A Sister For Gabe and Julian

Springing Into Summer

2010-06-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

So sorry to have been neglecting this blog. Life happened and keeps happening. We are a very busy family. Although our philosophy is to not turn into one of those families who ends up raising their children in the car, we do seem to be out and about a lot more lately. An end to diapers and the tapering off of naps gives us more opportunities to explore our city and spend time with friends. So here's our past few months' milestones and memories in a nutshell.

Gabriel had a wonderful spring as he found a sport that fits his athletic abilities (he has always been athletically inclined) and his personality. He spent 3 months participating in track and field with the Ventura Tigres. With 3 practices a week and all day Saturday meets it was a big commitment for our family but WELL worth it. He had wonderful coaches who emphasized good sportsmanship and self improvement. Gabriel especially excelled at the high jump- great form and grasshopper legs. He is by nature not a very competitive person, but he loves to run and once he discovered his strengths he flew both in spirit and athleticism. We are very proud of him and his efforts.

Julian elected to play spring soccer with AYSO. He loves sports even though his small stature seems to limit him sometimes around his peers. He became very good at passing the ball to his best friend on the team and said to us, "I don't mind being Theo's (the best friend) wing man. Theo makes the goals then he comes back and we both do the victory dance together." Julian is always able to see things in a positive light and continues to be a compassionate person and tries to include everyone. He still won't cut his hair. A couple weeks ago he split his head open and was more concerned that the doctor might have to cut his hair to put the staples in than the injury itself. We call him our "little Samson".

Rachel is busy growing up way too quickly. She has so many things to say and talks almost non-stop when she's awake. She doesn't really care if no one is listening. I guess it's a "girl thing" because the boys never had to utter every thought that came into their brains. She is feisty and fun, stubborn and creative, industrious and challenging. She loves to "help" and loves to boss her brothers around. Her favorite TV show is the old "Rescue Heroes" cartoon and she runs around way too early in the morning yelling, "Rescue Heroes to headquarters! We're scrapping the mission." We all crack up when she takes things so literally. Yesterday I told her, "I taped something for you on TV." She started frantically searching around the TV for something. I asked her what she was looking for. "You wrapped me some presents for my birfday? Where are they?" Apparently she thought I had taped presents to the TV or something. The boys thought that was very funny. She was not amused.

This summer we have planned 2 camping trips and a few half day camps here and there (art, surf camp, and Vacation Bible Camp). Otherwise we are going to slow down and see where the summer days take us.... even if it's just to the kiddie pool in the backyard.

Boy's Weekend

2010-03-09T08:31:00.001-08:00

Holidays and Happenings

2010-01-01T11:47:00.000-08:00

Photos: Gabriel participating in a holiday skit at the Olivas Adobe, Rachel and Grandpa in the park, Rachel being a big girl on her bike, Rachel reading with Grandma Mary, the kids and Santa... Gabriel was quite nervous and so serious about talking with Santa.

Awesome Autumn!

2009-12-30T19:06:00.000-08:00

Photos: Gabriel at cotillion, Rachel picking out a pumpkin and carving it with dad, Halloween with a genie, ninja and vampire, the family at Refugio State Beach, the boys with mom on a behind the scenes tour of the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, boys feeding the Lorokeets, dad and kids petting the sharks and rays.

Good Times at the County Fair

2009-08-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

Food, fun, friends and fair ribbons.

Beach Fun!

2009-06-26T09:41:00.001-07:00

It was a great day at the beach. The boys found 2 inch sandcrabs and Rachel made lots of "noodle soup".

Spring Happenings

2009-06-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

Our spring has been a blast. We were excited to find a bird family living in our fort. That mama bird is working hard to feed 3 babies (Colette can relate). That scruffy little bird and her babies have been such wonderfully unexpected spring blessings to observe. Our family managed to avoid nearly all the bad viruses going around. In fact the only illness I can recall is Julian's ear infections. Typical middle child... he never complained until he couldn't hear because of all the fluid. He's feeling alot better now. In May our nephew "Big Nick" graduated from college. We are very proud of him and his bright future. Jeff started softball practice for our church's team. It's been a while since he's played on a team. We hope he doesn't injure himself to the point where he can no longer wrestle with the boys. Rachel is finally coming out of her "shell". She is much more comfortable with the Grandmas, babysitters and friends. She loves her ballet class and going to the beach (even on foggy days). Our family is looking forward to summer nights sans homework and deadlines. See you at the beach....

Photos are: The first baby bird hatching, Gabriel and Grandma Mary at Gabriel's poetry reading, Rachel at the local Memorial Day presentation, Julian and Grandma Jeannine showing off all his patches to his classmates, Julian and Ted (class mascot who got to come to our house for a visit)

Easter Fun!

2009-04-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

Activities at our wonderful church... baskets at home then the big egg hunt at Grandma Jeannine's house. The two-headed lamb cake evolved from a first attempt gone wrong. Jeff found a beautiful baby garter snake (again) which the boys loved. Grandma and all the grandkids healthy and happy just the way we like it.

Our Trip to the Magic Kingdom

2009-04-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

It had been 2+ years since our last visit. We waited until Rachel could recognize some of the characters and went to Disneyland last week. We had a lot of fun at California Adventure as well (we highly recommend the Chat with Crush Interactive show... it was a hoot). Rachel loved Small World and tried to talk to the small world kids "Hi, my name Rachel". Julian, our thrill seeker, was finally able to go on Space Mountain. In the pitch black I could hear him screaming, "This is awesome...". Gabriel belly laughed at the Golden Horseshoe lunchtime show. Those hillbilly guys are really funny. It was a good time.

Soccer Fun!

2009-03-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

Spring soccer is just our speed... 1 game per week, 1 practice per week and a whole bunch of fun and team camaraderie. Our boys are enjoying the team spirit.

Rachel at Dance Class

2009-02-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

Okay so she mostly just spins, jumps and runs around in circles. But we call it "ballet dancing". Enjoy this "live" performance...

Fearless Julian

2009-01-28T12:34:00.000-08:00

When it started to get cold, everyone went back to the cabin except Julian. He had ski fever and kept skiing all afternoon with dad. His video is a little long but man was he proud of his skills. So enjoy the adrenaline rush as you watch our first time skiers.

The Boys Take to the Slopes

2009-01-28T09:46:00.001-08:00

Three cheers for having a low center of gravity!! The boys had a fantastic time skiing. Hm mm. How did dad video tape them so much without running over other skiers? We'll never know. Not too shabby for a couple of boys from So Cal.

Here's To A New Era of Hope

2009-01-22T11:07:00.000-08:00

This family is happy to see a new face in the White House. G. is especially aware of the physical similarities between himself and our new Prez. Our home is filled with hope for the potentially great changes our nation may go through. At the polls we were divided on our opinions about the future leader of our country. Now we see hope, change and a brightness among our friends and family. God bless this wonderful country and all who have the privilege to live here.

Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours...

2008-12-26T17:45:00.000-08:00

Make sure you have the volume turned up! Merry, merry Christmas to all!

Taking Our Little Nuts to the Nutcracker

2008-12-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

The boys have been to 4 performances of the Nutcracker. This year's performance was by far the most special. Our babysitter, Julia, had several parts in the ballet. She was absolutely beautiful. Some of our international adoption friends also did a great job in the performance.

The boys were so inspired that they are participating (more marching than dancing) in a mini Nutcracker ballet. They said that they are playing the parts of the naughty boys at the party... how appropriate;)

A Time for Giving Thanks

2008-12-01T12:45:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We took the kids on a bike ride at the beach, came home for naps then went to Aunt Julie's house for the big feast. We are so thankful for all our blessings... our family and friends, faith and good health. We truly have so many blessings and we are grateful for each and every one. Photos: Rachel looking like a "big girl" on the piano bench, Julian and cousin Jurgen at the table, Daddy and his girl, cousins on the couch, cousins on the couch II with Jeff jumping on for some Thanksgiving family togetherness... ha, ha.

Feast with Friends

2008-11-24T09:32:00.000-08:00

The boys and Jeff continue to enjoy participating in YMCA Indian Guides. We had a wonderful picnic with our friends in the great outdoors. It was our first time ever to cook a turkey (yes, we remembered to remove the bag of giblets before we cooked the bird). The boys had a great time sloshing around in the river muck while Rachel made friends with a horse named "Toy with Me". The horse was gently feasting on clover so the owner let Rachel ride her a bit. Rachel and her friend Alek had their own "pow wow" on a big stump. It was a fun day for all.

Our Beautiful Ballerina

2008-11-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

Rachel is taking her first ballet class. She mostly likes it. Sometimes she pitches a short-lived fit when she has other ideas about what she'd like to be doing. But when she settles down and dances, she's adorable. Sorry the photos are a little fuzzy. It's hard to keep a constantly moving ballerina in focus.

Happy Election Day 2008!

2008-11-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

On the way to the bus stop Julian said, "I would vote for Barrack Obama". To which Rachel replied, "Vote rockin' mama". Whether you're voting for Barrack Obama, a rockin' mama or someone else... just get out there and vote!

Boo to you!!!!

2008-11-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

The kids had a great time Trick or Treating and just hanging out with friends. Rachel was supposed to be a ladybug but she freaked out when Mommy tried to put the costume on her. Too stiff and scratchy. At the last minute a friend loaned us the perfect costume... Princess Leia. Now it's true that Rachel only cared that the costume was soft and easy to move around in. But Rachel's brothers thought her costume was awesome and boy were they surprised when she walked out in it (they were expecting a ladybug). So, now without further banter, I present you with Obi Wan, Jango Fett and Princess Leia... and may the Force be with you. (cue Star Wars theme music)At the post Halloween sale, we bought the boys ninja outfits. They wore them for 48 hours straight. Then mom made them take them off.

Trip to New Mexico

2008-10-29T08:38:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful time visiting Grandma Mary and Grandpa in Albuquerque. We took turns driving throughout the night to get there and coming home. The kids just slept. It was so much less stressful (although we were exhausted). No one arguing or asking us when we're going to get there.

Rachel enjoyed the grandparents' stairs and making cookies with Grandma. The boys liked golfing and all the fun "big city" stuff we did (museums, zoo, etc.). Grandma Mary is a docent at the Natural History Museum so it was fun visiting the museum with her as our guide. We also had the chance to ride the tram (gondola) 2 miles up the Sandia Mountains and the kids were thrilled to find patches of snow up top (Southern Calif. kids get very excited about any evidence of weather - other than sun).

We're looking forward to dressing up our little monsters for Halloween. Hope your fall is fun!

Our "Baby" Is 2 Years Old Today

2008-10-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

During the past 2 weeks Rachel has really been blossoming. Here are some of the ways she's changed:

1) She seems to be whining less and talking more

2) She has become really confident in the swimming pool. Water used to freak her out. Now she's much better at ignoring other people's splashing.

3) She actually blows her nose when you hold up the tissue.

4) She says some of our dinner prayer with us.

5) She is willingly giving people hugs hello and good bye. It helps if they give her food. But sometimes she initiates this behavior on her own.

6) She is well on her way to being potty trained. She has had only 2 accidents since the 1st time Colette sat her on the potty. That's almost 6 days of M&M's. Rachel loves marching around the potty and singing the potty song after she goes. She asked to go potty in Target and Colette was amazed that Rachel had no problem sitting on the huge potty and going potty (no shy bladder here). So yes, we happily bought the 1 pound bag of M&M's.

7) Rachel spends on average about 1 hour/day drawing. We give her crayons or washable markers at her plastic table and she draws "noodles". She does switch hands holding the crayon. But she loves drawing her "noodles".

Oh, and on the not so good part of growing up... she has hit the terrible twos. She answers "no" to every question. Our boys didn't have issues with saying "no" too much. So this is new to us. We foresee many future battles "No's vs. Yes's".

Wow, our little baby has grown up so fast. We try to slow her down but sometimes she just knows it's her time to go forward and grow up. Sniff, sniff. In some ways we're sad she's lost some of her baby ways. On the other hand we enjoy seeing her face light up when she discovers something new or makes a new personal achievement.

It's time for Jeff to start wearing his t-shirt that reads "You can't scare me. I have a 2 year old."

The Queen On Her Throne

2008-09-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

Rachel has always been fascinated with potty procedures in the house. Today she is home with a cold and it's a pretty hot day. So Colette left Rachel naked and introduced her to the potty chair. They read lots of books about using the potty and Colette told Rachel she could have 3 M&Ms if she went poo poo in the potty. Rachel sat on the potty many times and then finally went pee pee. Then Rachel ate lots and lots of her favorite fruit, cantaloupe, and sat on her potty while she watched The Wiggles. A couple of minutes later she came running into the computer room yelling, " Wook, wook. Poo poo in potty". Colette wasn't even in the room for the big event. Rachel had done it herself. In 8 days she'll turn 2 years old. Seems awfully young to potty train. We'll see if it's just a fluke or if we should invest in the 1 pound bag of M&Ms.

Our "fish"

2008-09-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of our "fish" snorkeling in La Jolla Cove and swimming in San Diego. Notice the orange Garabaldi near Julian's leg. It is the official marine state fish of California and is protected in California coastal waters.

The sun sets on summer...

2008-08-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun images of our summer... enjoy.

Preparing to hit a "home run" at Coach Pitch Baseball.
Silly times at the local harbor.

Petting a new friend at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. We told the kids that one of the zoo keeper's trucks got stuck in the mud. Here they are trying to pull the truck out of the mud.
Darth Vader and R2-D2 made of Legos? Our boys had found the best of both worlds at Lego Land.

Off to Zoo Camp at the Santa Barbara zoo.

Back to School

2008-08-19T10:21:00.001-07:00

Our "big boys" have gone back to school. Sniff, sniff, sob, sob. Where did the summer go? They wore cool shirts that Grandma Jeannine made for them for their birthdays. Rachel was happy in this photo but soon became sad when she went looking for her brothers in the house after they had left.

Our Little Harvest

2008-08-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Jeff installed a few garden boxes for us to plant a summer garden. So far we've enjoyed Gabriel's corn (always wear Roman armor when harvesting corn), Julian's cucumbers (he's doing something silly with his lips in the photo) and Rachel's Teddy Bear Sunflowers. We're still waiting for the tomatoes and yellow bell peppers to ripen.

Fun at the county fair...

2008-08-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

We had a good time at the county fair this year. The boys are old enough to go on some of the rides.

We all had a great time looking for our entries. Julian won 2 blue ribbons- 1 for his art (bottom left in the photo) and 1 for his Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Cake (Grandma Jeannine's recipe).

Gabriel won 3 blue ribbons- 1 for art, 1 for a craft project and the big blue one for his "Cookies N Cream" cake. Our family also entered the Scarecrow contest. We made a "recycled robot scarecow" out of recycle junk from around our house and grandma's basement. We were thrilled and surprised to win "Best in the Division" and actually won a small monetary award. Now the scarecrow will grace our own garden. Rachel's highlights were the shuttle bus ride to the fair and the roasted corn on the cob.

Our boys in the Sunday funnies...

2008-07-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

This comic strip really "hit home". The liopleurodon is actually one of Gabriel's favorite prehistoric creatures. The comic strip is "FoxTrot" by Bill Amend. Click on the photo to read...

Where did June go?

2008-07-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

Whoosh... are we mid-summer already? We ended June with a family celebration for Julian's 6th birthday. He was very excited to receive a special light saber and Indiana Jones action figures. He's a big boy now but he still loves to dress up in costumes and go on backyard adventures.

July 4th was so much fun. It was Rachel's 1st July 4th as a U. S. citizen. We are very patriotic so we marched (more like strolled) in the Push Em Pull Em Parade, BBQed with friends and family and the boys stayed up to see the fireworks.

All 3 kids are taking swim lessons and Gabriel is less than thrilled to be in the advanced swim class that takes place in the super cold competition pool. But he puts on a happy face and braves the frigid water every day.

It's amazing just how many new talents our boys teach Rachel.

Happy summer to all!

Blueberry Picking

2008-06-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

We went blueberry picking at a local farm. Even though it was pretty hot, the kids had fun eating, picking, feeding the farm animals and riding in the wagon. We picked about 3 pounds of blueberries but only arrived home with 2 pounds. Hmmmm.

California Beach Bums

2008-06-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

We like the beach when it's foggy but we love the beach when it's sunny. Julian's been working on growing out "surfer hair" and he made a "surfer necklace" in kindergarten and wears it around the clock.

Rachel loves to roll around in the sand. She has a lot of fun until sand gets in her diaper.

Gabe is quite the boogie boarder and beach comber. His never ending quest for the perfect piece of sea glass has us all spending far too much time hunched over searching the sands.

One Year Ago This Week...

2008-06-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

One year ago this week we were matched with a baby girl waiting in an orphanage in China. Xiao Xin Jin's face was revealed to us in only 2 photos but we fell in love with her at once. This week also marks 1o+ months she's been our daughter... that means she's been with us longer than she was ever without us. She is healthy, happy, and loves her forever home and family. Here are some "before we met" photos...

and "after she joined the family" photos. She's made leaps and bounds socially, physically, cognitively and emotionally. She still is stubborn and curious but in all other ways she is a very different child than the one we met in China. What a difference some time and opportunities can make to one little person.

Our Life in Recent Photos

2008-05-30T19:36:00.001-07:00

Gabriel and Julian both did a great job in our church's annual musical. Rachel got to try out her first bikini during our heat wave. She kept poking her tummy with her finger and giggling.
On Jeff's birthday (May 25th) Pastor Overton guided us through Rachel's baptism. Baptizing a toddler is not an easy feat. But Pastor Overton remained patient and kind even when Rachel pulled his ear piece out of his ear. Rachel wore an off white, satin, traditional Chinese, dress we had bought for her in China.
Rachel still won't let anyone but mom or dad hold her. Cousin Elyse got in some snuggle time when Rachel was very unconscious.
Rachel running on the beach after the baptism.

She's Officially Ours

2008-05-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

Third in line for the throne,

she's officially in her forever home.

Rachel had her "day in court". Judge Coleman led us through all the legal stuff with humor and patience and lollipops for everyone. We had a small celebration at a local park to celebrate Rachel's official welcoming. It was such a relief to have all the paperwork done... signed, sealed and delivered. BIG SIGH!

Photos: Our family with Judge Coleman, Rachel's Good Luck Dragon cupcake cake (Rachel's sitting on the ground behind it) and Rachel playing in the sand box with her friend XuXu (also recently adopted from China).

Presenting... Julian as "Baby Bear"

2008-05-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

Julian had the wonderful opportunity to play the role of Baby Bear in his kindergarten play. He is very proud of his efforts and we're certain he'll soon be up for an Oscar.

Fun in the Sun

2008-05-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

We've recently had some bouts of very hot weather. It was a little sampling of summer. All 3 kids love water play and Rachel got a chance to model some of her swimwear. Notice that Rachel's popsicle is on the ground under the bench... uh, oh.

Rachel's Words

2008-04-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

New parents are always so anxious to have their babies start talking. Just remember "new parents", once they start talking they never stop (and most of their communication is spent ordering you around). Rachel is learning and producing words at a rapid pace. She used to sign everything but now she prefers to let herself be heard. We miss her hand signs (she was so cute when she'd be using her little hands to convey something to us). But we know other little girls and we know how they LOVE to talk- even when they're the only ones listening. So "good bye" hand signs and "hello" constant chatter.

Rachel's words to date:
Mama
Dada
Juju
cheese
yea
no
more
bubbles
apple
moon
wah-wah (water)
nanana (banana)
go
Ramah (grandma)
dip dip
Elmo
hat
shoe
rock
noodle
hot
hi
bye
wow
ice
bah bah (bottle)
keys
ow
cracker
flower
mouse
meow
ball
no poo poo (even when she clearly reeks)

Video For You to Enjoy

2008-04-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

Colette received a video camera for her birthday. We spent her birthday camping with friends. So here's our first attempt to add a video to our blog. Enjoy... Rachel as Tweety Bird with big brother encouraging her performance.

Happy Spring!

2008-03-25T14:20:00.001-07:00

Rachel had been carrying her Easter basket around all week. She just kept putting empty plastic eggs in and out of it. We found eggs in shoes, pots and pans and trashcans all week long. Needless to say she was thrilled to wake up Easter morning and actually find good stuff in her basket. We celebrated Easter at church then Grandma J's house for the big egg hunt and brunch then home for long naps then to the pool for pizza dinner (it was hot here). We are all still recovering from our Sunday.

Cousin Colin brought over Smudge the bunny for some extra Easter pets.

We made a great attempt to get all the cousins to smile at the same time for the annual photo with Grandma.

Start Your Engines...

2008-03-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

The boys had a great time at the YMCA Pinewood Derby. Even though no one in our clan placed this year, Gabe and Julian were happy they got to bring home a display stand. Our only setback occurred when Hazel the beagle chewed up their cars just after their first paint application. The YMCA gave us replacement kits and they rushed to complete them in time. Rachel preferred to sit on the tracks instead of quietly watching the races. Jeff was more involved this year and seemed to take his Nation Chief duties very seriously. It was a fun morning.

Ode to Food...

2008-03-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

Our adoption social worker asked us for some photos of Rachel doing the things she likes best. We agreed that her favorite past time is eating. Our theory on her "love of food" is... the food in China was so bland that now she savors food with flavor and even some spice. She ate teaspoon after teaspoon of salsa at a restaurant the other night. Her favorites are: noodles with marinara, salmon, cheerios, yogurt, carrots, barbecue chicken, macaroni and cheese and Sunchips. It took many repeated attempts to get her to eat dairy products but now she loves yogurt and string cheese and they don't seem to effect her digestive system anymore. So here are some photos of our little gal doing what she likes best...

Let It Snow!

2008-02-16T18:58:00.001-08:00

The boys (all 3 of them) had a great time at the YMCA Winter Camp. Rachel wanted to go too but we did not want to deal with a runny-nosed, cranky toddler in the snow for 3 days.

Notice Julian's bloody nostril. Apparently his nose crashed into a fellow sledder's foot.

Happy year of the rat!

2008-02-13T18:38:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year2008 Year of the Earth Rat February 7, 2008 - January 25, 2009

Kung Hei Fat Choi! (Happy New Year!).
The Chinese calendar is based on solar and lunar cycles and thus the new year falls on a different day of the Western solar calendar each year.
Year Ahead: The beginning of a new cycle. The Year of the Rat is fast-paced and a time of new opportunities and fresh starts.
Characteristics:People Born in the Year of the Rat are charasmatic, intelligent, quick-witted and are very social and popular.
Compatible business partners:People born in the years of the dragon, rabbit, monkey, oxen and pig.
Good Careers for Rats: writers, broadcasters, actors, advisors, counsellors, lawyers, politicians, designers, engineers, managers, directors, adminitrators, entrepreneurs, musicians, stand-up comedians, researchers, historians, race car drivers

PS Gabe had a fever. Therefore, no smile.

Photos From the Past Weeks...

2008-02-08T20:37:00.002-08:00

Our Yard Is Covered in a Blanket of White

2008-01-25T07:47:00.000-08:00

It was so exciting for us Southern Californians. It hailed (the biggest pieces Colette has ever seen) during dinner last night. It lasted a long time so the kids all went outside and road boogie boards down our hill. We hope there's not a lot of damage to our yard plants or local crops. But boy was it fun! The fun lasted until everyone got wet and cold then we threw all 3 kids into the tub (Hazel the Beagle refused to get bathed).

Ahhh, the sweet sounds of sleep...

2008-01-23T13:38:00.000-08:00

Those of you who have never dealt with children with sleep issues may not fully understand our pure joy. Rachel is finally sleeping in her own bed, in her own room 8:00 p.m.- 6:00 a.m. Mom and dad could no longer stand the all night battle for the bed. A couple of weeks ago we all had colds. Rachel would snort and we would wake up. We would cough and she would wake up. Enough is enough. We decided to move her to her own space (and out of ours). We had only 2 rough nights of adjustment. But for the past week she has been doing great. If she wakes in the middle of the night, she puts herself back to sleep within 20 minutes. We think that's pretty good and Rachel seems to be more refreshed and happy in the mornings. So here's a photo of her smiling in her sleeper PJs.

Big Brother New Year's Resolutions...

2008-01-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

We celebrated a "New York" New Year (a reasonable 9:00 p.m. our time). The boys wrote a joint resolution...

"No babies aloud but Rachel can come in if only she does not destroy our Lego creations."

Sounds like another overly ambitious resolution to us. We wish all our friends a healthy and happy new year!

Happy Holidays to All!

2007-12-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

We have been having a busy and fun Christmas. Grandma Mary and Grandpa made the trip out here to visit and enjoy our chaotic holiday. We've been to some great parties and sat down for a chat with Santa (Rachel was not fond of Santa). The International Adoption Group party was particularly special this year with Rachel being able to spend time with some of her fellow adoptees. God bless you all as you venture into 2008!

A Visit with Cousin Jason

2007-12-07T16:57:00.001-08:00

We took Rachel on her longest car ride since we adopted her. We all went to visit Jason at City of Hope Medical Center about 1 1/2 hours away. Rachel slept most of the time in the car. The grounds at City of Hope are beautiful with lots of space for the kids to run. Jason is on the mend and really seems to be in a good place both spiritually and physically. He enjoys feeding the tree squirrels. The photo is of Jason feeding Rachel the peanuts he keeps on hand for the squirrels... sorry squirrels. The boys liked picking apples just their size (we're still eating them). Rachel liked the putting green next to Jason's cabin.We tried not to wear Jason out so we left before dinner. We hope to have Jason home for Christmas. Keep those prayers coming.

Fall fun!

2007-11-23T07:16:00.000-08:00

Finally our mornings have a chilly bite in the air. The kids enjoy "seeing their breath" when they head off to school. Halloween went by in a flash (especially for Captain Hook, Peter Pan and "Stinkerbell"). We had a quiet Thanksgiving with Colette's brother, Uncle Curt, and his family. Aunt Simone cooked her turkey in a brown paper bag, greased with Crisco on the inside. It tasted awesome. Rachel just toddled around while the boys played "boy stuff". Jeff wasn't too thrilled when Colette informed him that the Christmas lights go up this weekend (it's never too soon for Xmas lights according to Colette). Happy fall and almost Christmas to everyone.

Smokey Days and Walking Babies

2007-10-25T10:10:00.000-07:00

We have been closed in the house with the air filters blasting Sunday-Wed. The fires aren't close but the Santa Ana winds blew the smoke and ash all the way here. Today seems clear enough to let the kids outside for a bit. While we've been closed in Rachel has been walking all over the place. She's toddling back and forth between us and soooooo proud of herself. She also cut 3 more teeth bringing the total up to 4 up top and 4 down below. Now she really can say "cheese" in the 100's of photos we take of her.

Happy Birthday Rachel!

2007-09-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

On October 2 our baby will be one. My how time flies when you've only been with her for 1 1/2 months. She's healthy and happy and full of spunk (a good thing in a house of men). She's starting to take a few assisted steps. Oh, and she LOVED her birthday cake.

Happy birthday baby Rachel!!!!!

A Home Under Siege...

2007-09-06T16:13:00.000-07:00

We call her "Baby Godzilla". She's adept at taking down large cities (Lego creations) in a single wave of her arm or swish of her backside. That's right folks, Rachel is on the move. She still whines when Colette leaves the room. But now she can find her. She's crawling and pulling herself up to stand. She was just waiting to achieve all the important milestones in front of us... her forever family. We think she says "Dada" and "dog". She knows baby sign language for "more" and "up". She waves bye bye and hello to everyone, claps her hands, and gives slimy kisses. She a little sponge when it comes to mimicking us. Just a note: Jeff's freaky leg bites are healed and he is now able to resume working on the house (shown here sealing the new tile with Rachel helping). He probably should have milked his injuries a little longer to avoid getting back to reality.

Our Nephew Continues His Battle

2007-08-31T15:07:00.001-07:00

If you haven't read about our nephew, Jason, please see previous posts regarding his battle against Leukemia. He was just admitted earlier this week to City of Hope in Duarte, CA to continue his battle. This will be a very tough time as he will undergo radiation, then more chemo then on Wed., September 5 Jason will receive a bone marrow transplant from his sister, Nicole. Please pray for them both to find strength this coming week. Jeff and I haven't been able to spend nearly as much time with Jason as we would have liked to this summer. We get very nervous about giving him germs from our little germ carriers at home. We know, however, that he knows we love him, we're praying for him and we know he can beat this disease.

We are so grateful...

2007-08-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

We are grateful for friends and family who came through for us this summer. We feel truly blessed by those who have touched our lives and continue to do so. Thank you to those who helped us in big ways and those who lent a hand to make our lives just a little easier, less worrisome and so enriched. If we forget to thank you please know that your generosity and caring ways are not forgotten... we're just a little sleep deprived.

Thank you to our families. You did a beautiful job decorating our house with so much pink we thought the Pepto Bismal factory exploded. Also thanks for loving our boys when we were too far away to physically do so. They had a great time with you and they are still divulging your family secrets to us at the dinner table.

Thank you to our friends who helped us with the final push for our final house inspection. Jeff had injured his back and in order to switch the bedrooms around (thus making room for a baby) we had to depend upon your help. Rachel's room is beautiful and so is our new master suite.

Thank you to friends who helped pull the weight while we were in China. T-ball Coach Bruce went above and beyond the call of duty (we hope the six-pack helped). Play dates with friends were a great distraction for the boys.

Thank you for the post-adoption support. Thank you to our MOMS Club friends and EPC friends for the great dinners some of you provided. Rachel is still working through her "Velcro Baby" issues and it's impossible for Colette to cook hot meals with her hanging around (literally).

Thank you to our neighbors who had to find new and creative ways to keep Hazel the Beagle from jumping the fence. If Jeff builds the fence up any higher, we'll have to get another permit from the city.

Thank you to all those who made donations. To Faith and Hope and Ryley for all your girly hand-me-downs. Rachel loves wearing all things pink and lavender and your old clothes are perfect for her. To our MOMS Club friends who donated supplies for Rachel's orphanage in China- the director was so grateful. And other friends who answered so many of our S.O.S.'s for baby stuff and tiny clothes (we think she's gained 3 pounds since we received her- all that yummy American food and proper nutrition do wonders you know).

The past few months have been an emotional blur for us. Without the support of family and friends we would have really struggled through the tough times. We feel so blessed by all of you and your influence in our lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Colette, Jeff and Clan

First Day of School

2007-08-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

We were all really looking forward to the first day of school. The boys each entered their classrooms like old pros. Julian has Gabriel's teacher from last year so he's very familiar with the routine etc. Gabriel has many of his favorite classmates from last year in this year's class. Unfortunately, now Colette has several hours in the morning when Rachel's main source of entertainment is gone. Maybe she'll warm up to the dog.

Rachel is settling in...

2007-08-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

Rachel acts like she's always been here. She even lets Colette out of her sight when the boys really distract her. She LOVES all the food we have given her. She's almost starting to crawl and her chest congestion sounds a lot better.

Images of China

2007-08-16T09:37:00.001-07:00

Here are some additional memories of our trip to China...

Trying to get the family back on track

2007-08-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Gabe's 7th birthday. He lost his 5th tooth in the middle of the night. His favorite birthday gifts were Star Wars Legos sets. Rachel is still getting up and staying up in the middle of the night. We're trying to keep her and us awake as much as possible during the day. She still is wrestling with her cold. Jeff is recovering from a minor medical procedure... long story short- he got bit twice on the knee by an unknown Chinese bug and the bites became inflamed and infected to the point of needing to be drained by our doctor. We'll get the results of the culture tomorrow. Grandpa and Grandma Mary did a great job holding down the fort while we were gone.

Home at last!

2007-08-11T01:04:00.000-07:00

Guangzhou, China to Hong Kong to San Francisco to LAX plus a 1 1/2 hour drive and... we're home. It was so wonderful to be picked up at the airport by Colette's brother, Mark and family. They brought our boys along too (see photo). So much love for such a little girl. So the good ol' USA has a brand new citizen...

Rachel Celeste Xinjin (Shin Jin)

Health Status: Eating American food and loving it. Photo is of her having her first cold pizza (at 2:00 a.m.) with daddy. Has a chest cold and ear infection.

Happiness status: Very pleased with her entertaining brothers, not too sure about the dog. Very displeased that our little house is so vast and mommy keeps hiding somewhere in it ( to do laundry and such).

Sleep Status: What sleep? Jeff and Colette take turns as much as Rachel allows. It's 1:00 a.m. here but she lets us know that it's day time in China.

Thank goodness she's cute... even at 1:00 a.m.

Blessed by the monks

2007-08-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

We took her to a Buddhist temple to be blessed by the monks. The temple was beautiful and so was the ceremony.

The Many Moods of Mei Mei

2007-08-07T02:54:00.000-07:00

She has gained 2 pounds since we got her. She's also getting stronger and more vocal... in a good way.

Showing off her 2 teeth (and a noodle stuck to her cheek).

She was not thrilled with wearing the pretty purple shoes we bought her.

Happy with daddy... aslong as she's looking at mommy.

Ready for a swim. Thanks for the swimsuit Amber.

In Guangzhou... a new world

2007-08-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

We are staying the the White Swan Hotel. The locals call it "The White Stork" Hotel because of the large numbers of babies who stay here on their way to new homes. It's a beautiful hotel to the point of being very opulent. Mei Mei likes her crib here- tight and cozy I think. The food is very good near the hotel. We are busy completing our final paperwork and while we wait for the paper work to be returned we take more tours and shopping excursions. Mei Mei's health and happiness seem to increase by the hour. She seems to have more color in her cheeks and even seeks out Jeff for play (as long as Colette is holding her). She finally rides in the stroller without much fuss and sits (more like slouches) in her high chair at meals. She's started to feed herself - before she wouldn't touch the food and had to be fed everything. Our room looks out over the Pearl River. Quite a beautiful view, especially at night.

Our adoption group took our famous "Red Couch" photos of the babies. Mei Mei is on the far right, top row. Eventually all the babies started crying. We took the photo of Colette and Mei Mei before the group photo (no one was crying yet).

Also took a photo of Colette's daily breakfast. It tastes alot better than it looks.

More later... love to our boys.

C&J

More on Mei Mei

2007-08-02T01:50:00.000-07:00

We have decided that Mei Mei's developmental age is about 6 months. She can't yet crawl but is pulling her legs up under herself to get ready. She acts like she's spent most of her young life lying on a bed- her hair is worn off on the back of her head. Her head and torso are still wobbly. Her cry is very young sounding. Colette has been putting her through "baby boot camp" to strengthen her muscles and give her confidence to try new things. Uncle Mark and Aunt Julie can take over Baby Boot Camp when we get back home... they're professionals after all.

The boys said they're having a great time. We hope some one's making them eat vegetables.

SOS out to our MOMS Club friends... we are having problems accessing e-mail here. We couldn't find our exersaucer. I think we loaned it out to someone. We'd appreciate a loaner if anyone has one to borrow.

Mei Mei Warms Up to Jeff... forcibly

2007-08-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

We've been taking some excursions while we wait for Mei Mei's Chinese passport to be processed. We took her to a beautiful Pagoda near our hotel. She let Jeff carry her for a long time as long as she could still see Colette. She loved the noise and the heat (she's used to it being quite steamy). That same night Colette became very ill with food poisoning. So the next day Jeff had to take the baby on tours while Colette recovered. Mei Mei wasn't too pleased at first and then gave in and started to have a good time with Jeff.

We've noticed so many contrasts in this city. Dilapidated buildings are right next to beautiful ancient structures and beautiful modern structures.

Mei Mei was born in the year of the dog. So we took a picture of her with her doggie.

Take care. Tomorrow we leave for our final stop in Guangzhou to get her visa.

Colette, Jeff and Mei Mei

Walmart and Chinese Adoption Finalization

2007-07-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

This morning our guides took on a shopping trip to Walmart. We all needed to buy clothes since the babies are a lot smaller than we expected. We also needed diapers and Chinese formula. Colette had Mei Mei in the front pack. We were treated like rock stars with sometimes 6 salespeople trying to help us at a time. They were all very kind and would really try to take us to exactly what we were in search of. The Chinese children pointed at us and called us "foreigners". Many Chinese women spoke to Colette and Mei Mei and touched Mei Mei as we shopped. It was a very fun excursion.

Then our guides took us to the Civil Affairs building to finalize the adoption. We had to answer some official questions and promise to never abandon our baby. It was very hot on the top floor of the building (during the whole trip it's been 99 degrees + 99% humidity... day and night). The photo is our guide Lewis fanning Mei Mei to cool her down before our meeting with the officials. After our interview they gave us a porcelain vase to give to Mei Mei when she's older. Her province is known for exquisite porcelain.

So according to the Chinese government she's officially ours. Now we have to wait a couple of days to get her Chinese passport. Meanwhile our guides have planned a couple of tours for us one of which will be a tour of a countryside village typical of this area.

We also called in a Chinese doctor to listen to Mei Mei's rattling chest. He said it's a typical cold and gave us Chinese anti-virus serum to give her. We'll see if it helps.

Mei Mei will still only go to Colette. She wants to be physically touching Colette at all times. So Colette has to do many things with Mei Mei on her lap... she also hates the stroller and highchair (it appears she's never used either before). She screams when Jeff walks close by. Jeff holds her when she's sleeping to give Colette's arms a rest.

Kiss the boys for us. We miss them so much and we can't wait for them to meet their Mei Mei.

It's a girl!!!

2007-07-30T02:41:00.000-07:00

We have our girl! They led us into the hotel's meeting room and called us each one couple at a time to meet our babies. We were first to meet our Mei Mei. We also met the director of her orphanage who had driven 3 hours to bring her to the hotel. Mei Mei was quiet and observant but later she warmed up to us and played for a while. Today she woke up with a cold and won't let Colette out of her sight. She's small for her age - only 14 pounds at 10 months. More later.

Colette and Jeff

We're in China!

2007-07-28T16:11:00.001-07:00

Our flight was long but tolerable. The food on the plane was good- lots of Chinese dishes. We're dealing with the jet lag by getting out of doing stuff. The Chinese people are very nice and helpful. They love to practice their English with us and often thank us when they find out we are here to adopt one of their daughters of China. We try to tell them we consider Mei Mei to be a gift their country has bestowed upon us.

We were able to take an afternoon tour of the Great Wall. We rode the sky tram up the mountain. It was very misty and our guide took us to a part that isn't so crowded with tourists. It was an awesome sight to behold and hike on.

Yesterday we had an orientation meeting and they gave us updated information about our babies. The picture of Mei Mei is blurry because we had to take a photo of her photo. It's nice to see her smiling. Her update indicated she takes her last bottle at 8:30 p.m. and sleeps through the night until 6:30 a.m. HURRAY! I guess we'll find out if it's true... tonight. This morning we will fly to her province, Jiangxi, and this afternoon they will bring the babies to us at the hotel. She'll be ours from that moment on. More tomorrow about our Gotcha Day.

Please give lots of hugs and kisses to the boys. We miss them so much but we know the're being well taken care of.

Colette and Jeff

PS Those of you in Ventura- please share this blog with Colette's mom and the boys. Thanks

Almost on our way!

2007-07-24T20:27:00.000-07:00

We can't believe we get to meet our baby girl this Sunday! Our boys are getting excited. They are attempting to find all the little stuff (Legos etc.) from under the couches and their beds. Jeff finished the tile work in our beautiful bathroom. We passed our last home inspection by the city. Yeah! Colette never had a chance to refinished Mei Mei's dresser. It wasn't a big project. But it got placed onto the back burner until school starts for the boys. We don't think Mei Mei will mind a yellowish dresser instead of the antiqued white we plan on painting it. Some of our friends gave us supplies to take to her orphanage... thanks friends. We are each allowed one 44 pound suitcase (for travel within China). 44 pounds isn't very much. Every ounce and minuscule space counts. We will try to update this blog while we're in China so check back now and then.

We got our tickets!

2007-07-19T19:46:00.001-07:00

We fly out of LAX at 6:00 a.m. on July 26th. We will arrive in Beijing at 2:25 p.m. on July 27th. We fly home from Hong Kong on August 9th.

The boys will be with Colette's mom for the first week and Jeff's parents will take care of them at our house for the second week. We have lot's of fun stuff planned for the boys including swim lessons and zoo camp at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The weeks should fly by for the boys. Colette, on the other hand, will probably be counting down the minutes until we get home... she's only spent 1 night away from the boys.

We have travel approval and tentative dates!

2007-07-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

Our tentative dates to travel to China are:

Depart LAX on July 23rd or 24th and return from China around August 10th. Yes folks , that's less than 2 weeks away. We are scrambling to get prepared and to arrange for the boys' care while we're gone.

Our itinerary will be Beijing- for orientation then to Jiangxi (pink province in the lower right side of map)- to pick our baby girl, then to Guangdong to do official document processing.

Jeff's working hard to finish the tile in the new addition for the final inspection. Colette is refinishing Mei Mei's dresser.

So much to do and so little time!!!!!

Home from Colorado!

2007-07-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Colorado. We met Jeff's family (Grandma and Grandpa, Pam and Family) at Snow Mountain Ranch. It is a beautiful YMCA family camp. Despite the effects of the bark beetle infestation (lots of brown trees) we had a good time (hiking, river rafting, hoseback ride, and fishing).

Before heading home we visited Durango, Colorado with Grandma and Grandpa. We took the Durango- Silverton steam train ride through the red cliffs and deep river gorges. It was breathtaking.

JuJu got help from Grandpa carving his walking stick.

Gabriel riding Samson the horse.

We all had a good time but the boys are happy to be home to their toys and dog.

PS Thank you to Grandma Mary and Grandpa for the Super Hero costumes. They are a big hit!

Why are baby girls abandoned in China?

2007-06-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

There are a few theories about why so many baby girls are abandoned. Current research focuses on the pressure by the elderly placed on young pregnant women and their husbands. Here is an excellent article which explains the situation:

http://research-china.blogspot.com/2005/10/why-girls-are-abandoned-in-china.html

Seems like the attitude towards girls in China may be slowly and grudgingly changing for the better. Please pray for the infant girls who are abandoned for any reason and for those who are not yet born.

Mei Mei's Orphanage

2007-06-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Some web acquaintances took pictures of Mei Mei's orphanage on their last trip to China. The facility houses abandoned baby girls in one wing and abandoned elderly in the other. We have heard that the elderly sometimes help hold and rock the babies. Looks like Mei Mei has a playground... yeah!

Confirmation Letter Has Been Sent

2007-06-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

The Chinese Symbol for "Hope"

We sent in our confirmation for our match. Now we wait for for our "Travel Approval". The Travel Approval basically is a letter from the Chinese government stating that we have permission to travel to their country to adopt a baby. After the Travel Approval arrives, then we get a "Consulate Appointment". Once we have a date at the consulate, we can make travel arrangements.

C, J, G and J

New Information About Mei Mei

2007-06-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

We just received her translated progress report. What a tough beginning she's had. She'll be ready for some love and predictability...

Name: Xiao Xin Jin Sex: F Date of Birth: October 2nd, 2006
Institution: Xiajiang Social Welfare Institute
Date of report: March 16th, 2007

Xiao Xin Jin, F, was found at the entrance of Xin Gan county Civil Affairs Ministry on October 2nd, 2006. On October 2nd, 2006, Hu Chun Hua went to Xin Gan county Ministry of Civil affairs for work, and found a cardboard box at the entrance, and when she looked in, she found a infant girl, she immediately dialled Xin Gan county Public Security Bureau, Jin Chuan Branch’s number, after searching for her birth parents or relatives without any success, she was confirmed as an abandoned child and was consented to be sent to Xin Gan Social Welfare Institute for custody. At the time of admission, her face was wide, very little hair, pale skin, taken in a box with one packet of milk formula, a milk bottle, and 1kg of white sugar. After two months of care in Xin Gan Social Welfare Institute, on December 2nd, of 2006, she was agreed to be sent to Xia Jiang County Social Welfare Institute for custody.

After she was transferred to Xia Jiang County Social Welfare, we sent her to the county hospital for a full medical examination, she has no physical abnormalities, her facial features are normal, and internal organs and all part of her body are all very normal and diagnosed as a healthy baby. According to the information provided by Xin Gan Social Welfare Institute, this infant girl’s birth date is the same as her founding date, both on October 2nd, 2006. SWI leader gave her the name Xiao Xin Jin. Her name has two meanings, one "Xin" is because she was born in Xin Gan, the second meaning "Jin" (golden) is in hopes that when she grows up, all aspects of her life is bright and prosperous.

After Xiao Xin Jin entered our institute, after caring her for a period of time, all of her development was normal and healthy. At 3 months time, she can distinguish strangers with familiar people.

Although the report doesn't address the meaning of her first name "Xiao", we have been told by other families that "Xiao" is the last name of the orphanage director and every baby from that orphanage has "Xiao" for her first name (which is actually her last name).

Announcing the referral of our daughter...

2007-06-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

We are elated to introduce you all to our daughter and baby sister...

Xiao Xin Jin ... our boys call her Mei Mei

Date of Birth: October 2, 2006

Jiangxi Province, China

According to her paperwork she is in an excellent orphanage, she likes music (rock on baby) and nature, sleeps deeply (yeah!), and can be obstinate (Jeff rolled his eyes when he read that).

We will probably fly to China at the end of July or beginning of August to pick her up.

Check out her split pants. They start potty training at 6 months.

We will send her a care package next week.

During the past week we were reminded about the mystery of God's plans. The news of our nephew's illness hit our family very hard. A few days later, this news lifts our family up. God planned for us to be a part of a large family. That makes us susceptible to big happiness and immense times of sorrow. We find ourselves drawing upon our strength to get us through difficult times and looking forward to happier times.

Around the time our Mei Mei comes home, Jason will hopefully be done with chemotherapy and will also be coming home. Two precious homecomings for two precious people.

C, J, G and J

Difficult News

2007-06-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we received some distressing news. Our nephew, Jason Robinson was diagnosed with leukemia. He is a junior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He had been feeling worn down with a persistent cough that turned into chest pain on Saturday. Colette's sister took Jason to an emergency care clinic where they received the horrible news and were sent immediately to UCLA Medical Center. The most recent tests indicate a need for chemotherapy and a very long hospital stay. Please pray for Jason and his family as they have a very long and difficult recovery ahead. He is a great nephew and a wonderful role model for our boys (he also makes an excellent jungle gym for our boys to climb on). We love you Jason! Fight, fight, fight!!

The House

2007-06-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

Jeff is doing a beautiful job finishing up the construction for the final inspection. Apparently all light fixtures, tub and shower fixtures and other plumbing and electrical must be done before the city will sign off. I've attached photos of the house exterior (still need landscaping) and Jeff working on the tile in the master bath. Sometimes Jeff gets paroled for good behavior. Ha, ha. We'll be glad to have our daddy back once it's all done.

News on Mei Mei

2007-05-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the Chinese government keeps things very hush, hush. The adoption agencies aren't much more help. We have discovered through internet searches, the families who submitted their paperwork the week before us, were assigned babies. Our LID (log in date) for our dossier (large file, kind of like a portfolio) was Nov. 7, 2005. They assigned babies through Nov. 1, 2005 and those parents will be flying to China in July to pick up their babies. Hopefully, we will be flying to China before the end of the summer.

The boys are keeping us busy while we wait. Also, Jeff is finishing our new master suite so we can finally move in. He is tiling the bathroom today (his 40th birthday).

C,J, G and J

Fun in the snow...

2007-04-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

We were able to get away for a quick weekend at the snow. We have such "California Boys". They get very excited over the slightest patch of white. We always forget how tedious it is to put the snow clothes on and get them off when someone has to go potty. I know, I know. Those of you who live where it really snows, actually know what real weather is.

C, J, G and J

Welcome Hazel (dog, not human child)

2007-03-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

We thought we might have some time off from dogs. We were wrong. Colette missed having a dog home during the day and the boys missed having someone to blame their mischievous doings on. So we adopted Hazel. She's a 6 month old Beagle. We never thought we'd get such a little breed. But, she is sweet, patient and eager to please (and much more portable than our previous pooches).

She has a hound's nose so we have to be careful about shutting the trash up tight.

No news on Mei Mei. Every day we pray she's being held and cuddled by her caregivers until we bring her home.

Oh, and Happy Saint Paddy's Day!

Good Bye to Grizz Lee...

2007-02-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

We had to say good bye to our dog of 14 years, Grizz Lee. She continued to be loyal, patient and ever watchful of the boys up until the very end. We will miss her each and every day.

Happy Holidays! And Ho, Ho, Ho!

2006-12-23T07:56:00.000-08:00

Calling all Kings from Afar and Shepards Keeping Watch... Best wishes to all our family and friends during this beautiful and magical season. May God bless you as you venture through 2007!

Construction Through The Holidays...

2006-11-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

We were hoping for a new baby and a new house by Christmas... maybe next year. The construction, dust and dirt continues. Oh, well. There must have been alot of dirt in the manger too, right? Things are progressing... slowly. We have learned alot during this process, including some inspectors are more strict than others. Check out the before and after photos of what we're attempting to do. I couldn't get them to download in chronological order. They should be 1) our little house with grass in front 2) "boys" watching the cement mixer 3) Julian standing in the framing and 4) the house as it is today with windows, unfinished door and some plywood.

No new news on the baby. We pray she's healthy and happy during her months of waiting for us to show up.

The boys have been busy with school, piano and swim lessons and Indian Guides. Jeff is the Assistant Nation Chief for the Indian Guides. He seems to enjoy the activities with the dads of other active boys.

We hope to see many of you during the holiday season. Please drop by if you're around (especially those of you who are good with a hammer, electrical outlet installation or soldering tool).

Happy November!

Colette and "The Boys"

More waiting but keeping busy...

2006-09-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

We have run into some snags with the adoption. The time frame between your file going to China and receiving your baby has increased considerably. Remember our paperwork went to China in October 2005. Now the Chinese government says we can expect a referral in early 2007. Meanwhile, we're keeping busy.

Gabriel finally lost his 2 front teeth. He's so cautious about everything so we had to beg him to wiggle them and pull them out. Jeff and I even wiggled them at night while he was sleeping because his new teeth were coming in. He started kindergarten and seems to have adjusted fine. Waiting the extra year for kindergarten proved to be the right decision and there are other 6 year olds in his class. He loves his teacher. Although he tries to convince us that kinder is really long (even though it's actually 45 minutes less than his pre-k class last year).

Julian is enjoying his new preschool so much so that he's been getting up at 4:00 a.m., getting dressed by himself and coming in to beg us for breakfast on school days. Our new house rule is that no one leaves their beds until they see sunshine. He became quite a good swimmer this year even though he's still "little but mighty". Both boys are spending alot of time in their fort Jeff built them out of wood recycled from the facade of our house.

Jeff has been working on base alot and working on our addition. They poured the foundation yesterday (finally) and look forward to the sounds of pneumatic nail guns this week. Colette has been picking out flooring, paint, doors, cabinets etc. We can't wait to have our own bathroom.

We will keep you posted on any changes in the family. We look forward to meeting our "Mei Mei" (little sister in Chinese). Take care and God bless!

C & The Gang

The Wait

2006-03-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

This is a journal of our long life's journey to add a baby girl to our family. All of our adoption paperwork is in China. Now we just wait and wait. Our social worker said the wait time to a match is 11 months. We can expect a referal in September. The boys want to buy clothes for the baby. We keep telling them to wait until we have her so we know what size she is.

While we're waiting we are trying to get some things done. We are going to begin construction on the new master suite and laundry room within the next few weeks. The week before Easter we will be taking a trip up to Monterey and Big Sur. The boys love nature and the Monterey Aquarium. Yesterday we enrolled Gabriel in Kindergarten for Fall. He will attend Colette's grade school. We also enrolled Julian in a Presbyterian preschool for Fall. Both schools seem like a good match for our family.

We'll keep everyone posted on adoption news and Gabe's loose teeth.