January 23, 2012

Gong Xi Fa Cai

CNYSophieIsabelle-12

Today is the start of Chinese New Year. And, around these parts, that means bringing out the Chinese silks. And celebrating our kids' Chinese heritage. I had every intention of trying to get everyone in their silks today. And pictures taken. But the sun just did not want to cooperate. Eventually, I just quit waiting and took the girls out on the porch for some pictures. That is, after dressing them in their new silks. And fixing their hair. And grabbing a few of their favorite things. And I'm so glad I did. We ended … [Read more...]

29 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, celebrations, China, Isabelle, Sophie
December 25, 2011

Sunday Snapshot: {Christmas in pictures}

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*********************************************************** If you're ready to link up this week with your Sunday (or Monday or Tuesday) Snapshot, just copy the code under the Snapshot button and paste it into the body of your post where you'd like the button to be displayed. Because it's Christmas, and lots of y'all are probably otherwise occupied, I'm going to leave the link open until Tuesday night. When you hit 'publish' it should show up just fine. Then add your link below. Wondering what the heck Sunday Snapshot is? Visit here for the … [Read more...]

17 Comments
Posted Under: a-bone, celebrations, d-bomb, Isabelle, Jude, Poppy, Shepherd, Sophie, Sunday Snapshot, Vivienne
December 15, 2011

a gift

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Someone blessed Isabelle with a surprise gift this Christmas. And, because I'm crazy that way, I decided to let her open it up before Christmas. Okay, that and the fact that it wasn't actually a "Christmas" present. The gifting just happened to coincide with the Christmas season. And, to be completely honest, I let her go ahead and open it because I could not wait to see the joy on her face when she opened it. And boy, was I right. She lit up brighter than the Christmas tree behind her when she unwrapped her gift. Thank you, sweet … [Read more...]

6 Comments
Posted Under: Isabelle
November 18, 2011

the glasses

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I had to share these, for favorite photo Friday. Not so much for how much I love the photos. But for how much I love what the photos represent. Specifically, those glasses. Isabelle 'bought' those glasses today from her school 'store'. With 'bucks' she's collected over the last few months for good behavior. Good behavior, y'all. Which, despite her best efforts, has been a challenge for her in the past. I tell ya. This girl never ceases to amaze me. I am so glad that out of all the momma's on the planet, God chose me … [Read more...]

14 Comments
Posted Under: Isabelle, photography
October 13, 2011

reading eggs. really?

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Meet Isabelle's newest friend. Reading Eggs. She spent the day at home yesterday due to a short-lived upset tummy - as in, she threw up on the bus on the way to school. So sorry, Ms. Fran. I owe you a big batch of brownies. By late morning we'd gone through all the Bob Books we could find. And several math worksheets. Out of desperation curiosity I logged on to a website that had been recommended by one of her teachers. I'd been a bit put off by the name... Reading Eggs. Really? What kind of name is that? Within 5 minutes, we'd signed up for a … [Read more...]

7 Comments
Posted Under: homeschool, Isabelle
September 30, 2011

this girl

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... is determined. She managed to convince her other front tooth to come on out. Despite the fact that it was really no where near ready. I'm so grateful that she's got that tenacious spirit... because she gonna need it. She's making progress at school, but the upshot of our recent IEP meeting was that she might be ADHD. And that she might benefit from medication. Oy. After I picked my jaw up and I quit trying to shoot daggers out of my eyes, I listened to what they had to say. And now we struggle with the weight of what to do. Isabelle … [Read more...]

46 Comments
Posted Under: Isabelle, real life
September 11, 2011

Sunday Snapshot: {the tooth}

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So the question has been posed several times lately. Did that tooth ever come out? And I am happy to report that yes, yes it did. It came out with a solid 1/4 inch of root still attached, too. But that's our Isabelle. Ready or not, once she wanted that tooth out, it was coming out. And, clearly, she's pretty jazzed about it. Pretty jazzed about life in general, really. She is in 1st grade this year. At an entirely new school. Isabelle craves structure, and routine. So she doesn't do so well with change. But she's coping … [Read more...]

18 Comments
Posted Under: Isabelle, Sunday Snapshot
September 7, 2011

good golly

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This girl. A few weeks ago she decided that it was time for her ever-so-slightly wiggly front tooth to come out. NOW. Several times she asked me simply to pull it out. But I reminded her that it had to actually be loose first. Evidently she took those words to heart. After spending most of last night wiggling her tooth, that bad boy is now barely hanging on. Good golly. I hope it's out soon, my stomach can't take much more of this. … [Read more...]

21 Comments
Posted Under: Isabelle
August 25, 2011

first day of school

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Mission accomplished. Just 179 more mornings to go. Everyone was riding high on adrenaline this morning, so really things went much better than I had anticipated. That, and the fact that I had followed y'alls advice. And had done pretty much everything - besides put the kids on the bus - last night. It was pretty stinkin' dark this morning, though. Sitting at the breakfast table and glancing outside, Sophie asked if it was still night. And Isabelle said, "Mommy, I see the moon! It feels like night-night time!" Oh yes it does, … [Read more...]

23 Comments
Posted Under: a-bone, d-bomb, Isabelle, Sophie
June 28, 2011

Isabelle turns 7

Isabelle is 7-0379

I know. A lot of birthdays going on around here. June brings three birthdays for our family. And July brings two. And despite the frequency of birthdays during these two months, we do our best to make each birthday special. We celebrated Isabelle's big day yesterday. She had been counting down for the last 10 days. About the time we went shopping for supplies for her big day. We hit T@rget for her choice of party favors: wands, balloons, bubbles and whistles. And the commissary for her choice of snacks: Doritos, Juicy Juice … [Read more...]

30 Comments
Posted Under: celebrations, Isabelle