Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day! As we get ready to go to Heather's house for a cook-out, I wonder how many people actually consider the true reason for today. It is not a "Hallmark holiday". It was not created so we can have a day off work and school. It is not here as a marker for the start of summer. It is not another excuse for a parade. It is not just a reason to get together with our family and friends for a cook-out or picnic. Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have served our country, some giving their lives, so we can have our parades and picnics and cook-outs and days off work. My dad served in the Navy. My grandfather served in the Army Air Corpes. My brother-in-law served in Iraq and is still in the Reserves. I grew up in a military town. I played with military brats. I have been surrounded by military my whole life. Thank you to those who let us live our dreams while keeping us safe. Bless you for your sacrifice.

More Photos From Lunch With Helen

Cullen's Blog

I just wanted to let everyone know that Cullen has updated his site with new photos. He took them all himself at the 3rd Grade Picnic last Tuesday. I'm very proud of him! If you would like to see Cullen's Blog, just click on the link on the right side of my blog. He would love to hear from you too!

Lunch At Helen's

Kieren and Helen checking out Helen's new playground.

Kieren loved the swing the best! Helen's favorite was the slide so it worked out really well!

Yummy!!! Aunt January made us the best lunch!! And the girls got to eat at their own special table. (Kieren now wants her own table at home!)

Kieren was so happy! Her favorite foods and a table her size!

Kieren thought Helen's chair was pretty cool!

Today, Kieren and I went to January and Helen's house for lunch. We had a great visit! While Jan and I compared notes, Helen and Kieren had a chance to play. We had a wonderful lunch (Thanks Jan!)!! The girls even ate at their own table. They were so cute! It was one of those times that you just want to freeze.

After lunch, we went into Jan's incredible back yard!!! Jan has such an amazing talent for making gardens that looks like Mother Nature did them herself. I don't have the patience for gardening. I hate to weed and I'm too cheap to buy plants because I'm just going to kill them anyway! If I buy plants from the local nursery, the employees have a greedy-hand-rubbing-thing going on behind my back. They know that I'm going to buy plants, kill them, and come back to get more to kill. Or you will find the employees that will beg me not to buy anything (or even touch anything!) because no plant should have to die such a terrible death! So I have made life better by just not buying plants anymore. How I wish I had Jan's panache with plants!

Anyway, we went to the back yard for the girls to play. Helen has a new playset. It is so cute! There is a toddler swing with a toddler slide. Helen, who has no fear, was up and down that slide so many times it made me dizzy! Kieren preferred the swing. Actually, Kieren discovered our swingset last month and fell in love with the swing! She really doesn't care for the slide. There was also a play cottage and a rocking horse for the girls to explore. Kieren loves rocking horses so of course she checked-out Helen's. And both girls had a blast playing in the cottage!!! It was so fun watching them play side-by-side. They are really forming a bond now. Kieren gets so excited when she sees Helen. I'm so happy they have each other! And it doesn't get much better because Jan is such a wonderful friend!!

Well, after over 2 hours of non-stop fun, Kieren was so tired she couldn't walk straight. So we packed up and headed off to get Cullen from school. Kieren was fast-asleep before we got to the end of Jan's street. She stayed that way for over an hour, until she smelled Cullen's french fries! It was a fantastic day!!! Thank you, Jan & Helen!!!!

Bundle of Energy vs. Couch

This is how Kieren climbs on the couch.

It's not very graceful, but it works!

The climbing keeps going! Now she has to climb the armrest.

I think I see gymnastics in Kieren's future!

All of this while watching Play With Me Sesame.

Ha! I win!

Okay. No time to sit! There's more I can do!

Hmmm... A toy to play with.

I wonder how my show looks if I stand on my head!

What? You think I may be tired? You're funny!

Wait a minute. Cookie Monster is singing.

Now I'm off and running again! Don't worry. I'll be back in a minute to do it all over again!

Mommy thinks I should take a nap!!! Mommy is so funny!!!!

Saturday was a BIG day.

Saturday was a big day here. It was our 17th anniversary and Kieren's 14th month on Earth. Told you it was big!

We didn't do anything too major for our anniversary. Andy brought us back some doughnuts for breakfast. Cullen was with the 'rents (my parents) from the night before. Andy let me sleep in. Heather wanted to get out so we went to get Cullen. We brought Andy back home because he was being a party-pooper and we took the kids shopping. It was Cullen's lucky day! He got some new clothes, new shoes, and a new bike (Thanks Aunt Heather!!!). Then we came home. We all went out to dinner with my folks, but that's it. Nothing major.

Kieren's 14th month birthday was so important to me. Every month I think of her mother and hope that she can find peace and know that Kieren is safe and happy. I wonder if she is well and thinks of her beautiful daughter. I know in my own heart that Jiang, Cheng Li was left-to-be-found out of love. I wish I could tell her thank-you and let her know how much her sacrifice has meant to our family. Xie Xie!!!

Another big moment today. We have been home with Kieren for 5 months today. Our social worker will come over tomorrow night for our 6-month follow-up. After that, we will have one more follow-up left and we will be finished with the official adoption process. Life seems to move so fast. I wish it would slow down sometimes. I feel like I'm missing so many things! I just want Cullen and Kieren to stay this age just a little longer. I guess I should get in all the extra hugs and kisses while I can.

Well, I had better mop the floors and get to bed. Social workers aren't real amused about sticking to the floor! Go figure!!

Decisions, Decisions...

Hmmm... To read my new book ("Over The Hedge") or to watch The Backyardigans. Shoot! I'm a girl! I can do both!

Fast Food Service????

Last week while racing a sick Cullen to and from play practice, we went through a fast food drive-thru. (Yes, I name names! It was the KFC in Huber Heights!!!) So, Andy was driving (mistake #1) and placed the order (mistake #2). It kind of went something like this:

Andy: I want to order a Snacker Combo with a side of Mac-n-cheese and a Mountain Dew, no ice. I would also...
KFC: Is that all today? Your total is $4.99 (not sure the actual amounts, but you get the point). Please pull up to the window.
Andy: I'm not done with my order, thank you. I also want to order a Combo #3 (3 chicken strips w/ a biscuit) with a Mega Size Diet Pepsi, no ice. I also need...
KFC: So that's a Snacker Combo and a #3. Your total is...
Andy: I'm not done ordering yet! I also want a Chicken Pot Pie and a Large Diet, no ice. That's all.
KFC: So that's a Strip Combo w/ a Mountain Dew no ice, a #3 Combo - that's a strip meal with a bisciut right? Did you want a side with that? No? - with a Mega Size Diet no ice, a Large Diet no ice, and a Chicken Pot Pie no ice. Right?
Andy: NO! I want a SNACKER COMBO WITH MAC-N-CHEESE NOT ANOTHER STRIP MEAL!!!
KFC: That's what I said.
Andy: No, it is not! You said a Strip Combo.
KFC: It's the same thing really. We use chicken strips on the Snacker sandwiches.
Andy: But I want the buns, sauce, and lettuce too, not just the strips! I want a SNACKER COMBO!
KFC: Okay. What side did you want with that?
Andy: Mac-n-cheese!!! Could you please read the order back to me?
KFC: So that's a Snacker Combo w/ mac-n-cheese and a Mountain Dew no ice, a #3 Combo strip meal with a biscuit and a Mega Diet no ice, a Large Diet no ice, and a Chicken Pot Pie with no ice. Please pull up to the window for your total.

So we both just roll our eyes and resign ourselves to a wrong order as we pull forward. The man at the window handed us each drink, saying "with extra ice" after each one. Then he handed us our order and stated "You wanted that with extra ice, right?" It must have been a slow day at KFC. Our order was actually correct! The employee was just having fun jerking us around. He's damn lucky I don't carry a gun!

How I Spent My Mother's Day

This Mother's Day was an interesting one. Every year, since Cullen was 4 years-old, we have been involved in the musical at church. At age 4, Cullen was in the children's choir and had his first speaking part that stole the show. The play was Camp Willamucky. Cullen played the camper who tried so hard, but still managed to shoot his arrow and hit the camp director. He had them rolling in the aisle with his mock-arrow-through-the-head gag. Even the Pastor had to bring him up at the end and jokingly ask if we needed to have a healing! Cullen got a taste of performing and has loved it ever-since.

Every year, Cullen has the lead and usually a solo or two. Last year, he had almost all the lines in the play. He was Noah in Noah's Amazing Zoo-Cruise For Twos. He had solos in more-than half the songs. He delivered HUGE speeches. He was simple amazing and he was only 8. The previous year it was The Martha Stalwart Show. This was Cullen's 5th Mother's Day Musical plus he has performed in 3 Christmas plays (speaking parts in all, solos and leads in 2). That's a lot for a 9-year-old.

This year's performance was hard for Cullen. He is very sick. He came home from school on Thursday afternoon as sick as a dog. He has mostly been in bed or laying on the couch since then. He was allowed out of bed on Saturday morning for the 3.5 hour dress rehearsal, but then crashed on my mom's bed after, because it was closer. This morning started at 6:30am. Everyone was up, showered, and getting dressed. The first church service started at 8:30, followed by a second service at 11:00. Despite feeling totally miserable, Cullen was amazing. He used his talents to praise God and deliver a special message to the congregation, and he put that ahead of everything else. The child humbles me. He never complained or whined. After the services, he just smiled and told me how much fun that was and how he can't wait to do next year's service. Then he collapsed on the bed at home. I think we could learn alot from Cullen.

Kieren made today extra special. This was my first Mother's Day with Kieren. She is so full of life! We took Kieren to the first service at church. She was tired, so I thought she might sleep through the play. Boy was I wrong!!! As soon as the music started and she saw Cullen, she was so exicted!!! She bounced up and down, yelled "bruh-bruh", and tried to out-sing Cullen (for the back of the church)!!! Cullen saw her and just smiled and laughed. She had a blast!!! I'm so glad we sent her with my parents for the second service. I don't think I could've kept her under control for two services!!!

After all the church services, we met up with my parents and went to a really nice lunch. Then my wonderful hubby let me have a 2-hour nap and he fixed dinner!!! The only down point of the day for me was that I couldn't afford to get my mom anything for Mother's Day this year. Once I get more work coming in again, I'll have to spoil her! I am so blessed to have two beautiful children. I am also blessed to have such a wonderful mom. It was a wonderful day.

Mother's Day Musical 2006

This year's Mother's Day Musical at church was The Secret of My Success. The kids performed at both services and did an amazing job!!! This is a photo of Cullen & Paige after the show. (Blythe, we can only hope they'll marry one day! They would have the most gorgeous babies!!!)

Cullen (playing the beaten Samaritan) and his best friend Ben (playing the Christian rock star who wouldn't help).

Cullen & Rachael singing a duet. These two are always being paired up for plays. They are awesome together!

Cullen (playing Bing Soloman - the lead in the musical). What can I say? Even if I wasn't his mom I would still be going on about his voice and talent!

The Cast and Director (Bonnie Dobbs). Another great year!

Opposite Poles

Cullen and Kieren are so opposite. Not just in looks. Yes, Cullen is tall and blonde. Kieren is small and dark. Not just in personality. There are other differences too. They are like a pair of the big u-shaped magnets that we played with in science class. You know the ones! You couldn't get the two positive ends to connect no matter how hard you tried. They would always repell each other. But if you rotated one magnet, you couldn't keep them apart! That's just like my children!! One is the positive pole and the other is the negative.

Kieren has this weird ability to repell stains and dirt. I mean it is totally freaky!!! I can dress her all in white from head to toe in the morning and she will still be spotless that night. We rarely ever use a bib! Yes, Kieren's hands and face will need to be washed after eating, but there's not a drop anywhere else on her! The other day I gave Kieren a Plain Chocolate Digestive (an English cookie with dark chocolate on one side). I had to leave the room, but when I came back Kieren had decided to mush the cookie everywhere. I picked up the chunks off the floor and grabbed the little devil for clean-up. She had smeared chocolate on her hands, but otherwise her clothing was spotless! I told you it is totally freaky!!!! I just have to touch one of these cookies to get chocolate all over me!

Then there's poor Cullen... The child just has to walk through the room and he has a new stain on his shirt! He is like a magnet for dirt and stains!!!! As a baby and toddler, Cullen went through more clothes each day than an orphanage! It was truly humbling. Cullen still goes through three outfits a day! I feel sorry for whoever he marries.

I think some scientist somewhere should study these two! Why is one child a dirt magnet and the other couldn't get dirty if she tried? I tell you it is like living with a big magnet!

5 Months Ago...

Five months ago yesterday, I held Kieren for the first time. Five months ago today, Kieren officially became my child. Wow! (This photo was taken while I was so ill a couple of weeks ago. Andy did such a great job with both kids, the house, and everything else!)

Look What I Can Do!!!

Today, Kieren decided that she was a big girl (13 months is a big girl?) and used a real cup! She did a great job! Actually, I think she's neater than her brother. BTW, the Princess had the "girly" lunch (spinach quiche, fruit cup, and bottled water).

Mommy Tip of The Week...

A frozen banana on a stick is great for teething and for bringing down a fever!!! Laundry basket is optional!

Yes, we are feeling better.

Yes, it's true. Kieren and I are feeling better. I still get really tired and just want to hide in my bed, but with a wild toddler in the house that isn't going to happen. Thank you to everyone who sent me a note! It's nice to know that someone is thinking of you when your husband doesn't get that you are really sick!! Although he did stay home on Friday to "help" me.

I will post some photos later today, but while Kieren is sleeping I need a shower and nap! Later!!!