Showing some attitude, and they both have it to spare. lol ;)
Being funny.
Picnic on the deck
Blowing bubbles with Uncle Dean
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Visiting the Zoo
Back to our Ohio trip:) I hinted in an earlier post about Julia and Tyler. These two were just too adorable together, in my opinion anyway. And of course being a bit closer in age and Tyler not being in school most of the week like the girls, Julia and Ty-ty got to spend quite a bit of time together this visit. And generally speaking where you saw one, you found the other. Ray and I took them to the zoo on one day of our visit and was it ever it a hot and steamy day, but I think they both had fun and I know I had fun just being with them. I heard that Ray and his dad took the two of them to one of Allie's softball games and Julia was quite the hit with the team, I guess Tyler got protective and told them all "lots of people make her nervous you know". Between the two of them you just never know what is going to be said next! I think they'll keep us all on our toes for some time to come! I hope they always get along so well.
Back to our Ohio trip:) I hinted in an earlier post about Julia and Tyler. These two were just too adorable together, in my opinion anyway. And of course being a bit closer in age and Tyler not being in school most of the week like the girls, Julia and Ty-ty got to spend quite a bit of time together this visit. And generally speaking where you saw one, you found the other. Ray and I took them to the zoo on one day of our visit and was it ever it a hot and steamy day, but I think they both had fun and I know I had fun just being with them. I heard that Ray and his dad took the two of them to one of Allie's softball games and Julia was quite the hit with the team, I guess Tyler got protective and told them all "lots of people make her nervous you know". Between the two of them you just never know what is going to be said next! I think they'll keep us all on our toes for some time to come! I hope they always get along so well.
Julia's new look
Skipping ahead a bit because I thought you might like this quick update. We had Julia at the eye Dr's this week and yes she needed glasses. So we went out today and found some. Here's her new look. She's quite excited about being just like Allie (her cousin) and Mama and Papa and anyone else she could think of that she recently saw wearing glasses, let's hope the newness doesn't wear off too soon! :)
Skipping ahead a bit because I thought you might like this quick update. We had Julia at the eye Dr's this week and yes she needed glasses. So we went out today and found some. Here's her new look. She's quite excited about being just like Allie (her cousin) and Mama and Papa and anyone else she could think of that she recently saw wearing glasses, let's hope the newness doesn't wear off too soon! :)
Memorial Day
Memorial Day came and went while we were in Ohio and presented our first real opportunity to take Julia to a parade. You can see she was quite comfortable with her cousin Ashley. As usual, she seemed to take it all in at first and then decide it was okay to stand up and get a different perspective and be more active waving at the people passing her by.
The picture of her and Ty? Well, as you'll see in more to come that was a pretty common site all week. The two of them did quite well together, over all as always Julia had a great time with all of her cousins and is missing them this week, a long with Papa and Nai-Nai. :)
Memorial Day came and went while we were in Ohio and presented our first real opportunity to take Julia to a parade. You can see she was quite comfortable with her cousin Ashley. As usual, she seemed to take it all in at first and then decide it was okay to stand up and get a different perspective and be more active waving at the people passing her by.
The picture of her and Ty? Well, as you'll see in more to come that was a pretty common site all week. The two of them did quite well together, over all as always Julia had a great time with all of her cousins and is missing them this week, a long with Papa and Nai-Nai. :)
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Meeting Alivia
Instant Friends
and they were off
WHEEEEE!
your turn Alivia!
we can share!
a little tight
ah, that's better!
Just Chillin'
Julia, Alivia and big sister Mary
On our way to Ohio we detoured ever so slightly to meet up with Alivia's family. Alivia's mom and I have been in contact via email and web groups since about 2004 while we were both awaiting our turn to travel to China and have stayed in touch. It finally worked out that on one of our travels we were able to meet up! Hopefully, we'll be able to do that again in the future. We had a wonderful time and they were so nice to come out of their way and set up a meeting place for us! We had lunch at a McDonald's and then went to this park for a few hours. Let me tell you after a long day and half in the car this was a most welcome change!!
Julia and Alivia just immediately went to each other and had the best time!! As you can see they are very close to the same size and it seems from talking with Livi's mom that her and Julia are on just about the same page in nearly every aspect of life! LOL. They were just very well matched and I think they knew it. They seemed to share an instant understanding and no fear! This park had several play areas and these two girls (followed closely by Dads!) went on the biggest one there, after one time on that though we managed to keep them on the smaller scale slides and what not! Truly, no fear.
So Doug,Lisa, Mary and 'Livi, Thanks again for a great afternoon!!! It was just great meeting you all!
Instant Friends
and they were off
WHEEEEE!
your turn Alivia!
we can share!
a little tight
ah, that's better!
Just Chillin' 
Julia, Alivia and big sister MaryOn our way to Ohio we detoured ever so slightly to meet up with Alivia's family. Alivia's mom and I have been in contact via email and web groups since about 2004 while we were both awaiting our turn to travel to China and have stayed in touch. It finally worked out that on one of our travels we were able to meet up! Hopefully, we'll be able to do that again in the future. We had a wonderful time and they were so nice to come out of their way and set up a meeting place for us! We had lunch at a McDonald's and then went to this park for a few hours. Let me tell you after a long day and half in the car this was a most welcome change!!
Julia and Alivia just immediately went to each other and had the best time!! As you can see they are very close to the same size and it seems from talking with Livi's mom that her and Julia are on just about the same page in nearly every aspect of life! LOL. They were just very well matched and I think they knew it. They seemed to share an instant understanding and no fear! This park had several play areas and these two girls (followed closely by Dads!) went on the biggest one there, after one time on that though we managed to keep them on the smaller scale slides and what not! Truly, no fear.
So Doug,Lisa, Mary and 'Livi, Thanks again for a great afternoon!!! It was just great meeting you all!
So much to catch up on
It will likely take me several posts to say everything I want to about this busy, busy month we have had. For starters here are some pics from a play date we set up in the park with other families in the area that have adopted from China. We took these before anyone else got there, and when all was said and done, only one other family made it after all. It didn't seem to bother the girls at all though and they had a great time and played very hard for a couple of hours! And we got to visit with the parents and share memories of China with a couple that are waiting to travel, so I still say it was a successful day. :)
It will likely take me several posts to say everything I want to about this busy, busy month we have had. For starters here are some pics from a play date we set up in the park with other families in the area that have adopted from China. We took these before anyone else got there, and when all was said and done, only one other family made it after all. It didn't seem to bother the girls at all though and they had a great time and played very hard for a couple of hours! And we got to visit with the parents and share memories of China with a couple that are waiting to travel, so I still say it was a successful day. :)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Some serious thoughts for a moment
I don't know how many of you have been following the news on the Earthquake in China, or maybe I should say earthquakes as many of the aftershocks have been nearly as strong as the initial quake. I have been following the stories, closely, and getting updates from Half the Sky as well. We have been home with Julia for nearly 2 years but a part of us will always be in China and my heart breaks for the tragedies I read every morning. Please join with me in prayer for those lost, those waiting to be reunited with family, and those that never will.
If you would like to donate to Half the Sky’s Children’s Earthquake
Fund
you can do so through Global Giving:
Or directly to Half the Sky. or you can donate by calling Half the Sky
(+1-510-525-3377)
And more bad news, I woke this morning to read the news of Steven Curtis Chapman's family. I know I've spoken/written about Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman before, but as it's been awhile so I'll refresh your memory. Steven Curtis is a Contemporary Christian music artist and he and his wife are passionate about China's orphans. So much so that they have adopted 3 times from China and started the foundation Shaohannah's Hope. We were blessed enough to receive a grant from them while working to bring Julia home. They lost their youngest daughter in a tragic accident at their home yesterday. Apparently one of the older boys was going down the gravel driveway and didn't see the younger girl. I can't even fathom how he must be feeling today and the grief this family that gives so much is going through. So please also add them to your prayers today. For more information on them or the foundation please go to their website Shaohannah's Hope
I don't know how many of you have been following the news on the Earthquake in China, or maybe I should say earthquakes as many of the aftershocks have been nearly as strong as the initial quake. I have been following the stories, closely, and getting updates from Half the Sky as well. We have been home with Julia for nearly 2 years but a part of us will always be in China and my heart breaks for the tragedies I read every morning. Please join with me in prayer for those lost, those waiting to be reunited with family, and those that never will.
If you would like to donate to Half the Sky’s Children’s Earthquake
Fund
you can do so through Global Giving:
Or directly to Half the Sky. or you can donate by calling Half the Sky
(+1-510-525-3377)
And more bad news, I woke this morning to read the news of Steven Curtis Chapman's family. I know I've spoken/written about Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman before, but as it's been awhile so I'll refresh your memory. Steven Curtis is a Contemporary Christian music artist and he and his wife are passionate about China's orphans. So much so that they have adopted 3 times from China and started the foundation Shaohannah's Hope. We were blessed enough to receive a grant from them while working to bring Julia home. They lost their youngest daughter in a tragic accident at their home yesterday. Apparently one of the older boys was going down the gravel driveway and didn't see the younger girl. I can't even fathom how he must be feeling today and the grief this family that gives so much is going through. So please also add them to your prayers today. For more information on them or the foundation please go to their website Shaohannah's Hope
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Silly song time and outdoor fun
Our little munchkin loves to sing, more and more lately as her vocabulary continues to expand. She will have me sing with her until I am hoarse and even likes to have Daddy sing with her.. don't get me wrong here I love my husband but his singing.. tends to put my teeth on edge.. of course he's usually not trying very hard or I should say that is exactly his intention when he sings around me.. so in a sense he's a success. lol. now back to Julia. She has learned so many nursery rhymes songs, among songs from her favorite TV shows and she has a few nursery rhyme books and can now sit and pretty sing her way through them as she flips the pages. So cute. She's still not crazy about being caught on video though, so the clip I have she is singing but playing peek a boo under the blanket at the same time. But as you can tell we were having fun. :)
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
The outdoor fun is that we picked up a small bounce house last weekend. We decided that since we are moving this summer and have a trip to Ohio later this month planned, and now a house hunting trip to FL in June as well before we move that we would not mess with setting the pool up this year. Obviously since we are moving we don't want to get an outdoor play structure either so we decided this would be a good alternative. Add this to her outdoor art easel, sand box and of course just being outside and I think she's all set for the short amount time we have left here. :) We are getting very excited for the move and Julia is asking almost weekly now to go to the beach, I can only thank Dora for that one I guess, but hopefully that will help make the move easier for her. I'm getting nervous about how she is going to handle everything. At least she will see Braden right at first when we move, he'll still be there on vacation and every summer after that as well, but when she realizes how long it's going to be between visits might be a bit rough. Do me a favor and say some prayers that she handles this next transition in her life as well as she has handled everything else. I can't believe that she will be turning 3 in just 3 short months or that we will be celebrating 2 years of bringing her home this June. She sure has seen a lot already in her life, her time in China, the trip home for the first time, trips to Ohio and Maine to see family and grandparents that adore her from afar, so much to take in.. not a wonder she still has trouble sleeping. That still comes and goes and I guess we have just learned to live on less sleep for now and I'm not even going to worry about how spoiled she is until after we move and get settled.. again. lol
Anyways.. here she is enjoying her bounce house for the first time, mostly she likes to bounce through and slide, so glad we got the one with the little slide too.
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Our little munchkin loves to sing, more and more lately as her vocabulary continues to expand. She will have me sing with her until I am hoarse and even likes to have Daddy sing with her.. don't get me wrong here I love my husband but his singing.. tends to put my teeth on edge.. of course he's usually not trying very hard or I should say that is exactly his intention when he sings around me.. so in a sense he's a success. lol. now back to Julia. She has learned so many nursery rhymes songs, among songs from her favorite TV shows and she has a few nursery rhyme books and can now sit and pretty sing her way through them as she flips the pages. So cute. She's still not crazy about being caught on video though, so the clip I have she is singing but playing peek a boo under the blanket at the same time. But as you can tell we were having fun. :)
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
The outdoor fun is that we picked up a small bounce house last weekend. We decided that since we are moving this summer and have a trip to Ohio later this month planned, and now a house hunting trip to FL in June as well before we move that we would not mess with setting the pool up this year. Obviously since we are moving we don't want to get an outdoor play structure either so we decided this would be a good alternative. Add this to her outdoor art easel, sand box and of course just being outside and I think she's all set for the short amount time we have left here. :) We are getting very excited for the move and Julia is asking almost weekly now to go to the beach, I can only thank Dora for that one I guess, but hopefully that will help make the move easier for her. I'm getting nervous about how she is going to handle everything. At least she will see Braden right at first when we move, he'll still be there on vacation and every summer after that as well, but when she realizes how long it's going to be between visits might be a bit rough. Do me a favor and say some prayers that she handles this next transition in her life as well as she has handled everything else. I can't believe that she will be turning 3 in just 3 short months or that we will be celebrating 2 years of bringing her home this June. She sure has seen a lot already in her life, her time in China, the trip home for the first time, trips to Ohio and Maine to see family and grandparents that adore her from afar, so much to take in.. not a wonder she still has trouble sleeping. That still comes and goes and I guess we have just learned to live on less sleep for now and I'm not even going to worry about how spoiled she is until after we move and get settled.. again. lol
Anyways.. here she is enjoying her bounce house for the first time, mostly she likes to bounce through and slide, so glad we got the one with the little slide too.
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Daddy's Girl
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
I know both of these videos are dark, they were taken in this living room that appears to just swallow the light. But they were still too cute not to share. Last night Julia was watching out the window while Daddy was mowing the lawn, you can see the result. She called and talked to him like this off and on for about 15 minutes. At several points she even had Moosey looking out the window and was calling out "look Dad it's Moosey"... LOL. She is too funny.
The other was taken this morning and yes we needed to pick up the toys and books we weren't quite awake yet either of us. Anyway Julia turned the tv on as usual but I didn't change the channel right away... I usually have it on Nick Jr before the tv is even on..so it was still on Daddy's favorite Food Network. She sat herself down in her chair and proceeded to watch.. intently. I didn't realize just how much she was watching at first until the commercial came on and that was when she would take a break and ask for a drink or more food! As soon as Emeril came back on, she was lost in the tv again! What probably didn't come across on the video is that when I asked her "what does Emeril say?" she did actually whisper "Bam" Yes obviously she has seen him before and loves watching Food Tv on the weekends with Daddy, and you know what?? hey it got me out of Dora this morning!
So back to the title of this post, yes she is most definitely.. Daddy's girl!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
I know both of these videos are dark, they were taken in this living room that appears to just swallow the light. But they were still too cute not to share. Last night Julia was watching out the window while Daddy was mowing the lawn, you can see the result. She called and talked to him like this off and on for about 15 minutes. At several points she even had Moosey looking out the window and was calling out "look Dad it's Moosey"... LOL. She is too funny.
The other was taken this morning and yes we needed to pick up the toys and books we weren't quite awake yet either of us. Anyway Julia turned the tv on as usual but I didn't change the channel right away... I usually have it on Nick Jr before the tv is even on..so it was still on Daddy's favorite Food Network. She sat herself down in her chair and proceeded to watch.. intently. I didn't realize just how much she was watching at first until the commercial came on and that was when she would take a break and ask for a drink or more food! As soon as Emeril came back on, she was lost in the tv again! What probably didn't come across on the video is that when I asked her "what does Emeril say?" she did actually whisper "Bam" Yes obviously she has seen him before and loves watching Food Tv on the weekends with Daddy, and you know what?? hey it got me out of Dora this morning!
So back to the title of this post, yes she is most definitely.. Daddy's girl!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Outdoor fun
Since the weather has been steadily warming up, we have naturally been taking advantage and spending some time outside. Julia loves to be outside. Today I finally got sand put in her sand and water table. Good thing we didn't put water in the other side since she thought that was the perfect place to take a break and have a seat. If you look close at some of the pictures you might be able to see the blue chalk on her cheek as well. I'm not quite sure why she thought it would be good to color her face or how she smudged it but it was very funny at the time. Obviously the sand was a hit. I bought this inflatable sand and water table years ago, I think the year before we even traveled to China to get Julia. I had found it on clearance and couldn't pass it up. Glad I did, inflatable toys are great for people that move often, and Princesses are perfect for Julia. Definitely a win, win.
Good thing we went out this morning since we have storms this evening. Spring time in Texas, oh the fun.
Since the weather has been steadily warming up, we have naturally been taking advantage and spending some time outside. Julia loves to be outside. Today I finally got sand put in her sand and water table. Good thing we didn't put water in the other side since she thought that was the perfect place to take a break and have a seat. If you look close at some of the pictures you might be able to see the blue chalk on her cheek as well. I'm not quite sure why she thought it would be good to color her face or how she smudged it but it was very funny at the time. Obviously the sand was a hit. I bought this inflatable sand and water table years ago, I think the year before we even traveled to China to get Julia. I had found it on clearance and couldn't pass it up. Glad I did, inflatable toys are great for people that move often, and Princesses are perfect for Julia. Definitely a win, win.
Good thing we went out this morning since we have storms this evening. Spring time in Texas, oh the fun.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Well we did it. We got last minute cheap seats and took Julia to see Disney's High School Musical on Ice last night. We hadn't really planned on going, but decided at the last minute it would be worth it. I have to say it so was! Watching Julia dance to "Get'cha head in the game" alone was worth it! She really enjoyed the first act and sang and danced and made Daddy and I hold hands during the duets. It was a riot! By the second half, we were kind of pushing bed time so she wasn't as into it, but she sure didn't want to leave either. However when the last song was done she looked at us and said "bye bye?" LOL.
She had us in stitches all night. On the way over to the show, she had begun chanting "Mommy, Daddy, Daddy, Mommy"... repeatedly in the car, not yelling or anything just kind of in a sing song kind of way, well at some point, she added the word "nuts" into that little chant, so it was "Mommy, Daddy, nuts, Daddy, Mommy, nuts"..etc so as Daddy is parking the car at the Ice show, she finally just comes out with "Mommy Nuts"... it's amazing he didn't wreck the car! Took him about 2 minutes to be able to breathe again to just open the car door. This is the kind of stuff this child comes out with all the time.
All in all, it was a very fun night.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Pirates and Princesses
I may have mentioned previously that Julia loves Pirates of the Caribbean. She loves Cap'n Jack. Well a few weeks ago we took a day trip down to Grapevine to check out the Kids Room to Go showroom among other things. Julia has outgrown her baby dresser and is in need of a real one, we had seen this online and wanted to see the quality of it. Especially since they have a store close to where we will be living in FL. We are very likely going to go with the Princess set. But I have to share some of that afternoon with you. We walked into the store and Julia thought it was a giant playroom. She was having a blast checking out all the furniture and decorations, yes we have a true shopper here I believe, I think her and Aunt Alissa could have lots of fun together. So we checked out the Princess set first because this is the one I had looked most at online, then we went walking around the show room. Of course with a sales guy kind of tagging along just in case we should be buying anything. Julia got to the Pirates room set up and flipped! Her exact words " Mama it's a Pirate ship, where's the treasure??" Then she proceeded to look at the posters on the walls and point out "Will" and "Captain Jack"... the sales guy was tripping at this point! LOL. The next set was "Hannah Montana"... so Daddy asks Julia "who's that on the tag?" answer "Hannah Tana" then she read off the label on the mattress set... it said you guessed it.. DISNEY! By now the sales guy is choking and asking again "how old is she?" thought he was going to lose it when we told him 2 and 1/2. So yes, my child watches way too much TV and as you can see most of it is Disney. Can't wait to take this girl to Disney World, hopefully that will be next year. :)
Oh and I asked her which furniture she liked when we got back in the car, half afraid she would say the Pirate ship, she actually gave it some thought and said "Cinderelly bed" so I guess we were looking at the right set after all. This child is entirely too much some days! :)
I may have mentioned previously that Julia loves Pirates of the Caribbean. She loves Cap'n Jack. Well a few weeks ago we took a day trip down to Grapevine to check out the Kids Room to Go showroom among other things. Julia has outgrown her baby dresser and is in need of a real one, we had seen this online and wanted to see the quality of it. Especially since they have a store close to where we will be living in FL. We are very likely going to go with the Princess set. But I have to share some of that afternoon with you. We walked into the store and Julia thought it was a giant playroom. She was having a blast checking out all the furniture and decorations, yes we have a true shopper here I believe, I think her and Aunt Alissa could have lots of fun together. So we checked out the Princess set first because this is the one I had looked most at online, then we went walking around the show room. Of course with a sales guy kind of tagging along just in case we should be buying anything. Julia got to the Pirates room set up and flipped! Her exact words " Mama it's a Pirate ship, where's the treasure??" Then she proceeded to look at the posters on the walls and point out "Will" and "Captain Jack"... the sales guy was tripping at this point! LOL. The next set was "Hannah Montana"... so Daddy asks Julia "who's that on the tag?" answer "Hannah Tana" then she read off the label on the mattress set... it said you guessed it.. DISNEY! By now the sales guy is choking and asking again "how old is she?" thought he was going to lose it when we told him 2 and 1/2. So yes, my child watches way too much TV and as you can see most of it is Disney. Can't wait to take this girl to Disney World, hopefully that will be next year. :)
Oh and I asked her which furniture she liked when we got back in the car, half afraid she would say the Pirate ship, she actually gave it some thought and said "Cinderelly bed" so I guess we were looking at the right set after all. This child is entirely too much some days! :)
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