tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60745382005286908862024-03-19T07:40:17.774-04:00From the Sugar Plum TreeA virtual scrapbook of our day-to-day life with our daughter adopted from China and our journey to her little sister that we are in the process of adopting.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-8424610210765833012009-09-28T23:28:00.002-04:002009-09-29T01:38:47.205-04:00Out with the Old...After bringing her to a new state, to start at a new school, and move into a new house, it seemed only appropriate that Kylie get a new hairdo. Quite frankly, the long hair mop looked like more that her little frame could hold. So, we cut off about six inches and voila - we call it the "big girl haircut".Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-55488137787987848962008-12-20T00:45:00.002-05:002009-01-20T00:57:49.912-05:00Christmas Ballet ShowKylie's dance class teachers, Miss Lauren and Miss Alaina, put together a little Christmas show for the parents. It was so cute to see the girls perform, even if they are all over the place. Now, they will turn their attention to preparing for the recital in June. The theme for the recital this year is "Dance Around the World", and we were excited to hear that Kylie's class was dancing to a song from Mulan as they are representing China! It should be interesting to see what they can get a class of 2 and 3 year olds to do. Mima has already booked her flight to come in for the recital and Kylie's 4th (wow, I can hardly believe it!) birthday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hG-QZWtKFzxK08QIVThqm5ERmDC4OA5wdiDSTJ39IUNt7dqbq0f912TK_K76GEGCzF852-6_-UGjS_yNpSlNPsrubRC6wv3GJC73Wa3DNenPNUJyS0nsk0ynuVftOQU8GZv6MnY1EmLf/s1600-h/Ballet+Show+(11).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hG-QZWtKFzxK08QIVThqm5ERmDC4OA5wdiDSTJ39IUNt7dqbq0f912TK_K76GEGCzF852-6_-UGjS_yNpSlNPsrubRC6wv3GJC73Wa3DNenPNUJyS0nsk0ynuVftOQU8GZv6MnY1EmLf/s320/Ballet+Show+(11).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293248655245740610" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYTX81KYkkWRAsSZOISjfk-uLjP_6ibnY22i99ojAtU2XVqgCYqjYcaXYu3DSaivJde86KFQCPsWkamdLtOvZxkBbVS_ut-olUI8Njm6pwzmw_mL9_x25JQ9PKsYLjd6Q75D1JGvtqL92/s1600-h/Ballet+Show+(7).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYTX81KYkkWRAsSZOISjfk-uLjP_6ibnY22i99ojAtU2XVqgCYqjYcaXYu3DSaivJde86KFQCPsWkamdLtOvZxkBbVS_ut-olUI8Njm6pwzmw_mL9_x25JQ9PKsYLjd6Q75D1JGvtqL92/s320/Ballet+Show+(7).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293248383874491474" /></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-21831850299934296852008-12-14T00:33:00.001-05:002009-01-20T00:44:29.974-05:00The Green MarketThis winter, we have found a new Sunday morning activity thanks to our friends Amy & Mike - the Palm Beach Gardens Green Market. With the weather so mild, this has made for a great time for Kylie and Mia to visit and for us to catch up with friends. The girls like to play at the playground, and we have realized that Kylie is a big fan of street vendor food! The market offers a nice selection of produce, as well as a great selection of local vendors' products and food. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfy0deGoC-SaAQSnu8r6cPSJ3AjcKt3-IoYaWln4GVGO736my8FjJMyAA1yORbUiXTCfeKkhzV0D3-L-6ESnqMC6MRWOnd-wNeYu94ZzXVKXUE5sveZJuikKbhTQ_NzsRzkDkpH-OVOs_/s1600-h/Green+Market+(6).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfy0deGoC-SaAQSnu8r6cPSJ3AjcKt3-IoYaWln4GVGO736my8FjJMyAA1yORbUiXTCfeKkhzV0D3-L-6ESnqMC6MRWOnd-wNeYu94ZzXVKXUE5sveZJuikKbhTQ_NzsRzkDkpH-OVOs_/s320/Green+Market+(6).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293245946448000306" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo4ntU9puDWykXe7Pc7rWjko39LiAAsPLBHwveNB8GGYH_Q9Li4K7xk-WmAiheR3M26zLBl6_gDrXrK20yRYNz8XUfPBxO23sgmm_EHLGwN1GJY-AZM6UvTh5uasb2LiliXv_tCvdFloD/s1600-h/Green+Market+(9).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxo4ntU9puDWykXe7Pc7rWjko39LiAAsPLBHwveNB8GGYH_Q9Li4K7xk-WmAiheR3M26zLBl6_gDrXrK20yRYNz8XUfPBxO23sgmm_EHLGwN1GJY-AZM6UvTh5uasb2LiliXv_tCvdFloD/s320/Green+Market+(9).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293245307947019458" /></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-19538697956025023132008-11-26T23:37:00.002-05:002009-01-20T00:33:18.272-05:00Thanksgiving Dinner at Preschool<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChpnNLbQlQVWSj5XaW1HFDGzFMRE_5Ur76nWNiKOYeu6XWWF9vKM6J_EIO1wdc1AeBFK-exxI1L47q4siVhnwh9-_jIoT7lBvjvw6clHknRiqVGtk1W9o7fxr6lMRVWFp1qpCZYq2Td0N/s1600-h/Kindercare+T-Giving+(6).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChpnNLbQlQVWSj5XaW1HFDGzFMRE_5Ur76nWNiKOYeu6XWWF9vKM6J_EIO1wdc1AeBFK-exxI1L47q4siVhnwh9-_jIoT7lBvjvw6clHknRiqVGtk1W9o7fxr6lMRVWFp1qpCZYq2Td0N/s320/Kindercare+T-Giving+(6).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293233125455862978" /></a> Kylie's Preschool has a "Thanksgiving Dinner" for the parents and kids each year. The school provides a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and the kids all present their projects that they made to bring home. Kylie was thrilled when Mommy showed up in the middle of the day to eat with her and look at her art work on the wall. At the end of the lunch, Kylie posed for a quick picture with her teacher, Ms. Amy.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-10391496087792883782008-11-22T00:00:00.003-05:002009-01-20T00:31:29.839-05:00Philippe & Nicholas' Birthday Bash!Kylie couldn't have been happier that Philippe and Nicholas decided to have their joint birthday bash this year at "Pump It Up", a party place filled with bounce houses and inflatable slides. After a couple hours of burning energy among the attractions, the crew headed into the party room for lunch and cake all to a Curious George theme. Great fun!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CMrwrLyDjs0cgSw3wUrt1i2oyQD9p1MIze8uqJSmPyPvHhp52TeUu6M1507NeV9l8YC-vxiPMywNKTLMZ0sr111kEZoLc4tMUpFI7g7D6IvFS1F4TE-e9vKZHVUMCDt5UOHKvq0pxwwO/s1600-h/Philippe+%26+Nick%27s+B-day+(20).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CMrwrLyDjs0cgSw3wUrt1i2oyQD9p1MIze8uqJSmPyPvHhp52TeUu6M1507NeV9l8YC-vxiPMywNKTLMZ0sr111kEZoLc4tMUpFI7g7D6IvFS1F4TE-e9vKZHVUMCDt5UOHKvq0pxwwO/s320/Philippe+%26+Nick%27s+B-day+(20).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293239849521621858" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Zo7rFg3dGDg2CNXOypGjSFofar03WRSqMp4HaN-BYhrT7BkqHjolwP_DA5cTFhcJxiYWcuyaG3_uKdxtAT-hAeSOP3S0RA4mKAxtRnYlMXHDrUwA_LLJ50rYtSzv3Q4TXYqmVPLUxk4B/s1600-h/Philippe+%26+Nick%27s+B-day+(6).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Zo7rFg3dGDg2CNXOypGjSFofar03WRSqMp4HaN-BYhrT7BkqHjolwP_DA5cTFhcJxiYWcuyaG3_uKdxtAT-hAeSOP3S0RA4mKAxtRnYlMXHDrUwA_LLJ50rYtSzv3Q4TXYqmVPLUxk4B/s320/Philippe+%26+Nick%27s+B-day+(6).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293239299340105026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wGtPA_eFIYo3a_Qz7gjRhsHxMMr5fp_KWJB0FYIFI3fDCBRre_qBcRFfYt4JYADLteIzx440qx6UFWeX-9wJJK1AQpgUSMLMybNbd9zKPhbsyhk398SoF_crf9qj66Xd0aJTbE3-GHzS/s1600-h/Philippe+%26+Nick%27s+B-day+(12).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wGtPA_eFIYo3a_Qz7gjRhsHxMMr5fp_KWJB0FYIFI3fDCBRre_qBcRFfYt4JYADLteIzx440qx6UFWeX-9wJJK1AQpgUSMLMybNbd9zKPhbsyhk398SoF_crf9qj66Xd0aJTbE3-GHzS/s320/Philippe+%26+Nick%27s+B-day+(12).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293240549106450066" /></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-47447894744542151002008-11-10T00:56:00.005-05:002008-11-10T01:02:31.180-05:00Long Time - No SeeAs mentioned earlier, we ran into some local friends from our first paperchase at the CCAI 2008 reunion, and I thought it would be fun to show a picture of the girls from May 2007 and November 2008 side by side. So here are Alexandra and Kylie at about 1.5 years old and 3 years old...two cuties getting better with age!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rmP-lk21Y0BvdnX4kJYPjjT8ArgcLyupkr48C-LnT6BYzYRNlSYmxSm5Qii07nHOuC7HQM44HtiqiQhA3GWkMKJ1V7m7w6kJzLRK6H5kvDWJKWe_TVK7aQcSJGzizlvhwUqCFFxfZTri/s1600-h/of=50,294,442.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266904906080975394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rmP-lk21Y0BvdnX4kJYPjjT8ArgcLyupkr48C-LnT6BYzYRNlSYmxSm5Qii07nHOuC7HQM44HtiqiQhA3GWkMKJ1V7m7w6kJzLRK6H5kvDWJKWe_TVK7aQcSJGzizlvhwUqCFFxfZTri/s320/of=50,294,442.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUvMpWg2BWJXDdm9SzTYbrg6pCtkJhddMCI7h_8R1l709TJbWuqvsr4YVYtcCwPYDQb3uIgtz9o4vviEwMqsC_HnV3Q7_7-h_w2RO4CETgOX7NOn6ElTapVLiqrcmSr7FKKYR5mnPoSyV/s1600-h/078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266904530382929378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUvMpWg2BWJXDdm9SzTYbrg6pCtkJhddMCI7h_8R1l709TJbWuqvsr4YVYtcCwPYDQb3uIgtz9o4vviEwMqsC_HnV3Q7_7-h_w2RO4CETgOX7NOn6ElTapVLiqrcmSr7FKKYR5mnPoSyV/s320/078.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-92167323933294682142008-11-09T01:03:00.002-05:002008-11-10T01:29:11.528-05:00Playground ObsessionKylie is nothing short of obsessed with playgrounds...over the course of 24 hours this weekend, she managed to clock in about 5-6 playground hours between two public parks and her playset at home. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj-rqaJ6e1AchwNCCIxyucximSLKQCYLVfTQOWCidOV0msqo3JaDu1Szl6y4-RaJemC3GUuyOqM7E97ZTAyO8nwGYNJMhoELuREuvwJVt594WOZ3FmYr7gO3NEJuyEjGVc-RG31MeXGB2/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266906517141385826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj-rqaJ6e1AchwNCCIxyucximSLKQCYLVfTQOWCidOV0msqo3JaDu1Szl6y4-RaJemC3GUuyOqM7E97ZTAyO8nwGYNJMhoELuREuvwJVt594WOZ3FmYr7gO3NEJuyEjGVc-RG31MeXGB2/s320/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLuMAIAz0yRypLhhlmXmEgIaAEuoPERE3Y958KC1MixCI1DVlxy65FbYKQrJ1PoT2Yy1o_LQNeZe10pbTZdvL9qGwJy-I9qW6irQwauee5ZKT3bPrKhPzU910d2emV6Jnw_rlb-aLuTHw/s1600-h/049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266910416810647298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLuMAIAz0yRypLhhlmXmEgIaAEuoPERE3Y958KC1MixCI1DVlxy65FbYKQrJ1PoT2Yy1o_LQNeZe10pbTZdvL9qGwJy-I9qW6irQwauee5ZKT3bPrKhPzU910d2emV6Jnw_rlb-aLuTHw/s320/049.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_u2gMu88zzVIuLFj1eCeQUxjYYsSDH4m7b3BTOx9vKPILuuzzaOfc5_Zvt9SqYTm_uxmpX3qupd9vnkIUW6J9Hyd1dt6WJ7T_-xuGuYCZ8ddLb5hXSJ7XjiqoCctn2apfJakY46pg6cmK/s1600-h/048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266909590674364690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_u2gMu88zzVIuLFj1eCeQUxjYYsSDH4m7b3BTOx9vKPILuuzzaOfc5_Zvt9SqYTm_uxmpX3qupd9vnkIUW6J9Hyd1dt6WJ7T_-xuGuYCZ8ddLb5hXSJ7XjiqoCctn2apfJakY46pg6cmK/s320/048.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_x-2zXHmI_oYyzyy1zKizAU7VjxeQxbu_TpolWa-nTby6eBs2ZkLKE5RBOSnB4Pv5f4VtI_O0Vb1Tg_AuEpnMdB0b9EldDAHnJ9JWeYQWTC3-2gCkJIJRitqfx2kVDn8eNsNAQ_K2kSd7/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266910988260348690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_x-2zXHmI_oYyzyy1zKizAU7VjxeQxbu_TpolWa-nTby6eBs2ZkLKE5RBOSnB4Pv5f4VtI_O0Vb1Tg_AuEpnMdB0b9EldDAHnJ9JWeYQWTC3-2gCkJIJRitqfx2kVDn8eNsNAQ_K2kSd7/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs__YQrIF22oR0iZXXRd1EKYOMxkx1wVCGZwMTz4oaZ4tqk50My6u0hSFPTP9imLFnTtwoiXgR3zXPfPQYZOGeVN-jBUs0daMMcuSzOU-_MKK-MHGbyFFBtv2DsRyN2O9EQIHP6g2lZwT/s1600-h/052.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogirF6_k0mqUGYCPDK-ezzDLKd318iSLxVvurSyxOYjwQkvMOdov3URkCQ4J1P466iFEcsEHZbAIzyWGgnZPE1u2AaG4Hu6crn9T1qMt-qUxULFPXyteyLRr946vscaLCJdHusUT9W58T/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266907241409895266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogirF6_k0mqUGYCPDK-ezzDLKd318iSLxVvurSyxOYjwQkvMOdov3URkCQ4J1P466iFEcsEHZbAIzyWGgnZPE1u2AaG4Hu6crn9T1qMt-qUxULFPXyteyLRr946vscaLCJdHusUT9W58T/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5vDH9tyvvG7Qwb6ninBBq9ulZQ6048KJoH_cqcIcVh_Vqi-pjCNHGuxYTgGvpCQn-LcmGh1Usfk9cu76iMjodpvUXuUhd5ocm2iRo2iM1vwMgNcGUa-fcqrAE_5xCrjAE9hUAsq5Ft-b/s1600-h/046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266908569491421762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5vDH9tyvvG7Qwb6ninBBq9ulZQ6048KJoH_cqcIcVh_Vqi-pjCNHGuxYTgGvpCQn-LcmGh1Usfk9cu76iMjodpvUXuUhd5ocm2iRo2iM1vwMgNcGUa-fcqrAE_5xCrjAE9hUAsq5Ft-b/s320/046.JPG" border="0" /></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-33134874082318277302008-11-08T23:49:00.012-05:002008-11-10T00:50:24.104-05:00CCAI "Picnic Under the Palms" 2008 ReunionOn Saturday we attended the CCAI "Picnic Under the Palms" 2008 reunion with adoptive families from all over Florida. There was food, fun and entertainment throughout the day, and the agency and volunteers did a wonderful job hosting the event.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzGTWytG9ywceaJ_mAxp8fQhVkZlDRqXHtOq5K6rZ1hHm0QofZetNrMe24JLKMEU3C6QrH1Fy4hn-yUSSvUKX0SQcaB3bHc0EowKhVzextqRiM17pAIRnQR_kW-Ro8OvXR1_KCXRo8T8X/s1600-h/068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzGTWytG9ywceaJ_mAxp8fQhVkZlDRqXHtOq5K6rZ1hHm0QofZetNrMe24JLKMEU3C6QrH1Fy4hn-yUSSvUKX0SQcaB3bHc0EowKhVzextqRiM17pAIRnQR_kW-Ro8OvXR1_KCXRo8T8X/s320/068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266887256113424946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvM3XyaX5aRUrskxZmYrwlZqtZw2YfsoISN0I8qJPwcYNVopCCNwP6caNOE4gnUVDL3U3cPnCkX6Au9GDkrB43txd2mZ0QOfatiTWRChBfx8l8xtGaKSGEVAF1NXbZvzak9x3cpv69TWGF/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvM3XyaX5aRUrskxZmYrwlZqtZw2YfsoISN0I8qJPwcYNVopCCNwP6caNOE4gnUVDL3U3cPnCkX6Au9GDkrB43txd2mZ0QOfatiTWRChBfx8l8xtGaKSGEVAF1NXbZvzak9x3cpv69TWGF/s320/032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266887725484537954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZlyJvHnUc8DQIjcwHGVDHyENHRBwsSKL6LNWuXN8Q7vhnMh03Uwb11_jH4JbsNe5g3n0DxA3Vg-S4FtYw9IomhXbTScTz4yC8v1TMlVqVjAIvRaYbjY6bhW0DOtFtKlVziODbGCh_zRw/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZlyJvHnUc8DQIjcwHGVDHyENHRBwsSKL6LNWuXN8Q7vhnMh03Uwb11_jH4JbsNe5g3n0DxA3Vg-S4FtYw9IomhXbTScTz4yC8v1TMlVqVjAIvRaYbjY6bhW0DOtFtKlVziODbGCh_zRw/s320/034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266890423885194930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kylie had a great time doing crafts and playing at the playground, while we got to catch up with old friends from our journey to Kylie as well as new friends we have met along the way during our latest quest.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYZT1gC8eAOKQ31EiQIKlngKeDTyIcfCYkOaDL-WAe3TrQfFPGJ_MWTOgORrhmtRYLwrpD6tsrcGomm989gcUowKp_sRmsDQuesbb5qRPIWhVr83K3FhEl6H5HDV0Wd8FXT3KyxKSFgR-/s1600-h/064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYZT1gC8eAOKQ31EiQIKlngKeDTyIcfCYkOaDL-WAe3TrQfFPGJ_MWTOgORrhmtRYLwrpD6tsrcGomm989gcUowKp_sRmsDQuesbb5qRPIWhVr83K3FhEl6H5HDV0Wd8FXT3KyxKSFgR-/s320/064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266901180756292146" border="0" /></a>It is so nice to see how the kids have grown over the years, and I think it will be nice for Kylie to look back on these times and see all of the types of families that are formed through adoption. In addition, it is a great chance for her to experience Chinese storytelling, dance, and music, which was all performed by local volunteers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbuCZ820jspU-zY238IAsNaWQCudFAnsKGO3ewBCiB_b_yTUv_sZ-gksVcQ_Y9pzg2os-ouzmukD_50HobUsK9l8Sn6-xHXyCw8vUd7nr9sbZo0plXxPt_VIo7kndj0RnlW5lUvZZ-C-f/s1600-h/075.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbuCZ820jspU-zY238IAsNaWQCudFAnsKGO3ewBCiB_b_yTUv_sZ-gksVcQ_Y9pzg2os-ouzmukD_50HobUsK9l8Sn6-xHXyCw8vUd7nr9sbZo0plXxPt_VIo7kndj0RnlW5lUvZZ-C-f/s320/075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266892662856057282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwBkChvawNB0b7tPXhH5ybahnfyvgYi-a93C9I_6OWoCn1cO8Vogj3f7xt3EnMjof8uO6mJjq-0AaZxGe1UZ33c5cuM-mEdNEsjohVJC9jXeefrt_Z2TxKvL3bMQr2_ChDTi6PViT7otl/s1600-h/073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwBkChvawNB0b7tPXhH5ybahnfyvgYi-a93C9I_6OWoCn1cO8Vogj3f7xt3EnMjof8uO6mJjq-0AaZxGe1UZ33c5cuM-mEdNEsjohVJC9jXeefrt_Z2TxKvL3bMQr2_ChDTi6PViT7otl/s320/073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266891526680536674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />An unexpected treat was that we met up with one of our neighbors that we met during our first wait and got to get an updated picture of the girls a year and a half since they last met. They are certainly turning into two cute little ladies, and I am happy to report that Kylie didn't choke Alexandra this time when she hugged her goodbye...Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-12910125761081027022008-10-31T02:23:00.004-04:002008-11-02T02:51:31.129-05:00Halloween 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SFIAb_GaPq2wjiMvL5tW7OC5WF0huf-cQUUhLNfVunIs5dz4GE11kV3x04lZbOvt3mxnFV6W0pmDwfqybL-Wh9PpEiCN0qX62lURILppylt-D_f6o7DhH1XgO2wejmEdNYFyp9osQziI/s1600-h/061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263963284127868402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SFIAb_GaPq2wjiMvL5tW7OC5WF0huf-cQUUhLNfVunIs5dz4GE11kV3x04lZbOvt3mxnFV6W0pmDwfqybL-Wh9PpEiCN0qX62lURILppylt-D_f6o7DhH1XgO2wejmEdNYFyp9osQziI/s320/061.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuGVNC1pp_JbWdsivewc1-Htfwro1sO5rGpIuZx9XFePahlkgYXcLcNFmxrnC6mBZfWEoV9KAbgKxwdXUhyZ4J-3rEjnYpd6Aj27iIXPjFayK6Us4ZrWghwnyBG2znUArO4upUBLgMuHw/s1600-h/047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263960248048596402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuGVNC1pp_JbWdsivewc1-Htfwro1sO5rGpIuZx9XFePahlkgYXcLcNFmxrnC6mBZfWEoV9KAbgKxwdXUhyZ4J-3rEjnYpd6Aj27iIXPjFayK6Us4ZrWghwnyBG2znUArO4upUBLgMuHw/s320/047.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpgAvZxzT1SK_VN3Onbv-9nGOykEVPv79XkCmmD1Ndk5TfNUv_N5hSqHanlAfEVsq3vYUHTETCdsGaviJFDPOZ4Rpxvw9JpDxTga1DK-uccJhQVoz8KIisaKd-V9D0TOGm4UfOztjXeaV/s1600-h/065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263960672181699186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpgAvZxzT1SK_VN3Onbv-9nGOykEVPv79XkCmmD1Ndk5TfNUv_N5hSqHanlAfEVsq3vYUHTETCdsGaviJFDPOZ4Rpxvw9JpDxTga1DK-uccJhQVoz8KIisaKd-V9D0TOGm4UfOztjXeaV/s320/065.JPG" border="0" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-J1EBuFtgm3Dp6Kx_LQ1rdHnZlO4FaK6WiiMSUssfrBbY_aqumFxO1dRmj6JHufJS-c5ZWccvhfaYyuQxS3EEnDp3J6BNjGiPxKiwBbPNsaICKFWSIFbBp_zpkIxJkRybVzN8UKdcGMn/s1600-h/083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263961558818666994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-J1EBuFtgm3Dp6Kx_LQ1rdHnZlO4FaK6WiiMSUssfrBbY_aqumFxO1dRmj6JHufJS-c5ZWccvhfaYyuQxS3EEnDp3J6BNjGiPxKiwBbPNsaICKFWSIFbBp_zpkIxJkRybVzN8UKdcGMn/s320/083.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-82476749036859151832008-10-30T02:51:00.001-04:002008-11-02T03:04:01.494-05:00Trunk or Treat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Twy_OGywnYtHQSF76kbbmDDc0OO1dfgVWg-AQXCKsL-t14tNUkm_-8L9RbEOkVm7IahGy8NyIQcU8qYqb3JhDUgU5Kkg3Pue1hAvlufyKBx_JHMi5RMQjTWzmbfSZr4DsVc6nIEYX33V/s1600-h/025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263966444425778850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Twy_OGywnYtHQSF76kbbmDDc0OO1dfgVWg-AQXCKsL-t14tNUkm_-8L9RbEOkVm7IahGy8NyIQcU8qYqb3JhDUgU5Kkg3Pue1hAvlufyKBx_JHMi5RMQjTWzmbfSZr4DsVc6nIEYX33V/s320/025.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtxRUFwGwu_1750lId-3LijLzOPUs1Dx_evbtLyQspXtTxT1_D5l6i4_aiI9Oxb2LmWPOkgvoAWaRFf7j5gPg_zm2pyWQBXR-Xzim6kxDKqPfYOsNEwbStf9dCiBZ7Wr4mJhN8YvyAfZw/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263964977378187218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtxRUFwGwu_1750lId-3LijLzOPUs1Dx_evbtLyQspXtTxT1_D5l6i4_aiI9Oxb2LmWPOkgvoAWaRFf7j5gPg_zm2pyWQBXR-Xzim6kxDKqPfYOsNEwbStf9dCiBZ7Wr4mJhN8YvyAfZw/s320/013.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-54551708887954970732008-10-25T03:04:00.000-04:002008-11-02T03:35:11.281-05:00Pumpkin Hunting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirN3bRD6pwMSXAsSMVy0Szj90Bj444xALXOrpXrvif3LOJTK9-LLjdcFTocletxWrrpFYO82Gbc9pNT64-HAYT6prmJTTSTBUDUSYmQVKXaQ5xrvujCOHyRh58A0GhsFB5e-6OlTd6Sli/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263969713918512418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirN3bRD6pwMSXAsSMVy0Szj90Bj444xALXOrpXrvif3LOJTK9-LLjdcFTocletxWrrpFYO82Gbc9pNT64-HAYT6prmJTTSTBUDUSYmQVKXaQ5xrvujCOHyRh58A0GhsFB5e-6OlTd6Sli/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaVx0SLPiYrjDTS5G1up_y8dB5X29evYQMAXXrdrw46-Rm1gg-o-smWdZpRHcCC8bDHrihWo9J2ZxPp2tXEknfrDN141X9YDe5B93OX3t5sx8SKNsPZV7TJkAC2KHKRui5o9LW10tbwMW/s1600-h/061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263972833686175394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaVx0SLPiYrjDTS5G1up_y8dB5X29evYQMAXXrdrw46-Rm1gg-o-smWdZpRHcCC8bDHrihWo9J2ZxPp2tXEknfrDN141X9YDe5B93OX3t5sx8SKNsPZV7TJkAC2KHKRui5o9LW10tbwMW/s320/061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWUqiG0eiayayV9Hi8HulOjLsILb_0dZDos5VsZf7j9v2infH9pKiNLgBM-TO6aWRjoO0h1vhRDYCaF4VHwdT-h3Sjh2pSOvNI_IH-sKOoLqnti3WyOWIwhd8P6aDHVPSBDzNIVJWxnJI/s1600-h/053.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOnbMcfU5NgTn4SpYkPK0EeUJ2v7z53k2kHR5lkNdxSEO-LgPtHmMoFqgT0sMzW55M18uzQp1guBmViiBQ7FpALUOm3eSnB9AdL9PiktvhYP5HCfYmq6O0YPg7XMe8Ns2wPlJsF7Wi7It/s1600-h/030.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqUSlErxfUEF8KbFzGf9oEhn1RQl1JnlA8jXLEre2xKEstW2Gqk2NZx0gOxr8wRTIHLBH32nKoSv8dA07VNFURpnyLTmCmdoUFYqADM78RqhTnpvDdn8fKGD_smdk9hKGviWpz_dnia1I/s1600-h/066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263973436352955138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqUSlErxfUEF8KbFzGf9oEhn1RQl1JnlA8jXLEre2xKEstW2Gqk2NZx0gOxr8wRTIHLBH32nKoSv8dA07VNFURpnyLTmCmdoUFYqADM78RqhTnpvDdn8fKGD_smdk9hKGviWpz_dnia1I/s320/066.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NWEK7l4qVCIStIUg6seDF1OxTtGPyTD2V4ORa27Qul1uG54bYka9kTjDqUVLyFms63XRj7n90h_LxcEnXkZFcrKt282yf6JnQj4R4sMYtSjBwJv1KJ6WyfoxZi6R73NT8FI9B7m-GQFR/s1600-h/077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263974994061621122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NWEK7l4qVCIStIUg6seDF1OxTtGPyTD2V4ORa27Qul1uG54bYka9kTjDqUVLyFms63XRj7n90h_LxcEnXkZFcrKt282yf6JnQj4R4sMYtSjBwJv1KJ6WyfoxZi6R73NT8FI9B7m-GQFR/s320/077.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-57299776744977311172008-09-30T23:27:00.004-04:002008-09-30T23:56:42.464-04:00Crying in the Bathroom<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqDFc-HqKBP706LMkgUazKrEw1fDvwJsajpkzoUeLJdaRm-jhMWcE27XsBngtCitKjYQuAMYa_BKXaYsbl4lE-OZfnhIQjbloHFDyJKnmq7OCiiZ_MKki-lNyDc0aV2iepa0-g0mrWsTZ/s1600-h/3rd+B-day+(51).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252022800759063234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqDFc-HqKBP706LMkgUazKrEw1fDvwJsajpkzoUeLJdaRm-jhMWcE27XsBngtCitKjYQuAMYa_BKXaYsbl4lE-OZfnhIQjbloHFDyJKnmq7OCiiZ_MKki-lNyDc0aV2iepa0-g0mrWsTZ/s320/3rd+B-day+(51).JPG" border="0" /></a>Since Kylie went to the "Twos" class at school, she has been friends with Neil. For a while, she would come home and talk about what she and Neil did at school. Since then, the girls (and the teachers) have taken over as the main conversation of her day at school, but we still hear about Neil from time to time.<br /><br />Today Kylie was eating her dinner and negotiating her ice pop dessert, when she said, "I heard Neil crying in the bathroom today." Of course this comment gives rise to many questions in my head...mainly, what was Kylie doing listening at the door of the bathroom that isn't in her classroom!?! Notwithstanding that, I engaged her in further conversation by asking her to clarify..."You heard Neil crying in the bathroom?" She responded affirmatively, so I proceeded with, "Why was he crying?" She tells me he was sad. I said, "Well did you tell him everything would be OK?" Again, affirmative response, but my curiosity is not satisfied. "So, why was Neil sad and crying in the bathroom?" Finally, I get more, "Because Nathaniel PUNCHED him!" Since I'd never heard Kylie say punched...I hid my "funny-new-word" chuckle and then asked, "So did you feel mad that Nathaniel punched Neil, because that isn't nice?" feeling so proud that my daughter is so sensitive and protective of her friends. She says, "No, I wasn't mad...but Neil was!" And Kylie's world continues to revolve around Kylie. :-)Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-5466085813053666982008-09-20T13:23:00.006-04:002008-09-29T01:43:30.617-04:00Mickey and Minnie's Magical Adventure on Ice<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZOjgBjRvBSHOcTzsfPu4UkrP-8V5efFPqm9-ssGPQQzXZ09Iwb3UPIqugtlgnDvMUUdoBXkUA23a5qqJvx_5Ny6QT_959NC8uIkyuuObAszri3k3r1b-WYihvlp8NEd7n4BBBEac2J9A/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251310023503337074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZOjgBjRvBSHOcTzsfPu4UkrP-8V5efFPqm9-ssGPQQzXZ09Iwb3UPIqugtlgnDvMUUdoBXkUA23a5qqJvx_5Ny6QT_959NC8uIkyuuObAszri3k3r1b-WYihvlp8NEd7n4BBBEac2J9A/s320/023.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div>This fall is all about Disney for Kylie. Her morning cartoon as she gets ready in the morning is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, she will be Minnie for Halloween, and she is headed off to Disney World in a couple of weeks. So it is only appropriate that we took in Mickey, Minnie, and friends on Ice at the Panthers hockey arena.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88inkoN3jZd7nsRfwtnLA8UPdydIZ9yY8ePYDetUfpdmqsiac9VciERTMSwNeVlJ-GmmG9ePY8nlfnqfa1AzHYI1OE_5u-opENjakcBhlZEkRLS-eiqS9AbRmO2mx9go__hJkNRd7Evht/s1600-h/072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251311753090420226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88inkoN3jZd7nsRfwtnLA8UPdydIZ9yY8ePYDetUfpdmqsiac9VciERTMSwNeVlJ-GmmG9ePY8nlfnqfa1AzHYI1OE_5u-opENjakcBhlZEkRLS-eiqS9AbRmO2mx9go__hJkNRd7Evht/s320/072.JPG" border="0" /></a></div> Luckily, we had third row seats for the show and Kylie got to see all her favorites up close. Kylie had asked earlier if she could wear her Minnie Mouse costume to the show, but I told her she had to settle for wearing her Minnie Mouse T-shirt. Of course we sit down next to a little girl wearing a Minnie Mouse outfit, but Kylie only pointed it out to me twice. :-) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjeiTA7FRnFgZFZAVBgMzsC4a9Leb6cwE7HPMEVuw7QDIeakEh8ngiYjNnYZo_VtTIpW49D1mTED_MlyMLU6JTbA0Tp_TpO9GboOVFJuaNdpoJh50xHiMrRWNvWgMYWG4F4tIK6nZvT4F/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251310295712297378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjeiTA7FRnFgZFZAVBgMzsC4a9Leb6cwE7HPMEVuw7QDIeakEh8ngiYjNnYZo_VtTIpW49D1mTED_MlyMLU6JTbA0Tp_TpO9GboOVFJuaNdpoJh50xHiMrRWNvWgMYWG4F4tIK6nZvT4F/s320/028.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After the show began, she was so excited and shorted out who each character was as they came out on to the Ice. When Ariel and Sebastian skated by us. Kylie got so excited that she even peed a little on Daddy's leg! He wasn't thrilled, but was more sympathetic once they returned from the potty as she really had to go!Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-32284726153111306472008-09-14T23:42:00.016-04:002008-09-19T01:00:26.551-04:00Harvest Moon Festival<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlVqhW3_pEdj8pXc_v97WQa_huT8tjOK6MdBHEonzrU0OEc2aLyY7sTC3z82DCIcL2CnVzj8lsBOraCvHyxtPMlWhsf7k5QgS4gTOytZKTnJKoNmsCFXPeMdGYImxesZ-EVFIE41jJPz8/s1600-h/069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246090212935417410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlVqhW3_pEdj8pXc_v97WQa_huT8tjOK6MdBHEonzrU0OEc2aLyY7sTC3z82DCIcL2CnVzj8lsBOraCvHyxtPMlWhsf7k5QgS4gTOytZKTnJKoNmsCFXPeMdGYImxesZ-EVFIE41jJPz8/s320/069.JPG" border="0" /></a>Every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar (September 14, this year), when the moon is at its maximum brightness for the entire year, the Chinese celebrate "zhong qiu jie." Children are told the story of the moon fairy living in a crystal palace, who comes out to dance on the moon's shadowed surface. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2CJIVPzg4UDJ8i6J3uo65dK49jWpROplBuz7vkShUni24XLbDZWIg-5vlfXw6qFAhjoOsPWhgxwN4x4_N6T4Qib53P7lwfQ9Iz3idfEDTL7aKjnmvx0X48vsohJlnZyxBu3O-RpEGaXR/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246091094812303458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2CJIVPzg4UDJ8i6J3uo65dK49jWpROplBuz7vkShUni24XLbDZWIg-5vlfXw6qFAhjoOsPWhgxwN4x4_N6T4Qib53P7lwfQ9Iz3idfEDTL7aKjnmvx0X48vsohJlnZyxBu3O-RpEGaXR/s320/036.JPG" border="0" /><br /></a>The legend surrounding the "lady living in the moon" dates back to a day when ten suns appeared at once in the sky. The Emperor ordered a famous archer to shoot down the nine extra suns. Once the task was accomplished, Goddess of Western Heaven rewarded the archer with a pill that would make him immortal. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwINcJQ86NK0PFAoVujPN7IktaH28rRiuhrhjrwOwT9BVWGdE22x1UYdrI1C0RaraqwkGOiwmtTS7ySFtAfNdC_aJkLkLDYPiy9YFwDM8Y9b4gTwDkuvqOFDc5Wpr6PzrWQlLYo3qRWnD/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246091596145682898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwINcJQ86NK0PFAoVujPN7IktaH28rRiuhrhjrwOwT9BVWGdE22x1UYdrI1C0RaraqwkGOiwmtTS7ySFtAfNdC_aJkLkLDYPiy9YFwDM8Y9b4gTwDkuvqOFDc5Wpr6PzrWQlLYo3qRWnD/s320/038.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkwRh-czBKbHNLfBGx_-G-50j1xnsj_Ll3ZI0y90YPY-TkmRSasOoqFawmRwTlKYtje_2hu2ow16_mZDtdv6gYjrgOPRULI-TZ82ST-nZ3Lj7awYAKCSrEUZwlUti7U2iQB49vKmPPWe7/s1600-h/060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246092004571352466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkwRh-czBKbHNLfBGx_-G-50j1xnsj_Ll3ZI0y90YPY-TkmRSasOoqFawmRwTlKYtje_2hu2ow16_mZDtdv6gYjrgOPRULI-TZ82ST-nZ3Lj7awYAKCSrEUZwlUti7U2iQB49vKmPPWe7/s320/060.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />However, his wife found the pill, took it, and was banished to the moon as a result. Legend says that her beauty is greatest on the day of the Moon Festival.<br /><br /><br /><div> So in celebration of the Moon Festival, we headed to the Norton Museum of Art for their 3rd annual celebration of the festival. We met Amy and Mia there, which was great since we hadn't seen Mia in a couple of months and she has grown so much. We toured the gallery, made dragon pendants, heard the story of the festival from Sagwa the Siamese cat, and did a little shopping in the gift store for some souveniers. </div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxp6NMQ7dT_wpjRrnti9dxSa5cSbG8Cza7aZ6iJIpdHMirVpXi1jAK2ihc9ec5XpUJsKiAow35IcwcC97hpQikRHcV-Agv1r4EFYp4uUPmvPgqZrgHpZu-NeDYdgqMYp1jge5zUzFk68Z/s1600-h/054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246092664324506050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxp6NMQ7dT_wpjRrnti9dxSa5cSbG8Cza7aZ6iJIpdHMirVpXi1jAK2ihc9ec5XpUJsKiAow35IcwcC97hpQikRHcV-Agv1r4EFYp4uUPmvPgqZrgHpZu-NeDYdgqMYp1jge5zUzFk68Z/s320/054.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Kylie admires some Chinese craftmanship.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAK_Qkax_l4FpvNF3B33PjQllcc9FL143r8nvXV884twvLQgpcYWj_9Wk_a48pHQN7cLgQLzZ5epuBPx06BAjIzrYOVjKHztRpIxS_xosXxLVL7mm8G4blKUPsIfIfMl4dBCzkIK9WORI/s1600-h/065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246093120063278898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAK_Qkax_l4FpvNF3B33PjQllcc9FL143r8nvXV884twvLQgpcYWj_9Wk_a48pHQN7cLgQLzZ5epuBPx06BAjIzrYOVjKHztRpIxS_xosXxLVL7mm8G4blKUPsIfIfMl4dBCzkIK9WORI/s320/065.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Kylie reads up on some Chinese art (while mom, dad, and Amy try to ponder how they can take a picture of Vanilla Ice, who is sitting right behind Kylie at this point playing a game of "Chinese" checkers!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjVkjXTUWhxrBhSAasRE-m9IaHFsGx_AEcipBowWMA9KR40PFAHhJHyvq1tZS6DlQlo8GAbK_T9faBa02inodHtB1sDG0ymL6IlqhzcddqmyK5JyU0gYv-cNzFH8dM_SaKVN_f4U-OLk9/s1600-h/063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246093795441519554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjVkjXTUWhxrBhSAasRE-m9IaHFsGx_AEcipBowWMA9KR40PFAHhJHyvq1tZS6DlQlo8GAbK_T9faBa02inodHtB1sDG0ymL6IlqhzcddqmyK5JyU0gYv-cNzFH8dM_SaKVN_f4U-OLk9/s320/063.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Kylie and Mia give each other a hug goodbye.</div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-89069852423918666682008-09-13T00:19:00.003-04:002008-09-15T00:23:57.425-04:00In Search of the Perfect Ballerina Bun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJ2-qf78U-wY09mTDAH2kGjfPoX5XVM_LhvAoRXq_MaiGeNhO423nk0X9JtH537AD2zXfZEjq3UWSOHmbckOlr7JrKcWXCHn8F6Rlg5BbGh62j-wBeJ8QJweVts5RMVTDw5uC63IAzKhy/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246098175346396690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJ2-qf78U-wY09mTDAH2kGjfPoX5XVM_LhvAoRXq_MaiGeNhO423nk0X9JtH537AD2zXfZEjq3UWSOHmbckOlr7JrKcWXCHn8F6Rlg5BbGh62j-wBeJ8QJweVts5RMVTDw5uC63IAzKhy/s320/015.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bOJDxpwXXB9RqL_3az4FJG3wvYWkLRGUhVjoZmDIwpR5i0kKwxN9PsWQGOBZYe_Rs_hw8lN4lM49axEbgz1mjimJd3pPc43a6nkm1biYBL6cugU2LpkQUJrlWvu3FVsQUkrmv6BE5hnk/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246098422798975874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bOJDxpwXXB9RqL_3az4FJG3wvYWkLRGUhVjoZmDIwpR5i0kKwxN9PsWQGOBZYe_Rs_hw8lN4lM49axEbgz1mjimJd3pPc43a6nkm1biYBL6cugU2LpkQUJrlWvu3FVsQUkrmv6BE5hnk/s320/010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All I can say is, we're getting there. Here's Kylie off to ballet class this weekend...Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-67969969698338650682008-09-10T21:51:00.002-04:002008-09-10T22:53:46.349-04:00Halloween Preview<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvShHfyscs27_A0_HNiAOBOeXcULH5GXimr3l0HlFJBGoVU9AtQ2kowwvnFR0srQ2JY8JVHBk-jjBjQeHRRHEwUu4sv0dvyKrB96ILij3xzb6LkvGE7V2VuOAD9bKQng82ar-ArI69BFZ/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244576212128023762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvShHfyscs27_A0_HNiAOBOeXcULH5GXimr3l0HlFJBGoVU9AtQ2kowwvnFR0srQ2JY8JVHBk-jjBjQeHRRHEwUu4sv0dvyKrB96ILij3xzb6LkvGE7V2VuOAD9bKQng82ar-ArI69BFZ/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /></a>After considerable Disney character debate, we agreed that Kylie would be attending the Halloween festivities this year as Minnie Mouse. So before she changed her mind again - I ordered the costume. I think she was very pleased with her choice once it arrived. <br /><br />This year, the Halloween festivities include a trip to Orlando with Mima and Papa for "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween", which we got a glimpse of last year. I'm glad she stuck with Minnie Mouse, as I suspect she will be a little different than the sea of princesses that will be roaming the park.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-883678669841529062008-09-09T20:31:00.000-04:002008-09-10T22:54:25.002-04:00Into the Review Room<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcRYp5N1BMKlOy0E9FCtYlqJ-F6DLx6EexlI-IEYLHokFtw5SMhsRmvWcvt2CwBq0Un8T942XgoASc-exAOki7KfcAcf6yw7D9FsmuP65j1cZpgIIUe8T_8pyQsmRsWwFgRZEeUSkrfRZ/s1600-h/106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244555596431621602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcRYp5N1BMKlOy0E9FCtYlqJ-F6DLx6EexlI-IEYLHokFtw5SMhsRmvWcvt2CwBq0Un8T942XgoASc-exAOki7KfcAcf6yw7D9FsmuP65j1cZpgIIUe8T_8pyQsmRsWwFgRZEeUSkrfRZ/s320/106.JPG" border="0" /></a> We found out today that our dossier has moved into the Review Room. While we probably won't hear for a few months that it is out of review and the Match Room is likely years away, it feels like a solid milestone in our second adoption from China nonetheless.<br /><br />Tonight, as we were getting Kylie ready for bed, she asked if she had a sister. She is really in love with the idea of having a sibling these days, and she speaks about it frequently and calls her dolls "baby sister" or "baby brother" sometimes. Hopefully we'll be able to return to China with her someday and bring her little sibling home.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-21410962517040683362008-09-08T22:54:00.001-04:002008-09-10T23:55:41.076-04:00Not So Fast My Friend...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdl7B_IBk7J0UqGOgETW2rTG7EqLPzUjJ0Bx36p1_KNyr1-5xMmkHWVC8PYitLdhCLoRRfp00kpzxlmuv8dGwpEK-kYoWOhN7EUe1ys9rLYW34QhFexOWTb-OGvalvLGQ2emctCTAPnRJ/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244591988845727554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdl7B_IBk7J0UqGOgETW2rTG7EqLPzUjJ0Bx36p1_KNyr1-5xMmkHWVC8PYitLdhCLoRRfp00kpzxlmuv8dGwpEK-kYoWOhN7EUe1ys9rLYW34QhFexOWTb-OGvalvLGQ2emctCTAPnRJ/s320/022.JPG" border="0" /></a>Just as we thought things were settling down with Kylie's new bedroom done (post to follow soon) and her doctor clearing her to come off of her skin medication, she broke her front tooth for the third time tonight while swimming underwater in the tub. So...back to the dentist for a fourth round of bonding (the 2nd round broke off a day after we got it done, so I can't blame Kylie for that one).<br /><br />On top of that, our often-neglected dog Lexi (left) managed to get herself stung by a wasp just over her eye and broke out in hives all over her 100 pound body! First, I thought she rolled in a pile of fire ants as it was mostly on her legs, but the veterinarian said the bumps were hives and it was just an allergic reaction. Since I have never had hives...the thought of doggie-hives never came to mind, but I am sure glad it wasn't fire ant bites all over our poor Lexi.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-21725457309910354572008-09-08T01:16:00.004-04:002008-11-02T03:48:26.758-05:00Big Girl Room<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg39ab-SeLi2PGkZvPyXUYQv1vwiA52SULSWMjWt77ZA5J4rOU3sV2fflxJDWERcDWxej6C8mOt-aUhIor_c3xw0YHMxUgX5GIzZz5LThVwqG_-3Bq-deW75c6l48do7KCMmCmdCTpDCt/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263977960485290114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbg39ab-SeLi2PGkZvPyXUYQv1vwiA52SULSWMjWt77ZA5J4rOU3sV2fflxJDWERcDWxej6C8mOt-aUhIor_c3xw0YHMxUgX5GIzZz5LThVwqG_-3Bq-deW75c6l48do7KCMmCmdCTpDCt/s320/032.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkHSK1TqpWzQn2jrPzQqHtrUz52-OkrtFBOfA29Wl4OgIgnR6vu-2dRHrTlM1gK5OFzdtyEZJq0wOyjNANxp6FkQ_jhWUrx9LEkhcinKth-EbYKtFN46NqKDijRn5LrxUbyTYSLmRiyge/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263976557702839154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkHSK1TqpWzQn2jrPzQqHtrUz52-OkrtFBOfA29Wl4OgIgnR6vu-2dRHrTlM1gK5OFzdtyEZJq0wOyjNANxp6FkQ_jhWUrx9LEkhcinKth-EbYKtFN46NqKDijRn5LrxUbyTYSLmRiyge/s320/027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-49763998851853302972008-09-07T22:46:00.001-04:002008-09-11T00:15:10.891-04:00Caught on Video<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzIz7PZUrsa81mrTOrB6c3QXsJ2M_7skMKjir4EdIUXSSpBWtoMBMWu0CPzNd1EJMAzhaGYCS4eoTCut7IxNQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />As promised, here is the video that Dan took on his cellular phone at Barnes & Noble when he realized Kylie was going to "perform" on the stage in the Kiddie Section. While the picture quality is really bad, I think you'll get the point. To help you follow along...she starts out with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls...", talks about how tall the trees are, calls the Rabbit on the wall "Hop" and then shows some of her ballet. Too funny!Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-4579284482370752512008-09-07T12:27:00.001-04:002008-09-19T01:02:06.358-04:00Clearer Days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z-lpZwdyV7jddhF4FjMbRtpbAz09CXRErGGipd7iwV0AFPEaOuWfLW69Mg2RfZLDfgjRgWiugltkOLpQF6bGy7FQ1G-MuvuWd8_IWPE8QbWiRaNfsbTs9LYbwkK-A9hFf2H5In5eZ2I-/s1600-h/109.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243503089475246066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z-lpZwdyV7jddhF4FjMbRtpbAz09CXRErGGipd7iwV0AFPEaOuWfLW69Mg2RfZLDfgjRgWiugltkOLpQF6bGy7FQ1G-MuvuWd8_IWPE8QbWiRaNfsbTs9LYbwkK-A9hFf2H5In5eZ2I-/s320/109.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDaRTSBWxOiJxdFVyGERnBWPhbS5KfMG7uXxdjvursvhzcwBQIgmWczA850KFpCJgpizirf8DArun7ZUsXlVnKVpRrE-BtWqI4z9bhl3m6T-HHJxv2H6QI0Rti9YWa5CUQBv-ZbK_jtcL/s1600-h/131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243504443651584402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDaRTSBWxOiJxdFVyGERnBWPhbS5KfMG7uXxdjvursvhzcwBQIgmWczA850KFpCJgpizirf8DArun7ZUsXlVnKVpRrE-BtWqI4z9bhl3m6T-HHJxv2H6QI0Rti9YWa5CUQBv-ZbK_jtcL/s320/131.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With Hurricane Hannah long gone and Hurricane Ike on its way around us to the Gulf of Mexico, we had a weekend of beautiful weather. Hot, of course, but no rain. In addition, Kylie's skin has made great strides each day with her prescription medicine, and she is looking a lot more like her old self. Here are a few shots of her all dressed up to go to...the bookstore. Yes, Kylie is a big fan of the bookstore, which is why she picked out a pretty dress to wear. We later learned that she had a big stage show planned in the Kids' Section of Barnes and Noble (which we will upload if we can figure out how to get it off of Dan's phone), so her interest in wearing a dress made more sense in hindsight. By the way, this is her token funny face. She loves it.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-60854214530835436552008-09-07T00:46:00.008-04:002008-09-08T01:13:52.113-04:00Preparing for a "Fiesta Celebration"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lPXjBbDey9ed2OqPMmyP0s7mcAv5CkMHOTVQ9bgo5aJF0Tt3vSB88YOtiICDbzFMw8FlkXOz61buR1kqJ5Hv8XTYb0gojm1lt-ttioyr8D6bEBR2sAWjiWKBGtRzVZQKnfdXYsmryPC-/s1600-h/060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lPXjBbDey9ed2OqPMmyP0s7mcAv5CkMHOTVQ9bgo5aJF0Tt3vSB88YOtiICDbzFMw8FlkXOz61buR1kqJ5Hv8XTYb0gojm1lt-ttioyr8D6bEBR2sAWjiWKBGtRzVZQKnfdXYsmryPC-/s320/060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243509198053891394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />With the weather so nice, Kylie decided to take her kitchen outside and prepare for a "Fiesta Celebration". (Can you detect the influence of Dora the Explorer?)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AjSZYTp3s7dd8a3UJPCbpiupeRVQfFJQZcUXIH6zL5ZGCyiZRerpDdCF__n4RMkv7rMmLAdAu5R7Oq3HKNbVrpkRdC6B0ySkbjWGmGNFfhtuvo8uFd-an0ceBzCozn-j2-oBbOzyUrFA/s1600-h/067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AjSZYTp3s7dd8a3UJPCbpiupeRVQfFJQZcUXIH6zL5ZGCyiZRerpDdCF__n4RMkv7rMmLAdAu5R7Oq3HKNbVrpkRdC6B0ySkbjWGmGNFfhtuvo8uFd-an0ceBzCozn-j2-oBbOzyUrFA/s320/067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243510603948578370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Evidently, there is much preparation that goes into such an event, and the paparazzi was asked to leave several times. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3XrzDgkGf9R-ivaWNduNGqrA4o9nWWI4kZmffhE-yoUvri1QyrQzZ7YkT68dIbr-IFlq4n0Zn6mqxO2DBWd-dhEsTRLQ5Ru3L9ZrgvTCvcMFVDlh59uslumpoXG6Ma7jPSTJNUN2J2Wq/s1600-h/091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3XrzDgkGf9R-ivaWNduNGqrA4o9nWWI4kZmffhE-yoUvri1QyrQzZ7YkT68dIbr-IFlq4n0Zn6mqxO2DBWd-dhEsTRLQ5Ru3L9ZrgvTCvcMFVDlh59uslumpoXG6Ma7jPSTJNUN2J2Wq/s320/091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243512214146145218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />At the end of the day though, I think the hostess was very satisfied with her event.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-10403229039775237692008-09-05T00:30:00.005-04:002008-09-19T00:58:45.306-04:00Hurricane Ike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C6BdR9Qzz-fevKNTYuHNhCTXj0i0HQMswit6sbel4O0LQ1QmWQpQsu6N_oyzp6gYYAowV-0SAKetJ0iQ6yprwC4ZmpDQ4OhW87lVqQJSV4xUL5dfCtsV99cxompcbKcfzvpyMsrZcKHG/s1600-h/Ike+-+5+days+out.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C6BdR9Qzz-fevKNTYuHNhCTXj0i0HQMswit6sbel4O0LQ1QmWQpQsu6N_oyzp6gYYAowV-0SAKetJ0iQ6yprwC4ZmpDQ4OhW87lVqQJSV4xUL5dfCtsV99cxompcbKcfzvpyMsrZcKHG/s320/Ike+-+5+days+out.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242393690140432914" border="0" /></a>While we are well versed in hurricane preparation, having been through 3 solid hits in the last few years, and we know how much the hurricane projected paths can change over a 5 day period...this is never what a South Floridan wants to see. We live about 25 miles ESE of Lake Okeechobee, which you can see in the center of Florida on the map. Yesterday, the 5:00 p.m. advisory indicated that Ike had become a Catergory 1 hurricane with winds of approximately 75 mph. By 5:00 a.m. this morning, wind speed had increased dramatically to 145 mph - a Category 4 storm. While the storm has slowed to approximately 135 mph winds at this point, still a Category 4 storm, there is a good chance it could strengthen again according to the forecast. So for now, we'll keep a close eye on it, likely spend the weekend preparing, and hope the meteorologists are wrong, as usual.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-71765370728433369252008-08-31T14:08:00.006-04:002008-09-01T15:59:22.367-04:00The Power of the LeapPad?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZVUD-ft62VRYjE_hysve9cPoalJJXQz-81yzQNdWibb3AvKS7xRo5cO8ek7W31vf_sf0ENoqUxQCfdg83sr3NObvbkCZVYYpu8hFg8UVb_Z0EcOTl7w9dNOefYXvLmRTvrJLeJt1TFBr/s1600-h/July+2008+%284%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZVUD-ft62VRYjE_hysve9cPoalJJXQz-81yzQNdWibb3AvKS7xRo5cO8ek7W31vf_sf0ENoqUxQCfdg83sr3NObvbkCZVYYpu8hFg8UVb_Z0EcOTl7w9dNOefYXvLmRTvrJLeJt1TFBr/s320/July+2008+%284%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241141329149599906" border="0" /></a>Today we have been busy tackling some projects around the house, mainly related to moving Kylie into her self-proclaimed "big girl room". Of course, being the little "helper" that she is, Kylie has been offering her assistance to us both in the hopes she may be able to legitimately climb to the top of the step ladder or use the paint brush on the wall.<br /><br />At one point she made up this contest in which she would flip through a book as I was completing a task, and the one of us that finished first was the contest winner. Needless to say, under this contrived rule set, I lost a series of "contests". After about my fifth loss over the course of the day, Dan walked into the room to check on how things were going. Kylie quickly chimed in with, "Daddy, I won the contest! Are you impressed?" A little surprised that she even knew the word impressed, Dan asked her to repeat what she said. "Are you impressed that I beat mommy in the contest?"<br /><br />Later that day at family dinner (so labeled because we only get to sit down together for a meal on the weekends and holidays), Dan was quizzing Kylie on her nursery rhymes to keep her occupied while we finished eating. After running through a few...he asked what the wolf did after he couldn't blow down the Little Pig's brick house. Kylie was pretty uninterested at this point (me too) and didn't answer. Dan asked her again, and she looked over at him and said, "I don't know. That question is too difficult, Daddy." Difficult? It just sounds so funny coming from this little kid.<br /><br />They learn things so fast, it is no surprise that everyone thinks their kid is the smartest! It really is amazing how quickly children absorb new things and retain them. I'm going to attribute this latest blossoming of her vocabulary to her love of the LeapPad.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074538200528690886.post-65097256026394980452008-08-30T22:13:00.000-04:002008-09-01T13:38:07.621-04:00Dancing & Watching the Waistline<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECNpn9vhf8yxroKxbPHj59djFtMOJqNJ0XG8UfjKhk8LcIWdPzVbB3G7SdOghiqTxr84NpK2zYv1M9IyV0DQfZ-bfSAwuAscVONoTEi10Ih_fTBYbBhzdZ8oU0cwUsHmQAujKDxygLePN/s1600-h/Ditka's+Resort+%2811%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECNpn9vhf8yxroKxbPHj59djFtMOJqNJ0XG8UfjKhk8LcIWdPzVbB3G7SdOghiqTxr84NpK2zYv1M9IyV0DQfZ-bfSAwuAscVONoTEi10Ih_fTBYbBhzdZ8oU0cwUsHmQAujKDxygLePN/s320/Ditka's+Resort+%2811%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241105721804240338" border="0" /></a>Kylie started back to dance class today with a set of new teachers, Ms. Lauren and Ms. Alaina. She was timid at first, but there were many familiar faces from her summer class, which seemed to help. Before long, she assumed her favorite position in the class...right between the two teachers. She is just short of being obsessed with being next to the teacher in the class. While she won't tackle anyone else (yet) to get there, she is a master of putting herself in prime position to join hands with the teacher if the chance arises.<br /><br />She was a good listener in class, so we asked if she'd like to go out to breakfast. Since she loves restaurants, she was excited. Once we sat down, she announced to the waitress that she wanted eggs and pancakes! And so it was...scrambled eggs, bacon, and three small pancakes - the "Grand Slam Junior". When her food came, she ate her eggs, bacon, and a bite or two of a pancake, but then announced that she was done. Since she declared pancakes as her "Favorite Food" in her recent "All About Me" book at school, which I think may only have been because she is good at drawing circles, Dan asked her why she wasn't eating her pancakes. She responded with, "Daddy, I can't eat all my pancakes, or I will get fat!" Really!?! My 27 pound 3 year old is already deciding pancakes will make her fat?Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12216208730424666636noreply@blogger.com0