Amelia's Baptism

You can read about Amelia's baptism here:

http://journey2amelia.blogspot.com/2008/11/holy-baptism.html

This is the blog that I use for Amelia's "stuff". As soon as the casting is over, I'll probably just move to this blog exclusively.

Elise's first sleepover

Elise had her first sleepover back in August with our her best friend, TiaBella. TiaBella lives two houses down, so I wasn't too concerned since it would be pretty easy to walk to her house and bring Elise home if there was any trouble.

I told Elise that she was spending the night with Tee and that she needed to gather her things. Elise shot upstairs like a missile and quickly started to pack her backpack~without any help, instructions or guidance. Less than fifteen minutes later, she proudly walked into the kitchen and announced that she was ready to go. When I asked her if she packed everything that she needed, she replied yes. Naturally, I asked her if I could check her backpack and she gladly handed it over. Imagine my surprise when I opened the backpack and the only thing it contained was Elise's very so precious stuffed animals, not one stitch of clothing, a toothbrush, pillow, just stuff animals. Needless to say, we returned to her room and I explained to her the necessary items for a sleepover.

Amelia wanted to go along so badly, but alas, this was not her time. Elise was a little indignant, but TiaBella was more than ready to explain to the "baby" why she couldn't come on this little adventure. I didn't hear a peep all night and I awoke the next morning surprised at the fact that it was 7 a.m. and I didn't get a phone call all night.

The sleepover was a great success and I even had to call and ask when my daughter might be returning home. She had a delightful time and the behavior report was stellar so I guess we are safe to try sleepovers again. Maybe the next one will be at our house....if and when Tee is ready for that.

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Back to school post....time to catch up

Back to school at the Wells ranch consisted of sending #1 off to Case Western for his freshman year, sending #2 to his first year at the senior high school and sending #3 off to four days of preschool.

Matt is loving college and seems to be flourishing there. He's already involved in a research project, joined a fraternity and he's only been home once.

Tucker is doing o.k. at the high school. The work load is challenging, but we expected that. He likes it so far....we hope it continues.

Elise loves preschool...it's all fun and games for her. She just loves life and preschool just fits right for her.

I was rather sad this year. I guess it was tougher than I thought watching Tucker drive off this year instead of watching him get on the school bus. This driving thing is hard! I make him text me when he gets to school and he has to text me when he is starting home. I know it's a little overprotective, but his driving just makes me nervous.

I get a few hours alone with Amelia now. It's rather nice, no competition, no screaming....just alone time. She seems to enjoy not having to worry about what Elise is always up to.

I've started back to a new gym and that seems to be helping my mental attitude and physical stamina. Hopefully, my schedule will even out once the trips to St. Louis are over. But for now, I go when I can.

Enjoy the 1st day of school pics!

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Still hard

Hard for me to come back here and see that mug! I miss him so! We talk about the "Rainbow Bridge" and Gordo waiting for us there. Elise wants to write a book about Gordo going to be with Jesus. I'm trying, but I can't stop the tears and she wonders why. Maybe it will help me heal. I'm not sure yet.

Time marchs on and I think of Gordie constantly, I even imagine I heard him scratching at the front door a couple of times last week. It was so pronounced that I went to the door~call me crazy. I had a dream about him a few nights ago! Then I think of saving a few morsals for him and I remember he's not there. Then the tears come again and I can't seem to stop them. He was just a dog, I try to tell myself then I think was he really just a dog????

Lots going on here that is worth blogging about, but I can't seem to get to it. Maybe next week!...

Tattered and Torn

Tattered and torn is my heart today. My beloved Chow has gone on to doggy heaven. It was sudden, unexpected and shocking.

Chow's carry a bit of a reputation, if you will. But our Gordo was the sweetest dog. We referred to him as the land manatee, just hanging around, taking up space. He LOVED the girls and carried a particular fondness for Amelia that often surprised me. There were a few times that I found him in her bedroom, sitting or lying beside her bed. You see, she was upset and I had failed to respond in what Amelia believed was an appropriate amount of time. Therefore, she was taking a fit and Gordo didn't care for her crying.

I'll miss his silly face, smushed into the ground as he slept in my bathroom. I'll miss his head popping up around the daylilies when he hears me pull in. I'll miss watching him through the front window as he would stand up and watch Matthew drive by the house, turn around and park his truck in front of the house. The boys thought he was a little goofy, but he recognizes their trucks~smarter than what they think! I'll miss him following me through the house during a thunderstorm because the crack of thunder startled him. I'll miss him lying at my feet in the evening, when everyone else was asleep and I was catching up on my favorite shows. I'll miss Steve telling me how he would fret for me when I was traveling. Steve would often say that "Gordo is stuck up my behind!". I'll miss hearing the back door slam as he would push his way out onto the back porch to check out the back yard. I'll miss the little kids in our neighborhood squeal in delight at the "Lion Dog" sitting in the driveway. I'll miss the way he would cock his head to the side when I would say "Gordo, you want a cookie?" I'll miss him sitting beside me at the kitchen table waiting for a morsel to savor since he got very few! I'll miss him lying on the kitchen floor, staring at his food bowl because he was hungry~no barking, just staring! I'll miss the phone call from home asking if I fed him or not since he was begging at his food bowl again. I'll miss the neighbors laughing because he would hike his leg on my flowers (another passion of mine). I'll miss the occasionaly "passer-by" ask, "What kind of dog is that? He sure is beautiful!" I'll miss the way he would jump on my sister whenever she would come over, often scratching and bruising her. So often, he would surprise us with his sudden bursts of energy. I'll miss him running to the front door, full out (which wasn't much), when I walked back from the mail box, slide across the front porch, then turn and run back towards me often knocking me down. I'll miss scratching him under his chin and watching him try to stretch his head a little higher so I can scratch in a different spot. Mostly, I'll miss seeing him sitting in the front yard, with his majestic head held high, watching over his kingdom. I referred to him as "The Emperor of Cherry Lane Farm" (self-proclaimed).

He was beautiful, loving, sweet and he was mine. He loved me best and everyone knew he was my dog. My heart literally ached as I held him and felt his last breath leave his body. I've held several of my dogs while they left this world, but his departure has hurt me the most. Maybe because of the suddenness~I'm not sure. The ache returns everyday when I automatically think, "Is Gordo inside or outside?" "Did Tucker feed him before he left for school?" So many things that were just a part of the daily routine around the Wells' Ranch involved Gordie.

I've had a bit of a reprieve since we are traveling to St. Louis for Amelia right now. But I dread returning home and not seeing his mug looking at me when I drive in and then that "tail wiggle" that he was famous for. Now there are things to clean up that I will no longer need and I'm not sure how to do that. But when I return, I'll clean the slobber from the walls and the floor one more time. I'll vacuum up all the lose hair and give the dog food and cookies away. Then one final "pooper scoop" around the yard. Oh Gordie, what will I do without you??? I'd rather clean the slobber and scoop the yard than yearn for you the way I am. I doubt the tears and heart ache will end anytime soon. It seems he was a bigger part of me than I ever realized.

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Order of the Arrow Weekend

It's always a bummer when you return from vacation. There's nothing thrilling about returning to the daily ins & outs of life. Not like getting up early, eating breakfast and heading to the beach for some sandcastle building. Yep, life at the beach is much different than life in the 'burbs.

With that said, the most exciting thing over the last week has been the "Extreme Home Makeover" was in our city this past week. It was very exciting, I even went up to the house one day with the girls. I did get to see Michael, one of the designers, but that was it. I just wasn't very motivated to stand out in the heat with two toddlers and hope to see someone famous. But at least I did go.

Tucker is at his Order of the Arrow Ordeal this weekend. It's the Boy Scouts of America's National Honor Society.

According to Wikipedia this is what the OA is:

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Founded in 1915, it uses American Indian traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on Scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their daily lives. Inducted members are known as Arrowmen or brothers and are organized into local youth-led lodges for fellowship and the rendering of service to Boy Scout councils and their communities.

Any scout that has been through their "ordeal', is sworn to secrecy to not tell other scouts about the ceremonies etc. It's kind of like a secret society~think Free Masons or Knights of Templar.
;-). Tucker would just roll his eyes when I said stuff like that. But for me, it made it more exciting.

I dropped him off on Friday night and I'll pick him up Sunday morning. Before he left on Friday, he reviewed his packing list with me. I knew they would be working, so I asked him if he packed his hiking boots to work in. His comment to me was, "Mom, my "Chucks" are my workboots." Those of you who don't know what "Chucks" are, these are it....

Yep, good ole fashioned, high-topped, canvas tennis shoes. Not joking, wish I were. This is coming from my son that finished his freshman year with a 4+ GPA.



I did head to the garage to find the hiking boots, but they were no where to be found...hmmmm. When I asked where they were, "I don't know." was all I got...again...hmmmm.

So I'm excited to get him tomorrow and hear about this weekend. When I left on Friday, there was a bunch of teenage boys, standing underneath a shelter house, looking less than thrilled to be spending their Summer Friday night getting ready to work. I pulled out, with my radio blasting some oldie but good (my windows were rolled up, so they couldn't hear it!) Ah, it does a mother's heart good!

Family Beach Photos

There really are no words....

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The boys afternoon out...

The boys went parasailing the other evening. We couldn't watch them from the beach since we were not sure where they would be lifting off from. But we were able to get theses photos from the crew. It looks like the had fun 800 feet up in the air. They said it was awesome. I'm sure it was...

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First time to the beach...

Elise and Amelia are getting their first experience at the beach. Elise isn't so sure of it, but we're hoping that will change as time creeps on.

I don't want to get any closer!!!!

Then there's Amelia...she thinks the water is pretty cool. She walked right out into the surf. Now the sand is another story...she's not liking that on her hands

Yowsa...why's it coming so close????

Let's talk boys...they just jump in and keep going and going until my heart starts to beat frantically in my chest because they look like bobbers in the water!

Red bobba gone! Red bobba gone! (I'm cracking myself up!)

They thought if they sat closer, Elise might get in. HA!

We finally attempted a sand castle. It then turned into "Let's bury Tucker!" What can I say...I was in the spirit of things!

American and Chinese Engineers at work....

Elise helped mama bury Tucker

Life at the beach...doesn't get any better than this!

Elise's photo of Baba and Mama


Grapes and Sunglasses...what more can a girl ask for????

July 4th-Meeting Lisa and Ana Claire Young

I love cyberspace~it has granted me the ability to meet some of the most wonderful people. When we first started our adoption journey to Elise, I was blessed to meet some amazing families that were going through the same experience. We shared our highs and lows~good times and bad~successes and failures. Having this group of people has been more than I could hope for, but everything that I prayed for. Funny how that happens.

When I realized that we would be traveling through Alabama and spending the night on our vacation, I contacted my cyberfriend, Lisa, to see if it were possible to hook up. Needless to say, Lisa and Ana Claire spent the evening with us and it was fabulous. I wish our time together could have been longer, but I'm grateful for what we did have.

Thank you Lisa and Ana Claire for taking time out of your Independence Day to spend some time playing! You are both treasures! I'm sorry the photos are better, but I hope yours are! I promised to not post anything "bad" photos. I hope these are all O.K.

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This is very, special vacation for us. Lisa and Ana Claire made it extra special!

PS I'm getting ready to goggle the "rattail braid"!

Bubbles, piggy backs and beach toes

These are the Empresses bathing...it's rather unsettling. This is what I found when I stuck my head in the bathroom while folding laundry. Amelia seems to trust her Jei Jei. I'm not so sure that I do ;-)




Elise arranged for both of them to get piggy back rides on their whales while holding their Chengdu Pandas. I thought it was rather ingenious. She wanted to make sure her mei mei had the same thing she had...only smaller!

Finally, you can't go on vacation without getting your piggies painted. Poor Amelia has such stubby toe nails...I hope they eventually get longer but I don't think that's going to happen. We paint them anyway.

Hopscotch

I've spent the several days attempting to capture video from my camcorder to my computer. Needless to say...it's been a futile exercise since I did not have the drivers for my camcorder. Naturally, I attempted to go online and download said drivers. But I couldn't find them to save my life. Next step...call JVC and ask where I can download the drivers. JVC tells me that the drivers for my particular camcorder are not available online, but I can buy the CD for a mere $29.98 plus tax and shipping. "Are you kidding me???", I squealed into the phone. "You are going to charge me for something that came with my camera, that in all my craziness of trying to hold a house together with four kids, I can't locate it?" Imagine these words in a high-pitched, pig-like squeal. Because that's what I sounded like. Then the poor guy on the other end of the lines just answers, "Yes!" BRILLIANT!!!!

Of course, I had to be stubborn and NOT order the CD at that time. I attempted to use the ILO that I have, but that wasn't working properly either. So I broke down (one day later) and ordered the stinkin' CD. It killed me, but I was desperate to get some video off that camcorder to post to my blog.

Here's the coveted video: It's of the girls playing hopscotch with some other shenanigans going on with Gu-Gu Tucker. Little Miss Amelia was doing her best to keep up with her Jei Jei! It really was one of those special "Summer-Time" moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln2kl9gS4QY

This is turning into such a great summer! I can't remember when I've enjoyed myself more...and we haven't even gone on vacation yet!!!!

He's got the POWER~VBS

Last week was VBS for Elise! She LOVED the music so I had to buy the CD and DVD for at home. This is a video of her dancing to "He's Got the Power!". She doesn't stop moving the entire time the music is playing. It's a great "wear-her-out-before-a-nap" activity. Too funny!

Unfortunately, there is a little bit of "Michael Jackson" imitating going on~but what's a mom to do??? I can't stop the video for everything!

One year ago....

I've been rather nostalgic the last few days. It was a year ago that I embarked on an adventure of a lifetime...backing at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in Cimmeron, New Mexico. We started on June 19, 2007~so our crew number was 619D2. We did not actually hit the trail until 6/20 and that's when the fun began. Well, actually it began before that...as I reread my journal about the first day at Base Camp~I recalled how much I wanted to just come home. I was overwhelmed with the journey that was ahead of us and a little more than freaked over leaving for China as soon as I returned home. I did not finalize our flights for China until a day earlier while in Colorado Springs. To say I was a little stress is an understatement.

As we were departing Base Camp on 6/20, we had to weigh our backpacks. Mine weighed in a little over 50 pounds and I was wondering how I was going to carry that for 11 more days. Fortunately, things were redistributed and I left base with a pack weighing around 42 pounds. That was still a little intimidating, but there wasn't much more I could do. I remember having minor panic attacks as I started out each leg. WOW~I kept thinking I had bitten off more than I could chew!

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I actually kept a written journal during that trip and I've been reading it. Holy Toledo ~ did I go through a lot of different emotions. The first few days were the roughest. We started out at a pretty low altitude, 6000 feet. That wasn't too bad, but on the second day, we made an accent to Touchache Springs and that was an elevation change of 2000 feet. Most of that change was done in a very short, uphill hike. It was BRUTAL! I remember our ranger, Scott, telling us to not stop and "just push through it!". I thought I was going to inflict physical harm on the poor boy. I wanted to tell him that he had four adults that were over 40, one was over 50 and he was 19~to "just chill out!". But I kept it to myself. I think the funniest thing that happened that first night was sleeping in a cow pasture with a herd of cattle. Yep, they came right in to camp and checked us out. Our first "wildlife" siting.

I'll probably post more about the trip and more photos. I would go back in a minute, but it doesn't appear it will happen next year.

VACATION

We are going on a family vacation this year...and it won't be a trip that will add to our family or one that only a few of us are going on (I.E. I won't be hiking with 40+ pounds on my back with just Tucker), and we won't be going with anyone else. Our last family vacation was before we traveled to get Elise and we went with another family. Can you say....DISASTER! Let me tell you something, you really get to know someone when you go on vacation with them. We will NEVER do that again!!!!!!

This summer~we are going to the beach! And yes, all six of us are going. Steve and I are beside ourselves with excitement. I've arranged to meet another family that adopted about the same time we adopted Elise and we will be meeting them on the way! I can't wait to finally see Lisa and Ana Claire in person. The internet is a wonderful thing, but there's nothing like seeing someone in person.

So I'm being a little weired about the trip. We are renting a house so we'll be able to cook. I told Steve I was going to plan a menu to making shopping easier. I don't want to spend my time going to the grocery when I can be enjoying the great outdoors! He think's I'm crazy~I think it's efficient.

Anyway, just had to put those thoughts down today! It's the countdown to the beach!!!!

One or Two????

Elise is at the awkward stage when a one piece swim suit does not fit her right (if you know what I mean). So I decided to step out (albeit, a little apprehensive) and buy her a two piece. I knew her baba would not be impressed. But you got to admit....she looks MARVELOUS!

Baba just stared at me when Elise pranced into the kitchen last night before heading to the pool. All I could say was, "You can either look at her tummy or look at her bum! Which do you prefer?" Needless to say, he picked up the beach bag and headed out with the girls in tow.

Last day of school, dentists, tornados and cicadas

Well, the last day of school has come and gone for Tucker. He is no longer at the Freshman school and will now attend the high school. I think he's very excited about it. I think he's more excited about the fact that the girls and I won't be waiting at the bus stop on his last day school ready to snap pictures of him on the last day. Since he was on early release on the last day(out at 10:45 a.m.), we went to the bus stop to wait for him. Imagine his surprise when his sisters were waiting on the opposite corner frantically waving and calling to him. I found it sweet and very special. It's something that I hope he will always remember.

Elise had another visit to the dentist...drama~drama~drama. She LOVES to brush and floss her teeth at home. But she has a complete meltdown when they start that cleaning tool. Holy cow~I made her tough it out! The tears were flowing, but we got them clean. Hip-hip-hooray for no cavities!

We've had some yucky weather in the past week. The other night we had a tornado warning. Tucker came tearing upstairs to tell us. We had just put the girls to bed so we had to get them up and gather a few of their comfort items before we headed to the basement. Tucker was busy running around the house gathering his precious electronics (IPod, PS3, Computer). He never once offered to help get the girls. I thought my head was going to explode. I did tell him to get the dog downstairs. I think we need to have some discussions about material items.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Finally, I have decided to start enjoying my children more~like SCC says..."I'll Dance with Cinderella!" I hope you enjoy the pictures. I love the ones of the girls "cooking".

I'm counting the days until vacation~I can't wait to get away and it won't be a backpacking trip or a 30+hour flight to a foreign country. Just a good ole fashion beach vacation~I can hear the blender spinning now....