Friday, November 30, 2007

Thursday, November 29, 2007

They grow up so fast...

When I went to go feed the tadpoles this morning, two of them were climbing the walls of the fish tank...how very cool to watch them transform from tadpoles to "froglets", so I must let go so they can try to make it in this big world on their own...hope I prepared them (hehe)....

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Wacky Wed, What the holidays mean to you..

What The Holidays Mean to You

For you, the holidays are about celebration. You enjoy all the fun and fellowship that the holidays bring.

You celebrate the holidays in a offbeat style. You believe the holidays are for doing whatever you feel like - and some of your "traditions" are pretty wacky.

During the holidays, you feel happily busy. There's so much do to and not a lot of time to do it. But you enjoy every minute of your holiday chores.

You think the holidays should be nostalgic and sweet. The holidays bring out your inner child.

Your best holiday memories are of childhood foods and traditions. You secretly still wish you believed in Santa Claus.


Not true, Mom, I do still believe in Santa, honest I do!!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Some thanks are in order...

Upon arriving home from work today, there were two packages awaiting my arrival. One from Cyndi and Dean (our "just because package"), and the other from Michelle and John (our Secret Santas from our Waiting for First Child from China yahoo group).

First from Cyndi and Dean (which they say they sent "just because", gotta love those types of gifts), we got this amazing card:
this super soft stuffed frog:

this great frog car charm to hang on my rearview mirror:


and this great hair clip for Chynna's hair (hope she has lots to put it into):


thank you Cyndi and Dean for your kindness of thinking of Chynna "just because".

then we got our secret santa package from Michelle and John. This sweet Tigger sleeper (see the frogs jumping all over it???):

a softer than soft Carter's stuffed frog:

this Baby Einstein photo album (to put Chynna's referral photos in):


classic Christmas story DVD's:


and these yummy Truffles:


We are so very spoiled, thanks you guys for everything!!!

Monday, November 26, 2007

Holiday Nail Designs

This weekend I went to get my nails done...yup it was that time again....and since Ray and I will be participating in the Santa Bus before my next appointment, I got them done for the holidays....so amazing how talented the nail techs are, they free handed these designs...don'tcha just love em????

Here's the holiday candles...

and the surfing snowman...

and the Christmas tree...

and the poinsettias...

and finally the holiday bells...


Which is your favorite?

Sunday, November 25, 2007

The end of the long weekend, and new pets....

What a great relaxing weekend...it was great to get to see family members I haven't seen in a while, like my uncle Bruce, cousin Scott (pictured below)....

and my cousin Chad....it was also great to see Aunt Lynn, my mom and dad, my sister Katy and her husband David and my nephew Adam (he's such a crackup...I had such a great time with him and all the cool poses he did for me such as being a toy soldier nutcracker....


and a sexy model on the couch)...


I almost lost it when he told me he's glad he stopped eating when he did "because I don't have any more room in my pants"....

Then this weekend, Ray and I had to clean out the pool, it was really getting green and with the weather getting cooler, it was time to empty it out til next year...unfortunately we noticed something (actually somethings) swimming in the pool, and well I just couldn't just drain them out to die, so we now have some new "pets"....wouldn't you know it...a whole lot of tadpoles, guess they knew they would be taken care of living in our pool, huh? so now they have a new residence in a 10 gallon fish tank....amazing (or as my mom says, gross!!)...hehe

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving Ya ll



A THANKSGIVING POEM
~ author unknown ~

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING, BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP, I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS, I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED - THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES, PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND, 'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND. I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES.... HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE
CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP. MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP, MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.

MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING BE BLESSED!!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Wacky Wed, What holiday are you?

You Are Christmas

More than most people, you are able to find magic in life's small moments.
Traditions mean a lot to you, and you tend to be quite nostalgic.
You are a giving, kind person who really understands the true meaning of holidays.
You inspire others to be as altruistic and caring as you are.

What makes you celebrate: Tradition and a generous spirit

At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The storyteller. You like to recount memories with everyone.

On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: Give a gift to everyone you know

Monday, November 19, 2007

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Santa Bus Fundraiser...Dec 13


One of our friends (Ginnie) has coordinated a charity event to raise money for Dianjiang Kids International (this is the province her sweet Ali is from). The money will go 100% to helping them (www.dianjiangkids.org). I am advised the Charity is 100% tax deductible for donations or items to use in the raffle (It is a 501 C3 organization!). We get dressed up as Santas, Mrs. Claus, Santas helpers, or elves (how cool, I got my pink Santa helper costume yesterday, love it, and a portion of those proceeds went to the Susan B. Koman Breast Cancer charity).

We start out on Dec. 13 at Sun on the Beach between 5 and 6:45 PM, we will also do raffles (Ginnie is still needing assistance collecting items for the raffles), then at 6:45 we board the buses and go all over Central Fla. to night clubs and restaurants getting donations. It should be loads of fun!!

If you'd like to or are able to donate, or are in the Central Fla area and would like to participate, please let me know and I'll get all the particulars out to you.

We are also collecting much needed socks and blankets to send to the orphanage. Anything you all can do to help is greatly appreciated (even if it is just posting this on your blog to make others aware of the event)!!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Happy Birthday Mom!!


Today is my mom's birthday...I think she said she's 25 (or was that my dad, hehe)...anyway, hope your birthday brings you all you want and more....happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear mom....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, and many many many more!!! We love you!!

Friday, November 16, 2007

Sandi is coming home....

Thank you to all of you out in bloggy land....we have really good news. So many concerned people called the Senator and Congress Rep, and with the wonderful agency acting on their behalf, that action was taken right away...Sandi and Hannah have been sworn in and they will be coming home as planned....

The online adoption community is such a tight loving family, that Ray and I feel so blessed to be a part of, whenever there is good news to share the online "family" is there, when something bad happens again the online "family" is there to offer a helping hand, no matter whether we actually know each other or not. It really is an amazing feeling...

Okay I'm done being all mushy, as I better get going to work!! Have a great Friday!!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Please help Sandi in any way you can....

One of the ladies in one of my Yahoo Groups (Sandi Sheldon) needs our help and I would please request you to help if you can.

Sandi and Dennis Sheldon were living the dream, going over to China to bring home their baby girl Hannah. They received Hannah, completed the adoption on the China side of things, and everything was dreamy, but then Dennis' (who apparently is a diabetic) blood sugars started "running high" and he began not feeling well. From what I have read, Dennis went into a diabetic coma, and passed away. As I understand this had not happened before they were unsure how to proceed with the adoption. So now poor Sandi (a new first time mother and now unexpected widow) is left trying to figure out how to deal with this sad turn of events and yet still complete the adoption on the U.S. side of things. Things were going great, and then poor Sandi hits the proverbial wall.

The remaining of this post was copied from my Yahoo Group:

The US Consulate in Guangzhou has denied Sandi Sheldon permission to
proceed with the adoption of Hannah. They want her to fill out a new
I-171 and are making no guarantees after that. Sandi, of course does
not want to leave China and leave Hannah here because she has no where
to go. Sandi needs our help desperately! Please start a massive
campaign of calling to her US Congressman and US Senator and urge them
to intervene on Sandi's behalf. We have discussed this with Sandi and
she wants our help. Please pressure these elected officials to contact
the State Department and straighten this out. Sandi should not be
denied Hannah's adoption because her husband passed away unexpectedly.
The adoption has been finalized here in China.

Sandi's congressman is Mike Rogers. His Washington office number is
202 225 4872. His Michigan office number is 517 702 8000, he also has
a toll free number 1-877-333-MIKE.

Sandi's US Senator is Debbie Stabenow. Her Washington DC number is 202
224 4822 and her Michigan office number is 517 203 1760.

Everyone should try to help and call these people until we get final
approval. We should continue to pray that her adoption is finalized
quickly and that Sandi can return home to Michigan with Hannah.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Wacky Wed and 16 mo LID-versary...

Your Native American Name Is...

Nahimana Totsi


Your name means: Mystic Moccasins


Also today marks 16 months, my how time flies and yet stands still....soon Chynna baby we will be able to come to China and bring you home....

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Celebrate National Adoption Month....


For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 31, 2007

National Adoption Month, 2007
A Proclamation By the President of the United States of America

During National Adoption Month, we recognize the adoptive and foster families who have shared their homes and hearts with children in need, and we encourage more Americans to consider adopting young people of all ages.

Families who adopt show the generous spirit of our Nation. Every child desires a permanent home, and when parents adopt a child to love as their own, lives are forever changed. For parents, the decision to adopt a child is among life's greatest and happiest turning points. On November 17, families across the country will celebrate National Adoption Day by finalizing their adoptions, and each one of these homes will be richer for the addition of new family members.

My Administration is committed to promoting adoption of children of all ages. We are working to bring together more children with loving, adoptive parents through the Collaboration to AdoptUsKids at adoptuskids.org and by providing States with financial assistance through the Adoption Incentives Program. The Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program helps improve care and services to children and families and ensure more young people in America have a caring, secure, and permanent home. Together, these efforts are building a brighter future for our youth.

During National Adoption Month, we honor adoptive and foster parents as they raise children of conviction and character. By accepting the gift of these children, parents are helping shape lives and contributing to the strength of our great Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2007 as National Adoption Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities to honor adoptive families and to participate in efforts to find permanent homes for waiting children.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Monday, November 12, 2007

Sunday's Disney Trip to all four parks...

Okay I guess this is all the pictures that Blogger will let me post on our four park Disney Adventure yesterday...yes we did them all, MGM, then Magic Kingdom, then Animal Kingdom, and ending with Epcot (we even walked all the way to China, see the posting below)...and Blogger won't let me organize these pictures, so here they are...in no particular order:

first we have, Pluto posing at the parade at MGM (see he even lifted his ears for me, hehe):

then here is the Rain Forest Cafe sign at Animal Kingdom (notice the gorgeous frog??):

next is a picture of me in front of the Tree of Life sign at Animal Kingdom (another frog, do you detect a pattern here?? hehe)...


At MGM we saw many soap stars. We saw from GH: Bradford Anderson aka "Spinelli", Jason Thompson aka "Patrick", Kimberly McCullough aka "Robin", Julie Berman aka "LuLu", Josh Duhon aka "Logan", Rebecca Herbst aka "Elizabeth", Laura Wright aka "Carly". From AMC: David Canary aka "Adam/Staurt", Jacob Young aka "JR", Thorsten Kaye aka "Zach" (used to be on Port Charles). And from OLTL: Brandon Buddy aka "Cole", Kassie DePaiva aka "Blaire", Erika Slezak aka "Viki", Kathy Brier aka "Marcie", and then from The View Sherri Shepherd.

Here is Michael Easton aka "John" from OLTL (used to be on Port Charles as the handsome Vampire, mmmm yummy!!):

and here is Kamar de los Reyes aka "Antonio" from OLTL:

and this is a Dopey bush sculpture (that is his foot sticking out, now get that mind out of the gutter, hehe):

and then over at the Magic Kingdom we have a duck (okay this is part of a joke, our family no matter where we go they had to take pictures of birds, so of course I had to get a picture of a bird so not to be disowned....but he is very pretty):

and back at Animal Kingdom there was a ladybug sighting (with a frog, that's gotta be good luck too right???)....

back at the Magic Kingdom while riding Splash Mountain, again another frog sighting...it really is Magical!! (hehe Adam, aren't the frogs magical?? hehe DUCK!!)

and here is my sister leaving her favorite ride (the potty ride, hehe):

this is a sign on Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom, a must for picture taking:

and finally at Epcot we made it, we walked around the world and finally made it to China (of course Chynna wasn't ready to come home yet, darn it, but we did get to see amazing Chinese acrobats and a wonderful show called "Reflections of China", so informative and so beautiful):



here is Adam and I waiting for the train in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom:

and here is Adam on one of his favorite rides, the tram:


it was a long day, but we had loads of fun. Here's what all we got to do, first stop MGM, we got to see lots of soap stars and get lots of pictures, and we rode the Great Movie Ride ("I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too"), and the Rockin' Rollercoaster ("Dude looks like a lady..."), and the tram to and from the car ("driver we are all clear").

Then we were off to the Magic Kingdom, we got to ride in the nose of the Monorail (sure hope it doesn't have to sneeze), ride the tram to and from the car, ride the train to eat at Peco's Bill's, ride Splash Mountain (Duck!!!), Big Thunder Mountain, and the Haunted Mansion.

Then we we off again to Animal Kingdom, where Adam and I got to ride Mt. Everest (I am so proud of you Adam, just like Splash Mountain, say it with me,,,)...

Finally since it was a school night for Adam, my sister and Adam left...but Mom and I went off to Epcot (thanks Katy for dropping us off)...where we tasted (for free!!) cokes from around the world at Club Cool (loved Japan's and China's)...it really is quite interesting, the different flavors...and then after walking and walking and walking, we walked all the way around the world (thanks to directionally impaired Mom, hehe, but hey now I know where I get it) to China, but once our tired feet got there it was well worth it, with all the amazing things we saw, from the Chinese acrobats to the Reflections of China to the terra cotta soldiers....so beautiful....we can't wait to go and see all this in China...

So that was our Disney trip...thank goodness I had today off from work to recoup from the long but fun-filled weekend (thanks again Katy for everything, it was loads of fun as it always is!!)....

Sunday, November 11, 2007

East Meets West GWCA Conference

Yesterday was a long long long long (did I mention long) day, but one filled with lots of great information, meeting new friends, and catching up with some old friends. Although quite a bit of the information about the process of Chynna's adoption we already knew (thanks to the many yahoo groups, lots of self-educating, and of course from those of you who have BTDT), we did learn some new info too...


We got to hear from Snow Wu and the Chinese Consulate about all they are doing to hopefully get this wait time down some...

Susan Fremer and her daughter Olivia's foster family spoke on the joys and sorrows of being a foster family...


Leigh-Anne Graf spoke on the "Waiting Game"....


My "social worker" Debra Hewitt did an amazing job educating us about Attachment and Bonding (of course this picture came out awful and she'd kill me if I posted it, hehe)....and attorney Paul Consbruck spoke on post-adoption resources, lunch speaker
Jeanne Marie Laskas - Author of Growing Girls: The Mother of All Adventures was amazing, breakfast speaker Dr. Ira Chasnoff - Author of Risk and Promise was informative, and Nicole Halliday really opened our eyes about the travel costs/expenses....

and then there were door prizes (nope Ray and I were not lucky winners), but our friends Sherri and Sheryl were...


and as well as our friend Susan (who will be traveling in Dec to bring home her 5 yr old daughter Hannah)...


All in all a great day...now I must get off this computer and start another long but fun-filled day at Disney...