HALLOWEEN

Tonight is Halloween and the girls are excited. Jeff will take the girls while I sit comfortably at home and pass out the candy. The girls are going with their friend's soccer team. They have a flatbed with hay pulled by their Texas two-ton truck...in case they get too tired to walk....yea! I think it may be for the parents when they get too tired of walking....maybe it should have lazy boys in the back.....maybe a thought for next year! The girls went for many house and brought home a load. I gave out 35 pounds of candy and about 100 Halloween pencils.

You will notice a photo of the house...I do put light, graveyards, and lots of spider webs out for Halloween. I usually have a scary sound tract, but this year I could not find it. I will be better prepared next year.


Now, for my pet peeve.....if you live somewhere else, do not drop your kids in our neighborhood. Do not drive your kids door to door, Halloween is about walking about. If you are an ADULT do not come to my door again, and do not trick or treat for your infant child....they don't even have teeth!!!!!!!!!

One Year ago...a new daughter!!

Can you believe it? A full year has passed since we saw our beautiful shy (or so we thought) daughter. She was so full of fear and hesitation at first. By the first night, we could see how perfect she was for us...God knows!








Today we celebrated with some cake and ice cream. When looking at the pictures, Sara is wearing the same PJ's as one year ago, only a size larger!

Farewell

My sister called and told me my cousin Dale passed away this morning at 11:00 am. Hopefully it was peaceful.

Busy

The girls finished their hip-hop class and helped with the Sunday evening service after the church carnival. It was tooooo cute. Sara and Ruth attended a Halloween party (Sara's first Halloween) and both had a great time. We had a short cold snap, but this did not keep the twosome off the trampoline! And now we have carved our pumpkins, supervised by a nervous mom as they use a knife! Sara was unsure what this was all about, but decided COOL!

familycrisis

I got a call that my cousin Dale from Austin was in ICU and unresponsive. He was in the hosp. because of pneumonia, then he collapsed and had a mild heart attack. His sister Joyce and my cousin's two girls drove 16 hours from St. Charles to Austin. Still no good news, so if you feel a desire, please pray for Dale. He is a young man. Their mother was my mom's sister Ruth - recognize the name - who passed almost two years ago.

countdown to 1 year

The social worker came this afternoon for our final check up, and yes she saw that Sara was thriving!!!! Sara wanted the SW to come back again for a visit....she thinks she has a new friend. We had to provide photos so we we snapping away.

Today Ruth's team worn 8-2. It was a tough game because of the strong wind!

daily race

Things are still going well here. Ruth is in full force with soccer...that girl has a strong kick and plays defense. Sara is still going strong in gymnastics and is getting warmed up for the chess club at school which begins next week.


The weather has finally gotten a little cooler, for a day or two. Next will be our indian summer and back into the 90's again....with changes like this, no wonder everyone gets sick this time of year. At least the huge outbreak of mosquitos seems to be over!

We picked out pumpkins from the church's pumpkin patch....they raise money for the youth mission trips. We decided on 2 larger pumpkins and about 7 small pumpkinetts.....this is Sara's first Halloween at home. Last year we had her only one day at halloween.....



The girls have been having fun playing in daddy's clothes getting ready for halloween...

Get well sis

Today my big sister in Katy, TX had knee surgery. She tore a tendon a few weeks ago and finally got it fixed. I lent her my crutches that I had from my knee surgery a few years ago and she was supposed to practice with them....but she did not and now is in a bind. I have been assured that she is being properly spoiled and will have a long recovery, including a long time in PT .

boys, makeup, and a new bathroom

Well, I finally finished the girl's bathroom. We did the room in purses. I began with one orange, but as you read before it was too orange. I left the bright orange on the two walls that I added border to, and repainted the rest. The small purses hanging on the wall are Christmas ornaments that we bought at Garden Ridge last week.

As you can see, the girls have been experimenting with their play makeup....and they need a little more practice. They have a long time to practice before I allow them to wear it outside the house...at least that is what I say today. I have learned that in child rearing, there is no black and white on decisions, but a ton of gray, and many other colors.





Tonight Sara told me that a girl told her that a boy in her class had told her that he liked Sara. Sara screamed WHAT!, which caught the teacher's attention immediately. The girl got in trouble, but not sure why she would, except maybe for passing this information on to Sara. Then the teacher took Sara in the hall to talk with her in private. Sara said that she cried because she did not know what to do...this was the first boy to ever tell her that he liked her. Jeff and I feel that this is good...hopefully no dating in the near future LOL!!!!!

Almost 1 year!

Last night Sara and I were talking about the days for her leading up to our coming to China. She recalled the excitment when she came home from school and Mr. Zhou called her, along with Anna, Dani, and Ling into his office. He handed her and box and said that someone sent her photos. She had no clue who would be sending her photos, and then how thrilled she was when she figured it out. She told me the other girls wanted to try on the shirt we had sent her that said "Someone In Texas Loves Me", but Mr. Zhou said no, it was only for Sara, and she told this to me proudly. I enjoyed hearing her story again, and hearing her excitment as she got to know her family that was coming for her.

At this time one year ago, we were arranging our travel plans, getting our visa and finishing up our shots. I was also busy getting Ruth ready for our leaving, and already missing her so much. We finally found luggage and began the gathering of the new dollar bills.