Merry Christmas - 2008

Let the spirit of love gently fill our hearts and homes. In this

loveliest of seasons may you find many reasons for happiness.

My original mosaic project

When I started my mosaic class, this was the project I was going to do. However, my first order of business was to "whip up" an angel. After that was done and shipped, I snipped, clipped, glued, grouted and painted up until Christmas Eve in order to give this to my grandmother.

My grandmother loves flowers and her family. So in the corner I created a flower that has a picture of my grandmother as a young girl, then starting with CiBaby (since you all know here beautiful face) going clockwise: CiBaby, G-Mama (my mom), Auntie, Auntie Cat, and yours truly...all as small children. And in the leaf is my uncle.

I really like how it turned out.

It arrived in the nick of time!

I am a lucky gal as I have a group of girlfriends that live all over the world. Each year we either do Secret Santa or an ornament exchange, as was this year. I was lucky enough to get my beautiful friend, J9, who lives in New Zealand as my recipient.

J9 and I have an extra special bond. Not only are we mothers to wonderful, beautiful daughters, both of our daughters came into our families through adoption. Last year, just before Christmas, J9's Christmas Miracle, her little angel, came to be.

Well, the ornament that represents her precious daughter arrived today, Christmas Eve Day (in New Zealand). Whew!

Merry Christmas my friend.




*This was the project I almost burst about several days ago. You can see below the process, pre-grout, during grouting and the finished product (above).

A little diddy, by me

Late to bed and
early to rise, makes
one sappy, feel crappy
with bloodshot eyes.

*Original quote by Ben Franklin

A valuable, and expensive, lesson.

Last night, we spent a very fun evening with our friends, the Kippsters. It was a late night of fun and frolic and we didn't get home until 10:30 PM...it was -6F outside. Upon entering the house I noticed right away that it was really quite cold inside. T-Daddy went to check the thermostat and it read 58F...and dropping.

It had been several years since I had to get the pilot light started.* So after trying, unsuccessfully, to get the furnace started a couple of times myself I called the heating company we use. The guy came out, was down there for a bit with T-Daddy and then, after cleaning the fuse filter and still being unsuccessful, I heard laughter. Apparently CiBaby had turned the gas off to the furnace yesterday when Bopa and Uncle Horsey were here and they were all in the basement. That was a good lesson learned, although I'm not sure it was worth $129!**

*It's a newer furnace that you're not suppose to go anywhere near it with a match to light it.
**He didn't charge us for the fuse filter cleaning, since that wasn't the problem!
Note: T-Daddy felt much better about the money spent since it took the repair guy quite awhile to figure out the gas was turned off.

A good starter for a bucket list

My friend Ker, Leader of the Hutch, got this list from another friend LeAnn's blog and I thought I'd post it here as well. What a great starter of a list of things to do in your life...kind of like that book, 1000 Places to See Before You Die...which of course I have but have never had the chance to sit down and look at it.

Here goes...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars (a tent is as close as I've ever come)
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (I've only been to Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - and how blessed we are!
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (does someone plan to chase me the whole way?!???)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (my mom has a good friend that is Amish)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing (I haven't, but T-Daddy and Big Brother have...and caught a tuna!)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China - and it was spectacular!
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (and it won't happen unless absolutely necessary)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (in college and it wasn't intentional. The company I was doing some work for over winter break...the check they paid ME with bounced, so...)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (I haven't, but T-Daddy has)
77. Broken a bone (toes only)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (ew)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Not too bad, 43%.

Crafting crafting every day

This Crafty CzaMama's fingers have been working over time. If I'm not sewing or beading or crocheting, I'm doing mosaic...my newest endeavor.

For T-Daddy's and my anniversary this year he got me a mosaic class to get me away from the house and expend some of my creative energy. Originally it was set up for July, but the timing didn't work so I saved it until the day before I went Westward. Technically, it was a 4-5 week class that met on Thursday evenings but also included a studio pass to come in any time during the class session. It was great! I love it so much!!!

I'm ready to burst as I want so badly to show you my first completed project. However, it's an ornament and the friend has not received it in the post yet. I really hope she likes it. I like it so much that I'm going to make one for our tree too...after Christmas.

I also am working on another project for Grams (as she doesn't currently have internet access I'm not ruining the surprise). It's going to be a Christmas present...I really need to get clipping and grouting! I will post pictures of both a little later.

Disconcerting - vol. 2

Today CiBaby and I had a day with Auntie and Grams...cookie eating, crafting and tree decorating. But before we drove over their direction we needed to make a quick stop at the post office. So off we went, down the big hill, to get onto the busy street before the highway.

Well, on the big hill I saw some flashing lights (police) about 3/4 the way down...there were 2 of them. In between the two police cars there was a hearse...and a gurney (with a red bag and blanket thrown over the top of it) that had fallen out the back door and rolled a little ways down the hill.*

I don't know about you, but I certainly hope it was empty. However, I don't think it was. Yikes.

*Yes, I had my camera, but it all happened so fast and the hill was a bit slippery that I didn't get it out.

Odd things found in a jacket/coat pocket

I'm not talking about the spare change or even bills, but the really odd things.

Today T-Daddy and I were digging around in the garage, finding things we needed to bring inside, including a container of my winter jackets (yes, plural...and it's more than 2. Hey, I live on the Tundra, give me a break!). While pulling out my black leather jacket I could tell there was something in the inside pocket. At first by the jingle and bulk I thought it was a set of keys we've been looking for, but no.

Now, I must preface this by saying, I think I haven't worn this jacket in several years because of weird circumstances, but I still love it.

I reach my hand into the pocket and pull out a fist full of miscellaneous things...a pen, a couple receipts, spare change and a lipstick. At further examination this wasn't any old lipstick...it was in the shape of a penis. Yes, you read that correctly. Male genitalia, circumcised no less. I have NO idea where it came from, I can't believe I would have purchased anything like that and not remembered it. The only thing that could have made that find better is if there was a condom in the pocket next to the lipstick.

So what interesting things have you found in your jacket pockets?

Gourmet Girl

What did your toddler ask you for lunch today?


Mine asked for the carmelized onion (aged) cheddar cheese we sampled and purchased at our neighborhood co-op (while on a grape run), Breton crackers and grapes...and gobbled it up immediately.

Craft Swap!

While I was out West, I was trying to think up what I was going to make for an upcoming craft swap with some of the ladies in one of my Moms groups.* I got the following idea from a little gift at E&F and ran with it to make them my own.

Each coin purse measures about 4 x 5 inches, and include a zipper, coordinating** fabric for the lining and their own sassy saying.

*The purses ended up being a big hit. I'm now doing a little "swappy swap" with one of the other ladies because we didn't end up with each other's items and loved them.

**I now have flame fabric for the firefighter print.

Snow Baby

Give thanks

What a wonderful way to give thanks for everything to spend it with friends and family over wonderful food.

This year, Big Sister brought her roommate, and her roommate's friend, home for Thanksgiving. They are both German exchange students here for the semester. They wanted to experience "a real American holiday." And do you know what? Me too.

For the past several years we had been getting further and further away from what I always loved about Thanksgiving. The cooking, the hustle, bustle and laughing in the kitchen with friends and family as the meal was prepared, the NYC parade on TV...it had been slowly disappearing and it made me sad. All we did was run from house to house, in a frenzy, to visit everyone. So to do a Thanksgiving meal here was right up my alley.

As the day got closer I thought of a couple friends that might not have a place to go so I invited them along as well. One was a "tentative yes" as she had been due to have her baby girl the Sunday before.*

Everyone came, the food was delightful, the conversation and entertainment by the little ones was so fun. And while the space we used to seat everyone was incomplete, it didn't feel that way when we all sat down together. It was wonderful.

Later that evening, after an exceptionally long nap by CiBaby (must have been all of the excitement and turkey at lunch), we headed over to Auntie and Uncle Horsey's house to play games and have dinner with the family.

It was a wonderful day, the "Germans" as T-Daddy loves to refer to them, enjoyed themselves, and we all had a great time.

*Apparently my cooking was so good that it started labor for R...and baby A was born a couple of days later.

Retail Therapy

Being a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) is a tough, but rewarding, job. Just like any job, a vacation from the every day is the ticket to refreshment. A lot of women find retail therapy a quick trip from reality to a happier place. Not me. I hopped a plane Friday morning to my retail therapy and worked in my friend's store!

What could be as nice as sitting in Business Class when you don't want to spend a whole lot of airline miles? An open row of seats! I was able to spread out and work on our Christmas cards and not have to worry about a fellow passenger looking over my shoulder or bumping my elbow while I was writing.

This trip started out much better than the last. The plane was not only not late, it was actually early. Unheard of. This time instead of arriving at 1:30 AM PST, I arrived at 11:30 AM and we drove straight into the hills...to cut down a Christmas tree! I came prepared for the trip as I was wearing jeans, long-sleeve t-shirt, sweater (did I mention it was unseasonably warm while I was there?!?) and my freshly polished hiking clogs...well, almost prepared...although I was able to scale the hills really without a problem.

After finding the perfect tree, we headed back to the city. Completely starved we stopped at a roadside stand for one of the best hot dogs I've had in a long time and some sodas. We talked about the craziness of life while watching the traffic whiz by...all at a leisurely pace. It was lovely. Once back at the store we worked a bit, closed up shop and went to a wonderful Indian restaurant where, due to the unseasonably warm weather, we sat outside, had delicious food, drank wine* and talked.

Then it was time to turn in. We drove back to my lovely sanctuary of an apartment, chatted with my wonderful hosts and I was met with the following...a menagerie of breakfast food/snacks, beverages, tea, a tea kettle and a brand new microwave. It was divine.

After an uninterrupted night of sleep I woke up early Saturday morning, 4:30 AM**, checked email on my snazzy new phone, did more work on our Christmas cards and got ready for a day at the store. The bonus was that the store was closed that day so we could set up all of the gorgeous wears that Mme hand picks for E&F.

We unpacked, moved, merchandised, sparkled and decorated our tushes off, all while having lots of laughs and a good helping of Peets. Must. Have. Caffeine. Once fully glittered, we headed over to Rick & Ann's for a quiet dinner of homemade mac & cheese...with a side of spinach. mmmmm

Sunday was the big day...the Champagne Holiday Open House! Everything looked great, including the very happy shoppers.

To top it off, there was a trunk show of beautiful Me & Ro jewelry. drool

Once the customers left we closed the doors, turned off the lights and made our way up to the glorious Claremont Hotel where cocktails, food and a gorgeous sunset awaited us.

Monday was a quiet day. While the store was open, it normally isn't on Mondays, making it easier to get a lot of restocking and organizing done. I even completed a couple of transactions all on my own!

Once the day was over, C & B and I went to meet S & T at the Imperial Tea Court. The atmosphere was great, the tea divine, the food delectable and company...well, need I say? It was a wonderful ending to the day.

Tuesday was wrap up day. Sad to say. Mme and I had a wonderful breakfast over at Bette's Oceanview Diner, again, chatting about the craziness of life. I had my last cup of store made Peets (for awhile), stuffed my carry-on as tightly as I could, grabbed an avocado shake (I know it sounds odd, but it was wonderful if you like avocado!) and headed for the airport. We both decided that it was much easier last time when I had to bolt for the door in order the catch my plane. This time we got to linger making it so much harder to leave.

As luck would have it, this was the view I had on the way back as well.

While I love being a wife/mother/daughter/niece/etc...sometimes it's just nice to be "me."

*At least I had wine. Mme had a cocktail and B, I believe, had a beer.

**Not intentional, I swear to you.

CiBaby stats

Two days shy of 1 year ago, CiBaby visited her wonderful pediatrician for the first time. At that time she was weighing in at 20 pounds 10 ounces and was 29 inches tall...putting her in the 10th-15th percentile for other children her age. And her muscle tone was very poor.

Today, after months of eating well and lots of love, she is super strong, 28 pounds 8 ounces, 34.5 inches tall, which puts her in the 50th percentile!

Way to grow my darling!

I'm a winner!!!

I just won this* great print on my friend Jo-Ann's blog**. Woot!!! this totally made my day!

*I chose the second print as it more appropriate for our house.
**Pumpkin Petunia has a great selection of holiday cards and stationary, check them out!

On the ball

I actually feel like I'm sort of on the ball this year, in regards to the Holidays anyway. I'm participating a couple of cookie exchanges, so that will help out the baking. I've started crafting my gifts...and...I've ordered and received the picture cards we are sending out this year!

I'm so excited about the last thing. I'm normally SO slow about getting this done and a lot of times they end up with "Happy New Year" or some other later holiday (MLK Jr Day, Presidents' Day, Valentine's and sometimes even "Happy St. Patty's Day!" ugh) inscribed. But not this year! I'm packing my cards, address list, pick up some lovely labels at Ellington & French and during down time I will sit in my apartment and address our cards. My goals is to have them reach people the day after Thanksgiving.*

It really is the little things in life, isn't it?

*But please, don't hold me to it.

You know your parents are old when...

they call your Handy Manny* thermal lunch bag a "lunch pail"** or "lunch box."***

Poor CiBaby.

*CiBaby picked this out all by herself. No doubt all those trips to Menard's, Home Depot and Lowe's had anything to do with it.
**T-Daddy
***Me

The end of one and the beginning of another

The mail is finally not flooded with countless candidate flyers...but now starts the holiday catalogs. Oy. Never do I put out more paper recycling than this time of year. Seriously, who needs 8+ Pottery Barn catalogs in the span of 2-3 months? Sure, I love to get ideas from them, but com'mon people!

Disconcerting

I don't know about you, but those car-carrying semi trucks freak me out. Do they really have the cars on securely? They're practically hanging off the back! Well, today on our way back from our playdate there was one of those trucks, parked in the turn lane and the driver was up on top, situating a car, ramp down and everything! This does not do a lot for my confidence in those trucks.

All before 8:30 AM

This morning we were fed, I made a batch of Turkish yogurt* and a batch of laundry detergent...all before the ripe hour of 8:30 AM.** I think this Domestic Goddess is done for the day.

Now it's off for a fun filled day...playdate, lunch, coffee and game night. Whew!

*I will let you know how it turned out.
**You really can get a lot done when you wake up at 5:00 AM, willingly or not.

Pound of the Month Club

CiBaby is a member.

Today we went to the Pediatrician, as we've been battling illness for a couple weeks now. T-Daddy went this morning and was diagnosed with Bronchitis, and as CiBaby had a lot of the same symptoms we brought her in as well.*

While we were there CiBaby got on an accurate scale** and now weighs in at 29 pounds! When we brought her home she was weighing in at around 17.25 lbs...so that's almost a pound a month. Now, if I could just take that off, I'd be a happy camper!

*She does NOT have Bronchitis, the Ped thinks it's a sinus infection. Phew!
**Ours isn't completely accurate, but for weighing suitcases it's just fine. ;-)

Please stay tuned...

It's been a crazy + illness filled couple of weeks so this oh-so exciting blog has taken a back seat. The thought of blogging in chronological order was paralyzing. So in an effort to get what I wanted up along with all of the new happenings it's going to be all over the place with randomly/post dated entries. Please bear with me, and check around often. :-)

My daughter, the pre-preschool dropout

It's official. At the ripe old age of 28 months, CiBaby is a dropout.

Today was "school" day. It had been 4 weeks since the last time she was there. The first week they had off for teacher conferences (they follow the district school calendar), and the last 2 because she was sick.

As we were getting ready for school, lunch packed and dressed (she looked awfully cute, didn't she?!?) we were talking about school and what they were going to be doing today. It didn't seem to phase her. Once we were in the car she was talking about her lunch and I mentioned her teachers' names. The wave of panic that crossed her face at the mere mention their names and the crying that ensued was more than this mother's heart could take. I had everything I could do to not cry myself.

We continued on to school to talk to the director and the teachers, who were completely understanding, suggested that maybe we try something else for this year and even mentioned that if she seems to want to come back to call them and they would most likely be able to get her back into the program. They really are great.

T-Daddy and I had been discussing that if it didn't start going better that we would just pull her out, but this was the infamous straw. She's only 2, and life is definitely too short for this much trauma for something that was suppose to be fun. Now, if she was in primary school this would be a completely different subject.

So here we are...our Tuesdays are free once more, or at least for now.

Election day!

I'm SO glad it's finally here. With my wallet in hand I walked up to my polling place, the elementary school across the street from our house, to vote. I'm a little disturbed that I don't actually have to present some sort of picture identification, but that's a subject all its own.

This year, as opposed to last, I walked up in a long-sleeve t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes. Last year it was so cold that I had to bundle up CiBaby and myself as it was bitterly cold...boots, mittens, hats were even worn. Talk about a difference! Although it was overcast most of the day, it was very warm for November 4th on the Tundra.

Let's see what other differences are in store.

Happy Halloween!

This year we celebrated our first Halloween! Last year we had been home only 5 days when Halloween rolled around and between jet lag and pure over stimulation we took a break from it...we were one of those dark houses.

Not this year, no sirree! We whooped it up! We went to 2 Halloween parties and Trick-or-Treated twice, once at a Senior Living apartments and then on Halloween night.

We practiced and practiced our "Happy Halloween!" "Trick-or-Treat!" and, of course, "Thank yous." She also didn't want to keep her hood up at first either, as evidenced in the above pictures. But once we were out on Halloween night, every time we went up to a door she put up her hood and practically whispered "trick-or-treat." Most of the "thank yous" were a smile and a wave. It was so cute. She totally got into it and wanted to keep going and going for "more candy?!"

But by 7:45PM we were done and she had plenty of candy. She got to have one piece tonight and then it was off to bed to dream of more candy.

The Costume

"Mingos," as CiBaby likes to call, them are her most favorite animal, so it was appropriate that she goes as one this Halloween. As costumes go, a flamingo isn't one that is easy to find for a reasonable amount of money, so Crafty CzaMama got her thinking cap on (and consulted with her very crafty friend, Hippy Goodwife) came up with a plan on how to go about attacking this one.

First, I found a pink fleece jacket at Old Navy, then off to JoAnn's for matching fleece. Each "feather" was cut and individually sewn onto the jacket.

Recently, CiBaby received a Miss Mingo "Build-a-Bear" from Grams. Using that beak as a rough pattern I drew out a pattern on one of those annoying pieces of campaign junk mail and cut the pieces from fleece as well.

Before sewing and stuffing the beak, I added cording to the bill to make the "opening." The whites-of-their-eyes are done with white fleece and the pupils are large black buttons (that idea came from my friend M, thanks dear!)

To top off the outfit, I used a little fabric paint I had in my stash of crafts and made a coordinating bag for her loot.

I also made a pair of fleece pants, but the weather was so warm they weren't needed. She wore some pink velour pants instead.

There were some loooooong nights of stitching and cutting, but in the end it was well worth it. She was the cutest Mingo ever! And she loved it too.

One year ago today - October 17, 2007

One year ago today we visited beautiful East Lake in Wuhan. While we were there we saw adults doing morning exercises, 1,000* primary school children attending an outing to the park and its amusement park due to their good behavior, were asked by some very curious mothers as to where we got the very comfortable looking baby carrier, saw a huge koi pond and the spenders of the area.

While walking through the park our guide, Grant, learned that we were very interested in plants, which called for a trip to the Wuhan Botanical Garden. These gardens housed the largest aquatic plant research area in Asia** which was working on finding plants to help clean up their water systems. So cool! Along with the aquatic plants they had desert plants in a conservatory, large ponds with gigantic lilypads, many walking paths and beauty all around.

Again there was a very large group of primary school children who were facinated with CiBaby. However, when they got too close she began to cry. We were like celebrities there, and were asked by some people if they could have their picture taken with us. What a riot.

After walking around for hours we found ourselves starving. We caught the bus (very cool) back to town and found a wonderful restaurant for lunch. Of course, CiBaby not knowing her manners decided that putting her feet up on the table was a really good idea!

I also believe this was the day that our sweet baby began NOT sleeping through the night. We got cocky and told people she slept great, which she did for the first 2 nights...must have been due to stress. It wouldn't be a good couple of months until she slept through the night once again...and that was only once!

Two years ago today our adoption Dossier was logged into the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs) system!

Today we had a very busy day. We met up with friends at the library in the morning and then we attended our second prospective adoptive parents panel that afternoon. We met a very nice couple that was planning on going with the China program as well.

After the panel we raced home, got changed, gathered our things and raced off for a photo shoot. I had decided that due to CiBaby's shyness around strangers that we wouldn't be able to capture the real CiBaby, so we rented a photo studio to take our own pictures. T-Daddy, G-Mama and I wrangled and herded the wild CiBaby during the photo session while Bopa took the pictures. Here are a couple that I got with my camera before craziness completely ensued.

After a very exhausting photo session (by the end CiBaby was rolling on the floor) we headed out for some dinner that included a lot of dip! And cocktails for CzaMama.

*Had all the children from that school been there it would have been about 3,000 young children in the park!

**If I'm remembering my facts correctly.