I am thankful for the following (in no particular order):
* My family & friends, some of whom are family - but especially my daughter.
* That a nameless, faceless worker for the CCAA determined that I would make Anna a good mother; and, therefore, chose me for her.
* My job and co-workers
* Eleven wonderful years with Remmie before his life sunsetted on September 4. I don't think I can ever find another Remmie (Jake is a good dog, Remmie was the best).
* I live in a country where I am free
* A roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes for our backs, and money in the bank. Really, who could want for more?
* Time spent with my daughter.
Happy Thanksgiving from Jeff City, I hope everyone takes time to think about all for which you have to be thankful.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
The beginning...
...of a new tradition. Since it appears that we won't be near family for Thanksgiving in the foreseeable future, so Anna and I are starting our own family tradition for the turkey day weekend. It involves baking lots of cookies, watching lots of Christmas movies, and going to a movie theater to see a movie.
So, here is the first cookie we made. In the event it isn't evident, it is a snowman. I got this great cookie sheet in the shape of a snowman at WalMart the other day.
Before decorating (other than white frosting) and the after photo
and the artist herself decorating the snowman - ok, I did the writing, but she did the candies.
Shortly after I took a picture of the final product, we decapitated the snowman and ate.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Photo catch-up and funny stories (at least to me)
Well, we are officially Chinese school drop-outs, but it is not because Anna wasn't into learning Chinese. Anna is the youngest student and the other girls close to her age are 7 and 8. This year the kids are starting to learn reading and writing of Chinese characters. Anna is too younger, in that she doesn't have the fine motor skills to draw the characters. So, in order to avoid her and I getting frustrated, we dropped out for the year. But we are still learning some things - like colors. Which leads to a funny story...
When Anna wants to know how to say a color in Chinese, she'll say "what does (color) say." So, the other day we were driving to the store and
She started with "what does red say."
Me: "What does red say?"
Anna: "Red says hongse."
Me: " Good. In Chinese red says hongse and in Spanish red says rojo."
Anna: "No, RED SAYS HONGSE!!"
So, we will put off learning Spanish (you know, the other language I actually know) for awhile, since in her worldview Chinese is the only other language of value. But she knows four colors and counts to ten. I know 7 colors, 4 body parts, can count to 100, and draw 10 characters. Which means that sooner or later she will over take my limited knowledge unless I keep studying outside of Chinese school next year.
Now to the photos - really the only reason most of you come to the blog.
Anna modeling a dress-up outfit (she is claims to be Tinkerbell), and then Anna modeling her new monkey robe. The robe was suppose to be for Christmas, but it is rather chilly now and so she received it early. It is not as if she is going to be hurting for Christmas gifts.
When Anna wants to know how to say a color in Chinese, she'll say "what does (color) say." So, the other day we were driving to the store and
She started with "what does red say."
Me: "What does red say?"
Anna: "Red says hongse."
Me: " Good. In Chinese red says hongse and in Spanish red says rojo."
Anna: "No, RED SAYS HONGSE!!"
So, we will put off learning Spanish (you know, the other language I actually know) for awhile, since in her worldview Chinese is the only other language of value. But she knows four colors and counts to ten. I know 7 colors, 4 body parts, can count to 100, and draw 10 characters. Which means that sooner or later she will over take my limited knowledge unless I keep studying outside of Chinese school next year.
Now to the photos - really the only reason most of you come to the blog.
Anna modeling a dress-up outfit (she is claims to be Tinkerbell), and then Anna modeling her new monkey robe. The robe was suppose to be for Christmas, but it is rather chilly now and so she received it early. It is not as if she is going to be hurting for Christmas gifts.
A couple of weeks ago, Anna and I (well, mostly me) babysat Dustin, who is the son of my friend Debbie. Anna did rather well with sharing - but had to be reminded to share and play nicely.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
kids and money
I have been thinking about finances more and more...along with reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover and watching Suze Orman.
So, my questions are about Anna,
*When is too young to have her start learning about money and its value?
*At what age should she start learning about giving? (I will say that right now when she gets money - change from my wallet - she puts money in two piggy banks; one for long term savings and the other for Love Without Boundaries)
*What age is to young for me to start a retirement fund for her (along with the college fund)? I was thinking of depositing money in a Roth IRA (if I can) and walking away for the next 60 years.
So, my questions are about Anna,
*When is too young to have her start learning about money and its value?
*At what age should she start learning about giving? (I will say that right now when she gets money - change from my wallet - she puts money in two piggy banks; one for long term savings and the other for Love Without Boundaries)
*What age is to young for me to start a retirement fund for her (along with the college fund)? I was thinking of depositing money in a Roth IRA (if I can) and walking away for the next 60 years.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Weekend....
No new pictures at the moment...but wanted to post about our weekend.
I had to laugh, because Jessica posted asking about our weekend and said they just relaxed. I haven't had a weekend of just relaxing since Anna came home and I wouldn't want it any differently.
Our weekend started with a Friday night pottery painting date for just Anna and myself. I cannot tell what we painted because it is a Christmas gift for Jessica. But we had a good time talking to each other while painting between paint coats.
Saturday was grocery shopping and laundry day. With a little play and movie times thrown in.
Today was another pottery painting session, this time with some of my co-workers. Anna and I painted 5 Christmas ornaments, with our bill being $20 - which is almost cheaper than buying already done ornaments.
And somewhere in all of that, I managed to wrap Christmas presents and draft our Christmas newsletter. Now all I have to do is wait for some pottery to be ready and I'll be able to make shipments to the parents in Florida and Dustin & Jessica in Indiana.
Last night instead of a book, Anna wanted to her the story of "us" (aka our adoption story).
I had to laugh, because Jessica posted asking about our weekend and said they just relaxed. I haven't had a weekend of just relaxing since Anna came home and I wouldn't want it any differently.
Our weekend started with a Friday night pottery painting date for just Anna and myself. I cannot tell what we painted because it is a Christmas gift for Jessica. But we had a good time talking to each other while painting between paint coats.
Saturday was grocery shopping and laundry day. With a little play and movie times thrown in.
Today was another pottery painting session, this time with some of my co-workers. Anna and I painted 5 Christmas ornaments, with our bill being $20 - which is almost cheaper than buying already done ornaments.
And somewhere in all of that, I managed to wrap Christmas presents and draft our Christmas newsletter. Now all I have to do is wait for some pottery to be ready and I'll be able to make shipments to the parents in Florida and Dustin & Jessica in Indiana.
Last night instead of a book, Anna wanted to her the story of "us" (aka our adoption story).
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Funny Anna sayings...
Ok, Anna has been saying some rather funny things lately. I thought I would share...
1) Monday while walking downstairs to the morning room at daycare, Anna makes the following announcement for all to hear (too bad there were only two people)-"My friends, I am here....Friends, here I am."
2) Last night we had McDonalds. As we were feeding french fries to Jake, Anna looks at me and says "He doesn't want your french fries. He wants my french fries." Sorry to break it to you kid, Jake will eat french fries from anyone.
3) Lately, Anna has been saying "HEY". So, I have started to respond, "Hay is for horses, you are more like a donkey." And now she says "Hey...hay is for horses, I a donkey."
There are also the moments of some entertainment and some pain. Sunday she was yelling at Jake to get off the dog bed. I asked her why and her answer "it is Remmie's bed, not Jake's bed. And Remmie coming home tomorrow." She will also still say that she has two dogs, Remmie and Jake. She kills me a little at a time with those comments. It will be hell in this family when the Husky comes to his life end, which better not be for a very long time.
And I will close with a more positive Anna saying-
"I love you more than chocolate. I love you more than ice cream."
1) Monday while walking downstairs to the morning room at daycare, Anna makes the following announcement for all to hear (too bad there were only two people)-"My friends, I am here....Friends, here I am."
2) Last night we had McDonalds. As we were feeding french fries to Jake, Anna looks at me and says "He doesn't want your french fries. He wants my french fries." Sorry to break it to you kid, Jake will eat french fries from anyone.
3) Lately, Anna has been saying "HEY". So, I have started to respond, "Hay is for horses, you are more like a donkey." And now she says "Hey...hay is for horses, I a donkey."
There are also the moments of some entertainment and some pain. Sunday she was yelling at Jake to get off the dog bed. I asked her why and her answer "it is Remmie's bed, not Jake's bed. And Remmie coming home tomorrow." She will also still say that she has two dogs, Remmie and Jake. She kills me a little at a time with those comments. It will be hell in this family when the Husky comes to his life end, which better not be for a very long time.
And I will close with a more positive Anna saying-
"I love you more than chocolate. I love you more than ice cream."
Sunday, November 2, 2008
two more days...two more days...
I cannot tell you how excited I am for November 4th to get here....and not because it is my brother's birthday. Happy 34th Birthday, Dustin!!!
Opps, sorry, was sidetracked.
Once November 4th comes and goes so will the following:
1) Annoying pre-recorded phone messages on behalf of candidates. What a waste of time, money and resources. I am receiving at least three a day and when I am not home, the damn messages are clogging my voice mail.
2) Annoying flyers for any candidates. Again, the waste of resources. At least these I can recycle.
3) Annoying people knocking on my door to get me to vote for their candidate. What the heck am I suppose to say to these people...the truth "I have no idea who the heck so-and-so is" or lie "yes, I'll vote for so-and-so"
4) Annoying television commercials...well, those I don't see all that often because we don't watch that much television.
Done venting...off to clean, Anna has a friend coming over this afternoon for a play date.
Opps, sorry, was sidetracked.
Once November 4th comes and goes so will the following:
1) Annoying pre-recorded phone messages on behalf of candidates. What a waste of time, money and resources. I am receiving at least three a day and when I am not home, the damn messages are clogging my voice mail.
2) Annoying flyers for any candidates. Again, the waste of resources. At least these I can recycle.
3) Annoying people knocking on my door to get me to vote for their candidate. What the heck am I suppose to say to these people...the truth "I have no idea who the heck so-and-so is" or lie "yes, I'll vote for so-and-so"
4) Annoying television commercials...well, those I don't see all that often because we don't watch that much television.
Done venting...off to clean, Anna has a friend coming over this afternoon for a play date.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Girls' morning out...
I arranged for a group from the office to paint pottery this morning. The event began when I decided that I wanted Anna to paint something for the grandparents for Christmas. The outing grew to a group of ten, with everyone having a great time. Here are photos from today's morning...
Anna concentrating on her project. I decided it would be easier if she had something to paint while I was working on the Christmas present.
Barb helping her granddaughter Caitlin. Caitlin concentrating almost as hard as Anna.
Anna getting her handprints done.. The full group (except me - the photographer)
Anna handprints again... Debbie (left) and Roopa (right)
Anna concentrating on her project. I decided it would be easier if she had something to paint while I was working on the Christmas present.
Barb helping her granddaughter Caitlin. Caitlin concentrating almost as hard as Anna.
Anna getting her handprints done.. The full group (except me - the photographer)
Anna handprints again... Debbie (left) and Roopa (right)
Anna and Maggie... Maggie and Paloma painting their fairies.
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