Fall Festival (October 18th)

Wow, I have a lot of catching up to do here! I didn't realize it but I have been a bad blogger. I'm keeping this blog for Erin, & yet I have done an amazingly poor job of recording what has been going on this month. Here's my chance for a fresh start.

Erin goes to a wonderful charter school that is really close to our house. In fact, I found out Friday night that many of the people we know from her school live in our community! On Saturday, October 18th, her school had their Fall Festival. Local businesses set up tables so the people attending could stop by & get to know the business or buy stuff. I was there representing the bank I work for along 4 of my co-workers. There were so many things to do that I was really surprised.

Hmmm . . .

• Discover Toys
• Cookie Lee Jewelry
• Magnetic Jewelry
• Mary Kay
• The Breakfast Joint
• Wachovia Bank (Do you like my shameless plug!?)
• Bounce Houses
• Pony Rides
• A Cakewalk (You should have seen all the yummy goodies people brought in!)
• Tupperware
• Food galore - roasted corn, carmel apples, hot dogs, beverages, etc

I got there at 8:30 to help set up & had a blast. Of course, while my home looks like a bomb went off in it, I love to organize so I was a happy camper! My friends showed up later to man their own stations since Shari had volunteered all of us to work. Hey Shari! How'd you get out of working The Festival? Did you tell them you were on schedule at your office? (Don't worry. We'll get you back.)

The fundraiser was a total success. The PTO raised almost $4,000 at this one event. No one expected that kind of success.

The best part? It was a great day!

I voted!

I registered to vote when I turned 18 years old. Voting is a privilege afforded me as a citizen of this great country. Voting is a duty because of this great country. I choose to exercise this privilege & to make sure that someone knows what I think.

After dropping Erin off at school this morning, I went to my local library to vote early. I got there at 8:30 & got on line. I expected to have to wait forever. The line moved so quickly that it was shocking. People who don't know each other chatted amiably about anything & everything.

The process was a new one - or maybe this is how they do early voting. I don't know, but I do hope that this is the new way for FL.

When I got back into my car, it was 9:26. Not bad considering my friend Lisa took almost 2 hours to vote today.

Quirks? I have quirks!?

Who knew!?

Viv wants me to list my quirks. These tags are so much fun but goodness they make you work!

1. I'm territorial. That may not be quirky to you, but trust me that for me it is. I'm left handed & use my mouse on the left side. If you move my mouse to the right side, fine. But put it back where you found it. Don't move or touch my things without the knowledge that you better put it back where you found it. If you don't, you will hear about it from me.
2. I almost never take lunch breaks at work. Most people need their 30 minutes (or however long they take). To me a lunch break is a waste of time. I'm in the groove, doing my thing & you expect me to stop so I can eat? Why? Do I look like I'm missing out on food or something? Are you kidding!? The only day I consistently take a lunch break is Fridays.
3. I love science fiction tv shows & movies. However, I absolutely cannot read the stuff. It bores me to tears when it's in the written word.
4. I yawn. All the time. Even when I'm not tired. I don't mean to do it, & I can't help myself but I yawn. My mother used to say that I came out yawning & not crying.
5. I sleep with 2-3 blankets each & every night. At least I start out that way. My hands & feet are always cold so I can't fall asleep without being all bundled up.
6. I love to shop. I mean grocery shop. I find it very relaxing. If I could make a living dong people's grocery shopping, I would.
7. I love to be driven around. Ever since I was a child, if I was stressed out, my parents would put me in the car & just drive. To this day, David does that for me. Back when we didn't have much, a big night out was dinner at McDonald's & a drive down A1A.

Well, you wondered about my quirks. There you have them! No one ever said that I was normal. Besides, being normal is so humdrum.

And those of you who follow? I want to know about your quirks too!

1. Gretchen
2. Michelle
3. Sandra
4. Super Mommy
5. Lori
6. Kim
7. Candy

7 Facts

I've been tagged. Not once. Not twice. Three times! It seems that Gretchen. Vivian and Mary all want to learn more about me. Go figure.

So I'm sitting here trying to think of 7 things about me that people might find interesting. Hopefully I'm up to the challenge!

1. I am married to my first and only love. I met David in 1982 and have been in love with him ever since even though we broke up for a few years before getting back together permanently in 1986.
2. I love my jobs. Truly. During the week I work at a bank (how boring!) where I get to help people with whatever their needs. I also act as the office liaison - purchasing for the office, keeping the peace, reminding everyone that if they don't like what they're doing they should find something else 'cause it ain't worth it to be unhappy for 40 - 50 hours a week for years. I really believe that. On Sundays I teach 1st grade at a synagogue. I really love interacting with the children. OTOH, I really hate the politics at both jobs. Gee. That's a surprise.
3. I love scrapbooking even though I'm one of the least creative people you'll ever meet. I started about 2 years ago with the encouragement of a very dear friend. I now have tons of scrapbooking supplies but no dining room table.
4. Years ago I snored myself awake. Yup. You heard it here. I used to always complain to David that he was keeping me awake with his snoring. One night I woke up & yelled at him to stop snoring when he looked at me in that way that only a man can have & said "Honey, I'm reading. See my book? You snored yourself awake." Oops. He's never going to let me live that one down. (I can't really blame him though.)
5. I'm very flexible. Even at my weight. I can stand up straight, bend over & touch my hands to the floor. Flat. Without any problems. It ooks people out. And Erin is even more flexible than I am.
6. Like my friend Lori, I absolutely can't make a go of my day without my morning coke. David brings me a can of coke every morning so that I can get out of bed. And when I get to the office, I drop my stuff down & go make the pot of heavily caffeinated coffee so that I can become human. The joke in my office is that if you want Tammie to know something, wait till she's had her first sip of coffee 'cause it won't stick without the coffee. I can drink regular coffee & fall asleep in minutes. I drink so much caffeine that I never have a problem.
7. I love to read books. I absolutely love to read romance, mystery, true crime but can't stand reading science fiction or fantasy even though I love to watch it.

There you go. I don't know if it's interesting stuff, but there it is. And now I have to tag 7 other people. Yikes!

1. Sandra - Are we ever going to meet in person?
2. Shari - I know you're busy right now, but Halloween is almost here so you'll have more time eventually.
3. Grace - You may be new to blogging but I love what you have to say.
4. Magi - I have loved reading all about your sweet girl. Now it's time to read about you!
5. Kim - I can't wait to see what you have to say!
6. Candy - Your turn! Now we get to know you!
7. Sandy - It's not like you're busy or anything, but if you get a chance, we'd love to know more!

Have fun everyone!

She Eats Peas!

Woo hoo!!! She ate them!! David & I walked away from the dinner table while Erin was still sitting there eating. (She takes forever!) When David turned around, she was eating peas by the forkful, & I mean a real forkful not 1 or 2 peas on the fork.

He looked at her like she'd grown a 2nd head or something & the conversation went like this:

David: Are you eating peas Erin?

Erin: Yes (smiling with huge grin on her face)

David: Since when?

Erin: I don't know.

Me? I'm happy. Now she can't look at me & say "I don't do green!" By George, I think we've made progess. Yay!

Guess I Need My Bamboo

You Are a Panda

You are a very philosophical, introspective creature. You project a calm vibe. You have amassed a good deal of wisdom in your life. You can teach anyone who is ready and willing to learn. Solitude is very important to you. You don't truly feel at peace until you are alone. You enjoy a few friendships but only when those friendships are with fellow loners.

What Animal Are You?

Don't Vote!!!

It is not a privilege to vote. It is our duty. It is our right. Why would anyone not vote? Don't you care about what has happened to our country? Could people be any more blind to what is happening?

Hey! Stop Movin' My Cheese!

Sometimes life throws things in your path to see how you adjust. That is exactly what's happened to me.

I work for a bank. Not just any bank, but a bank that has been in the news. I started out in March 1996 as a brand new employee of First Union. It was my birthday present to David. I had been out of banking for a year & was totally miserable. Even though I had management experience, I wanted to take it easy & start over. After working there for about 3 months, I got bored & started training to be a customer service rep. I did the entire program in 3 months which shocked everyone. When I decide to make a move, that's it, watch out. In late 1999 I made a career change but stayed with the bank. I can't tell you how lucky I am. Even though I bitch & moan at times, I really do love what I do. I enjoy being able to help people & guide them.

Sometime in 2001, First Union merged with Wachovia Bank. I was so afraid but did my best to hide it. Right after the merger, I was asked to temporarily transfer to another office & guide the employees through the merger. It took me a few weeks, but I finally realized that while I, as a First Union employee, was losing my identity because of the name change, they were losing an operating system & in many cases their home since offices were closing to consolidate. This realization made me more sensitive to why the people in that office were so resentful of me coming in. In the last few years, Wachovia has gone on to merge with other banks. I have tried to remember what I learned during the First Union - Wachovia merger each time.

Now it's my turn. Over the last few months the banking industry has been facing challenges that I have never seen in my 21 years as a banker. Wachovia has been facing some amazing challenges during this time. Clients everywhere have been worried. Employees have been worried. Monday morning the news hit. Wachovia has been acquired by CitiBank.

What does this mean? Nothing really at this point. It's business as usual. So why are people coming into our offices & being so mean? The bank DID NOT FAIL. It was acquired. That means it was a merger. The news has been crazy so people have been crazy. For me the stress has been way overboard. I spent a good amount of time Monday crying whenever I was alone. I have been off from work since late Monday for the Rosh HaShanah holiday. During this time off I've been contemplating what it all means to me. Hopefully, when I get back to work tomorrow, things will have calmed down some.

So. Yes. My cheese has been moved. Once again. Now I just have to follow it or even better anticipate where it will be moved to next time.

Lori,

Thanks for reminding me that this is only a moment in time.

Rosh HaShanah

From our home to yours, we wish you a very happy, healthy & sweet New Year!

I Make Viv Smile!

Apparently I make my friend Viv smile. She has decided that I deserve this award, & I can only hope that I really am worthy. I love the quote at the bottom of the award. "Always remember to be happy because you never know who'd falling in love with your smile."

Anway, I now have to choose 5 friends who make me smile. Let me tell you how hard that is. If you're my friend, or if I read your blog, you leave me smiling. However, I must choose 5.

• Sandra - Just reading your blog & seeing how you guys are doing makes me smile. I look forward to seeing what you & your family are up to. Whenever I see Jazzie, I remember "back in the day" & think of that red thread from Erin to Jazzie. Whenever I see Tahlia, I remember how thrilled I was that we had another red thread going from Erin to Tahlia.
• Lori - I'm so happy that you're blogging everyday although I'd rather your mom's ribs be all better. You have a way with words that just makes me laugh with everything Katie Starr & Ethan are up to. And let's not forget the rest of your family. You guys put a smile on everyone's face.
• Michelle - Girl, my heart goes out to you when it comes to that job of yours. How you keep a straight face when you go in to the office is beyond me. Whenever you post about Luca, I know that it's a great time. When I think of the runs you do, & why you do them, I smile. Why? Because you do it all so selflessly.
• Kim - I miss you terribly my friend. At least Viv stayed on the same continent! I smile whenever I see you've blogged. Why? First, I'm thrilled that you're living your dream. Second, I can just hear you chatting away with me or someone. BTW, I miss searching for beets at the salad bar with you.
• Magi - From the first time I came across your blog, you always managed to make me smile. Now that Sera is home & growing up, I look forward to seeing what she's up to.

Spitting Nails

Right now I'm so pissed off that I could spit nails! I don't even know where the heck to begin so I'll try to do this bullet style.

• Why did I have to buy over $100 worth of school supplies for Erin? Will she actually use 9 yellow folders, 1 blue folder, 1 1-inch binder, 1 marble composition book, 5 yellow wide-ruled spiral bound notebooks, a pack of 48 crayons, 1 pack of dry erase markers, 1 pack of sharpie markers, 1 pack of copy paper, 1 pack of erasers & all the other crap I had to buy!! Impossible! So far when she's come home with homework, I've wondered why the teacher didn't send home any of the pencils, crayons, notebooks or paper that she will need to complete the assignment. How the heck can a child learn to write properly if you don't give him/her ruled paper!? Why would you assume that after going to 2 different stores & spending over $100 that I have any of those same supplies in my house!? I sent them in to school!!! SO WHERE ARE THE SUPPLIES??? Who is using them?? Certainly not Erin.
• I have Erin enrolled in Hebrew school at the synagogue that we belong to rather than the one at which I have taught for the last 17 years. Why? Because she shouldn't be in my classroom, & the other 1st grade teacher has a tendency to spoil Erin. David went to the Open House for Erin's Sunday school class. On the way home from my own teaching, I called to see how things went. He warned me. He told me I wasn't going to like it. Then he made me wait the entire half hour till I got home to discuss things with me. Why is my daughter using a book that teaches letter recognition that is just plain ole wrong!? How can I say this? Easily. I've taught 1st grade Sunday school since 1989. I know what I'm talking about here. Hebrew letters are NOT the same as English letters. They may make the same sound, but there is no comparison beyond that. Her books teach that there is a comparison. And because, the director of the school knows me, I have to tread lightly. I don't tread lightly well. I kind of do a stampede when I'm in this mood.
• After not being sure of whether or not I should continue teaching on Sundays, I went back. My director & I had a long talk. We came to a point where we both got what we wanted. Cool. Great. Couldn't be happier about it. On top of that, I've got a class this year that I'm so happy with I can't wait to go in & teach. My co-teacher has a habit of walking in while I'm in the middle of a lesson to ask me stuff. You know. Where am I in the lesson? Will I be doing all the work in class or sending some home? If she doesn't come in, she'll send her student aid. I constantly have to remind her that I'm in the middle of a lesson & we can talk after class ends. I have never liked being interrupted. Ask David. He'll tell you that interrupting me can be taking your life in your hands. I consider it the ultimate in rudeness. In this case, I loose my class because now they're distracted. I have to be almost pissy with the other teacher who is a very dear woman.
• On top of all that, I can't sleep. David passed out over 2 hours ago. Erin went in without a fight for the 2nd night in a row about 8:00. And, me? I can't fall asleep for nuthin'!

The Start of Sunday School

Erin & I both started Sunday School a few weeks ago. This year it has been hard for us since last year she was going to the school that I've been teaching for the last 18 years. I cried all the way to work that first Sunday morning. I have always been excited that Erin would be with me on Sundays through 3rd grade. However, this past summer David & I made the hard decision that this wouldn't be right for Erin. As much as we all wanted her with me, she needs to go to school along with the children with whom she will be celebrating her bat mitzvah.

While each school has the same curriculum, we use different textbooks. To be honest, at my school, she would have been using more advanced books than her school uses right from the beginning. While this sounds great, she would have been bored to pieces going into the 3rd grade / keetah aleph class. That said, she has her daddy taking her to school on Sundays. And, thankfully, she really loves it. She has children in her class that she's known she was 2 years old. I have a feeling they're going to give Miss Debbie a run for her money!

My class has 15 children which is pretty small for me. I'm excited as always. I've been at the same synagogue for so long that I can remember when many of my students were born because I've had their older brothers &/or sisters! I love the curriculum I'm using. The books are great, & the projects that we do are lots of fun. I guess it's a good thing since I'll only have off 8 or 9 Sundays this year!

Annies Costumes' Top Halloween Costumes for 2008

Annie's Costumes has been around down here for what seems like forever. A few years ago, they switched to being an online business.

They have an excellant selection of costumes. Their customer service is wonderful. They ship all over. Need I say more?

Oh. Yes. I have to. The owners are very dear friends. They love Erin which is great considering she adores them!

So take a peek at the video. You may see someone you know!

Happy Anniversary!

I can't really remember life before Erin. However, I do know that since Erin came into our lives, we have met some very special people.

When Erin was a baby, & home not very long, David & I were both home sick. I was reading email (as usual) & there was a plea for help on one of my boards. A woman in the paperwork stage of her adoption was having trouble getting some documents notarized. I happened to have my notary stamp home so I emailed her that I'd be happy to help her out. We scheduled a time for her to come over, & the rest is history.

This family has become so special to us in so many ways. While they talk about how Kerri wouldn't have come home (Bull hockey!) without my notary work, they gave us a greater gift. That same little girl has shown David that he really can love more than one child. He seems to have this special bond with Kerri. When Viv & Corey were worried about guardianship plans for Kerri, David spoke out & told them that we would take Kerri if the need ever arose. WHOA!!! That sure blew Viv, Corey & me away.

Today is their day. Today Viv & Corey are celebrating 7 years of love, friendship & marriage together. And we couldn't be any happier for them.

We love you guys! Enjoy your special day!

Lunch & Fountains

Today we went to lunch at Big Bear. Nothing was going our way today so we decided to have lunch at one of our fave places. Today rather than have her usual chicken tenders & fries, Erin decided to have their pizza. I knew it wouldn't be right for her since she really enjoys a New York style pizza, & Big Bear's is thin to say the least. She ended up with a bowl of fruit from their brunch menu. Our server was very accomodating & Erin thanked her so sweetly! It would have been nice if Erin ate all the fruit, but since she's not eating without arguing lately, I was happy just to see her enjoy the watermelon, grapes & strawberries.

After lunch Erin asked if we could hang out by the fountain that is in front of the restaurant. She has always loved fountains, & it really is such a simple request that we always say yes - unless it's raining. I have to wonder what goes through her mind as she stands there just watching the water.

You too can help the children of Sichuan.

Erin's First Day of School

Ready to go to 1st grade!

In her new classroom.



Erin with me in her classroom.

Ready for some serious learning!

Erin started school last Wednesday after Tropical Dud Fay finally left the area. She is in the same class as 3 of her friends from her last school so things have been easier on all of us. Her teachers all seem to be pretty nice.

The 2nd day of school we had one of our usual morning chats. It really was sweet.

Erin: I don't like 1st grade Mama.

Me: Why not Erin?

Erin: I miss my friends.

Me: Erin, aren't the twins & Alyssa in your class?

Erin: Yes, but I miss everyone else.

Me: Erin this is a great opportunity for you to meet new people & make new friends. Besides, don't you see your old friends in aftercare?

Erin: Yes I do. But I wanna play with them.

Me: Then we'll make playdates.

Erin: Really? Okay, then I'll go to 1st grade Mama.

What goes through a child's mind always amazes me. Each conversation should go this easily!

Feeling Better & Ready to Craft!

Erin is feeling better finally. The antibiotics that were prescribed must be really strong because she's just about back to herself.


So what do you do when you're on the mend? Why, you do crafts! Erin always has tons of crafts to do. She got so much for her birthday last year & this year, that we don't have to buy her anything. Today she decided to make slap bracelets. After showing her what needed to be done, I got to sit back & relax.

2 down & 5 more to go!

She really had a good time with this.

Not too messy. Thankfully!

Some of the finished pieces of art.

What did you do on the first day of school?

Ah yes. The first day of school. It was cancelled for today & has now been cancelled for tomorrow. The only reason I'm not terribly upset is that Erin has to remain home until the 20th.

I called Erin's pediatrician this morning as early as possible to get an appointment. David & I are not happy with her lack of progress from the medication for her allergies. So this morning I drove, in the pouring rain with almost no visibility, to Dr. Liang. I couldn't believe how long it took to get to her office because of the weather - almost a half hour for a normal 15-20 minute drive. So after waiting an hour for the infamous Dr. Liang, she finally came in & apologized for taking so long. After a few questions & a quick glance at Erin's throat & nose, the diagnosis came in. Erin has a heck of a sinus infection. Oh goody.

Off we went to the pharmacy to drop off the prescription & then to Publix for a quick shop. When Erin is sick, she refuses to eat so my instructions are to let her eat anything she wants & keep her drinking juice. This way she won't loose any weight. At 39 pounds, Erin is considered very petite. So on with the pop tarts, waffles, pudding & juice. For a kid that doesn't sound like a bad diet, but for a mom who tries to keep the sugar down, it's not good. In fact, normally Erin will eat chicken nuggets, cheese, pasta, but for now she won't even look at that stuff. Veggies? Don't bother. She won't eat them on a good day.

So we came home, played some games, took a nap after Daddy came home. And she took her new meds. According to her, they're gross.

I guess things are normal. And hopefully school will start Wednesday with Erin sitting in her new class.

Why not start school in July!?

After all, it seems that the officials don't mind our children being in school during the height of hurricane season. I have to wonder if these same officials have children who are still school aged.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the first day of school. And it's been cancelled in 3 counties - Monroe, Miami-Dade & Broward. Why? Because of Hurricane Faye? Yup. The same hurricane that probably won't be a hurricane. It will work out because Erin is still sick & with no school in session, I can't ask anyone to watch her. I did call my boss & explain the situation to him. Thankfully, Bob's a family guy & understands that kids get sick. Now I have to hope that the other bosses understand. After all, I did call out sick on Friday, & yes, Erin did go to the dr, but calling out on both a Friday & a Monday isn't what you want in the banking industry. Those are the busiest days.

But what are you supposed to do when there is no school, the day care places follow the school calendar, & your kid is sick? I'm guessing I could take her in & have her sit in the lunchroom, but for how long before it becomes a bad thing?

So Here We Sit Waiting

This is the last free weekend before school starts. And life is not happening the way it was supposed to. Shocking! Not.

Friday was the day to meet the teachers, find out about the aftercare program, the lunch program & get the supply lists for Erin & the other children entering her school. After the meet & greet, David & I took Erin shopping for the supplies. The school, like many others around the country, has its own requirements for each grade. Can someone please tell me why they are requesting yellow folders that have holes so they can fit into 3-ring binders? Yellow is the only color that none of the stores have ordered. I can find red, orange, black, pink, purple, blue, green BUT NOT YELLOW!! So now I have 9 folders in yellow without holes & 9 folders in pink with holes. And let's not forget that we need to send in a 6-pack of Elmer's glue sticks with NO color. Ha! No one can find them anywhere!

In the middle of 2 shopping trips, we decided to take Erin to see her dr. She's an allergic kind of kid but for the last week, the allergies have been out of control. She's got this really wet cough. Unfortunately, we couldn't get in to see The Amazing Dr. Liang, but her partner Dr Cheresnick had a free spot. The neat part about Dr Cheresnick is that it was his son Justin who told me about Dr Liang back when David & I were paperchasing.

Anyway, it turns out that Erin is in one of her allergy loops so she's on albuterol for a week till it's done with. So now we have a kid who is attached to boxes of tissues, coughing her brains up & hyper to the Nth degree. She missed one birthday party today & will probably miss the one tomorrow. Thankfully, Erin understands that while she isn't running a fever, she really can't be out & about.

So here we sit. Waiting. For Erin to get back to normal.

Do you know this woman?

This past Tuesday after the movie, a bunch of us went to Ruby Tuesday for coffee & dessert. During the course of our conversations, we got to talking about blogs.

Blogs are a great way to deal with the adoption hoopla. The wait alone is frustrating enough. Then you start to realize how much you don't know. And of course everything else that comes along with it. Back when David & I were adopting, blogs were an unknown. I'm sure they existed but not as a popular way to get info or meet people. We all used yahoo groups which in & of themselves are a lifesaver.

Anyway, one of the women mentioned that there is this blog that is so amazing. The writer adopted 2 children & has a wonderful way with a camera & words. Then I mentioned my friend Sandra who is an amazing woman. I told them how met during our daughters' adoptions, & the red thread that continues because her 2nd daughter is from Erin's orphanage.

Start laughing. Grace & I were talking about the same woman. Sandra, you are more popular than you can ever imagine! And as I have been saying for years now, people listen to what you have to say. Please keep writing!

If you haven't taken a peek at Sandra's blog, you really should go on over.

Moms Just Wanna Have Fun!

Some of the FCC moms decided to go out & have a movie night. No hubbies. No children. Just good ole fashion fun, song & laughter. Mamma Mia was the perfect movie for it too! Clueless me, I had no idea that it was a musical. After all it had Meryl Streep & Pierce Brosnan in it, & they are definitely not known for their musical abilities! Didn't matter though. The music was fantastic. Trust me. I think everyone in the theater was singing. I know that my friend Lori & I were singing every song - & we both knew all the words. My friend Brenda lost control at one point in the movie & grabbed me. Of course I grabbed her too. After all these years, I still love the music of ABBA.

After the movie, we went out for dessert to Ruby Tuesday. Their desserts are sinfully rich & extremely decadent. We had a great time chitchatting the evening away. Two of the moms brought along guests. Grace brought her mother while Lisa brought her mother-in-law. It's always so nice when the grandparents want to be involved with the adoption process & want to meet the people their children are hanging out with. Candy & Minouche came along for the fun & I'm sure chatted about how their beautiful girls will be starting school together this coming week. Shari organized the evening, & I can't thank her enough!

We ended the evening standing out in the parking lot with more chitchat & finally left at 12:30 AM! I do have one question though. What the heck was with that young boy riding around in the parking lot in his jammies!? At 12:30 in the morning!? Where were his parents?

Halloween in August

Shari

Myke

Erin as Dorothy

Katie Starr makes a beautiful Minnie Mouse

Ethan is the cutest Mickey Mouse

Marc & Lori vamping it up!

Saturday was a busy day for Erin & me. Our friends Shari & Myke own a local business that sells Halloween costumes. They are getting ready for their very busy season right now. All this while they're in the midst of adopting from Vietnam! I don't know how they're still standing.

Shari & Myke invited a few of our FCC children to participate in this year's video. The children got to dress up & play games for a few hours. In the end, they'll have a video to show off all of their amazing costumes. Erin has already planned her Halloween costume for this year!

Wow! What an amazing weekend we had!

Friday night, I took Erin over to my friends Lori & Marc to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. They had invited some of the families from our local FCC group for a quiet (ha!) evening. One couple is in the process of adopting from Vietnam while the rest of us have adopted from China. We enjoyed a dinner of Chinese food. What else would you expect from us!? Our children got to stay up super late & play the night away. Erin enjoyed the fireworks but really couldn't have cared less about the rest.

As the children of China marched onto the field, I started to choke up & cry. All I could think of was how much China has given up by adopting out their children. In fact, for one moment, I was bitter that China could even consider giving up just one child. And then I thanked G-d that China does adopt out their children. After all, if China didn't, then Erin wouldn't be in my life. Neither would these families who have come to mean so much to me.

At one point in the evening, Lori & Marc set up their computer so we could skype our friends The Choi Clan. It was my first experience with skype, & I must say that I'll be trying it soon with my Canadian pals & my family. Kim & her children came across a 10 foot screen & said hello to all of our town. I'm sure my cousins who live around the corner heard Kim invite the town to watch the Olympics. Erin thought it was cool to see Aimee, Hansen & Cadence on the screen.

It was a lovely evening! When Erin & I got home, we fell into bed. I think I was asleep before she was!

Family Pic

How often do you find a picture of yourself that you like? Me? Almost never!

This past Sunday, my friend Lori & her husband Marc invited us to their son Ethan's naming ceremony. It was a beautiful ceremony, & I can't thank them enough for thinking to include us.

Ethan's godmother Shannon has a really cool mom who also loves to take pictures. Patti almost always has a camera in her hand. I'm so glad that she had her camera on hand because she took what I consider to be a wonderful picture of us.

Thanks for sharing the pic Lori!

Waiting & Waiting - Not So Patiently

Tomorrow is the BIG day. My dear friend Vivian & her daughter Kerri have their interview with the Canadian Dept of Immigration.

What are they looking for in the end? Why their official notice that they are now legal residents of Canada! Once they have their residency in place, Viv & Kerri will be able to work, go to school & most important of all they'll be able to travel outside of Canada. We're waiting (very impatiently mind you) for a visit! Viv & I try to talk on the phone at least once a week. Thankfully our hubbies not only understand this but also encourage it. Kerri & Erin are in dire need of a face-to-face visit. These girls just absolutely love each other. It's a great bond.

And now I wait for a phone call that better be good news!

UPDATE!!!!

Yay! Canada has decided to give Vivian & Kerri their residency. And now they have to wait to receive their actual cards. Without the cards, Vivian & Kerri can't get back into Canada should they leave. Tomorrow she'll be contacting Canadian Immigration to ask for a rush so they can come visit her parents. Hopefully, Canadian Immigration works faster than the US Immigration!

Gee, You Really Don't Post Often

My friend Lori's mother told me this today. Ha! Too funny. This from the woman who refuses to comment but lurks there in the background.

Okay Linda, I've posted. Now what?

What can I say? I told her I'd post more frequently!

Finally! The Birthday Pics!

I know you thought I forgot about the birthday pics. There really are way too many of them. It was hard to choose!

Celebrating 6

Gee. I just realized that it's been a while since I posted! Bad me! Anyway, life is crazy as always. I've been reading everyone's blogs but haven't wanted to post without pictures. I decided to post minus the pics. They'll be coming. Soon.

This past Sunday was Erin's 6th birthday party. We held it at American Twisters & including Erin there were 32 children in attendance. Not too bad, right? Ha! Then you have all the parents that attend. That means a total of almost 80 people.

Erin had a total blast! We couldn't have wished her to have a better time. She picked out the theme Tinkerbell & the cake - Tinkerbell white cake with custard filling. She wore her Tinkerbell t-shirt & hat. Are we sensing a common theme here? The funny thing is that she wasn't into Tinkerbell until the end of the school year.

Now I happen to love organizing parties. I'm pretty good at it, & can usually get it all finished 2 weeks before the actual party. This time I wasn't totally finished till the day before. Then there were the RSVPs. Those who said "yes" but couldn't make it at the last minute. And, of course, those who showed up without ever calling to say anything. This year I had personalized keepsake boxes so I really stressed out when a mother showed up with her twins but never called me. And let's not forget the family who told someone else that they'd see her at Erin's party but, again, didn't call me. I can't really fault them. They've only been in the US for 3 years, & aren't comfortable with English. They really are a lovely family. ARGH!!!

Either way, it was a totally great day for Erin. She came home to open her presents & had just as much fun with that part of the day. She even helped clean up!

The night before the party, Erin had an online birthday party with her friend Kerri. Kerri & her family live in Canda so we knew she wouldn't be there. Her parents & I wanted the girls to have fun & celebrate. We all went & got cupcakes so they could have cake together & Erin could open her presents from Canada. Such fun!

Yesterday was the big day! Erin turned 6. She woke up in a great mood & couldn't get into our bed fast enough for morning snuggles. During camp they went to a place called Jumpers & had black & white cookies as a special treat. For dinner Erin decided that she wanted her sushi so we ordered in & got her a shrimp tempura roll. Then she passed out & fell asleep. Yay for us!

And so my girl is now 6. I can't believe how blessed we've been. Thank you G-d above for this miracle child!

Now They Are Sisters

Erin is amazing. When my friends Lori & Marc went back to China for their Mischief Man (a/k/a Ethan), Erin fell in love immediately. Now don't mistake me here. Erin adores their daughter Katie Starr & the rest of her China friends. However, the first time that she saw Ethan, she pointed to him & said "He's mine." Erin begged for a brother for quite a while after Ethan came home, but David & I explained to her that our family is complete. I'm pretty sure that in her mind, we're not done, but yes, we really are.

Anyway, after Erin & I got home from our monthly FCC luncheon this afternoon, David & I started to go through things. Erin will be 6 on July 30th, & things are changing for her. Toys that were fine a week ago are no longer fine. It's also time for our bi-annual purge of "stuff." While deciding what to purge, David finally came across the collection of dolls I've been saving for Erin. One of those dolls is a Gali Girl doll by the name of Reyna. I kept Reyna hidden since Erin wasn't really ready for the older dolls. This past Chinese New Year, I also purchased her a Karito Kids doll by the name of Wan Ling. Erin's had Wan Ling in her room but shown no interest.

Well, David & I decided that today we should allow Erin to have Reyna. The story of Reyna is that she is from Kaifeng China. Kaifeng is known among other things for having a Jewish community which is very old dating back to the 12th century. I explained to Erin that Wan Ling is Chinese American but Reyna is actually from China. I told her that there truly are Jewish people in China but that is not the norm. Reyna came wearing her own Jade Jewish Star & also had an extra one for the little girl who would own her. Since Erin already wears one, I offered to put the Star around Wan Ling's neck which went over really well. We had a minor chat about how now Wan Ling would be Jewish & is converted just like Erin was.

I guess what we talked about made sense to her. She just assumed that Reyna & Wan Ling would be sisters. All she had to say is "Now they are sisters."

Morning Phone Calls Suck!

When my home phone rings before 8:00 am, it's never good news. Whether it's David or a family member or a co-worker, I know that it can't be good. After all, who calls before 8:00 am to say have a great day when they know you're getting ready to leave for work?

Today's call came from my sister-in-law Sandra. Gotta love Caller ID. I answer "What's wrong?" and she says "Everything's okay. Calm down." Ha! Who is she kidding? She never calls to say hi - at least not in the morning.

My mother-in-law is (no surprise for those of you who know David) a stubborn woman with a will of iron. She hasn't been well for a while now but we all deal with it. After all, she's going to be 82 in November. It seems that her stomach has really been bothering her the last 5 days or so. My father-in-law took her to the doctor who did a workup. The results came back normal but something isn't right because she's really in pain. She was sent to the hospital where they did a ton of testing - last night.

We were told that my mother-in-law needs surgery. The problem? At 81, she really isn't in the best of health. If she truly has to have it, we're not even sure she'll come out of it & be much better. Needless to say, we're all a touch stressed out. David left work early to go up & visit with his mother. When he left, he called me to tell me that she's in better spirits than he was told but she isn't happy with the thought of surgery. And best of all? The results of today's testing indicate everything is normal. HUH???? And now we wait for more info to come our way.

I was right. Morning phone calls suck.

Oh Where Oh Where . . .

. . . has my Cingular gone! I'm a very loyal person. Whether you're my friend or a company I do business with, I tend to stick with you. Unless you tick me off that is. I guess it was this past year that Cingular Wireless merged into AT&T Wireless. Now I know that there are people out there who just adore AT&T, but I am NOT one of them. Ever since the merger, I have more problems than I should. Their level of customer service sucks.

I have been on the phone with customer service since 8:00 pm (it is now 8:31 pm) trying to get help understanding my way overpriced bill. The young man who answered my call can't answer my questions, has no knowledge of the English language & grammar & can't understand why I've asked for a supervisor - not 1 time but 6 times. He thought it was enough to issue a credit so my bill wouldn't be sky high. He was a bit concerned that giving me a refund wasn't satisfying me. Do I want a refund? No. I want an explanation because a refund this month means a phone call next month in yet another attempt to understand my bill. Duh!

And now I've been disconnected at 8:36 pm. Here I go again! Let's see what happens next. And now that this is the 2nd time I've had to call, I plan on participating in their "customer service survey." Wanna guess how they rate in my book?

UPDATE!!!!

It is now 9:15 pm, & I have just gotten off of the phone after speaking with a lovely lady. She immediately understood what I was asking. Granted it took a while to figure out what happened on my bill, but it is done. Unfortunately, she did advise me that this will occur on my next bill but that I should call back, pray I get her (her words, not mine) & have the bill fixed one more time.

Am I a satisfied client? No.

Ugh. What a Weekend.

This past weekend was a bust. Pfffttt! Just like that.

I had such a nice vacation but last week was really hard on me. I guess traveling for 2 weeks really took its toll on me. When Erin & I travel we usually go without David since he totally hates going away. Of course, Erin hates being separated from either one of us so this makes things harder on me. She does great during the day but will cry herself to sleep at night. "I want Dada." "I want to sleep in my own bed." (Read: I want to sleep in bed with both you & Dada.) "I not tired." You get the picture. And she never sleeps through the night. Which means that I get no rest.

Well last week was time to get back to reality & return to work. Because I was gone for 2 weeks, I had tons of work & email to go through. Yay. I fell asleep by 7:30 each night last week. By the time Friday came, I felt awful - tired, cranky, not willing to be happy with anyone or anything. I spent the entire weekend feeling out of sorts. Thankfully, David put up with me & my garbage. He let me sleep on & off all weekend & let me pass on all of my usual chores. By Monday night, I was back to myself. And my hubby being who he is just let me be grumpy the entire time.

Thanks Sweetie!

My Life in 6 Words

My friend Sandra decided to tag me with this one a few days ago. Now all I have to do is figure out which 6 words to define my life! I've really been having trouble figuring it out.

Let's see:

• Retentive - yup, everything has to be in the right place.
• Territorial - don't touch my stuff without asking & certainly don't move it.
• Emotional - cry at the drop of a pin but laugh openly when I find a funny in life
• Freeing - I do my best to get away from anger. I get angry easily since I have an awful temper but I live by the motto that "It isn't worth staying angry over. If It Won't Kill Me, I Let It Go."

Won't Kill Me, Let It Go!

Yup! Those are the words I live by. Since I really do have an awful temper (blame it my parents since I get it from them), I try very hard not to let others see it.

• When David & I have a disagreement, I apply those words.
• When Erin wants to wear nothing that matches, I apply those words.
• When the bosses at work want me to do something that makes no sense, I apply those words.
• When I see friends doing things that "get my goat," I apply those words.
• When I know I'm doing something stupid, I apply those words.

Now I have to tag 5 other people. Let's see:

• Gretchen
• Vivian
• Lori
• Shari
• Magi

Ta Da! (Part 2)

These are a few of the pics from the California part of our trip!

We visited the California State Railroad Museum for the day.

Ta Da! As Promised, Here They Are . . .

These are some of the pics from our Travel Group Reunion in San Antonio