Sweet Ainsley!!!

I was looking at some blogs and came across this group that sponsors orphans in China. Some of the children were from Sierra's Province. Imagine my surprise when a few turned out to be from her orphange. We had though about sponsoring ever since we returned hoem but there are so many children, how do you chose.... So one little girl popped out at me and when I saw her birthdate I knew she was the one!!! So little Ainsley turned 2 yesterday!!! She lives at the orphange that Sierra lived at. Check her out here : www.pearlriveroutreach.blogspot.com, Sierra and I will be collecting deposit bottles to raise the 35 dollars a month!!! Isn't she a cutie!!!!!

Some more fall fun!!!

While we were camping this weekend Scott, David and Sierra went pumpkin picking. I had to work but I loved these photos!!Its a cute place down the road from the campground. They have wagons to go out in the field a pick.

Sierra looks so confident in this!!

Scott said that Sierra found her pumpkin, picked it up, then before he knew what she was doing threw it aside and bent back down to pick up.....

This........!!!!!

Having fun carving the pumpkin...

Look at her face......

Scott and David are the best jack-o-lantern carvers I know!!!

I have so many pictures to catch up on!!! Last week Scott, Sierra and I went for a walk in the newly cut corn field! The first thing she wanted to do was to sit on top of the round bales of hay that are stored alongside the field. For those who aren't familiar with them they look like very large marshmallows!!!

Next she went hunting for ears of corn that were left behind!

When we got back to the house we raked a pile of leaves!!

Isn't this precious!!!!
Two weekends a go my brother called to say his band was playing at a local farmer's market. It was a beautiful fall day and we went to listen. We first found our friend Cheyenne who was there with a four day old Jersey calf. Cheyenne is the local Dairy Princess. Sierra wanted to pretend to sleep with the calf......

and take it for a walk!

There were pumpkins to paint.....

great music ( my brother plays the guitar)....


and a straw maze for Sierra and Pink Monkey to go through.



I love the Autumn... there is so much to do and I have more to post!!!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Perry!!!

We returned home from camping and I remembered it was my uncles' eightieth something birthday( I think 82 or 83). Anyway I decided to take Sierra over for a visit. My uncle, my Dad's brother, lives only 2 miles away. My Dad died 15 years ago but we have remained close to my uncle. My aunt and uncle were thrilled when we adopted Sierra. They had traveled to China 10 years ago and my uncle has had a soft spot for Asian children ever since. We had such a nice visit. Sierra loves talking and asking a lot of questions. They loved answering them. My cousin Susan was there also as an added treat. My uncle is an amazing man. He is a person of great faith as his Dad was a minister when they were growing up. He is a landscaper who owns his own business and still works full time. He climbs and cuts down trees, mows lawns, plants and cares for gardens and in the winter shovels the sidewalks and driveways of his "older" customers, many who are much younger than he!!!! I am so grateful that I remembered and went to see him. Of course I didn't bring my camera but my aunt did take some pictures and when I get copies I will post them. Happy Birthday Uncle Perry!! I am so glad you ae in my life!!

Happy Birthday Tim!!!

Sierra helping with Tim's cake!!

She loves blowing out candles. It was one of the first things she did in America as it was her birthday the day we came home and a cake was waiting for her!!!

Just a cute pic!!

She made this Lincloln Log house for Dad all by herself. Look how proud she is!!!

Wow!! I can't believe its been 26 years since I first became a Mom!! What a ride its been!! I have loved every(almost) minute of being a Mom to my boys. So much in fact that I didn't think twice about becoming a Mom again at age 50!! What could be more fun!!! Tim, you have always been a joy to me. I love how tough you pretend to be but how sesitive you really are. I remeber when you were younger how you and I would be teary eyed together at sad movies and Paul would make fun of us. I love how you are so loyal to your family and your friends. I love how much you love animals and they love you!!! I love that you have Sara for a girlfriend, she is a gem and we love her!! I especially love how very sweet you are with your new sister. I could watch you every day with her and not get tired of doing so. I hope you have a wonderful day and I am so glad that I have you for a son!!!

Harvest Moon festival

Today was China's Harvest Moon or Mid Autumn Festival. I wanted to do something special. A friend and I are attending a celebration put on by the Families With Children from China chapter of the Hudson Valley. That celebration is on Oct. 23rd. The Chinese typically eat round food for the festival.So tonight when I got home from work we had hamburgers and potato tots. Instead of traditional Moon Cakes we had small whoopee pies. And then we went to a local farm that offers Full Moon hayrides at night. It was beautiful!! The moon was full and it wasn't cold at all. They also had a bounce house which Sierra loved. She is not happy unless she is bouncing around anyway so this was a perfect activity for her!!! Its also pretty fun in the dark!!!

This is not a great picture but the only one I got with the moon in the background!
So I hope each year to come up with more and more ways to celebrate this holiday!! I love the Fall and I also love Full Moons so its great to have a reason to celebrate it!!! On the way to the farm Sierra was talking to David and Paul(who are in Mass. for a Patriots football game..Thanks Aunt Beth!!) and she said "I am going on a hayride. I am so happy!!!" As I have said before..it doesn't get much better than that!!!

First Trip to the Dentist

Yesterday I took Sierra to her first visit to the dentist. Now, the dentist is 3/4 of a mile up the road, he and his wife both went to high school with me, the receptionist graduated with me and I used to work there. So I knew it couldn't go too badly. And it went great!!! While I was still filling out paper work , the hygienist came and took her to the exam room, When I joined them a few minutes later Sierra was asking for another ride up in the chair! The hygienist counted her teeth, checked them for soft spots and then cleaned them with vanilla flavored toothpaste, Then Dr. Parker came in to take a look!! Her teeth look great and that is good news. It is not always the case with adopted children who may not have had dental care prior to this. At least her first appointment went well!!!

Showing the hygienist how she brushes her teeth,

Sierra and Dr. Parker. He is so good with kids!!

PS Of course I forgot my camera! Thanks to my friend Denise (the receptionist) who took these with her phone and then emailed them to me!!!!