Okay, might need to scroll over to actually see the article...8 LCDs in One
I want this monitor! LOL I doubt I could make this a "need" at this time, but hey, I can dream.
8 LCS in One
Referrals through Sept 8 are coming! Which means our "LID date" for a referral is what...ummm...365+6 = 371 days away. Coming down, slowly, but coming down!!! However, we're pretty sure we'll get a question in Review so we all know that this will actually make our LID pretty much useless. *sigh* According to Dh's spreadsheet (which he's running based off of all the places LIDs are listed), we have a chance of getting our NSN referral in Feb 2008.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Just a few from our Thanksgiving
We went to Dollywood on Saturday for an enjoyable time with my Mom, brother and his girlfriend. It was rather pleasant until the sun went down, then it got a wee bit COLD for my taste. Those of you that live out of the Southeast US don't laugh at me, but I was freezing. Yes, it was a mighty cold 50ish degrees outside. LOL
I got my hair straightened a couple of weeks ago, and had not gotten a picture for my friends. Here's me with Samuel (notice the STRAIGHT hair)! This is a huge deal for me as I've lived with this extremely curly hair for my entire life. I told Dh that I was turning into a high maintenance gal this year. Who knows, I might even *gasp* start wearing makeup!
Samuel, at his shrimpy size, is still not tall enough to ride rollercoasters. However, JM is. He's my thrill ride junkie. When we go to Disney, he begs to ride Mission Space over and over and over and over again. He managed 7 times in one trip once. We were considering paying people to sit next to him. So, here is his reaction to Thunderhead, a wooden rollercoaster at Dollywood. He's ridden it a few times, but this time he and Dh rode it in the front seat. I think he liked it.
I have a "tree" image as well for the Friday Fun Foto challenge it's not MY tree, but one at Dollywood. Anyway, it's a huge tree in the middle of Dollywood (real tree) that they wrapped every branch with blue lights. Pretty darn cool in person. Not so cool in a photo where you don't really see it. My excuse? I only took the point and shoot. If I'd have had the "big" camera, I could have exposed it properly, done my magic on it and voila a wonderful image of this awesome tree. So, sorry, you just have to imagine it all beautiful!
I got my hair straightened a couple of weeks ago, and had not gotten a picture for my friends. Here's me with Samuel (notice the STRAIGHT hair)! This is a huge deal for me as I've lived with this extremely curly hair for my entire life. I told Dh that I was turning into a high maintenance gal this year. Who knows, I might even *gasp* start wearing makeup!
Samuel, at his shrimpy size, is still not tall enough to ride rollercoasters. However, JM is. He's my thrill ride junkie. When we go to Disney, he begs to ride Mission Space over and over and over and over again. He managed 7 times in one trip once. We were considering paying people to sit next to him. So, here is his reaction to Thunderhead, a wooden rollercoaster at Dollywood. He's ridden it a few times, but this time he and Dh rode it in the front seat. I think he liked it.
I have a "tree" image as well for the Friday Fun Foto challenge it's not MY tree, but one at Dollywood. Anyway, it's a huge tree in the middle of Dollywood (real tree) that they wrapped every branch with blue lights. Pretty darn cool in person. Not so cool in a photo where you don't really see it. My excuse? I only took the point and shoot. If I'd have had the "big" camera, I could have exposed it properly, done my magic on it and voila a wonderful image of this awesome tree. So, sorry, you just have to imagine it all beautiful!
Sunday, November 26, 2006
A family Thanksgiving adventure.
Having been swamped with clients the past couple of weeks (still barely keeping my head above water there), we took the boys to visit Grandma and Grandpa for Thanksgiving. Ahh, nothing like doing 5 loads of laundry Tuesday evening/night/wee early hours of Wednesday, frantically packing, then realize the van is totally and completely DISGUSTING and in need of a good cleaning, only to realize that half of the city had the same realization at the automatic car wash (hey it was like 40 degrees outside and I refuse to wash the van with the boys in THAT weather), and THEN finally getting out the door only to turn around because you forgot to put the trashbag with the rotten smelly eggs in their containers out in the trashbin. LOL
So, finally, we get to Grandmas and I sigh in happiness in NOT HAVING BROUGHT work with me! Yippee!!! 3 full days of NO work. So, I bake some desserts, read a book, and relax.
Thanksgiving morning I get up and help Mom with dinner, watch TV, get dressed, and then go with Dad to pick up my grandmother from the assisted living home. My grandmother has had 2 major strokes this year, and the doctors feel like it is only a matter of time before she has another. Anyway, Grandma is a bit feisty still, and we had a fairly good visit. I enjoyed seeing her at any rate. :) Knowing how fast life passes you by, I cherished getting to see her. Dad takes her "home" and then when he gets back Dad, Dh, and JM all go to bed around 6pm. Yes...my 8 year old voluntarily went to bed at 6pm! Guess he was tired. Dh was tired as well. Me? I read another book. LOL Well, Dh had been scouring the Black Friday ads for weeks, and had decided to brave the crowds. Imagine his surprise when Thursday afternoon he found out he could buy some things online?! It was great, and reduced his need to 1 store. Since he went to bed at 6pm, he woke up at 2:15 AM. Yes, 2:15. He was out of the door at 3AM, standing in line at 3:30-3:45AM. Me? I was happily snoozing away, nice and warm in BED! LOL Circuit City was his store of choice, and he got all he wanted (except for the free camera because of a non-moving line he got into). However, he was done around 8am. He called me, told me he was on his way back. I was preparing to leave with Mom and my sister to go to visit my other Grandmother where my cousin was having a baby shower (yes a 3 hour drive there, 2 hour baby shower, and a 3 hour drive back) so I told him I'd see him later.
20 minutes later he calls to tell me he has lost his wallet. ACK! I ask if he checked the car really well (he's done this before but the wallet was in the car). He said he had. So, I start the exhausting process of cancelling the cards. PSA only carry those cards you are going to be using! Well, after getting the 4 cards cancelled, we commisserate over the lost "free meals" on the frequent diner cards. 4 hours later...he calls again. Guess what? The wallet was under the driver's seat. *explecitive* I'm now trying to remember what was on the cards that was "auto-draft" so I can call tomorrow and get that sorted out. Only one I'm needing is the card I use for business, and that is because my main work source needs to have something ordered TONIGHT, so I'm going to call tomorrow morning and see if I can have an account opened with them for the next week so I can make my orders.
I get home finally...Dh leaves with my Dad. He forgot his cell phone at the house, and panics that he lost it. ARGH. Then Saturday morning we get up to go to Dollywood and Dh can't find his wallet again. This time he checks the car REALLY well, and it's there.
Yes, I've had loads of fun teasing him about his lost wallet. LOL
We had fun at Dollywood, it was nice.
So, finally, we get to Grandmas and I sigh in happiness in NOT HAVING BROUGHT work with me! Yippee!!! 3 full days of NO work. So, I bake some desserts, read a book, and relax.
Thanksgiving morning I get up and help Mom with dinner, watch TV, get dressed, and then go with Dad to pick up my grandmother from the assisted living home. My grandmother has had 2 major strokes this year, and the doctors feel like it is only a matter of time before she has another. Anyway, Grandma is a bit feisty still, and we had a fairly good visit. I enjoyed seeing her at any rate. :) Knowing how fast life passes you by, I cherished getting to see her. Dad takes her "home" and then when he gets back Dad, Dh, and JM all go to bed around 6pm. Yes...my 8 year old voluntarily went to bed at 6pm! Guess he was tired. Dh was tired as well. Me? I read another book. LOL Well, Dh had been scouring the Black Friday ads for weeks, and had decided to brave the crowds. Imagine his surprise when Thursday afternoon he found out he could buy some things online?! It was great, and reduced his need to 1 store. Since he went to bed at 6pm, he woke up at 2:15 AM. Yes, 2:15. He was out of the door at 3AM, standing in line at 3:30-3:45AM. Me? I was happily snoozing away, nice and warm in BED! LOL Circuit City was his store of choice, and he got all he wanted (except for the free camera because of a non-moving line he got into). However, he was done around 8am. He called me, told me he was on his way back. I was preparing to leave with Mom and my sister to go to visit my other Grandmother where my cousin was having a baby shower (yes a 3 hour drive there, 2 hour baby shower, and a 3 hour drive back) so I told him I'd see him later.
20 minutes later he calls to tell me he has lost his wallet. ACK! I ask if he checked the car really well (he's done this before but the wallet was in the car). He said he had. So, I start the exhausting process of cancelling the cards. PSA only carry those cards you are going to be using! Well, after getting the 4 cards cancelled, we commisserate over the lost "free meals" on the frequent diner cards. 4 hours later...he calls again. Guess what? The wallet was under the driver's seat. *explecitive* I'm now trying to remember what was on the cards that was "auto-draft" so I can call tomorrow and get that sorted out. Only one I'm needing is the card I use for business, and that is because my main work source needs to have something ordered TONIGHT, so I'm going to call tomorrow morning and see if I can have an account opened with them for the next week so I can make my orders.
I get home finally...Dh leaves with my Dad. He forgot his cell phone at the house, and panics that he lost it. ARGH. Then Saturday morning we get up to go to Dollywood and Dh can't find his wallet again. This time he checks the car REALLY well, and it's there.
Yes, I've had loads of fun teasing him about his lost wallet. LOL
We had fun at Dollywood, it was nice.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
I blinked and it's Thanksgiving!
Does this ever happen to anyone else? You vividly remember taking the kids Trick or Treating, and then you blinked and it's now suddenly Thanksgiving? Where did the time go? I mean, it's good that it went by so fast and I really hope the rest of the "Big Colossal WAIT" goes this fast, but WOAH where did the time go?
I think being extremely busy is one help. I'm currently buried in client stuff with my home business. Working from home AND homeschooling requires tons of organizational skills of which I have none. So, since I know this about myself we were already over 90 days into our school year so the past 1.5 weeks have been "Thanksgiving Break" for JM. He's loved it. My house has not. Unfortunately I promised the kids that we could put up the tree before Thanksgiving...and now I'm not sure we'll get it done.
I did manage to work on our Christmas card image...all I hope is that the rest of you in blogger land had an easier time of it than I did.
I'm seriously considering that feet photo for our card.
and ON that note, I had this brilliat idea to do a "Christmas Sock Feet" photo of all of us. Target only had Christmas socks for Women and Girls. So, I bought my pair, and bought girl socks for the boys (in a more gender neutral design...you know green with Santa or blue with snowmen...not the red with girly colored ornaments). JM can read, and he saw "Girls Socks" and that was the end of that BRILLIANT idea. Humph. I can not wait for Katie to be part of this family so I can do girly things, but yes I'm prepared for even her to turn up her nose at the idea of Girly Christmas Socks.
I think being extremely busy is one help. I'm currently buried in client stuff with my home business. Working from home AND homeschooling requires tons of organizational skills of which I have none. So, since I know this about myself we were already over 90 days into our school year so the past 1.5 weeks have been "Thanksgiving Break" for JM. He's loved it. My house has not. Unfortunately I promised the kids that we could put up the tree before Thanksgiving...and now I'm not sure we'll get it done.
I did manage to work on our Christmas card image...all I hope is that the rest of you in blogger land had an easier time of it than I did.
I'm seriously considering that feet photo for our card.
and ON that note, I had this brilliat idea to do a "Christmas Sock Feet" photo of all of us. Target only had Christmas socks for Women and Girls. So, I bought my pair, and bought girl socks for the boys (in a more gender neutral design...you know green with Santa or blue with snowmen...not the red with girly colored ornaments). JM can read, and he saw "Girls Socks" and that was the end of that BRILLIANT idea. Humph. I can not wait for Katie to be part of this family so I can do girly things, but yes I'm prepared for even her to turn up her nose at the idea of Girly Christmas Socks.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Katie's future room
oh my is it fun to look for bedding and decorations for Katie's room. My biggest problem is that I find I like it all. I'm at a total loss as to what I want to do. I fell in love with this Pottery Barn set, and was quietly saving up money for it. However, when we moved the boys into 1 room, we had to decide which bed set to keep for Katie's room (on the floor without a frame). The twin bed or the full bed? The full bed means family visiting will actually have a place to sleep. The twin bed means Katie has more room to move around and play. The full bed means that she can sleep on the bed with me or Dh when we get home. The twin bed means her crib will actually fit in the room. LOL Then there is the whole question of if we move and Katie is in her own room, what size bedding will she need then. I need to figure out which size bed she will HAVE when we move. Her furniture is pretty girly, so the boys won't want it. S has had it for a little while, but since he was a baby/toddler it didn't really matter. One boy will get the bunkbed set, the other will get the maple furniture that is currently in about 3 bedrooms! LOL Hmmm...the full size bed frame matches the maple furniture, so I guess Katie will get the twin...but I could always order her a white bedframe in full size...right?
Why is this important? well, that set I love at Pottery Barn will not be there for a long time. I need to decide WHICH size I need now.
bit of a stressful situation trying to decide. So stressful I may just ignore it all and NOT order it. Who knows, something better may come along. I think she needs the twin size, but who knows if I will even LIKE this bedding when she's ready for it.
Guess I should wait huh? But I want to start on her room so badly (since I can't feed that shopping habit with buying baby girl clothes!).
Why is this important? well, that set I love at Pottery Barn will not be there for a long time. I need to decide WHICH size I need now.
bit of a stressful situation trying to decide. So stressful I may just ignore it all and NOT order it. Who knows, something better may come along. I think she needs the twin size, but who knows if I will even LIKE this bedding when she's ready for it.
Guess I should wait huh? But I want to start on her room so badly (since I can't feed that shopping habit with buying baby girl clothes!).
Forgot to cross off days on that referall list...
Made it to August 25 (but some were "skipped" and will come up later, but I'm not going to think of that happening to me!).
So, August 25, 2005-August 25, 2006 = 365 days
August 25-August 31, 2006 = 6 days
August 31-September 14, 2006 = 14 days
Grand total of...385 days of dossiers ahead of us!
So, August 25, 2005-August 25, 2006 = 365 days
August 25-August 31, 2006 = 6 days
August 31-September 14, 2006 = 14 days
Grand total of...385 days of dossiers ahead of us!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Friday's Photo Challenge
Doublehappiness posts a Friday Foto Fun challenge, and this week was "crybabies" and while I know I have some of my boys crying somewhere, there are not any on this computer that I can find!
So, instead, I'm doing a "Pouty-Baby" but Samuel will be the first to proclaim "I'm not a BABY, I'm a BIG boy!" So, I guess pouty-boy will have to be our cry-baby this week. LOL
So, instead, I'm doing a "Pouty-Baby" but Samuel will be the first to proclaim "I'm not a BABY, I'm a BIG boy!" So, I guess pouty-boy will have to be our cry-baby this week. LOL
Friday, November 10, 2006
Insomnia, caffeine, and a good fluffy romance novel
add up to me being awake at 3 AM. egads I'm in for it in the morning. The boys (who also went to bed late) will still be up bright and early, but they will also be whiney. Oh the JOYS of parenthood.
since it's 3am, I have also forgotten this great topic for a blog post. Guess that fluffy romance novel had more mind numbing powers than I thought. ;) Hey, it was nice and relaxing to lay on the couch for a few hours reading about Knights in medival times. Why is it I never can seem to remember HOW to spell that word?
OH, exciting news is that JM got a 93% on his spelling test today!!! He, unfortunately, got his father's genes in spelling. I know he'll make a grand engineer one day as I swear he could spell the simplest word 5 different ways and all of them wrong after studying it for 2 weeks straight! I find it endearing since Dh has financial spelled wrong on 3 different budgeting spreadsheets (and yes misspelled 3 different ways). But JM, as a 2nd grader, really does need to learn how to spell such words as hundred, circle, force, and porcupine correctly. So, we celebrated his 93% tonight with a meal out where kids eat free.
since it's 3am, I have also forgotten this great topic for a blog post. Guess that fluffy romance novel had more mind numbing powers than I thought. ;) Hey, it was nice and relaxing to lay on the couch for a few hours reading about Knights in medival times. Why is it I never can seem to remember HOW to spell that word?
OH, exciting news is that JM got a 93% on his spelling test today!!! He, unfortunately, got his father's genes in spelling. I know he'll make a grand engineer one day as I swear he could spell the simplest word 5 different ways and all of them wrong after studying it for 2 weeks straight! I find it endearing since Dh has financial spelled wrong on 3 different budgeting spreadsheets (and yes misspelled 3 different ways). But JM, as a 2nd grader, really does need to learn how to spell such words as hundred, circle, force, and porcupine correctly. So, we celebrated his 93% tonight with a meal out where kids eat free.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
disjointed update...
I'm procrastinating on a bit of a updated paperwork for our dossier, which will in turn require an update to our homestudy, which in turns needs to all be notarized, certified and authenticated. Oh joy joy.
In other exciting news, I heard through the grapevine that my agency has requested the next Waiting Children list. I hope and pray that we get a referral on it this time. Trying to remember what all I put down so I can update and put in other conditions I've educated myself on that I feel we could handle in our family.
I started on my first preparations for Katie in our lives. The boys are now proud owners of bunkbeds. Which also meant I painted their room. I took photos of it, but have not yet been able to get them web-ready. So far, we've only had a few jumping off the ladder to the floor or bottom bed. Both boys have hit their head on the ceiling from standing on the top bunk. Both boys seem to have a harder time going to sleep now due to talking to each other! Of course, being brothers, I've also had my share of going in there to break up arguments, and soothed my share of bumps. So far though I think they like them. S, the 4 year old, was scared of the bottom because it was so dark underneath. Oops! Dh went to get a nightlight (did you know they make an LED all in one piece that can't be taken apart easily version?), and he found one that has color changing lights. The first night we heard S exclaim "Ooooh pretty colors!" Which of course had us laughing! I will say the "pretty colors" kept S still and entertained long enough for him to fall asleep.
I want to join in the photo challenges, but who has TIME? So, I guess I'll just add some fall foliage photos instead! :)
In other exciting news, I heard through the grapevine that my agency has requested the next Waiting Children list. I hope and pray that we get a referral on it this time. Trying to remember what all I put down so I can update and put in other conditions I've educated myself on that I feel we could handle in our family.
I started on my first preparations for Katie in our lives. The boys are now proud owners of bunkbeds. Which also meant I painted their room. I took photos of it, but have not yet been able to get them web-ready. So far, we've only had a few jumping off the ladder to the floor or bottom bed. Both boys have hit their head on the ceiling from standing on the top bunk. Both boys seem to have a harder time going to sleep now due to talking to each other! Of course, being brothers, I've also had my share of going in there to break up arguments, and soothed my share of bumps. So far though I think they like them. S, the 4 year old, was scared of the bottom because it was so dark underneath. Oops! Dh went to get a nightlight (did you know they make an LED all in one piece that can't be taken apart easily version?), and he found one that has color changing lights. The first night we heard S exclaim "Ooooh pretty colors!" Which of course had us laughing! I will say the "pretty colors" kept S still and entertained long enough for him to fall asleep.
I want to join in the photo challenges, but who has TIME? So, I guess I'll just add some fall foliage photos instead! :)
disjointed update...
I'm procrastinating on a bit of a updated paperwork for our dossier, which will in turn require an update to our homestudy, which in turns needs to all be notarized, certified and authenticated. Oh joy joy.
In other exciting news, I heard through the grapevine that my agency has requested the next Waiting Children list. I hope and pray that we get a referral on it this time. Trying to remember what all I put down so I can update and put in other conditions I've educated myself on that I feel we could handle in our family.
I started on my first preparations for Katie in our lives. The boys are now proud owners of bunkbeds. Which also meant I painted their room. I took photos of it, but have not yet been able to get them web-ready. So far, we've only had a few jumping off the ladder to the floor or bottom bed. Both boys have hit their head on the ceiling from standing on the top bunk. Both boys seem to have a harder time going to sleep now due to talking to each other! Of course, being brothers, I've also had my share of going in there to break up arguments, and soothed my share of bumps. So far though I think they like them. S, the 4 year old, was scared of the bottom because it was so dark underneath. Oops! Dh went to get a nightlight (did you know they make an LED all in one piece that can't be taken apart easily version?), and he found one that has color changing lights. The first night we heard S exclaim "Ooooh pretty colors!" Which of course had us laughing! I will say the "pretty colors" kept S still and entertained long enough for him to fall asleep.
I want to join in the photo challenges, but who has TIME? So, I guess I'll just add some fall foliage photos instead! :)
In other exciting news, I heard through the grapevine that my agency has requested the next Waiting Children list. I hope and pray that we get a referral on it this time. Trying to remember what all I put down so I can update and put in other conditions I've educated myself on that I feel we could handle in our family.
I started on my first preparations for Katie in our lives. The boys are now proud owners of bunkbeds. Which also meant I painted their room. I took photos of it, but have not yet been able to get them web-ready. So far, we've only had a few jumping off the ladder to the floor or bottom bed. Both boys have hit their head on the ceiling from standing on the top bunk. Both boys seem to have a harder time going to sleep now due to talking to each other! Of course, being brothers, I've also had my share of going in there to break up arguments, and soothed my share of bumps. So far though I think they like them. S, the 4 year old, was scared of the bottom because it was so dark underneath. Oops! Dh went to get a nightlight (did you know they make an LED all in one piece that can't be taken apart easily version?), and he found one that has color changing lights. The first night we heard S exclaim "Ooooh pretty colors!" Which of course had us laughing! I will say the "pretty colors" kept S still and entertained long enough for him to fall asleep.
I want to join in the photo challenges, but who has TIME? So, I guess I'll just add some fall foliage photos instead! :)
Friday, October 27, 2006
Dove's Campaign
Dove's Film - Evolution
If you have not seen this yet, please take the 1 minute it takes to view it. Amazing evolution of a woman to model and all that goes into it. Our daughters NEED to know this is how it is done. Our daughters (and sons) need to know what REAL BEAUTY is.
If you have not seen this yet, please take the 1 minute it takes to view it. Amazing evolution of a woman to model and all that goes into it. Our daughters NEED to know this is how it is done. Our daughters (and sons) need to know what REAL BEAUTY is.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
If I had 5 minutes...
If I had five minutes to myself, I'd
#1 I'd check Rumor Queen
#2 I'd drink a Dr. Pepper
#3 I'd check my Mommy blogs
#4 Find a book to read
#5 Eat something chocolate!
If I had $5 to spend, I'd
#1 Buy a new fluffy romance novel
#2 Buy a package of playdoh as it keeps S entertained for hours
#3 I'd rent a movie for the kids, so I can read that fluffy romance novel.
#4 I'd call my best friend who is long distance
#5 I'd take the kids to buy a treat from the dollar store.
Five Items I'd love to get rid of:
#1 All sibling rivalry in my house. AMEN!
#2 All whining in my house. AMEN again!
#3 Excess hand-me-down furniture that causes my house to be cluttered with junk
#4 The clutter all over my desk and Dh's desk.
#5 The waiting for our daughter's referral.
Five Items I wouldn't part with:
#1 My books.
#2 The hugs and kisses from my kids (and Dh too I guess) ;)
#3 My Bible
#4 My friends
#5 The internet
Five Words or Phrases I'd love to hear:
#1 This is Amy/Allison from your agency, I have a picture here of a beautiful little girl for you!
#2 This is your agency, I know you just got your referral today, but we have your Travel Approval in hand and you leave tomorrow.
#3 Dh to me, "Just sit down and read your book, we're going to clean the house spotlessly clean"
#4 Dh to me, "I'm taking the kids out for the day, the house is clean, please do whatever you would like to do all day long."
#5 "Mom, I'm totally caught up on my school work, can I have more to do?"
Well, my five minutes are up! If you haven't done this one, consider yourself tagged! Let me know in the comments if you do it, so I can come visit yours:)
#1 I'd check Rumor Queen
#2 I'd drink a Dr. Pepper
#3 I'd check my Mommy blogs
#4 Find a book to read
#5 Eat something chocolate!
If I had $5 to spend, I'd
#1 Buy a new fluffy romance novel
#2 Buy a package of playdoh as it keeps S entertained for hours
#3 I'd rent a movie for the kids, so I can read that fluffy romance novel.
#4 I'd call my best friend who is long distance
#5 I'd take the kids to buy a treat from the dollar store.
Five Items I'd love to get rid of:
#1 All sibling rivalry in my house. AMEN!
#2 All whining in my house. AMEN again!
#3 Excess hand-me-down furniture that causes my house to be cluttered with junk
#4 The clutter all over my desk and Dh's desk.
#5 The waiting for our daughter's referral.
Five Items I wouldn't part with:
#1 My books.
#2 The hugs and kisses from my kids (and Dh too I guess) ;)
#3 My Bible
#4 My friends
#5 The internet
Five Words or Phrases I'd love to hear:
#1 This is Amy/Allison from your agency, I have a picture here of a beautiful little girl for you!
#2 This is your agency, I know you just got your referral today, but we have your Travel Approval in hand and you leave tomorrow.
#3 Dh to me, "Just sit down and read your book, we're going to clean the house spotlessly clean"
#4 Dh to me, "I'm taking the kids out for the day, the house is clean, please do whatever you would like to do all day long."
#5 "Mom, I'm totally caught up on my school work, can I have more to do?"
Well, my five minutes are up! If you haven't done this one, consider yourself tagged! Let me know in the comments if you do it, so I can come visit yours:)
Please support Hunter!
Over the past few months I've been following this little girl name Hunter. I've never met her, only know of her through a friend who has met her and her family. Hunter is fighting cancer again (she relapsed), and Hunter is 4 years old.
"Hunter is the 2006 "Taco Bell kid" for Taco Bell's annual Jimmy Fund fundraising campaign! From today, October 18th, to November 8th, Taco Bells in New England and parts of New York will be asking for donations to the Jimmy Fund. Hunter's cute little face is on all of the promotional materials."
her Caringbridge site is here.
Reading this journal, and others like it, remind me everyday that our children are truly blessed to be healthy. I hope that all these little warriors survive, but I also pray for a cure...and soon. I can only imagine what their courageous parents go through, what these precious children go through, and I pray I never find out because I'm not strong like that. I don't want to be a downer, but truly, the Jimmy Fund needs all our help and these little kids need our prayers and support as well.
"Hunter is the 2006 "Taco Bell kid" for Taco Bell's annual Jimmy Fund fundraising campaign! From today, October 18th, to November 8th, Taco Bells in New England and parts of New York will be asking for donations to the Jimmy Fund. Hunter's cute little face is on all of the promotional materials."
her Caringbridge site is here.
Reading this journal, and others like it, remind me everyday that our children are truly blessed to be healthy. I hope that all these little warriors survive, but I also pray for a cure...and soon. I can only imagine what their courageous parents go through, what these precious children go through, and I pray I never find out because I'm not strong like that. I don't want to be a downer, but truly, the Jimmy Fund needs all our help and these little kids need our prayers and support as well.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Brown envelope and profound thoughts...
Got our Brown Envelope yesterday!!! :) Nice surprise in the mailbox, and it made it all seem so much more REAL to Dh and I. Now, I'm impatient for that referral. LOL I have...what...23 more months to WAIT?!
okay, here's the profound thought for the day.
The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz
http://www.miguelruiz.com/teachings/fouragreements.html
* Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
* Don’t Take Anything Personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
* Don’t Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
* Always Do Your Best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
okay, here's the profound thought for the day.
The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz
http://www.miguelruiz.com/teachings/fouragreements.html
* Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
* Don’t Take Anything Personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
* Don’t Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
* Always Do Your Best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Celebrated my youngest's bday
We had a Pirate party theme, and despite the wanting to switch a week ago to a Star Wars party...it went great. Moon bounce, running around, and playing Pirate when you are 4 is just grand.
I made "Great Mommy" status today though with the party. S LOVED his cakes. Yes, I had a "brain fart" when I saw the cake on Family Fun's website. What in the world was I thinking? Okay, other than "COOL CAKE!"
Okay, the 2 "Pirate Ships" were indeed cake and frosting (and probably about 2 pounds of wood after all the toothpicks and wooden skewers I had to use to try and hold them together). I put Playmobil pirates on them, made the sails, Nestle treasures for "treasure" on the ship, and a Playmobil treasure chest on the cake-taker. Rolos were for "gold" and MilkDuds were cannonballs. Pretty clever of Family Fun I thought to use those (see I'm not even trying to take credit for THAT creativity).
The 2 blue circle cakes were "ocean" cakes and what we actually ended up eating. Again, playmobil pirates and Disney pirates for decorations. Plastic gold coins on the table in place of confetti for decorations. I do take credit for this creativity, although the "ocean cakes" were always my plan for backup if I could not get the ships assembled. I had not thought of the scenario of getting the ships assembled but they probably are not edible!
The kids all LOVED it of course, which made it worthwhile. But oh my am I ever TIRED now.
I made "Great Mommy" status today though with the party. S LOVED his cakes. Yes, I had a "brain fart" when I saw the cake on Family Fun's website. What in the world was I thinking? Okay, other than "COOL CAKE!"
Okay, the 2 "Pirate Ships" were indeed cake and frosting (and probably about 2 pounds of wood after all the toothpicks and wooden skewers I had to use to try and hold them together). I put Playmobil pirates on them, made the sails, Nestle treasures for "treasure" on the ship, and a Playmobil treasure chest on the cake-taker. Rolos were for "gold" and MilkDuds were cannonballs. Pretty clever of Family Fun I thought to use those (see I'm not even trying to take credit for THAT creativity).
The 2 blue circle cakes were "ocean" cakes and what we actually ended up eating. Again, playmobil pirates and Disney pirates for decorations. Plastic gold coins on the table in place of confetti for decorations. I do take credit for this creativity, although the "ocean cakes" were always my plan for backup if I could not get the ships assembled. I had not thought of the scenario of getting the ships assembled but they probably are not edible!
The kids all LOVED it of course, which made it worthwhile. But oh my am I ever TIRED now.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
all these referrals...
I'm so excited to read these referrals and see the pics of the babies. It's always a happy day. But this month, oh THIS month is even more exciting to me than before. Why? Because this month I can cross off DAYS from where they are referring to where MY LID is!
So, August 9, 2005 - August 9, 2006 = 365 days
August 9,2006 - September 9, 2006 = 31 days
September 9, 2006 - September 14, 2006 = 5 days.
Grand total = 401 days!
(let's use EASY numbers of 400 days and 20 days of LID per referral batch)...at this rate, it will be 20 months until we get a referral. Still within that 18-24 month range I've prepared myself for. :) I like that it is closer to 18 months though. I still seriously doubt I'll know anything before 2008 (for NSN).
So, August 9, 2005 - August 9, 2006 = 365 days
August 9,2006 - September 9, 2006 = 31 days
September 9, 2006 - September 14, 2006 = 5 days.
Grand total = 401 days!
(let's use EASY numbers of 400 days and 20 days of LID per referral batch)...at this rate, it will be 20 months until we get a referral. Still within that 18-24 month range I've prepared myself for. :) I like that it is closer to 18 months though. I still seriously doubt I'll know anything before 2008 (for NSN).
Monday, September 25, 2006
1. FIRST NAME? Carla
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? umm...recently but I don't remember when, I was probably frustrated though
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING. No
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? None. Can't stand it. Tomato sandwhich please!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? does an online blog count?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Nope
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Honey Bunches of Oats with Strawberries, or something chocolate
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Sometimes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Monkey Bites from Cold Stone, or Mint Chocolate Chip from Breyers
14. SHOE Size? 7.5
15. RED OR PINK? PINK!!!!!
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My skin condition
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My best friend from High School
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue jeans, no shoes
19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? S fighting sleep, playing with a toy in bed, and Dh is watching the Monday Night Football game.
20. WHERE IS THE ONE PLACE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE RIGHT NOW? In some Civil Affairs office, In China, being handed my baby girl!
21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple
22. FAVORITE SMELL? Buttercream Yankee Candle
23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Gina...no I think it was Christy...NO! Dh on the cell phone tonight trying to find out where I was parked when he got to the softball game!
24. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO?
25. FAVORITE DRINK? Dr. Pepper
26. FAVORITE SPORT? for me to do - Snowskiing, to watch....ummm...baseball?
27. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? Purple
28. HAT SIZE? 7 3/4? Is that a hat size? It's quite large due to the hair.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Chocolate - anything chocolate
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy endings
32. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? rose colored
33. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
34. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
35. FAVORITE DESSERT? anything chocolate
36. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Restricting myself until I'm caught up on business, but it'll be a romance novel of some sort by the end of the week.
37. WHAT'S ON THE MOUSE PAD? Nemo
38. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Amazing Race
39. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SOUNDS? Silence these days. ;) Samuel's BELLY laugh/cackle.
40. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Home? which home? furtherest from where I live now? or furtherest from where I lived at the time I did the travel? LA or San Diego (from here), furtherest "travel" Bahamas
41. WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIAL TALENTS? Photography, cross-stitch, painting (not pictures though)
42 AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Not gonna answer this one. ;) If you are curious, ask me in person.
43. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Got it from Angela
44. WHAT DAY IS IT? Monday, September 25, 2006
Now here's the deal:Leave me a comment if you are going to answer these questions on your blog so I can follow, and get to know you better.
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? umm...recently but I don't remember when, I was probably frustrated though
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING. No
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? None. Can't stand it. Tomato sandwhich please!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? does an online blog count?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Nope
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Honey Bunches of Oats with Strawberries, or something chocolate
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Sometimes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Monkey Bites from Cold Stone, or Mint Chocolate Chip from Breyers
14. SHOE Size? 7.5
15. RED OR PINK? PINK!!!!!
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My skin condition
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My best friend from High School
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue jeans, no shoes
19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? S fighting sleep, playing with a toy in bed, and Dh is watching the Monday Night Football game.
20. WHERE IS THE ONE PLACE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE RIGHT NOW? In some Civil Affairs office, In China, being handed my baby girl!
21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple
22. FAVORITE SMELL? Buttercream Yankee Candle
23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Gina...no I think it was Christy...NO! Dh on the cell phone tonight trying to find out where I was parked when he got to the softball game!
24. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO?
25. FAVORITE DRINK? Dr. Pepper
26. FAVORITE SPORT? for me to do - Snowskiing, to watch....ummm...baseball?
27. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? Purple
28. HAT SIZE? 7 3/4? Is that a hat size? It's quite large due to the hair.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Chocolate - anything chocolate
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy endings
32. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? rose colored
33. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
34. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
35. FAVORITE DESSERT? anything chocolate
36. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Restricting myself until I'm caught up on business, but it'll be a romance novel of some sort by the end of the week.
37. WHAT'S ON THE MOUSE PAD? Nemo
38. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Amazing Race
39. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SOUNDS? Silence these days. ;) Samuel's BELLY laugh/cackle.
40. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Home? which home? furtherest from where I live now? or furtherest from where I lived at the time I did the travel? LA or San Diego (from here), furtherest "travel" Bahamas
41. WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIAL TALENTS? Photography, cross-stitch, painting (not pictures though)
42 AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Not gonna answer this one. ;) If you are curious, ask me in person.
43. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Got it from Angela
44. WHAT DAY IS IT? Monday, September 25, 2006
Now here's the deal:Leave me a comment if you are going to answer these questions on your blog so I can follow, and get to know you better.
Friday, September 22, 2006
We have LID!!!!!
Got word this week, that were Logged In on September 14, 2006!
wow...almost a full month from DTC to LID. Oh well. Now is the time to START counting down to our referral day!
Last month they made it to July 22, 2005, so 365+54= 419 days of dossiers ahead of us! If they average 15 days of dossiers a month, then we are looking at...oh...roughly 28 months until our referral. To keep to 14 months, oh my they need to do 30 dossiers a month. Yeah, I think realistically we are looking at over 14 months for our referral (non-special needs that is).
Regardless, we're excited to have that LID and we celebrated by eating Asian tonight!
wow...almost a full month from DTC to LID. Oh well. Now is the time to START counting down to our referral day!
Last month they made it to July 22, 2005, so 365+54= 419 days of dossiers ahead of us! If they average 15 days of dossiers a month, then we are looking at...oh...roughly 28 months until our referral. To keep to 14 months, oh my they need to do 30 dossiers a month. Yeah, I think realistically we are looking at over 14 months for our referral (non-special needs that is).
Regardless, we're excited to have that LID and we celebrated by eating Asian tonight!
Friday, September 08, 2006
Another ladybug sighting!
Okay, having watched the LID appear for the August 2006 DTC group, I know my LID is coming up soon. :) Basically DTC August 14, 2006 was LID early September. So, 4 days later for our DTC we should be fairly close.
Tonight while out taking photos of a baseball team, I noticed a ladybug on my camera bag. Admist all the rambunctious boys, no flowers to be seen anywhere, just a ball field and there on my bag was a ladybug. Okay, it was a dull orange color and did not have many spots at all...but it was a ladybug. Wonder if our LID is today? September 8, 2006? 9-8-06? Hmmmm...could be. :)
Tonight while out taking photos of a baseball team, I noticed a ladybug on my camera bag. Admist all the rambunctious boys, no flowers to be seen anywhere, just a ball field and there on my bag was a ladybug. Okay, it was a dull orange color and did not have many spots at all...but it was a ladybug. Wonder if our LID is today? September 8, 2006? 9-8-06? Hmmmm...could be. :)
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