Denee Frazer

This morning a very special woman died. She was Denee Frazer. I met Denee online through our orphanage yahoo group right after we got our referral for Sara. She was very helpful and I was looking forward to meeting her after we returned from China. When that time came, I wrote Denee and she told me she had been diagnosed with stage4 ovarian cancer. The treatments began and she fought a hard battle which she lost this morning. Denee is now with God and no longer suffers from the torture of cancer. She leaves a very loving husband and two beautiful daughters. I am sorry the timing was not better so that I could have met her in person, but I will never forget this woman!

Swimming party

Today we let Sara have two friends from school come over for a few hours. They played video games, watched a little of a movie, had snacks-twice in the treehouse, and played in our pool. It is small, but always provides fun. Since the girls are close in age, they can play with each other's friends with no problems.....what a blessing for this. Incase you don't know that is Sara in the front and Ruth is in the back middle.

Colorblindness

Ruth has been in the gifted program since kindergarten. Each year they must do an independent study. First they chose a subject and propose a question, do indepth research, prepare the presentation and present it to the class. Ruth chose "What is Colorblindness". She learned so much about the anatomy of the eye, causes, and actually presented a colorblind test for the class. No surprise she got 100 on the presentation, which was a large part of the gifted program grade. We are very proud of Ruth and the work she is doing.

Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day. According to all theories, it is a day for Moms to be pampered, but what is a mom if she is not fixing breakfast for the family, feeding the dog, washing and putting away the laundry....you know the drill. So, after all of this, we let this mom be the queen for the day and was taken to dinner-dad even drove us there. I got a great book of poetry from Sara and a beautiful glass vase hand painted from Ruth. They are both such talented children. The meal was great, of course as usual I had one child eating off of my plate with me...the salad is always greener if it is mom's! Then we went home and watched the mover Happily Never After-very cute. I actually got to watch it without a child sitting on top of me...JOY! Another special happening was that DAD took the girls swimming and I got to stay home and veg out! Sara suggests that we do this again tomorrow, and I agree. Oh Yea...our puppy Cooper James is wishing me a happy mother's day too...with a wet kiss!

SCHOOL FIELD DAY

Today is field day for the girls. I managed to spend all day there with the girls and enjoyed their fun. Both girls wanted to show me something...always. This is the first year they held field day a little earlier to avoid the 100 temps....thank you school. The day was warm but bearable. Sara looks like she has snakes for hair...she likes for me to make as many little braids as I can in her hair. The girls were so fast it was hard to get a good photo and they were not willing to slow down for a photo op.

3rd grade park day

Today Ruth's third graders from her school went to the local park for the day. They ate about 50+ pizzas, but the best thing was the huge volleyball court which became a sand castle competition. I took Ruth and two of her friends down the linear trail to explore a little.



This is Ruth with her friend Nikki(white shirt) and Aeriel (pink shirt)

CHESS WINNER

Today was the final day of the school's chess tournament. Of course Sara, being the competitive person that she was, would only be happy with #1-as usual. I am trying to teach her that is she is not #1, she still had fun and this was important....this morning we went to check the standings and ......she came in first place for the 4th grade. REMEMBER--this girl learned to play chess 2 months ago and loves playing. Of course Jeff beats her every time, but each time she learns more moves. Sara is finally beating Ruth too, who is a good player. Mrs Rike is the school librarian and she runs the chess club and organized the tournament.

ANNA HAS A FAMILY

This morning we looked on the Fuzhou site to check Sara's friend Anna....because very early this morning (yesterday in China) Anna got her new Mama and Baba. We are so very happy for Anna and can not wait for her to come home so her friends that have already come home in the last 6 months can reconnect! Welcome Anna!



Here are the girls that have come home that attended camp Bring Me Hope last summer...Ling, Sara, Anna and Dani.....now all have mamas and babas!!!

soccer and flowers

Today we had soccer practice as usual. Ruth is such an amazing player, now specializing in defensive. Ruth is the one in the pink shirt with the pink ball.

As we waited for the practice to be over, we found some bluebonets and I of course had my camera with me, so I got some great photos of both the girls.

HOWARD

It is with so very much sadness that we lost our dear dog Howard today.

We knew he was sick, but the vet could not find out what it was. It was a very aggressive tumor in the back of his tongue and in his throat. I pulled the girls from school to say their goodbyes and hugs. Howard was a 3rd time rescue. He used to belong to a woman that lives next to my parents. She often forgot to feed Howard, never groomed his long knotted fur, and kept him outside all of the time. My mom and dad snuck food when she was not home to make sure Howard did not starve, and Howard quickly learned that a little bit of Heaven was next doors. After losing another dog Lucy, we decided to take Howard home with us. Howard was about 8 at the time and his favorite thing was finding another comfortable place to sleep. Howard hated thunder and in the storms, Ruth, Sara and Howard all headed to our room to sleep, Howard being the fastest by far. Once we got the girls settled on the floor, Howard would go lay ON Ruth and settle in for the night. Howard always slept upstairs with the girls. He is go greatly missed, especially when we come home and he is not there waiting with his wagging tail and bright brown eyes......

skating party

Today the fourth graders went for a skating party followed by a day at the local park. Sara and Ruth have both learned to skate recently, and Sara has a very unique method, holding her feet about 3 feet apart from each other....it looks like she is constantly about to fall. This is a picture of Sara with Crystal who is a Sr. in High School. Crystal comes twice a week and works with Sara. Since Crystal plays basketball, Sara has decided that this is her goal too and we have signed her up for basketball camp.

They also had a great time at the park, having to avoid the puddles from last night's rain.

Chess/Swim lessons/new school

Today was very busy! After school Sara was in a chess tournament at school. She won all of her games, no surprise!

Then off to her first swimming lesson. She was so excited. She did well and blended in with the other much younger kids. She is putting her head under water and trying to swim to her instructor. Her Nana and Papa(aka Jeff's parents) worked with her while in Florida last month. Ruth is interested in furthering her swimming skills now.

After swim lessons we ran to pick up one of Sara's friends and we were off to the school that they will attend next year-5th grade. Sara had to ask the director two questions:

1) what time is lunch
2) do you have a chess club and can we play chess every day.

Lunch is at 11:30, yes there is a chess club, but it meets only once a week.
We are working out what type of class Sara will be in. She is too advanced for Newcomer's classes and too behind for mainstream, so I am waiting for a call back from the ESL coordinator at her new school.

Artist Ruth

Today was the showing of Ruth's artwork at school. She chose to take photos of her Grandmother's garden (my mother). My mother and father have green thumbs-my mother for flowers and my father for vegetables. Ruth took all the photos, mounted and framed them for the presentation. This is Ruth's art teacher with her.

Trip to Austin

Sara and her 4th grade class made a trip to Austin to tour the capital and the Bob Bullock museum. It was a long day. We had to be at school at 6:30 am to leave and they returned at 8:30 pm. On the way back they stopped at a host school and had pizza for dinner. Sara loved the chartered buses, complete with bathrooms. Ruth can not wait to get to 4th grade now.

Renaissance Festival

This weekend we went to the local Renaissance Festival. We spent all day and had so much fun. The girls even got to ride an elephant. This is our third year of going.

Easter

We drove to my parents for the Easter holiday to spend it with family. We took our new black puppy Cooper who will be allowed to return. My niece also took her dog Malory who also won an invitation to return, hopefully when there is not so much rain and mud outside to run around in before coming inside to mom's lt blue carpet....yikes!!!


It was a cold and wet weekend. We missed the snow at our house in N. TX. We ended up hiding the Easter eggs in the house and the kids had fun, especially since we hide MONEY inside the eggs...all college kids except ours and they always need money, and an incentive and what better than money.

9 years ago we got Ruth

Here is the first picture of our new family 9 years ago today when we adopted our daughter Ruth. She was all of 10 days old at the time. We flew two days with a lay over in Hawaii (lucky us) and landed the second day in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands. We were greeted by Lena, the woman who ran the birthing house, and both given beautiful hand made lays, then taken to the birth house. We walked in and there was a tiny baby in a carrier on the table. That was our daughter and I cried like a baby. We were handed Ruth and then taken to the hotel. We had a few hours together as a family and then Ruth's birth mother came for a visit--it is an open adoption. We talked as much as we could and cried a little and just watched Ruth be cute. That night, being first time parents, we had heard how babies keep parents up all night, we were up all night waiting for her to cry and to make sure she was still breathing, but she slept all night long. this was the first and last all nighter for MANY months to come. That was on Monday, and on Wednesday, we went to court to finalize the adoption and run around and finish the paperwork. We were with another couple who adopted a little boy and we still keep in touch with them--hello Jonathan! On Friday, after a VERY tearful farewell, we were on the plane again for our 2 day trip home.

Ruth rides into the sunset

Today Ruth learned to ride a two wheeler bicycle. She tried a number of times unsuccessfully and we finally got her a scooter. With the she got the feel of balance and steering, without the fear of falling. Before school the girls get ready and then we have time to spare. We usually play Uno Attack, but this morning the girls wanted to ride in the driveway, so I move my van and open all the garage doors and off they go. Ruth thought she would try her bicycle one more time, and she was off. Now she loves it and wants to ride all the time. I am thrilled for her.

Mask it

For theatre Arts class Sara had to create and make a mask. With a little help from dear old mom and the Paper Mache recipe from my sister Chris, we got the mask done. Sara painted it, arranged the yellow feathers, and chose the diamonds to adorn it. Here is a picture of Sara with her teacher.

12 yr wedding anniv

Today is Jeff and my 12th wedding anniversary. We had met on a blind date 10 months earlier. We have faced many things together, some good and some bad. We now have survived two international adoptions and have 2 beautiful daughters, lost many pets and family members, survived one move. We now know all about coordinating carpools and birthday parties, and are learning how to deal with two kids who do not always love each other...LOL! I love you Jeff!!!

birthday slumber party of 4

Today after soccer, we had 3 of Ruth's friends over for a birthday party extravaganza. First we went to see The Last Mimzy. It was very interesting and appropriate for the girls. I think very young children would not get it and may be frightened. The girls enjoyed junk food to their hearts delight. Sara and Jeff even enjoyed the movie.

We got home and the girls played outside, some on the swing, some in the tree house, some roller skated. They were all gracious and let Sara party along with them...Ruth is a great little sister. Then it was Pizza time and they all ate in the tree house, followed by more play until it was too dark outside-do you see I was trying to wear the out!!! Then they watched a little TV then it was birthday cake and party time. Then a little movie time and then craft time.

We made the foam sun visors and applied a lot of stick-0n foam shapes. The big hit was the glow in the dark paint. Then upstairs for the evening. Sara played on the computer and the girls giggled and watched TV. I set the room up for them to all sleep on the floor. Sara came to bed in our room at 11:00. Jeff said they got up about 11:30 for snacks. The next morning, I found out the did not go to sleep until 3:00! Augh, the making of a good party. Then I filled them with sugary donuts and sent them home!!!!

Skating along

The girls feed on each other and teach each other so very much. Today Sara finally got the standing up part of roller skating, quickly followed by little sister Ruth. They had spent so much time on the ground that I thought they needed butt pads. Thanks to my nieces for handing down their old roller skates. They are a little big-by about 4 shoe sizes, but as usual this does not slow down the girls.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUTH-9

Today is my little Ruth's birthday and she is 9! Today I had lunch with her and took her the littlest birthday cake..sorry we ate it before I got a picture.

CANDY MACHINE

Today Ruth's 3rd grade glass had to present their Wonka Candy Invention. This is a gifted class and the imagination in these kids is awesome! I always stay for all of their presentations, and actually learn something from their independent studies. Ruth's invention-Super-Duper Crazy Nerds-Coated With Fun and Laughter- took blue candy, a pulley pulled it up into a funnel and as it traveled through a tube, it turned the candy yellow and popped it out at the end. She included nutritional facts on the back ie: vitamins F,U, and N. She said no Trans-giggles because it was not good for the funny bone. This girl is too funny!

Oh- they are ready Willy Wonka and sturying simple machines which is how this project came to be.

Spring Break to Florida

Are we there yet were the first words I heard as we backed down the driveway for our 10 day tour of the south....it was from my dh Jeff!!!! The girls settled in with their DVD player and their 10 DVD's-I guess they thought it was going to be a short ride!- and off we went. First night we stayed with Jeff's Uncle Joe. It was my first meeting as well as the girl's and we had a great time. Uncle Joe has a dog named Sheba who was adorable. We spent the night and were off the next day, Sunday, for Clearwater and to Jeff's parents. We arrived in time for one of many wonderful meals. The next day, we were off to the beach for some sea shell hunting. While there we saw a number of dolphins in the distance having a great time jumping around. The girls made a haul with the shells!



Though it was cold, the girls went swimming and Nana and Papa were teaching Sara to swim. They helped to teach Ruth many years ago. NO! I did not get into the pool---way too cold for me, but the hot tub was just right.


On wednesday we drove SE 4+ hours to visit friends we made in Nanchang. Angel and Rodney adopted Gracie, who turned 1 in Jan. They also have 3 wonderful boys, the oldest Chase stayed with us last year. Sara and Gracie were inseperable just like in China. We went to a build-a-bear birthday party for their friend's little girl, and that evening we all went out to an Irish Pub for a great meal.

On Friday we left for a 2+ hour North to surprise Sara's orphanage friend Mailia. Sara and Mailia were in the SWI together and both came home the same time, meeting up in Guangzhou. We did not tell the girls about the surprise and Sara and Ruth thought we were heading back to NANA and PAPA's house....glad they can not read a map yet.


Oh yea....Sara taught Ruth how to blow a bubble. I have learned that if the girls are busy blowing bubbles, they are too busy to talk....we will ALWAYS cary bubbl gum on long tripe hehehe