Alyzabeth An - Our Adoption Journal

Blogspot - Wordpress = Trouble

2006-09-04T10:12:00.001-04:00

Looks as though I have a little unexpected problem. I was playing around with the idea of swapping over to Wordpress from Blogspot. Things did not quite work out as planned. Please follow us back to: Imagine Alyzabeth An. It's Easy If You Try...

Happy Birthday Dad (Big Pop)

2006-09-02T07:22:00.000-04:00

This picture was snapped at my brother Bill's home. The beautiful lady on the left is my Aunt Jan. That's my Dad sitting beside her. Today is my Dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Pop. See you soon! fm

Happy 24th Anniversary!!

2006-09-02T07:08:00.000-04:00

Sister T. and her DH are having so much fun now after many years of raising a family and working, working, working... They are in Boston for a long Anniversary weekend of fun. Look at their new "getting ready for retirement" hobby! Pictures are from last weekend at Little Sebago Lake. Lots of fun! Happy Anniversary!

CCAA Review Room

2006-09-01T19:09:00.000-04:00

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before November 30, 2005. "Rumor" has it that January is in the Review Room along with December. There was a time that this would have been huge positive news but with the "Wait" pretty much sapping any happiness out of everyone it just becomes another step in a long, long ordeal. Sad in it's own way. Everyone should be celebrating this step. By being in the Review Room we now get to sweat it out while the Chinese authorities comb our dossier for red flags. If they have any questions they contact our agency, CCAI, who in turn will contact us. We could be in the review Room for quite some time. We're hoping we move through within two months. Who knows. Well, back to happy face and positive outlook!!! BTW: Congratulations to the November folks who just moved out. Has to be a great feeling...

I Lied....New Picture Sent from DD

2006-08-31T20:21:00.000-04:00

We love this picture of SIL, DD and Alivia. DD is having frequent "photo shoots"; this one was last week. We can't wait to see all the pictures. Their family friend P. does all the great photos for the family. I am hoping to engage her for family photos this fall.

No New Grand-Baby Pictures to Show-Off......

2006-08-30T20:38:00.000-04:00

While we are waiting for the next Grand-Baby pictures, I am breaking down and showing off my "babies". Yes, Salty Dog thinks he is an only child. He does recognize the other children (all five of them) if only to scoff down their food when they aren't looking. Here is my oldest. She is not much of a looker, she is multi-colored and can't even claim to be a far-fetched relative of a Maine Coon Cat. She's a..... whatever. She came to me (yes, she picked me!) by way of a huge rain storm where I work. She, at the ripe old age of about 6 weeks, hurried under my car as I parked it at work one morning in May 1988. She is a sweetheart and has rescued our lawn from many small critters. She is very proud and loves to snuggle. Her arthritis does bother her and she tends to be cranky (she bit DH right after I took these pictures!). These pictures do not tell the story of the evening; she was moving about (fairly quick for her) as Salty Dog was circling the photo shoot. Salty gets very jealous of the attention his sisters get from me. Love her or not, she is my baby. Her name is "CB" which stands for "Coon Bait". That's another long story...... CB will be 18.5 years old on October 1st. Hope you see her beauty too.

Pictures of Grand-Baby Alivia

2006-08-28T19:49:00.000-04:00

Pictures of Alivia from our very quick visit on Saturday, August 26th. Livi is so sturdy now, she has many expressions and loves to hear our pretty goo-goo/baby talk. We will not see both grand-daughters next weekend as all the "young" folks are going camping (us older folks require air conditioning and many "essentials" of life not offered at a campground). The following weekend, Grand-Poppy is traveling home to Missouri. So the next visit will probably not be for three weeks!!! Eeeek! Grand-Baby withdrawal!

How Many Months Have We Been LID?

2006-08-27T04:30:00.000-04:00

Go ahead take a guess. Pick a number between 1 and FOREVER! It sort of has a heaven ring to it. Give up? We haven't...

The Referral Estimator

2006-08-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

If you have not visited the adoption blog Wren's Story you owe it to yourself to do so. I have been following this inventive and fun loving couple for some time now. In fact, if you are a reader of Rumor Queen you have seen some of Dave's work he graciously provided to the RQ. Dave's little piece of work, The Estimator, is a super tool that estimates referral dates and provides a way for you to make an estimate of your future referral date with an added kick of providing for different variables. You have to check it out. You'll find the Estimator on the top left side of their blog. And while you're at their blogsite, check out Dave's travel page and by all means take a listen to their "oral history" that chronicles their adoption journey. Way unique.

Managing Money - Bible Perspective

2006-08-24T19:54:00.000-04:00

Since completing a Crown Financial small group study a few years back, we have stayed active in its principles by leading the study in our local church. Below is a bit of information about the Crown Financial 10 week bible study. From the Crown.org web site: Crown Financial Ministries is an interdenominational ministry that uses a remarkably effective Small Group Bible Study to train adults to practically apply the financial principles from God's Word. Most Christians have been taught only God's principles of handling 10 percent of their income the area of giving. Although this is crucial, they do not understand the Lord's perspective on handling the other 90 percent. The class does have weekly homework which includes one Bible verse to memorize each week. These verses will give you an idea about the class study for that particular week. It is by far the most favorite small group study we have taken and we would highly recommend the material to any church. Here's are the ten weekly verses each new group memorizes: 1. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? Luke 16:11 2. Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the Ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might, and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 3. Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. Proverbs 22:7 4. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel. Proverbs 12:15 5. You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. Leviticus 19:11 6. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:3 7. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24 8. Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty. Proverbs 21:5 9. I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I know how to live in prosperity. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 10. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul. Mark 8:36 Once again, this is a great class for adults of all ages to learn the Bible perspective on handling His money. The class can have an especially significant impact on young adults and families just starting out. In this world of credit cards, large debt from student loans, cars and other expensive toys, the class really gets the discussions flowing. Crown also offers material for younger students which we have yet to be involved with. We continue to really enjoy the fellowship that these classes naturally encourage. We recently completed leading another class, this time at a neighboring local United Methodist church in our area. Here's a picture of the church leaders and students we had the pleasure of leading in this class. Congratulation to our newest Crown Graduates!!!

Book Reading - The Heritage

2006-08-22T20:00:00.000-04:00

I finished reading the book "The Heritage" by Frances Parkinson Keyes (1968). I found this book in my Grandmother's house attic during a recent trip to Maine and it seemed interesting. This author has written many books (over 40). This one peaked my interest as the book jacket review stated it was about a young Irish-American who is heir apparent to an estate in Ireland, romantic and suspenseful, set in a turbulent land around the 1880's. From my Dad's genealogy research, we have alot of Irish in us. The book jacket also had a print of a young couple looking over a pond with swans. Now if you have read our posts about "our" swans you'll know why I decided to pick up this book. It isn't a Jane Austen book but has some of the same social status issues from that era. Not half as good as Pride and Prejudice; just an enjoyable story.

Showing you around the House - BPOH

2006-08-20T18:00:00.000-04:00

Shannon and several bloggers are doing a pictorial of their homes. Check her blog for all the links to who is participating (her August 18th message). Can you tell we are trying to think up things to keep our minds off this very long wait? Hope you enjoy the Bloggers Parade of Homes (BPOH)! I didn't exactly start when the others did so will put up two pictures: one of the foyer/entrance into the house and the dining room. This picture is of the entrance to our home. We have a covered porch (about 12 feet wide)that has a metal railing on the sides. Once you enter our home, through the front door that has identical side lights (windows/glass), you step onto a braided rug made by my grandmother, E-E. As you walk into the house, on your right side, there is a hall closet for coats (not needed here in Florida, so all our winter coats hang there unused through most of the year) and a stack of firkins. On top of the firkins is a topiary tree with fruits that was made by friend LR (her hubby is the person who came up with our second name in case we get offered twins!). We also have a mirror on the wall (from my M and D). The only really weird thing in our foyer is the silver/metal ball in the corner (in the picture on your left). At work there is a pulverizer that crushes limestone for one of the environmental processes. There are hundreds of balls in the pulverizer which wear so are periodically changed and thrown away. Great work souvenir (from about 15 years ago)! We use it as a door stop.

BPOH - House Picture - Dining Room

2006-08-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

Here's the dining room picture; continuing the Bloggers' Parade of Homes..... Several notables: Starting from the left of the picture, we have two family pictures on the wall, then comes the china closet. The dining room set could be purchased with a larger china closet but I chose this smaller one as the dining area in our home is only 9.5 feet by 9.5 feet. Can you believe such a small area? The china closet houses my Grammie's china. This is the china set that Lizzy will inherit. Also, you can see some vegetable bowls on the table in the same pattern I bought on eBay recently. On the next wall, you can barely see the cup and saucer holders. I have collected depression glassware since I can remember (I think cats, stamps and old fans came first before I started collecting glassware) so when I married DH, we agreed to buy one cup and saucer in every depression glass pattern. We haven't accomplished that yet, so have our collection of 25 on the dining room wall. So that's the BPOH house tour so far!

Grand-Daughter Alivia

2006-08-19T07:40:00.000-04:00

Here's some August 2006 pictures. She's growing and growing.... We may need a separate blog just for Alivia and Kilee. Here's some of Alivia's latest expressions!!

Sweet Alivia

2006-08-19T07:30:00.000-04:00

Happy Wedding Anniversary!!!!

2006-08-18T19:00:00.000-04:00

My parents are celebrating their 51st Anniversary. We had a good time in Maine last year hosting a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party (which was also our 20th). Every year my Dad scours the countryside looking for gladiolus. Every year for 50 years he has presented Mom with a mass of glads for their anniversary. Every time I see glads, I think of their long lasting marriage and have to buy some! Here's mine in honor of M&D.

Totally Random Thoughts

2006-08-16T14:04:00.000-04:00

Totally Random Thoughts Johnny’s on a “walkabout”. Taking time to recharge and revive is something we all should do for ourselves. Now, if we would only do it. Ruby Is Coming is heading off to vacation in Africa with DH. I’d love to slip off with DW to Murren, Switzerland, a few days in Vernazza, Italy and then fly back from Paris after having spent hours exploring through the Louve. I’m once again making the adjustment to flashing lights alerting me that I’m entering a school zone. SLOW DOWN. Putting your emotional well being into the latest RQ rumor is akin to planning your day based on a horoscope reading. We’re entering into “late” summer. How did this happen? End to a telephone conversation with my son just a few days ago: Son: “Thanks for taking care of the ***** business for K.” Me: “That’s what family does for one another.” Son: “I love you Dad.” Me: “I love you.” This is just a glimpse of what many of you have to look forward to. It doesn’t make the Wait any shorter but I hope it reminds you of why it is so worth it. Is it hotter or do I just think it’s hotter? Reminder to hug my air conditioner. I wonder if our daughter has been born? At the risk of scaring away a faithful reader to the blog from Scott City, I keep hoping you’ll leave a comment. You're like having a visitor from home. Israel will soon have a new government. Teachers are underpaid. Have been and always will be. It’s not right. I know what needs to be done to change that but you’ll no more like my answer today than you did some 30 odd years ago. I miss mom. Large private company and individual political contributions do not buy privilege. And before I forget; Christmas has been changed to late September. NPR, Prairie Home Companion & Austin City Limits. I wish we were in China right now. You can never have too many random thoughts… Peace.

100th Family - Quilt Squares from Sister M.

2006-08-14T15:30:00.000-04:00

100 Hundred different families have sent a quilt square (or more than one) to DH and I. This is so special!!! We now have 128 different fabrics for the OHGWQ! I have been waiting on a few more squares to arrive from family. So far I have 26 relatives (family) who have sent to us a total of 33 fabric squares. I never thought back in March that I would have so many! Here's two fabrics from my sister. They are lovely with reminders of childhood. One with music notes as we both played instruments growing up and she included music lyrics from two songs: Wind Beneath My Wings and When you wish Upon a Star. She wrote "You are their Star!!". Yes, Lizzy, you are our shining star even before we knew you. The other fabric has fans; I collected antique fans while young as my Grandmother E-E gave me my first ones. M. wrote "In Remembrance of Your Great-Grandmother E-E" as she loved the old fans, too. Thank you DS. P.S. I have added a few more pictures of quilt squares on the "Lizzy Quilt" Blog (link at right).

Introducing Ling - DH Strikes Again

2006-08-13T05:00:00.000-04:00

He's at it again... Look what DH bought. A doll. Here's his latest purchase during our wait for Alyzabeth An. Ta-da! Introducing Ling who speaks both Chinese and English! We are very hesitant to purchase clothes since we just have no idea how old she will be or her size. I do believe this is her first doll. Eventually, I need to get back to finishing her bedroom. With the "Wait" dragging out as it has I have not been able to motivate myself in that direction. I think going in her room makes me sad. This would have been our time of nervous anticipation of the Referral and then TA. Still, we'll wait like everyone else and if I'm not careful, DH may slip out and buy that high chair or car seat(s) I've caught him eyeing! I better get moving.

More Family Pictures - Cousin's Grand-Daughter!

2006-08-10T20:04:00.000-04:00

More Girls!!! Sophia Elizabeth entered the world on August 09, 2006. Her Daddy was able to make a special trip back to the States from his duty in Iraq. He has to go back to Iraq next week and has orders until December. I spoke to our favorite Great Britain traveling cousin, HT to get all the wonderful happy details. Her grand-niece is doing well. We enjoyed seeing the pictures and also know how special having a child is. This is their second grand-baby girl in the family; they have Molly who was born last year to daughter J and GC (sound familiar? We have two grands, too - Kilee and Alivia!). We wish JT and GT the best!

Last Few Quilt Squares Arriving....

2006-08-09T06:30:00.000-04:00

We are waiting on just a few more quilt squares from family and friends. I have stopped seeking others to swap fabric with. Once I make some progress on Lizzy's quilt, I will probably develop a post OHGWQ wishes and fabric to send to others just starting out. It was lots of fun. Here's a picture of the fabric sent by Mother-In-Law (future Grandparents of Lizzy) J. Thank you!!

Justin & Grandaughter Kilee Visit

2006-08-09T03:38:00.000-04:00

Our son Justin and grandaughter Kilee dropped in for a quick visit tonight. Always a pleasure. And a chance to snap a quick picture. Quick being the key word. She is always on the move. We can only imagine what it will be like around here once we have Kilee, Alivia and Alyzabeth all together!

Boating Update

2006-08-08T05:16:00.000-04:00

Our hopes to get back to the way things were before Hurricane Frances inched slowly forward this past weekend. The boat is now on the lift after being properly sized for the lifting bunks and guides. We still have to dredge a bit of silt that formed directly under the lift after the multiple storms and two years of inactivity. One minor but very annoying setback; the lift motor is freezing up and I suspect a faulty shaft bearing. We're close. So very close... And of course, Salty Dog helped every step of the way.

First Coast Chinese Children's Waiting Families Meeting

2006-08-06T18:00:00.000-04:00

If you have a local group of Waiting Families, we recommend attending. Our past meeting agenda featured four Dad's with Chinese daughters. They discussed the paper chase, the trip to China, their first experience with attachment and all other post-adoption challenges. Two had used sign language as a way to communicate early with their daughter's. We are convinced this helps with attachment and adjustment. We're equally convinced that signing helps to reduce frustration, both for parent and baby, brought on by not being able to communicate verbally. We have already purchased several tools to use like flash cards and "Baby Signs" (board books and DVD set). The "Baby Signs" are sold by Discovery Toys. We enjoyed hearing from the four Dads' and visiting with Kim and Joel (Ruby is Coming). See you all next month!

Exploding Tire, Heat Wave and Now this......

2006-08-05T07:20:00.000-04:00

Last night while cooking dinner, our power went out. This is a frequent event whenever there is rain, wind or lightning in the very small town that we live in. The power was off for about three hours. No air conditioning! We took a drive through town to see who else was suffering (and we enjoyed our truck's air conditioning). Salty loves these drives to nowhere, too. Dinner was salvaged as the oven and stove top stayed hot enough to finish the job! It was romantic too..... candles (gift from sister MC), "crank" radio (only L.L. Bean for this family) and wine (red of course). We still enjoyed the evening!

It is Really Hot Outside!

2006-08-02T19:10:00.000-04:00

From Maine to Missouri, to our home away from home, Florida - it is Really, Really HOT outside. Hope you all have air conditioning!

Explosion! We Need a New Spare Tire!

2006-08-01T04:56:00.000-04:00

Never know what will happen in our lives, every week something happens that totally surprises us! We have a Honda CRV (over 8 years old!) that has a spare tire attached to the rear door. We left work in the evening and there it was - all frayed, ripped, torn, etc. Definitely an explosion. It was very hot that day and we have not had the tire cover on for a couple of years. Sun damage? Who knows!

I have been tagged! The list of 7's.

2006-07-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Mindy - I have been tagged and DH will not help with this or participate. I guess the fun of writing many lists is not for him. Check out Mindy's blog. Here’s my attempt of the list of 7’s. With more time to think, I probably would hope to come up with more profound thoughts; you will have to settle for my first thoughts for now..….. 7 things I’d like to do before I die:

Be at Lizzy’s wedding and Kilee’s and Alivia’s…..
Shovel the clutter out of my house. The kids will no doubt wonder why we have all this stuff.
After reducing the clutter, organize the possessions we want to pass onto Justin, Leaa and Lizzy.
Develop a landscape plan and actually do it.
Save more money and give more generously.
Exercise and “get healthy” so that what is in my control, is done, so that I can accomplish being alive to do #1.
Own property near family in Maine and visit more often.

7 things I cannot do (or cannot do well)

Cannot sing in tune, on key or any way that would be pleasing to your ears.
Cannot donate blood, unless you want to see someone pass out in 30 seconds.
Because of #2, I will not work in any of the medical professions.
Cannot get pregnant.
Cannot sleep in late in the mornings.
Cannot sleep without under wear on.
Cannot decorate or make any sense out of interior decorating, moving furniture or selecting wall colors, or …. You get the idea.

7 things I can do:

Work and earn a good living.
Bake homemade “goods”.
Read my favorite books over and over.
Spend two weeks in Europe with only a medium size backpack (did it twice!). DH believes in packing “light”.
Play cribbage.
Water ski and snow ski.
Watch college and pro football; and I can spout facts about NASCAR drivers, races and Owners with the best of them (even though by modern afictianos, I am a “newcomer” fan since I began watching NASCAR races routinely in 1995).

7 things that attracted me to husband:

Handsome!
College educated (a bit snobby on my part, one of my dating criteria back then).
Doesn’t smoke, do drugs, no debts.
Caring and compassionate towards family (he called and visited with his parents regularly, kept in touch with sisters, brothers, cousins, etc.).
Great smile, charming and good public speaker.
Work ethic.
He always says how pretty I am (wow!).

7 things I say often:

Yes-Sa (my version of “Yes, Sir).
OK
Salty, go lay on your bed. Stay!
Breve latte, half decaf, please.
Have you checked the blog today? Anything new?
Coffee ready?
Hey. It’s me. Guess who?

This is what I should say more often: I love you F. 7 books I love:

The Bible
Pride & Prejudice (anything by Jane Austen)
Southern Living Annual Recipe cookbook.
Betty Crocker Cookbook (1950’s edition)
Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Ladies of Missalonghi by Colleen McCullough
Your Money Counts by Howard Dayton

7 movies I love:

Wizard of Oz
Monsters, Inc.
Sixth Sense
The Sting
Bridges of Madison County
Murphy’s’ Romance
Sound of Music

I won’t tag anyone; you know that this is not an exercise just to list things for a blog, it makes one take time to think about goals and how we spend our time. Try it!

It's Match Time

2006-07-27T04:44:00.000-04:00

The CCAA has mailed the next group of matches. It appears they will include families whose dossiers were submitted from 6/29/05 through 7/13/05. Congratulations to each of the families. You must be walking on air!

Beware the Adoption Taliban

2006-07-24T05:30:00.000-04:00

I learned a lesson awhile back from my good blog friend Johnny without his ever knowing. If you don't like something that someone blogged, then don't link them and don't go back. What you don't do is leave a comment taking on a lofty moral attitude because they don't think the same way as you. BTW Johnny, thanks, but as you can see, I couldn't help myself... Beware The Adoption Taliban The adoption moral police are out and about. Yes, we have our own Adoption Taliban alive and well in blog-land. A little background: One adoption blog I regularly visit recently expressed their thoughts regarding the few families recently referred a boy after having requested a girl. Her reaction to that bit of news that she shared on her blog, acknowledged her having her heart set on being referred a daughter and the hope that she would be referred a girl and not a boy. A dream shared by many I’ve run into while making my way through adoption world I might add. And then along came the comments from the Adoption Taliban crowd. Now for whatever their reasons, as if we each don’t have reasons of our own, this lady and her family had decided they wanted to adopt a daughter. They wanted a girl. Hard to believe isn’t it? I mean here we have a family making the decision to adopt, on their own. But they didn’t just stop there. Oh no, they went further than that. They actually had the gall to choose the country they wished to adopt from. Hold on, we’re not through here. It gets better. You know what they did next? Sit down for this one. They requested an infant. They did, I’m not lying. More. Did you know that some greedy baby huggers out there are putting down for TWINS! Can you believe the nerve of some people?! There’s more. There is talk among the Taliban that some of these families are asking for healthy babies and putting it in writing! And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse. Some of these same families are grumbling about hopes for a more speedy delivery. I know it’s almost too much to read and harder still to believe. I mean, how fortunate are we to have our own Adoption Taliban take the time to sift through our blogs perusing our thoughts and opinions, we stupidly had considered to be our own, and then take the time to thankfully point out the true hideousness of our ways. On second thought, thanking them just seems so weak compared to the mental rigors they have had to endure while slogging through our shallow and unfit to adopt lives chronicled in blog-land. Whatever gave you, yes you dear reader, the idea that you could have an opinion of your own? An individual thought not yours but rather one determined for you by another. A sense of moral direction not freely chosen but one mandated for you. If not for the Adoption Taliban, how would we ever know right from wrong? Have you given thanks today for those that correct you? Scold you? Berate you? Vilify you? No? It’s Ok, your worldwide Adoption Taliban will find you soon enough if you too are silly enough to have your own opinions and sillier still to dare express them. Here’s my hoping you do.

"Lizzy, Let Mama Carry You"

2006-07-23T14:39:00.000-04:00

We went shopping. Introducing: The Hip Panda Let's face it. Babies can start to feel plenty heavy when carrying them from place to place. So with that in mind we went searching for a baby carrier. According to the website the HipPanda baby/child carrier can easily accommodate a small infant (from 14 lb) and a large toddler (up to 40 lb). As soon as your baby can hold their head unassisted and feels comfortable on your hip, she is ready for a HipPanda baby carrier. They offer up tons of styles and colors. So, for those times when a stroller just won't do, maybe the Hip Panda will work for you. As you can see from the photo, Alyson is practicing with a very special bear. Alyson's grandmother E-E handmade this treasure from the heart.

OHGWQ - Family Squares

2006-07-22T15:05:00.000-04:00

Four more squares from family! The top picture is of three fabrics from sister, Terri's family. The fabrics have my favorite colors for Lizzy: pink and browns. The wishes card has buttons representing our home State of Maine. The buttons are another way of remembering our Grandmother, E-E, as she collected buttons. The next three pictures are from my DH's family: the golfing fabric is from Brother #2 and DW, Joan who are both champion golfers. The next square is from Joan's daughter, Amy and Matt. They sent a great fabric that has many races of people representing different professions. Great fabric for our future diverse family! The bottom square is from Joan's son, Mark (how did she get the guys to do this???). He sent a wonderful fabric with "retro sports" represented. Love the squares! Thank you to the Missouri family! I am highlighting these few more wishes and squares that we have received from Family. Having family donate fabric is very important as many memories and family stories can be retold when reviewing the wishes scrapbook. I think it will be a great way to walk down memory lane.... Thank you.

OHGWQ - More Fabric Squares from Family

2006-07-22T13:05:00.000-04:00

The picture is of the "wish" and fabric square from Alabama country cousins Stephanie and Butch. Great fabric!! Thank you!! My fabric squares for Lizzy's "100 Good Wishes Quilt" keep coming in. I have over 120 squares and wishes! When we began in March, I thought I would never be able to have 100 squares so lovingly made and donated to this quilt. I now will have enough to make two shams in addition to the quilt. I have reminded some family members about sending their wishes so will anticipate about 10 more squares. I really enjoyed swapping with fellow bloggers. They were the first ones to come through with wishes and made the collection so easy. I did join and follow many quilt square swaps on the Yahoo group "OHGWQ" and participated in two swaps: the "Red all over" and the "Christian" swaps. I would recommend doing that as you get to communicate with different adoption families and they are all interested in making a quilt for their children. I am posting a few pictures on this blog of squares from family. All the fabric and wishes pictures will be posted on the Quilt blog (link is on the right). Thank you again for sending me the OHGW squares. I hope to thank all of you sometime during the making of Lizzy's quilt. I am so happy that we decided to jump into this "quilt" making as it has meant so much to us; more than I would have guessed back then!

Quilt Square from Las Vegas Niece

2006-07-22T11:25:00.000-04:00

Our niece, who was married and graduated from nursing college both in 2005, sent this square and wish. We are so proud of her and it has been years since we have seen her. She and DH Aaron have made a nice home together in Las Vegas. The wish is so lovely with Alyzabeth's name across the top, words from a Lee Ann Womack song and their welcome to Lizzy into the family. Family is worth keeping in touch with no matter the distance. She is a faithful and interesting correspondent (they travel alot!!) and sends pictures regularly. Wish we lived closer to her and our sisters and brothers.

Searching for Alyzabeth

2006-07-19T05:00:00.000-04:00

Saw this picture on To China and Back and loved it! Since I grew up near the Atlantic Ocean and around lots of lighthouses, this is exactly how I feel……… just looking and looking for Lizzy; waiting and waiting. We made the decision to adopt (May 2005), selected an agency (June 2005), finished the dossier (January 2006 – we were a little slow doing it ourselves what with work/other obligations) and finally LID (January 27, 2006). We are now almost six months into the "wait". Agencies are officially saying we should get Lizzy's name and pictures (referred a daughter) in about 12 months. Rumors, however, say maybe 18 months!!! How long can this take? Just seems like I need to stop and look for her. Can’t do that however as we need to get the bedroom ready, put finances in order and make a quilt (scary thought!). Plenty to do but I just want her here so we can begin the American journey with Lizzy.

Birthday & Christmas A Little Early

2006-07-16T06:52:00.000-04:00

This must be the week for boats. Our son Justin has been fishing out of a small 10' plastic boat for over 10 years. He has used it for everything from shrimping, diving the river for arrow-heads and of course, fishing. To say things were cramped would be a gross understatement. Especially when Clemus the family dog accompanied him. Last Sunday while on my way to church I spied a boat rig for sale in our neighborhood. I knew Justin had been looking for a 12' aluminum Jon boat. Long story short(ened). I stopped to take a very quick look because I was already running late. It was a good deal. A very good deal (fingers and toes crossed and a prayer that this wasn't a HUGE mistake). In less than five minutes of "bargaining" I told the owner that we had a deal and I would stop by as soon as church let out. I don't know if he was truly convinced since the for sale sign was still on the boat when I returned. So now Justin has a new "old" boat. It's a 17' Grumman Outlaw SX sporting a 70 HP Suzuki oil injected motor with a Shorelander trailer. It has power trim, two live wells, a foot controlled trolling motor, a CB radio, two fish finders (only one said to be working), an anchor, life jackets, fire extinguisher and two casting chairs (front & back). It's a comfortable fishing boat for two people (and a dog). It's a fine little river boat for a family of 3 just looking to cruise along. Best of all, it's suppose to float and run as opposed to sinking and never starting. Still, I cautioned Justin, take it out a couple of times without the family onboard and check it out good. After all, it's OLD and it's sure to have its share of aches and pains... Not fancy, not pretty but a whole lot better than that plastic thing he was fishing out of for sure. Good luck Justin, let's hope it really does float and the engine isn't shot! And oh yes, Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas (just a little early this year).

May You Stay Upright During Strong Winds

2006-07-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

A couple of years ago Huricane Frances came calling and with that we bid adieu to what was our boat. It was not a fancy boat. It wasn't big. It wasn't fast. It wasn't a boat that attracted attention. It was however, PAID FOR. Also slowly washed away during that particular Huricane season, was the dock. Ultimately, it took the boat insurance money and a few other $$$'s to rebuild and repair and the time and talents of my FIL to restore power and lights. Thank you Ted. So, we have patiently sat at the end of our dock, sans boat and watched as others have more fully enjoyed the spoils of life along the St. Johns river. That has now changed. We once again have our boat. It is not a fancy boat. It isn't big. It isn't fast. It will not attract the attention of others. And hopefully, it will not attract the attention of another Frances...

Do you LOVE Children? Florida United Methodist Children's Home

2006-07-13T18:00:00.000-04:00

Florida United Methodist Children’s Home Enterprise, Florida. Every fifth Sunday (a month that has five Sunday’s), the FUMCH (Florida United Methodist children's Home) requests all Methodist churches in Florida to take up a special offering to go towards the Home's operating budget. The Home is dependent upon the local churches for about 80% of their operating budget funds. We are the representatives for our church to the FUMCH. This month of July has five Sundays. Once a year, in addition to donated funds, we ask our church congregation to donate an item that needs replenishing frequently. In the past we collected over 250 toothbrushes (new of course) and tubes of toothpaste. We collected new and used fishing poles and accessories. Our youth group has collected towels. During this July, we will be collecting crayons, pens and pencils for the children. There are many children who live at the home for a short stay, usually until a family member can take care of them or one of the parents is able/well/cured. The average stay is 18 months with some never leaving until they graduate from high school and are legally an adult. The home tries to give each child their own personal belongings when they arrive and when they leave. It serves to help the transition both coming and going and it also allows each child to have something to call their own. Many churches collect things that are needed every day. We have a church member who works at a business that allows him to occasionally donate hair products that were over runs or simply mislabeled. We have delivered over a pallet full of these hair products to the FUMCH on more than one occasion. This saves money from being spent from their operating funds. Thank You Brad! So the shameless but sincere sales pitch comes next. If you find you have a heart for the Children’s Home, please know we would love to have you joined in our July gift drive for crayons, pens and pencils. 1 or 100, each is a blessing and we can't thank you enough on behalf of the kids. The web link is on our right side bar if you would like to read about the FUMCH.

Carousel Rides Straight To The Heart

2006-07-10T20:10:00.000-04:00

Today was a sweet day. I spent the afternoon with our daughter Leaa and grandaughters Alivia (Leaa's) and Kilee (Jusin's). We slipped over to St. Augustine to play in the park and ride an old 1927 vintage carousel. Over and over again. We loved it. Alivia is still too young to grasp everything going on but Kilee soaked the day up like a sponge. Leaa laughed as we were preparing to leave, trying to gather everything up: bottles, diaper bags, etc. and commented that we didn't have enough hands to take pictures. Then she smiled and said Aly would be mad about that. Aly: Leaa is right, we didn't have enough hands! The little ones kept us busy, busy, busy... So with that as a poor excuse, I offer up the only two photos snapped. A first occured when I returned Kilee to her mom and dad . She started crying because I was leaving. As bad as I felt about her crying I couldn't help but feel happy because I knew that she too had enjoyed her time with Poppy. We had sung "Kilee rode the carousel, Up and Down and Round and Round" on the ride back to her house. As I left, I could see her pumping her arm up and down and twirling her finger round and round. Thank you Leaa and Alivia and Kilee. "Kilee rode the carousel, Up and Down and Round and Round"...

Salty Dog's Shaggy Hair-Do! The Before Picture

2006-07-10T18:59:00.000-04:00

This is Salty Dog or as Ford sometimes refers to: our Death Row Dog. We rescued Salty from the local county dog pound a little over six years ago. Do you think Salty Dog could use a haircut? Not to be confused with my own hair! Salty doesn't have a problem growing his fur; it seems to grow quite fast. He was trimmed very close the first week of April. Now it is the end of June and he is due for a grooming. Here’s the “before” picture. Hope Ford will take him to the groomer's soon! What a handsome devil of a 7 ½ year old he is!! And complain as we may about his having to have haircuts it certainly beats shedding. Salty doesn't shed!!! ac Well, Salty got his haircut but other than being able to see his eyes now I kind of miss our miniature sheep(dog)... I don't know if you can tell from the pictures or not but Salty wasn't in the best of moods. They treat him fine at the groomers, I just think he prefers the "Beatles" look over the "Punk" look. Try as I might Salty wasn't going to smile for the camera. In fact he seemed quite put out with the whole ordeal. It took a car ride to finally bring him out of his funk.

Geez, it was only a haircut Salty.

And Just A Couple More From The 4th

2006-07-07T04:50:00.000-04:00

More 4th Photos

2006-07-07T04:40:00.000-04:00

A 4th With Family & Friends & KIDS!

2006-07-07T04:35:00.000-04:00

Our 4th of July was spent with family and friends at our daughter Leaa's home. We wimped out and didn't make it down to the river to watch the fireworks later that night. I guess that will have to change once we have Alyzabeth. One of the more interesting aspects about the gathering was seeing the little ones now being raised by the "kids" that grew up with Justin and Leaa. It was a sobering look at "us" as parents in a world of youth. Still, we're up to the challenge and hopefully the younger parents will accept Aly and I with open hearts and minds...

The Wait - Update...

2006-07-06T04:17:00.000-04:00

Word on the street is November is out of the review room! December and then US!

Moxie Festival - The "Soda of Maine"

2006-07-04T10:10:00.000-04:00

Since I am a Mainer living in "exile", I love to dream about the days when I can roam around my home State again. Here's a fun small town festival - Check out The Maine Moxie Festival. My BIL is a sponsor and vendor at this weekend's Moxie festival in Maine. "Moxie", a hold-over from the greatest generation, is a snappy soda that was originally patented as a cure-all and was marketed as Moxie Nerve Food. It was the first mass produced soda. Boston batter Ted Williams shilled for the drink, contributing to its all-American allure, and former President Calvin Coolidge toasted his sudden inauguration with an ice cold Moxie and was known for enjoying the beverage during his tenure in the nation's highest office. While Moxie may be experiencing a resurgence, one thing that hasn't changed is the taste. It's no secret that the drink is an "acquired taste,". Part of its allure is a strong aftertaste, caused no doubt by the gentian root and wintergreen extract in the soda."

Trip to Maine - I Met Sister's Beau!!

2006-07-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

My trip to Maine on June 16th was over very quickly, just a Friday through Sunday visit. I left Maine at 6:00 a.m. Monday morning and went to work once reaching sunny Jacksonville. While enjoying seeing family and friends, I also met my sister’s boyfriend for the first time. Seems he has been infiltrating the family for almost a year now. I won’t ask what she did with him during the two weeks Ford and I were in Maine last September. My impression of him is that he is genuinely a caring sweet man. He has two children by his first (and only) marriage. He helps out all the time from helping with broken down cars, troubleshooting car problems and even providing parts! He cooks, actually has custody of his children half of every week, works full time, loves his family (Mom, Dad, sister, etc). And he likes my sister. So far so good…. Here’s a picture of boyfriend and children, enjoying the water on a hot summer day, at my sister’s home.

Fourth of July!! A Family Quilt Square

2006-07-01T08:20:00.000-04:00

It is almost the Fourth of July and we are getting ready! My sister's MIL sent us this lovely quilt square in time for the July 4th Holiday! Thank you G.S.!! Also, a big Thank You to all of my family members who have come through with quilt fabric and wonderful wishes for Alyzabeth and her "parents". I am so happy. I have squares from the Stone's, Barker's, Stephenson's, Caton's, Soule's, Cobb's, Clarke's, Kleinhans, Cruce, Hollaway's, Benefield's, Hathcock and Kuhn's!! Just yesterday we received three from the Morgan's, Armbruster and Schroeder's, all from DH's family. Pictures will follow soon. The fabric is really cute and reflects each family's wish for Lizzy! I hope to be receiving more quilt fabric from the Morgan's, Deimund's, Morge's, Salter's, Strobel's, Brooksbank's and Jackman's soon. All family members. I can't wait as that will finish out my 100 Wishes. Love you all!

Recipe - Chocolate Chip Cheesecake - Rich!

2006-06-28T21:00:00.000-04:00

This was a nice discovery as we all love cheesecake. Years ago I didn’t think I could bake one successfully. I found several recipes made with Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk and Voila!! Success! This is one of our favorites… Another is Key Lime Cheesecake. If you don’t have a springform pan, borrow one! 2 Cups finely crushed crème filled chocolate sandwich Cookies (about 24 cookies) ¼ Cup Crisco Shortening 3 packages Cream Cheese (8 ounces each) 1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 ounces) 3 Eggs 2 tsps. Vanilla 1 Cup mini Chocolate Chips, divided 1 tsp. Flour Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine crumbs and shortening; press firmly on bottom of 9 inch springform pan. In large bowl, beat cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in Sweetened Condensed Milk until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Toss ½ cup chips with flour to coat; stir into cheese mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining chips over top. Bake 55 minutes or until center is set. Cool. Chill. Refrigerate leftovers. Serve with love...

Referrals Are Pouring In - Congratulations To All!

2006-06-27T19:07:00.000-04:00

Families are growing! The referrals are pouring in and so we've listed a couple of the blogs that have really great links to the NEW FAMILIES!!! You can just feel the joy, relief, excitement and love filling each of these happy people. Soon they will be traveling to bring their daughters home.God bless each and all... Do They Have Salsa In China Rumor Queen

One Year Ago Today

2006-06-25T21:15:00.000-04:00

6-25-05: A year ago today...

Adoption Timeline Update

2006-06-23T13:13:00.000-04:00

Attention Veteran Adoption Paperchasers and Waiters: This post will be old news and old hat for you. This post is primarily for our family and friends that lack the international adoption savy you all have come to live with 24/7... Attention Family & Friends: Announcement From the CCAA: The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before October 31, 2005. So, what does that mean and how does it affect us? Quite simply it means that the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affaris) has finished reviewing the paperwork up to and including October 31, 2005 submitted by families wishing to adopt from The People's Republic of China. Remember during our "paperchase" how we kept writing off for personal documents and getting them notorized, certified and authenticated? That would be the documents we're talking about along with our home study and about a million other things. You will also remember us throwing out terms such as DTC & LID during that time. Well, those documents sit patiently in China awaiting their turn to be reviewed by the Chinese government to ensure everything is in order. You know, dots over the i's and t's crossed. Ok, maybe it's a little more than that but you get the idea. It also would not be uncommon for the CCAA to notify your agency, ours is CCAI, and ask for clarification on issues regarding your dossier. In the perfect world the dossier would meet with their approval without the need for that and move on to the matching room to once again sit quietly until it's your turn to be matched with your daughter. For us, that will be awhile. We're thinking January 2007 at this point. We have an LID date of 1/27/06 which means we are inching our way towards the Review Room phase of the adoption process. The CCAA is presently reviewing dossiers with LID dates of November and quite possibly December. See what we mean? We're slooowly edging closer, little by little. That's it. Just thought I would give everyone a little update on the process. This time between LID and Referral is called "The Wait" in adoption land. It is painful but that's the process...

Cognac - REMY MARTIN XO

2006-06-22T04:30:00.000-04:00

Throughout the week we enjoy Wine. Sunday's are reserved for Champagne. We do have a fondness for our Champagne Sundays. However, when the time calls for a relaxing evening alone with Aly or pleasently joined by good friends and sterling conversation, we prefer: Grande Champagne Cognac - Our favorite sipping beverage of choice. The latest purchase was a "Duty Free" souvenir from our UK trip! Well-rounded. Subtle. Long-lasting flavor. Remy Martin XO offers a complexity that warrants attentive tasting. Aged up to 35 years. You have got to try this...

CCAA Review & Referral Update

2006-06-22T04:01:00.000-04:00

Huge congratulations to the families getting their referral and preparing to see a picture of their daughter for the first time! The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before September 30, 2005. The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before June 28, 2005.

Guess Who Got To Babysit Today?

2006-06-21T20:01:00.000-04:00

Aly and I got to babysit Alivia today for Jesse and Leaa. It was tough duty but somehow we pulled it off. Ah, baby Alivia, you help to make our world smile...

Happy Father's Day Papa

2006-06-18T18:15:00.000-04:00

To Alyson and her two sisters, TerriAnn & Melissa, he is Dad. To the grandkids he is Papa. How he ever survived in a household of 4 women I will never know but somehow he did! So on this Father's Day may we offer love and best wishes to my FIL, Alyson's dad. Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day

2006-06-18T06:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day Dad or as the grandkids call you: Big Pop... You're a tough act to follow but then that's the way it should be. You show the way and in turn we "kids" learn to find ours. You formed my past and helped shaped my future. You're my dad and for that I am forever blessed. I love you Pop... fm

No Offense To Salty Dog BUT It's Lonely Around Here

2006-06-17T07:38:00.000-04:00

Salty Dog and I are batching it this weekend. Aly is off to Maine and the loving arms of family to partake in the celebration of our nephew Andrew's graduation from High School. CONGRATULATIONS ANDREW!!! Only two more nights to go... and Salty Dog and I will have our Aly back... and life will be good again.....

Return Trip To Wine Warehouse

2006-06-17T06:25:00.000-04:00

Three new and untried bottles came home with us on this trip. We'll let you know how we liked them. Each was purchased for under $10. Of course we couldn't leave with just 3 measly bottles. We came home with 12 bottles all together, one being a double size. Aly has some notes around here somewhere that capture our likes and dislikes on the first batch. We'll post soon on the ones we purchased (again) on this trip and the two we crossed off... May we offer a toast to all of us "waiting" for our daughters and to those who have gone before us and those who follow. Clink...

Sweet Dreams Sweet Dreamer

2006-06-14T13:07:00.000-04:00

Alivia loves to be swaddled. Sweet dreams Alivia...

Poppy & Nana and The Amazing Alivia

2006-06-14T12:56:00.000-04:00

We're babysitting Alivia today for our daughter Leaa. We'll post more on our adventure later...

Knock Knock, Alberto's here...

2006-06-13T03:03:00.000-04:00

And he woke me up... Alberto is making himself known right now. Small debris is tapping our windows, enough to wake me. The wind is "wooshing" (probably not a real word) about and though I can barely see into the dark, I can make out an ugly St. John's river sending set after set of waves towards the docks. Heavy rain bands come and go. And we're on the good coastline side but unfortunately we're on the east side of the storm. Not good. You always want the storm to pass so you stay on the west side. Less powerful winds. Oh well, we don't have a boat to lose this time and we've lashed everything else down. It'll be light soon and Alberto should be away from us and back out to sea. Our daughter has to drive to Orlando this morning. I hope they cancel her meeting. I really, really do. We didn't get the generator out. We didn't fill up the gas cans or vehicles but now Alberto has reminded me that the "season" is back. Our wake-up call. And Alberto is only a storm. I've come to fully dread this time of year...

Recipe - Fresh Strawberry Cake

2006-06-12T20:01:00.000-04:00

Fresh Strawberry Cake This is an easy cake to make with impressive results. It is refreshing for a spring or summer cake with fresh strawberries so now is a great time to try it. It is a “semi-homemade” type of dessert as it starts with a box cake mix. This is a family favorite recipe discovered (in 2000) and made frequently by MIL, Nana Joy and now a favorite made by her granddaughter (our daughter), Leaa. You can’t go wrong with this recipe!! Cake Batter: 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix 1 Box Strawberry Jell-O (3 ounces) 4 Eggs ¼ Cup Oil ¼ Cup Water 1 Cup Fresh Strawberries (sliced) Mix together in order of ingredients, adding strawberries last. Preheat Oven 350 degrees. Bake in an oblong 13x9 pan for 30 minutes. Cool cake completely before frosting – very important to allow time to have the cake cold before frosting. Frosting: 3 ounces Cream Cheese 4 Tabs. Butter 1 Cup Fresh Strawberries (sliced) 1 Box Confectioners (powered) Sugar Mix frosting ingredients together and frost cold cake. Frosting will melt if cake is warm. Another great dessert that is different, unexpected and delicious! Great to share with family and for special occasions!! A word of advice. You may be tempted to "add" more strawberries to the frosting. Don't. If you do, don't say you were not warned. It could make for a very runny icing...

Wireless Baby Monitors - Sight & Sound

2006-06-11T16:25:00.000-04:00

If you have already purchased a wireless home monitoring system we would appreciate any feedback you are willing to share. If you are considering the purchase of a home (baby) monitoring system, check out these sites. NexTag Alibaba fm

Flying (NOT) In & Out of Cape Girardeau

2006-06-11T15:45:00.000-04:00

Gee, I don't know? Which would you choose? Total trip Duration 10 hours 14 minutes Roundtrip price $494.00 per person OR Total trip Duration 4 hours 50 minutes Roundtrip price $258.10 per person Warning: This is a quasi-vent post. First let me say this: I love Cape Girardeau. I grew up about 30 miles from Cape and graduated from college there. It is a GREAT town with GREAT people. It's the airport I find lacking. Cape Girardeau is not a huge town but neither is it missing on most maps. In fact, it prides itself on being one the largest cities in Southeast Missouri. I made the mistake of commenting on an article published in the local paper a couple of years back that was bemoaning the lack of people using the local CGI airport for travel. I pointed out the high ticket cost as compared to the smaller city of Paducah, Ky. It was and still is cheaper to fly into Paducah and rent a car and make the drive than it is to fly into St. Louis, rent a car and make an even longer drive. Don't even think about flying in to Cape. Save your money. Just for the record. The paper had pledged not to publish my comments. Not that I went on a rant or anything close to it. Still, I didn't appreciate being stabbed in the back. So anyway, I periodically check the flight prices to see if anything has changed only to find it hasn't. CGI still remains a great airport if you own a plane or have a commerical business requiring air shipments. For the common person living in the area, you still need to drive to St. Louis, Memphis or PADUCAH to catch a flight for a greatly reduced price. Oh well, that's up to Cape and the airlines. Somebody is happy with the arrangement. Looks as though it's time to fill up the truck with $3 gas and make the drive or better yet, fly to Paducah. I've been wanting some Starnes BBQ anyway...

To fly to Cape Girardeau, Mo

Total trip Duration 10 hours 14 minutes Roundtrip price $494.00 per person To fly to Paducah, Ky Total trip Duration 4 hours 50 minutes Roundtrip price $258.10 per person

Happy Graduation to Nephew Andrew!

2006-06-10T12:21:00.000-04:00

My baby sister's son is graduating!!!!! Senior Prom was a few weeks ago, now for the BIG event! Andrew graduates tonight from GNGHS and then off on a white water rafting senior over night "trip". Hope they have a fun and safe trip!

BIB Swap!! Makes the WAIT Seem Less Miserable.....

2006-06-09T08:50:00.000-04:00

Making the "final" decision to adopt is a great feeling - but the wait is terrible. Many Yahoo groups have formed to help with those beginning the adoption journey, those traveling to China, local families with Chinese children, groups for each adoption agency, the 100 wishes Quilt group, plus groups for every month of DTC/LID!! And the list goes on and on. We have learned so much from these groups and from individual blogs. It is so nice to read about things that we have done or will be going through. So I joined a few "swaps". This bib swap involves sending out bibs to two addresses each month until everyone has received a bib from each participant. I have the bibs all bought and ready for wrapping and mailing. I didn't exactly follow the instructions so I started out sending the bibs in the wrong order. Still it will all work out in the end, they just will not get bibs from me the way the list stated (could it be I am stressed, over worked, tired, and was in a rush due to the BIG UK vacation? That's what I blaming it on). So a bit of an apology to those participating. please be patient, I am sending out two a month. So here are some of the bibs we have received.

Bibs!!

2006-06-09T08:40:00.000-04:00

D. Chapman sent more than a bib; she sent a personalized burp cloth and bib, plus a onesie and a regular bib. All so cute and special. She took the time to personalize "Alyzabeth" on two of them!! Wow - to have a sewing machine like that!!! Check it out! Plus she sent a hand written message on a Ladybug notecard. She is such a great "swapper" and knows how to make a gift so very special. Thank you!

Bibs and Bibs!!

2006-06-09T08:15:00.000-04:00

From the Henry's and the Loman's. Each bib is very cute and all are so different! I didn't know about plastic bibs - I thought they were all cloth. Boy do I have some catching up to do...... I even saw on eBay the disposable Dora bibs, now they could come in handy too; no washing!

Another Bib PLUS a Father's Day Gift

2006-06-09T06:40:00.000-04:00

We received a cute bib with lavender gingham and flowers PLUS the extra special surprise gift for DH. A "Daddy's Little Star" bib and a Father's Day card stating " ....thought you deserved star treatment...". What a generous and thoughtful gesture for DH. Thank you to the Kogut's. The Kogut's share the same adoption agency with us and the same "LID" for our dossier in China. I think we will be traveling together! Too bad they are in NJ and we are in FL!

Asian Adoptions in the United States

2006-06-08T19:45:00.000-04:00

Asian Adoptions in the United States HEARING before the COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION Thursday, June 8, 2006 Time: 2:30 PM Place: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building Presiding: Senator Murkowski A hearing was held in Washington today that brought attention to international adoption concerns. Included in the hearing was the issue of expiring documents as they related to the adoption slowdown for those adopting from China. Click on the above link entitled Asian Adoptions in the United States to watch the hearing via RealPlayer. The hearing lasted approximately 2 & ½ hours. If you have the time I encourage your viewing. A pretty good recap of the hearing can be found on the blog In Search of Rumors. fm

HALT! We Are Babyland Security. We Don't Need No Stinkin' Search Warrant

2006-06-07T05:07:00.000-04:00

Well I'm on a buying hunt once again but this time I don't think I'll be stepping on Alyson's "paper pregnant" toes (Though she has come to admit that BOB was a really good purchase). I'm on the Baby Monitor prowl. I want sight and sound with motion detection. Wireless and portable. It should be able to handle no less than 3 and preferably 4 camera remotes. Range, it must have excellent range. I want options. Oh yes, and it can't interfer with our wireless phones or wireless internet connections. And it must be able to project an image from a totally darkened room. That's about it. We're not asking for much. Why, we won't even flinch, so you would notice, at the price. What can one say. It's for Alyzabeth...

A Family Day of Celebrations

2006-06-04T21:56:00.000-04:00

We celebrated college graduations and birthdays today. The afternoon thunderstorms held off so we could play in the water until the ocean breeze made its way inland putting a fairly good size chop on the river. Still, it was a great day celebrating, laughing, eating and just having a good time with family. So once again, we offer our congratulations to the college grads and best wishes to our birthday people! We are blessed to have each and every one of you in our lives... Justin, Kilee & Jesse return from splashing through the waters of the St. Johns River! Ian, Cara and Angie steer a course for the dock with Ian driving! Baby Alivia in the arms of Nana (Alyson) This is Grampa Carl (Leaa's FIL) exchanging glances with sweet Alivia, his first grandchild. Congratulations Kelly on graduating from Florida's Nuclear School of Medicine!

Alyzabeth's First Christmas Ornament

2006-06-04T08:22:00.000-04:00

While we were having fun in the UK, my Mom explored some local shops while caring for our home and pets. There is one elegant, upscale shop that we have browsed in before. Occasionally a reasonably priced Christmas ornament or decoration was bought there in the past. Now this shop has everything needed to furnish a home in the best of styles (owned by an interior decorator); Christmas decorations are just a small part of her business but has been popular so she stocks it year round. My Mom bought an ornament of a Santa holding a robin. She was told the story that related to how a little bird acquired the red breast, thus becoming a robin. Russian folklore? I guess I will google to see if I can find the story. So this is Lizzy's first ornament and it is beautiful! Thank you Mom! (The picture is a little fuzzy so will replace it with a better one later). You have read a lot about what my Dad does while visiting us. Next will be more "Mom" stories!

New Picnic Table - Custom Built by Dad

2006-06-02T21:09:00.000-04:00

I am still catching up telling you all about my Mom and Dad's "visit" with us in April and May. I keep finding things that they did while we were on our vacation. They must have worked constantly! My Dad made a picnic table for us ("custom"). Let me explain. We purchased the wood for two picnic tables about 8 months ago. We hardly ever work on projects when we think we will have time, partly from truly being busy, partly because other priorities get in the way of these "nice" projects and a huge part of procrastination. So there's the wood stacked and ready in our yard, with the project plans. My Dad takes one look at the plans and start talking about a better way to build the legs and where to support the table top so there are less angle cuts.... of course he lost us after the first comment. So, when we get back from vacation, one is built and the other is cut out ready to be assembled (he had to leave something for us to do). If anyone needs anything fixed or built, just call on my Dad in Maine. Another huge thank you to my Dad who can do anything!

What is a Blog? Oh, You mean a "WEB LOG"?

2006-06-01T19:30:00.000-04:00

Sometimes people hear about our blog and do not seem to know what to make of it. We have information on our blog that states why we started a blog and yes, it is personal information. There are others who just don't know what a blog is. So follow this LINK if you would like to have a brief and informative description of a blog.

Name That Movie Revealed

2006-06-01T16:08:00.000-04:00

Sound Of Music (1965) Julie Andrews as Maria Christopher Plummer as Captain Georg von Trapp In Salzburg, Austria, a former nun leaves the convent to become a governess for the seven children of a wealthy, Austrian widower who has grown into a cold disciplinarian. Soon, she opens the children to the wonders of life and the joy of music - and eventually softens the heart of their father and gains his love. It should be noted that details of the von Trapp story were altered for the play and the film. The Captain's eldest child was a boy, not a girl, and the names of the children were changed (at least partly to avoid confusion, as the Captain's second-eldest daughter was also called Maria). The repertoire of the Trapp Family Singers was entirely classical, with a special focus on early motets. The von Trapps spent some years in Austria after Maria and the Captain had married (in 1927) they did not have to flee right away and when they did it was to Italy, not Switzerland, via train, not foot. We have a confession to make. We took the Sound of Music tour while in Salzburg. What can we say, we were Americans in Austria and there was no hiding it. We toured the different locations where many of the scenes were shot and we even joined in on the terribly off-key sing alongs. What the heck, it was fun. Austrians for the most part are not all that familiar with the movie and simply smiled and shook their heads as we merrily belted out "the hills are alive with the sound of music". It was silly, it was fun. You may enjoying singing this all day: "Do-Re-Mi." ...the first three notes just happen to be, Do-Re-Mi. Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti, oh let's see if I can make it easier. Doe, a deer, a female deer, Ray, a drop of golden sun. Me, a name I call myself, Far, a long, long way to run. Sew, a needle pulling thread, La, a note to follow So. Tea, a drink with jam and bread, that will bring us back to Do...

Name That Movie

2006-05-30T04:09:00.000-04:00

Name That Movie... "Maria, these walls were not meant to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live".

Happy Memorial Day!

2006-05-29T07:25:00.000-04:00

The new American flag is waving and it is a beautiful day in Florida.

I spoke to my parents and all the family graves have been tidied up with fresh flowers on each.

We do not have any known family buried near us so we go to a dear neighbor's who passed away in summer of 2004. He was in WWII so we put two American Flags on his grave and tidy up a bit by pulling weeds and putting down fresh mulch. It's a rural non-perpetual care cemetery that needs some attention now and then. His widow does not live nearby so we feel it is an honor to remember him, our friend and neighbor forever, Fount Nichols.

This morning, DH is trying to fish from the dock; he really misses our boat (thank you hurricane Frances).Then, we will drive to St. Augustine to visit and have lunch with cousins then off to the Spring Park Memorial Day celebration which ends with fireworks at 9:00 p.m. See you there!!

Ahhhh... Cooling down in the River

2006-05-28T18:50:00.000-04:00

I hope you enjoy the pictures of Salty Dog taking the plunge. It was a little warm today so it was a good time to cool off. Plus, a little exercise never hurt the boy(s)!

Quilt Squares Are Still Arriving

2006-05-28T18:08:00.000-04:00

We must be close to 60 squares now. This one just came in from family. Thank you Gloria and Joan! I have received so many very thoughtful wishes from all our blogging adoption friends that it will take me hours to upload all the pictures - but I will do it. Check out Lizzy's quilt squares link to the right. Thank you again! If you wish to swap or donate fabric for the "Lizzy" quilt, just email us and I will help with all the details.

Another Dessert! Italian Cake is great for Summertime!

2006-05-25T04:30:00.000-04:00

Italian Love Cake I do not know how this cake received such a title but it does have ricotta cheese in it and it is a decadent, heavy, sweet cake. This is great to serve at informal dinner parties and family gatherings as a small piece goes a long way! I received this recipe from a friend a year ago and it has quickly become a favorite; most everyone asks for the recipe once they have tasted it. It is easy to make too!! I can send you the electronic file if would rather not cut/paste from the blog. The Recipe: 1 Box Fudge Marble cake mix (need the ingredients on box to make this cake) In addition: 2 lbs. ricotta cheese ¾ Cup sugar 4 Eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 Box (3 ¾ oz.) instant chocolate pudding 1 Cup milk 1 Carton (8 oz.) whipped topping (Cool Whip) Mix cake as directed on box (using ingredients required: additional eggs, oil and water). Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan. In separate bowl, combine ricotta, sugar, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Spoon over top of unbaked cake. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour (do not over bake). Cool. Mix pudding with milk; fold in whipped topping. Spread over cake. Refrigerate. Delicious! Serve with love...

CCAA Referral Update

2006-05-23T04:53:00.000-04:00

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before September 30, 2005. The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before June 15, 2005.

Elvis Is Alive and Living In Jacksonville

2006-05-21T11:48:00.000-04:00

The Jacksonville Sun's lost to the Mississippi Braves last night 4-3. Still, all was not lost as we got to help celebrate K's birthday. We had a pre-game snack at the Amsterdam Cafe, had our boxseats behind homeplate complete with a menu and waitstaff. Oh, and not only did we get to meet the mascot(s) up close and personal, we also had a close encounter with none other than Elvis Himselfis... Oh yeah, you had to be there to capture the "full" nuiance of our shortly before his death personafication of none other than the King himself. Ladies and Gentlemen. Children of all ages. We present for your viewing pleasure. The one. The only ELVIS!

Saturday Night All American Fun!

2006-05-20T14:36:00.000-04:00

It is Saturday already and we have not heard from the kids (nor have we called them!). We hope to have some plans with them next weekend but with multiple "parents" it can make scheduling difficult. We all love to meet and visit together, just a matter of everyone agreeing on some common time. Next weekend is also the Blue Crab festival which makes the town very crowded and boy can it ever get hot. If we all meet separately with the kids, too often they end up having to run around to different homes all weekend not leaving much private time for themselves. So maybe we can all get together..(Hint - Hint) Maybe it's partytime! Our house? Tonight, we are going to a baseball game. This is the first time we have gone in many years. In fact, the City of Jacksonville built a brand new baseball stadium for the "Suns" AA team two years ago. This will be our first time going! Years ago we went and watched a young pitcher named Randy Johnson and a promising hitter by the name of Larry Walker play. You just never know. We will be out with friends K & P and it is K.'s birthday. With the Florida sun creating 90 plus degree heat, an evening game will be welcomed! Beat those Mississippi Braves! We will let you know how it all goes!

"Good Things" List For Lizzy, Kilee & Alivia! Thanks Mia!

2006-05-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

What a great and sweet Sister-IL!!! Mia is an "experienced" Mom and is sharing her neat stuff with me. I am so "out of it" when it comes to babies so I asked her for any help she could send!!! With grandbabies, nieces/nephews and Lizzy, we will have quite the fun learning experience - think we have a chance at "staying young" with all the babies around (well, maybe "acting young")? Mia's site listings and comments: http://www.robeez.com/ I love these shoes! They are pricey but I can’t resist. Baby M. has a couple then I buy the knock offs at Target. The quality is not as great but they are still adorable. I am dying to buy M. the Princess robeez. http://www.onestepahead.com/ This is a nice catalog. It has several items I like and have bought. The travel section is neat. Believe me it is a chore to travel with little ones. Whew! Do what you have to in order to make it easier on yourself! http://joyzjewelz.com/store/WsAncillary.asp?ID=2 You might be confused on this one. There are several companies out there. I just wanted to give you the idea. M. and MA have one. I am thinking along the line of teething for Lizzy. I think it is a great idea and adorable to wear. I wonder if I would still be a nail biter if I have something like this to chew on?!?! http://www.melissaanddoug.com/index.shtml I love these toys too! They are durable and fun. Especially, those toys with the velcro for cutting and putting back together. They are educational too. MA is rough with his toys and even though these get nicked up, they will last. http://www.pooltoy.com/swimdiapers1.html I bought store swim diapers with MA but with M. I bought a swim diaper. It is nice as I never run out. :) http://www.harriscomm.com/ Here is another catalog for sign language stuff. I saw they have bean bags with the sign to show the color. Um…pretty neat the stuff that is out there.

Safely Home In Maine!!

2006-05-15T21:13:00.000-04:00

My visiting parents have driven safely up the east coast and have arrived back home in Maine. We miss them (I think Salty, GC, CB, MandM all miss them as much if not more!!) and look forward to their next extended visit during our trip to China to "get" Lizzy!! We are trying to be patient!

More Quilt Squares #54

2006-05-15T21:01:00.000-04:00

I have alot of catching up to do on the 100 Wishes Quilt. I received one today that I will show now as it is soon to be a favorite!! Plus I have so many to write about - did I promise to get them all on the blog this week??? I have alot of "wishes" sent with love so I will not pick just one as a favorite (this one has a very special wish). From cousins in Illinois, the Kuhn's. They are family # 45 to send us our 54th different square and it has my "colors" with lots of pink and the little girl with brown hair. Now I just need to upload all the other pictures! Again, many thanks to all who have sent us "squares and wishes".

Bird Flu Hits Florida

2006-05-15T20:33:00.000-04:00

One minute they were standing straight and tall. Barely moving. Ok, not moving. Then this. It was like something out of Alfred Hitchcock. Quick, if you still have time, reschedule your vacation.

Cherry Cobbler - Favorite Recipes continued!

2006-05-15T17:25:00.000-04:00

Cherry Cobbler If you have a phobia about making piecrusts successfully, this cobbler will be a nice fruity dessert without the trouble of a piecrust. Use a 2-quart casserole dish; it makes 6 servings. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. ¼ Cup butter or margarine, softened ½ Cup sugar 1 Cup flour ¼ teas. salt 2 teas. baking powder ½ Cup milk 2 Cups pitted cherries (I have used both canned and fresh) ¼ Cup sugar (use a little more if you are using fresh sour cherries) ¼ teas. cinnamon 1 ½ Cup water 2 Tabs. Bourbon, optional (I have used vanilla extract or any flavor you would like) Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix together flour, salt and baking powder (in separate bowl) and add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating until smooth. Pour mixture into greased, shallow two-quart casserole. Spoon cherries over batter. Mix together sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over cherries. Pour water on top. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. During baking, the fruit goes to the bottom and the cake comes to the top. Good served warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

Catching up on Received Quilt Squares

2006-05-14T08:15:00.000-04:00

Hopefully by the end of today, we will have the pictures posted of all the quilt squares we have received. Many family members have sent us more than one fabric so even though we are up to 50 different quilt squares, they have been lovingly sent by 43 different families. Thank you all so much!! Special thank you to the ones received from family: Daughter Leaa & Jesse (2 fabrics), Werner & Cathy and dau. Christa, cousin Sarah, Auntie Jean (5 fabric squares), cousin Ginger, cousin Mike & Melinda, cousin Jim & Christina, Eileen and son, Mark, Marsha & Carl and dau. Cara, Katie & Barrett; and from my Mom (she hasn’t finished the “wish”, I have her fabric). Now I am waiting on my final 50 squares. I am hoping over the next few months to have squares from Son & DIL, sisters and other cousins. Anyone who would like to swap, just drop us an email. I will be on my mission to get to 100! Thank you all!!!

Time To Roll Out The BBQ Grill

2006-05-13T08:54:00.000-04:00

We love to grill. Today, I think we will roll out the ol' grill and do up some fine steaks and enjoy the river... Feel free to stop by, visit and throw whatever you have on the grill. There's plenty of room on this baby!

Quilt Squares 16 - 17 - 18 !!!

2006-05-13T06:30:00.000-04:00

#16 is from my Cousin Sarah and Family from Colorado! She loves animal prints :) Sarah and DH Kip have a beautiful daughter, Madelene and a super handsome son, Addison. Sarah models professionally, as do her children! We need to run a photo of her work that you may have seen! Square #17 hails from Texas! Thank you Desiree. Square #18 came to us from Heather Cromwell & Grandma Monica from Illinois! Thank You...

Wines Under $10. Can Cheap Taste Good?

2006-05-11T21:30:00.000-04:00

Johnny: A W(h)ine dedicated to you... We like wine and will enjoy a couple of glasses arriving home from that which pays for all thing wonderful. Our jobs. One thing we do not like about wine however is the price often associated with a good bottle. We enjoy a fine bottle of wine as well as the next person but we have a hard time laying down $20, 30, 40, 50 & UP $$$ for a single bottle except for all but the biggest of occasions. Aly is great about writing down the names of "less expensive" wines that have received good reviews. The other day on our way home from work she remembered a wine distributor called The Wine Warehouse (chain) located in our fair city and said "Let's check it out." What the heck, I was all for it. Folks, this could be a badddd thing for us. Very bad. The prices seemed right and I'm now having visions of this place becoming a regular stop on the commute home. It's nothing more than a crowded hole in the wall but we found quite a few of the wines Aly has on her list (that she keeps in her purse). And a big plus, the folks at the Wine warehouse didn't act all foo foo snobby. Is foo foo a word? So to Johnny and others: Here are a few of the wines we picked up and will be tasting. We are not wine connoisseurs but early "tastings" have been very positive. And they are CHEAP. We'll let you know if we have a stinker in the bunch and we'll let you know if we score again the next time we go... *Disclaimer: We pretty much love dry reds and dry champagne with limited taste and knowledge of the whites.

Mind The Gap

2006-05-10T06:41:00.000-04:00

Things Observed While In The UK * The people love their dogs and take them everywhere. * The term subway is not the same thing as our subway. Know the difference. * People were reserved only until spoken too and then quite friendly. * Yield signs are labeled Give Way but use the same symbol. * Hand pumped ales and bitters are not cold nor are they warm. * English hand pumped ales and bitters taste fantastic. * Indian food is huge in the UK. * Chips (french fries) are served or offered with practically everything. * Contrary to what you may have heard, English food can be excellent. * Prior to tube stops you are reminded to "mind the gap" when exiting. * Back roads are often narrow, winding and hilly with sharp curves. * Locals, hikers, bicycles, sheep & parked cars share the back roads with you. * The theater district in London's West End is an absolute must do. * The London Eye is big, slow moving and surprisingly roomy. * After exiting the London Eye each "pod" is security swept. * Try a prepared lamb dish. * The lamb was wonderful. * If you want to see castles go to Wales. * I believe Scots stay up all night singing loudly, stopping around 5 AM. * The price of gas, parking & narrow roads all make for small cars. * Jogger type strollers were most often used. * Expect it to rain at some point and time while out and about in London. * US news is limited in coverage. Actually, it was a welcomed break. * Football (soccer) is THE sport and absolutely rules pub TV. * There are sheep everywhere. Everywhere. * The countryside is hilly and green with very little soil erosion. * You order drinks at the bar and take them to your seat. * You pay for food orders at a pub upfront. * If you hike, go to the Yorkshire dales region. * English gardens are beautiful. * Did I mention there are sheep everywhere? Everywhere. * Bacon is not crispy strips but more like Canadian bacon or thin slices of ham. * The "Green" movement is much more evident and promoted. * Appliance (& light) outlets each have their own on/off switch. * In Scotland our room key was used to keep lights from powering off. * Electric flush toilets (they seldom use the term bathroom) are most common. * Faucet water pressures are set higher than what we experience in the States. * Black still dominates the fashion color scheme. * The fall of the Dollar against the British Pound and Euro is depressing. * Sheep. Everywhere. * For all the dogs; you very seldom see "fouling". * Cheers is often expressed as a thank you and a greeting. * Children in school uniforms are most common. * Pea's are a favorite green veggie. * UK babies bundled in strollers are beautiful. * The centuries old architecture is mind numbing. * Train service makes you wish we had something other than more cars. * Driving on the opposite side of the road IS a strange feeling. * When startled, baby lambs will squat and pee. * English accents differ in similar ways we experience accents across the States. * Crisps are potato chips. * Exit signs are labeled "Way Out". * Most of the sheep appeared to have twins with the occasional triplets. * In fields, mother sheep will allow short pauses to photograph their little ones. * To experience Europe, the younger the better. Do not wait until you retire. * At the changing of the Buckingham Palace guard, they played a Beatle's tune. * On major highways, road signs are marked well and often. * Dinner reservations are encouraged. (Does not apply to Pub Crawls) * You do not need American cash; Use your ATM card or a credit card. * Credit cards are scanned at your table, never taken away, always in sight. * Most places will provide you with a power converter. * Take your laptops. WiFi internet connections are everywhere. Everywhere. * Speaking of everywhere. Sheep. * We were never asked about our politics or the Iraq conflict. * We were told one Bush joke. By a cab driver. Quite funny. * No, not sharing. Go to York if you want to hear the joke. * Upon learning we were from Florida, "counting" jokes would begin. * The US is often referred to as the "Continent". * Beautiful country and people... So much to see. So much to do. So want to go back.

First Visit With Alivia Kate

2006-05-09T05:54:00.000-04:00

We're home safe and sound. The first order of business was to make a bee-line to see our newest granddaughter Alivia Kate courtesy of DD Leaa and SIL Jesse. You will notice that Alivia is waving to each of you. She insisted... Welcome to the family Alivia! We've been "expecting" you... I guess this means it's time to remove the Baby Cruce countdown tracker at the bottom of our blog and replace it with one for Alyzabeth An.

My Birthday Gift From Dad

2006-05-05T09:20:00.000-04:00

My Dad made this for me for my birthday. Want to know how that makes me feel? Try Special... Happy Birthday to me!

Quick Trip Update...

2006-05-04T09:17:00.000-04:00

Greetings All We have now made our way to Edinburgh, Scotland. We dropped the rental car in York and have once again jumped aboard the fantastic train system the UK offers. Our trip is winding down we are sad to say. We did enjoy an unbelievable scenic footpath "walk" through the dales in Yorkshire and of course we have had the horrible task of sampling the local bitters and ales along the way. This has been tough but someone had to do it... Well we must be going, more ales, bitters and castles to see before calling it a day. Tomorrow we are doing a 3 hour bicycle tour! What can we say. Life is good!!! We do want to send out a special hug and kiss to the grandbabies; Kilee & Alivia. We love you! Take care, home soon. (Ok, a belly rub for Salty Dog too if you will T & A) Thanks... ac&fm

Name That Movie Revealed

2006-05-04T08:41:00.000-04:00

Monsters, Inc. I know, I know - it's a kid's movie. We loved it... If you haven't seen the movie you need to give it a try. The animation is fantastic and the voices are good - great - fabulous! What the heck. Be a kid for a couple of hours. Eat lots of ice cream and prepare to laugh and smile compliments of this delightful movie. Did I mention eating lots of ice cream? The story is set in Monstropolis, a city inhabited by monsters who live in deep fear of children which they believe will kill them simply by touching them. Ironically, the city's power comes from the screams of children which are bottled and converted to energy by Monsters Incorporated. "Scarers" work to frighten the children and are regarded as the heroes of Monstropolis for being brave enough to enter a child's room. The top scarer at Monsters, Inc. is James P. Sullivan, or "Sulley" (John Goodman), a blue-furred bear-like giant who is partnered with the green, one-eyed Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal); Sully's main rival is the chameleon-like Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi. When taking care of paperwork, Sulley discovers a door that has been left on the scare-floor after shift, contrary to strict company policy. When Sulley investigates the door, a small human girl enters the monster world; not only that but he and Mike also learn that the girl is actually a victim of an evil plot to solve the city's power problems. It's up to Sully and Mike to get her back home before the authorities find out and before the company gets turned upside down. Along the way, they discover that children are not dangerous and that scaring is no longer rewarding. They have numerous encounters with Randall, with the "Scream Extractor", the spider-like head of Monsters, Inc., Mr. Waternoose, and the Abominable Snowman. In the end, they solve their world's energy crisis when they find out that a child's laughter has ten times the power of a scream; thus, all the monsters have a new mission: to sneak into children's rooms at night and make them laugh. Did you know that Monsters, Inc. won the Academy Award for Best Song? If I Didn't Have You written & performed by Randy Newman.

Name That Movie

2006-05-02T04:20:00.000-04:00

Memorable Movie Lines ! "Roz, my tender, oozing blossom, you're looking fabulous today. Is that a new haircut? Tell me it's a new haircut. It's got to be a new haircut. New makeup? You had a lift? You had a tuck? You had something? Something has been inserted in you that makes you look like... Listen, I need a favor. Randall was working late last night out on the scare floor. I really need the key to the door he was using." Name That Movie...

Two Days Old!

2006-04-29T02:19:00.000-04:00

Here's another picture from my Mom. Baby A. was 6 lbs. 15 ounces when born. Holding Baby A. is her Daddy's Mom - Grandmother M. (also known as our Daughter's MIL).