Our visit!!

I had looked foward to this visit with my sister and Deb for a long time. Since we have been home from China they have only been able to visit for short amounts of time with Sierra.  I wanted them to really spend some time with her and really get to know her.  So we boarded the Amtrak train, early Friday morning.  Beth was in NYC  so we met her there and she rode the rest of the way with us on the train.  We arrived in Baltimore late afternoon.  We picked up deb and headed to the Baltimore Aquarium.  What an excoting time we had. Sierra just loves any knd of animals so she was thrilled.  She could have stayed at each exhibit for probably an hour.  We had to gently move her along.  Andd then it was time for the Dolphin show and she was just mesmorized.

The next day I was soooo excited to go meet Stephe and Giorgia.  We traveled with Stephe to China...on the same plane.  Our girls were from the same Province so we spent the entire time together and of course shared that incredible experience of seeing our girls for the first time.  My poor sister was sick during the night but she got up and drove us to meet Stephe adn Giorgia then went to sleep in her car while we ate lunch and coaught up(( Thanks Beth!!!)  It was awesome to see them.  Giorgia has grown up so much in a yera.  they were both quiet at first and then warmed up.  Giprgia even told em her boyfriend was Jakey!!!  We took them over to ride the carousel.  They walded over holding hands too cute!!!!  Thanks so much Stephe for driving to meet us.  I loved seeing you both!!!!!!!

 Sierra and Aunt Deb  become fast friends!!

Thanks Beth and Deb...and Stephe and Giorgia!!!!

While I was away....

You know the saying...what you don't know won't hurt you.  Well I guess it was good that I didn't know that while I was sleeping peacefully at my sister's in Maryland, my husband, my 2 sons and my brother in law were busy fighting a house fire up the road from where we live.  I always worry when they get called out but this time I didn't even know until my husband called me at 9:00 this morning after being up all night and then having to go to work.  The house was completely gutted but no one was hurt, mostly because a neighbor pounded on their door. ( SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES, especially if your neighbor isn't around.)  Still when I see these pictures of my 18 year old son right in the middle of all this, I feel both extremely proud and a little sick to my stomach.  I also know that since Paul, my middle son, is the Asst. Chief,  he's always in the thick of things too.  He told me that this fire had some electrical components an he actually got zapped!! And my husband usually runs the engine trucks but has also gone into burning houses many times!!!  I am so proud of my guys who take this all so seriously. This call came at 11:30 pm and they didn't get home to 5:00 am , just in time to shower and go to work!!  If you have volunteer firemen where you live, take the time to thank them and tell them how much they are appreciated!!!

Off on an Adventure!!!

Tomorrow, Sierra and I head off to visit my sister in Maryland.  We are taking the Amtrak train.  I did it once with the boys when they were younger and it was soooo fun and quite a relaxing way to travel with kids!!!  And that time I had 3!!!!  We are going to the Baltimore Aquarium, hooking up with a travelmate and her daughter and feasting at a Japanese restaruant.  It should be great fun.  Of course I had hoped to get a little taste of spring while I was down there, not uncommon in Feb, but this is what we will see!!!

Snow Day!!

Take one cute little girl....

mix it with a dash of new snow,

a Snowman Kit....

add a little hard work.....

and Presto......

You've got a friend!!!!

More Chinese New Year!!!

Here are some more pics of us celebrating Chinese New Year!!!

A dragon lantern purchased at Mr. Kimm"s shop.  An elderly Asian man owns this shop near us!!!

The Kitchen God

Dragon hanging from our beams

A dragon over the fireplace

Year of the tiger

window decorations by Sierra!!

Sierra receiving her surprise inside her envelope

And for any race fans, Sierra with her Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hat ( really Paul's) and her checkered flag, watching the end of the Daytona 500!!!

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Welcome the year of the Tiger.  What a fun day we had.  Sierra has been making decorations all week. We hung Chinese lanterns!  We had some family over, cooked some favorites and ordered some take out Chinese food!!  We even set off fireworks to really feel the experience!!  The nice thing about setting them off in February is that you can do it at 6:00!!  I will post more pics tomorrow but here are some of Sierra's decorations!!

I think she does pretty good for 4!!!

Sponsor???

Ainsley

When Scott and I returned from China...we knew we were changed.  Not just because we now had the most beautiful daughter ever!!! ( I know...I am prejudiced). But we knew that our hearts had changed and we weren't done.  Whether that means another adoption or not remains to be seen..but we knew we had to do something.  One day I came across a blog asking for sponsors for specific children.  I was surprised to see that some of the children were from Sierra's orphanage.  After looking at many sponsor sites..this one seemed to reach out and grab me.  One of the girls had a birthday the same as my parents anniversary...so we chose her to sponsor.  We send them 35 dollars a month.  I am not working and things are tight but we knew we had to do this and we are.  Our family has jumped on board and one month Paul and Jen  even gave us the money for sweet Ainsley.  Anyway today I was visiting their site and I see that they have a few new babies that need sponcors.  So if anyone feels so inclined PLEASE jump over to http://pearlriveroutreach.blogspot.com/   and check it out!!!!

Update!!!    I had the wrong link but its right now!!!

Toasted Marshmallow???

So we were having hot chocolate the other night and Sierra remembered how much she liked marshmallows .  I gave her two to eat.  A few minutes later David called me and said "Mom, you have to watch this!"

She is placing them on our grate in front of the pellet stove!

It's one way to get a toasted marshamallow...although probably not too clean.

But such a smart idea from my precious 4 year old!!!

Old Picture...New Look!

This is a picture taken a little less than a year ago...not too long after were home.  I always loved it but tonight I made it a black and white photo and now I REALLY love it.  She had just kissed me and had gotten my lip gloss on her lips . And then she looked at me with those eyes.  She has the  most incredible eyes.  You just loose yourself in the darkness of them. Sometimes I really like serious pictures because the eyes don't get all squinted up.  I look like I have no eyes when I smile for a picture.  But I thought I would share this with you all!!!!