Sunday, December 31, 2006

This is my motto for '07




Happy New Year all (oh and by the way, happy 13th anniversary Katy and David).

Friday, December 29, 2006

I am a "Smarty Pants Mom" (and to think I'm not yet a mom)

  • Are You a Slacker Mom?



  • Your quiz score makes you: Smarty Pants Mom.


    Smart parents like you have smart kids. They need plenty of intellectual stimulation and you provide them with all they need, plus lots of love. You know how to help them with algebra homework, and you are superior at kissing boo-boos.

    ______________________________________________
    And to think I don't even have Chynna home yet, I wonder if this quiz outcome will change once my beautiful daughter is home for a few months, or even a few years. Guess we'll just have to bring her home and find out.


    Let me know if you take the quiz and how your scores turned out.

    Thursday, December 28, 2006

    What is something that . . .

    What is something that.....

    1. always makes you giggle? when someone trips and falls (I can't help it, I find it quite funny.

    2. always makes you angry? when I hear that some undeserving parent has abused his/her child or that some teenager has killed her baby somehow "because mom and dad would kill me if they knew I was pregnant" (this just makes my blood boil).

    3. always makes you cry? listening to the song "Butterfly kisses" (and I don't know why, but I just start boo hooing).

    4. always cheers you up? playing with my nephew Adam, my great nephew Damion, and my great niece Angeliena.

    5. always makes you frustrated? no matter how hard I work and no matter how many hours overtime I put it, my work is never done.

    6. always makes you hungry? The smell of freshly baked cookies (mmmm, wiping the drool now just thinking about it).

    7. always makes you tired? listening to very boring lectures/speeches.

    8. always makes you sick? seeing people eat themselves stupid.

    9. always makes you fall down? gravity.

    10. always makes you nostalgic? hearing 80s music.

    Wednesday, December 27, 2006

    Thank you again MW (7/06 DTC Secret Pal) who strikes yet again


    | View Show | Create Your Own


    I have been visited, not by the ghosts of past, present, and future, but by the Fed Ex Ground Truck who left an unexpected package by the front door, so when I came home from work today it was waiting for me to open it, which I gladly did.

    I opened the first two gifts, which were for Chynna (by the way, our theme this month was "bedtime"), and after a brick hit me in the head (okay maybe it wasn't a brick but maybe it should have been) it was realized that MW (otherwise known as "Mystery Woman", which is what we so lovingly named our secret pal until her super power identity is revealed) had not only thought enough to do the "bedtime" theme, but she also incorporated the Year of the Pig (which is hopefully the time Chynna will be born, since a referral anytime soon is not as likely as we would hope).

    And then MW also thought enough of our furry baby Freckles, and even gave him an adorable doggy toy which was also a piggy with the note "you'll also find a little something for freckles to help with the sibling rivalry!"

    We are so lucky to have such a great Secret Pal, and I can't wait to see who she is, and hopefully continue our friendship for many years to come as our daughters grow up together.

    Tuesday, December 26, 2006

    MY PHILOSOPHY OF HOUSECLEANING

    MY PHILOSOPHY OF HOUSECLEANING (I do believe this with all my heart!!)



    I don't do windows because ... I love birds and don't want
    one to run into a clean window and get hurt.





    I don't wax floors because ... I am terrified a guest will slip and get hurt then I'll feel terrible (plus they may sue me.)







    I don't mind the dust bunnies because ... They are very good
    company, I have named most of them, and they agree with everything I say.







    I don't disturb cobwebs because ... I want every creature to have a home of their own.

    I don't Spring Clean because ... I love all the seasons and don't want the others
    to get jealous.

    I don't pull weeds in the garden because . . . I don't want to get in God's way,
    HE is an excellent designer!

    I don't put things away because ... My husband will never be able to find them again.

    I don't do gourmet meals when I entertain because ... I don't want my guests to stress out over what to make when they invite me over for dinner.

    I don't iron because ... I choose to believe them when they say "Permanent Press".

    I don't stress much on anything because ... "A Type" personalities die young and I want to stick around and become a wrinkled up crusty ol' woman!!!!

    It's over and we survived (I think)

    The day was a success (probably worth all that last minute shopping and craziness).

    We had plenty of food and desserts and food and desserts (did I mention the loads of food and desserts).

    We swapped stories of Christmases past,
    and then exchanged presents. Some of us were unsure of what we received ("is this really hot chocolate???")...








    while others were overly excited ("plastic, wow, and it is even the right size")....








    while others had to share the excitement ("Scott, isn't this the best photo album you have ever seen? My Dannye and Ray got it for me"). . .













    and we even had ladybug sightings ("the ladybugs are taking over, now if only we can bring our Chynna home").














    Even all that awful rain and ugly weather didn't ruin our fun and excitement. Our "children at heart" males even played Golf, Boxing, and Tennis on the new Wii system. All in all it was a great day.


    Now I just need a vacation to rest and relax (come on China bring on the referrals).

    Monday, December 25, 2006

    We have a star in our midst


    Here he is, our Star...my nephew Adam was Joseph last night in the church reinactment of the birth of Jesus Christ, and what a wonderful job he did, he was so serious and did great. We are so proud of him (as always).

    Hope your day is filled with loads of love, and happiness, during this day of celebration.

    Here's some pictures of my sister, brother and I growing up at Christmas time




    These are my first four Christmas pictures (I am the youngest girl in each photo), which bring back great memories of our close family holiday celebrations. Thanks Mom and Dad for sharing the Christmas Spirit with us!! We love you all.

    Sunday, December 24, 2006

    As the day goes on today, be sure to check this out

    In honor of the Christmas eve, one of the things I loved to do as a child was see on the news the Santa tracker so we knew where in the world Santa was, delivering his packages as the day got closer and closer for him to visit our house and magically fill our stockings and place presents on the pool table (okay that is another blog entry).

    Well for all those kids at heart, and all the parents/relatives of little ones, here it is, the online Santa Tracker (isn't technology great???)

  • Santa Tracker
  • Finally I am done, it's time to celebrate


    I am finally done shopping!!! It is a time of celebration, get out the champagne, get out the fine China, let's have a party. All of my last minute shopping madness has come to an end. I shopped, and shopped, and shopped.


    My credit cards are smokin', my checkbook running low on checks, my bank account getting smaller and smaller, but my gift piles growing. But finally it's over.











    Oh wait, stop the music, stop the celebration, stop the fun, oh man, I forgot, I still gotta buy...... (I hate it when this happens, and you think "yippie I'm done" and then you remember someone, or something, that you forgot, guess I have to finish tomorrow, b/c I am outta time then).

    Friday, December 22, 2006

    Wednesday was not a good day and it continued thru Thursday

    *Note: I attempted to post this last nite before bed so if Blogger all of a sudden shows it again I apologize!!!

    Wednesday started off like any other day so I had no idea that it would be like one of those days where you should stay in bed. I got out of bed like normal, checked my email (along with my fav blogs), got dressed and headed out the door to work. I got to work perfectly okay, parked the car, and that's when it happened...



    I was trying to walk and find the key to unlock the door at work at the same time (apparently I am not qualified to do these two tasks at once). I thought I had lifted my foot up high enough to step up on the curb but nope miscalculation city. The front of my foot hit the curb and I went flying onto the sidewalk. My purse which was not zipped closed went flying too and all the contents went all the over the sidewalk (no I was not hurt, just embarrassed). The first thing I did was laugh (yes you read that right I laughed). You see I have this "illness" where you see someone do something such as the aforementioned act and you can't help yourself but you laugh (even before finding out of they are injured or not). This illness applies to myself too. Drs. find me quite strange because even if I am hurting I laugh too (I know I'm weird, but I come by it honestly don't I Mom???).

    So I jump up and look around and thankfully nobody was around to see it. I didn't hurt myself, no blood, no broken anything. So my awful day continued. I didn't even think at that point that I should have stayed in bed, but found out later that was the case.

    The work day was okay (or as okay as a work day can be). On the drive home, I started having a sneeze fest, you know where you sneeze and sneeze and sneeze and just can't stop. I get home and was really congested all of a sudden (once I stopped sneezing), and that's when it all went bad. I started feeling kinda achy all over (not the hurt kind of achy but like the yuckies are attacking) so I took a Tylenol PM and went to lay down (around 7:30 pm) and Ray says I fell asleep quickly and he tried to wake me when dinner time approached with no luck, and again when my Mom called again with no success. Sometime during the night, I got hit by a bad case of the yuckies or possessed by Linda Blair (but it wasn't pea soup) and it lasted all through the night.
    I finally fell back to sleep and when I awoke Thursday morning the yuckies were still visiting my house. Every time I would move my head Linda Blair would show back up. My throat was so sore I would struggle to talk. It was awful.

    I called into work, had to struggle thru a conference call with the boss and a co-worker (that was interesting trying to force yourself to talk all the while not moving so you wouldn't have to rudely hang up on them but somehow I made it through that), and then slept til dinnertime, tried some soup, watched the "Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham" on ABC Family, checked my email, tried to blog (Blogger while trying to post my really interesting and creative post lost connection to its server and dumped my post into cyberspace) and then went back to bed just to end these awful long days.

    Oh and then just to continue with the craziness, although I was supposed to be off work today because I called in sick yesterday, I need to go into work today for an hour or so (yippie skippy) and then try to finish up my last minute Christmas shopping (hopefully without going postal), all the while still feeling weird.

    I have to admit though I haven't been out shopping since Sunday and still have tons to purchase. I just hope I can get it all done. I do know though I have great friends and family who won't mind getting Spam (the canned kind, not the email) nor the Chia Pet (especially the bestest sister in the whole wide world, Katy likes Chia Pets and would rather I get rid of the yuckies instead of having to brave the Christmas craziness, isn't she the best???).

    Alright I better get dressed and start this day off. Wish me luck (and keep your fingers crossed that Blogger doesn't lose this post too).

    Wednesday, December 20, 2006

    4 more shopping days til the "deadline" arrives



    Okay every year I say, I will not wait until the last minute to Christmas shop, because (1) I have loads of people to purchase for, and (2) I hate the last minute crowds.

    About #1, Ray and I have a large family whom we love dearly, but sometimes they are difficult to purchase for. Should we buy them serious gifts, or practical, or funny, or any combination? Too many decisions. And then when you ask, "what did you ask Santa for this year" they give the standard "I really don't know what to ask for" which leads me to 2 conclusions: (a) they have everything they could possibly want (highly unlikely), or (b) they just don't know which of the numerous things floating around in their "wish list" in their heads to tell us they would like without sounding greedy or silly or whatever (this one is highly probable). So this leads me to try to come up with a gift that would get more than a "ohhhh isn't this nice" as they mentally roll their eyes in their heads. So I guess the Chia Pets are out again this year (but one year they may be the ideal gift, hehe).

    Then there is #2, you know the times when the lines are long, and shelves are getting to be bare, options are slim, and people are nasty fighting over whatever that last lonely item is on the shelf (maybe I can get cousin Scott a can of spam, and my aunt Lynn a slinky, and how about some cotton balls for my mom, all such practical gifts right), things get so desperate that even signs like this start to sound like a good deal (can things really get that bad??? hehe).




    Maybe next year I will cyber shop sooner, and avoid all this stress (yeah I know, you don't have to all roll your eyes at the same time, this too is highly unlikely, but I can dream can't I???)



    Guess I'll just have to brave the stores again this evening until all my gifts are purchased. (Please don't tell my cousin Scott about that can of spam, it's sounding more and more like a probability for him, hehe).

    Monday, December 18, 2006

    Holiday Post Office Craziness


    As many of you may already know, today was to be one of the busiest days at the Post Office.

    Well I was not one of those well informed of this matter. All I knew was I had to get to the post office today to mail off my cyber pal present so she would get it hopefully before Christmas was over as the theme is Christmas ornament/decorations.

    After eating a late lunch, figuring that the post office is not normally that busy after the lunch hour (because most people are back at work), I headed over to the post office. There was NO PARKING anywhere. People were parked on the grass, in the fire zones, across the street, it was CRAZY. The line went outside the door to the post office.

    And I thought, well I don't have hours to stand in line, so I will go after our "waiting families" meeting tonite (thanks to Rhoda and Debra for doing this each month, it is our highlight of each and every waiting month). It's okay, I can use the 24 hour automated machine to mail my package, no problem.

    Okay, so there was a problem. I went to the post office, now mind you it is after the post office is closed, and there was some parking to be found (4 or so parking spots remained, so no clues about what would be going on inside). I parked and proudly strutted to the door, walked in and then saw it, the line of about 15 or so people. And the woman at the front of the line using the automated machine had no idea how it worked. Finally "kind" women in line (and no it wasn't me, I would not have the patience to deal with this kind of incompetence, I mean it really is an easy thing to use, kinda like "Mailing for Dummies") showed this woman how to purchase stamps out of the machine.

    The gentleman in front of me (and note I am not being sarcastic) had about 30 packages to mail. He so kindly looked at my one lonely package and let me in front of him, what a god send he was. He also let another lady with 3 packages cut in front of him much to the pissiness of the other men in line.

    So I finish standing in line, purchase my postage for my package, and what happens next. Well since the post office is closed, apparently they lock the box where you place your packages for mailing, which has a sign on it to come back tomorrow when the post office is open and the mail box will be unlocked so you can mail your package (yeah that really saves me loads of time and makes loads of sense to have a 24 hour automated machine).

    And this now explains why and how people end up "going postal".

    Happy holidays all!!!

    Sunday, December 17, 2006

    ABC's (Dannye style)


    I got this off of
  • Jade Road
  • and figured I'd give it a go...

    A is for age:
    I will be 34 in June

    B is for Beer:
    Ewww, I don't drink at all.

    C is for Career:
    Legal Assistant for 12 years.

    D is for my Dog's Name:
    Freckles, my spoiled rotten cocker spaniel baby!

    E is for Essential Item I Use Everyday:
    My vanilla scented deodorant (which I am sure everyone around me appreciates).

    F is for Favorite T.V. Shows:
    Gilmore Girls (although lately it hasn't been the greatest), Top Chef, and Supernatural.

    G is for my Favorite Game:
    Ray and I usually love to play Yahtzee or Phase 10 (cards or dice).

    H is for Hometown:
    Mickey Mouse-ville.

    I is for Instruments I Play:
    Never learned to play an instrument (and sure can't carry a tune).

    J is for Favorite Juice:
    Apple Juice is my fav (and Grape is a close second).

    K is for Whose Butt I’d Like To Kick:
    Those people who jumped in line at Dillards today while we were out holiday shopping (how rude to do that while we wanted patiently in line).

    L is for the Last Place I Ate:
    The Thompson Cafe' (better known as our house).

    M is for Marriage:
    Married for 5 years 4 months to the greatest guy in the entire world.

    N is for my Name:
    Dannye (and no, it's not really Danielle).

    O is for Overnight Hospital Stays:
    hmmm guess maybe 2 times in my life (that I remember anyway) and neither of which was any fun.

    P is for People I was With Today:
    Mostly my mom, and this evening with my hubby and puppy.

    Q is for Quote:
    If you're feeling froggy, leap.

    R is for Biggest Regret:
    Not spending more time with my grandparents while they were still alive (I miss them tremendously, and they will never be forgotten).

    S is for Sport:
    I miss playing softball.

    T is for Time I Woke Up Today:
    Finally rolled out of bed at 9:00 a.m. (finally am getting some pretty good sleep lately, yeah!!)

    U is for Current Underwear:
    Light gray cotton Form Fit (Target brand), really comfy.

    V is for Vegetable You Love:
    Broccoli (which sometimes gives me gas, oops too much info).

    W is for Worst Habit:
    Obsessively checking friends blogs/websites and Yahoo Group emails.

    X is for X-rays I Have Had:
    None that I can remember (although must have had one when I was little and fractured my collarbone, but I don't remember it).

    Y is for Yummy Food You Ate Today:
    Food, I ate food, hmmm let's see I guess the free sample broccoli at Sam's today.

    Z is for Zodiac:
    Cancer (and otherwise known as the Moon Child).


    If you do the ABC's too, leave me a comment so I can check out your answers!

    Holiday gathering and Cyberpal fun

    Yesterday was a really great day, one filled with friends and family gatherings and one of surprises (I received my cybershower gift).

    My cousin Eileen had a family/friends gathering at her beautiful home in the Melbourne Beach area. We all had a great time, sharing stories, catching up on each other's lives, enjoying wonderful food, and I even got to play with the children.


    Eileen's daughter Arianna just loves her swing set and would spend all day long on it if you let her (even the rain wouldn't deter that little girl from swinging, she would just start belting out "It's Raining, It's Pouring" or "Rain, Rain, Go Away", it was just darling). I got to push her in the swing for a little while.


    And my nephew Adam, my how quickly he is growing up. I keep teasing him how by this time next year (where he will be 8 years old) he will be towering over his 5 foot tall Aunt Dannye. He just thinks I'm nuts I guess because he just giggles about it (and the sad thing is that I probably am not far off the mark on this, he is tall).

    After having a terrific time visiting with cousin Eileen, cousin Jay, cousin Arianna, cousin John, cousin Nancy, Jay's mom Lillian, Eileen's mom Christine, Sandy, "Grandma" Dot, Courtney (she is truly a blessing, she is only 11 and is absolutely terrific with the children who all adore her, and we all just love Courtney), Rich and his girlfriend, my brother in law David, my sister Katy (who looks amazing as always, we are so proud of you Kate), and of course my nephew Adam, we headed back towards home.

    Upon arriving home, awaiting us on our front door step was my gift from my cyberpal Stephanie, this month's theme was holiday decor/ornaments. This ornament she gave us was absolutely darling. Of course it immediately went up on our tree. Thanks again Steph!!!

    Well considering I haven't really gotten my shopping even close to being complete (and we have a little more than a 1 week left) I better get my butt in gear and start out to face the holiday crowds.

    Saturday, December 16, 2006

    Year in review

    With the year coming to an end, we should take a moment and review some things that have happened this year and reflect on the year. Here's a cutesy song to help you remember what this year has been like.



    Enjoy!!!

    Friday, December 15, 2006

    Give Santa a call (it's free)


    Wow, I just found out that Santa has a phone in the North Pole and his message changes everyday and the call to Santa is FREE.

    His number is 1-800-972-6242.

    Now I wonder, how come Santa didn't have a phone when we were growing up??


    Could it be technology wasn't all that in the North Pole?
    Or Mrs. Claus didn't want people bothering her hubby all year round and especially as the big day approaches?
    Or maybe Santa didn't have enough money to afford a luxury like a phone and still be able to pay the elves and buy materials to make the toys?

    Guess we'll never know.


    Well, my assumption for why he now has one.....So his Ho Ho Ho's can get in touch. Just a thought.

    Take a moment and give Santa a call, you'll be glad you did.


    P.S. Please ask Santa to hurry the ones in the front of our long line so others get a chance to go to China. Many thanks.

    Thursday, December 14, 2006

    This will take all the frustration out of your wait




    Ever feel like you just need to hit something (or even someone)??? Especially when you get news like "the CCAA doesn't appear to be speeding up but yet the wait time is increasing" or "how much longer til you bring home...."

    Well I have found the temporary solution.

    It's
  • Flying Penguins


  • (Note: no actual penguins were harmed in the making of this video game).


    I can actually send my penguins flying around 320.6 (at least that is my best so far, but I am determined to beat it).

    5 months already??? Seems longer



    Today is our 5th month LID-versary, and yet here we wait, and wait, and wait, seemingly not moving anywhere, not even an inch.

    Don't get me wrong, we are glad to be this far along, but I wonder, how much longer?

    And all our friends ask, "how much longer", and all our family asks "how much longer" and even strangers ask "how much longer" and all I can say is "I dunno"

    I stalk the CCAA website, I read my yahoo groups' emails, I check out adoption websites and blogs til all hours of the night, and I sit on the floor in Chynna's room, and I keep asking myself over and over "how much longer", and the conclusion I have come to.....when Chynna has been born and matched to us, the CCAA gives us our referral, we get our visas/TA (Travel approval)/CA (consulate appointment), and we get our butts onto the big bird in the sky and travel to China, that's when, and not a moment before.

    Then I thought, maybe it's when this inchworm and this snail complete their travels from China to Fla. (and all this time we thought a turtle was carrying our info).



    So when you are out and about holiday shopping and you see the inchworm and the snail crossing your path, PLEASE, whatever you do, PLEASE DO NOT STEP ON THEM and crush our dreams of becoming Chynna's parents.

    We thank you for your consideration.

    Wednesday, December 13, 2006

    Hanukkah is just around the corner


    Since Friday evening is Hanukkah, I thought maybe in honor of this holiday, I would post Adam Sandler belting out a wonderful song, The Hanukkah Song:






    And here is an updated version:






    Happy Hanukkah to all!!!

    Tuesday, December 12, 2006

    In honor of our annual viewing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas

    Okay in honor of our annual viewing of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and hopefully to add a little humor to our stressful adoption waiting times (and in light of the disappointing unconfirmed CCAA rule changes apparently changing in 5/07), I have added some holiday funnies:

    (I've always wondered what Santa's parents thought about his "job", now I guess we know "the rest of the story")


















    (and I've always wondered where the dreaded fruitcake came from, mystery solved, I guess)













    This one is too funny (Freckles sometimes confuses our tree as being outdoors, he's partly right, it is a real tree):




















    And finally, I know we've all felt like this at one time or another (why do they make us sit at the "kitty" table, guess we'll never know).





    Giggles are good for your health, so giggle and giggle and giggle (gotta stay healthy so we are able to bring our daughters home sooner rather than later). Besides it's better than crying (so I hear).