Back from afar....

Has it really been almost 3 WEEKS since I last posted an update????!!!! Oh my gosh - that is way, way too long. Now I have so much to talk about. First of all - Jordan is loving kindergarten. My favorite thing right now is the fact that her main teacher, Chen Lao shi, uses her Chinese name in class. Her English teacher uses her English name. I have always wanted Jordan to feel comfortable with both names and I do use her Chinese name intermittently around the house. But now it is being used by her teacher and classmates. I feel like her past is now truly being incorporated into her current life. She asked me if she could bring her lifebook to school because she was born in China and the class might like to learn about that. I was glad she was so interested but I am wary of letting her take it to school in its complete form. I think we'll be making a copy of the pages that are more general in nature and exclude some of the private information that she may later regret being so open about. Plus a copy can be destroyed or ripped and it won't be so devastating. What do y'all think? [Now I feel like I need to get Ellie's done sooner rather than later!]

The pictures above are from our weekend in the mountains at our first retreat. We had a great time - although I came back realizing how out of shape I was after walking up and down the hill from our room to the children's center. My calves were killing me! I forgot to bring a stroller so I was carrying Ellie a lot of the time. Jordan had a great time staying up late to watch a movie in her pajamas with the other girls and eating s'mores with honest to goodness fire-roasted marshmallows.

This past weekend we had our first gymnastics classes. Jordan is in a beginning class with what looks like 50 other kids. I'm amazed that they can keep all the kids in line but they do. They are broken up and rotate around from area to area (just like a real gymnastics meet). Right now she's basically learning balance, and some strengthening moves. Ellie is in a class that is much more "Mommy and Me" which I am unsure about. I think she's too young and I don't know why I am paying to have her run over large tumbling blocks - (oh yes I do know why - because Jordan begged me to sign her up). Let's just say that Ellie may or may not be finishing out the class. I will try to take pictures of Jordan at some point to post up here. She really enjoyed her first class.

Last night Jordan had her first choir practice at church. As I'm musically challenged - I thought it would be a good idea to at least give her the chance to learn from someone a little more gifted than myself (pretty much anyone who can carry a tune). She at first was unsure about going because she thought she was going to have to stand on a stage and sing in front of parents. Once she realized it was just her and a bunch of kids getting to sing fun songs in a room for an hour - she was fine. Ellie and I went outside and played on the playground equipment while Jordan was singing. Above is a pic of Ellie having fun on one of the slides. Her hair has gotten long enough to make actual pigtails - she has become a true toddler!!!

Relaxing over the long weekend

Disney had these beach loungers on sale for $7 a piece - and I couldn't resist. The girls realize that the summer is winding down but loved relaxing on these the day they came. They should be just right next summer when we head to the beach.

Those phone calls you dread...a bad, bad mommy

My cell phone has been on vibrate since going to Church last Sunday. Foolish me forgot to switch it back to ring. And of course - Jordan's school was very anxious to get in touch with me (I'm a very, very guilty feeling bad, bad mommy).

Apparently the bus information I had been given didn't match the bus information the school had for her (and neither did the address they had for her to get off the bus). So Jordan ended up at the wrong after school program and her mommy (that would be me) was a mess!!! At one point in the spring (as in May) Jordan was scheduled to go to an afterschool program run by the YMCA. Then I was told by another parent that they were moving but no one knew where to (great...) So I moved her to another program at an elementary school closer to our house. At about the same time - the plan was for the YMCA's program to be held at a building right beside the elementary school (they share the same plot of land and the buildings are actually hooked up together). And then the YMCA moved their program again (this is all during the summer, mind you) to another rec center downtown. I "think" that when the YMCA moved their program - they changed the address for all the children scheduled to depart the bus at that address (which would have included Jordan). In fact, Jordan was the only child in the elementary school program and not the YMCA program.

That is the only way I can think that the information I received from the school system showed a bus# with the correct departure address and the school's data now shows a different address.

Any how - now the school system is telling me it may take 2 weeks until a bus can be found to drop her off at the elementary school. TWO WEEKS. As a single mom - that is forever.
My parents who have been here to take care of Jordan this week until school starts have offered to stay - and I might (most likely will) have to take them up on their offer. I'll go to the school office on Tuesday to try and figure it all out. (Sigh).

By the way - Jordan had a great day at school!!! Luckily she knew someone at the after school program she was dropped off at - so that helped.

She's a Kindergartener Now!!!

Here she is! The newest kindergartener! After reading Donna's blog about Emma's first day I was prepared to bawl my eyes out. But both Jordan and I came through with flying colors. I have to give a lot of credit to her new school. This past spring, right after we found out Jordan made it into the Mandarin immersion program, they had a Beginner's Day where we were able to visit the school, the 2 kindergarten classrooms, visit the cafeteria and practice going through the line with a tray, etc... The even had a fashion show to show the children what clothing is appropriate and what is not (they have a navy, khaki, white uniform policy). Then throughout the summer there were 3 picnics at a local park that allowed all the kindergarten children to meet each other and for parents to talk to the "experienced" rising first grade parents. Then we had open house and Jordan was able to meet her teacher and check out her class room. So when we walked in today, she was perfectly at ease.

Here she is with her teacher, Chen Laoshi (for those who do not speak Chinese - Laoshi is the term for teacher). They have been staggering in the entry of the kindergarteners so the teachers get to really know the children. So there were only 3-4 children in Jordan's class today (normally there are 18). Starting next week all the children will be there together.

After dropping her off and taking the obligatory pictures - I hung around in the courtyard at the Sip N' Sob - a place for new parents to congregate and have a little coffee. And then back to work. I did not cry (nor did Jordan) although it is bittersweet. But I can tell Jordan is going to have a great year!

Weekend Fun

We spent last weekend visiting the grandparents and checking out the local botanical gardens. The girls had a great time and we had our first big test of staying out late, late, late. We went out to dinner but didn't get seated until after 8:30pm (Ellie normally is in bed by 7:30pm). The girls were amazingly well behaved (they had eaten earlier before we headed out and I'm sure that helped). We also went to one of my favorite shoe stores to purchase shoes for the girls. Jordan has wide feet so it is more difficult getting shoes for her. I wanted a simple pair of sneakers with no lights (okay - I really wanted the adorable clogs and mary janes and loafers but couldn't afford them). I did get Ellison a great pair of Jumping Jack shoes for school. I wish our city had a great local shoe store but I haven't found one yet so we head for shoes when we are visiting.

Smiles, apples, and the great hair debate

Jordan left for school last Friday in her new sundress that was a size too big but which she really wanted to wear due to it being a belated b-day present from her buddy Vivian (the owner of one of our fave Asian restaurants). She also wanted to wear her hair in what we call the "Hanna Andersson look" because it is similar to the little knotted pigtails that you see in that catalog. She looked so cute - I had to take her picture.

Did I mention Ellie is catching up in the teeth department? She now has 3 of her 4 1st year molars. And she loves apples! Here she is partaking of a nice juicy red apple at her sister's daycare. She takes little bites so I let her munch on one all the way home.

Ellie is doing well adjusting to her new classroom. She still isn't giving the new teachers hugs (although her now former teachers get plenty of hugs as she walks past their room) but she's not crying when I leave and is happy when I come pick her up. They are teaching her to drink without a sippy cup and she's slowly figuring it out. I am starting to practice with her on some evenings as well.

I'm trying to decide when to get Ellie's hair cut for the first time. It grows forward so it is always in her eyes unless I put it up. Do I let her have bangs or not - that is the question. Her forehead isn't too high so she would look good without bangs and I know from my experience with Jordan that they can be a real pain to grow out. But it would make life easier. I also don't want to cut out her curls. Her hair still curls a bit and I have grown to love it so much and would hate to see it disappear. Maybe it wouldn't - but do I take that chance now or not? Sigh...

Growing up...sort of....

The picture above is of Jordan yesterday - giving me her "silly eyes". She has made a similar face since she was a baby and it is one of the things that I think she does to charm anyone she meets. Her nannies in China had described her as charming - and she can charm the socks off of you --- if she wants to. I put this picture out here to remind myself that she hasn't grown up too much yet. We spent the weekend purchasing school uniform pieces. She had so much fun trying them on and dancing around. And as I watched her, I realized that --yes -- she was growing up as she is nearing kindergarten. Her sister was a little jealous and in an attempt to pacify her - we put a size 5 jumper on her little body (over her clothes) and she had a blast running around in that.

Speaking of growing up....here is Ellie this morning on the way to school. She's wearing a 24 month outfit!!!!! What the heck??!! She's not quite 18 months yet and she can fit into some 24 month clothing. I got two comments at different times Saturday from other parents commenting on how tall she is. Now that is not a comment I'm used to hearing after having Jordan barely squeak in at the 5% mark on height charts. I can't wait to see how tall she is in a couple of weeks at her checkup.

I See Mommy!!!!

I took this picture yesterday when I went to pick up Ellie at daycare. I like it because it shows her moving around (hence the blur) and a smile! On Monday she starts transitioning to her next classroom (18-24 month olds) which I think she'll like because they are always playing outside.

Harry Potter - NO SPOILERS

I finished Harry Potter's last adventure last night at 11pm. I am satisfied.

Harry Potter was initially considered a children's book. I think I am safe to state that the series has gone well past children's books and should be considered literature. I have read many, many books throughout my life. I love reading. When I find an author that I like, I tend to read everything I can get my hands on. Since Jordan came into my life, reading has had to take more of a back seat. I was just starting to have time to pick up a book again when Ellie joined our family.

Over our week at the beach , I took the time to re-read books 5 and 6 in the Harry Potter series. That's how you can tell a great book - when you want to re-read the books over and over and find joy in them well past the first read. J.K. Rowling does that with HP. J.R.R. Tolkein did it with his Ring Trilogy. Gabriel García Márquez gave me a book like that with One Hundred Years of Solitude.

I started reading Harry Potter books back in the summer of 1999 as talk of the release of Book 3 came about. I immediately was taken with the books because they were so well written. As each book was nearing release I would go back and start reading all the ones before it, anticipation building with each one.

We've all known from the start that the plan was for 7 books. And so it was with both anticipation and a pang of sadness that I waited for this last one. As the last week before the book was to be released came - I had to start avoiding internet sites, TV and newspapers. I was determined not to accidentally read or hear something that would lessen the excitement of this book. I had pre-ordered it at Amazon but realized with the free Super Saver shipping that it may not arrive this past weekend. At first, I was okay with that. And then I wasn't. This was my last chance to go to a Harry Potter book release party. Even though I have two young girls - I was seriously thinking of grabbing them and going. But Jordan got a 24 hour bug and was running a fever Friday and I had to put her first. She was feeling better Saturday morning so off I went with the girls to have breakfast out -- after I stopped by the local bookstore and picked up a copy of Deathly Hallows (it was the second to the last copy that was not already earmarked for someone. The lady behind me took the last). The bookstore's employees were wearing wizard and witch hats and there were doughnuts - I got to experience a little celebration after all. I began the book as soon as the girls went down for naps in the afternoon and got through 100 pages before they woke up. As they went to bed that night I picked up the book again and read, and read, and read. I felt like a kid again - engrossed in a book and wanting to not put it down until I was finished. But I also realize that I'm not 12 anymore - and I need my sleep. So at 1am I put the book down by my bed and didn't pick it back up until 6:45am. I read as Ellie and Jordan played, read through lunch, read through Ellie's nap. At 3pm I made the decision to hold off - I was nearing the end and I wanted to read the last 100+ pages with no disturbances. So off to the library - hoping that my girls would find books that interested them and that one day they would love reading as much as I. And after the girls were in bed - I finished the book - savoring the last few chapters.

I will read the books again - most likely reading them before each of the last 2 movies. Jordan will be 7 in 2 years and I think I will begin reading them to her (or allowing her to read them herself) around that time. And then Ellie will be old enough and we will begin them again.

The copy I ordered came in the mail on Saturday. It sits in its box unopened. I'm thinking of saving it for several years and when it is time for Jordan to read that book - we will open it together - on a July 21st some year in the future.

Mmmmm....

Hmmmm...what is this large hunk of meat that has its own handle? What an incredibly useful creation.

And it tastes good too!!!

And this is how Ellie was introduced to the chicken leg.

Weekend in Washington, D.C.

We arrived back yesterday from a weekend in D.C. at our agency's reunion. We had a great time catching up with families that we've met throughout the years. We started off the weekend by running to the zoo on Friday almost immediately after arrival so that the girls could run around. We didn't actually make it there until 6pm when the buildings close up but the girls didn't seem to mind. They had loads of fun searching for clues on how to identify animals in the new Asian Trails exhibit (the only one we made it to). For anyone in the area - I highly recommend a trip there. Since we were in D.C. - we also made a stop at the Smithsonian Folklife festival. One of the 3 focuses was on Villages of the Mekong - which allowed us to see exhibits from Yunnan China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. We had a great time. I think we saw one of the best Lion Dances while there (a Vietnamese version). The girls (thanks to nearly 3-year old Helen) were able to sit in a wooden boat (from Cambodia I believe) that had been carved during the exhibit. Jordan and her buddy Caroline were able to also try their hands at Thai shadow puppets. Pics below.

Caroline and Jordan with the Lion Head after the lion dance at our agency's reunion.

(front to back) Helen, Caroline, and Jordan rowing down the river of wood chips at the Smithsonian Folklife festival.

Caroline and Jordan trying their hand at shadow puppets.

And of course, I had to include a pic of Ellie's crazy hair. Normally it isn't quite that crazy - but I love this picture.

At the Beach

We are back from our trip to the beach. This was Ellie's first trip to the ocean and we couldn't have had better weather or a better time (unless we had been able to stay even longer). Ellie loved playing in the sand as well as in the water. Jordan spent the trip looking for just the right seashells and took one this morning to one of her favorite waitresses at our breakfast hangout. It was a great chance for the girls to spend time with their grandparents and I think that Ellie has finally bonded with her grandfather (and he with her). We ate fabulous seafood while there and took some pretty decent pictures. I was able to read through the last two Harry Potter books in order to be ready for the movie and the final book in the coming weeks. But at last we are back home - already dreaming of another week at the beach.

Pool Time Fun

I bought the girls a pool for the backyard. I did this even though we belong to two different facilities with pools (okay, they both have indoor pools). The girls loved it!!! Ellie kept giving me a heart attack with her constant standing up , sitting down, standing up, walking around, slight slip and splash back down laughing. She even tried to blow bubbles like her big sister. I, of course, thought she was going to drown everytime she slipped or put her head near the water. But the laughter was great and both girls LOVED to pour water out of a watering can onto each other (despite Ellie hating to get her hair washed inside). Hmmmm.....baths in the swimming pool........nah.

These were actually from last weekend but I hadn't had time to put them up yet. We had our 6 month post placement visit 2 days ago. I think it went off without a hitch. I would have loved to have included one of these pictures but I hadn't gottem them loaded to the home computer yet. Maybe at the 12 month visit.

Six Months

Today we celebrate six months as a family. Six months with Ellie, and like with Jordan, time seems to both have flown by and stood still. We are a family now - the glue is sticking and the clamps can come off. We continue to evolve but life is good, hectic, exhausting, and exhilirating. Thank you CCAA. Thank you China.

Woo Hoo for Wu (5) !!!!!

Jordan has spent the last week celebrating turning 5 - culminating in her official birthday party today. We started off last weekend at her grandparent's house celebrating with a family birthday where Hello Kitty was the theme.


One of the gifts that she received while there was her first "real" set of golf clubs. I guess turning 5 means that the plastic set that I grabbed at Target a few years ago would no longer qualify and that playing golf now meant going out with Granddaddy to the driving range or playing on a real course. The picture below was taken as the two of them headed out for their first game (which lasted 1.5 holes - but they had fun). So, do we have a golfer in the making? Perhaps. I was told that she hit a putt that would make anyone proud. Apparently she made a twenty foot putt - beginner's luck or a talent? Hmmmmm.... (I think she made a hole in one at Putt Putt when she was 3 too so I'm hoping for the latter).

Today was the official party with some of her friends. It had a gardening theme so the cake that you see definitely hit the mark! I told Jordan that this cake may be more beautiful than her wedding cake (the picture does not do it justice - it was a work of art). I hated to cut into it - but of course, you buy a cake to eat it. Luckily, this one is VERY tasty. Here are Jordan and her friends after they finished their art project (the party was at an art studio). They painted flower pots and made butterflies, caterpillars and ladybugs. I think they had quite a bit of fun.

This last picture is of Ellie last weekend while up in Virginia. We were at our friend, Maggi's, house for a Memorial holiday cookout. Ellie had already soaked the entire front of her shirt eating watermelon. She'd grab a piece and bury her face in it without lifting it up until only the rind remained. For dessert, the kids got ice cream sandwiches. Ellie took a few nibbles but I think she had more fun squishing it between her fingers than anything else. But despite being a mess she was so darn cute that day, that I just had to add a picture of her.

It was quiet...

too quiet. You know, you run around after work trying to make dinner, wash dishes, or put a pile of laundry into the wash. Jordan had parked herself in front of the TV for her allotted 30 minutes. Ellie is usually following me around or something like that. Suddenly, I realize that Ellie is not following me around nor is she with her sister. She had been with me when I put new towels in the bathroom. I walk down the hall...the bathroom door is nearly closed and I don't hear anything. I open the door and the pic below is what I saw....



So - for all of you waiting parents out there ... let this be a warning to not turn your back on your kids. Otherwise you may be short one roll of toilet paper!

A Quick Note....

because I haven't seemed to have time to update - it must be spring. The pic above is from 2 weeks ago when we went with friends to the local amusement park. Ellie and I were mostly observers while Jordan rode lots and lots of rides with her friend Mia. What else has happened? Both girls had checkups - with Jordan at 41" and Ellie at 31". Both girls healthy last week (although Ellie is currently sporting a 102 degree fever but still happy). Mother's Day was great - my parents were in town and we grilled out on my back deck. We visited Jordan's soon-to-be kindergarten (more on that later). We have 2 birthday parties this weekend (one for each girl). Now it's time to run off to swim class....

The unexpected 4th tooth...

So I've been waiting for Ellie's second upper front tooth to appear. I can see it and feel it under the gum but it hasn't broken through. But today when massaging her gums with my finger what did I find but a 4th tooth - a molar! Just one side is through but it might explain why she's been stuffing her whole hand in her mouth and not just her two finger recently.

Ellie playing a new game: banging bottles against the door!

Attending our first horse race

Yesterday the girls and I attended our first steeplechase event. What fun we had!!! I hope we can make this an annual event - wonderful family occasion and it was fun to dress up. We were guests of one of the corporate sponsors and I must say - they really did make it a family affair. They had box lunches for the kids with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grapes, chips, cookies, a coloring book, etc. They had coloring books and bubbles and the kids got to bet on each race and afterward they handed out prizes (pretty much to every child) so Jordan and Ellie came away with lots of loot (hand puppets, a blow up monkey, a jump rope, wooden musical instrument clacker). And of course a great view of the races! We visited the paddock and Ellie loved the horses. At each race we went down to the split rail fence and watched from up close. Jordan and Ellie would lean out to look. After 4 hours of fun we left but have been talking about it ever since.

Spring Here For Good?

The warm weather is back...maybe for good. We spent last weekend enjoying the outdoors. Jordan wanted to wear the same outfit as Ellie. I don't have a lot of matcing outfits but I found two dresses I had bought in Guangzhou (Gymboree if you believe the tag). Off to the park on Sunday to introduce Ellie to the ducks. (I think that was what Ellie was pointing to in the pic above). Then we had our first cookout with the grill and danced around with the bubble machine that I surprised the girls with.