Well, I thought I would get to this before now but didn't so here goes.

We've had a lot happen since my last post back in Feb. We had a very busy summer camping and doing other outdoor activities. We had a blast!

The above picture is of Sonja's dance class. She decided she wanted to be a Chinese girl! LOL Her cousin Luci is also in the picture just in front of Sonja. Luci is the one in fall colors. She's a fall fairy.
On Halloween, the kids went out trick or treating and brought home lots of goodies. After doing our usual run we went to grandma and grandpa for a little while. Drew and Luci also came over for a visit. Here Sonja, Luci and Max ham it up for the camera. Sorry for the picture quality as I took these with my iphone.
Max decided he wanted to go as Ben 10. He just loves him! Max is progressing well with his speech and is attending universal pre kindergarten and LOVES it! he has also taken an interest in dancing. His style is more like breakdancing. It's pretty funny to watch. I hope to have a video in the future to post.
The Chinese princess!
The two monkeys!!
This past summer Dan built a play house for the kids. Here are some pictures of it's progress.


It's taking shape!
The sandbox area is just the right size for te little tykes sandbox we already had to make things neater.

Dan putting up the climbing wall and bridge tunnel.
Shown here almost complete. Since this photo we added a merry-go round, fireman's pole and dragon slide cover. The kids love playing on it as does the neighborhood kids.
That's about it for now. I will try and post again soon with more recent events.

Surprise!!!

Believe it or not, an update soon!

"Big Red" and play doh

Our, what seems like, perennial feathered friend, has returned once again! We call him "Big Red" He comes to visit us around this time of year, as well as summer. He's really big! This picture really doesn't give you a good representation of how big he truly is. The kids weren't quite as excited to see him this time as they were preoccupied by other things, but Dan managed to snap a few shots of him.
The other day, we made edible play doh. The kids LOVED it and played with it for almost three hours (with nibble time included!) They love play doh as it is, but have never played with the usual kind you buy in the stores for that long. I think it has to do with being something THEY made, as well as being edible. We used different things to "dress it up" such as dried cranberries, raisons and chocolate chips.
Here Sonja has her snake with it's tongue sticking out (her explaination)
Here's Max's. He ened up eating all of his play doh and then trying to swipe some of Sonja's!
If you want the recipe, here it is

1/2 cup of smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup of honey (I used the thick creamy type Billy Bee, but you can use any kind)
1 cup of dried milk powder

Mix all ingredients until combined well. If it's still not thick enough, just add more milk powder a little at a time until it's the consistancy you like.

Have fun with it!!
That's all for now!

Until next time

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!
Here's hoping that the coming year brings you all happiness and prosperity!

This past weekend, January 31st, we celebrated the New Year with our friends and adoption travel companions the R and F families. The R's daughter Sophie, who was adopted at the same time as Sonja, attends a Chinese school. The school puts on a New Year celebration for the families of those who attend the school and their guests. The F family's daughter Maiya doesn't attend the school but also had a part in the celebration too.

The above photo of daddy and the next few were actually taken by our budding photographer Sonja. I don't think they're too bad for a four year old!
Here Maxie mugs for our little photographer Sonja.
Max again strikes a pose for Sonja.
The show opened up with the children and lion dancers.



Then came the adult dancers. They were all beautiful, as was their dancing. Very graceful.

Another group of children dancing. They were so cute and did a great job.
A group of older children played a few songs on the violin. Sonja and Max both have toy violins and when they saw these children playing them they sat silently watching. After the first song, Sonja said "Mommy I want to play the violin like them" to which I told her she can if he wants. Looks like violin lessons in the future!
This little skit was so cute. They did a song about eating watermelon and wondering if they ate the seeds, if they would grow a watermelon in their tummy! In the center of the picture you can see Sophie.
A close up picture of Sophie in the skit.
Here the "non_Chinese families" did a skit. On the far left hand side you see Sophie, Barb and Shelby R and Maiya and Lisa F.
Here is a closer picture of them during the skit.
The kids gathered outside the auditorium for a group picture. from L to R is maiya F sitting on her cousin Sophie's lap, Sophie R sitting on Shelby R's lap, and Sonja and Max.
Sonja sitting on Matt R's lap. She just loves him!!
Shelby and Sophie R give each other a big hug
Shelby R and her Daddy Matt with Sonja sitting on his lap. She was stuck to him like glue!
Max taking a bite of the Chinese food offered. They had spring rolls, tofu, these yummy meatballs and some other things, along with a variety of sweets. They also had games to play for which you received tickets to collect and get prizes, along with a bounce house.
It was a great time. After the celebration we all went to the R's house and had pizza and the kids played. We had a great time and only wished we lived closer to our other travel families. We will see them again soon.

We hope you all have a happy New Year!

Until next time....

Martina McBride - In My Daughter's Eyes (LIVE)

If ever a song could describe my relationship with my daughter, THIS would be THE ONE!
I cry every time I hear it.
I hope you too will enjoy it!

On to some happier subjects.....Biddie bowling!!!

On Tuesday, Sonja's UPK class, and a couple of other classes went to the local bowling alley for completing their Boomerang reading program for the month of January. Boomerang is when the parent reads to or with the child, or the child reads a specific amount of books each month.

There were 80 or 90 students in total and all seemed to have had a great time bowling and eating pizza. Sonja's team liked it so much they bowled an additional game after everyone else was done and gone!!!

In the picture, Sonja is seen in the second seated row, right of center. Cousin Luci is right next to her, left of center. Some of Sonja's friends, Cassidy, Cooper, Andrew, Rheanna, Drew and Seven are also right next to her.

I'm sure we'll be going bowling in the near future, but this time Max will get to try his hand at it!

Until next time.......

Will peace prevail?

O.K....Here it comes.. I'm off on a political rant.

I've recently seen on the news many people protesting the war between Israel and Hamas. The terrorists are using Palestine as a haven and threatening the people who want to live in peace.

As long as they (Hamas) are there, the progress between Israel and Palestine will be sabotaged at every step.

Check these videos out.

This one makes my blood boil!!!


Hamas terrorists using children as human shields.


This is a video of Hamas terrorists using a school yard to launch rockets into Israel.



These terrorists must be rooted out so peace will prevail in the region or else Palestine will be turned into the next Afghanistan.