Reegan and Larkyn Just Loved Watching This!!!

No More Anonymous!!!!

So here's the deal. Since I started this blog I have always welcomed all comments good ones and not so good ones.

That being said what I will not welcome is negative comments under Anonymous!!!

Common, if you are going to say something negative don't be a coward and hid behind the Anonymous options.

So I have decided to change my blog so that you can't leave an anonymous comment!!

Sorry for those out there who have left wonderful comments in the past and have had no chose but to use the anonymous option because you don't have access to the other options provided. Anyone is alway welcome to email me.

Her First Loose Tooth!!!!

Well it's been over a week since I took these pictures and still that tooth is hanging on. Reegan is sooo excited to be loosing her first tooth. It's at the point were it's starting to drive her crazy and eating is becoming more uncomfortable.

Tomorrow is an exciting day for us. Over a month ago when I was at my Adoption Agency doing a show and tell for couples who are in the process of adopting, our local paper was there collection info for a story they are doing this summer on International Adoption. They asked me then if they could come by and talk to our family about our process and experiences. So tomorrow they come to interview us... Ryker thinks this is very cool and Reegan is worried about what to wear.

Could It Be That This As Well Could Be The Cause Of My Stress

Before I begin I want everyone reading this to understand that I have a keeper for a husband. He's kind, very considerate to me and the kids. He spoils me rotten on a regular basis. He's a wonderful provider to us. He's smart beyond smart and has had a successful company for over 10 years as a General Contractor.



That being said not everyone is perfect and my husband is NOT the exception.



Just over a year ago my husband convinced me to do some home renovations. I had some concerns about this. My first concern was he wanted to do the work to save on costs. My usual red flag went up because in the past my honey has been great at starting projects but sucks at doing the final finish. Like our downstairs he started five years ago and it's still not done. Then there's the side of the house were he added a window in our basement. Well he go the window in but hasn't finished the rest yet.



I suppose I should have know better when I agreed but he was so eager and he promised me that he would finish.. To show me his commitment he started by re tiling one of the upstairs bathrooms and he finished it. So I gave him the green light to proceed.



Here's were we are to date

The Stairs

Finished last summer but now waiting for the final trim to be put on

The Mud Room

Still waiting for the tile to be put down. This was torn up last January

The Pool

Finished the summer of 2006 but where's my fence around the pool ???? Why is the deck not finished????

The Kitchen

Here are the new kitchen cabinets sitting in our basement just waiting to be put in the kitchen. We ordered these last spring.

And I wanted to save the best for last.

Our EnSuite

This project was started in Late January 2007. I took these pictures this morning.

The hole were the toilet should be!!!!

Oh the toilet,, I guess it enjoys a nice tub once and a while.

The pipes for the sink and the cement floor for the heated tile.

I don't even notice most days and I think that's what drives me nuts. I've become accustom to this mess!!!

My Honey has assured me all these will be finished this year!!!!!

These Made Me Laugh !!

My sister sent these to me today... Enjoy.

Why Does It Have To Be So Hard

When we had our first child 13 years ago I was 27, although Ryker was a very challenging child I woke up each day feeling happy, excited about what that day would bring and having tones of energy.

We waited seven years before we had Reegan. She was a delight, sleeping through the nights at six weeks. Being a mother to this little girl was one thing but not being tired all the time made it the best of the best.

In between looking after my own .. I also ran a day home and looked after 5 kids each day. I woke up around 5:30am and would go for a walk. Around 6:30am the kids would start to arrive and my days were then filled with caring for not only my own but other's. I felt unstoppable. People would tell me all the time they didn't know how I did it. I was able to look after these kids... keep my house in order... exercise on a daily basis.

So when we decided to adopt another child I really felt I could handle the extra child.

Lately I feel like I have failed miserably!!!!!

Now I wake up at 6am and lie in bed trying to convince myself that it would be O.K. for Ryker to either miss school or be late, all so I don't have to get up. Then once I finally get up showered and get Ryker off to school I no sooner walk through the door when I hear Larkyn crying .. so now I change her feed her and entrained her.. Then our little ray of sunshine comes jumping down the stairs wanting attention... attention .. attention...

I once was a person who was organized and very structured. Even though I am physically in the same room as my family more and more days I feel like I am not there at all, just going through the motions. I am not stupid I know moms go though hard times.. I am no stranger to depression, but honestly I truly figured I was past this part and after many years of experience, handling a house, three kids and a husband would be a piece of cake.

I am so lucky to have the life that I have yet these days I feel like I can't get enough rest or down time.

So there you have it. I am officially a mess!!!!!

WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO HARD!!!!!!

A Month In Review

Trying Out One Of Reegans Many Christmas Gifts

Ni Hao Kai-Lan

One more day until this shows on Treehouse.... Yippeeee

A Part of Her Past!!!!

Since we first decided to adopt from China I have been hungry for books about what life was like in China. Understanding how the abandonment issue became such a huge problem was the first thing I needed to understand. But lately I've been reading books about what life was like for the women and children of pre-revolution and pre- cultural revolutions China.

The most recent book I have finished is called Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. This book is beautifully written. Two things this books touches on is the secret written female language of nu shui and foot binding.

When I reached the chapter called footbinding.. I was not looking forward to reading what was going to happen to this seven year old girl. It was hard to rap my mind around what took place many many years ago.. and all for a better marriage arrangement.. These little girls were not asked to do this... It was expected and to achieve a foot as small as 3 inches in length was considered a blessing to her and her family.

After I finished this book... I started to think... How could I judge what people did back then... All to ensure a better marriage or a better life for a family. Women doing things to there bodies just to attract a better husband. Unheard of Right!! Then I starting thinking although these little girls were not given a choose about there footbinding we are really not much better... With nose jobs.. boob jobs and many many other surgical enhancements that we can get now. There are some difference.. firstly the little girls in most cases considered it an honour to help out there family.. There tolerance and bravery while enduring such pain leaves me speechless. These young women were proud. Proud to be able to help there family better themselves.

I am so grateful that footbinding was outlaw in 1912.. but I think it's important that we don't forget about it... It's meaning back then was not something we can just simply understand as a foot fetish. In a time when women's worth was considered not much better then the dirt floor people walked on this tradition gave them something special.. something that was truly there's

This women is very proud of her tiny feet.

The Last Three Weeks In Pictures

It all started four day before my 40th Birthday. When my best friend from Ontario came out with her little girl and surpised me.

Donna and her little Abby.

Donna and ME!!!

Then as part of my birthday surprise David took me to the mountains for a three day mini vacation. It was VERY cold -33 to be excact. Our mission was to go skiing. On our second day in Banff it managed to warm up to a balmy -14 so we headed out to the slopes. It was the most refeshing vacation, and I truly needed the break... Thanks David!!!

It was cold but it looked like a fairy land!!!

Larkyn had a great time with all the girls. She loved Miss Loosie the clown.

I was home one day when it was Reegans turn to have her special day. 12 little girls running around the house. A clown, magic show and face painting, fun was had by all.

Miss Butterfly

Next was Rykers big day!!! By now I am totally done with cake!!

Ryker was very happy to open his sister's gift a bag of Mini eggs.

Larkyn was around to help if needed.

Too cute!!!

This weekend was Rykers party with a friend. We had planned on the boys going skiing for the day but by the time we got the hill it was so full that we could get in. In the end David saved the day by purchasing an X box for Ryker instead of a day of skiing.

I can finally take a break and try and take of all the weight I've managed to put on since Christmas.

Finally my laptop is working well enought to allow me to blog. I have been having Major problems with my laptop... Thursday we have the PC doctors coming over to take a look at it.

So what's up you ask??? We have been in a deep freeze out hear. Today we finally got some releaf today and the rest of the week looks pretty good.

Ryker, Reegan and Larkyn are all doing really well... Ryker brought home his report card last week... NOT GREAT!!!! He really does not like school and this report card showed that.

My honey is gearing up for the spring home show rush. In a couple of weeks he will be just a memory to us all...

As for me.. I am entering my winter blues... I want to sleep all day.. read books and eat everything in site. As blessed as we are with Larkyn some days I am really feeling a little overwhelmed. There are some days when I think if the house next door went up for sale I might just purchase it so at the end of the day I can just go next door to relax in a neat and quite home...

And to top it off my spell check in NOT working on this post. As you can see I am very bad a spelling..

Well that's it in a nut shell.. I hope everyone out there is all doing well !!!!

Some Pictures Of the Weather In China

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2008-02/04/content_6441621.htm

Gung Hay Fat Choy!!!!!

Happy New Year Every One!!!

Happy 13th Brithday Ryker Man!!!

Holy cow I can't believe it will be 13 years tomorrow that I was given the best gift of all. I wish I could say my first pregnancy with Ryker was the most joyful time of my life. The truth is I was so sick with morning.. noon and evening sickness and spend at least seven out of the nine months laying in bed. On February 5th I was eating the most delicious double scoop of chocolate ice-cream when I felt the first twinge that something was up. By 1am on February 6th the doctor handed me the most perfect baby I had ever seen.

Ryker has gown into a wonderful boy with a great imagination. I will enjoy watching him mature into a fabulous young man. The kind of young man that moves out when he's suppose to.. get's a good paying job.. stays out of trouble and marries a women who I like very much.. and of course gives me lots of wonderful grandchildren. ha ha

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANDSOME BOY!!!!