"I want to go home......I don't want to go home!"

Hi Everyone,

I am not sure how to sum up the last few weeks except to say it has been anything but predictable. Work for me has been incredibly busy, but I am actually enjoying the neck breaking pace and having new products to learn. That said, it seems that my little one is going through some major attachment issues and seems to be coming out on the healthy side. Last week-end after spending a wonderful day at dance class and a birthday party, Ella started telling me about all the great things she was going to show me when we went back to China. She wanted to show me her school and her boys and girls and her beautiful bathroom. (She tends to fantasize about parts of her past which is normal for these kidos). After she finished telling me all the things we were going to do, I said it will be wonderful to meet all of her China friends, and we would have some great pictures to share with her new friends when we came home. Unfortunately, Ella had no plans of coming home and we had a bit of a rough week-end processing her new life. Fast forward to yesterday, and Ella had a birthday party at one of her friends houses. This little friend is currently taking Mandarin classes from a tutor, and the tutor actually came to the party. Since we had talked about Ella joining the tutoring lessons, it was nice to meet the teacher and see how Ella would respond. Although she didn't talk to her at first, she enjoyed the "silly" teacher and by the end of the party, Ella was writing her name in Chinese characters and talking with the teacher and saying she would like to come to classes. As we were leaving, Ella became very quiet and started to cry, and I thought we were headed for another discussion about "going back home" but instead my little one began sobbing that she never wanted to go back to China and wanted to stay with Mommy forever! We then talked about her new family and how this was forever and I would never let anyone take her away and she said "I love my family so much". I am so happy for Ella and only wished I had someone speak at length to her in Mandarin a month ago! jk. I know we have many stages of attachment to still complete but I am so thankful and happy that she is moving through her grief and headed towards understanding that it is safe to trust and love her new family. Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday week and hope you are able to spend some quality time with your families. LUV

Does Zach have an ass?

Hi Everyone,

Well as good as I am at understanding my daughter's English, I have to admit that I was clueless today when she shouted out loud "Does Zach have an ass?". This of course was done loudly and publicly at our local grocery store tonight after we met one our neighbor boys Zach who is a bagger at the store. I had to repeat her question and then of course ask her were she learned that word, and she said "You know, like a snake". Oh, of course, does Zach have an S. Not ass. :) I love that she is trying to spell out words and look forward to many more laugh out loud moments. Ella received a really neat princess tent from her Aunt Kristi and Uncle Chuck and has pretty much been living in it every chance she gets. Unfortunately, Harley would also like to move in! Ah, the adjustments continue for little miss Harley. Some more pics from the week-end and tent living. Wishing you all a great week.

The Walking Dead....

Hi Everyone,

What a birthday celebration for Ella! After battling the flu and then bilateral ear infections for the past week, I am so thankful my entire family came in to help with Ella's first American birthday celebration. I am not sure what I would have done without all the help! Ella's b-day started with a before dawn wake-up due to anticipation and excitement for her special day. The joy on her face when she saw the streamers on her door and her first birthday present waiting for her was just amazing. The day from then on was pretty much a big blur. I am happy to say that despite a Mom who could hardly hear, an Aunt with laryngitis, a Grandpa with a sore back aka the walking dead, we pulled off a pretty fun party. Although, it was the first time I thought that two hours would never end....:)! After having gone to a birthday party in at a jumping castle warehouse, Ella requested a Princess Jumping Castle for her party. Once I found the only park in our city that would allow jumping castles, I decided to book the ramada and reserve the castle. We invited all of Ella's classmates and had a pretty great turn-out with her cousins also attending with 24 kids total. We had a minor castle disaster ten minutes before the party after the castle man had left when we looked over and the entire castle had collapsed. Frantic calls without successfully reaching anyone forced us to come up with plan B which was to have Aunt Julie tape up the gaping hole with duct tape. A half of roll later and we were back in business ready for the jumping fun to begin. Ella had a wonderful time and is already asking when her birthday will come again. Ha. Her birthday theme was everything princess of course and even her cupcakes were snow white appropriate. Since Ella says she is seven, we had a China seven birthday cupcake and an American sixth birthday cupcake to celebrate and this made Ella all the more happy. Today after we had a quiet house again and Ella was headed to bed, she said "I have such a big family" and I told her we all love her very much and she said "I love my family". Doesn't get better than that! Wishing you all the best!

Halloween Fun

Hi Everyone,

Well Ella has had a very busy couple of days full of fun. On Friday they celebrated All Saints day at school and unfortunately, Mom did not receive the memo on dressing up as a saint, so on Thursday as I am dropping Ella off for school I notice other Moms talking about the parade and dressing up. Fortunately, the options were to dress as a saint, Mary or an angel. A quick visit to the Savers store and we had a full Angel outfit ready to go. (pic) Ella had so much fun on Friday with the parade and activities that she pretty much passed out on our way home while she was eating her snack! (pic) Saturday was a "bery bery busy day" according to Ella and I completely agree! We started our day with our tumble and dance class that Ella continues to love and is really thriving in the dance portion. After our dance class, we hurried home to get ready for Halloween and a visit from Aunt Marianne and Grandma and Grandpa who all came over to celebrate the evening. Ella was very excited to dress up as Snow White since we were actually going to do her hair and wear make-up like Snow White. I think the transformation was pretty adorable and she certainly received many "you look just like Snow White" comments from our neighbors. It was really fun to see Ella enjoy the evening and after two houses, she pretty much got the ring the doorbell, say thank-you and get candy routine down!Ella's Aunt Marianne dressed up for the evening and at first Ella didn't want anything to do with her but realized after Aunt Marianne talked to her and took her drag queen wig off that everything was ok. Unfortunately, Mom's costume as a witch didn't go over so good, and I had to quickly take off the costume to avoid a total melt down! :) We had a great evening as the weather was perfect and a full moon to light our way. Hoping you all had a wonderful week-end!