Eric's 47th Birthday

The girls and I had fun with Eric's B-day this year, Lili and I bought him Superman party supplies and Fei set the table.  We put his favorite candy, salt water taffy all over the table.  Very festive.  His first themed party.  Fun.  In the end he loaded up a regular plate, we all teased him about not using his Superman plate.  He offered to switch his food but I scooped the plate and put it aside for him.  He'll get to use it another day and the fun will continue.  We had Scott up for dinner and Penny and the girls came.  Actually the girls were already over, they just stayed for dinner.  Jia woke up yesterday just shaking with excitement, she wanted Daddy to have his presents right away.  He ended up opening them first thing because we didn't think she'd do well waiting all day to give him the presents some of them she wrapped herself, of course using a ton of tape.

 

 

Eric had a sleep over in Lili's room last night.  I thought he was joking around but I came downstairs in the middle of the night and there he was.  Too funny.

 

Still no adoption news!!  I know.  It's majorly frustrating. 

We've been using some of our quiet time to use up some of the science kits the girls have accumulated.  The spheres and the snow were both big hits.  Next is the Menthos in Pepsi :)

 

Scott has been building our new shed, it's kitty corner to the fence and garage, planning to move bikes, ride on toys and cars, quad, motor bike, garbage cans, tools and odds and ends out there.  Hoping to stream line the garage to just cars. 

 

The really fun news of today.  Jia's foster sister Sage (Du Xiao Fang) who lives with her American parents in Shanghai is coming to our house for a visit today!!  I'm so excited to meet them.  We've met on-line of course. 

Lili's new room.

Eric was going gung ho on Lili's room but then got held up with the wall border.  Not his favorite thing to do.  We've been so busy with so many other projects that I didn't nag him too much.  We had a nice quiet day at home this past weekend and I suggested he ask my Dad to come and help him.  They got the wolf border up in no time and then Lili and I were off and running.  We spent hours going through all of her little things.  She's been in her old room since she was two and there were a LOT of little things.  She did great at sorting, keep, display, memory box, give away and throw away.  Fei helped and she watched Lili really stream line so hopefully it will go as smoothly when we move her over.  Both girls have been spending quite a bit of time in the new room just hanging out and listening to music.  Such a grown up room compared to her old one.  Fei has lots of plans for her new room, we're close to starting.  The only thing left for Lili is to move her clothing down but we'll cull at the same time, so we need a fair chunk of time to get it done.  Jia scored lots of little goodies to play with, when ever she came up to 'help', we distracted her with something new and she was off playing again. 

We spent my flex day at the river yesterday.  Water was arctic and there wasn't much swimming done and it was hot, so we all voted to go home and swim in our own pool, ahhhh, so nice.  Clean, refreshing and the views are lovely in the back yard.

Now, adoption news.  Our agency did send off an e-mail request to the person I wanted them to contact on Friday.  Sadly, it was likely three days late.  We haven't heard anything.  All weekend I was thinking we were 50/50 for it turning out the way we want it to.  Now that's it's Tuesday, I'm thinking it's likely not good news.  I can't imagine what could take this long if he's still available on the shared list.  The other news is that the special needs list hasn't had new files in three months and I just read on Rumor Queen that the new list came out last night.  Our agency apparently doesn't stay up to see the news files, they wait three days to see what files are returned so I wouldn't expect a match from the list today.  Hard waiting.  Hard not being in control. 

 

 

 

My new swing.

I've been wanting one of these swings that folds down to a bed for years and years!  Every time we see one in the stores the decision is made that it's frivolous, we don't need one and there are better things to spend money on, like adoptions.  Anyways, Eric found a used one for $75 and we went and picked it up last night.  I'm thrilled with it. 

Puppies.

Our friend and my co-worker Barry has Chihuahua puppies again this year.  We took the kids to just play with them.  Eric was worried I'd want one and was hesitant to go.  NO worries, I'm still not over our puppy days with Isabel.  I'm not ready to jump into that game willingly again!  Right now I'm thinking only adult rescue dogs from here on out.  That said.  Who doesn't love to play with puppies?!  There are four little boys available if anyone wants one.  Jia was scared (new phase) and didn't pet any of them, then as soon as we were leaving she asked Eric to go back and get her a puppy. 

Catching up - Camping

Every year we plan a group camping trip for the weekend school is out, Canada Day long weekend.  We always go to Rathtrevor, the girls favorite.  The last couple weeks of school are always super busy.  It seemed a major hassle to get ready this year.  Likely because I'm very paper pregnant and in serious waiting mode.  So, it was really HOT and very humid.  Everything in the trailer was wet.  You all know how much I love to be uncomfortable.  Ya'.  So, the big girls were off and running and had a great time.  They love all the independence and I love that we have new walkie-talkies for each of them.  Jia was left behind with us and she can be very demanding.  Kid wanted to have all of the camping fun now and at once.  While riding her bike she'd already be negotiating for chalk, bubbles, swing, playground, walks, ice cream, snacks in general, time to do art in the trailer or play games, or visit Kalum or, or, or.  Needless to say, Eric and I didn't so much get to sit.  Every minute felt like a negotiation and although we enjoyed the weekend overall and were happy to be with our friends, we were both happy to get home this time.  I love Jia's enthusiasm, now we need to work on her patience.

Not too many pictures of Lili and Fei, we really didn't see much of them, they were on the move.  I'll just brag up their report cards here for a minute though.  Fei got straight A's and Lili did all A's and one B (fine arts).  We're so proud, they had a great year.  Now they are in grade 5 and 6!!

Miss Lacie in her new swim suit.  She loves it.  She wore it the whole camping trip.  Oh, and she doesn't know it's a swim suit, she thinks it's a dress.

Jia wanted to chalk the driveway but it was raining then I remembered the big girls old chalk board.  We're loving having the gate closed and front door open, it makes the frond deck another room to the house.  That's a spider sunshine she has drawn by the way.

We saw Monsters University last weekend and Jia has drawn Mike!  Mike Wazowski is hands down my favorite Disney character.  I love him even more after seeing the part of the movie when he was a little monster in school. 

First beach day of the year.  Jia didn't leave the blanket for five hours.  Perfectly happy.

This is how Lili looks most of the time now :)

Celebrating Kalum's 6th Birthday at the beach.  There were 14 kids in the group, this is 10 of them.

Jia and Hanna made Kalum a sand cake, but I don't think he saw it.

Isabel had a great time playing in the water.  We can't seem to find an end to her energy, she just keeps going and going.  We didn't use her kennel this trip and she did fabulously.

Eric put a swing up on the beach for the kids and himself.

Jia's riding is getting stronger and stronger.  There are some hills in the campground and we were camped right on the biggest one, so she HAD to learn how to use her brakes.  She also used the trail-a-bike, I didn't manage to get a picture of that.  She loved it.

I love this picture of Eric and Ken!  They look like twins, matching outfits, shoes and dogs.

Silly Daddy.

Jia wanted to chalk in the dark.

No trip to Parksville would really be complete without visiting the goats on the roof.  The goats were pooing as we got there so that caused lots of laughter and comments from Jia who loves nothing more than potty humor.

Going slowly crazy.

I found a child on the shared list that I was interested in.  He is beyond adorable with a need I think our family can deal with.  I contacted the person advocating for him in the wee hours of Tues night and she responded Wed. morning and said to have our agency contact her so she could help them find him on the shared list.   We're still waiting to hear anything.  Arg.  Painful.  I can't fathom waiting over the weekend to hear if he is available.  Eric and the girls are on board of course.  To be honest I was moving on getting information before Eric was ready.  I called Eric on his cell and told him he needed to go home and start reading up on the need.  I didn't confess to him until later that I'd already requested that our agency search for his file.  He just laughed.  We're trying really hard not to get attached to the idea of him becoming our son while keeping our fingers crossed.

Update:  I've been waiting since Wed. morning on pins and needles for news, only to push this afternoon and hear that she hasn't gotten to it because she's been pulled away by other things.  ARG.  Also gave me a small blurb about American agency lists not being possible.  Uh, ya' that's why I let you know about a shared list child!!  Double ARG.  Marg retired, we're working with a new gal.  We don't know each other.  We've only had the one e-mail between us and already I'm scared.  So, an hour ago I was spitting nails but I'm calming down a bit now.  Clearly this gets to be more and more of a long shot with every second that goes by.  The whole nature of competition on the shared list is unpleasant to start with.  Feeling like this woman will have cost us his file by ignoring it for two and half days.  Feeling stuck and frustrated, VERY FRUSTRATED.  It's hard to sit back and blithely say 'what's meant to be will be'.  Maybe it's only meant to be if you 'get on it'.

Honoring Teresa.

I've been following this little girl and her family for years.  She died a few days ago after a long and brave battle.  I've never cried so many tears for a child I've never met. 

This video is a beautiful way to get to know her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0EEUqljgc8&feature=youtu.be

Their family blog
http://www.ourplacecalledhome.blogspot.ca/

Hugging my kiddos tight.