Trick Or Treat!!!!

You Are a Ghost

Mysterious, independent, and often unseen - you always do things your own way. You are introverted, shy, and even a little secretive. People are dying to know you better, but you're a difficult person to know. A lot of your contributions to the world are left invisible and unfelt. Your greatest power: Blending in really well Your greatest weakness: Being too passive You play well with: Witches

What Kind of Monster Are You?

The Night Before Halloween

So tonight we carved our pumpkins. Ryker does his own creations but Reegan prefers to use a stencil... Larkyn was very interested in her pumpkin but would have NOTHING to do with the insides...

Larkyn's Big Day!!!

Today was Larkyns Baptism ... We couldn't have asked for a better day... It was warm and sunny and Larkyn look perfect. My mother made this dress for Reegan when she was Baptised.. Now Larkyn got to wear it. She was so proud when I put this on her. Me, Larkyn, my mom and Martin.

Larkyn's God Parents.

The girls were so sweet at the Baptism Fount.

Later we had everyone over for Chinesse food and Cake.



Larkyn actually eat some ice-cream and cake!!!!

OK I know what your all thinking... YUK Snow!!! That's right we woke up to snow yesterday morning. It was cold.. it was wet.. and it was white outside. Honestly I can hear my mother complaining about this white stuff like she didn't know it was coming. Why is it people who live in a place were it gets cold enough to snow outside always complain year after year... I personally love winter.. everything looks clean and new outside... Snow is soo much better then rain... When you have winter you truly appreciate spring and summer when they finally arrive. So when I woke yesterday morning and saw all this beautiful white snow, what did I do... The only thing a person can do I Got out the Christmas Carols!!!!

Look at this face... Kids can truly help us to remember just how wonderful snow really is... She couldn't wait to get out and make a snow man. She got to wear her new winter boats her foot prints were the first in the snow. When we walked Reegan to school Larkyn looked just shocked. She just sat in the stroller all bundled up with this dazed look on her face.

Most of the snow has melted today but I know it will be back!!

My Cookie Monster!!!

I have to say I spent a few evenings worrying about whether or not Larkyn would ever eat solids. I had read of children who had oral ad versions and the challenges that they faced. From day one Larkyn was very adverse to having anything near her mouth except a bottle. The other babies on our trip seemed very interested in touching,, looking and even trying foods but NOT Larkyn.

Once we got home our Dr. advised us what to do... and what not to do... Still I wondered and worried about this.

Then with one simple action Larkyn opened her mouth for the spoon and took a taste. Then she took another taste and another and now she eats baby fruits, veggies and this week she started to eat with her hands.. This simple act one baby cookie something that most moms just take for granted as something all babies do was amazing to watch.

You are just amazing Baby Girl!!!

FALL FUN

A Good Weekend

Well my honey was finally able to finish the wall trim that has been unfinished because the installers had taken there sweet time in finishing one piece on the stairs.... The girls took quite an interest in watching Daddy work. Of course they made sure to interrupt his work for some much needed daddy time.

On Sunday Ryker and Reegan decided to do some raking, of course what fun is raking a pile if you can't jump in and make a mess!!! While the raking took place the kids also found many.. many ladybugs so Miss Reegan put them all in her bug container.. 23 in all were found... But don't worry the ladybugs were safely returned to there garden once Reegan has had a good look.

My Sister Sent Me This.. I Had To Share!!!!

Any Thoughts!!!!

Little Miss is almost 6 years old and still needs to wear a pull-up at bedtimes. She wants to badly to wear big girl pants to bed and our rule is three dry nights in pull-ups and then we will try panties. I have cut her off liquids two hours before bed... she still wakes up wet. I tried waking her up before I went to bed and getting her to go to the washroom... When I did this she would always go... but would still wake up wet. Then just before we left for China she had three dry nights... so we went to the panties... she then had 7 dry night in a row... on the eight day she was wet and has been wet ever since. A week ago David went in to check on her before he went to bed he said while he was in her room she sat up,, swayed back and forth then lied back down and proceeded to wet her pull-up. So that might indicate that she just can't wake herself up when she needs to use the washroom.

Maybe she's just not old enough yet.. and in time this will solve it self out... I really don't know... So if anyone has any suggestions on the matter please feel free to tell me.

Madonna Hey You

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Little Missy Sings

Reegan is going to a Catholic school and here is one of the songs she has learned... She sings it with a lot of passion. What was very cute was after she was done singing this song for the hundredth time she looks at me and say " This song is true mommy God is awesome"

Did NOT See This Coming

I expected there to be some jealousy once I got home from China. I figured Reegan would have some very bad days were she really missed not have me to herself.. But I truly didn't expect the jealous one to Larkyn. I really picked up on this last night. Reegan needed some cuddle time and so I sad on the floor with her sitting on my knee cuddling her. WELL you should have seen the look on Larkyn's face. I don't think I have seen her scoot across the floor that quick. Once she got to me she tried everything in her power to push Reegan off me.. At first Reegan though she was coming over to cuddle but we both realized that what Miss Larkyn wanted was Reegan off me. Of course I didn't kick Reegan off and I ended up with both sitting on me.. This was not to Larkyn's liking and she fussed, cried, pushed and carried on until Reegan finally got up to do something else. I suppose she has finally realized what having a mom is all about and doesn't want to share.. I will need to be very careful how I deal with this issue...

It's Been 2 Months Since Larkyn Day!!!!

Under Construction

I AM TRYING TO GET A DIFFERENT BLOG TEMPLATE... THIS IS NOT PROVING TO BE AN EASY TASK... SO PLEASE BARE WITH THE CHANGES ....

IF ANYONE OUT THERE KNOWS OF A GOOD SITE TO GET EASY TO INSTALL BLOGGER TEMPLATES PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

A Visit with Shaelyn and Kaili

Out of the twelve couples that travel with us to China, there are only two who live in Calgary. This week we had a play date with Stephanie and her little girl Shaelyn http://www.shaelynsstory.blogspot.com/ . This was the second time I had met up with them since our return from China. I am just amazed at the difference in this little girl. From the sparkle in her eyes to the smile on her face, Shaelyn is blossoming each time I see her. Unfortunately the battery on my camera was dead so I didn't take any pictures.

Then Today Louisa and her Kaili came over to visit us http://www.kailijensen.blogspot.com . Kaili is closer to Larkyn's age so it was wonderful to watch these little girls interact. Kaili was adopted from a different province then Larkyn, so we met up with them the second week of our trip. Honestly she is a sweety and what a smile on her when she smiles.

It's a bummer the rest of our group live in different cities and provinces all over Canada.. We Miss all of you guys!!!!!

These Pictures Make Me Miss Ontario

My sister took these pictures a month ago in Ontario close to Perry Sound.

I just look at them and I can smell that wonderful Ontario Autumn air. If these pictures had been taken right now there would be splashes of red from the maple trees.. brilliant oranges and yellow intermixed among the pine trees. Sounds of water lapping against the shore with a distance call of a loon or two.

As much as I love Alberta, pictures like these make me crave the province I grew up in.

So it's taken me this long to finally be able to move enough from eating all that food over the weekend to finally put up a new post. The turkey, the pies need I say more... Oh yes and time spent with family and friends... Let's not forget that...

Miss Larkyn is eating left right and centre. She now eats at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Today she had cream of chicken soup with her sister. What a relief for me that she has finally decided to eat. Larkyn still doesn't feed herself finger foods... but I am sure it will come.

Once again my dear sister sent the kids some great clothing. It's gotten so bad that as soon as Reegan sees the Fedex man come she starts to giggle with delight knowing that her Aunt has most likely gotten her a new outfit. She got Larkyn these great camo pants the exact one's that I tried to convince Reegan to get the other day as they were on sale. Reegan refused.. declaring they were to much like her brother's pants. So as soon as she opened up the fedex box and saw that her aunt had purchased Larkyn a pair... her views on this pant changed instantly. But the story does not end there... As soon as my dear sister heard this she was down to the store and the very last pair happened to be Reegans size.. so once again the fedex man will be ringing our doorbell. Honestly if her husband only know how often she was buying stuff for my kids ...Your the best sister dear!!!

On a more serious note. I have had a few days of late were I defiantly feel that the Honeymoon stage of this journey is over. Since our referral picture in June I have been on such a high with very few down days... There's the excitement of finally getting to see your daughter.. Then your busy making calls telling everyone,, having people congratulate you.. Then when that finally starts to die down your busy making sure you have everything for the trip. Before you now it there's farewell dinners.. Good luck emails etc., etc., Then the day finally comes your flying to China... The excitement is almost to much to bare. Finally the day you get your daughter.. and from that day forward you are in warm fuzzy for the rest of the trip. Homecoming is next.. people calling again wishing you congrats.. asking questions.. sending gifts... You are adjusting to life with your new member. Then one morning you wake up and realize that everyone has met her. When your are walking down the street the average Joe doesn't look at you and think Hay that's there new baby from China that they waited two and a half years for. That rush of energy that you have had for the past 4 months is starting to disappear and you realize that your excitement for the day will be choosing to do the laundry first or clean the bathrooms. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining I love my life... it's just a shock to the system after having so much happen in a short period of time and then it all settles down.

Is there anyone out there who can relate to this?

Bad Spelling!!!

For those of you who have been following my blog... you will have no doubt noticed that my spelling can be off sometimes... Even after I use the spell check provided on this blog misspelled words still sneak through. I have never been a Strong speller so please bare with me...

But if you see a word or two that I have missed and the spell check has missed. Please feel free to let me Know. I will not take offence.

Tell Me Is This a Sign of Peri-Menopause!!!!

To all you ladies out there that are either my age or a bit older. Tell me do you have days like these.

I am approaching forty this winter "January 26th to be exact" Over the past year I have had days were I feel like I can't move... I have asked my Doctor and she just says "your not as young as you used to be my dear" After years of University this is the answer I get!!!! So I have done some reading about our bodies and things that start to change as early as 35... From what I have read this could be the start of the end.

Here is my biggest complaint.. Over the past year there are days when I am driving around then out of the blue I am so tired I have to go home for fear of falling asleep at the wheel.. Then there are the days when I wake up and feel like my legs have cement attached to them.. I can goes days feeling like this. Lets not forget the fuzzy brain syndrome.. those are days when as hard as I try I can't focus or pay attention to anything. Then just as suddenly as it appeared I am back to my energetic.. focus minded self.. with out warning without having changed a thing.. Poof I back being ME!!!!

It's really starting to get me very frustrated. I am pretty useless to David some days when he needs me to multi task.

Please tell me I am not the only one out there having days like this, and if I am not does anything help????

Now before the fog brain sets in while write this post. I just want to wish everyone A HAPPY CANADIAN THANKS GIVING!!!!!!

Well It's Done!!!

One orange garbage bag and half her toys gone and I can see the floor, the top of her dresser, and she can actually colour on her table now.

Reegan didn't freak out too badly.. Yes there were tears and she did accuse me of being a BIG MEANY!!! But in the end I hope she realized that something had to be done and when Mom says she going to do it I mean IT!!! She can earn her toys back only if she proves to me that she can keep her room tidy with the toys that I did leave in her room.

I Am Ashamed To Be A Canadain When I Read Stuff Like This

P.E.I. building obstacles to international adoption, families say
Last Updated: Monday, October 1, 2007 7:15 AM AT
CBC News
New policies on P.E.I. are blocking international adoption, some families complain, and they've formed a group to lobby for change.
'This is our life. We have no other way of having children.'— Vicky Shipman
They're urging the premier to step in and change his government's policies. They fear without a change, they will lose their chance to adopt.
"All of us feel that the province does not support international adoption. That's why we're coming forward," Tammy MacKinnon, spokeswoman for the P.E.I. Adoption Coalition, told CBC News Friday.
"We want to know why it's being made so difficult."
The issue is with China's Waiting Child Program, which places children with medical problems, sometimes very minor ones. Because of the difficulty of successfully placing these children, the Chinese program uses agencies in Canada to help select families. Four P.E.I. children were adopted under China's Waiting Child Program.
But in 2005, China became part of the Hague Convention on Inter country Adoption. The P.E.I. government believes this requires the province to take a more direct role in the adoptions, and it has cut the Canadian agencies from the process, causing lengthy delays.


The agencies are accredited provincially in Ontario and Quebec. P.E.I. is the only province in Canada that has stopped using the agencies for the Waiting Child Program, because it believes it is illegal to use them.
Tammy MacKinnon wants the P.E.I. government to remove barriers to international adoption.(CBC)
The P.E.I. Adoption Coalition disagrees with this opinion.
Vicky and Alan Shipman say the government's position has put their application to the Waiting Child Program in jeopardy.
They want the government to immediately reverse its position so their adoption can go ahead. The couple accuse provincial officials of being insensitive in their handling of the issue.
"This is not just a legal piece of paper," said Vicky Shipman.
"This is my husband and I, this is our life. We have no other way of having children. And they seem to be just putting so many obstacles in our way."
The P.E.I. Adoption Coalition is scheduled to meet with government officials Tuesday. It is also wants the government to create clear guidelines for international adoption and an appeal process.

Finally Debbie Can Swim

So here's my sister http://debinasdiary.blogspot.com finally in her new swimming pool. Everything looks great the water clear and warm.. But what you don't know is this pool was suppose to take two weeks to finish and it took over 7 weeks and many .. many hassles. To put this into perspective we closed our pool the same weekend my sister opened hers... Luckily she lives in Ontario so the weather is warmer then here.

Happy Swimming Sister Dear!!!!

What's a Mother To Do ????

Some of you guys might remember the post I did back in the spring time showing you Reegan's new room. Just look at these pictures.. I want to sleep in this room.

WARNING WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT AT HEART!!!

For many.. many months now I have had to deal with this: I am at my Wit's end... I have been telling her for weeks that if she didn't start to pick up after herself I would come in with the BIG orange garbage bag and toss the junk then take away the toys she's not looking after. She cries does the usual I will keep it clean mommy etc., etc., I now fear it's time that I follow through with my promise. The only problem with this is finding the time to do this while she not in the house... If we try and do it together she proclaims everything is special even a scrape of paper that she found on the floor is special. Making it worst is when I question her about this scarp of paper she can tell me were she found it when she found who was with her when she found it and why it's soooo special. On top of changing diapers doing all my other stuff having to clean her room up only makes more work for me.. In the end I know it's the right thing to do... But honestly she's five shouldn't she be tidier????? ha ha

OK OK... wishful thinking on my part!!!