Sisters...

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life. ~Isadora James

Happy 6th Cowgirl....

Saturday afternoon a bunch of cowgirls helped Jennifer celebrate her 6th birthday.

There were hayrides, horseback riding and lunch at the dude ranch.

The special guests were Chester and Skittles, the girls loved the horses, they were a big hit.

A huge thank you to Circle R Ranch, what an awesome time the girls had, they know how to throw a party. ;)

Howdy partner.

I love this photo of Puddin Pop.

Jennifer just got her yellow belt last week and already received her first bonus last evening, she really is the karate kid, go girl..

Tomorrow is the big party, can you guess what Puddin' Pop picked as her theme?

There will be horses...

Just yesterday..

It seems like yesterday I saw this little face for the very first time, now she is going to be celebrating her sixth birthday in 3 days.
Words can't even describe the emotions I felt looking into her eyes that very first day in February, so overcome with emotion it engulfed my whole being. I remember entering the tiny motel room, I went in last, nervous, the noise level was overwhelming, then I saw you. I can say for sure, you were mine, it was meant to be. It's like the room stopped, I couldn't hear the noise, everyone in the room disappeared, it was only the three of us, you, Daddy and Mommy.
As I lay in bed last night thinking about your six little years, I am so proud of all your accomplishments, I love being your Mom.
The next few days belong to you, a celebration for all you mean to your Daddy, your Mie-Mie and me your Mom.
I love you Puddin' Pop A favorite photo of mine, this is our beautiful guide Lily holding Jennifer.
The last day in China.

A country in mourning.

A country is in mourning, 1.3 Billion people were asked to observe 3 minutes of silence Monday as China begins 3 days of mourning.The national flags are flying half staff and the Olympic torch relay has been suspended.The flag flying half staff in Tiananmen square.

Devastation..

I haven't written about the earthquake prior to this post, I didn't have the words, I still don't.

The scope of this tragedy is beyond me, my heart is so saddened for the victims, their families and for my daughter's birthplace.

Jillian was born in Fuling, we have received word there was minimal damage to their orphanage and the babies are fine. What they can't tell us of course is if my daughter's birth family was affected, if they suffered loss, we will never know, this is so difficult.

I have prayed for them.

To help through donation please go to this site.https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx

enter Children's Bridge Foundation.

"43"

Happy birthday to me,
Happy birthday to me,
I got more wrinkles than an elephant's knee..

I am looking forward to a long holiday weekend with a little birthday celebration thrown in there on Sunday.

One year ago..

It has been a year, it's still raw, I can't believe how much I miss you.
I hope one day soon that the tears will be fewer, the smiles more frequent and the memories more vivid.
For now, it still hurts to much.

If tears could build a stairway and memories were a lane, I would walk right up to Heaven To bring you home again.

No farewell words were spoken. No time to say goodbye. You were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.

My heart still aches in sadness and secret tears still flow. What it meant to lose you, no one will ever know.

Thank you so much for all the kind words and hugs. I found this poem on the net, I am not sure who wrote it. I found a plaque with the same poem on it, it said everything I was feeling so I purchased it .

Happy Mother's Day

To my Mom, my Mother-in-law and my Step-Mom, I want to wish you a very Happy Mother's Day.
To the Mom's out there have a wonderful day, for the Mom's in waiting, keep the faith, your turn is coming.
Love to my girls, being your Mom is an honor and a blessing, love you with all my heart.

She gave me "Patience"

Last evening we had a Mother-Daughter Sparks meeting. Jennifer informed me we were going to make a craft together for Mother's day and then we were going to do some dancing.
We arrived at 6 and got started making our craft.
We were given a clay pot and the girls were to paint something on it that they like to do with their Mom's. Jennifer painted her and I gardening, it was a masterpiece, she painted the sun, butterflies, a rainbow and some beautiful flowers on it.
The next step was to plant some impatience in the pot, she chose a wonderful cheery pink color.
When all was finished(dancing and all) we left for home.
Just as I was driving home she piped up in the backseat "I'm so glad you could come Mom"
I said "I was so pleased that we had such a nice time"
The she added"Do you like the patience I gave to you in the pot"
I broke into laughter and told her they were called impatience.
She replied with a frown "Your already impatient"
I love this child, LOL.
Giving me a pot of "Patience", if were that easy, he he ......

Jilly-Bean's big adventure

Yesterday was Jillian's JK open house. To say she was excited was a gross understatement, she was thrilled to be going to school to see her classroom and see her teacher Mrs. R(her big sister has had Mrs. R for the last 2 yrs). I love this silly, excited expression on her face, she had just entered the classroom.

Big sister is showing her a craft about making 3 d shapes.

This shot was taken just as were leaving for the BBQ and open house.

Can't believe my baby is going to school in the fall, time flies....

The two of them wandering the halls of our little school..

All I can say is look out River Heights, brace yourself, LOL.

Both!!! Askew girls are coming, LOL.

Happy Birthday Helen

Happy 29th (*wink*) to my best girlfriend.
Thanks for going to the theatre yesterday, hope you had a good time.
Have an extra special day. Love ya tons. xoxo

Today was the day..

Today was the day.
Today I was so proud.

Today was the day that Jillian had her first speech therapy appointment, this was huge for our family.
This was the first day that Jillian has been away from her Mom and was left with complete strangers, she has only been left with Grandparents.
I hardly slept last night, I was so worried about today and how she was going to react being left.
I spent the last couple of days reassuring her that she would there for a few hours and Mommy would come back and pick her up at lunch.
We got ready this morning, to say she was excited was an understatement. Jill got dressed, got on her coat , put her backpack on ,she was ready with a huge smile to boot.
I on the other hand had a feeling in the pit of my stomach, I was so nervous that I didn't even have a morning coffee.
We got there, settled in and it was time for me to leave. Jillian grabbed my leg with a death grip, screams, hysterics followed.
I picked her up, explained that she was going to be fine, she was going to have fun, make new friends and that Mommy would return. I set her down, told the therapist I was leaving. I said a quick goodbye and made an exit.
I could hear Jillian downstairs screaming and crying.
I got into my car and what was supposed to be a Mommy's morning full of fun shopping halted.
I broke into tears and sat and sobbed. This was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do.
I drove to get a coffee, sat and gathered myself, tried to shop but my mind was on Jill the whole time.
Noon came and I picked her up, she ran to me with a huge hug. The therapist said she only cried for a few minutes, she was pretty quiet(that will change, LOL)but was responsive to their lesson.
Next week will be a whole different experience, I am so proud of Jillian today, this was a huge step for my baby girl.

Odds and ends.

The training wheels came off.
Jennifer was so excited, very nervous that Daddy was going to let go, we knew she was ready.

Daddy's giving her a big push and a huge boost of confidence, she can do it.

There she goes, I knew she could, we are proud of you Puddin' Pop.

Went to the hairdresser this week. I have a birthday this month, needed a boost, so I went short and sassy. I find the older I get I just don't want to spend so much time on the do.

So short and simple.

The girls got some new bunk beds a couple of weeks ago, they love them, who knew they would be such a source of entertainment?? LOL.

I like the fact when the girls are through sharing a room, this bunk bed can be separated into two twin beds. For now they love being together and do not want a room of their own, oh how that's going to change, LOL.