Birthday Party, Bowling & Pizza

This month Erin's friend Samantha turns 8.  Her parents Seth & Linda invited a ton of people to a bowling party! What a great idea! Of course I knew that my friends Jan & Michelle would be there with Erin's buddy Lauren.  What I didn't realize was that Shari & Myke would be there with Chianna.  How cool is it that the kids got introduced to a great way to spend an afternoon?  Pizza & bowling?  Always a good time!

Must have these to go down the lane!

Look at the cool colors! No blah blue or red for these kids!

Face Painting is a must at birthday parties these days

She always goes for a blue design.  Go figure.

You have to have pizza when you go bowling!

You don't know?

Searching for a job is hard.  Searching for the right job is even harder. 

So much has changed since I last looked for one that I feel like a fish out of water.  Let's face it.  I started working for First Uni*n in 1996 & never looked back.  I loved what I did there.  Right up until the H*lls Farg* merger. 

When last I searched for a job, you asked questions about salary, benefits, hours required, job duties, etc.  Now if you were just changing companies, all you really needed to ask about were the salary, the benefits & the hours.  The person interviewing you asked all of the questions & was really looking to see if your answers matched your resume.

Needless to say, there have been changes in the last 15 years.  Now you post your resume online & based upon key words &/or phrases, you may or may not match a job.  I've gotten about 5 or 6 phone calls for sales jobs.  I'm not selling insurance.  It isn't who am.  It isn't who I want to be. 

I've also had 2 interviews in the last month.  I thought both went well.  Apparently not.  I haven't gotten a call back letting me know either way.  It's hard.  I worked for the same company for 14 years & was let go because of a witch hunt.  How do you explain to a prospective employer that there was a witch hunt & they were looking to get rid of people who knew too much, were paid too highly (not me!) or who didn't fit their corporate image?  I've been honest about everything. 

Maybe it's because the only questions I've had have been about salary & benefits.  Both interviewers told me that they don't know the salary being offered.  It's handled through HR.  Really?  Don't people who go into an interview these days want to know what they'd be making?  If you are the manager of an office, why don't you know what the offered salary will be?  Aren't you the one who will be reviewing my work?  Recommending me for an increase? 

Do you realize how silly that sounds?  I mean.  After all, if your job is paying below a certain $$ amount, it may not be worth the interviewee's time.  One job I interviewed with was for a part-time position - 3 days a week.  If the office is closed for a federal holiday, there would be no pay.  Oh! And there are no benefits for a part-timer.  What would entice me to work for a company that doesn't pay me for the days that I'm scheduled to work but they're closed?  That means that for 10 days a year, I don't get paid.  That also means that for the 3 days I do work, if something happens to me healthwise, I can't call out sick but also won't be able to go to a dr visit because you're not offering me insurance.  I better be healthier than the proverbial horse everyone is always talking about!!

The other interview I went on seemed to go really well.  The interviewer was friendly & informative.  We seemed to hit it off well.

We'll see.  I'm not holding my breath.

Birthday for a Starr!

Erin & her buddy Ethan

 

2 Lovely Grandmas



Silly Faces

  

The Birthday Girl & Her Lovely Mommy

 



Yummy Cake!

 

Gotta have birthday cake!



And, finally, The Birthday Girl!

Yesterday, Erin & I went to a birthday party.  Katie Starr is 6!! Watching this little girl grow up has been pure delight.  From a sweet, frightened baby to a social butterfly who knows what she wants.  From the innocence of being a baby to the child who gives more than she takes.  That is Katie Starr!!

While Erin played with her buddies in the bounce house or in the play area, I got to sit around & chat with some wonderful friends.  I took a ton of pics! Going through them after Erin & I got home allowed me to enjoy the party all over again!

It was a perfect day to celebrate a perfect Starr.

Referral Day via FaceBook

So much of life is on FaceB**k these days.  While FB was originally intended as a social networking outlet for college students, people of all ages have gotten hooked.  I'm one of those people.  It allows me to keep in touch with so many people from all different parts of my life.

In consideration of Erin's Referral Day & all of the people who took the journey with me, I posted 2 times about this special day.  Rather than go through a whole long post, I thought it would be neat to document it via my status updates & the comments from my friends.

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Happy Referral Day to Erin & all of our Waiting Hearts!! I can't believe it's been 8 years since I first saw my girl's sweet face for the very first time.

Michelle Platts, Shari Maxwell McConahay, Lyssette Cowart and 3 others like this.

Vivian Kotler Masson Happy Referral Day!!!

Peggy Bond Hoole I'm remembering how very exciting that day was...photo after photo of the most beautiful children ever!!! Happy 8th referral day, Erin!

Lisa Ciasca Congrats and Happy Referral Day!

Tara Penick Happy Referral Day Hersh Family! Love the feelings and memories that come flooding back :)

Shari Maxwell McConahay Happy Referral Day!

Candy Ostrow Wow, Eight Years! Congratulations. Erin is such a sweet girl. Wishing you a wonderful day!

Kristina Edgerly Schultz Happy Referral Day! I hope you enjoy your walk down memory lane. :)

Susan McCloskey and haven't those 8 years gone by quickly fellow Waiting Hearts?

Shannon Chase Przelomski Happy Referral day Tammie- I always love hearing you tell your April Fool's Day Referral story ! :)

 

AND

 

It was 8 years ago in just a few minutes that I got The Call. After waiting forever, my SW called me to tell me it was my turn. I was so angry that I yelled at her about being rude & not funny. Emily @ GWCA, thank you for calling back!

Gretchen Day Fricke, Margarita Mandoki McClain and 2 others like this.

Haydee Frost awww... I'm sure you were not the first!!! You were entitled to any outbursts possible... Congrats on that moment "anniversary"...

Stephanie Shields Ranly I had forgotten it was today! You brought back some good memories!

Gretchen Day Fricke What great memories! (and I remember you getting upset when they first called....lol!)

Angel Tallmage Maharrey Happy day!!!

Sherry Sevy What an amazing day it was.....happy referral day!

 

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I tried to upload Erin's referral pics, but Bl*gger isn't allowing me to do so.  ARGH.

Spring Break Fun

Last week was Spring Break for Erin.  Luckily enough, it was also Spring Break for Jolene's girls Jade & Emma.  That said, we arranged a sleepover!

Erin & I drove up Tuesday morning.  We went shopping for a few things at our fave store Target.  I found Erin a few pair of shorts & new cargo pants.  We went out for lunch with Jolene's sister Missy to On the Border because I wanted to try a new place.  Oh my! The chili relleno was yummilicious!

That night we got to celebrate Emma's 6th birthday with her Grandma & Poppa.  Jolene made her spaghetti & meat sauce with my fave dessert - pink lemonade cupcakes! Of course, they're also Emma's fave too.  They have to be because they're pink!  I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time.  Jolene's parents are really nice & oh! the stories we could tell you from that night!  Let's just say "email" & "GPS."

The next day we went to The Morikami.  It was the first time for both Erin & myself.  Wow! That place is gorgeous! The gardens are lovely but the walk was long. 

The one place we didn't get to visit was the tea house.  By that time my back was gone.  It was truly a lovely way to spend the day with great friends.

Erin & I left to go home later that afternoon.  Right before she fell asleep in the car, Erin asked if we could go back to The Morikami to see the tea house.  I guess it made an impression upon her.  And as she fell asleep that same night, Erin asked if we could see an actual tea ceremony & if she could also take some pics &/or video.  I told her that we would definitely look into it. 

The next morning I called Jolene.  We're going to find out when the next tea ceremony will be & make arrangements for me to take the girls.

Chinese New Year Pics

I haven't been around in a while but we have definitely been busy.  Erin & I went away for Chinese New Year with Jolene & her girls.  The FL GWCA party was a big hit. 

Xin Nien Kuai Le!

Happy New Year!! Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit!

I love celebrating the new year.  I don't care if it's the Jewish new year, the Chinese new year or the American new year.  It's all good & an opportunity for a fresh start.

Yesterday Erin had a great day.  She was super excited to bring a bit of her Chinese culture to her classmates! Thankfully, she has an amazing set of teachers who are very encouraging.  Since we were basically bringing in a social studies lesson, we did this with her writing class.  Her teacher Mrs. C was all over it - joining in & encouraging the children to enjoy their time in China.

Erin wore a beautiful qipao - a dress worn mainly for formal occasions. In Guangdong province where she is from, it is actually called a cheongsam.  We brought in some goodies for her class to share - lucky red envelopes with 2 chocolate coins inside, oranges for a sweet new year & chopsticks.  We also brought in popcorn so the children could learn how to use the chopsticks.  Of course it made the lesson messy & fun.  Mrs. C is a good sport.  Then again, the popcorn was her idea!

We turned the event into a pretty nice social studies lesson.  The children had to answer some questions.

• What hemisphere is China in?
• What continent is China on?
• What is the capital of China?
• Where is pasta from?

We taught them a few phrases:

• Gung hay fat choy! (New Year greeting in Southern China)
• Xin nien kuai le! (New Year greeting for the rest of China)
• xie xie (thank you)
• ni hao (hello)

There are 2 boys in Erin's class who have known her since preschool.  They thought this was a great thing to learn about Erin.  Another of the girls has been in Erin's class since 1st grade.  She  told me that this was even better than last year's celebration because she got to learn some cool things.

Erin glowed throughout the whole lesson.  She even enjoyed wearing her Chinese dress.  I think it even excited her that upon leaving the classroom, all of her classmates thanked us but many of them said it in Chinese.  I think she's decided that being Chinese really isn't so bad.

ARGH!!! Blogger isn't letting me upload the pics I took.  I'll try again later!

Chinese New Year is almost here!

Chinese New Year is almost here!

Personally, I really enjoy this holiday.  All of our friends who have Asian children join together to celebrate.  It's a time to celebrate Erin's birth culture & show her that China & her birth culture are important to us.

Erin's teacher Mrs. C takes on both writing & social studies with a vengeance.  She loves Erin & is very encouraging.  A few weeks ago, I asked Erin if she'd like to bring stuff in to celebrate Chinese New Year.  Once she said yes, I approached Mrs. C who thought it was an awesome idea.  That said, today we are off to the Oriental Market to make our purchases! We'll be sending in clementines & red lucky envelopes that will be filled with some candy & a few coins.  I'm hoping that Mrs. C will allow me to stay for this part of the day.

I am also busy with helping my friend Susan prepare for our annual CNY (Chinese New Year) celebration that we put on for the people who used the same adoption agency we did.  The FL GWCA group is very active & does an amazing job.  We have a great group who helps to put on a great party! Marc from Party Nation manages to get a group of stodgy ole mommies & daddies up on the floor to dance.  Heck! He even got Susan to do the Chicken Dance one year! Lori from Starr Moments Photography takes the most beautiful pics of the event.  Jolene will be selling outfits from Fly Away Clothing & donating some goodies from her own business Ladybug Cake Creations.   

The most amazing thing that this group of people does is fundraising.  Each year we hold a silent auction.  We get people to donate various items from clothing to scrapbook goodies to photography sessions to handmade items to artwork.  This year, it was decided that in honor of our friends' daughter Katie Starr, the donations would be presented to the Foundation Fighting Blindness.  I can't wait to see how much $$ we raise for this oh so worthy cause!

And let's not forget our local chapter of the FCC.  We're planning a nice evening down at the newest location of Miss Yip's Chinese Cafe.  For years we went to their location down on Miami Beach but it was decided that we would try their new location.  Don't ask me where it is.  I'm lucky I can get home from Erin's school!

So, yes, January & February are very busy but it's all for a great time!

Current Events

Each week Erin has a current events assignment.  We go to a great website d*g*news.c*m to look for the article.  Usually David &/or I choose the article for the assignment.  Erin recently decided that she wants to choose the article herself.

This past week we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  They spoke about this great man in school & something about him spoke to Erin.  While looking around the website for this week's current events, she came up with an article.  Attached was this video.

As I watched this video with Erin I cried.  Yea, I know.  Big shock.  This speech took place when I was a baby.  It still rings true in 2011. 

I have a dream also.  It's the same one the Martin Luther King Jr. held for his 4 little children.

Sloppy Joes

Erin loves the show G**d Luck Charlie on D!sney.  There was an episode where the mother made sloppy joes & the family had a food fight.  Ever since seeing it, Erin has been begging for sloppy joes.

Tonight I gave in.  Dinner was sloppy joes with French Fries.  She was so happy to have this dinner.  Of course, her idea of eating was to take 2 bites & say "I'm full.  Can I have ice cream?"  This was a big thing.  Erin has only recently come to terms with the fact that red meat is supposed to be eaten & not stared at in our house.  We got her to eat a few more bites & allowed her to have her ice cream.

I know I probably shouldn't have given in on the ice cream, but we were so proud of her for trying something new.  I couldn't resist rewarding her.  Besides, the smile on her face when she came to the table was reward enough.  The kid was getting ice cream no matter what.

What can I say?  I'm wrapped.  Right around her cute little pinkie.

Hua Yu Yue & First Yulin SWI

Many people have adopted from China.  The IA community is amazing.  People who wouldn't normally know each other, form lifelong relationships.  Some of us have never met in person.

One of the people I know through IA is my friend Sandra - a fellow February Waiting Heart.  If you've read my blog, then you know that we waited for our daughters together.  We've never met although we look forward to enjoying a nice cup of Starbucks one day whle our girls hang out.

Anyway, one of her Dutch friends adopted a little girl within the last year.  She is looking for an American family who adopted a girl named Hua YuYue from First Yulin SWI in Guangxi on June 28th of 2010.

If you know of the family who adopted Hua Yu Yue, please get in touch with me.

Thanks!

The California Tooth Fairy Loves Me!!

On New Year's Day, Erin lost her 5th tooth.  Thanks to my friend Michelle, The C*ral Springs Tooth Fairy remembered to pay a visit.  In our neck of the woods, the Tooth Fairy pays $5 for the first tooth & $2 for each of the following teeth.

Saturday night before going to bed, I had Erin make her public announcement so the Tooth Fairy would know to stop by.  She was so darn cute!  Picture this:  A cute kid in her jammies stands up in the center of my bed & starts screaming:

"Oh Tooth Fairy! I lost a tooth today! Please don't forget to stop by & pick it up."

I almost peed myself silly!  (The things we do to/for our kids.)

A few minutes later, Erin decided to check & see if she got her payoff yet.  I tried to stop her but lost the battle.  From her bedroom I heard her scream - again.  "Mama! The Tooth Fairy left me 2!"  Being the devil that I am, I asked her "2 what Erin?"  After putting away her $2 in her Tooth Fairy bank, she checked my little box where the Tooth Fairy leaves her teeth behind for me.  It was so funny when Erin turned to me to let me know that the Tooth Fairy remembered I like to keep all her teeth.

I thought all was done.  Ha!

Last night, after finishing her homework assignment, Erin asked me if she could all her Bubbie & Zaydie (grandparents) so she could tell them about her lost tooth.  I wondered out loud (here's the devil in me again) why they would want to know.  'Mama! They have to tell the California Tooth Fairy!"

I let Erin call them & was surprised to find that she called Bubbie's cell phone.  I thought Nancy (my stepmother) was going to laugh forever.  Actually, Nancy adores Erin & was so excited about getting the call.  After telling her Bubbie about loosing the tooth, Erin handed me the phone so I could chat also.  During my conversation with Nancy, I mentioned that the California Tooth Fairy doesn't have to do anything.  To which my daughter screamed:

"But the California Tooth Fairy loves me!!"

Nancy heard Erin & we both started to laugh hysterically.  It was such a moment.  Then Bubbie got off the phone to call the California Tooth Fairy (a/k/a Zaydie) & prepare him.  When my dad Skyped us, he told Erin he would let the Tooth Fairy know, & he was sure that Erin could expect something in the mail soon.

Yes Erin.  The California Tooth Fairy does love you!  Very much!

December 2010 Recap & UGH!!

A new year has started, & thank G-d!! 2010 was awful. 

David's pain got worse with each passing day.  As hard as it was for me to see, having Erin watch it was so much worse.  I was so worried about David that there were times I forgot that Erin is only 8 & expected way too much from her.  There are no words to express how sorry I am that she got left in the wind with this.

David had 2 surgeries in December 2010.  The purpose was to have a spinal cord stimulator implanted in his spine.  The first surgery was a trial, & we weren't sure it worked until just about the end of the 7 days.  He was impressed enough that he decided to go for it permanently.  We were told all about how easy it would be.  Ha!  In fact - Double Ha!  For a surgery that was supposed to be outpatient with only a 23 hour observation period, it turned out to be a horror.  David ended up being in ICU for 2 days before being placed in a regular room.  Thankfully, he was in the regular room & got discharged that same day.

Recovery hasn't been easy.  The whole thing has been a total mess!!  Tomorrow the implant will be turned on.  I pray that it starts to help soon.

With all that going on, we barely noticed Chanukah.  In fact, the entire holiday season passed in a total blur.  We did manage to prepare Erin's gifts.  David & I wanted to make sure Erin had some feeling of the holidays.  I'd say her gifts were a hit!

We're looking forward to a different year.  2011 has GOT to be better.  I mean, could it get worse?  Please don't tell me that I just jinxed myself.  Please.

Pics to Tide You Over

 Erin's 8th birthday - celebrating at camp

 Summer days just hanging with buddies - Emma, Erin & Jade

 First day of 3rd grade!

 Going to Aunt Mindy & Uncle Jacob's house for Rosh Hashanah lunch

 Halloween!!

Hanging out at Jade & Emma's house on a sunny day 

 Remember the child who wouldn't go near water?  Can't get her out now.  Yay!

Getting ready for Chanukah