CONGRATULATIONS!

Happy Trails, Bon Voyage, Have a Great Flight,

HAPPY G&R

Tonight we helped our friends

Shari & Myke

celebrate their

"Trip of a Lifetime"

Tomorrow they are leaving for

Vietnam

where they will finally meet their beautiful new

DAUGHTER!

CONGRATULATIONS !

And here are a few of the beautiful little celebrators having fun.

As you can see, we picked up a few extra NUTZ along the way

Since we were at a Korean Restaurant, Meg wanted SUSHI

Paisley took it over and ate most of it.

Better luck next time Meg!

THANK-YOU MARY

What a sweet surprise!

While my friend Mary was in China she found this bag of candy and thought of us!

LOOK at the name :)

Thank-you Mary

The kids Love it!

Well, actually, Meg is having a great time eating them all.

She was really excited when she tasted them.

She said she remembers the flavor from China.

Tomorrow the little kids get some too!

HAPPY SATURDAY

MEG & MOLLY ALSO RODE

GREAT NEWS

My friend Kathleen passed court today!!! She and her husband are now the proud parents of 2 beautiful girls from Ethiopia! They have waited an entire year for this day, and it has finally come. The girls will be home in May and will then meet their 2 older brothers and their twin baby sisters from Vietnam. Mike and I are so happy for them all.

So many eggs

Several friends have asked about our Easter Eggs. Here's the scoop~~
The kids colored 6 dozen eggs. Yes, that's a lot of eggs, but thank goodness for WAL-MART Grocery! We have 6 kids, if we only colored 3 dozen eggs like normal families, they'd each have only 6 eggs to color. What fun would that be? Wait 365 days to color 6 eggs?? NO WAY! So we decided to do a dozen for each. They aren't expensive so I figured I'd toss the extras at the end of the week. HA! There are FOUR eggs left as of tonight, and Meg is taking 2 of them to school in her lunch tomorrow. Turns out my kids love hard boiled eggs! I made deviled eggs out of 2 dozen of them and turned those leftovers into egg salad today. It turned out great and the kids had fun! That's the important part. Good memories of coloring Easter Eggs.

EASTER MONDAY

Is NOT the day to start a diet, not with all those chocolate bunny ears just waiting to be bit, but that's what I did. It's time, I'm ready, so let the misery begin!!

Today my Vietnam adoption agency closes it's doors, another miserable thought. I can't believe it!!! BUT, they are standing behind us and for that I'm grateful.

Let's see, what else can I add to my cheerful post?

Oh, I know, SPRING BREAK was not nearly long enough!! 6:15 came way too early this morning, and poor little Austin was crying as he was getting on his bus that's showing up earlier and earlier. 6:57 today! What happened to 7:07? That seemed too early to me! I know it's only 10 minutes difference, but when your only 3, sometimes you need that extra few minutes to eat your breakfast, or decide to go potty!

The seeds I planted 4 weeks ago are WAY overdue to be transplanted, something I keep putting off. I swear, I could have taken the kids to Mickey's House with what I spent on seeds, potting soil, containers, etc. etc. and we will probably get very little veggies out of it too. It's not like the kids are helping, that was my original thought, something fun for us to do together. OH NO, no one wants any part of the "garden". Ha, Garden, that's a joke, I'm putting the plants in with the landscaping around the pool. I wouldn't dare dig up my yard!! So, as my nice plants die off, or need to be replaced, they are being replaced with corn, beans, peas, watermelon, cantelope, lettuce, peppers, and tomatos. ( I have a BIG landscaped area around the pool if you're thinking "where's she putting all that stuff"?)

Let's see, what else ? Oh, I know, Austin had dental work done last Wednesday. About broke the bank on that one, and we have great dental ins. Anyhow, "from this day forward" says Dr. B, "NO sticky or chewy foods"!!! YIKES! No fruit roll-ups, No gummies, NO JELLY BEANS. The Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt was full of jelly beans! That was a nice temper tantrum, poor little guy. When you're 3 and just learned about jelly beans, you don't understand why mommy says NO all of a sudden. Brother and sisters aren't too happy either.

That's about all the depressing thoughts I want to add for now so I guess I'll go have another cup of coffee, then drag myself and Paisley out to plant the beans and cukes.

HAPPY EASTER

HE IS RISEN!

EASTER EGGS

GINA & Miss Sue

Austin & Ryan's teacher, Miss Sue, has a horse named GINA. Sue invited my kids over to the barn to ride Gina on Friday. Poor Gina. Poor Sue! The kids LOVED riding and spent hours there! They couldn't get enough of the horses. Then they got to help give them a bath! If my camera hadn't run out of batteries, there would have been some great pics of 6 kids on one side of a horse lathering it up! Then Paisley found the barn cats!!! We couldn't keep her away from those poor kitties. WHY are barn cats so beat up? No tails, missing eyes, poor babies!

Today the kids made thank-you cards for Miss Sue.

Thank- you Miss Sue for a wonderful experience!

A DAY AT THE BEACH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

ELIZABETH RENEE'

( Betsy Peeps )

WE LOVE & MISS YOU

XOXOX

MOM & DAD

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT

XOXO

YOUR SISTER

SANDY

It's time to sit back and rejoice in the many blessings God has given us. It's time to sit back and enjoy God's plan for our family and accept whatever the future holds with delight and faithfulness.

Although we are heartbroken for our little girl who will continue to live in an orphanage in Vietnam, we take comfort in the fact that we have done everything within our power to bring her home. We have left NO stone unturned trying to get her home. We have been in private contact with government officials in the USA and Vietnam. We have prayed unceasingly for this child and will continue to do so. When 2 governments clash, it's the people who suffer, and in this case, it's the orphaned children of Vietnam who are the innocent victims. We pray the "Powers that Be" will realize this and do the right thing for the children of Vietnam.

THE NEWLYWEDS

Kris and Anita

our grandson & new granddaughter

What a beautiful Wedding it was.

WEDDING BELLS ARE RINGING

We're off to Ft Meyers.

Our grandson Kris is getting married tonight!!!

CONGRATULATIONS

KRIS & ANITA

ARLINGTON TEXAS

I used to live there!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEWS FOR ME

My sister is moving back to FLORIDA!!! Her husband has been transferred back from Texas, and this time she will be here on the East Coast. I'm so excited to be able to see her again! She's my baby sister and my "Disney Buddy". Tia has 10 kiddos, 5 bio and 5 adopted, 2 China, 2 VN and 1 dom. Sorta like me. She had lived on the west coast and we would both leave our hubbies home to work and meet at MICKEY"S HOUSE with all the kids. Well, we didn't have ALL the kids at the time. We had such great times. we would stay at the Polynesian, and have a blast. I think the Polynesian may be out of our budgets for awhile, Thanks to this Depression OOPS, I meant REcession, but we'll still have a great time at the POP Century!! Meg loves the free ICCEE machine there.

OIY VEY IS ME!!!!

Who's been to the orthodontist lately? I HAVE!!! OIY VEY! 3 kid needing "bracelets" as Meg calls them and I NEED A BAILOUT! Hey! There's no $$ at my house, OR in America! But I know where all the $$ is...It's at the Ortho's office!! I hear Congress is giving out lots of $$, I think I'll give them a call.
Really though, I took Ryan to Dr. S yesterday. He was Wendy's ortho 20 years ago and she has the most beautiful teeth. So, I was happy to see his office has moved from Oakland Park to a quarter mile from my house!! AND I found out he was the first and only CLEFT ortho in Broward county for many years ( there is another one here now too). So, we had a consult yesterday after school. He will wait 6 months and recheck him, then start widening his palate. We're waiting for molars to come in. Ryan is 6. This morning Ryan had a visit with his cleft surgeon Dr S. yes, both are Dr. S. and we were told ortho Dr S had already called and he is now the lead MD in charge of Ryan's mouth. WOW, How did I get so lucky as to using the right ortho 20 years ago? We all know it wasn't luck. It was all God's plan..WOW! HE really thinks ahead doesn't He? :) Only joking God....
The $$$$, OH, the $$$$. Not only will Ryan be starting ortho care by the end of the year, but Misses Meg and Molly will be starting NOW! YIKES! I should have put "STRAIGHT TEETH" in my Home Study! Let's not even THINK about the babies! The little girls have underbites already!!
Sadley, if our Vietnam adoption disolves in a heap, and it's looking like it's just about gone now, you all know where my travel $$ will be going...and it won't be at MICKEY'S HOUSE :(

ADOPTION UPDATE

It's been a while since I've mentioned our Vietnam adoption. Today I feel like posting an update. As you can see by the new ticker, it isn't a particularly happy update. I know GOD has a plan, our family is absolutely proof of that. Look at us! 6 new children in 4 years, after raising 5 daughters! WHO would have ever thought? RIGHT? And I always say, " sit back and watch GOD'S plans unfold for you, it's amazing to live through", but it's still so hard to see and feel your dream slowly die. We were SO close to bringing home our last child. When we lost Vu Thi Men, we received a new referral, but that little girl's paperwork came the same day the Gov. of Vietnam decided to stop second referrals for families like mine, who's birth moms reclaimed their children. We have been waiting for Vietnam to reconsider their stand on this, but so far they have not. Our paperwork is still in Vietnam and still up to date, but our agency is closing it's doors on April 13th. Without them, we are finished. We need our agency. They have already stayed open an additional 3 months hoping to complete our adoption. We are praying the Vietnam Gov. officials in charge of adoptions will find it in their hearts to allow the few families in the same position as we are, to complete their adoptions soon. As I am writing this post, I am being reminded GOD HAS A PLAN, LET HIM DO HIS WORK. I'm trying, I really am trying.

Daddy's Little Helpers

Some were happy and some were not, as you can see by Amy's unenthusiastic expression. But everyone helped Daddy make the new sandbox on his day off. Poor Daddy, even on President's Day he doesn't get a break. Paisley and Ryan had a great time, maybe they're watching too much HANDY MANNY? Austin was oblivious to all the sawing and hammering going on, he was busy playing in the little turtle sand box, and sneaking candy from the kitchen.
I guess I should have taken a pic of the finished product. I'll do that tomorrow. It's pretty nice. 5x5, full of sand, and on the patio in the shade.
What a lifesaver this will be for me. The old big sandbox was at the end of the yard. WAY too far from the house for me to watch what was going on. Now I can sit on the patio and watch TV, or read and keep an eye on the little darlings.

WE HAVE PIGS!

And I can't keep Paisley out of the cage! She loves her piggies and won't leave them alone. She takes them for walks around the house in her doll stroller, poor things. Yes, "Mommy" has bows in ger hair. Watch out Daddy, you're next!

THEN & NOW

Ryan & his cake

&

Meg's Referral Pic & Today

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?????????

WOW What a celebration we will have today, and Oh the memories...
Today we met Megan for the first time 4 years ago. How our little family has changed in those 4 short years. What a day that was!!! I can remember it like it was yesterday. She was so scared but trying to be so brave. She was never told about her adoption until a few minutes before meeting us while in the taxi riding from her orphanage GSWI, to the Civil Affairs office in Guangzhou. Wish we had known that, we thought she was prepared. She is WAY too confident now LOL. A typical American Girl.
And.....It's Mr. Ryan's 6th BIRTHDAY today!!!!!! What a surprise HE was!!!!!!
I'm sure there is a family in China today wondering what happened to their precious baby boy born with a severe bilateral CL/CP. I wish there was a way to let them know he is a handsome, ( he said "MOM girls are CUTE, boys are HANDSOME) happy, and healthy little boy who is loved more than words can express.
It's PRESIDENT'S DAY, no school and mike is off work! We are all together for the day, how perfect!!!

OUR DOUBLE RED THREAD

~~~~~~~~

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY

RYAN JOSEPH DU XUAN

~~~~~~~~~

HAPPY 4th "GOTCHA DAY"

ANNIVERSARY

MEGAN NOEL' MENG YAN

XOXOXOXO

Mommy & Daddy

HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY

TAYLOR

XOXO

GRANDMA & GRANDPA

IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY!

Have you figured it out yet???

We're transplants from

PITTSBURGH!!!!

OH YA!!!

YA BABY!!!!!!

WOO-HOO!!!!

GO TEAM

STEELERS #1

GO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!