Hubei.

Since I started blogging 2 years after adopting Katie, over the next 2 weeks I am going to post pictures and blog about our trip to China.

Dan and I outside of our house getting ready to leave for the airport. We are holding our passports.

Kevin and his Mom Carol on the plane. As you can see the plane wasn't crowded at all. After take off we all spread out into our on rows. I took a sleeping pill and sleep most of the flight.

Dan sleep too.

Birthday Party Fun

2009-01-31T19:45:00.000-08:00

Katie was invited to 2 birthday parties last weekend and she had a blast at both of them. Saturday was Kira's 2nd Birthday party. Kira was as sweet as can be. Katie had a blast dancing, giggling, and chasing after all the kids. It was a "Garden Party" theme and the party was perfect. Check out Ivy's blog for her sweet post about her sweet girl. Thanks Ivy for allowing us to share in Kira's day. We all had a blast.

Birthday girl Kira

Jade, Lia, and Katie dancing

Jade and Katie having a blast

Ivy and Kira. Happy Birthday sweet Kira!

Sunday we celebrated Neve's 4th Birthday at BounceU. Neve lives across the street from us right next door to Karen and Jeff. Katie loves Neve. She looks forward to playing with Neve. Katie is constantly looking out the window to see if Neve is home. Katie will report to me "2 cars in the driveway Mommy, Neve is home. Can I play with her ?." Neve's party was a Blast. Katie had a great time. Thanks Neve.

Katie going down the slide

Neve and Katie after getting there faces painted

I had to join the fun

Katie and Bailey

Birthday girl Neve

Inaugural Ball

2009-01-30T19:23:00.000-08:00

We went to our Elementary School's Inaugural Ball last Friday night. We went with Jeff, Karen, Bailey, and Brady. It's Bailey and Brady's School. This is the school that Katie will start in 2010. Most of our neighbors were there. It was a fun night. They had a Uncle Sam on Stilts. Katie was freaked out by him. Our local Congressman Patrick Murphy came to the Ball to speak. Then they had a DJ. The kids had a "Ball" dancing and running around the gym. At the end of the night they released Red, White, and Blue balloons from the ceiling. I spent most of my night helping Karen at the refreshment table.

Uncle Sam

Karen and I working the refreshmant table

Congressman Patrick Murphy

Katie dancing with the kids

Our Family

Bailey dancing with her friends

Balloon ready to drop

Brady waiting for the balloons to drop

Balloons

Katie with her balloon

Of course President Obama was at the Ball

100th Post and it's all about me!

2009-01-28T19:59:00.000-08:00

I started this blog almost a year ago. It was right after Katie's 3rd birthday. My friend Kate was having a wonderful time blogging. I was alittle intimated at first because even though I have alot to say, I am not a great writer. I wanted a way to journal about Katie and so I started this blog. It has become more that just a journal for Katie. It is also a journal about our lives as a family. It about our wonderful friends. It about connecting with new people through the land of blog. I had NO idea that when I started this blog that I would "meet" so many amazing people. Even though I have not met most of them in person, I consider them friends. I care about there lives and families.

I have read other people's blogs and on there 100th post they write 100 things about themselves. This was not an easy task but her is what I came up with. Now remember I never claim to be a good writer but I am writing from my heart.

Thanks for all that follow my blog and here is to 100 more posts on Katie Min Min.

1. I was born on Dec 17th 1973
2. and named Jennifer Lynn Flannery
3. to Patricia and Frank Flannery
4. I am older sister to Joey
5. I have lived in the same area my whole life
6. My Grandmother(Mom's Mom) and Great-Grandmother moved in with us when I was 10 yrs old
7. I loved coming home from school and spending time with my Grandmom. She would make the best tuna fish and I would eat it on crackers while we watched General Hospital.
8. I met my Best Friend Karen in Elementary School. We went to Walt Disney Elementary. We stayed Best Friends all through High School. We did everything together and still do. I am so thankful for Karen. It is one amazing friendship.
9. Karen and I are 2 weeks apart exactly.
10. She is older.
11. I danced from age 7 to 13. I loved it. Tap was my favorite. I was NO ballerina.
12. I played tee-ball and softball. I was horrible at both. I did catch the winning ball in the play off game. I was always stuck in the outfield. The ball was coming towards me and I stuck my glove in the air and got lucky that the ball landed in it.
13. I quit dancing to join the Marching Band in 9th grade. I was a Flag Girl(they called it the Flag Corps). I was the Captain of the Flag Corps my senior year. Karen was in the Flag Corps too.
14. My freshman year the Marching Band traveled to China. We performed on the Great Wall.
15. I dated the same boy all through High School and Nursing School(looking back that was dumb).
16. I graduated from High School in 1991
17. I went right to Nursing School and Graduated in 1994
18. I was an RN at the age of 20.
19. I worked as an Oncology/Chemotherapy Nurse for 9 yrs.
20. I work in the ICU/CCU for 4 years
21. I now work part time in a Cardiologist office doing outpatient stress tests and loving it. Karen also works at this office. She is a Nurse too.
22. I met Dan at a funeral on Feb 6, 1997.
23. Our first date was Valentine's Day
24. I have the same birthday as Dan's Mom Kathleen who passed away when he was 7yr old.
25. Dan's Aunt is married to my Mom's cousin. It was my Great Aunt's funeral that we met at. Dan's Aunt's Mother in Law. Get it???????
26. We are not related.
27. But we share cousins....I am Bill and Eddie's third cousin on there FATHER'S side. Dan is there first cousin on there MOTHER'S side. Am I confusing you yet?
28. I am 9 months older than Dan
29. We got married on Oct 2, 1999
30. We tried very hard to have a family. We had many disappointments and many losses.
31. I am grateful for that time. It brought us closer and lead us to our daughter.
32. I prayed for answers and I got them.
33. On Feb 7, 2006 Kathleen JiaMin was placed into my arms.
34. We were in love
35. We were parents.
36. We enjoyed every moment with Katie in China.
37. We continue to enjoy every moment with her everyday.
38. We named our daughter Kathleen(after Dan's Mom) and JiaMin for her middle name. Her Chinese name was Qi Jia Min and we were told she was called Min Min. So we call her Katie Min Min.
39.I am happy, and grateful, and blessed
40. I have a wonderful, loving, and supportive husband
41. I love watching Dan with Katie. He is a wonderful Dad. He is in awe of her as much as I am. He loves to laugh and joke and act like a goof ball. I love that about him.
42. I grew up with 4 generations of woman living in one house
43. My Great Grandmother passed away when she was 100 yrs old in the year 2000
44. My Grandmother passed away when were in China adopting Katie.
45. This broke my heart. I knew she was dying. She suffered a massive stroke and was non-responsive when we left for China to adopt Katie.
46. I was able to say goodbye.
47. She was able to see Katie's referral picture before her stroke. She was so happy for me. She adopted my Mother and related with me on how bad I wanted to be a Mother.
48. I wish she held Katie. I know she is smiling down on us.
49. I know Dan's Mom Kathleen is too.
50. I am grateful to have many friends. My friendships are so important to me.
51. I love being a friend
52. I love living across the street from my Best Friend Karen and her family. Did I mention that we drive the same Mini Van?? Yes we are big dorks. For the record they are different vans, different years, and different colors.
53. Karen's family is my family.
54. I have many imaginary cyber friends. I learn from them everyday.
55. I am lucky enough to have the support of some of the most amazing woman. I met these woman through Katie's adoption. We have created our own local adoption group. These families have become my family. Katie sees other families just like hers all the time. Some of the girls were adopted the same day as Katie. A couple of the girls are from the same Province. One is from the same orphanage as Katie. This group has been so special to our family.
56. I love to read. Right now I am reading "Twilight"
57. I love to dance around the house with Katie.
58. I am a daughter. I love the relationship that I have with my Mother.
59. I am a sister. My brother and I don't always see eye to eye but I pray for the best for him.
60. I have learned that family is who you make it.
61. I have wonderful neighbors and I am thankful for the beautiful neighborhood that I live in.
62. I am the God Mother to 2 wonderful boys. My Best Friend Karen's son Brady and my cousin Bill's son William.
63. I am an Aunt.
64. I love being a Nurse and caring for people. It is what I was meant to do.
65. I am compassionate
66. I have held my patients hands when they have died. I have cried with their families. I have gone to their funeral's.
67. I asked my co-worker's to describe me and this was the answers..
68. FUNNY
69. BUBBLY
70. LOUD
71. I am loud but I can't help it. I get shushed by the one doctor I work for. They put another door up at work outside of the lunch room because I am too loud. I am just having fun.
72. I AM A MOMMY!! I waited a long time to say that.
73. We are adopting from China again. Our LID is 10/10/07
74. We have been waiting 15 months and have alot longer to wait.
75. I love to sew and make beautiful things.
76. I love to embroider my beautiful things.
77. I love to take pictures. I am trying to learn our camera but that is really Dan's thing.
78. I am addicted to blogging.
79. I am addicted to facebook and it is taking up my blogging time.
80. I am on a diet.
81. I have lost 12 lbs.
82. I love sweat pants and could live in them.
83. I love comfy PJ's and warm fuzzy socks.
84. I have to sleep with a pillow between my knees. I rub the end of my pillow at night and flip my feet back and forth to fall asleep.
85. I love sleep.
86. I love rocking Katie to sleep.
87. I love the beach. My perfect day is my feet in the sand and a book in my hand. Katie playing at my feet.
88. I love to laugh. Loud and hard!
89. My favorite dinner is chicken parm with spaghetti and a big slice of Italian bread with butter. I love french dressing the orange kind. I love to dip my bread in the dressing(now you see why I need a diet).
90. I love to talk
91. I love to listen
92. I was Nurse of the year in 2001
93. I still watch General Hospital after all these years.
94. I was in Soap Opera Digest magazine comparing a real life Nurse to "Bobbie Spencer, RN" on General Hospital.
95. My hair is curly but I wish it was straight.
96. I take an Adult Tap class and I have been in the recital in a ridiculous costume for the last three yrs.
97. I love spending time with my family and friends. I love learning new things about people.
98. I love having Thursday's off from work to spend with Katie.
99. I am in awe of my daughter. I am amazed by her everyday. I am thankful for her.
100. I try to live everyday to the fullest. I love to LIVE, LOVE, and LAUGH. I am truly blessed.

Thanks for reading! I just rambled. Some of my thoughts jumped around and are no particular order ;)

Jen

I have been tagged...

2009-01-25T12:57:00.000-08:00

I haven't been great about following along with the tags. Gals who tagged me over the last few months...sorry....I had every intention of playing along but it got lost on my to do list.

I was tagged by Diana last week and I thought this was a fun easy tag to follow.

With this tag the rules are....you pick the 4th picture in the 4th file in the photos section of your computer. I was really curious to see what I would find and this was it.....

This picture is of Katie and Stephanie. We were over our friends Mark and Diane's for Stephanie's birthday. She was wearing the dress we brought her back from China. It was taken in April 2006. Katie is 13 months old. She was home 2 months at this time. She wasn't even walking yet!!!

I would like to tag my friend KATE. Since she has such amazing photos, I would love to see what her picture is!!!

Also, this is my 99th post!!! Don't I need to tell 100 things about myself for the 100th post???? What are the rules on blogland?????

I better start thinking. I am not sure I can come up with 100 things.

Congratulations Steelers, Nice try Eagles!

2009-01-20T17:12:00.001-08:00

We had a GREAT weekend in Pittsburgh. We arrived Saturday afternoon and checked into the William Penn Hotel. It was very nice. We walked to PRIMANTI BROS for sandwiches. I laughed when I read your comment Kate because we had already been to Primanti's. It was my first time having a primanti bros sandwich. I got the hot capicola and cheese. The sandwich comes on fresh sliced Italian bread with capicola, cheese, coleslaw, lettuce, tomato, and FRENCH FRIES! It was so good(and so bad for my diet). The rest of the day we walked around Pittsburgh and went to a few different sports bars to get into the football spirit. We ended the night with a delicious dinner at Buca di Beppo.

Sunday~GAME DAY! Wow Steelers excitement was in the air. I am so used to being in EAGLES country in my part of PA. Dan and I were definitely out numbered in our Eagles gear. The Steelers fans didn't have any problem making comments or booing us either. They really tortured the poor Ravens fans. We went to MCFADDEN'S to watch the Eagles game. Our poor Eagles lost. We then headed to HEINZ FIELD for the Steelers game. It was really great to be there and watch the Steelers win the AFC Championship. The excitement at HEINZ FIELD was unbelievable. Jeff was thrilled. Dan was alittle sad about the Eagles but happy for his friend.

We headed home on Monday morning. I got a "Terrible Towel" and I will get on the band wagon and root for the Steelers for the Super Bowl.

It was so great to spend a weekend away with our Best Friends. No matter what team won or lost, we had a great time just being with each other.

Off to Pittsburgh

2009-01-17T05:07:00.000-08:00

We are going on a unexpected weekend trip to Pittsburgh with our Best Friends and NO kids. We haven't been away together without kids in YEARS! Not my idea of romance...Pittsburgh, but spending time with just the four of us will be great anywhere.

Jeff is a HUGE Steelers fan. We are Eagles fans. Jeff got 4 tickets to the Steelers play off game. We are leaving now. They are waiting for me as I type. We will return Monday.

Katie is spending the weekend with Mimi. I am sure they will have a GREAT time.

GO EAGLES
GO STEELERS.

It going to be COLD!!!

Bailey and Katie 2006 in the outfits of the teams there Dads love.

Katie watching the Eagles game with Dan in 2006.

First New Year Project done.

2009-01-15T13:33:00.000-08:00

I have many things that I want to accomplish in my home this year. We have been in this house 5 years. I finally have a dining room set. I have many projects that I want to complete over the 6 months(I would love to have them all done my summer). Some of them are small like hanging pictures on the wall, some of them are big like making curtains for the family room, dining room, Katie's playroom. I also want to get organized! So, I made myself a list of house goals room by room. Each week I want to pick a room to work on and get my house decorated and organized the way I want it. I started this week with the living room since it has the least to do. I replaced our lampshade in the living room. I embroidered the fabric with a "M" for our last name and then covered the lampshade with fabric and trim. I think it came out pretty good. It's one small project down.

I am not crazy about the silver thing sticking out of the top. We needed to convert the lamp base to fit this lampshade and that is holding it on.

Go Eagles!!!!

2009-01-11T16:27:00.000-08:00

We are very happy here in the philly area with our Eagles win today. We had a blast at Ruck and Robin's house watching the game.

E-A-G-L-E-S.....EAGLES!!!! YEAH!

Well the diet has begun.....

2009-01-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

I know I am not supposed to be calling it a diet. I was told this by one of the Mom's at Dancing School. I was sitting in the waiting room Monday night talking to one of my friends about my diet. This woman jumped up and started telling me not to call it a diet. It's a life change, bettering my health, etc. I know all these things but it feels like a diet to me. I LOVE food. I love to go out to eat. I love bread with butter dipped into my spaghetti sauce....yum....Well now I am torturing myself because I am drooling thinking about it. I was also writing down what I ate and keeping track of my calories. She started hitting my book..."No, no do not write it down" she said. "It's NOT a diet". I thought give me a break lady, this is hard enough without you sticking your nose in my business.

We started a "Biggest Loser" competition in my neighborhood. I am determined to lose weight and WIN! I am the heaviest that I have ever been. I can't fit into my clothes. I feel very uncomfortable. Both of my parents are overweight and are type 2 diabetics. I do not want to become diabetic. I am a Nurse and work in a Cardiology office doing stress tests everyday. I know better. I need to lose weight for my health. But, I love food. I think I mentioned that......

I am going to do it!! I want to lose at least 30 lbs. If anyone has any tips or recipes they want to share, that would be great.

I am following a 1500 calorie a day diet. I am drinking alot of water. I gave up diet coke and coffee. I had a major headache for 2 days. I am getting some caffeine from crystal light ice tea. I know I can have coffee but I like mine with a lot of french vanilla creamer. So I will treat myself on the weekend with a coffee and creamer.

I wanted Dan to take a picture of me in a sports bra and shorts but I will spare you that sight.

Happy Birthday Brady

2009-01-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Brady!!! I can't believe you are 8 years old already. You are such an important person in my life. I am honored and thankful to be your Godmother. Looking forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you!

Love, Aunt Jen

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2009-01-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

I am very behind on blogging. We had a wonderful Holiday. But, it was very busy and very exhausting. I just took a break from taking down the Christmas decorations to finally blog about our holiday.

Katie helping me wrap gifts at the last minute on Christmas Eve

We started Christmas Eve at my Grandmother's house for a visit with my Gram, Dad, Step-Mother, and Step-Grandmom. We had been doing this for several years and then going to Church with my Grandmom.

Katie, Gram, and me

Then off to Karen and Jeff's for there annual Christmas Eve open house. Karen out does herself every year. We have a wonderful time relaxing with family and friends.

Family Photo at Karen and Jeff's House

Mimi and Katie

Best Buds Katie and Neve

Katie enjoyed leaving cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Katie said goodbye to Kelsey the Elf. I told her she will see Kelsey again next year.

Dan carrying Katie down the stairs Christmas Eve

Cookies for Santa

See you next year Kelsey

Ready for bed and ready for Santa

Christmas morning was a BLAST! Katie didn't wake up until 8am...yeah! I was able to sleep in. Katie was so sweet. She took her time opening her gifts. Asked us if we wanted to help her. Loved everything she got and was so happy.

Santa came!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Katie as a Nurse just like Mommy

Aunt Karen and Uncle Jeff called about 10am and said breakfast was ready so we dashed across the street and had a WONDERFUL breakfast.

After breakfast, I helped Katie open all the pieces to her doll house and Daddy got dinner ready. We spent the rest of the day playing dollhouse and cooking dinner.

Karen, Jeff, Bailey, Brady, and Mimi, Leigh, and Grandmom Pat,Two-Pop, and Mom-Mom Maureen came to our house for dinner.

Tired out from all the fun. Katie fell asleep on Aunt Karen right before dinner

Christmas dinner

It was a wonderful Christmas.

The Friday after Christmas we went to Dan's Aunt Dolores and Uncle Ed's for our annual pollyanna party with Dan's family.

Katie opening her gifts from Aunt Dolores and Uncle Ed

Watch out Hannah Montana

Dan and his cousins

Saturday, we went to a Christmas open house at our friends Mark and Diane.

Katie and the kids at Mark and Diane's

Katie opening her gift from Uncle Tom and Aunt Mel

Having fun at Mark and Diane's. I am always like amazon woman next to these little Italian woman.

New Year's Eve we went to Philly to Reading Terminal Market for lunch and then off to the Please Touch Museum for a few hours. We arrived just in time for the count down to New Years. The Mummers were there playing and they dropped beach balls for all the kids. It was alot of fun.

Katie and Dan after the beach balls dropped

Katie having fun at the Please Touch Museum

We spent New Year's Eve night at Karen and Jeff's. We had appetizers and a nice dinner and then watched a movie. Bad idea because I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up at 11:55pm just in time to ring in the New Year. After a Happy New Year wish to everyone we walked across the street and went home and went to bed.

Katie playing her new V Motion game from Aunt Karen and Uncle Jeff on New Year's Eve.

Happy New Year everyone!!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

2008-12-31T14:39:00.000-08:00

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas. We have been so busy that I didn't have time to blog this week.

We had a wonderful holiday spent with family and friends. Over the next week or two I will add some pictures to the Blog of Christmas. We took so many pictures.

Katie had a GREAT Christmas. She loved every minute of it.

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

Here's to a Happy, Heathly, and FUN 2009!!!!

Mommy and Katie Christmas Eve 2008

Santa Stop Here......

2008-12-24T21:54:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone. I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and blessed Holiday.

The Christmas Card Debacle

2008-12-22T18:53:00.000-08:00

I LOST MY CHRISTMAS CARDS.....yes you read that right. I lost them. All 100 hundred of them. They were addressed, stamped, return addressed, just needed to be sealed. I lost them. My multi tasking as gone bad. I had these Christmas Cards since mid-November. I carried them everywhere in a bag in my purse. I worked on them every time I had a few minutes. I worked on them while I waited for Katie at Dance, on my lunch break, etc....

The last time I saw them was last Saturday. I was finishing the stamps at Bailey's basketball game. I was going to mail them out that night. They just needed to be sealed. I never sealed them Sat night so Sunday morning I said to Dan we have to seal the cards and get them in the mail. They were not in my purse. I sent Dan out to look for them in the car. He came back in the house and said they were not in the car. WHAT!!!! I looked in the car, no cards. Dan looked again, no cards. We looked all over the house, no cards. The only thing I can think of is that after Bailey's game we went to Target and out to dinner. I think I may have took them out of my purse at Target to get to my wallet. I may have left them on the counter. I called Target, no cards. I called the restaurant, no cards.

So, I uploaded my photo to Walgreens and got another 100 cards. I was VERY disappointed in the quality of the photo in the Walgreens cards. The first cards where from Shutterfly. The kicker is that I paid about half of what I paid for the Walgreen's cards at Shutterfly. I also got free shipping and free return address labels from Shutterfly and the quality of the cards was great. Oh well.

So, I pick up my new cards at Walgreens's. I told Dan that I was shutting myself in the bedroom to work on the cards. I went to put the cards in the envelopes and NO ENVELOPES!!! I had to go all the way back to Walgreen's for the envelopes. So, I get all the way back home and shut myself in my room again. I start stuffing the cards and I come across a picture of a woman and alittle girl mixed in with my cards. I also sent them out as my Christmas card. LOL! I stuff them and addressed them. Dan stamped them and sealed them and in 1 1/2 hour they were done. I drove them to the post office and every mailbox was jammed packed with cards. I couldn't even get them in the mailboxes. By then I was seriously started to think I was "punked". I drove all the way to another post office and sent them off. Happy to have them out of my hands and into the mailbox.

Maybe some kind soul found my other cards and since they were stamped mailed them for me. But, if people get 2 cards they will think I am NUTS!

This is the picture we used for our cards.

Cookie Exchange X 2

2008-12-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

I participate in 2 cookie exchanges every year. The first one I have been doing for 7 years. It's with my old co-workers from the hospital. It's a GREAT cookie exchange. We usually have about 10 people and we bring 10 dozen cookies each dozen individual wrapped. Everyone gets into there wrap and puts alittle something on the wrap like an ornament or a lipbalm, etc,... This year we had 14 people so we did 1/2 dozens for each person. So I had 14 packages with a 1/2 dozen cookies in each package. I had extra cookies so I made them "bakers" 1/2 dozens and gave everyone 7 cookies. Whoever is hosting the cookie exchange has all of us for dinner. It is such a nice time. I really miss my old co-workers from the ICU/CCU. I worked with an amazing group of men and woman.

The next night was my second exchange. This was our 4th year having a cookie swap in our neighborhood. My friend Heather always hosts the cookie swap at her house. This exchange is done alittle different. We all bring 8 dozen cookies, not wrapped. We stand in front of our cookie and we tell what cookie we made them we take 5 cookies and move to the next cookie and so on until you are back at your cookie. If there are cookies left we take one or two more depending on the amount of cookies left. Then you go back home with 8 dozen cookies but a variety. After the swap we have a GREAT time hanging out in Heather's basement. Her basement is finished and she has an awesome bar. You feel like your hanging out at a pub.

I made "Aunt Faith's Best Butter Cookies". I got this recipe from Dan's Aunt Faith at my bridal shower. My Best Friend Karen sent out recipe cards with my bridal shower invitation so people could write there favorite recipe on the card and bring it to the shower. I love Aunt Faith's butter cookie recipe. I use it every year and get requests to make this same cookie every year. I use my pampered chef cookie press and make the cookie in the shape of a Christmas tree. One batch makes alittle over 4 dozen cookies. I ended up making about 17 dozen cookies. It was a good year. I got them done in 4 hours. Pass years I have had burnt cookies, cookies that wouldn't come out of the cookie press, etc. It was those years that I called my friends who were also in the exchange and asked them who's brilliant idea this was. I took Katie to school because I knew I wouldn't get it done if her hands were in the mix. So, Dan is going to make some cookies with her tomorrow night.

Enjoy the photos. I took to many to choose my favorites. So there is alot AGAIN!

Ready to bake!

Aunt Faith's Best Butter Cookie

Ready to go into the oven

Finished product!

Katie taste testing

All of our cookies wrapped and ready to exchange

Thanks MaryBeth for Hosting the Cookie Exchange. It was a wonderful time. I had the BEST time reconnecting with old friends.

Ready for my next cookie swap. I have 8 dozen cookies in that container. It doesn't look like it!

Neighborhood Cookie Swap. Thanks Heather for another wonderful time!

Best Birthday!

2008-12-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday, December 17th was my 35th Birthday. I had the BEST Birthday ever! We left the house at 7:20 and took the express train from Hamilton, NJ to New York City. Our first stop in NYC was Macy's to see Santa. We were at Macy's by 9:30am and there was no line for Santa. Katie was alittle shy with Santa. Not me, I told Santa it was my Birthday and sat right down next to him. Katie then decided she would sit with me and Santa for a picture. After we left Macy's we took a cab to the American Girl store. Katie couldn't wait to get to the American Girl store. We told her that we were going weeks ahead of time and she has been looking at the catalog to pick out a doll. Katie picked out "Mia" the doll of the year. Well they were sold out of Mia. I thought Katie was going to be really disappointed but she wasn't. I think because there were so many dolls in the store to choose from that she forgot all about Mia. She picked a "Just like me Doll". She picked a doll with long black hair and brown eyes. First she named her Katie just like her then she changed to Mia after the doll she originally wanted. Then we had lunch at the American Girl Cafe. It was really nice.

Next, we were off to Rockefeller Center. We looked at the tree and the ice skaters. I couldn't wait to see the tree this year because it was from a tree farm right down the street from my work. It was beautiful.

Then off to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Spectacular. It was amazing!!! Katie fell asleep half way through the show. I thought maybe the cotton candy she was eating would give her a sugar rush and keep her awake during the show. Dan was taking picture during the show. Missy, I thought of you!!!! I kept thinking if he gets in trouble for taking pictures I am acting like I don't know him. He was not using the flash so maybe they didn't notice.

We walked to Times Square after the show. Katie loved all the lights. We went into Toy R Us and rode the ferris wheel. Then we walked back to the train station and took the express train back to Hamilton, NJ.

We met my Mom, Karen, Jeff, Bailey, Brady, Karen's Mom, and Jeff's parents for dinner at our favorite place.

It was a WONDERFUL birthday!!!!!

Katie and Mommy on the train

Katie and Mommy at Macy's

Katie, Mommy, and Santa

Katie with her doll

Mommy, Katie, and her new doll Mia at lunch

Happy Birthday to Mommy

Katie and Mommy in front of the tree at Rockefeller Center

Katie and Daddy at Rockefeller Center

Katie amazed by the sights in NYC

The Rockettes

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

On the Ferris Wheel at Toy R Us in Times Square

Times Square

Happy Birthday

Birthday hugs and opening presents

Jen and Karen

Wow...I posted alot of photos. We took so many that I hard a hard time choosing.

3rd Annual Christmas Party

2008-12-16T19:18:00.000-08:00

We hosted our 3rd Annual Christmas Party for our adoption group. I know that I have said it before but I will say it again.....we are so lucky to have such an amazing group. We also had some new friends at our party this year. It was so great to spend time with friends old and new. I invited a few of my bloggy friends that live in the area. It was so nice to meet some of my bloggy friends in "real" life.

The party started with some arts and crafts. I had a craft table set up for the kids. They colored ceramic ornaments. While the kids were hard at work the adults enjoyed some punch. I will post the punch recipe below.

Santa arrived and had a gift for each child. The kids were so excited to see Santa. Most of the kids sat and waited for there turn with Santa. A few of the smaller kids were alittle freaked out by Santa.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner after Santa went back to the North Pole. Everyone brought either a appetizer, main dish, or dessert. The food was GREAT!

The kids had a ball playing together. We found Katie and Lia pulling off there party clothes to change into princess dress up. Soon, some of the other girls saw this and joined in. They came downstairs and paraded through the house and told us it was a princess parade. Dan put on the High School Musical soundtrack for them and the next thing you know we had a princess dance party in my family room. It was so wonderful to watch these girls dance and have a ball with each other. I looked at Kate and she had a little tear in her eye. I then got teary eyed too. THESE are the moments we waited for.

Next we had our ornament exchange. Each child brings an ornament and then we do a random exchange and each child leaves with an ornament from there friend.

The next thing I know Katie was out of her princess dress up and into her PJ's. Well then all the kids who brought there jammies followed and put there jammies on.

Everyone was tired out and a wonderful night came to an end. It was a fun, amazing night with new friends and old friends. A night full of memories that we will cherish for a long time.

I am already looking forward to next year!

The girls hard at work on there ornaments

Santa arrives!!!!

I love this pictures of everyone sitting waiting for there turn with Santa

Katie with Santa

Santa and children

Some of our Princess Parade

Princess Dance Party

Ornament Exchange

PUNCH RECIPE~

Cranberry Juice
Sprite
Rainbow Sherbert
Vodka

I didn't measure just added it all in a punch bowl and voila......Jen's Christmas punch!

Be your own person

2008-12-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

I have so many things I want to post from the weekend but I am exhausted and don't have the time tonight.

But, I need to blog this one before I forget it. Katie had a Ring Pop candy from Dance Class tonight. They sell candy at the Dance Studio and Katie spotted the candy last year and I always let her pick out one treat for being a good girl in class. So, tonight it was a Ring Pop. She had it in her mouth like a pacifier. She was calling it her "binky". The ring pop was gone but the plastic "binky" was still her in mouth. I told her to throw it in the trash because it was time to get ready for bed. She tells me that Baby Sister is going to have a binky. Katie often talks about Baby Sister(we have been logged in alittle over 14 months to adopt again from China). This is how the conversation went.

Katie: We have to buy Baby Sister a binky.
Me: Do you think Baby Sister will suck her thumb like you?
Katie: No, she will use a binky. I love to suck my thumb.
Me: Maybe Baby Sister will like to suck her thumb too.
Katie: No she will use a binky, Baby Sister needs to be her own person.

I was cracking up laughing. She was very matter of fact and serious. How does she even know to say that??? I guess my lectures of be your own person Katie you don't have to do it just because so and so did it is working.

She is so funny.

Hope to post all about our Christmas party with pictures tomorrow night.

Getting ready to have 27 adults and 21 kids at my house and what happens?????

2008-12-12T21:51:00.000-08:00

Our 12 foot Christmas tree falls over. I was sitting at the kitchen table with my Mom eating dinner. Karen was standing at the table talking. The kids were at the kitchen island eating dinner. All of a sudden the tree just fell over. All 12 feet of it. Fully decorated. I just sat there shocked. I didn't know what to do. Karen called Jeff and Dan who were out having a drink and smoking a cigar(these boys live the life) to come home. They thought we were joking. Karen and I stood the tree back up. I was so afraid I lost all of my ornaments. A few broke but mostly just the balls broke. Most of my ornaments were okay. I held up the tree while Karen got under the tree to fix the tree in the stand. Jeff and Dan came home. We vacuumed up the mess. Started decorating it AGAIN. Honestly, it looks better than it did the first time.

What a mess but what a memory!

Looking forward to tomorrow. We are having our Adoption group over for a Chritmas party. Thank God the tree didn't fall when we had a house full of people!

Tree Down

Clean up crew

Putting the tree back together again

Putting the Angel on top

Katie helping Daddy

Our tree.....take two

Holiday Happenings

2008-12-10T18:32:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday we went to pick out our Christmas tree. It was so cold and started to rain. I wanted to get the tree because Dan was going away for the weekend. We got a 12 foot Frazier Fir. It was dark and we were freezing so we picked the first tree that looked good to us. We only got one picture of us picking the tree. Dan went to Pittsburgh this past weekend for a guys weekend for the Steelers vs Cowboys game. Yes, Dan is an Eagles fan so why did he go?? Couldn't miss out on a guys weekend. Uncle Jeff is a Steelers Fan and Two-Pop is a Cowboy's fan. Dan went for the fun.

Picking out our Christmas tree

Friday night. Karen and I at our Holiday work party.

So, Katie and I spent the weekend together. Saturday we went to our local FCC annual "Potluck/Pollyanna". This was our first time attending this event. It was very laid back and the kids had a BLAST just running around the place. It was in a church hall and it had a stage. The kids LOVE playing on the stage. It was snowing when we left. Katie immediately looked up at the sky and started catching snow flakes with her tongue.

Hannah, Rachel, and Katie at our FCC party. I have become such a camera snob...Dan took our new camera to Pittsburgh and I had the old point and shoot. The quality of these pictures are not great.

Katie and Taylor

Hannah and Katie

Katie on the stage

Katie with her gifts

Rachel and Katie enjoying cupcakes.

Catching snowflakes

Sunday, we stayed home and decorated the house. We also attempted to make a gingerbread house. I never made one of these before and didn't realize you need to let the house dry for 2-3 hours before you can decorate it. Well we didn't start this project until 7pm at night. So we let it dry overnight. Well the next day the rest of my icing was hardened!!! So we have a gingerbread house that is still not decorated. I need to go buy some regular icing in a jar and finish it.

Dan came home Monday but Katie and I both have Dance on Monday night. So, Tuesday night we started to decorate the tree. It took forever for Dan to put the lights on the tree. I like alot of lights on the tree. We have this same struggle every year. I keep telling him more lights, more lights. It got late so we decided to finish the tree tonight. Katie had a blast putting the ornaments on the tree.

Helping Daddy with the lights

Helping Daddy with the ornamnets

I also got a dining room set FINALLY this past week. Katie and I carried all my sewing stuff to the basement last week. The dining room set arrived and it is all set up. My dining room actually looks like a dining room! I can't wait to set my table for Christmas dinner.

When Katie was helping me take my sewing stuff into the basement she said...."Mommy, I wish for a telescope so that I can see Santa. It should be pink with Barbie on it". I said "That sounds like a great wish". She said " I am NOT so happy that it is not Christmas yet". I just laughed because she was so serious. This was while we were both walking down the basement steps with our arms full of sewing stuff. Our next trip down the steps she says "Mommy, I wish for rubies and jewelry". I said "Wow, you have alot of wishes today". She just smiled and my heart filled with love.

3 years ago today.....

2008-12-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

I sat at my computer chatting online with my travel group anxiously waiting the call for Katie's referral. We expected our referral the day before but there was a snow storm in Texas and our agency that is located in Texas closed for the snow storm. So we had to wait another day for Katie's referral. I waited all day at my computer desk. My travel group made a pact that when the first referral call was made that they would post it on the group so we all knew the calls were coming in. Dan had the video camera set up on the tripod ready to capture the moment. I had my paperwork with all the questions I was going to ask ready on the computer desk. Karen, Jeff, Bailey, and Brady were over too. We were all waiting and waiting. I couldn't even type to my travel group anymore. I was rocking back and forth in the computer chair like I was in labor while Karen typed to my travel group for me. Then it started, someone from my travel group got the call. When was our call coming????? Finally at 4:38 pm est the call came. I was told they had a little girl for us born in March. Her name was Qi Jia Min. She was 9 months old from Hubei province. She was in foster care. They were going to e-mail us her picture. When we opened the e-mail she was the most beautiful little baby we ever saw. Luckily we have the whole thing on video. Because it was a blur of excitement. Bailey was running through the house yelling .."Her birthday is in March, her birthday is in March!!!". Bailey was excited because her birthday is in March too. My Mom arrived just in time to see Katie's picture come through on the computer. Jeff opened a bottle of Dom Perignon to celebrate. We didn't get any pictures on my camera but luckily my Mom did. We were too excited. I have a few pictures to post. My Mom is going to give me her pictures tomorrow to post.

Then we invited our friends over that we met during the wait to celebrate our referral and there referrals. Two of the families were from my same agency and would travel with us. We celebrated with Chinese food and everyone brought there referral pictures and we had such a good time. Little did we know that Laura and Kevin were celebrating 10 minutes away from us. Laura and Kevin got there referralthat day too but we didn't know them yet. I met Laura after were got home from China in the supermarket.

What great memories.....enjoy the pictures!

Me and Karen sitting at the computer desk waiting for the call. See the video camera in the corner of the picture.

Katie's referral photos. I guess they scanned them like this because this is how I have them on the disc. I can't figure out how to separate them.

Proud Mama's Left to right....Kim with Hannah's picture, Me with Katie's picture, Kate with Lia's picture, Kellyann with Taylor's picture, and Karen with Mia's picture.

These girls are now all friends. We get them together often. We have a wonderful local adoption group and it all started with the 5 of us Mom's waiting for our babies to come home.

My BEST Friend, a birthday wish.

2008-12-04T10:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my Best Friend Karen's 35th birthday. We celebrated at our favorite place to have dinner(remember this post).

I can't even begin to describe with words how important Karen's friendship is to me. We have been friends for over 25 years...yup, you read that right 25 years. We both started Elementary School together in Kindergarten. We have been inseparable since middle school. We have shared every major and not so major life event with each other. Karen is my "person". She is the one I tell everything too, the one who shares every happy moment with me and every not so happy moment with me. The BEST part in all this.....she lives across the street from me. Isn't this every little girls dream? Well it came true. About 7 years ago when our neighborhood was in the works of being built, we both decided to buy houses in this neighborhood. It was 5 minutes away from where we both grew up and a perfect place to raise a family. When Dan and I chose our lot for our new home, there were only 12 lots left. The best lot was right across the street from the one Karen and Jeff picked. It is WONDERFUL to have your Best Friend across the street.

More friend facts~ We both share December birthdays. We were born exactly 2 weeks apart. We are both Nurses. We work for the same Cardiology practice. We drive the same Mini-Van. We have so much history and so much in common. But for as much as were are the "same" we are also different. I think our different qualities compliment each other and bring wonderful things to our friendship.

I am so thankful for our amazing friendship. It means more to me than I could ever tell you.

Dear Karen, I hope you had a wonderful Birthday. We have shared so much together over the past 25 plus years. It feels like yesterday that we were 15 years old chasing boys! We have come along way. You are my family. I love you! Jen
A few fun photos to share..

How CRAZY is this picture??? We really thought we were so cute! Ready for a night out on the boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ. Jen and Karen, age 15, summer of 1989

Karen and Jen age 21, summer of 1995

Our 30th birthday party Jen and Karen, Dec 2003

Our trip to Disney Karen and Jen with Minnie, Feb 2007

Work Christmas Party Dec 2007

St Patrick Day Neighborhood Party March 2008

Karen on her 35th birthday

Mom-Mom Maureen (Karen's Mom), Aunt Karen, and Katie

Karen, Frankie, and Jen......I know this post is not about me but can I say how much I hate myself in this photo? I only posted it because I needed to add it to the long list of pictures of us. Our work Christmas party is tomorrow night and I already told Karen we need a retake!

No light in sight.....swag dilema

2008-12-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

Remember my Black Friday swag bargain from AC Moore?? I got 9 fake pine swags for $7.52. My plan was to put red bows on each one and put them on each window ledge in the front of my house. I have electric candles in each window and I thought the swag would look so nice with the candles in the window. Well, then I got this great idea that I wanted lights for each swag. I went to three different stores tonight to find 50 count white/clear mini lights. Each store was out of 50 count white lights. They had red, blue, green, or multi-color. NO WHITE! I went to Joann Fabric, Target, and Walmart. Sold Out. I called my Mom and she was at Big Lots, so I had her check there for me. She called me back and said when she was looking another lady was also looking for 50 count white lights for the same idea. They found 10 boxes and the other lady took 5 boxes of the lights. I told her not to get them for me because I needed 9 boxes. I was still at Walmart and I was going to ask a sales associate. My Mom was going to ask someone at Big Lots too. I had no luck at Walmart and my Mom had no luck at Big Lots. By the time my Mom went back to the light section, the 5 boxes I told her not to get where already gone.

So, I decided to buy multi-color and see how they looked. I got home and put them on the swag and tried to make the ribbon into the shape of a bow. I had Dan go upstairs and hold it out the window while I looked at it from outside. I wanted Dan to plug the lights on the swag in and then plug the electric window candle into the lights. I am outside yelling up to Dan to plug in the candle and he is yelling down to me that he can't. I am yelling "What do you mean you can't??". Apparently the candle plug will not fit into the multi-color light strand. Dan used some technical term but I didn't want to hear it. My plan was not working out.

So, should I just put the swags up with the bow and the candle in the window and forget the lights???? I am not crazy about the multi colored lights anyway.

Thoughts???

Thanksgiving Part 2

2008-12-01T18:24:00.000-08:00

I planned to decorate over the weekend by I was inspired by the show "Clean House". I watched about 4 episodes in a row on Wednesday while I was sewing. I always like to have everything in it's place before I decorate. Each year it has gotten harder and harder with all of Katie's "stuff" everywhere. I decided to PURGE my house. I have been holding on to things that I haven't used in years. Old decor from my old house, old partylite candle holders, old knick-nacks...etc... I feel guilty throwing things away. Now, my bloggy friends do not get too nervous my house does not look like the houses on "Clean House" but my closets and spare bedroom had way too much stuff packed into them. It felt great to clear the house of old junk. I reorganized closets, Katie's playroom, the spare bedroom, and our computer room. So, I did not get any of my decorating done. I am hoping to get it finished this weekend. Dan is going to Pittsburgh this coming weekend so our plan was to get our tree yesterday. But it was rainy and cold here in PA. We are hoping to get our tree on Thursday.

Sunday, Dan cooked us our own Thanksgiving dinner. I love to cook our own turkey so we have left-overs. I also love my Grandmom's stuffing recipe. So, Katie and I made the stuffing and Dan did the rest. Dan even made my apple pie recipe. It was so delicious. It was still hot when we ate it with a scoop of vanilla ice cram on top....YUM!

Our Best Friends spent the long weekend at Jeff's parents in Fenwick, Delaware. They came home Sunday afternoon so we invited them over for our Thanksgiving part 2. We had a wonderful meal with our friends. Katie was in charge of asking everyone what they were thankful for. It was very nice.

After dinner we played the High School Musical soundtrack and Katie put on a "show". She loves to hide behind the sliding glass door curtain and be introduced. She comes out from behind the curtain and puts on a show for us. Bailey and Brady joined the fun and the next thing I know we were all dancing. The neighbors behind us probably would think we were nuts if they could see us through the window.

Picture of Dan's apple pie

APPLE PIE

1 pie shell

7-8 Tart Apples(I use a few different apples, granny smith, fuji, and macintosh)

1 cup sugar

2 TBSP flour

dash salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 TBSP butter

Peel and slice apples and mix above ingredients.

Crumb Topping

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

1/3 cup butter softened

Mix together with hands to form crumbs.

Depending on the size of my pie plate sometimes I need to double the crumb topping mixture to cover the pie.

Place pie shell on bottom of pie plate. Put apple mixture on top of pie shell and then top with crumb topping mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes.

ENJOY!

Enjoy the little video of Katie, Brady, and Bailey dancing. Don't mind my BIG mouth ;)

Happy Thanksgiving, Black Friday Madness, and Flasback Friday, all rolled into one......

2008-11-28T14:22:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We always celebrate Thanksgiving at Dan's Aunt and Uncle's house. Dan and his cousins always play a football game in the morning with their friends. This year was the 20th Annual Turkey Bowl. I used to go and watch the game when Dan and I first started dating but now I stay home and cook a few things for Aunt Dolores and Uncle Ed's house.

While Dan went off to play his game, Katie and I stayed home and cooked. She was happy to help me in the kitchen. We made mac and cheese (I use Patti LaBelle's "Over the Rainbow" mac and cheese recipe with a few added bonuses of my own), Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Bananas and Honey (recipe I got off of Lisa's blog), and an Apple Pie. The apple pie was a recipe I got from my old co-worker Mary. I love this crumb top deep dish apple pie recipe.

The mac and cheese is a favorite with Dan's family, especially Walter. It was Walter's 20th Birthday yesterday so I really wanted to make the mac and cheese for him. The dish is so bad(it has 5 different cheeses, half and half, butter, and eggs in it) for you that I only make it once or twice a year.

The sweet potatoes came out GREAT! I will make these again. Thanks for posting this recipe Lisa!

While Katie and I were making the apple pie, I decided to try to use my apple/corer/peeler/slicer from pampered chef. I never use it and always peel my apples by hand. I know this nifty gadget is supposed to be easy to use but I never can get the hang of it. Well I finally got it set up after a phone call to my friend Carmela(who is a pampered chef consultant) and it WAS so easy to use. I got my apples cored/peeled/sliced in no time. Katie had fun helping me turn the handle. During the coring/peeling/slicing process, juice and peels where flying off the apples. Katie said "Mommy, you got juice in my eye!! Now, I am going to need glasses." She is so funny. The things she comes up with.

The apple pie came out great. I should of taken a picture of all my hard work but I was in such a rush to get out the door that I forgot.

We had a wonderful meal with our family and we have many things to be thankful for.

After the football game. The boys go back to the bar for "lunch".

Dan, Walter, Bill, Uncle Ed, and Eddie.

I ventured out this morning for Black Friday. Last year I actually went out by 10:30pm on Thanksgiving night because the outlets opened at Midnight. I got some awesome deals at the Disney Store outlet. This year I skipped the outlets. But, I did get up at 4am to go to Toy R Us. I was at Toys R Us by 4:45am. The line was wrapped around the store. When the line started moving it was amazing to watch all the people rushing into the store. I knew exactly what I was there for and went right for it. I got my shopping cart and thought to myself....GAME ON PEOPLE!!! I was in and out of there by 5:25am. I got everything I went in there for. Then I headed to Joann Fabric and was the 3rd person in line for there "doorbuster deals". While I was in line, I met up with my 70 something year old friend Betty who invited me into her sewing circle last Black Friday. Unfortunately Betty and her friends meet during the day while I am at work. So I was never able to join them. I felt like a bit of a loser waiting in line at Joann Fabric at 5:45am since most people were at places like Walmart and Best Buy. But, I got some great deals for my sewing hobby and I was quite pleased with myself when I left. I then hit AC Moore. I wanted to get fake pine swags for under the windows in the front of my house. I hit the jackpot because the 32 in pine swag were $5.99 each with a manager's special markdown of 80% making them $1.19 each and then I had a 30% off your entire purchase coupn. So, I got the swags for $7.52 and they would have been $53.91 for 9 of them at full price. I was back home by 8:30 am and very happy with myself. Dan said Katie woke up and wanted to know where Mommy was. Dan told her "shopping" and Katie said "Without me??". The girl loves to shop already. I assured her when I got home that I did not go to Target. Target is her favorite.

I also wanted to post a picture of Katie first Thanksgiving. This is her in 2006 at Thanksgiving dinner.

Katie ready for dinner with her plate she made at school.

Katie and her Thanksgiving Feast!

Not so Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

I can't be wordless on this Wednesday. I have too many things to say. I am so thankful for our silly, funny, smart, sassy, amazing little girl.

She has the best little personality. She loves to laugh and joke around. On one of our first days as a family, Dan was giving Katie cheerios. Katie took the cheerios from Dan and started to pretend she was feeding them to Dan. Just as Dan went to take the cheerios from her, she pulled it back from him and laughed and laughed. She is a little jokester.

Just the other night, I heard Katie laughing and she was lying on the family room floor with blocks on her eyes and Dan was taking her picture. So, I thought it would be a great "Wordless Wednesday" picture. But, I needed to say a few words this Wednesday.

We are so blessed to be her parents. We are so thankful for Katie today and everyday.

Good Neighbors, Good Times....

2008-11-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

I want to start this post by saying how thankful I am for my wonderful neighbors. We are so lucky to live in such a wonderful neighborhood. We built our house 5 years ago. It's a small neighborhood of 2 streets, 40 homes. We know every neighbor. There are so many kids in our neighborhood. It's a great place to raise a family. There are 4 other girls( and I think a boy or two) that will start Kindergarten the same time as Katie. We also live across the street from our Best Friends. How great is that???

The real reason for this post was to post pictures of my friend Karen's 40th birthday. The girls from the neighborhood took her out for a birthday dinner. We had a great time helping Karen celebrate her 40th. Happy Birthday Karen.

P.S. Check me out in the pictures.....bye, bye red hair. I went back to brown with blonde highlights. Thanks for all the nice comments but I couldn't get used to the red.

Karen the birthday girl and Karen my best friend

Wendy, Cathy, and Heather

Kim and me with my new hair color

Happy Birthday Karen

Karen with her tote bag

Tote Bag, I made for Karen

inside of tote bag

drink koozie, I made for Karen

Kelsey the Elf on the Shelf

2008-11-23T17:28:00.001-08:00

Thanks Missy for telling me about Elf on the Shelf. I never heard of it before and thought it sounded like a cute tradition to start.

Our Elf came in the mail for Katie. She opened him and I explained that Santa had sent this Elf to watch over her. I read her the storybook that came with the Elf. Katie wanted to name her Elf "Kelsey". So, I guess our Elf is a girl elf. Then we went on www.elfontheshelf.com and registered Kelsey.

That night Katie said night night to Kelsey and then told the Elf..."Kelsey, my China friends, my Zona friends(this is what she calls her Hubei Sisters since she saw them last in Arizona), and my school friends have all been good. Please tell Santa!". I thought that was so cute that she was reporting good things about her friends to Santa.

Katie has been having fun waking up in the morning to find where Kelsey has moved too.

Then I was thinking I will probably scar the kid for life by using "Kelsey the Elf" to get her to behave. She was acting up and I told her that Kelsey was watching and going to tell Santa and she started to cry. Kelsey is slightly creepy.

Hopefully she grows up thinking Kelsey the Elf is a cute tradition and not in a therapist's office talking about the creepy Elf that my parents bought me when I was 3.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

Soccer season has come to an end

2008-11-17T18:17:00.000-08:00

Katie and Coach Daddy did a great job this season with Soccer. Katie got out there every week and played a great game. Of course the one week she scored a goal, I wasn't there to see it. I was "Sewing by the Sea". Dan was AWESOME as the coach of Katie's team. He was so good with the girls.

Saturday was the last game of the season. Katie was so excited to get her trophy.

I already signed Katie and Dan up for the Spring season.

Sewing by the Sea

2008-11-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

I went away with my girlfriend MaryBeth this past weekend for our own version of "Sewing by the Sea". MaryBeth and I started taking sewing class together about a year ago. The one instructor told us about Sewing by the Sea in Ocean City Maryland. It is held at one of the hotel's from Sun to Thurs. Well, going during the week was not good for us so we decided to make our own sewing by the sea. MaryBeth's grandparents have an oceanfront beach house in Brigantine, NJ. So, we packed up our sewing stuff and set out to sew by the sea. We arrived late Friday night and set up our stuff. Saturday we sewed from 10 am until 2:30pm just stopping to go out to dinner. I made 3 skirts and a tote bag. I also embroidered several items. MaryBeth made 3 tote bags, 2 pillowcases, and 3 change purses. Sunday we got up and packed our stuff and went out to breakfast and then came home. We had a blast. It may sound boring to some(like my husband, who laughed and said..."Have a blast girls") but we had a really good time.

We are already looking forward to next time!

Flashback Friday

2008-11-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

I was reminded recently from this post, the fun times we used to have at music class. Katie and I joined a "Mommy and Me" style music class a few months after she came home. We were lucky enough to go with our friends, Kate and Lia, and Kim and Hannah. We were all new Moms enjoying our daughters. We became friends during the wait for our daughters. We talked about all the fun things we would do together once our daughters came home. Well over the past 2 1/2 years were have done some REALLY fun things but one of our first memories as a group was music class. Enjoy the pictures. These were taken in May 2006.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

High School Musical...starring~KATIE!

2008-11-04T16:02:00.001-08:00

Isn't this funny! My friend Ruck did this picture for Katie.

Halloween Happenings

2008-11-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Halloween. Katie really enjoyed herself this year. She wanted to be Sharpay from High School Musical. Katie had changed her mind so many times. We went to the Halloween store(on this day) and she saw the Sharpay costume and that is what she wanted to be. She has never even seen High School Musical. She learned the characters from school.

Two weeks ago we had our annual Halloween parade in our neighborhood.

Bailey and Katie

Katie and Neve

Katie and Mommy~ Katie didn't want to wear her Sharpay sunglasses so I wore them.

This picture of Katie running with her wig flying off the back of her head, cracks me up.

Halloween morning was Katie's Halloween parade at school. Then we went to Bailey and Brady's school in the afternoon to watch their parade.

Katie at her school parade

Lotus at ALK school parade.

We headed out Halloween night for Trick or Treating with Aunt Karen, Bailey, and Brady. Katie wanted to Trick or Treat with her friend Neve, so we stopped at her house first and picked her up. Daddy and Uncle Jeff went to Philadelphia for the Phillies parade. They were gone all day and did not get home in time for Trick or Treating. All the trains were packed and it took them hours to get home. So I had to put the candy on the front step with a sign that read take "2" only. Aunt Karen did the same thing at her house.

Katie and Neve were so much faster Trick or Treating this year. They ran from house to house. Last year they would stop and get back on the wagon after every house. They were so funny, they would have a little conversation at every house when they got their candy.

Rain Delay

2008-10-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF POST

Our hopes of a Phillies World Series win is over tonight. Rain delay was finally called in the 6th inning. I don't think they will resume playing tonight. The weather conditions are horrible in Philadelphia.

We had fun watching the game tonight at Karen and Jeff's. We cheered and hoped for a victory. But, the weather was so bad that I felt sorry for the players. They stopped the game and it is tied 2-2.

Save the Champagne for another night Dan! Go Phillies!!!

We walked home(we live across the street from our best friends) and it was so miserable. I can't imagine trying to play in this weather.

UPDATE10/30/08

We enjoyed cheering on the Phillies Wednesday night as they played the rest of the game and WON THE WORLDS SERIES!!!!!

Dan, Katie, Jeff, Karen, Bailey, Brady, Two-Pop, Grandmom, Mom-Mom Maureen and I paraded around our neighborhood to the tune of "We are the Champions". Good times, Good Times.........

Flip Flop Fleet

2008-10-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

When I came across this blog, I knew I wanted to help. So I became a Flip Flop Friend and started collecting flip flops for this great cause. Of course if was Fall when I started collecting my flips so there are few to pick from. But, since it is Fall I have found some great deals. Please read here to see what this is all about.

I need to collect 50 pairs of flip flops. I have 20 pairs that I have purchased myself. I continue to look in all the store for flip flop deals. I have had luck at Old Navy and Old Navy.com. I got 10 pairs on Old Navy.com for 0.99 cents a pair.

So, I encourage you to check out flipflopfleet.blogspot.com and read what this couple is doing!

If anyone wants to send me a pair of flip flops to help me reach my goal of 50 pairs of flips, I will be very grateful.

Comment me and I can send you my address of where to send the flips.

Go Phillies Go!!!!!!!!

2008-10-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

We are huge Phillies fans. We are so excited for the start of the World Series
tonight.

We spent part of the game across the street at our Best Friends house Karen and Jeff. We had fun cheering on the Phillies. But it was getting late and Katie fell asleep. At the 7th inning stretch Dan carried Katie home for me and he went back to the Rocco's to finish watching the game. So now I sit here and blog while I watch the game. It is the bottom of the 8th and they are still ahead 3-2

Go Phillies Go!!!!!!!!!!

Fairy Tales do come true......

2008-10-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Tag your "it"!

2008-10-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged by Amie at Heart Smiles. If you don't know Amie you seriously have to check out her blog. She makes me laugh so hard.

So this is my second tag. Remember this one? This is alittle different this time. I had to come up with 7 RANDOM thoughts about myself. So, this is what I came up with.....

1. I went to China when I was 14 yrs old. I was a Freshman in High School and a member of the Marching Band. I was in the "Flag Corps". I twirled a flag. The Marching Band went on a trip to China and we performed in three different cities. We performed on The Great Wall. It was amazing experience. When we started considering adoption, China just felt right to me. I had already been to China and had wonderful memories.

2. My hair is just about completely gray. I have to get my hair dyed every 4-6 weeks. My roots are growing in faster and faster. I am getting grayer and grayer. I just got my hair done last week and I had a red gloss put on it. I am not crazy about it but I will be back in the salon in about 4 weeks and will get a new color. I am posting a picture for you Kate.

3. I like the smell of a freezer. Strange, I know but these are random thoughts right? You know when you are in the grocery store and you open the freezer case? I like that smell.

4. I met my husband at a funeral.

5. I LOVE cozy PJ's and fuzzy socks. The weather is getting cooler and I love to get into my comfy PJ's and warm fuzzy socks.

6. I was in Soap Opera Digest! My friend lives in LA and writes for Soap Opera Digest. There was an article comparing real life people with soap opera people. He compared a real life Nurse with "Bobbie Spencer" the Nurse on General Hospital. I was interviewed for the article and my picture appeared in Soap Opera Digest. It was great because I am a huge GH fan. I have been watching the soap since I was about 13 yrs old.

7. My new hobby is sewing and embroidery. I just wish I had more time to sew. I just got an embroidery machine. I am going to have so much fun monogramming and embroidering everything!

Well that is 7 random thoughts about me. Instead of tagging someone else....can you leave a random thought about yourself in the comment section of this post?

THANKS!

So here is the red hair. Not only did I go red but I got bangs. I am alittle shocked everytime I look at myself in the mirror.

Apple Picking

2008-10-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we met some friends at the local orchard for apple and pumpkin picking. What a blast we all had. We all piled on the hayride and rode out to the apple orchard. With buckets in hand we all started picking. Some had a better time then other's like Emma's Daddy who knew exactly how to climb all the way into the tree to get the best apples. Of course Ma and Pa Parazzi were following the kids around to take some great pictures. Pa(Dan) actually captured Ma(Kate) taking pictures of her favorite subject...Miss Lia.

Katie had a blast. Everytime I turned around she was sampling another apple.

Then off to the pumpkin patch where the girls had a great time looking at the pumpkins. Of course Jim made my day once again with the pumpkin collage below. Remember these pictures of the Cannonball. Jim is always a great sport.....my kinda guy!

Jim tossed that pumpkin so high in the air that I can't capture it in the collage no matter how many times I crop. I guess I could of just put the pumpkin in the photo but I didn't want to crop Jim out ;)

Group Photo

Cake eating contest???

2008-10-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

So I look over and these two sweet princesses are eating cake like they are in a contest! They both giggled at each other and I couldn't help but laugh too. So instead of stopping them I took a picture.

What a great weekend we had. The weather was beautiful. Dan and I took over 200 pictures on Sat alone and probably just as many on Sunday. I had such a hard time picking photos for this post since there were so many great ones. I was going to post about our whole weekend but since I wanted to include so many pictures I will just stick to Saturday.

We started our Saturday watching William's Football game. After the game we went to the pumpkin patch with Dan's cousin Bill and his family. We also meet up with Bill's wife Nancy's family. Katie had a great time since she had so many kids to run around with. We took a hayride to the pumpkin patch. Katie had a great time looking until she found the perfect pumpkin. Then I decided I was going to pick out a pumpkin for myself.....well just as I looked down to pick a pumpkin I noticed a little tiny ladybug on the pumpkin's stem. I called for Dan to take a picture of the ladybug and realized this pumpkin was not for me but for baby sister. So we got a pumpkin for baby sister.

After the pumpkin patch we went to Maddie and CJ's birthday party. Karen, Kevin, and family are one of the families from our adoption group. I know I have mentioned before how wonderful our adoption group is and how lucky we are to have such a great group of friends who are like family to us. Katie quickly changed into her Belle princess dress and joined the rest of her "Princess Posse" for the party. MA(aka Kate) and PA(aka Dan)PARAZZI enjoyed taking photo's of all the kids. Happy Birthday Maddie and CJ. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your day!

Then we headed back to Dan's cousin Bill's house for William's birthday party. Off with the Belle dress and back into regular clothes for Katie. We helped celebrate William's 6th Birthday! Happy Birthday William!

William at his football game

Katie and Mommy on the Hayride

So fun to twirl in my new skirt my Mommy made for me.

I love this photo. Kate with Lotus and Lia looking at the fish in the pond.

Reflection of Kate and Lia in the pond

Princess Katie

Photos of Maddie and CJ's Party

Birthday Girl Maddie

Birthday Boy CJ. Don't you just love that face!

Happy Birthday William!

Flashback Friday and more.......

2008-10-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

I think this is such a great idea that I am going to copy it from my friends. On my "Flashback Friday" post, I am posting a few photos from Oct 2006 and Oct of 2007.

Today we are also celebrating the one year anniversary of our paperwork being logged in China for baby sister. Who knows how many more years we will wait but right now we are happy to have one year of waiting down!

So, as Kate says.....and so we wait.....and we will.....

Katie Oct 2006 19 months old

Katie Oct 2006 Learning to make funny faces.

Katie Halloween 2006

Katie Halloween 2007

POKENO!!!

2008-10-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

Once a month in our neighborhood some of the woman get together for Pokeno. We each bring a $10 gift wrapped in a brown paper bag. Each game whoever wins POKENO picks a gift or can steal someone elses gift. At the end we have a cover-all and we each put in $5. We usually have about 10-12 players so the pot is usually $50-60. It's a great girls night out. We rotate who hosts and we have about 15 woman involved so you only have to host about once a year. When it is your turn to host you supply the snacks and drinks. It is a GREAT time. I captured a photo of us playing pokeno tonight. I won once and stole a Starbucks Gift card from Wendy......sorry Wen!

Harvest Moon Festival

2008-10-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we celebrated the Harvest Moon Festival with our local FCC group.

The afternoon started with an adoptive Mom and her 14 year old adopted daughter speaking about their experience volunteering in an orphanage in Wuhan, Hubei Province. They volunteered through Half The Sky Foundation and spent 2 weeks this past summer in China.

Then they had crafts and games for the little ones. The games were organized and run by the older girls.

Next was story-telling time. The "As They Grow" group acted out a story for the little ones.

We then enjoyed a Chinese buffet dinner. After dinner was a talent show. It was so cute to see the children perform.

What a great day!

Matalida-tini's with friends........

2008-10-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my friend Kate had a Matilda Jane trunk show. The children's clothing line was awesome but spending the afternoon with girlfriends was even better. I finally met Lisa in person. She was just as great as I thought she would be. Kate, Lisa, Laura, Karen, Deb, and myself enjoyed great food, conversation(without a child hanging on me interupting ;)), shopping, and MATILDA-TINI's(kate they were great)!

The afternoon went so fast! I could have talk with these woman all night.

Thanks Kate for a wonderful afternoon!

Georgia......last but not least.

2008-10-03T12:03:00.000-07:00

Well I wanted wrap up my posts about our Georgia trip. There was so much to blog and so little time.

Saturday(9/20/08), we went to Grace Ingram and Mac's soccer games. In between games we went to Roswell Park. We met Susan, Kara, and Emma. The kids played and we had a picnic lunch.

Grace Ingram's soccer game

Roswell Park

Sat afternoon we went to the Purple Hippo. It is an arts and crafts place that the kids can make their own artwork and crafts. It was so much fun. I think I had as much fun as the kids. Well maybe not as much fun as Maddie who decided to paint herself purple.

BEAUTY SHOP....Carolyn put rollers in the girls hair. They all pulled them out except Mac. Katie only left the top roller in.

Sunday we stayed at Carolyn's house. The kids played while I got an embroidery lesson from Carolyn. I got some great tips from Carolyn. I am just about ready to use my new embroidery machine. I have my software lesson in 2 weeks.

Sunday night we left at 7pm and arrived to Roanoke, Va at 2am. Then we drove the rest of the way to PA Monday. We got home about 5:30pm.

We had an awesome trip and hopefully we will be able to do it again someday!

9 Happy Years!

2008-10-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

Dan and I were married 9 years ago today. It was a beautiful October day. We had a beautiful cermony and a wonderful reception.

9 years later.......we are happy, healthy, and have an amazing daughter.

Happy Anniversary Dan! I Love you!

Katie is a HOOT!

2008-09-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

Katie says so many funny and sometimes sassy things. I want to write them down to remember them in years to come.

I can't remember them all at this moment but here are a few things she has said over the last week to make us laugh.

Everytime we get into the car Katie takes her shoes off. Sometimes this drive me crazy because we may be making several stops running errands and we have to put the shoes back on to get out of the car.

Mommy: "Katie, Why do you take your shoes off everytime we get in the car?"
Katie: "My feet need a break Mommy!"

Katie sucks her thumb. I asked the Pediatrician about it at her 3 year old visit and the Pediatrician didn't act like it was an issue. So for the most part we don't say anything about her thumb sucking. Dan said this to her yesterday.

Daddy: "Katie, Big Girls don't suck their thumbs."
Katie "Well this one does."

Tonight I was folding laundry and Katie came up and started to help me...which usually means more work for me. She picked up my bra and put it on my head and said "Look a space helmet!" I got hysterical and said "A space helmet?" and she said "Yes, a cute space helmet".

What a fun age. She is a HOOT that Katie Min Min!

And More Georgia........

2008-09-28T12:08:00.001-07:00

After the Zoo on Friday we went back to Carolyn's house and headed to the playground across from her house. Mackenzie came home from school and was able to join the other kids for some fun.

Carolyn took a few pictures of Katie playing with me in the grass. She was laying on me in the grass hugging me. What could be better??

Same picture just playing around with editing

After the playground we went back to the house to make dinner. The girls played dress up and Mac played Hair Stylist.

Mac "Highlighting" Katie's Hair

I captured my daughter in a not so NICE moment. She was pulling Grace's Ariel necklace off her neck. Tears were flowing a few seconds after this picture.

We ended the night with popcorn and a movie

Our Georgia Trip Continued......

2008-09-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Friday we visited the Atlanta Zoo. We were lucky enough to meet up with another family from our Travel group. I met Susan during our wait for Katie on our GWCA LID yahoo group. Both of our daughter's are from Hubei Province. My family spent 2 weeks with Susan and her family in China. We became fast friends and have stayed in touch via e-mail since our adoptions. This was the first time I saw them since China and I was very excited to see them.

I took so many great photos in Georgia it has been so hard to choose which ones to blog.

Grace Ingram and Katie

I love this picture. They were so funny the little conversations they would have.

So happy together!

Hubei Girls.....Kara and Katie

CJ~What a cutie!

They are showing off the Panda stamps on there hands.

Our trip to Georgia

2008-09-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

It is truly amazing how many wonderful friends I have met through Katie's adoption. During our homestudy class with the social worker, Dan and I met a couple that was also adopting from China. They were also using the same adoption agency as us. They live fairly close to us and we became fast friends. Luck would have it that our paperwork went to China at the same time as theirs and we were in the same travel group. While Karen and Kevin were waiting for their daughter Mia from China, Karen got pregnant and had their daughter Maddie at 26 weeks. Maddie spent several months in the NICU. Kevin and his Mom traveled to China for Mia while Karen stayed home with Maddie. A year ago Karen had a baby boy named CJ. Now Karen and Kevin have a 3yr old(Mia), 2 yr old(Maddie soon to be 3), and 1 yr(CJ's birthday happens to be today). Karen's sister Carolyn was also adopting from China at the same time as us. Carolyn and her husband Kevin already had a daughter from China and were adopting again. Karen and Carolyn were putting their paperwork into the agency at the same time so they would travel together. So we all traveled together and our daughters, Katie, Mia, and Grace Ingram were all adopted the same day but from different provinces.

Karen and I decided to take a road trip to Georgia to visit her sister Carolyn and get the girls and CJ together.

We left my house on Tuesday night and drove halfway to Roanoke, VA. We slept over in Roanoke and then drove the rest of the way to Georgia on Wednesday.

The kids were so excited to see each other and play. We stayed at Carolyn's house and the kids had a ball. It was a big sleepover party for 4 nights.

Wednesday was GiGi's Birthday~this is Mackenzie and Grace Ingram's Grandmom. We celebrated with ice cream cake.

Thursday with went the the Outlets and went shopping.

Here are a few pictures of Wednesday and Thursday. I will continue to blog about our trip this week.

Pictures left to right: Mackenzie with Gigi, Maddie, CJ, Katie, Grace Ingram, and Mia

Grace Ingram and Katie were buddies the whole trip

Girlfriends!!!

Katie Min Min

Katie and Grace

What Beautiful girls! Left to Right: Maddie, Mia, Katie, Grace

Sneak peak from our trip to Georgia

2008-09-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

We just got home from Georgia and I am exhausted. I will post all about our trip tomorrow but I couldn't resist posting a photo or two of our trip. We had a fabulous time visiting our friends.

I took 359 pictures so I don't know how I am going to pick which pictures to post because they all came out great!

Leaving for Georgia

2008-09-15T19:55:00.001-07:00

We were so busy this past weekend. I didn't even have time to post anything. We had soccer on Saturday morning. Katie was alittle tired this week on the field after partying the night before at Daddy's birthday party. Saturday night we had some friends from our adoption group over to watch the dance recital DVD. The kids had a ball playing together. Sunday we had the American Heart Association walk with my co-workers. I work for a large Cardiology practice. Sunday afternoon, Katie and I spent some time with our friends, Sue, Paige, and Avery. Sunday evening we went to Mom-Mom Maureen's for her birthday. We had a busy weekend. I have so many cute photos but I don't have the time to post them tonight. I am busy packing for our roadtrip to Georgia.

More on Georgia when I get there..........

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2008-09-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

We had a great time celebrating Dan's birthday tonight. Katie ran downstairs this morning to tell Dan happy birthday. She wanted to be "first" before me. We had a small gathering of family and friends to celebrate Dan's birthday.

Katie picked out the birthday plates and birthday hats. She picked out the Philadelphia Eagles plates because it is Daddy's favorite team and she picked out Soccer party hats because Daddy is a great coach. We had a fun time being silly with the party hats.

Katie helped me pick out Dan's gifts and wrap them. We got him a wallet, a shirt, and a camera backpack for his new camera and lens. The backpack was the only present that Katie didn't know what it was because I ordered in online and just wrapped the box. As Dan opened his gifts, Katie helped him. Katie handed Dan the first gift from us and announced.."Here's your wallet Daddy!". Well everyone got a kick out of this. She did the same thing for the shirt. Luckily, she didn't know about the backpack or that wouldn't have been a surprise either.

Happy Birthday Dan! I hope you had a great day!

Bake me a cake as fast as you can......

2008-09-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

Dan's birthday is tomorrow so Katie and I made a cake for Dan tonight. Katie had a ball. I wish I had a few pictures of her cracking the eggs but I was afraid to pick up the camera. I had to help her because she was whacking the egg on the side of the bowl and then trying to open the egg with one hand....."Like Daddy does when he makes eggs".

I don't have a picture of the finished product yet since the cake was baking while Katie got a bath and was put to bed.

I love the picture of Katie licking the spatula. I always thought that was the best part as a kid. After the cake was in the pan we got to lick the spatula....YUM!

Our Little Ballerina

2008-09-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Katie started Dance class this past Monday night. She was an old pro since this is her second year in the pre-school class. She is going on Monday nights this year and her new teacher is Miss Michelle. Katie's friend Jade is joining her in the class this year. Katie and Jade were both so excited and so cute in the class together.

I also started my Dance class on Monday night. Katie goes from 5:45 to 6:45 and then I will take her home and eat something and then I have my tap class from 7:45 to 8:45and then jazz class from 8:45 to 9:45. So, Monday nights are all about Dance in our house.

A few pictures of Katie and Jade......sorry no pictures of me at class ;)

Katie's first soccer game

2008-09-07T18:38:00.000-07:00

Katie had her first soccer game yesterday. Lucky the rain held off until the game was over. Katie did GREAT. They started with 15 minutes of drill instructions by one of the coaches and then they broke up into teams to play the game. They played 3 on 3 and it was so cute watching the girls. Dan was really great with them as the coach. I think he did a great job.

We also went to Brady's Flag Football game. Dan got some great action shots of Brady.

Later in the day we went to Lotus's 2nd Birthday party. Katie had a great time playing with all of her friends. What a great party! Happy Birthday Lotus!

So much to blog.....so little time.....

2008-09-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

Well summer is over and September is here. We had a busy first week of September. I had so many things that I wanted to blog about this week but so little time. So here it goes......

Tuesday was back to school. Katie is still going to the same daycare she has been going to but her class was changed and she is offically in Pre-School. She also has a new teacher, Miss Jess. Katie had Miss Jess for about 6 months when she was in the 2 year class room but Miss Jess was moved to the one year old class. Katie is excited to be with Miss Jess again. Dan and Katie watched Bailey and Brady get onto the school bus for the first day of school. The bus stop is right at the corner in front of our house. Katie loves watching the kids get on and off the school bus.

Brady, Katie, and Bailey waiting for the school bus.

Wednesday, I picked Katie up from school and Miss Lia said to me "Katie has great taste". I knew she was refering to the COACH purse that Katie took to school. Katie LOVES purses. She takes my old purses out of my closet and stuffs them with all kinds of things. She often takes a purse with her to school. So I laughed and said "Yes she found the purse in my closet". It is the only real COACH purse that I own. Miss Lia said "Well we were trying to figure out if the TIFFANY bracelet inside the purse was real". I said "WHAT??". I looked in the purse and sure enough there was my TIFFANY heart charm bracelet. Katie took it from my jewelry box last week. I was cleaning out my jewelry box and she was digging in when I was trying to reorganize it. She must of took the bracelet. Miss Lia said "We thought you were a real generous Mommy". Katie also had my lip liner, lip gloss, her Barbie cellphone and some fake money in her purse. Too Funny!!!!!

Katie with my COACH purse

Katie and Dan playing "HIPPOS" before dinner

Thursday, I was off my from work. I am off every Thursday but worked alot of Thursdays in the summer to fill in for vacations. Thursday is usually my day with Katie. We do something fun together. In the morning I had the carpets cleaned. The dining room chairs were lined up in the kitchen and Katie put her dolls on the chairs and said she was driving them to school on the school bus. It is amazing what her little mind comes up with. After the carpets were done we went to the Mall. Katie was in her sleeping beauty dress up and insisted on wearing it to the Mall. Katie had so many people make a fuss over her in the Mall because she looked so cute. Katie has so many people make a fuss over her even when she is in regular clothes. I think she is just used to it. Katie said to me when we were walking "That man didn't say I looked pretty". I thought she said "The man said I looked pretty". I said "I know everyone thinks you are so beautiful in your Sleeping Beauty costume. She said "NO, that man DIDN'T say I was pretty!!". I said "Oh Katie you are pretty but not every person we pass is going to tell you that". I think she is so used to everyone making a fuss over her. She is such a HAM.

Katie driving her dolls to school on the "BUS"

We went into the Halloween costume store and Katie was so excited looking at the costumes. Over the pass week Katie has talked about Halloween and what she wants to be for Halloween. First, she wanted to be Ariel as a Mermaid but to be confused with Ariel as a Human. Then she wanted to be PIKACHU(watched this with Bailey and Brady last weekend). Then she wanted to be Princess Fiona from Shrek. So when she picked out the SHARPAY costume from High School Musical, I asked her if she was really sure. She has never seen HSM movie but she knows the girl characters from the movie. Some of the girls in school wear HSM shirts and she sees the stuff in the stores and points it out to me. We also saw HSM on ice. She was insistint on the SHARPAY costume. So I told her if I buy it that is what she is being. So I bought the costume, wig, and glasses. I can't want until Halloween to post a picture of her in the costume because it is HYSTERICAL.

Katie as SHARPAY

They say....."One mans trash is another mans treasure" and that is true. Dan trash picked a YAMAHA keyboard. It didn't have a cord and it needed to be cleaned up a bit. Dan cleaned it up and put batteries in it and it worked. Katie thought it was the greatest thing. She looked like a natural playing it.

Katie with her new keyboard

Friday was picture day at school. I made Katie a headband with a hairbow attached. I thought she looked so cute. Dan took a few pictures of her. Now, looking back at the pictures she looks like I wrapped her up as a present. The bow is a bit BIG. I hope it looks okay in the school picture. Katie will look back at it in 20 years and want to know what her mother was thinking.

Ready for picture day

I also made her bows to match her soccer uniform. I just had to girly up my girly girl alittle bit for the soccer field.

Well that was our week. Later today I will post about our weekend.

Labor Day Weekend 2008

2008-09-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

We spent another fabulous weekend at The Rocco's Beach House in Fenwick, Delaware. We started our summer on Memorial Day weekend at the Rocco's beach house and it was a great way to end our summer.

Dan, Katie, Karen, and I arrived late Friday night. Jeff, Bailey, Brady, Two-Pop, and Grandmom were already there waiting for us to arrive. We spent Saturday at the beach relaxing and the kids had a ball in the ocean and playing in the sand. Saturday night, Pat made a WONDERFUL Italian dinner. Karen and I had our friend Ruck from work and his wife Robin over for dinner and Rudy had his friend Bill from work and Bill's friends over for dinner. We had a great time enjoying the evening with good food and good friends.

Sunday we went to The Carousal Hotel in OCM to ice skate....yes, ice skate. They have a small ice skating rink in the hotel. Dan, Jeff, Bailey, Brady, and Katie went skating. Katie didn't like it and didn't last long on the ice. Brady did GREAT. Bailey did good too. Dan was trying to "do tricks" on the ice. He looked like a goof ball and I prayed he didn't fall and break his leg.

Then we had lunch at the Sunset Grille. We stopped at Harborside for the famous "Orange Crushes". When we got back, Jeff and Dan took the kids to the pool. Sunday night we had leftovers and hung out at the house playing games.

We left this morning to head home. Thanks Rudy and Pat aka Two-Pop and Grandmom for another WONDERFUL weekend at The Beach House.

CLICK BELOW TO VIEW PICTURES OF THE WEEKEND

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A well deserved Mom's night out!

2008-08-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

Last night I got together with the some of the Mom's from our local adoption group. I am so lucky to have these girlfriend's in my life. It really is an amazing story how we all came together via the adoptions of our children. We are more then just an adoption group. We are FRIENDS and like FAMILY. I keep saying I need to do a whole post on how we all met like a family tree.

We try to get together for a Mom's only night out every few months. We always have a blast! Last night we went to Carlucci's grill. The food, wine, and conversation was great! Of course I had a great time talking everyone's ears off!

Let's do it again real soon gals!

Gina, Kathy, Kate, Deb, Me, Jennifer, and Kellyann

Coach Daddy

2008-08-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

Last week we got the Fall Soccer season schedule and Dan has been selected as a volunteer Coach. Katie is very excited that Daddy will be her soccer coach. Mommy and Daddy are pretty excited too.

Dan attended the coaches meeting tonight and got Katie's uniform. The first game will be Sept 6th. We are really excited!!!

Daddy said a bad word!

2008-08-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

So we just got home from work and school and we are sitting in the kitchen deciding what to eat for dinner. Dan says "My shoulder is killing me". Katie says "Ohhhh Daddy said a bad word!!". I said "What did he say?". Katie says "Daddy said killing, that's a bad word".

Too funny!

What happens at Mimi's........

2008-08-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

stays at Mimi's until Mommy sees it on Mimi's camera.

Little video of Katie having fun at Mimi's

Frankie and Peep's House

2008-08-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

When we ask Katie where she wants to go to get dinner she says "Frankie and Peeps house". Our favorite Italian/Pizza Place is Candela's. The pizza is great but we go for the great Italian food. Dan and I have been going to Candela's for about 10 years with Karen and Jeff. Jeff's family has been going to Candela's since Jeff was little. It is a lovely family owned place and over the last 10 years we have come to know the owners and waitresses well. Candela's is now run by the 2 Candela sons Frankie and Pete.

After we flew home from China with Katie we stopped at Candela's for dinner. It was the first place Katie went to in America. Since then Katie has been to Candela's more times then we can count. She fondly calls Candela's "Frankie and Peep's house". She started calling Pete "Peep" and it stuck. Frankie and Peep always make a fuss over Katie. She has even gone into the kitchen to see the pizzas being made.

My favorite is the Chicken Parm with Spaghetti. Dan's favorite is the Vodka Rigatoni with Chicken. Katie likes both. She likes my chicken with "Daddy's orange noodles".

We went to Candela's for dinner last Friday night and we had the camera with us so we took some pictures of Katie with Frankie and Peep.

The night we got home from China with Katie. Unfortunately this picture is blurry.

Katie with Peep and Frankie

Peep making the Pizza. Pete is always working while Frankie socializes with the customers

Frankie socializing!

Well we couldn't get a dog so.........

2008-08-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

WE GOT A CHINCHILLA! Yes, a chinchilla named Chipper. I didn't even know what a chinchilla was. Apparently their fur is worth alot. My co-worker Andrew was giving away his chinchilla Chipper. His 13 year old son wasn't interested in him anymore. Chipper is 3 years old. He is the softest thing you will ever feel. He has a mouse face, with a rabbit body, and a squirrel tail. I think he was alittle SHOCKED by us last night after we got him home. Karen, Bailey, and Brady came over to see Chipper. Between the three of them and Katie and I we were all calling his name and trying to pet him. He was going crazy in the cage. Today he was much calmer. But, big mistake~I let him out of the cage!! I was telling Katie not to chase him. She chased him all over the house, calling him her bunny rabbit. I finally threw a blanket over him to trap him and put him back in the cage. Hopefully Chipper learns to trust us soon. I think we make him nervous.

A Trip to the Lake!!!!!

2008-08-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday we spent the day at Penn Warner Lake with family and friends. Penn Warner Lake is about 10 minutes from our house. It is a members only lake. My Mom is still a member. She started going to Penn Warner Lake when she met my Step-Dad Bob. Bob loved the Lake. My Mom and Bob had a whole group of friends at the Lake that I would fondly call "The Lake People". Bob passed away 2 1/2 years ago. My Mom still has Bob's lot and she shares it with friends.

It was a beautiful day at the lake. We cooked a wonderful picnic dinner and had a campfire. The kids had a great time running around and playing. I went tubing on the lake with Eric and Eddie. I am so sore today, I have to remember I am not 21 anymore.

Katie in front of the lake
Bubble fun

Our new camera takes such a great picture that you can see the crumbs all over Katie's face from the cupcake she just ate.

Sitting on the dock

I am on this tube with Eric and Eddie. I am in the middle sitting down in the tube.

I love this picture of Katie in the canoe. The canoe was anchored down and Eric was in the water behind the canoe. Katie thought she was really paddling it.

Eric diving off the tube

Brady on the tractor

The Sunset~What a great day!

From Qichun

2008-08-07T16:10:00.001-07:00

We are very lucky to have a very active online orphanage group. The group is for anyone who adopted a child from Qichun Social Welfare Institute. Qichun, Hubei Province. About a year ago one of the members came up with the idea of sending a scrapbook of all of our children to show the orphanage how well they are all doing. The people who participated sent one or two scrapbook pages of their family to the woman who made the scrapbook. Then a couple joined our group that was getting ready to travel to China to adopt their baby. This couple hand delivered our scrapbook to the orphanage and took pictures of the Director and Head Nanny looking at the scrapbook. This picture is of them looking at Katie's scrapbook page. What a great keepsake I have for Katie. The couple that delivered the scrapbook said the Director and Head Nanny really enjoyed looking at the scrapbook. They said they were talking and pointing at the pages. I hope Katie's Foster Mother sees the scrapbook and can see how well she is doing.

Hannah Montana WHAT????

2008-08-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

So I can't believe Katie knows Hannah Montana already and really likes her. Lauren at school brought in her Hannah Montana DVD and they watched it at school. Katie likes to sing the Hannah Montana theme song. Equiped with her microphone from one of her dress up outfits, she can really belt out the song. I took this video of her singing......ENJOY!

Pet Pictures again

2008-08-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hope you can see the pictures this time!

Enjoy!

R.I.P. Dorothy Swimmey

2008-08-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

Back in July I won a goldfish for Katie at the St Mike's fair. She originally named the fish "Swimmey" and then the next morning announced that she wanted to name her fish "Dorothy Swimmey" after Elmo's fish Dorothy. We went to the pet store and got a nice tank for Dorothy Swimmey. Dorothy Swimmey went to fishy heaven 5 days after we got her. I think I was sadder then Katie about the fish. We had a nice little ceremony in the bathroom while we all said a few nice words about Dorothy Swimmey before we flushed her down the toilet. I promised Katie a new fish after we got back from vacation. Right after getting back from Cape May, I had this bright idea that I wanted a dog. I wanted a little dog. I was interested in a yorkie or yorkie poo. I wanted to rescue a dog because I learned that puppy mills and pet stores were not good places to get a dog. Dan was not into the idea of getting a dog. I was never really into a dog either. But lately I really wanted a dog. Maybe it is the long wait for baby sister. Dan reminded me how busy were always are and that a dog may not be a good idea. I am putting it nicely on the blog. I threw a little fit(I was PMS'ing) and Dan said he hated dogs. So no dog for now. He is right but I am not admitting that to him(unless he reads this) we are VERY busy. So, Katie and I went to the pet store last week to get more fish for her new fish tank. We looked at the dogs at the pet store and even held a few. I was VERY tempted to get a dog but we left the pet store with 3 female beta fish. We looked at the beautiful male beta fish but Katie didn't want them. She wanted the 3 little fish that were in the tank next to the males. The man at the pet store said "I don't even know why they were ordered". Well Katie liked them and we got all 3. She named them~Ariel, Prince Eric(yes, the girl fish Prince Eric), and Belle.

This past weekend when we went to LBI we got 2 Hermit Crabs. We went to a store in Surf City called "Things A Drift". A very interesting lady named Cheryl sells beautiful shells, sea glass, etc. She also sells Hermit Crabs. She is very knowledgeable about her Hermit Crabs. They were the best looking Hermit Crabs I have ever seen. She had a Hermit Crab that was 19 years old. She was something to see! So I adopted a Hermit Crab named Pearl. I added my own name and she is now Petunia Pearl. Bailey and Brady went back and got Hermit Crabs too. Bailey got "Babs" and Brady got "Max". Brady had some excitement with his crab already. Last night it changed it shell. Jeff also wanted a crab to take to work. He got little "Fudge". Karen and I picked him out. Jeff didn't like "fudge" so I adopted fudge and Jeff went back to the store and got "Spike". The lady has about 50 Hermit Crabs and she has them all named. Katie is not really crazy about the Hermit Crabs.

Some Hermit Crabs Facts that I didn't know:

They have a life expectancy of 30-35 years

Hermit Crab(coeno bita clypeus's) comes from Haiti and best species for pets.

They eat table food. Sea Salt and Calcium must be added to their diet. You can give them Tums!

They like~corn on the cob, pizza, chicken bones, blue corn tortilla chips.

Hermit crabs do not carry diseases. Do not use a sponge in the cage this is how they get bacteria in their cage.

Hermit crabs grow by shedding their outer exoskeleton; this is how and when they grow. They molt or shed once a year usually in June or July. They will eat the skin and they be ready for a new shell.

Learn something new everyday!

Dorothy Swimmey in her new home

Katie happy with Dorothy Swimmey

Collage of new pets. Fish~Ariel, Prince Eric, and Belle. Hermit Crabs~Petunia Pearl and Fudge

Cedar Bonnet Island

2008-08-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

We had another fun filled weekend. We spent a long weekend on Cedar Bonnet Island. My friend Chaz's Mom owns a house on Cedar Bonnet Island. It was Chaz's Grandfather's house. It is an adorable beach house with an amazing view of the bay. Cedar Bonnet Island is right before the bridge into Long Beach Island. We arrived Thursday and ate lunch at "Joe Pop's". We drove around and took a tour of LBI. Friday we went to the beach. The kids had a GREAT time. I will post some beach pictures later. I took those picture with our old sony cybershot. I got strict instructions not to take the new camera on the beach. Friday night Dan and Jeff arrived after work and we went to Beach Haven Fishery for dinner. Saturday we went shopping and I got a new pet. Since I am not "allowed" to get a dog because we are "too busy", I got a hermit crab named Pearl. She was already named Pearl so I am going to keep it but I had to give her another name so I thought Petunia Pearl had a nice ring to it. I will post pictures later and tell you all about Petunia Pearl at a later date. We have a whole pet situation that deserves it's own post. Saturday afternoon we had lunch at The Dutchman. It has outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the Bay. We also went to see Barnegat Lighthouse on Saturday. Saturday night we relaxed at the house and cooked clams and munchie foods. We played the dice game. We packed up this morning and headed home. It was a GREAT weekend.

I can't stop......

2008-07-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

Okay I am having way to much fun with the editing tools on picnik. I wasn't sure what I was doing. I keep fooling around with it. Thanks to Kate, I figured out how to black and white and then "color" in the photo.

More Editing Fun

2008-07-30T19:51:00.000-07:00