Buddalicious

THE END

2009-07-28T10:37:00.004-05:00

Buddalicious has come to an end as a new chapter in our lives begins. Please join us at our new blog:

CALIFORNIA - KICKING & SCREAMING

Thanks so much for checking in on us. If you live in California, please give us a shout on the new blog!!

Doing What She Loves

2009-07-19T14:37:00.007-05:00

Maddie cools down Griffin

My dear friend, Jamie - a fellow PPM (Preschool Posse Mom) - was kind enough to invite Maddie over to her place to help exercise her horses. Maddie has taken riding lessons in the past, but we didn't really pursue her interest here in Virginia (I know, of all places, Virginia should have been THE place!). Anyway, Maddie has been having a ball being in the barn and riding all three of Jamie's beautiful horses.

Here, Jamie has some fun with the charming Thomas:

Jamie not only loves and keeps her three horses, but she also teaches lessons. In the photo below, you can see that Jamie is the only one that Maddie TRULY listens to!

If you would like to see all the photos from this morning (including Josie and new favorite friend, SweetPea!) Just click right HERE. Till next time...

Hangin' with my Homies

2009-07-12T12:30:00.003-05:00

Lovely girls night out last night with Jamie, Sharon and Lori. Celebrating Sharon's (cough, cough)nd birthday. Lots and lots of laughs with this group. We shut the place down - though according to Sharon that's not saying much. Apparently we (Jamie, Lori and I) were supposed to supply some eye-candy for the birthday girl...Instead, we took her to one of the best restaurants in town which she so diplomatically described as "The Morgue Restaurant".

You can take the girl out of Pittsburgh, but you can't take the Pittsburgh out of the girl... We love her anyway!!!
Happy Birthday Sharon!!

We're Moving

2009-07-05T09:03:00.006-05:00

For those of you on my personal email list, this is old news. While we were in Africa, James accepted a new job. His new position requires that we move from Virginia to Orange County, California. Since our return from our trip, we have been consumed with the business of selling, buying, packing, and organizing for the move. This will be the Fifth home that James and I have had since we have been married.

The photo above is of our new home. We will be official owners, provided all goes as scheduled, in early August. We are downsizing because the price of real estate in CA is still ridiculous.

I have been working with my dear friend, Danielle - the design girl - to create a new blog to document the move and our new lives in California. Many of you might have noticed that Danielle has done the blog design for Buddalicious for well over two years. She is a treasure. If you have a blog and you want a snazzy design, check with Danielle. She has a number of really cool products and services. As soon as the new blog is ready, I will post the address here.

Our Final Day in Africa

2009-06-14T10:50:00.008-05:00

It has taken me three weeks to document our incredible journey to Africa. Our final 24 hours in Africa, for me, were the most inspiring. I spent nearly 18 months preparing, planning, saving for, and anticipating our trip to Africa.

Like most of our fellow travelers, James and I enjoy ‘going local’. We tend to wander off the beaten track –travelling by bus or rail to areas that aren’t considered ‘tourist’ attractions.

We came upon our last lodge, The Islands of Siankaba, when our travel advisor, Julian suggested this area would meet my request to visit a village and contribute in a small way to the local community.

The directors of the lodge are truly committed to ‘giving back’ to their community. The staff at the lodge is all local villagers. They not only work at the lodge but they literally carried the logs that the lodge was built from. The Directors met with the local chief and an agreement was struck. Everyone involved would benefit from the opening of the lodge.

Profits from the lodge support a medical clinic and pre-school on the Island. I had requested in advance to take a walking tour of both these facilities. Given we arrived on the island on Friday, May 22, we missed seeing the school in session. Our host, Jean Claude, arranged for us to dine on Saturday evening with the headmaster of the pre-school - Malindi Lubinda.

Malindi was a barman at the lodge when the Directors took note of his intellect and ambition. They paid for Malindi to attend college. Upon completion of his studies, Malindi returned to the Island and established the pre-school. I was so inspired by Malindi’s passion for educating the children and setting an example of excellence for them. We shared a wonderful evening together: Ed and Marty, me and James, Malindi and Steven – our host for the evening meal. We laughed, shared stories and experiences and truly became friends over the course of the evening.

Malindi teaches 55 children (ages 3-7) in this classroom:

Here is the foundation for the new pre-school:

This is the village store:

This is the village church:

Here are some more images from our visit to the village:

Here is a photo of Malindi and I after a lovely evening of great conversation and fine dining:

Here, James and Victor - our village guide and host- pose outside the walls of the village:

James and I remain committed to the village and the pre-school. Malindi and I are in contact via email about twice a week - checking in on each other and sharing news about events in Zambia and Virginia. If you are interested in helping Malindi with the preschool - be it through book donations, children's clothing, etc. Please leave me a comment and I will give you the address for them.

Victoria Falls

2009-06-08T08:15:00.024-05:00

Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders)

Victoria Falls, as you might imagine, is an awesome sight. The Zambezi River recorded it's highest levels in over 50 years in April. The water was still flowing fast and wild when we visited. We had been convinced by our host at Siankaba, Jean Claude, that the hiking down to the Boiling Pot was a "must" for any visit to the Falls. Being game for anything, we told our guide, Oliver, that we would leave first thing in the morning on Saturday. I should have read this before agreeing:

The whole volume of the Zambezi River pours through the First Gorge's 110-metre-wide (360 ft) exit for a distance of about 150 metres (500 ft), then enters a zigzagging series of gorges designated by the order in which the river reaches them. Water entering the Second Gorge makes a sharp right turn and has carved out a deep pool there called the Boiling Pot. Reached via a steep footpath from the Zambian side, it is about 150 metres (500 ft) across. Its surface is smooth at low water, but at high water is marked by enormous, slow swirls and heavy boiling turbulence.[4] Objects--and humans--that are swept over the falls, including the occasional hippo, are frequently found swirling about here or washed up at the north-east end of the Second Gorge.

I was thankful for all the cardio workouts I had been doing at the gym... It was a rough climb down. Being part mountain goat would have helped, but alas, it was up to us to figure out a path down the jagged rocks to get to the bottom of the gorge walls. It was worth it, and the climb back up was much easier - as far as navigating the rocks. This is where the cardio kicked in! I was the second one up to the top - just a minute behind my husband.

Once we finished with the Boiling Pot, we made our way around to all the scenic overviews of the Falls. One could stay dry at the higher levels, but if you wanted to be in the 'mist' - serious rain gear was needed. I got wet, even wearing the raingear. The sneakers I was wearing had to be tossed when we got home. They didn't have a chance to dry out while we were in Zambia and after a day and a half in a plastic bag, well, you can just imagine the stink. Even 2 washings with bleach didn't help!

This one of Ed cracks me up - If you look behind him, to the left you will see a baboon sneaking behind him. I kept seeing the baboons, but every time I told Ed, Marty & James - they never saw them!

I finally caught one of the baboons in the act!

This is the market that is at the entrance to the Visitor's Center at Victoria Falls.

Next post will be the Village Walk James and I took with our guide, Victor.

Savuti to Zambia

2009-06-05T15:43:00.020-05:00

On our final morning at Savuti, we had an abbreviated morning drive. Our plane to Kasane, Botswana would pick us up at 11AM. We would go through customs in Kasane then fly over the border of Botswana to Livingstone, Zambia. This was our last game drive as our time in Zambia was to be spent exploring Victoria Falls.

We came upon a troop of agitated Chacma Baboons. At first, we didn't know what had them so upset. Then Goodman pointed out some unwelcome visitors on the left side of the trail:

The wild dogs looked hungry. As much as they look like our own domestic canines, don't be fooled... They are ruthless predators and can take down an antelope in a matter of minutes. They won't take on the baboons - the primates are too fast, have too many options for escape and they outnumber the dogs by a handsome ratio. Here, one of the dogs sizes up a baboon:

Chacma Baboons are a social animal. They travel in large, family groups and are quite vocal. I found this family quite cute:

After watching the theatrics of the canines & primates, we moved along to the runway. One of the other guides, Vincent, would meet us at the runway with our bags. We were off to another country and other great adventures.

Here is the approach to Kasane Airport (I got to sit next to the pilot!):

Once we cleared customs in Kasane, we followed the beautiful Zambezi River downstream, coming upon Victoria Falls. Our pilot received clearance for a fly-over - so we enjoyed a spectacular view of the falls before landing in Livingstone.

It was a 30 minute drive from the airport to our lodge, The Islands of Siankaba. This was the most meaningful part of the visit to me - I was so excited to visit this lodge.

We were greeted at the mainland reception building and within a few minutes were on our boat, to get to our island hideaway. The four of us (me, James, Ed & Marty) were the only visitors at the 6 chalet resort. We had the entire staff at our disposal, which was a luxury we had not ever experienced. Our chalets were accessible by a network of rope bridges which dangled above the very swollen Zambezi River:

Here is the view from the deck of our chalet:

And of course, no day is complete without a 'Sundowner' - which we joyfully enjoyed from our boat:

Our first Zambian sunset:

The following day, Saturday, we were off to visit Victoria Falls and make the descent to the 'Boiling Point'. You'll love seeing the photos!!! Until tomorrow...!

More Savuti Wildlife

2009-06-01T07:15:00.014-05:00

The Cheetah Brothers and the Hyena

Savuti - A Story Unfolds

2009-05-31T15:19:00.021-05:00

Being on Safari is like reading a suspenseful, page-turner novel. Our guides/drivers are the narrators; the animals are the main characters; and the environment containing us all offers the clues that make each turn in the road exciting.

Thursday, May 21st was an exciting day in the bush. It started with one small clue:

Our guide, Goodman, made note of a lone vulture sitting in a tree. The vulture was not showing interest in anything in particular and seemed quite relaxed. We stopped to try a couple shots of the spooky creature and then continued on our way. Within 5 minutes, we came upon this sight:

This was a fresh kill. Goodman told us that this wildebeast had most likely been killed within an hour of our finding this carcass. Lions work quickly, taking only the meatiest limbs of a kill. They do not immediately eviscerate their prey, as the smell of open bowel and intestines attracts other predators. The adults eat first, giving the cubs the remainder. This makes it possible for the adults to stand watch while the cubs eat. Goodman hopped out of our rover to show us that a cub must have been part of the meal - they are not as efficient as an adult at cleaning a bone...

We continued on our way, knowing that whatever animal had feasted on the wildebeast had to be close by. Lo and behold, not long after, we came upon this group:

These lions were part of a 5 member group: Two adult males, one female and two male cubs. One of the older males had been blinded, presumably in a fight:

The other members of the group were obviously resting, having full bellies and plenty of time until dark - when they would begin to hunt again. Hard to believe that this crew was a bunch of killers:

We stalked the lions for about 45 minutes, never facing them - always parallel so as not to influence or inhibit their movements. Once our heart rates returned to normal, we continued on at a leisurely pace. Here are some other sights we saw on that exciting morning...

This had all taken place before 10AM. The anticipation for the evening drive was unbearable as we headed back to camp. But first, brunch and siesta...

Mokoro Ride at Little Vumbura

2009-05-29T02:24:00.013-05:00

The Okavango Delta, which is an inland delta, covers over six thousand square miles of waterways, palm filled islands and lagoons. It is the greatest natural sanctuary left in Africa- providing a home to the greatest number of animal, bird and plant species in the Southern Hemisphere. Our mokoro traversed the flood plains under the guidance of our poler Mos, a member of the BaYei tribe. The people of the BaYei tribe have been using the mokoro as their main form of transportation for hundreds of years.

Here are a few of the things we saw from our mokoro as we made our way out to a small island...

One term that we heard a lot when we were on safari was "Boys Choir". This term basically describes a bachelor group of animals who are all hanging out together, waiting for their turn to face a dominant male and a chance to mate. Usually, we heard the term associated with the large groups of male Impala we saw. Here is a photo of our 'Boys Choir' taken once we reached the island during our mokoro adventure:

left to right: Oliver, Ed, James, Mos, James and Lazarus

And here is our group as we returned to camp:

It was now Wednesday, May 20th and we were scheduled to depart in the afternoon for our next camp, Savuti. Here's a shot of the back deck area of our tent at Little Vumbura Camp:

We were surrounded by water and at night we would hear the hippos sloshing around - elephants visited us also. The staff at Vumbura was fantastic and we especially enjoyed our host/manager Boyson. Here James says goodbye:

Here's the walkway to the boat launch area:

We made our way to the runway, with plenty of time to spare... that was until we ran into a problem. A BIG PROBLEM. We found a cranky bull elephant had decided to have his lunch right on the runway. Lazarus decided we needed to push him back, before there was an 'elephant vs. airplane' confrontation!

The funniest part was that Lazarus kept yelling to the elephant, "Go Away, the Plane is Coming!!" That big boy was having none of it! He stomped his feet and made all kinds of noise while slowing backing off. But, he let us know that he was NOT happy about it!!

Chitabe, New Friends & Little Vumbura

2009-05-27T18:33:00.021-05:00

We spotted these handsome lion brothers on our first full day at Chitabe.

I guess before I go into a description of another day on Safari, I should give a basic outline of what a day in camp consists of… So, here’s how it usually goes:

5:30 AM – Wake up call (a personal knock on the door of our tent)

6:00 AM - Escort comes and we are taken by flashlight to the lounge area. We grab a cup of coffee, some yoghurt or a muffin and then head out for the game drive.

6:30AM – Game drive starts.

11:30 AM- 1:00PM – Return to camp and grab some brunch.

2:00 PM- 4:00 PM – Siesta

4:00PM – Tea is served in the lounge area. Light snacks, beers, wine and tea are served.

4:30 PM – Evening game drive begins

6:30 PM - About this time, we pull off to a safe spot and enjoy a ‘Sundowner’. Light snack and drinks as we all enjoy the sunset.

8:00PM – After returning to camp, we are given about 30 minutes to shower, change and join the group for dinner. Dinner is shared with our guide, members of the staff and hosts/managers.

9:00 PM - After dinner drinks, conversation around the campfire.

9:45 – 10:00 – Lights out

The atmosphere at Chitabe camp was just fabulous. There were just 6 guests in total: James & me; Ed and Marty; and Tom and Leigh. Tom & Leigh, from Cleveland, Ohio, married last Fall and were on a belated honeymoon. We all enjoyed an instant camaraderie, and the six of us had such incredible moments together… so many discoveries, so many laughs and truly joyful times.

We were having so much fun on our first morning game drive that the 6 of us decided to continue on, without returning to camp for brunch. We had so many incredible game sightings, that we didn’t want to miss a thing. Imagine our surprise when we came to a clearing and found the following scene:

We even had a ‘loo with a view’ !!

We enjoyed our brunch in the bush and had a fantastic afternoon. We enjoyed the setting sun that day with such excitement - the things we had seen were awesome!!

We returned to the camp around 7:30 PM having spent 13 hours with our guide Oates. It was a long day, but we were so happy that we did it because the following morning drive (Monday) was our last at Chitabe. Our flight into the Okavango Delta and the Little Vumbura Camp was to leave at 11:30AM. It was only a 20 minute flight, but it could have just as well been a world away - so different was the environment in the Delta.

The Game viewing at Little Vumbura took a back seat to exploring the channels of the Delta. There was, however, plenty to see. On our evening sunset cruise, I located what I thought was just a really pretty owl. Turned out to be a Pell's Fishing Owl - an owl revered by birdwatchers and apparently quite elusive. Marty was calling it 'Michele's Owl' and we ended up chasing it from tree to tree for a good hour, capturing incredible photographs of this stunning creature.

Check out the talons on that big boy!!

Our guide Lazarus, and his game warden observer, James, pulled ashore on a small island in the channels. Lazarus gave us an incredible lesson on the Delta, the movements of flood waters and the deposits of salt left behind. He also pointed out hippo tracks which were all over the area. Those guys are fast (yes, really fast!) and we heard them snorting in the distance.

Here's a few photos of the SAME sunset as it progressed during our ride home:

Upon our return to camp that evening, we were treated to a 'Traditional' dinner. The staff sang celebration songs and danced with serious enthusiasm. I finally began to understand the phrase " A Joyful Noise"... that was what popped into my head as I listened to the harmonies of the male and female voices and the pure, uninhibited beauty of the dance.

I'm going to close for the evening and hopefully I will have some quiet time in the morning to share the rest of our time at Little Vumbura. It was at this camp where we took a mokoro (dug-out canoe) safari...Very cool.

Africa - Our Long Awaited Honeymoon!

2009-05-26T18:33:00.026-05:00

James & I have been away for the past two weeks - on an adventure 18 months in the making. I didn't want to jinx myself, tempt fate or whatever - so I mentioned it to only family and close friends. I should begin by explaining that today is our 9th wedding anniversary! When James and I got married, we were in the process of moving from Virginia to Pennsylvania. We got married on a Friday and took a quick trip to the mountains in Western PA while Maddie (who was 6 years old) went to the beach with my Mom & Dad. Everything surrounding those few months in 2000 was done in a rush... the move, the new job for James, and the wedding. We promised ourselves that one day we would take a proper honeymoon - and we finally did.

Our itinerary included 4 different safari lodges in two different African countries. Our first three stops were in Botswana, in three very distinct ecologic and geographic regions. Our forth stop was in Zambia - to see Victoria Falls and experience a lodge that practiced sustainable tourism and responsible development. The last stop was the closest to my heart for reasons I will explain later... I will have to do quite a few entries to cover the whole of the trip, but I'll start at the beginning...

On Tuesday, May 12 we departed Dulles Airport outside of Washington D.C. and flew to London Heathrow. We took a day flight, so we didn't lose a day in transit. We arrived at our hotel, on the bank of the Thames, by 10:30 PM that same night. Our friends Ed & Marty were already in London, having flown over the previous Friday. We had arranged to meet up in London, do a bit of sightseeing, and leave for Johannesburg, South Africa on the evening of the 14th. We had two full days to enjoy the sights of London.

We spent our first day visiting St. Paul's Cathedral and walking along the Thames. We stopped for lunch at a riverside pub and continued our walk back toward our hotel which was directly across the river from the Houses of Parliment, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey - and right next to the London Eye. We had 'typical' London weather - a bit damp and overcast, but it didn't dampen our enthusiasm for being back in the city that we both loved.

The next morning, Thursday, we departed for Hampton Court. I have been totally enthralled with this palace since I first visited it back in 1990. I don't know if any of you are watching 'The Tudors' on Showtime, but I love it. Visiting this palace that was a summer home to Henry VIII was a real treat, given it is currently celebrating the 500th anniversary of Henry's coronation with special events and exhibits. James, Ed & Marty had never visited the palace and I was so excited for them to see it...

On Thursday evening, we departed London and flew overnight to Johannesburg. We used airline miles to book our seats in Business Class on British Airways, so we were able to have a good nights sleep on their 'lay flat' seat/beds. We arrived refreshed at 9AM and stayed the day in Johannesburg. We didn't have a chance to do any sightseeing, so we enjoyed the resort we stayed at... (the exchange rate was great, so I went to the spa and had a swim, a steam, a massage and reflexology!) James took care of business calls because it was our last chance for phone calls or internet service for at least a week.

On the morning of the 16th we departed Johannesburg and flew to Maun, Botswana. From there, we took another plane to our first lodge, Chitabe.

We landed at the lodge and were met by our guide, Oates. The 25 minute ride from the airstrip to the lodge was an exciting one. It was just a small taste of what was to come, but it was thrilling! Here are just a few of the sights we saw in our first hour at Chitabe.

The handsome leopard pictured at the top of this posting was actually found on our morning drive the second day we were at Chitabe. It was about 6:15 AM, the sun was coming up and the light was fantastic as our guide followed the leopard's tracks and we came upon him, as though sitting for a portrait, just 50 feet in front of us. It was a pulse quickening moment - I had to keep saying to myself, "I can't believe I'm here, seeing this magnificent animal."

You should also know that none of my photos are photoshopped or enhanced. I'm not a great photographer, but the environment was excellent and the light was fabulous. I still can't believe I was able to get some of the shots I got. In the two weeks we were gone, I took over 3000 photographs. I'm in the process now of sorting and deleting.

I'm going to close now, as I am still a bit jet lagged (we returned on Monday afternoon after spending the previous 28 hours in airplanes and airports...) Tomorrow I will share a bit more of Chitabe and then move on to our lodge in the Okavango Delta - Little Vumbura Camp. Until tomorrow...!

Muffins With Mom

2009-05-07T21:38:00.008-05:00

Just take a close look at the photo above... have you ever seen such a hilarious character study? Each of the children have such incredibly unique and lovable personality!

Today was Muffins with Mom Day at Josie's preschool. It was a fantastic event! All the Moms had name cards at their seats. I happily sat between 'Michael's Mom' and 'Megan's Mom'. The 3 & 4 year olds performed a number of songs about Moms and Love. Here is my Josie belting out a tune:

After the performance, the Moms had a chance to dance to two songs with the children. The students then served their Moms a delicious plate of strawberry shortcake. Josie even took my fork out of it's beautiful handmade daisy napkin ring and placed the napkin on my lap! And since no good deed goes unrewarded, the kids then stood in line again for their own serving of ice cream with chocolate syrup! Yummy!

Josie and her classmates made beautiful flower pots with cards attached - each signed in their own hand. Josie did such a great job writing her name - I'm sure I was the proudest Mom in the room! We finished off our lovely luncheon with each Mom being presented a beautiful red petunia plant and having a photo taken. I wish all my days were this fun-filled! I never tire of hugs, kisses, songs and dances....

James Honored by His Alma Mater

2009-05-03T11:19:00.009-05:00

I'm a bit late in posting these photos of the Distinguished Alumni dinner. James, along with 8 other individuals, was honored at the Kellogg Ranch Restaurant at Cal Poly, Pomona on Friday, April 24th. I flew out on Thursday night to Los Angeles, while my sister, Claudine and my parents took care of the girls. It was a wonderful event. Dinner was prepared by the students of the Hospitality Management College.

Here are a list of the honorees:

College of Agriculture
John E. Andrews
Class of '92

College of Business Administration
Lawrence Taff
Class of '80

College of Education and Integrative Studies
Robert Pletka
Class of '06

College of Engineering
James S. B. Chew
Class of '84

College of Environmental Design
Victoria Basolo
Class of '91

College of Letters Arts and Social Sciences
John Mortberg
Class of '70

College of Science
Una L. Morris
Class of '70

Collins College of Hospitality Management
Jill K. Bosich
Class of '93

Athletics
Daniel Andrews
Class of '90

All of the honorees were so accomplished and humble. Each of their speeches reflected their love of Cal Poly, their commitment to 'giving back' and their love of the faculty who nurtured their interests and ambitions. Every one in attendance was so welcoming and accepting of the honorees.

I was truly inspired by all the nominees, but two of them (besides my husband!) really touched my heart. The first was Dr. Una Morris. She came to the US from Jamaica when she was just 17. Her mother had died when she was 10 and she arrived in the US with little to her name. She was an runner in the 1964 (Tokyo), 1968 (Ciudad de Mexico) and 1973 (Munich) Olympics. She had to practice with the men's track team at Cal Poly because there was no women's team! She went on to become a respected Radiologist. Her speech nearly brought tears to my eyes as she thanked her professors and the family that took her in when she came to the US.

Second honoree I just loved was Jill Bosich. She was the second youngest honoree. She spoke of the overwhelming choices that young students face when they have decided what 'they want want to do', but are unsure of which avenue to take to get them to the place they want to be. I believe this is a situation that many of us faced as college students, and Jill spoke so honestly and affectionately of the individuals who guided her to her current success.

It really was a lovely evening. We were thrilled to have our friends Nick and Mary join us at the event. Nick, who has been James' dear friend since 4th grade, and Mary live in Massachusetts. If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you know that our summers are not complete until we spend time with Uncle Nick and Aunt Mary at their home in Marshfield. Also present was Fred, James' friend since kindergarten. James, Nick and Fred have all maintained close contact through the years and all are quite accomplished in their own right. Also sharing our table at the dinner were James' former professor and friend, Dr. Mike Sheldon. Mike nominated James for this honor. Mike's wife Tina was a classmate of James' and they have remained friends for over 20 years.

Rounding out our table were James' Mom & Dad and the Dean of the College of Engineering, Professor Ed Hohmann.

Mike and Tina

James with Cal Poly President Mike Ortiz, Dean Hohmann, and a few of the honorees. (Photo taken just after I told James he needed to straighten his tie!)

After the dinner, Fred and Nick & Mary joined us on the patio of our room at The Inn at Kellogg Ranch. Mary and I had a good time observing the 'Three Geniuses' as they shared beers, smoked cigars and solved the world's problems. All and all, a really spectacular evening!

The next day (Saturday) I hopped a plane home to the girls. James had to stay behind to attend to work in California. It was a quick trip, but one that I'm so glad I made.

Here the 'Three Geniuses' goof around with James' image that was posted, along with the other honorees photos, in the reception area. I'm so glad that some things never change...

Birthdays & Egg Hunt

2009-04-09T08:38:00.010-05:00

Have a Happy Easter!!

We Are SO PROUD!!

2009-03-23T07:05:00.003-05:00

James is being honored by his Alma Mater in a few weeks. We are so proud of him! He works so hard, and we are thrilled to see him being recognized!!

Way to go, Daddy!!

Happy St.Patrick's Day!!

2009-03-17T16:14:00.006-05:00

Here's a few photos of the Posse this morning - celebrating St. Patricks Day!!

Josie's tiara says "Irish Princess", and that she is! The other lovelies are Roma, Megan, Riley and Nicholas. I was actually a bit early for drop-off this morning, so I didn't get to see all the kids in their 'green'. I should have a few more to share once Sharon gets me her photos... Sharon was the 'Good Mom' today - she made it to the Leprechaun Hunt to take photos. Other slacker Moms (like me!) got to the school at regular pick-up time.

March Madness

2009-03-16T07:17:00.020-05:00

No, this is not a post about college basketball ... March Madness has a whole different meaning in our household. March is the month in which both our girls celebrate their birthdays. Maddie is at the end of the month, Josie in the middle. But, once the month begins, all talk is birthday related... Josie: "Mom, how many sleeps 'till my princess party at Grandmom's house?" Maddie: "I seriously need a new wardrobe for my birthday, Mom..."

March is also the month that my darling husband is reminded of how expensive daughters can be! James cringes when he sees the price tags at J. Crew, American Eagle, and Banana Republic. I don't blame him...

We visited my parent's place this past weekend to get an early start on the celebrations.

My Mom ordered this beautiful cake from a local baker:

Josie received wonderful gifts - befitting a princess. My Mom & I shopped all day on Friday at the outlets in Rehobeth. Josie caught on quickly - she was a size 4T. So, she searched the racks and pulled out every size 4T dress that she found. She then told us, "I like this one, we should buy it." The outcome was that Josie walked out of Gymboree, The Children's Place and J. Crew with a total of 4 bags of clothes. Needless to say, she is fully outfitted for the the spring and a majority of the summer!

Maddie and James joined us at the shore late on Friday night. Maddie had her first soccer game, which began at 5:30PM. It was snowing for most of the day... not the kind of snow that lays on the ground, but more of a snow shower. Either way, she froze her butt off! It was 31 degrees at game time. Maddie's team lost the game 2-0. However, James said they looked pretty darn good for a team that had only been practicing together for two weeks. Most of the girls on the opposing team had played together for years. The only disadvantage to being at a newly opened school is that it takes the teams a bit longer to find their 'groove'. We have complete confidence that in the coming years, this team will be one to reckon with!

In other news, we've been having a tough time adjusting to the crazy weather here in Virginia. March came in like a lion with 8 inches of snow falling overnight on March 1st. James actually insisted on going to work that morning, so I was out at 4:45am - documenting the snowfall:

This is our street - notice the steep hill...

Here's the house, looking lovely with all the snow falling.

Here's the backyard, photo taken from the deck.

And, here is Carson, our snow dog! You can tell he was born in Michigan... he loves the snow!

Here is our 'poser' daughter, Maddie. Snow is just another 'photo-op' for her!

And, finally, here is me wiping Josie's nose while shoveling the driveway. Note the red minivan behind us: it went back and forth for over an hour... the hill in front of the house was too steep for the van to negotiate. In the end, she had to be towed out. I'm still trying to figure out why she just didn't slide back down the hill and go home... Oh well!

Three days after the record snowfall, we had record warm temperatures. In the following pictures you can see that Josie was in shorts as she and her Dad visited the Smithsonian Castle's carousel and the newly re-opened Museum of American History:

That's really all for now. There's a whole lot more going on in the coming weeks: We have Josie's birthday celebration with her classmates on Thursday, a 'playdate' party with her friends next week and then we'll get into Maddie's birthday celebrations. I will be happy when March is over!!!

Donuts with Dad

2009-02-26T08:17:00.007-05:00

Today, Josie's preschool has their annual 'Donuts with Dad' breakfast. From 8:30-9:00 AM they will share breakfast with all the other kids and their Dads (or Grandparents, Mom, etc). Josie was very excited. Last night she practiced introducing her Dad to her friends... "Emma, this is my Dad. His name is James." She also practiced shaking hands and saying "It's very nice to meet you."

Josie will soon be 4 years old. It is amazing to see the changes in her over the past year. She totally cracks us up. She sits at the dinner table and starts off with "So, Dad, how was your day?" She talks with her hands, which is incredibly funny to watch. Her two favorite things to say are "I'm just kidding!" and "Are you joking me?!"

The other night, James tripped over a pair of Josie's shoes (which are EVERYWHERE!) and yelled, "Josephine, pick up your shoes!" She responded, "Dad, I'm just a little kid, you don't have to yell!" Looks like I have a handful with that one!

Maddie is in her third day of conditioning in preparation for soccer try-outs next week. She has come home each night with bruises and muscle aches. She does her homework, takes a hot bath with epsom salt and goes to bed. At least she's not on the computer all night...! She is happy though. Quite a few of her girlfriends are trying out for the team, so she's really looking forward to playing. I'm pretty confident she'll make the team. She's been playing soccer since she was 5 years old. Maddie has a March birthday, like Josie. So, she'll be turning 15. I have no idea where the time has gone. She now towers over me, constantly calls me 'shawty' and when she's aggravated with me she says "yes, Mother". Arggggg! I feel old!

Until next time...

Winter Formal and A Baby Shower

2009-02-22T09:26:00.010-05:00

Our dreary winter weekend was brightened substantially by two wonderful events. On Saturday morning, my friend Sharon and I hosted a baby shower for two of our preschool Moms. Both Moms are having their third child - and both are due on April 10th! Patty will be having her third daughter and Rebecca will be having her second son. It was very easy to tell which presents belong to each of the girls, as we all color-coded our gifts with the traditional pink & blue.

The baby shower was, by far, the most wonderful event we've had in this house. As I have stated before, the preschool Moms are an incredible group. They are so relaxed, friendly, and talkative... our time together as a group always goes by quickly. As far as hosting went, that too was a joy. Sharon wrote the invitations, coordinated who would bring what dishes, and kept the RSVP list. All I had to do was make sure the house was clean, the dogs were locked away, and that we had extra champagne on hand. What could be easier?! Here's what the table looked like once everyone brought their dishes:

Here's Rebecca opening one present: a hand made set of baby booties and hat.

Here's Patty with a gift from Joseph's Mom, Patricia:

And, Here's both of the girls enjoying the bounty:

It really was a lovely morning with the ladies. As the last of the dishes was being cleared, James returned home with the girls. He had taken them out to "look" at car and ended up purchasing a BMW convertible!! This will be Maddie's car when she starts driving next year. Until then, her Dad will road-test it! (But, more on that in the next post...) I finished the clean-up with the help of Sharon and Jamie - and hightailed it with Maddie to the hair salon. She was getting primped for her first High School formal - the Winter Formal.

Maddie's friend, Alex, arrived around 5 and then I took the girls to another friend's house. The girls were joining a larger group for dinner before the dance. Maddie looked just lovely in the dress that her Grandmom selected for her:

(Maddie on the left, Alex on the right)

And, of course, no photo session is complete without Josie getting in on the act! So, here's Josie with the girls before their departure:

It was a wonderful, stress-free Saturday. I wish all days would go so smoothly and be so enjoyable!

Exploring the Past

2009-02-18T08:10:00.008-05:00

I have been quite busy. since the New Year, with a new project. I was quite intrigued late last year when my dear friend, Marty, told me about her new found hobby of genealogy research. I knew that one of my uncles, Joe, was a genealogy buff and had done research on part of our family tree. My Aunt Kathleen, Joe's wife, died in 2001, so I never saw the product of that research.

Most of my family history has been dispensed in short, verbal clips. A story here or there about a grandparent I didn't know and such. I remember some of those stories, but some are starting to fade. I decided to follow Marty's lead and investigate, to the best of my ability, both the maternal & paternal sides of my family tree. I hope that my research will provide enough material to produce a small book for my nieces and nephews - so that they won't have to rely on my memory (or my siblings' memories) for clues to their past.

I should begin with a short explanation. Both my parents come from unconventional family backgrounds. My father was raised by a single parent, my Grandmom Kathleen. His older brothers were also responsible for his care, as my Grandmom always worked, and worked hard, to provide for her 5 children. My Dad has only fleeting memories of his own father, and has no interest in learning more about the man.

My Mom, Barbara, was born and raised in Quebec, Canada. She was one of two daughters. Her father was 53 years old when she was born. She never had a good relationship with her mother. She left Canada in her early 20's to marry my Dad. They made their home in Philadelphia, where my siblings and I were born. We took trips up to Canada to visit my Mom's family on a yearly basis until her Dad died. One visit, in 1974, was our last. I knew as little about her family as I did about my Dad's.

I always believed that our ancestry was Irish, at least on my Dad's side. My Mom wasn't sure about her own parents, except that her Dad had emigrated to Canada from England. I had few clues to work with, but it was my Mom's side of the family that produced the largest amount of traceable leads.

My maternal Grandfather, Edward, emigrated to Canada from Cotishall, Norfolk, England. He was a decorated solider in World War 1. I was able to trace his ancestors back to the late 1700's in Kilmarock, Aryshire, Scotland. The trail goes cold there. That ancestor, Hamilton, would have been my great, great grandfather. My Grandfather was one of 10 children. His father and brothers were 'wherrymen' who worked the barges on the rivers surrounding Norfolk, England.

My maternal Grandmother, Margaret, came from a long line of Murphy's. They were members of the first English speaking parish founded in Quebec, St. Patricks. As you can tell by the name, the parish was founded by Irish immigrants. The Canadian government did not hold official vital statistic documents until the late 20th century. The church was responsible for those documents - and the Canadian government has done an excellent job of indexing and photocopying those records and making them available on-line. I was able to trace my Mother's ancestors back to my Great, great, great, great grandfather, Patrick, who emigrated from Ireland to Canada sometime in the early 1800's. Those ancestors were 'cordonniers' - shoemakers - for at least 3 generations.

I'm hoping that now that I have the lineage down, I can fill in the blanks with historic photos and records. This will no doubt be a challenge, as my ancestors were regular working folk.

My Dad's side of the family remains a mystery. I have located and sent away to Sheffield, Yorkshire, England for my paternal Grandmother's birth certificate. I'm hoping this gives me some clues as to where to hunt down her family. I do know that my Grandmother had 3 sisters and 3 brothers. Her father and brothers all worked in the 'mills'. First, the paper mill then the steel mill. An entry in the 1930 US census, recorded when my grandmother and grandfather lived in Philadelphia, lists her father as being 'English' and her mother as being from the 'Irish Free State'. Those are the only clues I have thus far. I was able to find the record of her emigration from England in 1921. She was only 15 years old when she arrived in Philadelphia.

As far as my paternal grandfather goes, we know only that he was a carpenter from Culdaff, Donegal, Ireland. My Uncle Phil visited with some family members in Ireland in the 1980's. I don't know how much information he has regarding the lineage. I do know that my ancestors have run a tavern in Donegal for a few generations. My Dad does not have high hopes for me in turning up much more... we will have to see.

In addition to taking on this research, I've been working on producing my 2008 family scrapbook. I have gone digital, using the iBook feature inside of iPhoto, to create this years book. While I did enjoy going to crops and spending time with my scrapping friends, I was getting too far behind. I was focusing more on the look of the pages than I was in journaling and recording facts for the girls. It's important to me that they be able to look back and see how much they weighed when they were 3 years old, or what they were for Halloween on a given year.

That's what's been going on here. All this stuff has been squeezed in while Josie has been down with a cold, which seems might be turning into strep throat. We'll find out today when she visits her doctor. Maddie has to have a sports physical tomorrow afternoon. She will be trying out for her high school soccer team starting March 2nd. We're still trying to figure out the logistics of picking her up from practice... her school is 25 miles away from our home. And finally, icing on the cake this week... I was eating a bagel on Sunday morning and cracked a relatively new (Sept 07) crown on one of my teeth. Had to listen to my dentist bitch me out for 10 minutes yesterday... ("What are you doing to break a porcelain crown?"). Like anyone would intentionally break a tooth that cost $1500! Jerk! Alright, enough from me for now. Have a wonderful week.....

Our Chinese New Year 09

2009-01-29T13:59:00.008-05:00

This year we decided to celebrate Chinese New Year with Josie's preschool class. Because of snow days, our celebration was delayed until today. I will say, right here at the start, that teachers are not paid enough. After just an hour of directing the class in making Chinese Lanterns - I was beat!

We started with circle time. I read this book to the class:

(sorry for the flash glare!)

This book does a beautiful job of explaining the preparations and traditions of the Chinese New Year. It details the traditional foods associated with the holiday and their meanings. The pictures are colorful and large. Excellent for preschoolers.

Once I read the book, we moved to tables and made our Chinese lanterns. We started by decorating the paper with Chinese stamps of bamboo leave; symbols for happiness, wealth, and love; cherry blossoms; and fans. Then we used our safety scissors to cut the paper, glued the edges together and stapled on the handles.

Once the lanterns were done, I showed the kids what was inside their "Chinese take-out gift box". We gave them a tangerine (for a sweet life); a Chinese Noise maker (to wake up the dragon so he could bring on the Spring rains); a traditional 'red envelope' with a gold $1 coin inside (for wealth/prosperity); some Haw Flakes (a Chinese pressed fruit wafer/candy and two pieces of 'Good Luck' candy.

The kids were thrilled when they found out they got candy AND money. Bonus day, no doubt! We then posed for a photo while shouting "Gung Hay Fat Choy!"

Here's a final shot of Josie showing off her beautiful New Years dress:

Happy New Year!

Witnessing History

2009-01-20T18:43:00.016-05:00

Maddie and I were two in about 2 million citizens who ventured into Washington DC today to see the inauguration of President Obama. I felt it was important that we both witness this historic event in person. Since we live so close to Washington, it wasn't much of a task. We purchased special train tickets for the Inauguration over the Christmas break. Trains were Reserved Seating only.

Every bridge going into Washington from Maryland & Virginia was closed. Every Metro station within a 2 mile radius of the Capitol was either closed or 'Exit Only'. Only buses, limousines, taxis, and official government vehicles were allowed to travel on the city streets. I cannot tell you how eerie it was to see this site:

This is the 395 (which cuts right through DC) at 2PM.

Unbelievable! We were able to grab a spot relatively close to the Capitol to watch the festivities. We were just below 3rd Street. This was the closest area the general public could watch the 'swearing in' without a ticket. If you look at next few photos, you can see the inaugural platform right behind the JumboTron. We were about 3 city blocks back from there.

This is what it looked like from where we stood:

In Front of Us

Behind Us.

Security was incredible - even for Washington. Here's a photo of the snipers on top of the National Gallery of Art:

There were sharpshooters on the roof of every building lining the Mall. On the ride up on the train, there were Dept. of Homeland Security police, TSA police, local police and police dogs patrolling the aisles of the train, the stations and the crowds waiting in line.

It was 'cold as all get out'. Air temperature was about 25 degrees with a 10-15 mph wind blowing the whole time. You would think that as crowded as it was, you wouldn't feel the wind. You would be wrong. We froze our butts off! I had on silk long underwear, a turtleneck, jeans, a polar fleece jacket and my hooded winter coat over all that. We had those 'hot hands' chemical heating packs in our pockets and shoes. Of course, the ones for the shoes didn't work and we walked like we had club feet after 5 hours of standing in the freezing temps.

But, as you might expect, the crowd was lovely. Everyone around us was polite, happy to be freezing, helpful, and downright giddy once the ceremony started. I watched a gentleman next me, with his father by his side, break into tears as President Obama took the oath of office. Women to my right hugged, with tearful eyes. It was a very emotional moment. You could hear a pin drop as the crowd listened to President Obama's speech. I was amazed. And, really thankful to live in a country where the change of government is celebrated in harmony and goodwill. I never forget that in some countries, wars are launched over election results. I could go on for hours about the funny and kind people we met today. Everyone was just incredibly thrilled to be there, able to witness history in the making. It is a day I will not soon forget.

Bloat, Sweat & Tears

2009-01-13T12:11:00.004-05:00

Pictured above: Brady, Lisa, Heidi & Maddie - Summer '08

A really important part of my life started last February when, with a desire for fitness, I sought out a personal trainer. We have belonged to our gym since it opened in February of 07, but I wasn't getting a lot out of our membership. Sure, I'd go in a few times a week and use the elliptical machine (and the awesome Kids Zone for Josie), but beyond that, not much.

Fate brought me my darling Lisa. The fitness manager assigns trainers based on fitness goals and age - seeking to hook up client and trainer that would be a good fit personally as well as professionally. Boy, we were we a good fit! Lisa and I are of similar background and temperament. And, we were both in new & challenging chapters of our lives.

Last February, Lisa had just begun a relationship with a gentleman named Dave. At the same time, I was recovering from my decades long relationship with cigarettes. I was ready to take on a new challenge. For 3 months, Lisa and I met 3 times a week to work out. In April, she encouraged me to begin cycling classes (spinning classes, to some). I loved it! Once our sessions ended, we remained friends.

During that same time, I watched Lisa become a wife to Dave, a widower, and take on the enormous job of becoming a Step-Mom to his two teenagers. Brady & Heidi are fantastic kids who we just adore.

Our conversations revolved around the joys and challenges of trying to steer our kids through their teenaged years. Heck, sometimes we just wondered out loud how we would survive the teenaged years! In addition, while still newlywed, Dave was sent by his company to work in the Green Zone, in Baghdad. Lisa had a baptism by fire - being the sole parent left behind to manage the house and family life. She and the kids did great! After sharing many family milestones together (Maddie's graduation, Lisa's professional awards, cookouts, etc) I can truly say I have a REAL friend.

So, let me brag on my friend for a minute... Lisa was named 'Trainer of the Year' last year. She also trained the winning team in our gym's version of the 'Biggest Loser'. It was a company wide (8 locations) competition with a Blue Team and a Red team for each gym. Lisa's team lost over 300 pounds in 5 months! Her 'Loser' team and most of her other clients all met on Saturdays for the 7:15AM cycling class. I found two of her 'Losers', Skip & Ken, to be especially inspirational.

In November, our gym started another competition called 'Jump Start'. Lisa teamed me up with two seriously funny individuals, Lisa & Lynn, and we became the "Shut the Front Door" team. So named because of our predilection for 'salty' language during strenuous workouts. We worked out as a team for 6 weeks (Nov 6-Dec 14), and had a great time. I don't know how our team fared in the competition, but I was pleased with my own results - I lost 9 pounds during the competition and also posted my personal best during a 2 hour Thanksgiving morning cycling class (in 2 hours I rode 43 miles). I credit Lisa, with her never ending support and encouragement, for all the fitness improvements I've made in the past year.

I also credit Lisa with helping me make new friends and letting me see that extending myself to other people is not such a scary thing. She is an absolute lovey and someone I am so glad to have in my life.

Mom Conversations

2009-01-07T07:40:00.006-05:00

The above photo is of my friend, Sharon and her youngest daughter, Lauryn Grace. Sharon and I met when our daughters (Josie and Meghan) were assigned to the same preschool class. You've seen photos of Meghan and Josie together on this blog - they are members of the 'preschool posse'.

I should first explain that we call the girls in the preschool class a 'posse' for a very good reason. These little girls are not a clique, they are not 'buddies' - they are truly a group of individuals that acts as a whole, with nothing but loving intentions. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. ALL the girls in this class LOVE each other. When we walk into the classroom they greet each other with hugs - no one is left out. They all light up at the sight of one another. They don't fight, they don't compete. They stick up for each other - ALWAYS. I think this is a huge credit to all of their parents who are raising these amazing girls in such a caring manner.

The Moms of our class are a funny, accomplished group with no pretense. Very easy to be around. The Dads, too, are highly visible - they come into the class to read or to teach the kids about their professions. (Our firefighter Dad was a HUGE hit during fire prevention month!) It's just a really nice place for both the kids and their parents to be...

Which brings me to the conversation Sharon and I had last night. Sharon has 3 daughters. Lauryn will be heading to preschool next year, Megan will move up to the 4's preschool and Caitlyn will be going into the 2nd grade. Sharon is a very active Mom - she's the one who organized the first 'Mom's tea/play group' gathering. She is also a volunteer at Caitlyn's school. She's the Mom that never forgets gift bags for the kids on ALL the holidays, always volunteers, always extending herself to make a new friend. I really admire her.

Yesterday we got the notice that preregistration for next year would be on January 16th. Though all of our children are guaranteed a spot, it's the days of the week that are first-come-first-served. Meaning, the 4 year olds have the option of MWF 8:30-11:30; MWF 12:00-3:00; or M-F 8:30-11:30. Sharon and I were discussing what would be best given our girls level of maturity, other family considerations and preferred days of the week. Both Meghan and Josie are ready for the 5 day program. Heck, If you asked James, he would tell you that Josie is ready to go right into kindergarten! I, on the other hand, want her to be my baby forever!

Sharon's quandary lies with what she will tell Lauryn when she sees both of her older sisters heading off to school everyday and she only goes three days... (she laughed out loud when I suggested, "Um, how about you tell her she doesn't have school on those days." ) It's apparent that I am totally ignorant to the logistical nightmare of getting 3 daughters under the age of 8 out of the house in the morning!!

While Sharon detailed her morning routine, her wish to continue volunteering, and other commitments (CCD classes for Caitlyn, ballet for all 3, etc), I tried to convince her that having Megan in the 5 day program and Lauryn in the 3 day program would give her so much more 'me' time. Time to go grocery shopping, time to volunteer, time to just sit down and read a magazine in quiet for an hour. That lead us to the 'maternal guilt' discussion.

Earlier in the day I had been listening to Dr. Robin Cook on the 'Oprah and Friends' radio station. Her topic was 'self care' vs. 'selfishness'. Dr. Robin's discussion focused on the fact that, for many women, the two are indistinguishable. A lot of women feel 'selfish' if they take that 'me' time. Even though, it has been proven, that just that one hour or half hour a day, makes us feel more energetic and able to give even more of that energy to our families.

I know how Sharon feels. When Maddie was little and I HAD to work, it was a constant internal battle. How could I be there for all the 'important' stuff in my daughter's life when I had to work 9 hours a day? How would she even know that I was her mother if other people were feeding her, caring for her? Guilt, Guilt, Guilt. Taking time for myself wasn't an option. Every spare minute I had was poured into being with Maddie. After a while, it takes it's toll.

I have always been a HUGE proponent of ROUTINE. I believe that routine comforts a child, gives them boundaries and makes them much happier & well rested individuals. What was missing from my earlier routines was that 'me' time. The time to take a deep breath. It was a while before I could incorporate THAT into my routine. It's hard. My friend, Sharon, gives so much to others - I'm convinced that she would benefit so greatly from some personal time.

Sharon & I are blessed with great husbands who are actually great Dads. Both James, and Sharon's husband, Bobby, love taking off with the kids on the weekends or helping out around the house while 'tag teaming' the child care. So, it is possible to take personal time and not feel guilty about leaving the kids behind.

We ended our conversation with more unanswered questions but I promised to help out in any way I can. Also, we acknowledged that how our kids are today is not how they will be 9 months from now when a new school year begins. They will mature, become a bit more self sufficient. Hopefully, Sharon and I will continue to build up our confidence in our ability to balance all the joys and challenges that come our way.

Speaking of 'personal time'... mines about to end as there is a little monkey child pulling on my arm. It seems I must come and play Barbies now.

Take Care.

Happy New Year

2009-01-03T11:51:00.011-05:00

Maddie and Friends celebrating the New Year at our local 'First Night' event.

Happy New Year one and all! I hope everyone is as excited about the New Year as I am! We had a wonderful Christmas - shared with my parents who surprised us with a last minute visit. We had been asking them to come to Virginia for the holiday, but they didn't think they could for a number of reasons. I got a call from my Mom on the morning of Dec. 23rd asking if the invitation was still open. Of course it was! She asked me to keep their arrival a secret - they wanted to surprise the girls. Well, all I can say is you should have seen Josie's face later that afternoon, when she woke up from her nap and her Grandmom was there waiting for her! Pure Joy! Here are some photos from our Christmas:

PopPop and Josie hand out presents:

Maddie loves her new iPhone!

Josie 'rock out' on her new Princess Guitar:

Josie is a total Grandmom's girl! That goes for both her grandmothers. In my family, the kids all go for PopPop - he's big fun. He teases, plays, jokes and basically acts just like one of them! Grandmom is quieter, more patient and all about kisses & hugs. Josie is much more quiet and shy than her sister or cousins. She prefers her Grandmom hands down above all of us. She tells her all the time that she needs to come Virginia and live with us. They play 'puppets' together - with Grandmom donning her tiara to play the Queen (Josie is a princess). They cook together, read together and cuddle. Needless to say, they are both in heaven when they are together.

Josie's MaMa (James' Mom) is also very close to her heart. MaMa is an active player and participant when Josie is around. She's also one of the few people that Josie will talk to on the phone. If you listen closely when Josie talks, you can see how she puts things together in her head... California equals MaMa and GungGung, Disneyland and Dave (James' dear friend for over 20 years) She is such a smart and loving child, I can't imagine what our lives would be like without her.

Maddie has also been such a source of pride these past few months. Her first semester of High School has been a combination of joy, worry, and maturity. The curriculum at her school is intense. She has been learning how to organize her work and time to achieve her goals. She has 8 classes: The Sacred Scriptures (religion); Algebra; English; Physics; World History; French; The Human Person (bioethics) and Dance. Her grades are good but she has trouble balancing her effort... straight A's in one course, and C's in another. When she focuses her energy on bringing up the 'C', her grades in the other classes start to falter. I worry constantly. But, I also remind myself (and James!) that it's all on her now. We can't sit in her classes for her or take her tests - all we can do is offer our help and hope for the best. It's hard letting go...

Maddie has made some wonderful friends at school. She has also begun dating! This is a strange and new world for James & me. We have a policy of 'no car dates' until she is 16. Meaning, she is free to have group outings or dates where we know where she going, how long she will be there, who will be present and we drop her off and pick her up. This is working out well. The young man she is currently 'dating' is a nice guy. They meet at one of our local coffee shops, attend teen concerts together and find other activities in our small downtown. He is respectful of Maddie and our rules. I won't go into any more detail because Maddie has been rather 'sensitive' about 'everyone knowing her business'. (Those of you with teenagers will understand this...)

Which brings me to explain that I am planning some changes for this site...

We've been going through a lot of changes here. I had given a lot of thought to continuing this blog. In all honesty, I really love having this blog to share photos of the girls with friends and family. Lately, however, all I've been doing is reporting and not really sharing any thoughts.

I started this blog back in 2005 while waiting for our referral for Josie. Back then, it was all about paperwork, preparation, anxiety over the wait and finally- getting our referral. It's been 3 years since we got 'The Call'. I received so much support from the adoption community - I've come to know some of those parents on a personal level and that has really enriched all of our lives.

It's always been about the kids. James and I have just been the background players to the true stars in our lives, Our Girls. But, now Josie is in pre-school and Maddie is in High School... and quite honestly, there isn't really that much to report when you take into consideration how routine our lives have become. Also, it's sometimes difficult to try to put a positive spin on teenage angst and toddler drama. I have always been afraid that if I shared my true thoughts or observations that I would end up offending someone. In trying to be somewhat diplomatic and impartial - I've neglected sharing a huge part of our lives.

James & I have made so many new friends this year. At this point in my life, I didn't expect to make any 'true, real friends'. I always felt that those friends whom I have know for a long time would understand me better, accept me and my thoughts more readily. I no longer feel that way. James and I have made friends who have become like family to us - and over the course of the past few years I've neglected to share details about these wonderful folks. I hope to remedy that with the changes I make with this blog - starting now. I hope to introduce all of you to the people who have brought us so much love and joy.

So, with that long winded explanation given, I'll tell you all that our blog will no longer be just about the girls. Though we are only a family of four, our extended family is huge! I can't wait to get started with the introductions and to share with you the whole canvas of our lives. I will be blogging much more frequently, so to those of you who check in regularly - Thanks for sticking with us.

Until next time....

Gotta Love a Small Town Newspaper!

2008-12-23T12:49:00.003-05:00

This article appeared last week in our local newspaper. This was front-page, above the fold news. I called my sister, Claudine, and read it to her and we had a good laugh. Hope you enjoy it...

A wild trip though a Stafford grocery store landed a county man in jail late Friday, police said.

The suspect tried to run over a store employee with a battery-operated handicapped cart after the employee confronted him about his actions, which police said included throwing eggs and Cheetos in multiple aisles and eating food he hadn't purchased.

The suspect left the Bloom store before police arrived, but was apprehended nearby a short time later, Sheriff's spokesman Bill Kennedy said.

According to Kennedy, the suspect entered the store at 905 Garrisonville Road just before 11 p.m.

He got into a motorized cart and picked up various items, including sandwiches, cartons of eggs, beer, wine and Cheetos.

Kennedy said the man was eating one of the sandwiches and drinking a beer as he rode up and down aisles throwing eggs and knocking items off shelves.

When a manager confronted him about his behavior, police said, the man told her he wasn't doing anything wrong.

He then chased the manager in the cart as she ran to safety. He ran out of the store when the manager informed him she was calling police.

Kennedy said about $190 worth of items were either damaged or eaten during the incident.

Deputy Nathan Thompson stopped the man as he was walking west on Garrisonville Road and took him back to the store, where he was identified as the suspect.

Michael James Selz, 21, was charged with assault, destruction of property, petty larceny and public intoxication.

Early Christmas

2008-12-22T19:00:00.017-05:00

Although it was only an hour and a half drive up to my sister Claudine's house, this is what the girls looked like on the way there! We left at 9:30 AM. Bunch of slacker, my girls are! As we pulled into the driveway we found that Suzanne & Greg were right behind us, having left Philadelphia a bit earlier - like us. We had a nice day, but Josie never left the Christmas tree, waiting patiently until it was time to open presents.

Once everyone had arrived we had a nice light lunch and let the kids open their gifts. In my family, we open gifts from the youngest to the oldest. That way, everyone gets to see what everyone else got. Jack (our nephew) was totally bummed out to remember that he wasn't the youngest anymore - Josie got to go first.

Here's the progression of happy faces from Saturday afternoon:

Jack - who received all things 'Baltimore Ravens'

Kate - who love clothes and snow globes

Liam - who shows off his Manchester United jersey from Aunt Claudine

Maddie showing off the hat & gloves she received from Aunt Claudine. (Aunt Claudine gives the coolest gifts!)

Zack (being supervised by Liam) opens one of many 'gift cards' (the favorite of teens everywhere!)

James opens his 'Philadelphia Phillies World Champions' T-shirt from BIL Greg. (It's a long story, but it started when Liam was about 3 and Zack was 8 and we sent them home from the beach in LA Dodgers hats and T-shirts!) The rivalry continues...

Josie gives her Grandmom a hand opening a present

Suzanne gives Mom a hand in reading a note from our Dad (His gift to her was a trip to Atlantic City with $$ spending money!)

Pop opens a gift while wearing his new Phillies hat

We all had a lovely time and received extremely generous gifts. We headed home around 8 PM and we were just about 3 blocks down the road before Josie crashed. She had so much excitement being around her cousins - combined with a lack of a nap - that our little angel just toughed it out as long as she could! Maddie fell asleep too. Upon our arrival home, she fed the dogs and went up to bed. She slept until 2 the next afternoon! (She finished mid term exams on Friday, so she's been keeping some late hours!)

More to follow...

Seasons Greetings

2008-12-16T18:32:00.010-05:00

I haven't posted since before Thanksgiving- it's been a hectic season. We've been having a lot of fun, so I'll give a rundown of what's been going on...

Back in early December, Maddie got a phone call from one of her middle school classmates. Jeri was responsible for finding 'elves' to help out with a Christmas luncheon being held for underprivileged children and their families. Two elves were unable to meet their commitment, so Maddie was asked to fill in. She departed at 8 AM the following morning in her elf suit. (of course, I grabbed the camera before she left!) Maddie had a wonderful time. She reported that the kids were just adorable and the families were so appreciative. I'm thankful to Jeri and her mom, Donna, for giving Maddie the opportunity to start off the season in proper fashion - it put things in perspective for her... We are so blessed with warm clothes, a comfortable home and loving family around us.

Moving on, last Friday Josie's pre-school enjoyed 'Breakfast with Santa Claus'. The children sang Christmas songs, had a light breakfast and then waited patiently to sit on Santa's lap.

Here's Josie and her classmates singing:

Here's Meghan improvising a dance to go along with the songs:

Santa caused a mob scene when he appeared on the balcony. By the time he made it downstairs to the party, everyone was so excited! Josie was literally jumping for joy!

Here's Josie sitting on Santa's lap. Have to give Santa his props - there were over 100 children present (all 3 and 4 year olds) and he managed to get time to speak with each and every one of them. Josie told Santa she wanted a Barbie. She's still a bit 'iffy' about the big guy, so when she sat on his lap- I was thrilled.

The following two days were filled with shopping and attending friend's Christmas parties. On Saturday, we joined Dave and Lisa and received a wonderful gift (I'll share a photo later) and on Sunday, we attended Ed & Martys annual Christmas gathering.

This week, we had Josie's class performance of the Nativity. Not many photos from that one, as I arrived only 15 minutes early and was only able to get a back row seat. Apparently, you have to stake your claim on seats at least an hour in advance. Also, Josie was not on her best behavior - I'll explain in the next post....

In two days (Saturday the 20th) we will be celebrating an early Christmas with my family at my sister Claudine's house in Maryland. My older sister, Sue, BIL Greg and our two nephews, Zack & Liam, will be driving down from Philly. My brother's family and ours will be driving up from Virginia and Mom & Dad will be coming in from Delaware. Should be a lot of fun. Josie is so excited to see her cousins! She asked if her other cousins, Alex, Brandon, Alicia and Zoe would be there. She was terribly disappointed when we explained that they lived in California and wouldn't be making the trip. So, for our family in CA - please know that we miss you and are thinking of you everyday.

Special shout out to my darling Mother in Law, Shirley, who broke her shoulder this past week. We've been checking in daily to ensure that she and Dad are doing okay. Please keep a good thought for her speedy recovery.

I'll have some time tomorrow to share more news and photos. Maddie has been on half days all this week because of finals. She has only 1 tomorrow - so she'll be around to lend a hand with Josie. This will give me a chance upload more photos and spend a bit of time on line. I hope that all of you are enjoying the holiday season. See you soon!

Birthday Cake Belly

2008-11-24T07:48:00.005-05:00

On Friday we celebrated James' 47th birthday. It was a quiet affair... just the four of us, a pizza and red velvet cupcakes. Every year I try to make James a red velvet cake, and every year I mess it up. This year, I decided to play it safe. I ordered half a dozen cupcakes from our favorite cake shoppe. Everyone was happy, but Josie was thrilled. Cupcakes are her favorite thing in the world! (at least this week they are...) Here, she shows off her "Cupcake Belly":

We have all been incredibly sick for the majority of this month. It started with Maddie, she let herself get run down by not getting enough sleep, and the rest of us followed in short order. I thought I had dodged the 'crud' but this was not the case. Even James, who normally stays healthy, was down for a few days. It's been just terrible.

Worse of all is watching Josie suffer with a horrible stuffy nose and wicked cough. Her sleeping pattern has been disrupted- so I'm up most nights around 2:30 AM comforting her. When I get up, the dogs get up. So, in the middle of the night our house is lit up like a Christmas tree, the dogs are running around in the yard and I'm stumbling around, looking for the most promising option for temporary relief of coughing spells.

During this time, we also had painters in the house. We decided to lighten up the kitchen and family room areas - as I've stated many times, these areas are in the rear of the house. The yard is heavily forested so the house gets only filtered light for most of the year. Now that all the leaves are gone, we get a bit more natural light, but it's still not enough to brighten my rooms or my mood.

We will be celebrating Thanksgiving at my brother's home in the Richmond area. It's not a long drive from here and it's the first time in while that I don't have to worry about cooking. Josie had her Thanksgiving celebration at school last Thursday and the kids were just adorable. All dressed like pilgrims.

Thats about all from here right now. I would like to wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm thankful that you all take the time to visit us here.

VOTE TODAY!

2008-11-04T10:13:00.004-05:00

Okay, don't watch the video if you don't have a sense of humor. It's hysterical and it was sent to me by my friend, Sue, in Alaska.

More Halloween

2008-11-04T09:58:00.007-05:00

Here are the few Pics I promised of Maddie and Josie. For the past 3 years, Josie and Joey have hit the streets together on Halloween. Maddie also stayed with tradition and went out with our neighbor Jason and assorted friends. Maddie made a late night of it - trick or treating and then hanging next door. She moseyed in about 10PM. We turned off the lights at 9PM as the street was deserted. All that left over candy !!!

Here's another of Maddie and Josie and Josie and Joey respectively:

Halloween 08

2008-11-03T07:13:00.034-05:00

We had a wonderful Halloween! We started out on Thursday,with a trip to the Pumpkin Patch with Josie's preschool class. We learned about bees and how honey is made; we learned about how pumpkins grow and we learned about all different kind of farm animals. Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Roosters and Cows.

I also learned to double check my camera before packing it - as I neglected to put the battery back in my camera after I charged it . Thus, no photos of the pumpkin patch. I don't think the kids would have stood still long enough for a photo, though. It was VERY COLD for our morning outing - when we arrived at 9:20 it was 48 degrees with a 15-20 MPH wind!! We dressed properly, but that wind cut through us.

Here's Josie just after carving her pumpkin:

And here is Josie's 'scary face':

On Friday Morning we celebrated the Fall Festival at Josie's Preschool. And it was a hoot! The kids were just adorable and there was so much to do! They had game booths, a parade and then a party. James and I had a ball with Josie. It was great to see how much the other parents used their creativity in the kids costumes and how much they really got into the whole Halloween spirit:

Here's Josie with part of her Preschool posse: Megan, Roma, Josie and Riley:

Here's Josie in her costume:

And here are a few of the other costumes we just loved:

Here are Josie and her friends enjoying the festivities:

We thought that the best costume by far was worn by Josie's teacher, Mrs. J. She looked just awesome as Madeline! And in a nod to the wonderful books, Sr. Mary Vincent posed as Mrs. Clavell for my photos. Just loved the spirit of these two wonderful ladies!!:

I will post a few more photos of our actual Halloween night. Very subdued this year, which was a surprise because it was a Friday night and it wasn't really too cold. Anyway, next post will have some of Maddie and Josie in costume...

Melamine

2008-10-29T17:35:00.005-05:00

Melamine is a chemical with a number of industrial uses, and an already scandalous history as one of the major contaminants in the 2007 Chinese pet food debacle. It is suspected that it was added to milk at milk collecting stations in China to disguise the fact that milk was being watered down, since melamine artificially increases the testable protein content. We don't yet know how long this has been a problem. According to Sanlu, a popular budget formula manufacturer implicated in this event, contaminated milk was used in the manufacture of infant formula processed before 8/6/08, as well as in other dairy products like liquid milk, frozen yogurt, and coffee creamer.

Turns out that children who were adopted from China as far back as 2005 were exposed to the melamine tainted powdered milk. Given that Josie was born in 05 and lived in China until March of 2006, we are having her tested.

We are unable to learn what brand of formula she was given by the orphanage or her foster family. Also, news reports state that 22 different brands were found to be tainted but not one report lists all those brands. I have spent endless hours on line trying to find pictures... turns out we have some photos in which our bags of formula are in the background. I was hoping to match the photo to find out if the brand we were given in China was included in the recall. I also brought back one package of the formula from China because we were transitioning Josie from the Chinese formula to American formula.

Josie is an exceptionally healthy child, so we're not in panic mode. We're working with our pediatrician and following the advice and treatment plans offered by the American Pediatric Association for Adoptive Families.

Josie will have a urinalysis, a blood draw and a renal/urinary tract ultrasound to be sure all areas of concern are addressed. We are on the same tract as our pediatrician who believes "better safe than sorry".

We'll let you know how our little one makes out.

Baby's Day Out

2008-10-25T21:54:00.008-05:00

Josie spent Saturday on an adventure with her Dad. Mom got to stay home and do laundry, while big sister, Maddie, went to her High School football game...

She rode the carousel outside the Smithsonian 'Castle':

She ate Dim Sum:

She flew an airplane (at the Air and Space Museum):

And took in a few of the exhibits:

What a lucky girl!!

Hershey Park

2008-10-09T07:33:00.011-05:00

This past weekend, Josie, Maddie and I visited with Aunt Claudine. We drove to her house in Maryland on Friday after school. Grandmom & Pop-Pop drove over from Delaware to get in a quick visit with the girls. On Saturday morning we (Aunt Claudine, Maddie, Josie and me) drove up to Hershey Park, which was about a two hour drive from Claudine's house. The park was open for a special event - allowing only employees of Claudine's agency and their families.

The weather was beautiful as we departed Maryland, but the closer we got to the park - the more cloudy and cool it got. When we reached Hershey (where all the street light tops are Hershey kisses - really!) it was rainy and very chilly. Just about 50 degrees. The weather did not dampen our enthusiasm, though. We took the tour of 'Chocolatetown' and waited for the weather to clear.

Once in the park, Maddie and Claudine headed for the rollercoasters. Josie and I headed for the kids rides. I did persuade Maddie to ride the merry-go-round with Josie before making herself scarce. The picture above was the best one I could get... that thing was really spinning!

Josie rode a few of the rides by herself... Not willingly, but she did it! Worse ride was the kiddie 'pirate ship'. The pendulum effect always gets to my stomach, but I figured Josie would be okay on the kiddie version. I was wrong. In Josie's own words, she "freaked out a little". She was practically climbing behind the little girl next to her, hiding her face. Then she would hold the bar in front of her with a death grip and grit her teeth. There was nothing I could do - longest minute and a half of my life! Just as the ride was at a complete stop, she raised both her hands up in the air and came off smiling. Whew!

After riding on the antique cars we ran into the Hershey kiss. Josie was thrilled!

We returned to Claudine's house around 6:45PM and my Mom had made a delicious roasted chicken with stuffing, mashed potatoes and green beans. Awesome! Nothing beats Mom's cooking! Here's a photo of Josie with Aunt Claudine's 'baby', SoCo:

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

My Birthday Dinner

2008-10-01T07:38:00.004-05:00

From Birthday Dinner 10/1/08 8:37 AM

I'm coming clean right now... I totally blew my healthy eating plan last night. I haven't had a hamburger for nearly half a year. And french fries? Well, it's been a long time since I've had those too. James & the girls decided that I deserved a treat, so the picture above shows what I had for my birthday dinner. It was awesome!!!

Oh, and the cake was fantastic too! Although the sugar gave me an upset stomach, it was soooo good going down!

Regretfully, I'm back on track today. But, I'll only turn 46 once. 'Nuf said.

Red (letter) Day

2008-09-30T07:02:00.013-05:00

This week, Josie's preschool class is learning about the color red, the letter A and designing a 'family tree'. All the kids are supposed to wear something red today - and I found this most appropriate outfit at Gymboree over the weekend. (On Sale, too!)

Today is also my birthday, so James scheduled his meetings close to home. He's taking Josie to school today while I head off to the gym for a cycling class. Then, for dinner tonight, we will have two treats I have been denying myself for months... a Five Guys burger and some chocolate cake!!

Here's a few shots of my stylin' princess before she left for school this morning:

And here's another snazzy outfit she wore last week:

Many thanks to my dear friend, Sue, for the lovely personalized birthday card I received yesterday. (I love it!) and to my family who always remember - much better than I do!!

Under the Same Moon

2008-09-15T21:26:00.010-05:00

From Moon 9/15/08 10:24 PM

My girls have always loved looking at the moon. They both have a natural fascination with watching it rise in the evening sky. When James was away on travel, I used to tell Maddie that Daddy was looking at the same moon no matter where he was.

James is away on travel right now and the girls are fast asleep upstairs in Josie's room. They fell asleep together while Maddie read Josie her nighttime story and they played "puppets". (Puppets is the very appropriate name that Josie gives her imaginary play... most kids would call it 'make pretend')

Tonight also marks the Chinese Moon Festival:

The Chinese Moon Festival is on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. It's also known as the Mid-autumn Festival. Chinese culture is deeply imbedded in traditional festivals. Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese.

The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes, and sing moon poems. With the full moon, the legend, the family and the poems, you can't help thinking that this is really a perfect world. That is why the Chinese are so fond of the Moon Festival.

The Moon Festival is also a romantic one. A perfect night for the festival is if it is a quiet night without a silk of cloud and with a little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such a romatic night together tasting the delicious moon cake with some wine while watching the full moon. Even for a couple who can't be together, they can still enjoy the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems that they are together at that hour. A great number of poetry has been devoted to this romantic festival. Hope the Moon Festival will bring you happiness.

The moon cake is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky.

I am not sharing a romantic evening with my husband... but the girls and I are safe in the home he has provided for us. He is not having a romantic evening either - out scouring the stores for the toy horse he promised Josie he would bring back for her. And, in this family, it's more likely that we'll have chocolate cake than moon cake! Still, we think our little corner of the world is 'perfect'.

There were 'silk clouds' in the sky tonight and I just wanted James to know that the girls and I thought of him tonight while we watched the beautiful moonrise.

I have limited photographic skills, but these are a few of the photos I was able to get out front of our house this evening:

From Moon 9/15/08 10:24 PM

NASCAR Chevy Rock n' Roll 400

2008-09-08T07:26:00.023-05:00

From Race Day 08 9/7/08 6:21 PM

James & Maddie had their annual NASCAR race outing this past weekend. Originally scheduled for Friday night and all day Saturday, the events were postponed to Sunday - due to the remnants of tropical storm Hannah which hit us on Saturday. They both really enjoy this event, held at the Richmond International Raceway. They get VIP treatment, which includes meeting the band that performs before the race.

This year, the band was Three Days Grace. Both James & Maddie said that the band members were engaging and quite nice. They took the time to chat and pose for pictures. Last year, they were very disappointed with the surly Daughtry so, it was a great surprise when they actually got to converse with the band. The lead singer even gave Maddie one of his guitar pics !!

From Race Day 08 9/7/08 6:21 PM

Because of the delay of the race, Chevy was left with a shortage of manpower... everyone had stayed in Detroit. This provided an opportunity for James and Maddie to participate in the introduction of the NASCAR drivers. James drove and Maddie rode 'shotgun' as they drove around the track with drivers Ryan Newman and Mark Martin.

From Race Day 08 9/7/08 6:21 PM

Mark Martin climbs into the bed of the Chevy Pick-Up:

From Race Day 08 9/7/08 6:21 PM

Ryan Newman hops onboard:

From Race Day 08 9/7/08 6:21 PM

Maddie snapped this shot while they were driving around the track:

From Race Day 08 9/7/08 6:21 PM

Maddie was still smiling when they returned home in time for a late dinner with Josie and me. It's rare that a 14 year old girl gets to share this kind of event with her Dad - they both just love the races! James loves having the one-on-one time with Maddie and returns home feeling very proud of how all the folks at Chevy compliment him on his lovely daughter. Maddie, on the other hand, loves getting to go to the concert and meeting all the people. (She also confessed to liking the time with her Dad...) !!

She's Off !!!

2008-09-02T08:06:00.005-05:00

Today was Josie's first day of school. I'm proud to say we both handled it quite well. Neither of us cried and Josie settled right in. She looked just as sweet as can be, outfitted in a lovely dress and the backpack that Grandmom gave her.

She went right to work - or should I say, play - with a few of the girls from her class. Here, the ladies get acquainted over Playdoh:

In case you are wondering, I haven't gotten any photos of Maddie leaving for school because it's just too early in the morning! Maddie wakes up at 5AM and is out the door at 6:10AM. Her bus leaves the church parking lot at 6:30 sharp! She gets home at 3:40PM and goes right to work on homework and catching up on her emails. I barely see her !!! I do, however, still get my kiss goodbye and an "I love you" before she heads out.

I'm so proud of both my girls!

And So It Begins...

2008-08-28T10:12:00.008-05:00

This morning James & I attended the Open House for Josie's new pre-school. It went really well. Josie seemed to be very comfortable and started engaging with the other kids right away.

Josie has been at home with me for the past 2 years. The only time she gets to see other kids is when we take her to the Kid's Zone at the gym or when she visits with Joey. I've never hired a babysitter for her - leaving her only with family members if needed. She really needs this pre-school... and I really need a cry! My baby princess is on her way !

She is a very smart and sweet girl... and she is also very assertive. I'm choosing my words carefully here because as the mother of two daughters, I know that labels are dangerous. Girls are called 'bossy' when exhibiting the same behavior that merits a boy being called a 'leader'. Go figure. Anyway, I embrace both my girls strengths.

Here's a few photos I was able to get while all the parents stood around getting acquainted:

Josie - Just like her Dad. (She found the toy cars right away!)

Playdoh seemed to be the most popular attraction at the Open House..

And here is Josie's teacher: Mrs. J. She seems very nice and able to handle the group. (A far better woman than I !! )

This is the beginning of the end for James & I... at least where children are concerned. Maddie has started High School (it's going REALLY WELL!) and now Josie is off to classes. I'm sad but relieved. Josie is my last child. Although we have quite a few years until we send her off to college, it makes me a bit sad that the journey has begun.

Massachusetts Getaway (or..."How We Dropped in on Aunt Mary and Uncle Nick with a Weeks Notice)

2008-08-25T18:21:00.025-05:00

The weekend before last, our dear friend Mary made the mistake of calling to say hello...

The result was me packing up the girls and driving up to Massachusetts on Monday the 18th. We decided to end our summer with a visit to Aunt Mary, Uncle Nick and Ryan in Marshfield. We spent the night in Boston on the 18th. Once we checked in, we walked from our hotel in the Seaport District to Quincy Market. We watched some performers, shopped and had a quick bite for dinner. On Tuesday, we played tourist and boarded a tour trolley. We hit most of the major attractions, including a side tour of Harvard Square. We packed up our stuff that afternoon and headed down to Marshfield where a beautiful breeze and beautiful Aunt Mary awaited...

Both Nick & Mary worked on Wednesday so the girls and I waited until it warmed up (temps were in the 60's in the AM) and walked to the beach. Bad timing on our part, as the tide was high and water crashed on the rocks. We made due with kicking back in the yard. Josie entertained herself for a full four hours playing "puppets" in the sun room while I read a book (first time in ages!) and Maddie caught up with her electronic gadgets.

On Thursday, I picked James up at Logan Airport (he was in California on business) and then headed out on Nick & Mary's boat. We cruised around for a while on calm seas and then pulled a few lobster pots that Mary's brother, Jim, had put out earlier in the day. The first pot had two huge female lobster laden with eggs - so we had to throw them back in... heartbreaking. The rest of the pots were empty, so we we went home empty handed but happy - it was a beautiful day at sea and Mary was an excellent Captain!

Once we pulled back in to the marina, I got Josie off the boat while James, Mary and Maddie did the hard work of cleaning and closing up the boat. I was a bit scared of having Josie around the floating docks. She is not at all comfortable around the water yet, so best she stayed on dry land while the adults were busy.

Of course, being the slacker that I am, I kept busy taking photos of Josie while the others worked (sorry, guys!)

Friday was the ultimate beach day - Nick was able to take Friday off and we all headed to the beach with chairs, cooler and suntan lotion. It was a breezy day, full out sunshine with warm water to dip our toes in. Here's Uncle Nick enjoying a well-earned day off:

Josie got some quality time in with Aunt Mary:

And the rest of us got a nice tan and a day of rest and relaxation.

On both Friday and Saturday mornings, we awoke at 5:30 to catch the sunrise. Mary and I wanted to catch some photos but our results were mixed. The skies were so clear that there were no clouds to lend 'drama' to the sunrise - just a few spectacular colors that didn't translate well to film...

Maddie came along on Saturday morning, so I got some subdued shots of her:

Finally, after a few hours on the beach Saturday, we had to make the 10 hour drive home. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone. James has been daydreaming about buying a house up in Marshfield, which would make us all very happy. Everyone we spent time with there was so welcoming and friendly. It seems we have the BEST time there. Thanks to our Marshfield family for making sure we had such a great visit.

More Good News about Mad's High School

2008-08-15T16:36:00.015-05:00

There was another story about Maddie's new High School on the news last night. We are very excited that Maddie is attending this school, and from the look of things, so are a lot of other folks.

(I tried to embed the video but couldn't figure it out! Please click on the link to get to the story - Thanks!)

Take A Hike!!

2008-08-13T09:02:00.011-05:00

James' brother Ken and our nephews, Alex & Brandon are visiting with us. They live in California so we don't get to see them often. We have been having so much fun showing the boys around our area. Yesterday, while James attended a conference for work, Ken & I took the kids on a hike. The trail wasn't a hard or long one - but from all the bellyaching they did, you would think they were scaling the Himalayans!

Once they started noting the interesting things along the trail, though, they had a great time. Here, Ken points out tree fungus to the kids:

And, hiking is also much more fun when there's climbing involved!

Ken & I were also subjected to the antics of our resident posers, Maddie and Alex!!

Here's Ken and Brandon making their way along the trail:

And, this was our final destination: We thought there was an actual cabin at the end of the trail, but there was only this marker:

The kids were a bit disappointed by there being no cabin, but being able to climb on the downed trees more than made up for it !! (You would think that after living here for 4 years I would have known this, but I guess that just proves that there's a whole lot left to explore in our own town!!)

Portraits

2008-08-06T12:51:00.017-05:00

In mid-July, we had a portrait taken of all my parents grandkids. We had one done in 2001 when the kids were much younger. Since that time, Josie has been added to the gang. The kids hardly resemble that old photo... they've grown so much!

We hired a wonderful photographer, Kyle Hughes, who is based out of Ocean City, Maryland. My parents live just over the border in Delaware and Kyle met us at the State Park to take the portraits. Kyle was fantastic with the kids and he barred all parents from the shoot. A wise move... they obeyed his every command! Plus, once Josie saw all her cousins (whom she ADORES!) and her big sister playing in the sand, she gladly joined in. The resulting shots are nothing short of a miracle. We are so thankful that Kyle possessed the 'right stuff' to get such treasured shots of the kids.

(Knelling: Liam,10, Zack 15:
Seated: Jack, 8; Kate, 10; Maddie, 14; Josie, 3)

Each family had separate sibling shots taken, with Chaz & Kim getting an excellent family portrait done as well. I hope Kim will get them to me so I can share them here. So, here are the shots of the girls that I just HAD to have. (As an aside... there are no single shots of Maddie - we had her portraits taken when she was 7 and she will have separate ones done when she graduates high school.)

And, my favorite one of Josie:

A Beach Visit

2008-08-05T14:15:00.014-05:00

We had nothing planned for a few days, so given the hot weather, we hopped in the car and headed out to see Grandmom & PopPop! It was much cooler at the beach. We kept ourselves busy picking peaches, going to the beach, going to the pool and feeding the ducks:

After posing on the beach for a portrait in mid-July, we thought Josie had resolved her issues with sand... We were wrong. She will walk on the sand with her sandals on, but insists on being carried to the shoreline. She doesn't like the waves and she will NOT go anywhere near where they might push up to her toes. It's a bit hard to handle, given all the kids in our family are part fish. However, I hold out hope that Josie will get over her dislike of the beach like her cousin, Liam did. When Liam was Josie's age, he hated the sand and all things associated with the beach. Now, he's a real surfer dude. So, we'll just bide our time and hope for the best...

Maddie, on the other hand, loves the beach, and doesn't care too much for the pool. But, she humors me and joins us for our visits to the community pool. She knows how much Josie loves being there. Josie is fascinated by the other children and does her best to make friends. She's a bit shy, but more times than not, her desire to play with others wins out over the bashful routine!

We were lucky that James was able to join us for two days while we were gone. Things are busy for him at work and we also have the issue of who will look after the dogs. My Dad is a total pain in the --- when it comes to the dogs. Oh well, that's the price to paid for a "free" vacation spot.

One of Josie's favorite things about visiting the beach (besides being spoiled to bits by Grandmom & her friend, Miss Mary!) is feeding the ducks. If you stand on the back deck, the ducks see you and literally come right over to grab a free meal. Josie grabs her bread (and her Grandmom!) and heads out back calling, "Here ducks, here ducks!' And, darned if they don't come waddling! Last night a Mom duck and her two babies came for a visit:

We're hoping to squeeze in a bit more beach time before the girls go back to school. That's right, !! Miss Josie is starting Pre-K classes this fall!! She will attend Tues/Thurs morning sessions in the 3 year olds class. We are very excited!! Maddie also starts at her new school on August 25th. We will attend the blessing of her new high school this coming Sunday and I can't wait to see how much things have changed since our last tour in April... till then, Hope you're all having a great summer!!

Our Safari Park Adventure

2008-07-19T17:52:00.030-05:00

Today we took a family road trip. The weather has been HOT, so we decided to head for the cooler air of the Blue Ridge mountains, a mere 3 hour drive from our home. I found out about the Safari Park on the blog of my friend, Kim, who has since taken her blog private. She and her family live MUCH closer to the park, but I would never had known it existed if not for Kim.

I'm not much for road trips... I'm a nervous passenger ("backseat driver", if you insist on being technical!). James usually grabs the kids and goes - leaving me behind in blissful silence. But, I had a stern talking with myself and decided to tough it out. I'm so glad I did!

We had a ball! The drive through the safari park is slow and very entertaining. We took Josie out of her car seat so she could easily feed the animals. She was very excited by the prospect of being up close and personal with the animals, but the reality was quite different! She would scream, "I want to feed the zebra!" So, we would stop and Maddie would help her put her feed bucket out the window to attract the animals. Once an animal approached the car, Josie would squeal with delight and get as far AWAY from the window as possible! "You do it, Maddie!" All the while, she was laughing and literally jumping for joy on the backseat!

Josie was really great at finding the animals we saw in the guide handed out by the park. I was amazed that she was able to find them so quickly and accurately!!

Here are a few of the animals we saw on the safari drive:

After we finished driving through the safari, we headed to the petting zoo and giraffe feeding station which was included in the $12.00 adult admission price. Here, we saw much more exotic animals...just not as close as the ones on the drive.

When we finally decided to head home, the girls were just great at keeping themselves occupied and entertained. They had a few Hershey kisses and used the wrappers to give themselves some 'grillz'. The girls say, "Peace out, Dog!"

Alaska

2008-07-06T10:50:00.036-05:00

Seems like it took me forever to get back to blogging... Our trip to Alaska was fantastic! Maddie and I created such wonderful memories of our time there thanks to my dear childhood friend, Susan. We flew into Anchorage on June 24th, arriving earlier than we anticipated. (We flew standby from Minneapolis to Anchorage so we were able to catch an earlier flight). Sue was there to greet us. Although it had been close to 15 years since we had seen each other, the years melted away with one hug. Though both of us are older, I was still looking into the eyes of a friend I had know my entire life - looking at the kid I had grown up with.

We hit the ground running - taking in the sites of Anchorage until dinner time. We shared a lovely dinner at a waterfront restaurant, where Maddie tried the Caribou burger! We checked into our hotel and stayed up talking late into the evening. The next morning, after a breakfast of sourdough pancakes, we headed out on the open road for Seward.

Once we located our hotel in Seward, we visited Exit Glacier. We took a short hike up to the glacier itself. Don't let anyone tell you that global warming isn't real... we saw photos of the glacier in 1996 when you could literally touch the glacier. Not anymore. It had receded quite a bit in just the past 12 years... we were standing on ground that was part of the ice wall back then.

Maddie & Me - Exit Glacier

Maddie goofing around at the Exit Glacier Visitor Center!

In Seward, we also visited the Marine Life Center which was a really great introduction to the sea life of Alaska in general and the Resurrection Bay habitat, in particular. It got us very excited for the Wildlife Cruise Sue had booked for us the following day. (Thursday).

Me & Maddie at the Seward Wildlife Center

Thursday dawned (figuratively, of course, since right now Alaska gets about 22 hours of sunlight!) with rainy weather. We were determined to get on the boat, even though the Captain doubted we would make it out to the glacier we were scheduled to visit. The seas were rough on Resurrection Bay and we all came away bruised and battered from holding on to the ship's rails to get our photos of the wildlife we passed along the way.

Along the way we made a stop on Fox Island for a Salmon Bake. It was supposed to be a dinner, but with the rough seas the Captain decided to make it a lunch and cut our cruise short by about 4 hours. The lunch was held in a lodge operated by the National Park Service and a slide presentation was given by the resident ranger.

Sue & Maddie enjoy lunch at the Lodge

On Friday, we packed up and left Seward behind, heading for Denali National Park. We were stopping for the night in Wasilla, which is a half-way point and also the closest to Hatcher's Pass. Hatcher's Pass was a gold mining town that was in operation until the 1950's. Now, it's a well preserved ghost town with stunning views... we tried to imagine what it would have been like to wake each morning to the splendor that surrounds the area. Breathtaking.

Saturday, we wasted no time in hitting the road to Denali. We wanted to catch the 2PM Dog Sled presentation given at the park. Boy, was it worth it. I learned so much about sled dogs - how they are bred, how they help humans and their incredible capabilities. The dogs were just beautiful and we loved seeing them up close!

Maddie & 'Blue'

Sunday the three of us headed back to the park for the highlight of our trip - the 8 hour ride through Denali National Park. There are no words to describe the beauty. Each turn in the road brought another breathtaking vista and incredible wildlife sightings. Here are a few that I managed to get:

After the ride through the park, we headed up to Fairbanks. Upon arrival at Susan's home, her husband, Steve, had a delicious meal of burgers and brats waiting for us. Yummy. It was great to finally meet Steve and to find out that he is just as wonderful as Sue describes him.

Sue and Steve's home was warm and welcoming, decorated with her spectacular photography. Really lovely. We said goodnight and prepared for our departure the following day. (Monday).

Our flight left out of Fairbanks at 10 on Monday evening, so that gave us the day on Monday to tour around Fairbanks. We rode the Riverboat Discovery and panned for gold at the El Dorado Mine. Both outings were very informative and gave us real insight into the history of Alaska. We also ran into our friends, Ed & Marty who were with a group of their friends on a cruisetour before hopping a Princess cruise ship later in the week.

As the time for our departure drew near I took a bit of time to remember all the things we had seen and done. I am so thankful to my dear friend for taking a week of her time to show us the beauty of her adopted home. I am thankful to have had the time with my daughter before she heads off to high school - such a milestone in her life. I was so proud when Sue told me what a nice kid Maddie is. Also, I'm so very thankful to live in such a wonderful country.

Finally, I am truly thankful to my husband for giving us the time and resources ($$$) to take this trip . And, for my parents and sister-in-law, Kim who spent the week entertaining and spoiling my other precious girl, Josie.

Just as an aside, on Tuesday - our first night back home in Virginia - I let the dogs out before heading up to bed. Carson took off to the woods on the side of the house and returned rubbing his face on the ground and stinking to high heaven...Turned out our boy got SKUNKED!! I got James out of bed and he and Maddie gave Carson a V8 bath (we didn't have tomato juice!) in the driveway and then another bath once we got him inside. Poor Bubba - he's always getting into something. This time the 'something' fought back!!!

California Girls

2008-06-15T09:39:00.002-05:00

Here's a slideshow of photos that James has sent me over the past 3 days. He and the girls are having a wonderful time in California, but I can't wait for them to get home!!!

Our Graduate

2008-06-12T09:57:00.012-05:00

On Tuesday night, we celebrated Maddie's 8th grade graduation. The graduation mass was beautiful and very long...2 hours! Following the mass, there was a reception for the graduates and their guests. The adults were encouraged to leave quickly as the remainder of the evening was reserved for the kids to party and bid farewell to their classmates. I picked Maddie up at 11PM and she was in tears, so sad to say goodbye to those she has spent the last 3 years of her life with.

We had a big group in attendance - GungGung & MaMa came from California, PopPop & Grandmom came from Delaware and Ed & Marty made the mad dash through Washington rush hour traffic to be in attendance. Maddie got a bit teary-eyed at seeing all of us cheer her on. I think she's starting to realize just how blessed we are to have a loving family and dear friends who support all of us in all our activities.

Here is Maddie's graduating class:

Her teacher, Mrs. Noller - who was so supportive of Maddie:

Maddie & Monica:

Some of the Boys - who rarely sit still for me when I want a photo!:

And, of course, Josie - who behaved beautifully even though it was WaaaaY past her bed time:

Our family photo - taken by Marty which is why she and Ed are not in it:

James has absconded with my daughters and taken them off to California...leaving me alone with the dogs for the next 6 days. He says I needed a break from the kids, but I know the real reason is because I refused to give Disneyland any more of my time or money...enough of the Mouse already!!! They traveled with James' parents so he had quite a few extra hands to help out with Josie...this includes Monica who went along with them.

I am taking advantage of the time by scheduling the rugs to be cleaned and getting those pesky chores done that I never seem to be able to accomplish with little Miss Josephine around... scrubbing her pencil marks off the walls, taking the Backyardigan stickers off the windows and getting little hand prints off the walls. That should fill up a few days!!

Josie's Piano Recital

2008-06-08T09:10:00.012-05:00

Yesterday morning was Josie's first piano recital! She did terrific and James' parents were just thrilled to be able to attend. There's not much to say about 3 & 4 year olds playing the piano... it could have been the sound of nails on chalkboard and would STILL have sounded like Chopin to us!!! The presentation was about 20 minutes long and then a small reception followed. Josie will begin classes again in the Fall. Until then, we will have to make due with the Playskool piano in the family room!

Let the Spoiling Begin!!!

2008-06-06T17:33:00.007-05:00

James' parents arrived from California yesterday afternoon. Josie has been asking me every morning when she wakes up, "Are GungGung and MaMa coming today?" Well, they're finally here!

Today, James and Josie took them to Monticello. It is EXTREMELY hot and humid here, so everyone returned home a bit spent. Here are the photos from their outing.

Tomorrow we are having a cookout with our neighbors to celebrate Maddie's 8th grade graduation. Looking at the forecast, however, makes me think that while we will cook-out - we will eat-in. It's supposed to be 90+ degrees with very high humidity. The heat index is expected to be 105 degrees. Already I can't wait to get to Alaska!!!

Happy Birthday to My Mom

2008-06-01T11:00:00.006-05:00

This is (l-r) my sister Sue, Maddie & my Mom last summer. As you can tell, my Mom is a lively soul. Today is her birthday! I found a few old photos to share...there are more, but these will do for now...

This is my Mom with my Grandmom, me and my sister Sue. Taken sometime in the mid 1960's.

This is my Mom at my 8th grade graduation - 1976

This is me & My Mom the day I graduated from college - 1990 (yes, it took me a while...)

Doesn't she get more beautiful with age? Happy Birthday Mom! You are the BEST!!

Mother/Daughter, Father/Daughter

2008-05-31T09:52:00.013-05:00

We've been making plans. BIG plans! This past September it was decided that it had been WAY too long since I had seen my childhood friend, Sue. Sue and I grew up together in Philadelphia. Right across the street from each other since I was about 4. My family moved to Maryland when I was 14, but we always kept in touch. We've managed a few visits in the passing years, but we wanted a REAL visit. So, I am packing up my oldest daughter and heading to Alaska. Sue and her husband, Steve, have retired in Alaska. Steve's last post in the Army was at Fort Wainwright - they both fell in love with Alaska and now it is their home.

Sue will meet Maddie and I in Anchorage on June 24th and we'll hit the road for an Alaskan adventure. We will spend 1 night in Anchorage, 2 nights in Seward, I night in Wasilla, 1 night in Denali and then finish up at Sue's house in the Fairbanks area. Sue made us brochures detailing our activities for the week, and Maddie and I are just so excited! Sue is a photographer, so I'm sure we will visit the most scenic areas of Alaska.

While we are away, Josie will be staying with her Grandmom & PopPop at the beach. James will be working during the week, but he will be at my parents house on the weekends while we are gone. I'm a bit sad at leaving Josie behind, but it's a great opportunity for Maddie and I to have some real Mother/Daughter time before she heads off to high school. Our lives have been so busy since Josie's arrival - and I have loved every minute of it. At the same time, I am longing for some adult time with my dear friend and having her meet Maddie for the first time... Yes, it's been THAT long since Sue and I have visited!

Today marks the end of Josie's piano lessons, which she has enjoyed since January. It's a special class for 3 & 4 year olds that she attends every Saturday morning with her Dad. James is a musician (violin) so it's only natural that the two of them spend that time together. They also share the time with our friend, Ed and his grandson, Joey. It gives Ed & James a chance to catch up on our social schedules, as all plans are made by Marty and I and communicated via the husbands!

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-28T11:48:00.021-05:00

We continued the tradition of visiting my parents at the beach for Memorial Day weekend. James & I celebrated our 8 year anniversary on the 26th - and this year for the first time, we had a dinner out by ourselves. But, the real fun was in our family activities. Strawberry picking is always at the top of the list for the girls. They just love it! Josie just eats as she picks while me, Maddie and Grandmom focus on the job at hand.

While Maddie and Grandmom whipped up a shortcake to have with the strawberries, Josie enjoyed her life of leisure at the shore.

Later, on Saturday evening, Josie finally got her wish to go fishin' with PopPop. She had been requesting that Pop find her a pink fishing rod with a pussycat on it (um, Okay...) Pop was unable to fulfill this wish for the baby princess, but she was still excited. At least, AT FIRST she was...

But, then came the hard part, WAITING for the fish to bite...

In the end, it was Pop who held the rod while Josie supervised.

Maddie also helped Josie with the fishing but neither caught a thing...I'm wondering when these girls are going to earn their keep! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Weekend Getaway

2008-05-20T14:12:00.009-05:00

This past weekend we were fortunate enough to visit our dear friends, Nick & Mary in Marshfield, Mass. Can you believe I forgot my camera?! What was I thinking? Anyway, all the photos are compliments of Mary - and I'm sure you can tell by the photo above that Josie is Aunt Mary's favorite subject!

We arrived on time Friday afternoon - no delays at the airport! Once in Marshfield we relaxed and caught up on all the news. We enjoyed dinner at Haddads, a local seafood restaurant. It was delicious. I remembered that they had excellent clam chowder from our visit last August - so I didn't even need to see a menu!

Saturday, we visited Plymouth and saw the Mayflower II and strolled around town. It was a bit chilly, so we stocked up on sweatshirts.

We returned home in time to visit with Nick's parents who were also visiting from Virginia. Mary's Mom & Dad arrrived later in the afternoon. It was wonderful to see them again - we hadn't seen them since Nick & Mary's wedding in '01.

On Saturday evening we enjoyed a Pops concert at Marshfield High School. Nick & Mary's son, Ryan, was playing saxophone.

Josie didn't last long at the concert. She doesn't like loud sounds, so James covered her ears and rocked her to sleep!

After the concert, we ended the evening watching a Red Sox game and having some birthday cake... It was Nick's Mom's birthday.

Sunday was a beautiful day. After waking early, we enjoyed a huge breakfast prepared by Mary and then followed it up with Bloody Mary's on the deck overlooking the ocean. It was warm and sunny. I honestly didn't want the day to end.

Bathing Beauties!

Confirmation Weekend

2008-05-12T17:40:00.014-05:00

The photo above is of Maddie being confirmed by Bishop Louverde of Arlington. Needless to say, the lighting was terrible and that is the clearest shot I got of the event. Would have used a flash, but I was living in fear of the lady who coordinates the youth education program. Gives me a bit of chill just thinking about her. ANYWAY....

It was a lovely celebration and the Bishop gave a really good sermon. The mass lasted 2.5 hours. Afterward, we came back to the house and had a nice lunch. Suzanne was Maddie's sponsor and is also her Godmother. Sue and Liam took the train down from Philadelphia on Friday morning. Aunt Kim, Cousin Kate and PopPop met us at the church and Uncle Chalie and Cousin Jack arrived a bit later. We had a nice time.

Later on in the afternoon, James and my Dad, Liam, Maddie and Monica went to the Nationals game at their new stadium in DC. Suzanne and I stayed home with Josie. A nice quiet evening.

As I was downloading the photographs from Confirmation, I found a few taken on Thursday while Janina was getting packed up... This is what happens when the kids get a hold of your camera and there's a dog around...

Our Beautiful Janina/Nuestro hermoso Janina

2008-05-09T09:43:00.021-05:00

Yesterday, Janina and the other exchange students made a presentation about Ecuador to the all the students of Maddie's school. Josie, me and a few of the other host Moms watched the show with the students. I learned quite a bit about Ecuador. The girls did a lovely job of showing the food, geographic regions and the different ethnic groups of Ecuador.

Janina speaks her part of the presentation./Janina su parte habla de la presentación.

Following the presentation the girls performed three traditional Ecuadorian dances. All of the students in the audience were clapping along with the music. Once the dances were done, the girls received a standing ovation!

Sister thanks the students and host families for their hospitality./Hermana gracias a los estudiantes y familias de acogida por su hospitalidad.

In addition to this wonderful presentation, the host families gathered on Wednesday night for a Farewell dinner for the girls. During the dinner, we had the opportunity to sing "Happy Birthday" to Janina, who will turn 15 years old on Sunday. It was a lovely evening filled with laughter and family togetherness.

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Ayer, Janina y los otros estudiantes de intercambio hizo una presentación sobre el Ecuador a todos los estudiantes de la escuela de Maddie. Josie, yo y algunas de las otras madres de acogida visto el show con los estudiantes. He aprendido bastante acerca de Ecuador. Las chicas hicieron un hermoso trabajo de mostrar la comida, las regiones geográficas y los diferentes grupos étnicos de Ecuador.

Tras la presentación las chicas lograron tres bailes tradicionales ecuatorianos. Todos los estudiantes en la audiencia fueron aplaudiendo junto con la música. Una vez que los bailes se realizaron, las niñas recibió una gran ovación!

Además de esta maravillosa presentación, las familias de acogida se reunieron el miércoles por la noche para una cena de despedida para las niñas. Durante la cena, tuvimos la oportunidad de cantar "Feliz Cumpleaños" a Janina, que se convertirá de 15 años de edad el domingo. Se trata de una hermosa velada llena de risas y unión familiar.

Look at Her Go!!

2008-05-07T12:18:00.010-05:00

Sorry to those of you who check in for the Josie fix... Today, it's all about Maddie! (There are a few photos of Josie at the end though!) Yesterday was Maddie's next to last soccer game. Maddie has played soccer since she was 5 years old. It was a lot more fun back then...

Yesterday's game was very physical and unfortunately a loss for the team (their first this season). The parents of the visiting team were particularly nasty and showed a true lack of sportsmanship. Even the visiting coach got a 'talkin' to' by the ref.

The eighth graders were given roses by the coach and all will be recognized for their efforts at an Athletics Banquet on May 15th.

The entire team has so much to be proud of... best of all, they all had FUN and enjoyed playing. That's much easier to do when you're winning, no doubt!

I was able to take a lot of photos of the game, thanks to Janina who was just so wonderful in looking after Josie while I ran around!

Tonight is the Farewell dinner for Janina and her classmates. I think I am going to cry!

Busy Days Behind and Ahead

2008-05-05T11:50:00.007-05:00

We had a very busy weekend here. Everyone had activities and social appointments that kept us on the road for a good part of the time.

Maddie had a soccer game on Thursday (another win for the UNDEFEATED Crusaders!) that was far from home. On Friday, Maddie and Janina had a class trip to Annapolis, MD. The girls had a wonderful time visiting an archeological dig, the Naval Academy, and taking a cruise on the Chesapeake Bay. They returned around 6:30 PM on Friday and then joined some friends for a quick bite at a local restaurant.

On Saturday, James took Maddie, Janina, Josie and Natalie (one of Janina's classmates from Ecuador) to Washington to do some shopping. That evening, the girls took in a movie. On Sunday, Natalie's host family took the girls shopping AGAIN!!! Upon their return, we enjoyed hamburgers on the grill and corn-on-the-cob.

James was out of town on business from Wednesday through Friday afternoon and then had to attend a memorial service on Friday evening for a colleague who passed away suddenly last month. On Sunday, we spent the latter part of our day with Ed & grandson Joey... Ed lent us his truck to pick up a new 'playhouse' for Josie.

I was supposed to have a scrapbooking weekend at our local shop, but with all the things going on, I barely attended on Friday evening and got in about 7 hours on Saturday. Still, I really wanted to be at home...Janina is only with us for a few more days and I really just love being around when the girls come home.

This morning was the most trying time, however. Josie had a dental appointment in which she was sedated for about an hour and a half.

As most parents do, we took her for her first dental appointment when she turned 3 years old. Josie is not a cooperative patient, and having experienced the daily drama of brushing her teeth, we knew it wasn't going to be a good time. Our first dentist was able to clean and check Josie's teeth. He found 4 cavities! We were shocked, but given that we know nothing of Josie's prenatal nutrition or her first 11 months of care, it wasn't totally unexpected.

Our dentist referred us to a pediatric dentist for the fillings, X-rays and sealants for Josie's teeth. That was the procedures we endured this morning. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, holding her hand and kissing her cheek while she slowly fell asleep with a mask over her face. Heartbreaking... I don't ever want to do that again, EVER!! She came out of the sedation with an I.V. still in her arm and she was very disoriented. Once the I.V. was removed she was better. She calmed down enough to have a popsicle to soothe her sore throat. After 45 minutes, they let me take her home. She is now resting comfortably on the couch and watching the Backyardigans. Not a great way to start a week, let me tell ya'!

Tomorrow I have the mandatory lunch duty at Maddie's school and then she has a home game at 4.

On Wednesday evening we have the Farewell dinner for Janina and her classmates. That same evening we also have Maddie's Confirmation practice.

On Thursday, Janina and her classmates will be performing a traditional Ecuadorian dance at a school assembly. On Friday, we will have to say goodbye to Janina, as she is returning home to Ecuador. I will miss her terribly...we all will. That same day, my sister, Suzanne and my nephew Liam arrive from Philadelphia. Suzanne is Maddie's sponsor for her Confirmation which is on Saturday morning.

Of course, Sunday is Mother's Day! I will finally be able to collapse and relax for at least a few hours while I contemplate how lucky I am to have such wonderful daughters and such a full and love-filled life. It's all GOOD!!

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Tuvimos un fin de semana muy ocupado aquí. Todo el mundo había actividades sociales y los nombramientos que nos mantuvo en el camino para una buena parte del tiempo.

Maddie tuvo un partido de fútbol el jueves (otro para ganar el UNDEFEATED cruzados!) Que estaba lejos de casa. El viernes, Maddie y Janina tenía una clase de viaje a Annapolis, MD. Las chicas tuvieron un tiempo maravilloso visitando un arqueológicos excavar, la Academia Naval, y tomando un crucero por la Bahía de Chesapeake. Regresaron alrededor de las 6:30 PM el viernes y luego se unió a algunos amigos para un rápido bocado en un restaurante local.

El sábado, James tomó Maddie, Janina, Josie y Natalie (uno de Janina de la clase de Ecuador) a Washington para hacer algunas compras. Esa noche, las chicas tuvieron en una película. El domingo, Natalie la familia anfitriona tomó las chicas de compras DE NUEVO! A su regreso, disfrutan de hamburguesas a la parrilla y el maíz-en-el-COB.

James se encontraba fuera de la ciudad a partir del miércoles las empresas a través de viernes por la tarde y luego tuvo que asistir a un servicio conmemorativo el viernes por la noche para un colega que falleció repentinamente el mes pasado. El domingo, hemos pasado la última parte de nuestro día con Ed y nieto Joey ... Ed nos prestó su camioneta para recoger a un nuevo 'teatro' de Josie.

Yo tenía que tener un álbum de recortes de fin de semana a nuestra tienda local, pero con todas las cosas que pasa, yo apenas asistieron el viernes por la noche y se puso en aproximadamente 7 horas el sábado. Aún así, yo realmente quería estar en casa ... Janina es sólo con nosotros por unos días más y me encanta ser sólo en torno a las niñas cuando vienen a casa.

Esta mañana fue el momento más difícil, sin embargo. Josie tenía una cita dental en la que fue sedado durante aproximadamente una hora y media.

Como la mayoría de los padres hacemos, la llevó para su primera cita dental cuando convirtió 3 años. Josie no es una cooperativa paciente, y habiendo experimentado el drama diario de cepillarse los dientes, sabía que no iba a ser un buen momento. Nuestro primer dentista era capaz de limpiar y comprobar Josie dientes. Encontró 4 cavidades! Nos quedamos conmocionados, pero dado que no sabemos nada de Josie la nutrición prenatal o sus primeros 11 meses de cuidado, no fue totalmente inesperado.

Nuestro dentista se refiere a un dentista pediátrico para los rellenos, los rayos X y sellantes para los dientes de Josie. Se trata de los procedimientos que padece esta mañana. Era la cosa más difícil que he hecho, la celebración de su mano y besando sus mejillas mientras ella lentamente se durmió con una máscara sobre su cara. Desgarrador ... Yo no quiere hacer eso de nuevo, NUNCA! Ella salió de la sedación con un I.V. aún en su brazo y estaba muy desorientado. Una vez que el I.V. se eliminó fue mejor. Ella se calmó lo suficiente como para tener una paleta para calmar su dolor de garganta. Después de 45 minutos, permítanme aprovechar su casa. Ella está ahora descansando cómodamente en el sofá y viendo los Backyardigans. No es una gran manera de empezar una semana, permítame decirle ya '!

Mañana tengo el deber obligatorio almuerzo en la escuela de Maddie y luego ella tiene un hogar en juego 4.

El miércoles por la noche tenemos la cena de despedida de Janina y sus compañeros. Esa misma noche también tenemos la confirmación de Maddie la práctica.

El jueves, Janina y su clase se realiza una danza tradicional ecuatoriana en una escuela de montaje. El viernes, tendremos que decir adiós a Janina, como ella es regresar a casa a Ecuador. Voy a perder su terrible ... todos estamos de voluntad. Ese mismo día, mi hermana, Suzanne y mi sobrino Liam llegar de Filadelfia. Suzanne Maddie's es patrocinador para su confirmación es que el sábado por la mañana.

Por supuesto, el domingo es el Día de la Madre! I será finalmente capaz de colapso y relajarse durante al menos un par de horas mientras yo la suerte de contemplar cómo estoy a tener hijas maravillosas y ese amor pleno y lleno de vida. Todo esto es BUENA!

OMG - She Cut her Hair

2008-04-29T06:35:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, I dropped Maddie off for a hair appointment. She told me she wanted to have a bit of the 'volume' taken out and a trim. (We both have VERY THICK hair) I had planned to stay with her while she had the cut, but I had to pick up James from the train station. Josie, Janina and I headed downtown, got James and returned to the salon. I went into the salon to pay the bill and nearly walked past my own daughter!

This is the shortest Maddie's hair has been in about 6 years. She had just about 7 inches of length taken off. If she didn't look so beautiful, I think I would have cried. She looks so grown up now ! And, (I had to remind myself...) she is old enough to decide what to do with her own hair. I'm glad it turned out so nice...

Josie expresses her approval!!

A Look at the Future - A Hard Hat Tour

2008-04-28T10:54:00.018-05:00

Yesterday we participated in a "hard hat" tour of Maddie's new High School. The entire family, including Dave & Janina, laced up boots and donned the lovely headgear to explore the site. This school is going to be AWESOME !! State-of-the-Art EVERYTHING !! It is the first High School to be built by the Archdiocese of Arlington in over 20 years.

We started out with a short introduction by Sister Mary Jordan, who will be the Principal of the new school. We were then led on a tour by the Project Manager. The school is 4 stories, with a theater, two level gymnasium, band room, chapel, 10,000 volume library, computer labs, biology labs and an interactive class room below the chapel. I am so thankful that Maddie will attend this school. Fourteen years ago, I never dreamed we would be this fortunate. I have to give proper credit and thanks to my wonderful husband who has had amazing discipline in saving for both our girls education. Because of him, both our girls will have the opportunity to benefit from everything a great education provides.

Here are some shots of our tour:

Sister Mary Jordan gives an overview in the library/ Shot of the entrance from inside the lobby

The chapel (taken from the third floor) / Fourth floor corridor

The chapel from the second floor

James & Josie explore the theater

The cafeteria - it overlooks a wooded area, the football stadium to the left and the baseball field to the right.

The gymnasium 'sky box'

The view from one of the English classrooms

A view of part of the facade/entrance of the school

Maddie and Janina LOVE the headgear !

Josie was a bit cranky, but James & Dave enjoyed the tour

Janina, Sr. Mary Jordan & Maddie at the end of the tour

**************

Ayer participó en un "casco" gira de nuevo Maddie's High School. La familia entera, incluida Dave & Janina, laced y botas hasta la hermosa donned sombrerería para explorar el sitio. Esta escuela va a ser AWESOME! State-of-the-art TODO! Es la primera escuela secundaria para ser construido por la Arquidiócesis de Arlington en más de 20 años.

Comenzamos con una breve introducción de la Hermana Mary Jordan, quien será el principal de la nueva escuela. Nos llevaron luego a una gira por el Gestor del Proyecto. La escuela es de 4 pisos, con un teatro, dos niveles gimnasio, salón, capilla, biblioteca de 10000 volúmenes, laboratorios de computación, laboratorios de biología y una sala de clase interactivo por debajo de la capilla. Estoy tan agradecida que Maddie asistirá a esta escuela. Catorce años atrás, yo nunca he soñado que sería esta suerte. Tengo que dar crédito adecuado y gracias a mi maravilloso esposo que ha tenido la disciplina en asombroso ahorro para nuestros educación de las niñas. Debido a él, nuestros dos niñas tendrán la oportunidad de beneficiarse de todo lo que una gran educación proporciona.

Hopscotch

2008-04-25T18:50:00.018-05:00

Our friend, Dave, is visiting from California. Dave usually visits us this time of year and we always have fun. Today, while James was teaching Junior Achievement classes at Maddie's school, Dave & I had the opportunity to play hopscotch with Josie. There is a reason why all kids love Dave - he is always game for a game!

Here's Dave & Josie playing together - in other words, Josie telling Dave how to play !!

Once Josie was satisfied that Dave knew what he was doing, they paused to check out some of the caterpillars on the front steps:

In other news:
Janina seems to be adjusting well to being here in the U.S. She is able to chat with her parents and friends on-line every night so I think that helps with any homesickness she might be experiencing. On Tuesday, Janina and the other exchange students took a trip to Mount Vernon.

On Wednesday & Thursday, Janina was a huge help to me as I shuttled Maddie and her a few of her teammates to their soccer games. I'm pleased to report that Maddie's team won both games (5-3 and 4-0) and Maddie scored a goal in Thursday's game!! Yeah Maddie!! Go Crusaders!!

Today, the girls all met at a local mall and enjoyed an hour or two of shopping. Ecuador's currency is the US dollar, so the girls were all very savvy about their spending. Again, I just have to comment about how lovely all the girls are. They are so sweet and funny. I'm learning that language is not the only way to communicate - smiles, hugs, laughs and flying hand gestures seem to get all our thoughts across that barrier!

We are really enjoying our time with a full house of friends!

------------------------------------------------------------
Para la familia de Janina: ¡Gracias mucho por su email! ¡Amamos verdad a su hija! ¡Ella es una señora joven maravillosa!

Janina parece estar ajustando bien a está aquí en los EEUU. Ella puede charlar con sus padres y amigos en línea cada noche tan yo pienso que eso ayuda con cualquier morriña ella quizás esté experimentando. El martes, Janina y los otros estudiantes del cambio hicieron un viaje para Montar Vernon.

El miércoles & el jueves, Janina fue una ayuda inmensa a mí como yo shuttled Maddie y ella algunos de sus compañeros de equipo a sus juegos del fútbol. ¡Soy complacido para informar que el equipo de Maddie ganó ambos juegos (5-3 y 4-0) y Maddie rayó un objetivo en el juego del jueves!! ¡Sí Maddie!! ¡Vaya a Cruzados!!

Hoy, las chicas todo encontrado en un paseo local y disfrutó de una hora o dos de compras. La moneda de Ecuador es el dólar de EEUU, así que las chicas fueron todo muy práctico acerca de su gasto. Otra vez, yo acabo de tener que comentar acerca de cuán encantadoras todas las chicas son. Ellos son tan dulces y graciosos. ¡Aprendo que ese idioma no es la única manera de comunicar - las sonrisas, los abrazos, las risas y los gestos voladores de mano parecen conseguir todos nuestros pensamientos a través de esa barrera!

Janina Arrives!! DAY ONE

2008-04-22T19:18:00.011-05:00

Janina has finally arrived ! James and I, along with other parents, picked up our visitors at 8PM at Reagan National Airport in DC. The girls were all in good spirits as they made their way to baggage claim. Once everyone was loaded into the vans, we began the hour-long ride to our church activity center, where other host families waited to meet the girls.

One funny moment that I have to share… as we drove south on the highway we passed a shopping mall. The girls (we had 8 in our vehicle) were all chatting away in Spanish - not a word of it understood by James and me - when there was a hush in the van and they all (at once) screamed “MACYS !!!”. I just burst out laughing. I guess some things about teen-aged girls are universal… shopping, talking about boys, and shopping!!

The girls are all stunningly beautiful with lovely manners - their parents have so much to be proud of…

After getting settled in, Maddie and Janina got ready for school the next morning and we all were in bed by 11PM. The girls were up at 6:30 AM. Thankfully, there was a half-day at school. I picked the girls up at 11:30 AM and we headed home. Maddie and Janina were kind enough to look after Josie while I ran a few errands. After that, we all went shopping.

After the girls looked around town for a while, Janina was able to join Maddie's tennis group for an hour & a half of play. Maddie says that Janina is a fantastic tennis player. Both girls seemed to have had a wonderful time. After a quick dinner we all sat down while Janina showed us a CD of her family photos... beautiful photos of her older sister and parents, her aunts, uncles and cousins, her best friends and her lovely hometown of Quito, Ecuador.

We are so thankful to have a lovely young lady sharing our home for the coming weeks.

Para La Familia De Janina:

(excuse por favor cualquier error en mi traducción, yo están utilizando un traductor en línea)

¡Janina finalmente ha llegado! James e I, junto con otros padres, tomaron a nuestros visitantes en los 8PM en el aeropuerto nacional de Reagan en la C.C.. Las muchachas estaban todas en alcoholes el bueno pues hicieron su manera a la demanda del bagaje. Una vez que cada uno fuera cargado en las furgonetas, comenzamos el paseo hora-largo a nuestro centro de la actividad de la iglesia, donde otras familias del anfitrión esperaron para satisfacer a las muchachas.

Un momento divertido que tengo que compartir... mientras que condujimos al sur en la carretera pasamos una alameda de compras. Las muchachas (teníamos 8 en nuestro vehículo) eran todas que charlaban lejos en español - no una palabra de él entendía por James y mí - cuando había un silencio en la furgoneta y ellos todo el (inmediatamente)"MACYS gritado!!!". Acabo de estallar fuera de reír. ¡Conjeturo que algunas cosas sobre muchachas adolescente-envejecidas son... compras universales, muchachos que hablan, y el hacer compras!!

Las muchachas son todas imponentemente hermosas con maneras encantadoras - sus padres tienen tanto ser orgullosos de...

Después de conseguir colocado adentro, Maddie y Janina conseguido listos para la escuela la mañana y nosotros siguientes toda estaban en cama por el 11PM. Las muchachas estaban para arriba en 6:30. Agradecidamente, había un de medio día en la escuela. Tomé a muchachas en 11:30 y dirigimos a casa. Maddie y Janina eran bastante buenos ocuparse de Josie mientras que funcioné algunas diligencias. Después de eso, todos fuimos a hacer compras.

Después de las muchachas miraba alrededor de la ciudad por un rato, Janina podía ensamblar al grupo del tenis de Maddie para una hora y una mitad del juego. Maddie dice que Janina es un jugador fantástico del tenis. Ambas muchachas se parecían haber tenido un rato maravilloso. Después de una cena rápida nosotros todo el sentado abajo mientras que Janina nos demostró un CD de sus fotos de la familia... fotos hermosas de su más viejos hermana y padres, sus tías, tíos y primos, sus mejores amigos y su ciudad natal encantadora de Quito, Ecuador.

Somos tan agradecidos tener una señora joven encantadora el compartir de nuestro hogar para las semanas que vienen.

Springtime is Here

2008-04-17T11:37:00.012-05:00

Finally, we can get our hands into some dirt !! Josie and I started our Spring planting today and we actually got quite a bit accomplished. Tomatoes for Dad, pretty flowers for Maddie and a beautiful painted flower pot for Mommy.

While Josie was painting the flower pot, she demanded that I get Grandmom on the phone... "Let's see if she likes the painting". Josie is still not connecting the dots on the fact that Grandmom can't see over the phone. Oh, well. I guess the intention is sweet enough. She talks about her grandparents (both maternal and paternal) everyday. We have photos of all of them at eye level for her in the family room and the 'fridge.

Here is the little darling concentrating on her artwork and gardening earlier today...

I hope all of you have as much fun digging in the dirt as we have !! Happy Spring!

Meet Janina

2008-04-09T19:12:00.003-05:00

We are so very excited to introduce Janina to our friends & family. Janina is an exchange student from Ecuador who will be staying with us from April 21-May 9th. Janina will be traveling with 11 other classmates and two of the sisters who teach at her school in Quito.

Janina is 14 years old and has an older sister. She has been to the US before, having visited Miami, New York & Orlando. We are hoping she isn't too bored in our little town, but we have plans to show her as many sights as she can handle. I'll be posting most of our outings here, so that her parents and family back in Quito can see how she is doing.

Maddie and Josie are very excited. James, on the other hand, is just hrumphing about being even MORE outnumbered here at home. Thank God we have Carson, the other male in our household, for him to commiserate with!!!

30 Pounds of Fury

2008-04-02T10:57:00.006-05:00

So, here she is - in all her glory! Josie had her 3 year old Check-up today. I am thrilled to report that she is doing fantastic! In the past year she has grown 2.5 inches, gained 3 pounds and a few ounces and increased head circumference by 2 cm. Yeah Josie, Way to Grow!!

Her actual stats are: 36 inches tall, 30 pounds and 48 cm head circumference. Doctor says she is very advanced in her speech and her knowledge of basic preschool stuff - colors, shapes, numbers, letters, etc. She was able to perform (with some prodding) the basic functions the Doctor asked of her... Can you jump? Can you tell me what colors are on this sheet? Can you name one of your friends? What is your first name? What is your last name? How old are you?

Funny thing was, when asked "How old are you?" Josie answered "Eight" , which of course, is her favorite number. And there I was telling the doctor what a smart kid I thought she was... Oh well.

I asked all the questions I had been saving up... mostly about how much/how long she might need to be in preschool. I have Josie registered for preschool starting in the Fall. I haven't found out yet if she was put into the Tuesday/Thursday or the M/W/F class. The doctor felt that the most important thing about preschool is learning how to socialize and to work in a group. So she said either class should work fine for Josie.

The ONE THING the doctor couldn't tell me was HOW to make Josie keep her pants on!!! This child is driving me crazy with her unwillingness to stay clothed !!! Yesterday, I put her pants on 5 times... 5 Times!!! Any suggestions on this issue would be greatly appreciated! Until next time....

She's 14 Years Old...

2008-03-29T19:22:00.010-05:00

Just a small, family celebration for Maddie's 14th birthday - Dinner at Red Robin with friend Monica and her Mom, Elizabeth (with the embarrassing birthday ditty sung by the wait staff) then back home to blow out a candle on a cupcake. Maddie received a birthday call from her grandparents early this morning (in fact, they had to call back because her 'Royal Highness' was still asleep!); another from cousins Kate & Jack; and another from Aunt Claudine.

As always, both sets of grandparents were way too generous with their gifts, as were Maddie's Aunts & Uncles. Dr. Nick and Mrs. Barbara, our next door neighbors in Reading were even kind enough to send along a gift for her and Josie. I hope she realizes just how truly blessed she is to be so loved.

I didn't go into a recitation of the 15 hours of labor I endured to bring her into this world - which was a huge relief to everyone. (hee-hee!) I did let her know that she has become more beautiful every day since then... (she looked like Yoda when she was born - no lie!!)

Maddie at 8 weeks

Our Maddie Now

Happy Birthday Precious Girl !!!!

Josie and the PussyCats ?!?!

2008-03-29T12:14:00.006-05:00

When we joined Andrew and Donna at their home for dinner on Wednesday night, little did we know the treats that awaited us! First: their beautiful home; Second: the great Chinese food; Third: the great conversation (our husbands are both "scary smart" guys); Fourth: meeting Michael (who is 10x more handsome in person!) and finally, the after dinner entertainment!

Ladies and Gentlemen ! Introducing....

On Guitar: the Rockin' Miss Maddy T

On the Other Guitar: The Soulful Miss Gwen

Making her way to the Stage: Jo-Jo on Piano

Here's a slideshow of their hilarious performance, dutifully captured on film by all adults present. (There is no musical accompaniment for the show, as it would have sounded something like screaming cats and nails on chalkboard!)

Josie and the PussyCats (A.K.A. The Happy Monkey Band)

Spring Break Report - Part II

2008-03-29T10:55:00.012-05:00

A Double Dose of Happiness

Michele, Josie, Donna, Maddy and Gwen

The true highlight of our trip to California was meeting up with friends Donna & Andrew, who are fellow adoptive parents. Donna and I "met" on-line in the summer of 2005. We belong to a MSN website for adoptive parents, which Donna helped establish and still manages. I could go on for pages about her talents as a mother, wife, writer, scrapbooker, (the list truly does go on...). Suffice to say, she is simply a lovely person and we all had a great time together.

Donna and I met up on Tuesday at a park in San Jose that was perfect for the girls to get acquainted. Huge playsets, lots of grass to run around on, a small petting zoo and a huge barn that was home to cows, pigs, lambs and goats!!

I have watched Gwen & Maddy grow through Donna's website "Double Happiness" since 2005 - when Gwen joined the family, through 2006 - when Maddy joined her jei-jei (big sister) - to the present. Although the girls arrived a year apart, they are only 2 months apart in age. Both are exactly as I have envisioned them through the years. Their personalities are distinct and totally lovable. Looking at the photos of them days later still brings a big smile to my face. They are funny, sassy, active, sweet and kissable!

We spent an enjoyable few hours and the park with the agreement that we would share dinner with our husbands and all our kids (Our Maddie was suffering from a stomach flu and Donna & Andrew's son Michael was taking finals at college) on Wednesday evening. More about that in my next post. In the meantime, here is a series of photos taken while both Donna and I were issuing posing orders to our daughters at the park... I like to call this series:

Exercise in Futility

Until next time....

What We Did on Our Spring Break - Part One

2008-03-28T13:04:00.003-05:00

On very short notice, we decided to spend part of our Spring Break in California. We really enjoy the San Francisco/San Jose area where so many of James' family members live.

We arrived on Easter Sunday. We went immediately to visit Uncle Rich, Aunt Ivy, Alicia and Zoe. James was the only member of our family to have met Zoe (she's 14 months old). So, the girls and I were very excited and impatient to get our hands on her! Cousin Alicia seemed to enjoy seeing Josie again - it went much better this time around because they were not in the position of having to share their precious GungGung & MaMa. (these little ones can be downright territorial about their Grandparents, sheeees!) We enjoyed dinner together at an Italian Restaurant and then headed to our hotel for some much needed rest.

On Monday, we did the sights in San Francisco. The pictures tell the story, so enjoy. Our best fun was yet to come, so check back in a few hours - I'm still working on the photos from our remaining days!

Josie Is 3 !!

2008-03-18T18:34:00.005-05:00

Today, Josie turned 3 years old !!! We had a small celebration here at home - just one of many I'm sure. We will have the 'big' celebration on Thursday evening at Grandmom & PopPop's house at the beach. Aunt Suzanne, cousins Zack and Liam will make the trip from Philadelphia to join in the celebration! Yeah !

Josie blowing out her 3 candles!

Josie also got a 'singing' Happy Birthday call from her cousins Kate and Jack. Rumor has it that Kate and Jack are headed 'South' in a few days to visit a certain Mouse... We hope they have a Magical time!!!

Josie opened gifts from far away too - of course, they had to wait until she was done her cupcake...

GungGung and MaMa sent a really cool Thomas the Tank Engine set and Uncle Rich, Aunt Ivy and cousins Alicia & Zoe sent along a HUGE Lego set!! I have video of her opening both gifts so I'll share that once I can get it downloaded and edited!

Josie also got a few small gifts from Mom, Dad and Maddie. There's more to come so stayed tuned!!

Our Lucky Charm

2008-03-17T09:26:00.004-05:00

St. Pat's Parade

2008-03-16T20:23:00.009-05:00

Well, It wasn't much of a parade - but it's ours. Our town's St. Pats Day parade was started by a lady who moved here from Ireland in the late 1980's. She loved America and decided to make our town her home - close enough to the action of Washington, DC but with the slower, Southern pace of life. She opened an Irish import shop and the only Irish Pub within 50 miles - The Blarney Stone.

I know that everyone is Irish on St. Pats Day, but I'll just mention that 3 of my 4 grandparents were "honest-to-God-just-off-the boat" from Ireland. I am (chemically enhanced) blonde and green eyed with freckles. How's that for a pedigree?! Oh, well. I won't be in a pub tomorrow so today's parade is as close to a celebration as I will get. Here are a few shots of the parade. It lasted about 35 minutes:

Miss 'Rose of Tralee'

Classic Fire Trucks

Civil War Re-enactors. We have 3 major Civil War Battlefields within 10 miles of our house!

Josie didn't make it to the parade, which started at 5PM. She was much too happy running around the house in her underwear (I swear, this child WILL NOT keep her pants on !!!!) and playing with her Little Einstein dolls. James gladly stayed home and watched car racing on TV. It was a quick trip downtown for Maddie and I and we had a nice time! Happy St. Patricks Day to All!!

Goddard Space Dinner

2008-03-12T10:39:00.003-05:00

They both left with strict instructions to take as many photos as possible... This is the ONLY ONE taken! James mumbled something about traffic, arriving late, no time, etc. What a disappointment! James & Maddie, however, had a wonderful time at the dinner. James said everyone thought Maddie was in college - Yikes!! My baby is not even in High School yet!!!!

And, speaking of High School (nice segue, huh?!) Maddie was accepted to the new Catholic High School! We are so excited she will be a member of the first class to complete 4 years at the school. They are opening this fall with only sophomores and freshman. Last night, we attended the registration meeting. We met the new Asst. Principal and some of the teachers. It gave Maddie a chance to get a look at some of the kids she will be spending the next 4 years with. She was happy to see 3 of her current classmates at the meeting.

Maddie will be taking Physics, Chemistry, Algebra I, English I, Sacred Scripture I. Christology, Bioethics (the Human Person), World History and either French or Latin. There aren't many options for electives for freshman. Looks like she will taking Personal Fitness for Athletes. I keep begging her to sign up for the concert band and to start playing her cello again - but she's dead set against it. Oh well, hopefully, she'll come to appreciate what a gift it is to be musically inclined.

Goofin' Around

2008-03-03T19:52:00.007-05:00

March is a special month for all of us here at Buddalicious... both of our lovelies were born in March, so we spend most of the month celebrating in one form or another. This month we also have St. Patricks Day, Easter and Spring Break.

Josie had her mind set on having a Backyardigans/Lady in Pink birthday cake with everyone in the family dressing as the characters in the story. Daddy was to be "Agent Secret"; Maddie was to be "Henchman Tyrone"; Josie was to be "Lady in Pink" and Mom was going to be "Miss T".

This all changed when she saw "The Little Mermaid" this past weekend. Now, she MUST be dressed as Ariel and have an Ariel cake. Only problem is I don't know how we are supposed to dress like Sebastian the Crab; Flounder the Fish and Scuttle the Seagull...oh well, I'm sure we'll find a way.

Josie has been recuperating from Bronchitis so, we've had to put swimming lessons on hold.

Maddie is gearing up for soccer tryouts, hitting the gym for cardio workouts and then strength workouts twice a week. Both girls are doing well and looking forward to celebrating their birthdays with family and friends.

Sorry this is so short - there's a lot going on in the next few days. I have a scrapbooking weekend (local) with my friend, Marty, and Maddie will accompany her Dad to a black tie event Friday night celebrating the 50th anniversary of NASA. The guest speaker is Mr. Neil Armstrong! Can't wait to share the photos of this event with you....

I'd Like to Thank the Academy...

2008-02-25T11:55:00.011-05:00

I love watching the Academy Awards. It's like watching the Prom you'll never get invited to... which means that you can mutter any comments you like and no one gets offended or hurt. Maddie and I had a few good laughs last night - we even made up a few of our own fashion categories while watching the Red Carpet coverage on E!

First our Best Dressed Women:

Ann Hathaway
Jennifer Gardner
Keri Russell
Keisha Wittaker
Penelope Cruz

Nice, but didn't make our BD list:
Cameron Diaz's dress was spectacular but, for God's Sake, why didn't she do something with that hair of hers. Looks like she threw it back in a rubber band and ran out the door. I would suggest firing the guy who thought that look was a good idea.

Heidi Klum's dress was fantastic but WHAT WAS SHE DOING THERE? She is not in the movies and neither is her husband. I know she was auctioning off the dress for charity, but couldn't they have just stuck her in the lobby of the Kodak theatre?

Best Dressed Men:

Patrick Dempsey
Javier Bardem
George Clooney
Forrest Whittaker

That all was the Good. Now it's time for the Bad and the Ugly.

Worst Dressed Women:

Rebecca Miller - Daniel Day Lewis' wife. The red ribbons at the shoulder and the black shiny breast plate on a gown just made me do a double take. It got worse every time I saw it.

Tilda Sweedon - Okay, who ever advised her to go to the Academy Awards with no mascara, no eyeliner, no eyeshadow and then told her that going in a black silk sack was fashionable - well, let's hope they've run the moron out of town by now! I have to give her props though, her acceptance speech was the funniest of the night - and that's not really saying too much about the comedic threshold this year.

Marion Cotillard
Initially, I wasn't 'feeling' the mermaid dress. Of all the embellishments to choose from Jean Paul Gautier decided to use fish scales for this design. It grew on me as the night progressed, but still wasn't among my favorites.

So, in the interest of finishing this post, I will not link to the following award winners, but if you watched the Red Carpet or the actual awards you should know where I'm coming from...

The "Sounds most like Jakers the Pig" goes to Saoirse Ronan & James McAvoy. Ms. Ronan's Scottish accent was so thick, I was laughing myself silly.

The "Give that Lady a Sandwich" award goes, once again, to Calista Flockheart. For Gods Sake, girl, EAT SOMETHING!!

The " My trainer when postal on my bod" goes to Renee Zellweger who looked more like Hans & Franz than a movie star. Somebody "pumped, her up!"

and finally,

The "incredibly Hot Older Broad" award was a three way tie:
Helen Mirren - whom I have LOVED forever (Starting with Prime Suspect all those years ago..). She looked absolutely fabulous in her red dress with crystal sleeves. Flawless and very funny.
Faye Dunaway - she didn't get much coverage, but she was a knock-out.
and
Colin Farrell's Mom - His mom (the rude announcers never asked her name!) was a stunning Irish beauty. Clear, beautiful unlined skin; incredible smile; great, age appropriate hot dress; funny. I love the comment that Colin made where he said his Mom always said (about his acting abilility) "I didn't lick it off the streets.." Sounds like something a Mom would say...

The Red Carpet was a huge let down this year. Why did everyone stay home? No Kate Winslet, No Charlise Theron, no Brad Pitt; no Jude Law; There were very few bonafide 'Movie Stars' at the awards this year. Bit of a let down.
So, anyway, that's my run-down. Feel free to leave yours in the comments section.... Have a great week!

Has It REALLY Been TWO Years?!

2008-02-20T10:32:00.012-05:00

Why, Yes it has! Two years ago today I became a mother to my second daughter, James became a father to His second daughter and (hardest of all!) Maddie became a big sister! If you have 9 minutes, revisit the moment we met Josie. At the very end of the video, I tell Maddie "Get a picture of her feet, she's a little dancer." And, that she turned out to be...she has not stopped dancing since that day two years ago.

We had no idea back then how much love this incredible child would bring into our lives. Here are a few of my favorite shots from that day, two years ago:

It's overwhelming to think about how much Josie has changed and how much we as a family have changed because of her. We are all happier, we all appreciate each other A LOT more, and none of us will ever forget that wonderous trip that brought us to Josie. Here she is today, the "I-don't-want-to-wear-my-pants-Mom, Take-me-to-swimming-class-Mom" beauty that we all love so very much!

Nothing special planned for today. James is out of town so it's just the girls and me. Maybe we'll treat ourselves to a cupcake or an ice cream later... But, for now, the celebration is just the joyful routine of being a family.

Kate & Josie

2008-02-13T20:56:00.005-05:00

Wow! We had such a wonderful day today! The weather was lousy - foggy & rainy - but our spirits were brightened by our first visit with Ms. Kate Emerson Ru! 'Worth the wait' is all I have to say.

Kate's Mom, Kim, is the author of the 3 Peanuts blog. We were introduced through our social worker, the wonderful and fabulous Janice, in the summer of 2005. At that time, we had just submitted our dossier to China for Josie's adoption. Kim and her husband, Dave, were finishing up the paper chase after nearly 2 years of delays. We met in person at our agency's summer picnic in June of 2006 - just a few months after Josie had come home. I was instantly taken by Will & Harry - Kim & Dave's sons. They were SO handsome, SO polite and SO sweet to Josie. They were still waiting to meet their little sister then.

Kate Emerson came home in May of 2007. Today, I finally got to kiss her beautiful, round cheeks and listen to her speak in her tiny little voice. What a beauty! Kim was also just as kind and wonderful as I remembered. I cannot tell you just how wonderful (and chaotic!) it was to sit down - nearly 3 years after meeting - with our long dreamed of daughters.

Conversation was disjointed given we dined with two toddlers who are both used to their mother's undivided attention. So, the long and short recap of our lunch is this:

1. The girls got along famously
2. Kim and I are both married to great guys who are great Dads and really lighten the load for us.
3. Wow, this (raising a little one) was a lot harder than we both remembered!
4. Finding friends with toddlers that are in the same age group as we are is nearly impossible.
5. Both Kim and I are thankful for each other - even more so now that we got to renew our friendship.
6. Josie and Kate are just loved to bits by their siblings.
7. We won't wait another year and a half to get together again!

I only got the opportunity to take 4 photos of the girls during lunch and they didn't turn out that good. I'm hoping Kim got some better ones. I'm sharing the two best ones here, hoping we'll have more photos of Kate and Josie together again soon.

CNY Celebration

2008-02-11T11:19:00.000-05:00

Maddie hangs lanterns in the dining room

Our "Year of the Rat" Cake...Yummy!

Red Flowers for Good Luck!

Everyone enjoyed the fantastic food - our favorite restaurant Full Kee catered the dinner for us. We had two whole (head to tail) fish - which are symbolic of community and togetherness; Beef and Green Beans; Tofu with Chicken and vegetables; Char Su (Chinese barbequed Pork); Lo Mein with beef, shrimp, chicken and pork; Pork fried rice; and steamed rice. We also had tangerines, fortune cookies and a delicious Rat cake. We served lots of Chinese beer and shared lots of laughs with our friends! Josie was the hit of the evening welcoming everyone upon arrival in her beautiful Chinese clothes. What a beauty!

Maddie was thrilled, as we all were, to see her friend, Monica and her Mom, Elizabeth. Monica is a page with the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond. She is staying in Richmond for the duration of the session and comes home for weekends. Obviously, she is very busy with homework, visiting her family, etc. We were so happy that we got to share a bit of that time with both of them! We're really proud of Monica knowing she is doing a great job!

I hope all of you have a Happy and Prosperous Year of the Rat!!!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!!!

2008-02-07T07:52:00.000-05:00

Gosh, hope my spelling is right on the title. (that's how they spelled it in yesterday's newspaper...) Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year!! The girls had a surprise waiting for them when they came downstairs for breakfast. James had left them their 'Lay-cee" ( as their Cantonese MaMa calls it) and a beautiful orange. Basically, it's the much anticipated and desired 'little red envelope' given to children on special occasions. They are also used for wedding gifts or any other event where you want to spread a little good luck. The orange symbolizes 'a sweet life'.

We will be having a New Years party this Saturday. Our neighbors and friends have been invited to share in a traditional Chinese meal. Should be a lot of fun. In the meantime, I will enjoy today, this first day of the New Year by not cleaning... To clean on New Year's Day would be to wipe away all the good fortune the New Year brings. Bring on the bon-bons !!!!

Our best wishes to all of you for a happy, healthy and fortunate New Year!!!

It's All Good...

2008-02-05T08:01:00.000-05:00

This is what the sky looked like this morning about 10 minutes after Josie called my name, signaling that she was up and ready to start her day.

I love when she wakes up sweet. It's a toss up based on how she slept the night before. Lately, she has been waking up in the middle of the night and bursting into our room. That alone would be enough to wake the dead, but add to it the fact that when she does this, she is accompanied by her stuffed Rudolph who also spews out his famous "Red Nosed Reindeer" song. Quite the wake up call at 2AM!

Here's Josie this morning - being her adorable self...

And, no so adorable (telling her big sister to "Get Off" her bed!)

Long Time, No Blog

2008-02-03T10:25:00.000-05:00

Here's a photo of 'Buddalicious Central'. The photos on my board bring me great joy. I love looking up to see everyone smiling at me while I work! Also, please note the stunning new Digital Rebel (10.1 MP) James got me for Christmas..Niiiiccce!!! (Thanks, honey!)

It has been a while since I've had the free time necessary to write a truly thoughtful blog entry. I guess that's a good thing.

Once the Christmas season is over most folks take it easy. For us, the New Year brought quite a few new challenges along with our resolutions. I rarely write about myself (besides how lucky and thankful I am to have such a wonderful family!) so I will share some of my resolutions that I have been working on and the other 'Mom Things' that have been consuming my time.

My first resolution for the New Year was to 'get healthy'. I have fought my weight for the past 20 years. I have gained and lost the same 40 pounds at least 10 times. So, this year I have decided to strive not for a number on the scale or a specific pant size. Instead, I am learning to embrace who and what I am RIGHT NOW while working on a set of 'baby step' goals that will add up to overall good health and well being.

So far, I have gotten 3 of my 'baby steps' into play. First, I quit smoking. Now - before anyone reading this gets all judgmental on me - please know that I have not smoked indoors (my house, a restaurant, etc.) in over 10 years. I always, even in the dead of winter, would step outside so my family wouldn't be exposed to second hand smoke. In addition, my nasty habit was limited to 10 cigarettes a day, period. So, now that's over. I have been smoke free for 6 weeks.

Second, I have been making healthier choices with our food selections. I am trying to limit processed foods and refined sugars and increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in our daily menu. Maddie gets a whole wheat sandwich or wrap packed in her lunch; Josie gets whole wheat crackers and fresh fruits for snack (she really has always preferred these kind of snacks anyway...); and our meals are cooked either on the grill, in limited olive oil or baked.

Finally, I have been getting to the gym at least 3 times a week. I am shooting for 1 hour workouts at least 5 times a week, but I'm struggling with the "Me Time" concept. Even though Josie loves going to the Kids Zone at the gym, I find that laundry and other household chores haunt me while I attempt to go to my 'happy place'.

So, Enough about me. Here's what we've been working on with regard to the Girls:

Right now, Josie is nearly potty trained. It has been a struggle. I am determined to stay positive and encouraging. Josie must be the sweetest kid alive - how else could I just smile when seeing a huge wet spot on my carpet and Josie (standing bow legged) saying "Sorry, Mom. I sorry I had accident". I have a potty chair upstairs and downstairs for her - and I have for nearly a year. She goes for a few days with no accidents and then we have a few set backs. Oh well. we'll just keep up the good work and hope for the best.

Yesterday, Josie started piano classes!! We were able to find a Yamaha Music School that has a 3-4 year old class. A parent accompanies each child and it's a 45 minute class filled with songs, exercises and instrument playing. I was amazed to see how the kids are taught finger movements, the music scale and keyboard positions. Really fun and Josie just LOVED it!!! James and I both attended with her. Next week, it will be just Josie and her Dad.

In addition to finding the piano class, I have been focused on finding an appropriate preschool for Josie. James and I toured one of the local Montessori schools in November. Josie came with us and the staff told us that she was a great fit. However, we still have so many questions and there are 4 Montessori schools in our town. So, which one is best? Also, we're not pleased that ALL of the Montessori options only offer 'full week, half day' schedules. I don't think I want Josie in school everyday. Even if it is just for 4 hours. I really prefer the Tues&Thurs./ M,W,F half day options offered at our parish school. This option is also available at 3 of the local country day schools. So, the applications have been flying along with the required certifications. I just want to find a place where Josie will be lovingly cared for while being challenged intellectually. We'll see.

As all of this is going on, we've had a bunch of stuff going on for Maddie, too. Her big Science project is nearly due. We've had our bean growing station going for 2 months. She has been recording and measuring that whole time and now it's time to put it all together and present her findings. We will be working on her presentation board this week. Her written papers/research/data are all due this Friday.

We are also waiting to hear if Maddie was accepted to the new Catholic High School - acceptances will be mailed sometime in the next two weeks. She did pretty well on the placement exam, so we're hopeful.

Maddie is also gearing up to try out for the Girls Soccer team at school. (She took last year off from the sport - her first since she was 5!) So, between taking the tennis lessons and getting her to the gym for cardio workouts, she is managing to stay busy. Her grades are also great - something we don't take for granted. School work comes first, period.

I'll share the rest of my activities with you tomorrow - there's still so much going on - but I want to give your eyes a rest. I'm going to shoot for more blog posts this month so, stay tuned to see if I can keep that resolution!

Oooohf ! That's Gonna Leave a Mark...

2008-01-24T16:37:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, during her weekly tennis lesson, Maddie suffered an injury. Seems there were stray balls on the court. While Maddie was running backward to grab a shot, she stepped on one of the strays. Ankle 'POP' was heard by all as the blond beauty collapsed.

Three years ago I would have been panicking. But now, I have accepted the fact that my lovely daughter has inherited my weak, but large, ankles. Check out the swelling on the left:

Now she has 'cankles' just like her Mom!!!

Finally, here's a side view of the damage. And yes, the objects in the photo are larger in real life...Maddie is a size 10.5 shoe!

Maddie is doing fine. She was in pain for the past two days but she seems to have turned the corner. She's putting full weight on it today. She will play next week, but this time she won't neglect to wear her ankle brace!

My Favorite Thing...

2008-01-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

...Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes.

Our other 'snow angel' was in school during the snow storm. The snow has since melted, but it was a nice 'first snow'!

A Belated Christmas Gift

2008-01-16T12:39:00.000-05:00

This is SoCo, my younger sister Claudine's baby. When I say 'baby', it is not an exaggeration or term of endearment - it is the truth. SoCo is the gentlest soul one could meet. If you sit down, she will come over, sit down next to you and use her nose to nudge your arm over to caress her. She is gentle with Josie - who is at eye level with her.

This summer, our whole family was distressed to learn that SoCo was diagnosed with heart failure. Claudine was beside herself with worry over SoCo's health. She found a canine cardiologist (yes, really) who was able to treat SoCo. Over the course of 6 months of treatment, SoCo has returned to near perfect health.

In the November issue of Rachel Ray's Magazine, in the section called "Make it Yours", I found a small feature on a company called Best Friends Studios. Rachel Ray had been given a pillow with a handmade design of her dog, Isaboo, on it made by BFS. I thought that a pillow of SoCo would make a great Christmas gift for Claudine. By the time I contacted MaryAnn at BFS, she was booked for Christmas delivery. However, mid January orders were being taken.

The process was easy and Mary Ann was an absolute delight to work with. She is a compassionate person who fully understands the connection that we 'dog lovers' have with our canine companions. Mary Ann kept in contact with any and all questions regarding design, so nothing was left to chance. I was thrilled when she sent me a photo of the finished applique. I just love it, and I hope Claudine does too! Here's one of the photos:

Her Faithful Protector

2008-01-09T08:55:00.000-05:00

Since the day Josie arrived home, Carson has been her loyal protector and playmate. When she takes her nap, he sits outside her door. If she cries, he runs to where ever she is. He allows her to pull his tail, his ears, his collar and his nose without a peep. He has never snapped at her or even shown the slightest bit of bother.

It's raining here today, so Josie is confined indoors. She has grown tired of her mother as a playmate and has moved on to have some fun with Carson. Today was 'dress-up Carson' Day. From the photos you can see how patient he is with her... and how much she loves her "Bubba"!

A Timely Foto Challenge

2008-01-05T19:10:00.000-05:00

Lissa, the Mom of Lydia (link to the right...), took over the FFFF (the Family Foto Fun Friday) some time ago. Her theme this week was "Time in a Bottle". I love to see the challenge photos and I try to participate if the theme fits photos that I have on hand. Well, the theme this week was very fitting for us here at Buddalicious - As it was exactly 2 years ago TODAY that we first laid eyes on Chong Si Li. We all know her now as Josie.

We had to wait 5 agonizing days from the time we received our referral call (Dec 30, 2005 9:39AM) until we could meet with our social worker, the awesome and incredible Janice. January 5 th, 2006 just couldn't come fast enough for all of us.

Now, 2 years later, I still am in awe of the beautiful little face I saw that day. I'm also just as in love with the twinkle in her older sister's eye as I was the day I gave birth to her. EVERY DAY I am SO thankful, SO thrilled and SO overjoyed that these two incredible lovies call me 'MOM'. They are the WORLD to me!!

Happy New Year

2008-01-02T18:09:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry that I didn't update this blog over the holidays, for those of you who actually check... Our holiday was very low key. We travelled to Philadelphia on Christmas Day to share dinner with Suzanne, Greg and the boys; Mom & Dad; and Claudine. We had a very nice time and I was excited to see all the upgrades Sue & Greg have made to their house since purchasing it over the summer. Dinner was fantastic - Rib Roast and Yorkshire pudding. My Mom's Yorkshire pudding was absolutely perfect - a feat I have yet to accomplish. Yummy!!!

Anyway, we headed home around 7:30 Christmas evening. By the time we arrived back in Virginia, Josie was running a 104 degree fever. I had noticed the small cough she had the previous day was getting more pronounced and 'tighter'. The morning of the 26th found Josie and I in her doctors office, while James took Maddie to the airport. Maddie spent the 26-Jan1 at her friend Leah's house in Michigan. Josie's strep test was negative so the doctor advised us to just 'rough it out' with the virus that Josie had contracted. Thankfully, the chest cold that Maddie had caught was done with her. However, James and I found ourselves susceptible to both the viral and bacterial "tiny little germs" (as Josie calls them). I was able to take care of all of them until I finally succumbed on the 27th. Being sick is just the worse. I had a fever for 3 days and it still feels like I'm breaking ribs when I cough. Yuk!!

Anyway, I hope to provide some photos of our Christmas once I get them downloaded. I want to thank all of you who sent us Holiday greetings and wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

The 'Other' Family Trip

2007-12-23T10:46:00.001-05:00

Today, my husband, James is taking over the blog. While I was in Canada with my Mom and Marty earlier this month, James, Maddie, Josie and my Dad headed to California. DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions of my husband are not mine. I take no responsibility for typos, bad English, or offensive remarks !!!

James writes:

While Michele was taking her trip, Maddie and Josie were with me for a combined business trip/ weekend vacation. It had been a while since my parents saw Maddie and Josie and I was hoping to get some good photos of our daughters at Disneyland for our family Christmas card.

Any Southern California Disneyland fan can tell you that the best time to visit is the first two weeks after Thanksgiving. Disneyland is decorated for Christmas and there are no crowds. It’s easy to ride all the attractions but most of all; it’s a jolly good atmosphere. Maddie is well in to her teenage, “everyone is against me” years, so it’s good to have her at place that reminds her ha life is not bad.

Josie, on the other hand, has been asking me to take her to Disneyland for the past two months. While she enjoyed her first visit, which was right after her second birthday, her awareness daily grows exponentially.

As an added bonus, my father-in-law, Charlie, was with us. We assumed that with Michele and her mother traveling to Canada, Charlie would appreciate the peace and quite. The fact that he preferred to travel with us for a whirlwind tour of Southern California did not go unnoticed.

We flew on Virgin America – quite an airline. We took advantage of the very low fares and were nearly the only passengers on that flight. Think of Virgin America as a nicer Jet Blue. This is good because when Jet Blue goes out of business, Virgin America stands ready to pick up the slack!

My friends a Prietive group had a 2008 Volvo XC70 station wagon waiting for us at LAX. We piled our luggage and ourselves in this very nice vehicle to begin our Southern California adventure.

The first stop was In-N-Out burger. They’ve opened one right next to LAX, which I managed to miss during our April visit. A sign stated that their starting wage was close to $10/hour. Hmm – maybe we CAN afford to move back!

I was once told that Charlie’s oldest brother, Danny, passed away in Los Angeles in 1963. That was the last time Charlie was in Southern California, in a cemetery close to LAX. We visited Uncle Danny’s final resting site, which was less than two miles from LAX. It was quite moving to see Charlie’s reaction when we found it. He took the time to point our to Maddie and Josie that Danny is one of their great-uncles. While Josie didn’t understand, that moment as not lost on Maddie.

Now, off to my first meeting – Cal Poly Pomona!

Of course, the 405 Northbound was clogged. My Southern Californian driving acumen kicked right back in – we took the 405 South to the105 East to the 110 North to the 210 East to the 71 South and we were at Cal Poly Pomona is less than 30 minutes. No comments on the speed. My front seat passenger, Charlie, was wearing his sunglasses so I wasn’t sure of his reaction to my fine driving skills or if his eyes were opened for much of that journey.

I’m always honored when I’m invited to speak to the engineering students. The faculty much enjoys it also – after all if things worked out well for a slacker and screwball as I was, there is hope for all! We meet with my favorite professor, Dr. Mike Shelton, who is now the chairman of the Mechanical Engineering department. I was surprised to see my old 3-D dynamics professor, Dr. Berkowitz! I’m glad that he didn’t quiz me on anything on that subject!

After my meeting, Maddie wanted to visit the Arabian horse stables. We first visited the stables in January, where we were given a very nice tour. Maddie learned about al the horses and the Equestrian Science program and Cal Poly, while Josie would run, stop, point and yell, “HORSE”!! I think Charlie was a little surprised to see that Cal Poly had such an extensive facilities (of which he only saw half – we didn’t visit the other part of the Agricultural sciences facilities. I explained to him that when W.K. Kellogg (yes, THAT Kellogg) gave the land to California for a college, he wanted them to teach engineering and raise Arabian horses. The Kellogg ranch was surrounded by Diamond Bar ranch and Phillips Ranch – both now cities of the same name.

One of the students that were decorating the stalls for Christmas told us that the yearlings were out and about. Maddie made a beeline to those yearlings as Charlie carried Josie to see all the horses that were in their stalls, then walk to see the yearlings.

For some reason, Mother Nature made babies of all species cute and adorable. Watching all the yearlings come to Maddie, Josie, and Charlie for affection (and hoping for food) was great.

Now, to Disneyland!

Like any premium hotel chain, Marriott treats their loyal customers quite well. After checking in, we went to the hospitality suite to relax. I was constantly on my Blackberry (I WANT AN iPHONE!!!) Confirming my appointments and teleconferences while trying to relax. Because there was a major NFL game that evening, would be taking the kids to Disneyland, then meet a colleague after we returned.

There’s nothing like being greeted my Mickey Mouse when you enter Disneyland and we experienced it. Mickey was quite happy to see us and the feeling was mutual. There’s nothing better than watching my two daughters have a good time. The big event that evening was Josie going her first roller coaster, She enjoyed it so much that we did it twice! She was a little scared as we stood in the very short line, but seeing, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto riding the coaster helped out.

Jet lag is a travel curse that most have yet to counter and we were no different. Eating breakfast at the local Denny’s at 4:0 A.M., we discussed our plans for the day. Charlie was going to Disneyland with the kids while I attended to my business.

Mother nature steeped in for, by 9:30 A.M., the rain was so hard that we changed our plans. We would leave for Lancaster now and return to Disneyland on Sunday.

To say that my parents where delighted by our earlier than planned arrival would be an understatement. My parents were delighted to see their grand daughters and made Charlie feel at home. And they said, “hi” to me.

Our dear friend, Dave, joined us for the Saturday adventure – the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Like those that because politically aware during the brief Kennedy Presidency, Reagan affected many of my peers in the same manner. I believe that he was one of our best Presidents and personified that office, that position, and our country. We are, by nature, an optimistic country. Our Declaration of Independence stated that we American believe that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable human rights. Reagan never forgot that and practiced it throughout his public career.

As I toured the museum, it came to me that his was a public, not political career. I contrast his leadership and stewardship to the current venomous environment that’s found in all level of government today. There’s nothing wrong with this country and all levels of government that a President wit vision, with an understanding of this country’s foundation, and leads with that foundation, couldn’t fix. And NONE of the current candidates, especially on the Democrat side, have this. Oh well.

That evening, we found that our good friend, Larry Grooms, is running for Lancaster City Council. The old guard that has run Lancaster in to the ground is dying. Larry would make a great city councilman and, if he chose, a great Mayor.

By the way, I drove my father’s 1999 Dodge Caravan during our Saturday trek., I think we were all surprised to see how that 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine performed. Most amusing was when Charlie mentioned to my father about my average driving speed. My father replied, “He’s actually slowed down a bit!” He would not have made that comment if his minivan had a bigger engine.

Sunday was a great day. Charlie was at the Downtown Disney ESPN Zone taking in the Sunday NFL action, we went to Disneyland and California Adventure. Josie drove a car for the first time and Maddie went on her favorite California Adventure rides (I know, “Eisner’s folly” has only four attractions that are Disney quality). And the Raiders beat the Broncos.

Other than experiencing a “wave off” while trying to land at Dulles, Monday was your typical coast-to-coast travel day. Michele had a very nice Chicken dinner waiting for us when we arrived home and the kids were very happy to see their Mother.