No More Diapers!

Alright, this is probably one of those posts better kept to myself, so if you don't like potty talk you can just skip right over this one. But I wanted to document this milestone. For about three weeks now Mei Lin has been totally potty trained and I have no more babies in diapers....YEAH! She had a bit of diaper rash a few weeks ago so I let her go without a diaper and she went ALL day without using the restroom. The girl has amazing bladder control. In less than a day, with candy rewards, she was using the potty and staying dry at night.(Some day she's going to hate me for this)

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Spring is sort of bittersweet for me. The flowers and fruits growing in the yard are beautiful, but the allergies are K I L L I N G me this year! I wish I could fully enjoy the season without the extremely unbearable sneezing, itching, irritable allergies.

The two climbing roses we planted five years ago have completely taken over the pergola in the backyard. They're gorgeous!

I never imagined they'd grow this much when we first planted them.

Pat had to leave behind his grapevine in IL, so we gave him one for Father's Day a couple of years ago. I think we're actually going to get a good crop of grapes this year!
These are the strawberries a few weeks ago. Now they're full of ripe strawberries, which the girls love to pick...if they get there before the bunnies, snails, and birds.

Park Days and Birthdays!

At the park with the neighborhood girls...

Happy 4th Birthday, Miss Isabella!

Isabella with her silly daddy

Elizabeth loved Mei Lin and vice versa. Apparently Elizabeth had recently been adopted from the Ukraine and didn't speak much English. She helped care for Mei Lin during the whole party. Her smile is so joyful and beautiful.

Mei Lin's happy about the pinata candy.

Miyah pinning the tail on the pony.
Mei Lin didn't really catch on to the musical squares game.
At the park with Miss Grace. Miyah's a little monkey!
Grace, relaxing on the slide.
Another dandelion blowing picture...love the lips!

The three girls pretty much just like to look for bugs in the dirt.

UGTBK = You've Got to Be Kidding

I'll never understand the need or desire for text messaging, but apparently for teenagers it's right up there with oxygen and food.

Apparently my two children (according to them) were the only humans on earth without it.

Can you imagine?

We heard all the reasons they needed messaging, not excluding the story of a kidnapped girl being rescued from her captor because of text messaging. Well, what kind of parents are we anyway to deprive our children of such an essential, lifesaving tool?

Pat made a deal with the kids that if they mowed the lawn for x number of weeks, he'd give them text messaging. Megan upheld her end of the bargain and unfortunately Matt declined because he's had a bad knee from football. Megan got her first text message from her dad announcing the exciting new feature to her phone. And the texting has begun!

Still don't understand it.

Probably never will. Isn't it just easier to dial and TALK! Same with instant messaging.

The issue definitely underscores the ever-widening generation gap. I'm just getting old.

I don't understand all the abbreviations either:
CWYL

PROLLY
^5

SWMBO

(stumped?...answers below)

(Megan earning her text messaging)

(Answers: CWYL=Chat with ya later; PROLLY=probably; ^5=high five; and my favorite SWMBO=She who must be obeyed...meaning the wife)

Please tell me I'm not the only one scratching her head on this one!

Well, SIG2R (Sorry, I got to run). TC (take care).

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to our MOMS!
Pat and I have been blessed to have these two incredible women in our lives. They've both worked, prayed, and sacrificed so much for us. We are eternally grateful to them for their love and devotion to our family.
We love you, Moms!

~~~
My mother...

Pat's mother...

And me with all my blessings (most of whom weren't happy about having their picture taken)...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MY MOM OR SOON-TO-BE MOM FRIENDS!!

Outdoor Movie Night

Tonight we had our first outdoor movie night of the season, featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks. Neighbors and friends came over to watch, but I suspect they were also enticed by the pie and various goodies. We kicked off our small group Bible study the night before with a cookout and had tons of pie left over. Goodness knows who would eat it if we didn't have guests over SOON! And when the cleaning ladies have been here and we've cleaned the backyard we might as well take advantage of prime hosting time.

Mei Lin and Miyah were SO excited to have a "movie party" that they sat in front of the blank screen earlier in the evening. If you look at the photos above and below, Mei Lin (white shirt) is mostly distracting people instead of watching the movie.

Sweet Faces on the Fridge

Would you look at my refrigerator? It's gotten full over the last few months.

All these beautiful little faces will soon belong to anxiously waiting, and very blessed parents who happen to be friends of ours. All of these gorgeous children have special needs and are coming home in the next few months or so. It makes my heart so happy to think that every one of these precious children will have wonderful homes.

I'm especially excited that my sister and brother-in-law will be traveling within the next month or so to get my little nephew, Brock. Brock (Ji Hao) will be 8 this summer. They have adorable updated photos of him. He's such a handsome little guy.

Click HERE to go to their blog (but come back, because there's more).

Our good friends, Angela and Richard, will be traveling in less than two weeks to get their beautiful little girl from Mei Lin's orphanage. We were astounded to hear that little Claire is from Kunming, is just 18 days younger than Mei Lin, and she'll be living just around the corner from us! Now if that doesn't make the world feel small! We figure Mei Lin and Claire most likely spent time together in the same baby room for a few months before going to foster care. We're so excited for them.

Cyber friends, John and Sharon are leaving in a few days to get beautiful Bailey. This coming week, you can follow their trip over HERE. I can't wait to see them with little Bailey!

Good friends, Tony and Jo are going to get a little sister for Grace. Anna has an adorable little round face and they're hoping to have her home in the next month or two.

Also, my new and amazing friends, Scott and Heather, are waiting to bring their little guy home from China. Zion is almost two years old and SO very adorable. AND, she just got video of him so you definitely need to stop over and see sweet Zion. He only has one toe on each foot, so they assumed he couldn't walk...well, the video shocked and amazed them. He's tenacious, that's for sure. Scott and Heather are fundraising for the final $11,000 to bring Zion home, so please help them if you're able. Click HERE to see Zion.

Lastly, Mei Lin's foster sister, Grace, is going to be a big sister soon. Mike and Jen are waiting to bring sweet Sophie home. She's so gorgeous! You have to go over and take a look at all the photos they've received from an American gentleman who is visiting the orphanage and helping with an organization that has provided funding for Sophie's cleft surgery. They even have footage of her in a news broadcast before getting her surgery. Click HERE to see Sophie.

God is good. Please pray with me for each family and the child they're waiting for.

~~~

(Keep scrolling down....I'm catching up on blog posting.)

Nana and Bumpa

Last week Pat's parents came down for a visit.

Unfortunately, it was an extremely busy week at our house (but when aren't we busy?) and it seemed we were in and out of the house the entire time they were here.

Matt had two doctor appointments (eye doctor and knee injury), his Jr/Sr Banquet (below) which we had to find a suit for him and dress for me, and Matt was either at school, work or, working on his 40 hour project; and Megan had ballet and school, the girls had field day (rained-no pictures); Pat and I had a meeting for church, I just finished my final, Mei Lin needed to go to the emergency room at 10 PM...and on and on.

Mei Lin is okay. She woke up with her ear bleeding, but the doctor said she'd only lacerated her ear canal by scratching it way in there. Oh, and Matt locked his keys in his car with his homework inside and we had to find the spare key Miyah and Mei Lin had been playing with....NEVER a dull moment at our house.

Even though we wished we could have all stayed at home and just visited with "Nana and Bumpa," it was so helpful to have them here during our very busy week. Nancy tirelessly entertained Miyah and Mei Lin, did the laundry, hemmed Matt's pants, and helped around the house The kids loved having them here.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom/Nana!

The Big Banquet

Matt's school had their Junior and Senior Banquet last week. It's somewhat an alternative to prom, only family friendly and with a purpose.

The Juniors host the event to honor the graduating Seniors with each Junior giving a speech about a Senior. I'm so proud of the maturity and wisdom displayed in these kids. I absolutely love Matt's school and every parent commented on the rarity and blessing of this little covenant community.

Handsome Young Men...

Matt and some friends. They clean up pretty good.

(Matt 2nd from left)Matt honoring a graduating senior.

Friends

One of the many perks of having preschoolers is play dates. It's no secret that play dates are really for us moms. A couple of weeks ago we took advantage of beautiful spring weather and had two park playdates with some friends.

Miyah in her bunny ears again.

Amy and Zoe (Zoe belongs to Heather-below)

Amy's son, Matthew




Mei Lin and Heather

Zoe, Mei Lin, and Miyah

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Earlier that week we hung out with Jo and Grace.

I love those lips.

Sweet Grace.
Miyah and Grace are two peas in a pod. Here they're laughing hysterically at each other. They're both bugs and Spiderman kind of girls. They spent a half hour watching and playing with ants climbing a tree at the park.

Ah, park days with friends are wonderful !