Yesterday was the perfect day for a fall corn maze. One of our first chilly days.

Meet the newest member of the "Grandpa Fan-Club"

I thought kids were said to grow up slowly, so slow that you didn't even notice until you looked back years later. If you stare at this kid long enough you can actually see her growing, like someone is sucking the "kid" straight out of her.

And then her and her goofy brother pull one of these and you feel much better about the world.

Fun times.

6:30 a.m.

It may not be a pretty hour of the day, but it is definitely the most peaceful. The calm before the storm, everyone still quiet and happily snuggled on the couch, hair a mess, jammies still on, random shoes laying in the middle of the couch, eating cinnamon waffles (the frozen kind from a box, the kind I used to swear I would never feed my kids). It's the little moments, I love these little twerps...

Fun morning

The little girls and I had a fun morning while Papa and the older kids were at the soccer fields. We drove into the city to meet our favorite children's book author/illustrator, Grace Lin. We LOVE her books. Her stories are sweet and fun and best of all they usually have themes of Chinese culture. So needless to say we love these books. The girls didn't really understand how cool it was to be meeting her, so of course I took some photos. Finn said, "What up, Ms. Lin" and gave her a fist bump. Not really, it was more of a grunt and then she put up her fist in approval... Way cute. I'm sure one day soon they will think it is neat that all their Grace Lin books are signed and she even drew cute little pictures in the books for them.

Uncharted Waters

I used to think I knew everything about parenting a two-year old. I used to say parenting a toddler was the easy stuff...black and white. You can't hit your sister, you can put your hands in the toilet, you can't pull items off the shelf at T@rget, if you are throwing a tantrum you go into time out until you chill out and then we will talk it out. Black and white.

Lately I've been treading in a lot of gray areas, that is what happens when you have a toddler that does all the fun things a normal toddler does, but to the extremes.

Extremes not out of being naughty, but out of fear, nervousness and anxiety. I have read several adoption parenting books and Mina seems to have text-book attachment issues.

She tests me daily, sometimes I pass, sometimes I fail. I am having to parent her in a way that feels completely foreign to me. I don't have all the answers anymore. We have good days and really difficult days. Discipline doesn't work with her, it sets her back. Discipline is how I work, I used to say, "If you can't control your 4 yr old than you won't be able to control your 14 yr old" Set the standards early and your kids will know you mean business and you will save yourself a load of problems as they grow. My approach is being tested, I am trying to work it out. I am nervous and hopeful at the same time. I love her with all of my heart and I am committed to figuring out what makes her tick. She is most definitely a sweet, vivacious, funny little girl with a smile to light up a room. We just need to work some stuff out. And then there is this child, the one who seems to feel the most comfortable in her own skin. Sure she's still a baby, but I have a feeling she is going to be a mellow one.. I pray that she will be a mellow one.

busted!

Mina would like us to believe that when we put her to bed she stays in bed. She knows how to be sneaky and quiet. But somehow a Mama always knows....(the shoes never lie)

If it's Saturday, we are probably here.

I like it here especially when the weather is as perfect as it has been. My happiness is largely based on the weather... What city in America is blue skied and about 70 degrees year round.. that is where I want to live... I also love watching my kiddos play soccer. I've mentioned before that Jackson and Kobi are complete opposites, they prove it once again on the soccer fields...Jack is a competitor. He loves the game,,,, any game...

Kobi is NOT a competitor, It makes me sad that this is very likely the last season of soccer she will ever play....

"Mom, those boys kicked my leg when I was trying to stay as far away from the ball as possible."

She found out her school is offering a pottery class and she is over the moon about it. I can't say I blame her. We will have to save her little pink shin guards for Mina and Finn.

And this guy, he got a black eye during wrestling practice the other day.. It goes great with his shaved head (thanks to the mohawk from last week).... What up tough guy...

Some women get excited about fancy bags or designer shoes... I don't know why but these are the things that make my heart go pitter-pat.

It may not look like much, but I've been waiting for this package. Ann at Red thread China, sent me a new blanket for Finn.

One just like I had sent in her care package many months ago while I was hopelessly waiting to hold her. Of course Finn is seriously attached to the blanket that was purchased in China, no other variation of super soft pink and white will do. (Isn't that always the case) So I was overjoyed to receive this package today. Just knowing that it came all the way from China, hand picked for my baby... I am sentimental over the stinkin' envelope... what the heck is wrong with me. I don't know if I will be able to get rid of it. I need to call A& E and apply for the new show "Hoarder's" (that's my kind of t.v.) I also got crazy excited a few months back when I saw these. not just made in China,,, but made in Hunan, China... My Mina's Hunan,, the little firecracker .. I still haven't thrown out the box, I may have even bought an extra box and not let anyone touch it... Question is what do you do with an empty envelope and an extra box of cheap and possibly flammable fireworks?

Waiting for my family

The adorable little guy was born in December of 07. He was born with a heart condition and has already had surgery to correct it. His file states: His recuperation was good with normal heart and lungs functions.
This precious little girl is waiting for her family! She was born February 2006 with scoliosis. It doesn't seem to slow her down a bit.

At the age of 12 months, she could call mother and father with conscious, at the age of 16m, she learned to walk. Now, she is 2 years and 5 months old, she can run alone steadily, is able to express need with language. She is extrovert, has ready smile, and likes outdoors games.

She is listed on the BAAS agency specific list. If your dossier is logged in with a different agency the CCAA will now allow you to move your dossier to complete her adoption.

to receive more information about these sweet kids, please contact

Xiaoqing Cai at:xqcai@comcast.net

Adoption,,, excuse me while I get a few things out there.

Adoption is my passion. It is a wonderfully difficult blessing when you know the purpose God has put on your life. Figuring out what exact direction to focus that passion has me completely and utterly confused. I struggle with how much information to put onto my blog about adoption and my heart for the millions of children waiting for families as I know this blog is also a family journal that sometimes speaks to the wonderfully simple family things as well. My girls are my daughters and I never want anyone to view them as "poster children" for my passion. I have spent the past few years completely absorbed in the ins and outs of adoption. The children who wait are what really hurts my heart. Especially when I see hundreds of people waiting and wanting to adopt, or even worse, people giving up on their dream of adopting. Why should you have to wait to adopt when their are so many children wasting out their days waiting for a family.

If you are considering adoption or are stuck somewhere in the process, keep reading: You don't have to wait!! You have to fight for you kids everyday of their lives, it is part of being a parent. When you start the adoption process you better be ready to put up a fight. You need to do your research, you need to be proactive, you need to make some phone calls, you need to ask TONS of questions, you need to ask TONS of questions to tons of agencies, to people who have adopted before. Especially people who know what they are doing. YOU CAN ASK ME, and I know several other people you can ask too. If you call one place and you get discouraged , call someone else. If you want my opinion of the best adoption agency for China's waiting children ... the one that will help you find your child and actually communicate with you, you have to call B.A.A.S., We used them for our adoption with Finn and it was amazing. Xiaoqing (pronounced Show-ching)the China coordinator, found Finn for us 2 days after I contacted her (notice I say 2 days after contacting, not after sending in $$, or our dossier). She will go to great lengths to help you find a child... Everyone who has contacted her, has found their child. She is passionate about the Waiting children of China, I am amazed by her. If you are looking for an agency to start an adoption,or if you are stuck with a different agency that is not helping you find your child. You need to call her! Her number is 415-459-2481

If you have any questions for me ask away, I will try to answer them. If you want me to respond privately leave your email address.

You just crossed the CRAZY line...

I'm not sad to say that today is the last day of Homecoming week for Collin. I am also not lying when I say I was a little annoyed when Marc and Collin came in last night after shaving Collin's hair into a ridiculous mohawk all for the sake of a silly dress up day at school. Painting your kid green and shaving their head are two totally different kinds of crazy... am I right?

I probably wouldn't have cared, but I was seriously starting to think about our annual nightmare - the Christmas card photo.... You know the one time a year that we put everyone together at the same moment with their hair combed, teeth brushed, and clothes that don't have stains all down the front. It is a day filled with much angst... and I am already starting to dread, I mean plan it. Or at least I was until I saw my son, who is usually an extremely conservative, never push the style envelope kind of kid, how long until this train wreck grows out?

What is the opposite of Mellow?

If I had one word to describe Collin, it would be a hard choice... Intense, Loyal, Character... those things come to mind... Mellow, that would be a horrible choice, boy is never mellow. He is in student council and he takes it very seriously.. but then again Collin takes most things seriously... well not cleaning his room, or doing homework, but don't get me started. When your 17 year old wakes you up at 5:00 a.m. more than once in a week so you can help him paint his face, it must be Homecoming week. Let me just say... never a dull moment.

Superhero day

Pirate day, complete with painted on chest hair... Poor Finn is so confused. I missed pictures of Nerd day, and Disney Character day...I hadn't had my coffee yet... Do you think I am excited to see what the last day of Homecoming week entails... For now me and the girls will be making a run to the craft store to pick up a few requested items... did I already say, "never a dull moment"

We are the "project people"...

We were sure we were in over our heads on this one...

What a stinkin' mess.

We love a good project, but when you find yourself scrubbing your children's and your own hands with bleach because they are saturated with dye, you start to question your Mommy logic. We started out with gloves and good intentions and then things quickly went south. Then after dinner we got to "untie" our shirts and rinse them out. We were giddy.. they turned out way cool. And the kids were already asking when we could do it again. We made 7 shirts. Kobi and Jack were so excited to put them on for school this morning, our hands still a little blotchy with stain.. but this one was worth the mess. Do you think this has anything to do with my drive to move to the country, raise a few farm animals and become a hippie?.... the kids would gladly follow....We shall see, suburbia isn't working for us, but the crumby real estate market is keeping us happily content for now.

The only way she can get any cuter...

Hey good lookin'

How's about a smooch?

I didn't think I would say this a few months back when she was throwing temper tantrums, bashing her head against any hard surface available to the point of needed surgery and scaring us silly. But Girl has become one of our mellow kids, she is so loving , funny and happy and so adjusted it blows our minds.

I would surely take two of her any day.. She has completely stolen my heart.

Good Men..

I am so blessed to be surrounded by thoughtful men. My heart breaks when I hear woman complaining about the men in their lives. I also make it a habit to compliment mothers of boys when I see them teaching them to be sensitive as well as "sturdy". I am NOT of fan of the "boys will be boys" club. Anyhow, I digress.... I had a birthday this past weekend...

Marc made me dinner... The sweetest thing about this is that I know this is not easy for him...

he scoured a recipe website, found a recipe he thought I would like and studied the instructions.. The CUTEST part of the whole thing... I found him watching youtube videos about Mincing garlic, because he didn't know exactly what "minced" meant, when he read it in the recipe. That is why I felt completely loved when I ate this meal.

It means more to me than any gift-wrapped glittery thing ever. Plus it is clams and shrimp in a white wine sauce ladies, you know he wasn't making that for himself... Full on chick-food!

Collin went out on his own and bought some new clothes for me... I love them, he knew I would. He is crazy thoughtful and always spoils me on Mother's day and my b-day. If the old tale about how to know if a man is good by how he treats his Mama, then I know for sure he is going to be a great husband someday. He also spent his only day off at the movies with his Mama, we went to see the new Tyler Perry movie... I love his movies, he is the bomb-diggity..

You think he would say,,, Mom you are way too old to be sporting a batman t-shirt for goodness sake. By the way.. How old do you have to be and how gray does your hair have to be before you shouldn't be trying to pull off this look, because I like it, but as I type this I am wearing a string friendship bracelet and black nail polish... maybe I do spent too much time around kids????

And my sweet father-in-law brought me these flowers... He is the 1st generation "Good Man", thanks for teaching your boy to be such a great husband and father.

Today was the first morning since Finn has been home that it is just Mina, Finn & Mommy at home. She came home that first week that summer started and things around here never slowed down for a second. We have also had some super fun visitors since school started this year. So today it was just me and the little girls. Mina and Finn have found a new groove, I was skeptical that they would ever find it, but they have actually been getting along pretty well most of the time, even playing together and giggling together. I am so excited to soak up my girls in the next few weeks. I didn't get great photos, I spent all of 30 seconds trying to capture them... we had brownies and tickle fights to attend to....