Family reunion

The Judd family. We could not all come and missed Elisha and the new baby Kyle, but most of the gang attended, with an extra bonus of Uncle Joe and Aunt Rosa coming for a few days too with their dog Sheba.

Everyone played a little badminton

Grandpa read stories to the children-young and older

Sara loved the fishing and Ruth caught frogs...my nature girls

Karaoke was a little scary....mental note to bring ear plugs next year

On the wildlife safari, the animals came onto the bus for a handout....or a hand

Off to Georgia

We are on our way to Georgia for a Judd family reunion. We will be back in 10 days. At the end of our stay in GA, we will to to Atlanta to meet with two of Sara's friends from the SWI that they grew up in-Mailia is 7 and Dani is 13. Will write more when we return. We are frantically packing since we work under pressure and we are just now packing. Us girls love our new pick suitcases! Don't worry about the animals, we have a dog and house sitter that takes care of everything and our yardman will take care of the yard......if only we could use magic and be in GA instantly instead of a two day drive. Thank god for TV's and Ipods to help parents keep their sanity!

Visitors from afar

We are heading about 1 1/2 hours north for the day to visit some very special friends. Erin flew in with her S. and is staying with Alyson and her three P's in the pod. Erin's S.-- home not quite a year (my how time travels), and Alyson's #3, just home, are also from China. We will also get with Traci who just got her TA-permission from China to come over for her beautiful baby A and will travel very soon. It will be nice to see them again and give them our bags of hand me downs. They have not met Sara yet.

Hangin out

We have been passing time. Taking the girls to the Y to swim, playing in the sprinkler out back and getting the dog neutered-ouch!

We stopped by a local McDonald's...something we do often during the summer, and the real Ronald McDonald's was there!! Sara said thank you in Chinese to him after getting their picture taken, and he spoke Chinese back to her. Apparently he is the real touring Ronald and speaks 8 languages and travels all over the world. How cool!!
I took the girls to the local mall to ride the merry-go-round-Sara's first time. Sara chose her favorite animal the rabbit and Ruth chose her favorite-the horse.




The girls decided to put on a magic show which was too cute and we laughed through most of it. I am sure this is NOT the calling for either of the girls. They did do a cool trick with a dollar bill...besides making it disappear at Wal-mart! They will practice some more for the family reunion next week.


We also revamped both bedrooms. The posters got reorganized, we did a little painting and updating. We also have been shopping for our next cross country trip in a few days. I bought myself a much needed suitcase and got matching ones for the girls....totally girly. We visited a friend and we took the small road around the airport and watched some planes land right over us....a little unnerving!!!!










As you can see, the dog Cooper and cat Puff have called a truce and decided they they will let each other live after all, with just a few misunderstandings, but it is fairly matched because the cat is declawed.

WE ARE HOME!

We are back home.
Due to traffic concerns and RAIN, we did not return until today. We had a great visit with the two of my sisters that live in Katy and Friendswood, and enjoyed our visit staying with my parents. While there, my long time friend of 30++ years, Ruth, and her husband sold and bought a house and the girls and I helped them pack....moving in 15 days!!!! We went to a town by my parents, Kemah, and enjoyed a very hot day. Sara had her first Ferris wheel experience and loved it...Ruth was her usual cool.

Just for fun, we looked at some over the top boats and picked out the one we would like to have....not told Jeff this yet....it is so much fun to dream.



Sara helped my parent's neighbors have a garage sale. Cooper traveled OK and was not 100% good on my parent's carpets....so so sorry! I guess Sara and Cooper are both in the kennel. We ate out a few times and I watched fireworks with my mother from her back yard. The mosquitoes chased everyone else off.


The girls also visited grandpa the day he volunteers at the charity food pantry. My dad helps stock the shelves for families who come in for food

Out of town & looking back

Just a quick note, I am leaving to visit my family in Houston for a week. Jeff has to stay and work. I am sure we will return with many stories, so please stay tuned.

DO YOU SEE HER IN THIS PICTURE-the spark in her eyes that shine so bright today! Today the girls were going through their school work from the year, and I was thinking how much Sara has changed.....how we have all changed and are learning how to be a family of 4. She has learned so much English that no one can believe that she has only been here for 8 months, but she loves to learn and is now beginning to take on her role as older sister. You understand, she was very immature when she came to us, so she has grown in this way too.

Rain, Rain and Bible School

We are still here. The girls attended Bible School and LOVED it. After the first day they asked to go early the next day do they could sing all the songs. We also attended the Church on Sunday and the girls Sunday school, and they LOVED it too. Jeff and I also enjoy the church which is very active in all areas. It is also good that it is only 5 minutes from the house.

The girls enjoyed some cute time playing dress up and swimming at the YMCA.

We have also been very busy staying dry. In case you have been living in a cave, we are having rain like never before. Even the puppy Cooper only gets out of the covered patio for his business and we are letting him inside a little more so he does not get webbed feet and swim away. I am positive that our 2 year drought is now over, and the lakes would be reopened except that now instead of the boat ramps being too short, the water has flooded all the parking lots to the boat ramps and the lakes are closed again, but for the opposite reason!

GREAT Aunt & Uncle

Today Jeff's Sister Laura's daughter Elisha gave birth to a boy....something very rare on both sides of the family......and Kyle and mom are doing well. We understand that Kyle had a lot to say upon birth and quite some time there after....should fit in well with my two daughters who ALWAYS have something to say. We are waiting photos but are confident that he is a cutie. Not sure how Jeff's sister is taking becoming a grandmother.....

Happy Father's Day!

This morning I fixed a special breakfast for Jeff and the girls made some very cute father's day cards. My parents were still in town so I got to spend father's day with my father too. In the evening the family went to our favorite restaurant China King and stuffed ourselves crazy.

Finally home!

We have had a successful trip to St. Louis area and visited family from both sides of my family, aunts, uncles, Great Aunt Teresa, cousins, second cousins, third cousins, and some that we are not sure how we are related, but we are. Ruth was reintroduced to the family and Sara met them for the first time. The weather was good, but got a little hotter towards the end. The Holiday Inn Select in St. Peter's was terrible! The driving was smooth and visited the old camping grounds where we spent a lot of our childhood, and stopped off at my parent's acreage in Arkansas. We got to ride the train in St. Louis to IL, visit the Arch, the zoo and Grant's farm. Jeff was greatly missed and we called him every other night.

Sara's Bball

Sara began basketball camp at our high school on Monday. NO, she was not the shortest 5th grader, but tied with 3 other girls, and some of those girls were HUGE! Sara wanted to do basketball because the HS girl who helped her during school played on the HS team. Sara did great!!!! She is so small that she is a great defensive player, she just sneaks in there and sticks her hands out and stands her ground. Shooting is a little touch, but she did make some baskets. She had a great time and we will be looking for more bball camps soon. One thing of interest, Sara can dribble equally well with her right or left hand. Coach thinks that she may actually be left handed....or was at one time.

ROADTRIP

We are leaving tomorrow morning EARLY for a trip north for Sara to meet my extended family, and for them to see Ruth again. It has been 3 years since we have been back home, and the last time was for my cousin's funeral. My parents are coming with us and dh Jeff is manning the house and killer dog and cat. We will check back when we get back on Father's day and back track some of the entries....we have been VERY VERY busy....how much longer until school?

Cooper got a haircut!

Our cute fluffy dog got his summer cut. Afterwards, two people strongly suggested obedience training for him.....duh! The first thing he did when we took him to the groomer was pee on a woman's foot. She said that she will always remember this because it was her birthday! I am sure I turned a thousand shaded of red. He then marked the room 5 more times. The groomer had to hold him the entire time because he kept wanting to escape. Yes, it was his first trip and we did not recognize him!

A day with Dad

Jeff took Sara to the Aquarium today. Ruth stayed home with me because she was not feeling well. Sara and Jeff had a great time. I think Sara's favorite thing was taking the pictures....got to get this girl a digital camera!

Yesterday Jeff took Ruth to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. They both thought it was good.


The best part of the weekend is that the neighbors are now moved in with their 3 children in close age to the girls so now....I have 5 kids! They are good and the oldest, a boy, likes to play chess with Sara. The youngest, a girl, likes to follow me around the house.

Happy Birthday Son

It was 23 years ago today that I gave birth to the most beautiful child. Bryan Christian had the softest skin I have ever felt. Though born a month early, he was perfect, so we thought. Bryan died the next day due to Group B Strep, something that all pregnant women are not tested for due to so many other babies dying. Thought I do not have a lifetime to hug my son, I do have a lifetime to hold him in my heart until I see him again and we finally get to be together. Both of the girls know of their brother and talk of them a few times. They know about death and heaven and are OK with this. So tonight if you have kids, give them a huge hug and kiss because you never know when it will be you last.

Two "A" graduates

Today both of our girls graduated their respective grades, both on the A honor roll with perfect attendance. They both also got reading awards and won a free ticket to Six Flags for a reading challenge. Next year Ruth will be in 4th grad and Sara will go to Intermediate school...she is a little hesitant but pleased that they have a chess club.

Soccer blast

This evening was the end of the season soccer party. The girls swam and ate, and did some very funny dancing to old rock and roll music. And they also decided to paint their faces with the icing from the cup cakes....those with red ended up with red dyed faces.....thank goodness my girls had white icing! We are now done with soccer until the second indoor season when Ruth and maybe Sara will play....at least it is inside and air conditioned!

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......