A farwell to Margo

Another night at Buffalo Wild Wings. This one came up unexpectedly and was a welcome treat!
A co-worker/boss of Bart's is returning to her homeland of Deutschland (Germany) and had a going away party. He first declined...sitter issues always prevent outings such as these, but she insisted he bring "THE WHOLE FAMILY". It was a great time and we ate lots on yummy wings with and without bones! And the kids behaved really well for the VIP room.

Stone captured many a moment with my camera...as you can tell.

The empty beer glass: a sad sight. It is even sadder that it was neither Bart's nor mine. We skipped the alcholic beverages for a few different reasons...1. KIDS (never stopped us before, but.....) 2. diet (didn't stop Bart from coming home and dipping into his hidden stash in the garage!) 3 and 4, well never mind, 1 and 2 should have been enough!













And yes, another tiolet by Stone. I bet though you don't have a picture of a toilet in the women's bathroom at BWW, do you? HA!












Back to the reason for the fantastic night out....

We wish Margo the best of luck and thank her for putting up with Bart for the years they worked toghether.
It isn't a picnic in the park, I know that first hand.

An adoption journey: The Sunshine Chronicles

My mom saved me a Chicago Tribune article about a couple from the chicago area that is adopting from China. She has a column in the Tribune all devoted to it. I just found the link on a yahoo group site (April 2006 DTC families). This is what my future holds. Check it out! They are in CHINA now and will soon be united with their daughter.

Welcome home DAD!

Did I mention as I was getting beat up last week that Bart was in POLAND? I did not think so. He was told Thursday, he was leaving Saturday for 2 weeks (2 weeks ago). Despite the misfortunes I occurred the weeks went by with no major issues.

The one thing we love other then the return of "the DAD" is the goodies he brings home. I am a sucker for foreign food. Since meats and cheeses are illegal to bring back, (good thing too, he had a full search in Chicago leaving him almost naked and feeling violated) he sticks to the sweets and snacks.

We hit the jackpot this time.

You wanted it, You eat it.

Ask anyone in my family what my worst pet peve is and they would most likely all know. And they all (Stone rarely though) do it! Lucy is the worst. Bart and Dante are bad.

When I am eating something...and now-a-days it seems to be less desirable foods then before. I hate it when they look at it sometimes right out and but for the most part try to sneak peaks to see what it is....and one step further want it. I finally broke down the other night and was cheating on the diet and got a bowl of skim milk, total, and half a banana for a snack when LUCY had to have it. The worst part is after I caved she smiled at me like "I got your cereal." Five minutes later and about 3 bikes she runs off. NO WAY! I make her come back and did the...."you wanted it, you eat it routine". This always brings me back to a grilled cheese sandwich my uncle Dan made me eat. I could not watch Bozo circus because of it and my cousin Holly did not see any either. Not because she did not eat, but because she was too busy dancing around singing I get to watch Bozo. It is a classic tale we all love in our family.

As you can see Lucy was not smiling at me after this. The top picture shows a tear mid check that is heartbreaking to anyone but the original owner of the bowl of cereal. She sat there about 20 minutes crying before we talked and now she doesn't want mommy's cereal anymore.....for now anyway.

She should've stuck to Nutella!

I love NUTELLA!

China adoption referral rumors....bring them on!

The One house has this bedroom that needed to be "staged" while we are trying to sell it. It is upstairs and used to be Stone's room, then Lucy's room and now it is.....KATE'S room.

This was not easy, but isn't it cute!? Knowing she will not be coming to the ONE house to live and bringing out all the circus pink/green/white pretty things was kinda sad. I LOVE the KATE on the wall that my secret pal sent. I know where ever we are living when she comes HOME she will look precious in her room.



Of course I read the "adoption rumors". Some other adoption parents waiting with us are boycotting them due to the wait, stress and misery of knowing/not knowing how much longer it will be, but not me. I read them every few days just to keep a check on reality. Last week I recieved an awesome message from a dear adoption mom and friend. She had some great news...uh, well rumor of the future. I like it and will post it without source and without responiblity of any heartache if it is not true. (That was my disclamer). So if you don't do rumors....Don't keep reading!

Thanks super friend for this ray of hope!
We are April 12th....so maybe just maybe....Oct or November referral! Maybe just maybe a Christmas in China or home with our Kate. Maybe just maybe a lot of things!
The following has been plagerized (copied and pasted):

A rumour I have heard from a person who just came from China. I have been told that they want to get all of the 2005 referrals done by May1 2007. and then get through the 2006 referrals as quickly as possible

so the break down

Jan/feb September to October 11 2005

February march oct 12 to end of oct

March November to about the 12 or 13th

April rest of november and some of dec

May December

June Jan

July- Jan/Feb

Aug Feb March

Sept March

Oct March April

November April May

This is what she told me CCAA wants to do this was heard by one of the reps hope it is true and it looks like it can work if they stick to the plan.

Tell me what don't you like about yourself? (a Nip-Tick reference)

When I had kids, there was no warning label, no "may cause drowiness", or any such thing. There certainly was no warning about the harm some toys and casual play can have on parents.
The weapon/enemy I speak of here is the little blue and yellow chair shown.













It belongs on the little rockin' piano that I was trying to store in a basket above my head....when out of no-where it fell (the little blue and yellow chair) and landed on my check bone.

I held my breath and tried forcing myself not to cry, when I could hold it no longer. I cried over pain for the first time in ....I can't remember. I instantly thought plastic surgery (nip-tuck reference). Lucy ran to tell Stone that Mommy was hurt and then I had two children to also calm down, besides myself.





2 days later......a pretty mustard colored with some hints of blue show up.
Vanity is something mom's just can't hold on to.

And just last night as the bruise is becoming less noticable, I race Stone downstairs. I jumped the last 3 stairs only to litterally knock me down , I think out for a few seconds. Something I have not done here at the one house. This time 3 kids hovering, yelling, touching, pulling, pushing me. Overcoming them as I tried to regain composure and focus myself. The ceiling has a soffit area lower right at the bottom where it met up with the top of my head. The lump it produced....wow!
The last time I hit my head that hard was a homecoming powder-puff football game. I came away with a few stitches on that one.

I figure this is a bad luck streak...maybe a warning in itself. I am scared to leave the house, walk across the street, use a power chain saw....

Dante's mimi me.

Lucy and Dante in matching Timberwolves shirts. (Optimist basketball). Dante's traded shirt looks so cute on Lucy as she cheers him on! They lost Sat., but again played well together. The one thing about this team is, there is not one "great" kid. They all play together and look and share the ball. When they are on, they are on, but when they get too wound up.....look out! Dante met his match with a kid at least 4-5 inches taller and 70 lbs larger. He litterally bounced off him standing up once. But he held his own! Did I mention I love to watch him play ball?

Who stole the cookie(S) from the cookie jar? AGAIN!

No wonder the cookie jar is always empty.
But what I don't get is I only have 3 children, and one can reach...but yet all 4 chairs?
Notice the chairs are not placed in front of the fruit...hmmmm.

Lucy and Mason

Lucy spent some quality time with her "boy" friend Mason over the weekend, as well as his little brother Keegan too!

Mason bought her this nightgown (the picture doesn't show how short it really is!) when she was sick this summer. He felt guilty for giving her the illness. That is what kids do though. She had to wear her "Mason" dress for him. I am sure it was due to showing off her long legs under the short dress!

Twenty years from now, they will cherish this picture on thier wedding day!

On top of the....

While waiting for our contractor at the China Blue duplex site.....Stone had a little fun! The van was stationary....the open door to prove it. But really, if I would drive with a kid on the top, who is to say an open door would really matter? Bart's mirror image helps prove I was parked! He was outside looking in, just like Stone....the stunt-kid!

Happy Birthday to Dante!

Double Digits. My Dante hit Double digits on Sat!!!
10!!!!!! 1!!!!! 0!!!!!!
He had a super birthday with 3 cakes (homemade by Mom), a sleep-over, 2 basketball games, $90 heeley's (shoes with wheels on the heels that come on and off), ESPN game, a movie date night with Doug and Sarah, steak and potatoes (homemade by MOM), Mongolian grill, PS 2 games, and well....isn't that enough? It was 3 days of celebrating and then luckily a Monday off of school to recoup! Which we spent watching 3 Harry Potters. The day was not long enough for our Marathon...to be cont. tonight with #4!








Luckily the 3 cakes came in handy as you might know....when one of the kids has a birthday, they all seem to think they have one too!
Dante again, shared his candles graciously!

The Timberwolves lost one and won one. Both games were pretty close! This year is HUGE with 4th and 5th playing together. 2 divisions and over 11 teams! I am impressed with what a year can do. Dante is driving the ball to the hoop. Yes, indeed he is! He will gain the strength and power to get it up and in eventually. It is the courage to do it now at his age that I respect and am very proud of! He dripples the ball. I was always scared to death to let the ball drop to the ground. He is an amazing young man. He is a joy. He is well mannered, smart, athletic and now he is 10. I have already embarressed him with my mouth on the basketball court (and believe me he would have laughed about it last year...maybe even last week). He has already given me "the look" and turned away while I was talking. All on this 10th birthday. Oh, how my heart breaks that he is growing up but at the same time, I can't wait to see what he impresses me with next! And I thought I made it through this birthday without a tear.

Missouri's outdoor art gallery!

Where else can you find Snoopy, Charlie, and Lucy on a hay bail?
This was found in the small town (country living) that Bart grew up in!

Who stole the Cookie from the cookie jar?

Stop what your doing and go to the fabric store!

I am going to pull out the quilt squares....TRY to update them and get them counted and together.

For those of you who have already contributed, THANKS.

I have many family and friends yet to tackle and force them to the fabric store.
So watch your back!

Here are the guidelines....They are sort-of like the Pirates' code....Keep to the code.
HA! Just kidding. Make it close and I will be thrilled, KATE will be thrilled.
I just really need fabric and a note with your wish to Kate...I will do the rest!

1. Choose any 100% cotton fabric that you like.
It can be a from a piece of clothing or the fabric store.

2. Please wash and iron your fabric.
(Just get me your fabric.....I will take care of this! Just make a note if you did not didn't!)
This is important so it doesn't shrink after I wash it!

3. Cut one piece into a 8 or 9 -inch square.
Cut another piece, smaller, about 2"x2". This is for the memory book
(Really any scrap piece will do) OR......
........Just get me your fabric. One big piece and I will cut it for both the quilt and card!


4. On one side of a card (a 4x6 index card or something similar) write out your wish along with your name. You can also put why you chose the fabric you did. Only use one side of the card, and glue the smaller piece of fabric on the same side of the card you wrote on. (I can do this too!) The square is for the quilt.

If there are several members of your family, feel free to send a favorite piece of fabric and a wish each. One wish a few fabrics is fine. A few wishes one fabric, okay too! Anything!

I will take the cards and place them either in a decorated index file or a memory book for her to read when she is older. She will be able to look at the cloth and read the wish on the index card--then find it on her quilt!

News on the adoption front:
SLOW. I had a dream last night that I met a gentleman in a store with his new daughter from CHINA and all I could do was cry. The kind of silent cry when tears just fall (big tears). My outer me says, no big deal on this extended wait...all in good time. My subconcious says something else, I guess.

Realisticly, it may be a year yet, maybe longer. Our greatest hope would be a referral this fall, and only time can give us this answer. Each month we get (a little) closer. They (China) will start referrals for Oct. 2005 LID's in Jan. and we are April 12, 2006. 7 months difference. The China people are taking 2 months to get through one month. (2.3 months to be exact) The math~ 7 x 2.3 = 14... Yes 16.1 months. (If it stays this way, we see the Olympics in Beijing.)

As I said, the awake me, thinks I can handle this. I might sing a different tune after I pack all Kate's things for storage today, as we tidy up the ONE house to sell it.

trying to master flickr is not easy (for me)

A promised....Stone taking a picture of me, taking a picture of him, taking a picture of me!
As I gather my wits and everyone's "stuff" at the ONE house....I thought I would fight with blogger. My intentions are to work on the quilt and the walk to CHINA soon.

After a morning of fighting with flickr.....

You get nothing. I can't get it to work the way I want. Any help out there blogger experts? Anyother photo site that can add a badge or something similar?

UPDATE: you get me compromising and finally getting something added to the sidebar.