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!
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
Last Sunday miss Sara was a bear and so I saddled her with her dad...hahaha! I went with Ruth's 3rd grade class to see the movie Bridge to Terabithia...not so sure I would have taken her if I had viewed it first. I thought it was a bit mature for an 8 year old, but I guess kids grow up fast. Jeff grilled and Sara was so excited that she insisted I take a number of photos. We had a picnic outside and enjoyed the day. 
The girls are also planning ahead for the trip to their grandparents and we had to go get new swimsuits.
Today was a beautiful day and we spent it with our friend Tami and her daughter Lauren-Jeff had to work. First we went to the Rain tree Cafe to eat. They also got balloon animals 
made..Sara a rabbit, Ruth a tiger, and Lauren a monkey. Then to the park for bike/scooter riding. Ruth is doing very well on her new scooter...not ready for the bike yet.
Today Lauren and Ruth taught Sara how to hula hoop---very funny to watch. Sara has also lovingly taught Ruth to play the flute from school. For each song the learn, they get another colored bead, so once Ruth learned all three beady, we tied a string with beads onto her flute. They were both very proud, and I was very proud of both of them.
Then both girls and Jeff were home....Jeff grilled some dinner quickly because we had 30 minutes to eat and Jeff and the girls attend the local Daddy/Daughter Sweetheart dance. As you can see, the girls have a very sophisticated sense of fashion, and Jeff looks great too! They did a lot of dancing and Sara won a door prise.
to have a talk with her. A little later I went upstairs and she had made a baby, out of her clothes--life size. Apparently this is how they made their play dolls at the orphanage. Sara's baby spent the night with the girls, on the floor on a pillow with a blanket. The next day Ruth jumped right into it and made a baby too. They are so creative and I have to learned to listen to ALL that Sara has to say before I have to jump to a conclusion...she almost got an education that she may not be ready for. I did explain to the girls that it is best NOT to tell their teachers or friends that they know how to make a baby, but how to make a doll. I do not want calls from school for from other parents!
We also received and opened the wooden chests ordered while in Guangzhou. One set was damaged and we are awaiting a visit from an adjuster. This one is a set of seven, you are seeing the three largest....and the girls are already fighting ove them. 
Today was the culture parade. Children researched their heritage and made a parade through the school representing their culture. It was all lead by a Chinese dragon for Chinese New Year-18th.
Today after soccer practice, we went back to school to see the presentation of the 4th grade science fair. Sara (mom) got 6th place for her classroom. Her first question was, why no 1st place-this girl is competitive! The projects were judged by the University of TX professor and three of his students. On the side, Sara's teacher said that Sara (mom) actually got first but the teacher explained that Sara got a lot of help, so they switched her to sixth out of 22---not too shabby.
Sara lost her first USA tooth..during school. She did not know what to do so she slipped it into her pocket and did not tell anyone. I did not know the upper molar was lose, but she has been wiggling
the bottom one and it should be any day. I told Sara's teacher and she said she was wondering why Sara was so quiet...the tooth in the pocket. She did not know what to do. The tooth fairy came last night and she is itching to spend the money, where as Ruth has all the tooth fairy money still...in a special bag. Tonight we will get Sara a tooth fairy bag to keep her money in.
Today after school we went and picked up Sara's new glasses. They are purple of course. She also chose a coordinating purple box to store them in, complete with a mirror and handle. She is styling Hollywood style. We got transition lenses since she seems to be very sensitive to light. No vision correction, simply to protect her good eye. They are poly carbon with a flex frame...kid proof we hope. 
Well, it has been a week since our snow, and the snowman has taken many forms.
As it began to rain, he chose to switch to an umbrella. 
As the sun came out, he chose to hide behind the BBQ grill.....alas after a full week, he has finally gone to the great snowball in the sky
situation...the situation of ice followed by snow followed by, dare I day it, school cancellation! We had a blast! First of all this was a total suprise to both us and the weather man! He actually admitted it on air! As the girls got up, I put them back to bed, and they did not complain about this! LOL! Then up, dressed in 3 layers. Sara laughed and said just like in China, yea! Then out we went for some very cold play. Luckily DH was already planned on working from home, not that he could have made it on his hour drive anyways, but he had brought work home so he was a go. 
Ruth made a snow chair and thought she would sleep in it, but decided that she would pool her snow with Sara and make the snowman, and yes, they make them in China too. Then the snowball fight. The girls and I took our shaggy dog for a walk, with Sara trying to ride her bike....crunch crunch on the ice. The dog was covered with ice when we got home and I had to get the hair dryer to thaw him out.
On a happy note, my friend Misty and Earl are in Nanchang today and getting their daughter Fu Dan in a few hours. Sara is so excited that her friend is coming to the USA-SC area. Then we will have one more known friend to come home-Anna. I have to wait until Sara's English gets better to know about more friends that are waiting or coming to the USA. Hopefully there will be many more older kids on their way! They all need a chance to fulfill their potential.
Today Ruth got her report card-All A's! She also got a special award from the PE teacher and almost all E's from the Accel (gifted) program. We are so proud of her. No award for perfect attendance this semester-remember the chicken pox?
Sara is doing flash words in her ESL class, so I made more, words that she hears all of the time. She is doing incredibly well, seems to have no issues that we can see, and loves the movie High School Musical-go figure. We even listen to the CD in the car!
some complex. The first night we had Sara, she was making cranes, a basket, and even a telephone. Sara said that she learned some in school. Sara has patiently shared this knowledge with little sister Ruth. I let the girls put them on the wall with push pins. Sara said that in China,
they had them in rows down the walls....a little piece of home in the USA
I am a
Daffodil
What Flower
Are You?
Just having a little fun today. The girls are back in school-YEA! Sorry teachers (Yea, right!) My friend Misty leaves to get her daughter Fu, Dan in 9 days, home on the 25th, and Sara has marked her calender and is already waiting for a call from her friend, soon to be Dani. We also found Sara's bed mate, yes, they share beds. Her name will be Anna and will live in PA. Sara does spend time calling her two friends who are already in the US, Mailia and Ling. We may need to get this girl her own line when she gets older.
I decided to change the look of the blog for a little change. I may change it monthly, who knows.
