My Little Dumplings

Halloween Decorating

2011-10-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

1st Day of School 2011- Pre-K4

2011-09-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

My sweetie!

2011-06-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

Sunday Fun

2011-06-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

Easter Morning

2011-04-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

School Pictures 2011

2011-04-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready for a great weekend with family. I will be serving a surf n turf dinner tonight. Tomorrow morning I will have Champagne Mimosa's and Bloody Mary's! Sarah is so excited for the Easter Bunny....she told me she has been a good girl and hopes for a nice basket of sweet treats. Yesterday I bought all 3 kids new bikes. This is my Easter gift to them. Sarah received her first big girl bike with training wheels. Nick and Alex received mountain bikes. Sarah has been sick for the past few days with a fever as high as 102.9-poor baby has an ear infection and upper respiratory infection. She insisted on hopping on her new bike this morning -with her 102.6 fever.....I had to bribe her to get back into the house so she can rest on the couch. I recently purchased the Vizio Internet App TV (55 inch). I let her choose a movie from Blockbuster OnDemand and allowed her to eat some ice cream (not usually allowed in the am). Hopefully we will have her fever down by tomorrow. Tonight we color eggs and will leave a carrot out for the Bunny. I will have pictures posted by tomorrow. Sarah has really changed. She is so tall and grown up- can not believe she will be 4 in August! Nick looks like a real teenager- definitely hit puberty! Alex has also gone through a major growth spurt- thinned out and got a little taller. Stay tuned for some great pics!

Lion Country Safari

2010-11-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin Carving 2010

2010-11-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

Trick or Treat!

2010-11-14T08:29:00.000-08:00

Graveyard in our Front Yard

My Trick or Treaters!!! Love that the boys still enjoy this! It was all about the accessories this year!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

Mini Golf

2010-10-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

Disney

2010-09-08T19:32:00.001-07:00

Sarah's Adjustment to School

2010-06-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

Sarah's adjustment to school has been a little bumpy. She did great the 1st week! The second week was a nightmare! The director had moved Sarah into the 4's (a HUGE error)! Sarah is turning 3 on 8/31....She thought Sarah was turning 4 in August. Sarah is definitely NOT on the same developmental or social level as a 4 year old.

She was coming home and telling me the kids were mean. I walked into her class and noticed the different kids and teacher. I asked where Sarah's other teacher was? I was then informed of the "move"......I was livid! No one told me of the move. We were only in week 2????? No wonder I was getting HUGE tantrums and tears from Sarah. The kids were not playing with her because she was not on the same verbal/social level...She was sitting alone at a table when I returned to her class. I told the director that I could not leave until I physically saw my daughter back in the 3's class. We walked Sarah back to the 3's and the tears were still flowing. It took a few days to see Sarah excited and happy to be in school. Sarah is super bright on an academic level (letters-knows uppercase and lowercase and knows the sounds they make, numbers-grasps the concepts of adding and taking away, shapes-knows all of her shapes, colors-knows them all). Verbally-she lags a little due to her cleft palate repair. She is doing well, but there is room for improvement in pronunciation. Socially- very very outgoing...but not accustomed to sharing, compromise etc. She will learn a ton from her social experiences in school. I am happy to report that she is LOVING school now. She hugs and kisses her teachers. She has 2 girls she loves to play with! She does not remember their names so she refers to them as 1 & 2. I crack up because this makes me think of Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr Seuss....lol.

Knife Cuts & Spider Bites!

2010-06-19T05:35:00.000-07:00

Wow...crazy times! I started my new job on June 1st (Love it!). During my 1st two weeks of work, Alexander cut his finger with a kitchen knife and passed out on our kitchen floor (while I was at work the boys were home with Jim). I got "the call" from my sister Kate (who live in Panama City, FL- far... far... away) while I was on my way home. She asked me if Alexander is doing better? I was completely confused???Then she proceeded to ask me if I knew that Alexander had severely cut his finger and had passed out on the kitchen floor (and hit his head on the way down). All of the sudden, I could not feel my legs...I was in shock and in panic mode! I called Jim immediately and asked for details. I told him to have Alexander at the front door so I could whip him off to the hospital. We spent 2 1/2 hours in the emergency room. He got closed up and wrapped and was sent on his way...no torn tendons-thank God!

Another adventure a few days later occurred when Sarah came running into the room crying "Mommy...the boat pinched me!" I asked her to show me what she was talking about. Her arm had a monster size welt- almost looked like a severe burn with discoloration ringed around the wound. I saw Alexander's motor boat on the floor. I inspected the boat....no hot batteries....no way the parts could have pinched her. I asked where the boat came from- evidently the boat came from the garage. I went to the area in the garage where the boat was found.....there were a few brown spiders in that area. Hmmmm. I went back into the house and noticed a brown spider on the floor next top the damn boat. I panicked! It looked like a brown recluse spider (which is poisonous). I killed the spider with my shoe and put it in a baggie. We whipped Sarah off to get medical treatment. She was bitten by a poisonous spider and still has discoloration today (looks like a black bruise). Thank God we had no necrosis of her bite area. No infection that we could see outwardly. She was on meds for a few days (like benadryl) to help her body fight off any poison.

What a crazy start! Since starting school, Sarah has had a sinus infection and minor bladder infection. She has complained that her left ear was hurting (not an infection- just pressure form her sinus infection). I have had her at the pediatrician 3 x in the last 1 1/2 weeks for this stuff. Hopefully, her immune system will adjust to all the new germs introduced in school. I am sure most kids go through this when they first attend daycare or school.

Fun at Home

2010-05-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hair Cuts!!!

2010-05-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

After school we went for hair cuts. I took the boys to the barber shop. All the way there the boys whined and complained about how short their hair was going to be. Waaahhhh! I told them the issue is not negotiable. After the boys were finished, the lady who cuts their hair asked about Sarah. I have been trimming her hair lately and she really needed a pro to even it out. So, Sarah jumped into the chair and smiled at herself in the mirror....I could not stop laughing. After a bit of complaining the boys changed their attitude. I think they all look so cute (but that is just a mother speaking here...lol).

Sarah's 1st Dental Appointment

2010-05-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

Sarah handled her 1st dental appointment like a champ! I am so proud of her! She shed a few tears during the cleaning and dry heaved during the bite wing x-ray. She had a full cleaning and complete set of x-rays.

Happy Meals and Pool Fun for All!

2010-05-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

After school Alex fussed over Sarah. He loved picking up Sarah from school today. I feel so Blessed that my kids love each other so much! Nick and Alex can not be without one another. They fight (don't get me wrong), but feel lost if they can not torture each other:) We asked Sarah where she wanted to go after school and she replied, "Happy Meal! and Clubhouse Pool!". Funny little girl....she cracks me up because she is so little and knows exactly what she wants. We did exactly that. I took them for a happy meal and we hung at the pool for 2 hours. She was wiped out and passed out early tonight.

Sarah's 1st Day of Pre-School

2010-05-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

Today was Sarah's 1st day at pre-school. I prepared her with a discussion about the boys school. I explained that we drop the boys to school and pick them up. I let her know this is what we will do when I take her to school. She was so confident and calm this morning. As we entered the school, I told her how proud I am to have a daughter going to school. We entered class and walked around the room.....checking it all out. We took her things to her cubby. I escorted her to the circular table. Other kids were having breakfast. She sat and looked at all the other kids. I started to walk away and blew her a kiss. I waved goodbye and told her I would be back later. She waved and blew a kiss to me and said, "bye-bye mommy". As I turned to look at her, I noticed her face had a nervous expression. I called 1/2 way through the day and the director reported that Sarah had no tears and that she was creating artwork in class. I can't believe my baby is growing up!

Congratulations Nicholas!

2010-04-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

Nicholas has been an honors student for the entire school year. His work has been exceptional. His work ethic is amazing. We applied to a top choice program middle school in our area. Only so many students are accepted each school year. I am proud to announce that Nicholas got accepted an will be going to one of the most amazing public schools in Palm Beach County! To recognize his efforts, I took Nicholas, Alexander, and Sarah bowling yesterday. It was Sarah's 1st attempt at bowling. We had lots of laughs. After bowing, we went for smoothies. Nicholas has come such a long way academically. He arrived in the USA when he was 4. He was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. We had him tutored 3x a week for several years. We worked with him at home and always gave him full support (including my parents who have invested their encouragement and tutoring). He spoke no English when he arrived and had so much to learn to catch up. Now, he is a top student with so much promise for the future. Nicholas is an inspiration....he is truly shows us that hard work pays off.

Afternoon at the Nature Preserve

2010-04-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the World Jackson Arthur Matthews!!!

2010-04-07T05:11:00.000-07:00

My sister Katie gave birth to her first baby on April 5th! She had a little boy weighing 7.5 lbs. My family is overjoyed and excited for Katie and Cameron. My Mom and Dad will travel to Panama City Beach on Friday to help out and meet their new grandson. Sarah can't stop looking at the framed picture in my kitchen....she keeps telling me, "Mom...baby out! All done! Baby Jackson...awww!"

Cameron and Katie will be wonderful parents. They are both so smart and loving. We will be going to Panama City Beach to see Katie sometime in June -once school is over. The boys are so sweet-they wanted to jump into the car immediately and go as soon as possible. Hopefully, I will be able to see and hear Jackson via skype. He is such a beautiful baby! I am in love with him already.....

Happy Easter! (Easter Morning Easter Egg Hunt)

2010-04-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! (The Night Before)

2010-04-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Spring Break- Time at Home

2010-04-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

Random Pictures of my Time in Vietnam (2008)

2010-03-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

Sarah has been our daughter for 2 Years as of March 24!

2010-03-28T15:39:00.001-07:00

Chubby Legs!

Nick, Alex, Sarah & I by the pool

Grandma & Sarah on 1st night back from Vietnam

Alex, Sarah & Nick on first night home

Sarah while in Hanoi....always with a bottle:)

Sarah & I at breakfast while in Hanoi

I love her expressive eyes!

Such big dimples! She has them on both sides...

Sarah at the Zoo in HCMC

Floor play in our suite while in HCMC

After a bath...

Sweet Dreams.....Angel

More floor play in HCMC

Before bed (HCMC)

Sarah & I in a seaside restaurant in Vung Tau
She is sleeping so peacefully amongst all the action.

Feeding Sarah at the orphanage...on the day I first held her.

Sarah and her nanny

I am amazed as I glimpse back at photos of my time in Vietnam with Sarah. I clearly remember the first time I saw Sarah as if it were yesterday. I was in awe with her beauty and could not believe how small she was...I remember her expression of curiosity and the look of intelligence in her eyes. I was so fortunate to have traveled with three of the greatest families. We all adopted our children from the same orphanage in Vung Tau. I feel Blessed that we have kept our friendship since we have returned home. We share family experiences and pictures of our children. We will always have the bond of sharing one of the most important days of our lives. Sarah is now 2 1/2 and is such an amazing little girl. Her brothers love her so much! She is the "princess" in our house. Her personality, intelligence, and gentle manner make her such a little lady:) We can not image life without her.

Princess Sarah

2010-03-27T15:24:00.001-07:00

Fun at Aunt Kerri's

2010-03-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

Karate Graduation and Exhibition

2010-03-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

Alexander was chosen by the karate teacher to break wood at the karate event tonight. He broke (3 stacked at a time) wood boards by punching and kicking. Each time he was successful on his first try. Nicholas and Alexander are purple belts. Nicholas is closer than Alexander in getting his blue belt. Sarah was cheering from the sidelines. She said, "Hey boys! Alex! Nick! Yea"! She is so proud of her brothers. It is so sweet to see the strong bond between my three children. This family was definitely "meant to be". Tonight I made a big dinner for the boys. We ate in our formal dining room to celebrate their success. Now, we are setting up for movies and popcorn.

Big Girl Room- Finally sleeping in her own room!

2010-03-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

Sarah is in her own bed for the first time since leaving her crib. Sarah has been out of her crib for a few months now....but has not slept in her bed. She insists on sleeping in my bed. There is one catch: Alex had to sleep with her. She nicknamed Alex "DD". She said, "DD sleep in Sarah's bed". So cute.....of course he gave in! He will be sleeping with her for a few weeks -until she is comfortable in her room. I am so happy to have my bed back!

My Little Angels!

2010-03-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

Such a Big Girl!

2010-03-22T18:59:00.000-07:00

Recent Pictures

2010-03-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

We have been very busy with school work lately. The boys are doing very well this year. I am so proud of their dedication and hard work. Sarah is 2 1/2 now. She is an amazing student. She brings her flash cards, books, and workbooks to me every morning. Her vocabulary is growing. She knows many of the letters of the alphabet. Number games are her favorite. I have been researching MBA programs. I applied to Florida Atlantic University and University of Florida. I have decided to stay with a business degree. I have also been putting effort into finding a job.

Nicholas received a letter from his Aunt in Kazakhstan. He is so happy to be in contact with his birth family. He hopes to grow a relationship with his Mother, Aunt, Cousins, and siblings (Brother & Sister) through letters and pictures. I am so happy he has the opportunity to communicate with his birth family. When he got the letter, his smile was beautiful!

Alexander just sent out a letter to his birth mother. We hope to hear back from her. If he does not hear back, I fear his heart will be broken. Alexander has 2 younger brothers. He asked for pictures of his brothers. He is anxious to see if they look like him. Connecting with the birth family plays such a huge role in a sense of identity. When he received a picture of his birth mother, he saw how much he looked like his mother. He put her picture in a frame in his room. I pray he has the opportunity to get to know his birth family.

The weather is finally getting warmer in Florida! We have plans to do some gardening this week. We will bike ride, barbecue, and enjoy the back yard this weekend. Stay tuned for more pictures.

My Sister's 3rd Ultrasound! So Exciting!

2010-01-27T21:34:00.000-08:00

I am so amazed with Katie's 3rd ultrasound. Jackson is sucking his thumb in this one....too cute! I can't believe Katie is a few months away from delivery. I can't wait to meet my nephew!

A Dose of Morning Cuteness!

2010-01-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

Disney Half Marathon

2010-01-10T07:28:00.001-08:00

I woke up at 2:45am and was on the Disney Bus that transports runners to the race by 3:15am. Once I got to the race destination, I began to feel the extreme cold. I ran inside a small tent and hung out with about 45 other people squeezed in like sardines. Our intent was to stay out of the wind....it was brutal. The race began at 6am. The race was kicked off with a display of fireworks. Mickey and Minnie were at the start line. Thousands of runners raced forward.

I was not prepared for the wet weather (normally I would have brought a rain poncho or garbage bag). I wore 2 shirts, a sweater, a hat, gloves and running pants. A few miles into the race, my sweater was so wet that I had to take it off and throw it to the side of the road. Next, my gloves were soaked so I had to throw those off to the side. So, in 20 degree weather with awful winds (which made it feel cooler), I was freezing my butt off.

I met lots of cool people and had a great run. I did have trouble with both of my knees during the last 3 miles of the race. I ran through the pain because if I stopped, everything would lock and get stiff. Once I passed the finish line, I tried to find my family. There were so many people...I did not have my cell phone.. I was looking for them for 45 minutes in the freezing cold. Finally, I went to the information tent and a kind worker let me use her cell phone to call Jim and the kids. As it turns out, Jim had left and was on the way back to the hotel. Sarah's lips were blue, her eyes glazed, and she was shivering from the cold. The boys wanted to stay even though they were freezing (only wearing sweaters-which was not enough). They were upset that they could not meet me after my finish. The lines for the bus were insane....Two kind guys let me stand in front of them so I was able to board the second bus back to hotel.

When I first saw the boys, they said, "Mom, we are so proud of you! Congratulations!" I just love that I am setting a good example of healthy living. I hope as they get older, they will remember that if you work hard at something, you can make it possible. After a hot cup of coffee and a steaming hot shower, I began to feel human again. Jim decided to take us all out for brunch at the Gaylord Palms Hotel. I love that location...the atrium, waterfalls and foliage are beautiful. In addition, the boys were in heaven as we ate on a pirate ship surrounded by water. They saw many species of fish, turtles, and alligators. All this was inside the atrium within the hotel. Lunch was great! After all the fun, we headed home to be with our dogs and spent the remainder of the day watching movies under the covers.

I am waiting for the pictures from Disney to become available. I plan on buying one or two and will post them to the blog. My family was not able to get pictures because access to the different race mile marks were almost impossible to get to (due to the crowds) and they were not at the finish line due to the cold.

Christmas Morning

2010-01-02T07:26:00.001-08:00

Who Needs TV Anyway???

2009-12-16T16:13:00.001-08:00

Thank You Baba!!!

2009-12-14T18:03:00.000-08:00

Thank You Baba!!! Thanks for the savings bonds! The kids had so much fun spending their gift certificates today! They had a ball shopping through the isles of Target. The boys were like two old ladies....looking at EVERY toy:) Nick chose Strike (a Wii fishing game). This was the #1 toy on his Christmas list. When he walked over to me with the game in his hand, he said that this is an amazing day! He could not wait to get home! Alex chose a race track with 2 remote control cars. He can make different designs with the track and had a ball playing for hours when we got home. Sarah chose the Little People Garage with 2 cars. She had so much fun...the boys played with her new toy...she felt like one of the "big" kids tonight. I chose 2 outfits for her...I can't believe she is already in a 3T.....just crazy how fast she is growing!

We played Christmas music in the living room and the tree was lit. I enjoyed a nice glass of egg nog spiked with a little Bacardi Rum and Nutmeg. The kids ate some Christmas cookies with milk before they went to bed. The last thing the boys asked before going to bed : "Mom, can we get up extra early before school so we can play?" I just love that they are excited and happy. It is safe to say that the boys will be calling their Baba tomorrow to say "Thanks".

Pictures with Santa: 2009 and 2008

2009-12-09T07:02:00.001-08:00

This Years Photo (Click to see- had to scan this image...did not get saved in normal size)

Last Years Photos

Jackson Arthur Matthews! This is my sister's 2nd ultrasound...just amazing!

2009-12-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas Decorating Part II

2009-11-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

The kids and I decorated the garden.....even Sarah helped out! We still need to add lights to the house. The boys and I will be hanging icicle lights across the front of the house. After we decorated the garden, the boys and I lit the fire pit in the backyard. We hung out under the stars and told stories. I am so grateful to be their mom. Sarah was so exhausted last night. She ended up falling asleep on the couch while watching Christmas specials on TV.

Early Christmas Decorating!

2009-11-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

The kids talked me into decorating early this year. Last weekend we started with the interior lights and tree. The night started off with Alex bumping his head on the stairs. Sarah wanted an ice pack too and kept saying "mama...me too!" She wants to do everything her brothers do- too cute! We still need to decorate the outside of our house:) Stay tuned for more pictures.

Sarah's Haircut

2009-11-13T06:10:00.000-08:00

Sarah had her 1st big girl hair cut the other day. She is a riot! She keeps passing by my mirrored closet doors and sneaks a peek at herself. I would venture to say that she is pleased with the outcome:)

2009-11-10T13:49:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

2009-11-10T13:29:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Snuggles....

2009-11-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

Fishing with the Boys

2009-11-07T06:40:00.000-08:00

It is a Boy!!!

2009-11-06T05:41:00.000-08:00

My youngest sister Katie is 12 years younger than me. When she was a baby, I was in awe with her beauty. I was my mom's right hand girl when Katie was born. She had colic and had the whole family up all night long....None of us seemed to care because we were so happy to have her in our life. Katie has always held a special place in my heart. Katie is now 16 weeks pregnant. She had her 2nd ultrasound the other day and emailed me a pic of her BOY!!! When we talked on the phone, her voice was so full of joy and excitement. I just love hearing her so happy! I can not wait to meet Jackson Arthur Matthews. With all of life's stresses, I feel so Blessed to have the joy of sharing in Katie and Cameron's happiness.

Stressful Week....

2009-11-04T18:31:00.001-08:00

This week has been beyond stressful. I filed for divorce last week and have been in discussions this week regarding asset division. Needless to say, this has been an emotional week. I could not find the energy to run, but that is exactly what I need. I plan on running tomorrow so I do not fall behind in my training schedule. I will be running 6 miles tomorrow morning. I can not think of a better way to start my day!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T18:24:00.001-07:00

Pumpkin Patch with Grandma & Grandpa

2009-10-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

We had an amazing time at the pumpkin patch! Sarah was screaming in a high pitch tone "Pumpkins!!!" My mother made an amazing dinner (as usual) and the kids fished on a lake near her home. We will carve the pumpkins this week...so stay tuned for some very original pictures. I actually bought a carving kit.

3 Mile Run...Almost turned tragedy!

2009-10-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

Tonight's run almost turned into a tragedy. I had my two sons riding their bikes while I had Sarah in the jogging stroller. We were at an intersection with traffic lights. The signal to walk was on...we looked both ways and all was clear...Alex went to pull out with me right behind him and a black car came speeding and missed him by a hair. I almost fainted. None of us could speak because we were in absolute shock. Thank GOD that He was with us tonight. I am so grateful that I have my kids and that they are safe and healthy. This experience really rocked my world. This particular intersection is an issue and I will be calling the Palm Beach Sheriffs office tomorrow. People are to stop at the red light and THEN make a right turn. Instead, they roll through the red light as if it was green. If a person was to walk or bike upon the walk signal, there is VERY high chance that a car will hit them. Furthermore, drivers speed like it is the Indie 500!
As for my running performance, I did well. The first part of my run was the strongest, but I kept a pretty even pace. I began with some ankle difficulty and some negative thinking (like I did not feel like running). I had to stretch my ankle and ended up running a little funny so that I would not feel pain. I had to overcome my negative thoughts. Once I did, I really enjoyed the run.

Nick and His Dogs

2009-10-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

Nick was snuggling with the dogs this morning....at one point Sarah was in the mix and lying on Sidon(on the left). I thought they all looked cute so I decided to take a picture. Look at the first picture and focus on Brandy (on the right). She is in total bitch mode and about to let Sidon know he is a little to close. She is older and has such a BIG attitude for such a small dog. Sidon weighs about 85 lbs and Brandy is about 25 lbs but she rules the roost. My first dog was a Dalmatian who was very high strung. She passed away from bladder cancer several years ago. I can't help but think what it might have been like to have her here now.

2009-10-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

Alexander & Sarah spent time building trains. I put these away when the boys got too big. Alex found them tucked away in the playroom. He decided that Sarah would love to build trains. It was too cute. They had such fun and it kept them occupied for a few hours.

How do you like Sarah's new look? She cracks me up! She plays dress up with pull up hats, my shoes, my handbags, and any jewelry she can get her hands on. She is ALL girl!

Alex and a Nurse Shark

2009-10-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

Another fisherman caught a nurse shark at the Lake Worth Pier today. Alex thought he was hot stuff holding the shark for a picture....Hopefully the fisherman threw the shark back into the water. The Lake Worth Pier has been the boys favorite spot for fishing. Jim puts these big hats on the kids. I can't help but crack up because they are too big for their heads:) I will be buying some SPF clothing and cool fishing hats for them at Christmastime...

Walt Disney World® Half Marathon

2009-10-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday, January 9, 2010

I am officially signed up for the Disney Half Marathon in January! Although the Half Marathon is full, I was able to sign up with a running group from Boca Raton at this site http://www.runningexpo.com/cart.html. Runner's Edge in Boca Raton also has coaches to help get you ready for the big day. In addition, there are long runs with a group on Saturday mornings.

I did the full Disney Marathon back in January 2002 before the boys were adopted. I am not crazy to think I could conquer the full now....Although, I would love to try the full next year. Hopefully my sister Kerri will be joining me. Rumor has it that Julie from http://thedeziels.blogspot.com/ may be doing the full that same weekend...hopefully! I would love for our kids to get together!

Feel free to follow along at: http://backntrack.blogspot.com/

2009-10-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

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Pumpkins, Hayrides, and More......

2009-10-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

I have never taken the boys on a hayride in Florida. Every Halloween season we head to a pumpkin patch...that's it! I am looking for a farm with Corn Mazes, Hayrides, Face Painting, Pumpkins...the total package. I came across this website:

http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/FLpumpkins.php

This source is a good start. I want Sarah's 1st memorable holiday season to be incredible. So far, we have enjoyed decorating. Next, we will be baking Halloween cookies and making pumpkin bread.

Birthday Party Fun!

2009-10-04T12:28:00.001-07:00

We had the pleasure of attending a neighbors birthday party. The party was held at Boomer's in Boca Raton. The kids had a blast...Sarah was in the mix with the "big kids". She felt like such a hot shot:) Sarah copies everything her brothers do these days...so she insisted on playing mini golf. For a 2 yr old, she did pretty well (with help). The boys had fun playing laser tag, bumper boats with water guns, video games, and go-carts.

Ocean Fishing

2009-10-03T04:53:00.000-07:00

This picture of the boys just arrived via BlackBerry...got to love technology!

Jim and the boys left early this morning to go salt water fishing. They are renting a boat for the day. Jim has been researching boats and is determined to purchase a boat after the first of the year. They LOVE salt water fishing and would be out every weekend if we had a boat. Jim needs to get a boating license. I am a nervous wreck today because Jim has NO experience driving a boat. I asked him to stay in the intracoastal and inlet for the 1st time out. I am sure he will be venturing out in the deep blue. As the boys left, I gave them a zillion hugs and kisses and reminded them to wear life vests. They both have their cell phones. I probably seem a tad overprotective....just know that my babies (even though they are now 10 & 8) are the most precious people in my life. The weather is beautiful- blue skies and not windy. I am sure they will have the time of their life! They were so excited this morning. They packed up a cooler filled with sandwiches , snacks, and drinks. All the equipment was packed in Jim's car last night. They were ready to set off for their adventure!

I gave them my old digital camera to take pics of the fish they catch. I am sure they will bring home any edible fish today. I think the hardest part of being a parent is letting go. I want to always be there to protect them. As they get older and become more independent, I just have to trust that what I have instilled in them will help them navigate through life.

Halloween Decorating

2009-10-02T05:41:00.000-07:00

These frames have sensors that play spooky voices when you pass.

Sarah loves these black cats.

Cornucopia

We started Halloween Decorating last night. Sarah is spooked by witches, skeletons. or ghouls. As we shopped for new decorations last night, she requested "bye-bye". The inside of our house can not have lots of spooky decor. Last year, the same decorations did not phase her...this year she lets me know "mean! mean!" ...and "out mom". We will work on decorating over the weekend. We are putting a grave yard in our front garden with skeletons reaching out from the ground....We also will be lighting up the border of the driveway with skull lights. Today, I am off to find less scary stuff for the inside of the house.

2009-09-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Snakes!!! Yikes!

2009-09-28T14:50:00.001-07:00

We started the evening off grilling fish and chicken...swinging on the swing set...playing with Sidon...UNTIL Nick spots a snake in our outdoor bar. I freaked out. I absolutely hate snakes. Jim was given the task of removing the snake from our property. I hope we do not find any others lingering around... I am thinking this is a corn snake...see this link http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/Elaphegguttata.htm What do you think?

Wine Tasting Party!

2009-09-26T06:45:00.000-07:00

Tonight we will have a wine tasting party. I am heading to Boys Farmers Market for some cheeses from around the world. Jim will pair the wine and cheese for a tasting tonight. I am looking forward to good company!'

We had a great time! The party started at 6:30 pm and lasted until 2:30 am! We have very cool neighbors. We had everyone bring their kids. The kids ran around in the backyard. They fished, played on the swing set, and played wii. Nick passed out on the family room couch. Alex fell asleep in the living room couch. Sarah was up until about 11pm....little party girl! We had quiche, Bree/raspberry filo rolls, fruit platter, cheese platter, shrimp, and finished with cheese cake. We tasted 15 different wines. We will have to do this again when the weather gets cooler. I can't wait for cool evenings....and sitting around the fire pit.

Back Yard Landscaping Project Stage I

2009-09-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

The last picture is before I broke ground.

This is Stage I of my backyard landscaping project. Removing the grass was the hardest part of the experience. My lower back is a wreck. I also had some difficulty carrying the trees, mulch, rock, and border from my car to the backyard. I certainly had an increased heart rate:) The boys helped me bag all the grass and weeds that were removed. We had about 20 bags. We had fun choosing where the plants were to be placed. Nick and Alex played a big part in the design of our little garden. While I was working, Sarah was in her little pool. The boys played on their swing set. It was funny, I think they were worried. The boys kept asking, "Are you OK?" I guess I looked pretty red in the face from all the heat. When I needed assistance, all I had to do was ask. I still need to add some black border around the rocks near the palm trees. I would have bought bigger palms, but I was on a tight budget for this little project.

Next weekend, we will attack the other side of the yard. I will use the same border. I will add a bougainvillea tree and some pretty flowers. I also would like to add some solar lighting to both gardens. I do not want to deal with underground wiring. After I am finished with the back yard, I will return to our front yard to freshen our landscaping. I want to add a medium sized fountain in the front (maybe after the 1st of the year). It is funny....Jim did not want to lift a finger to help. He did not think I could physically handle this project.....The boys and I even carried all the bags of grass to the curb this morning for trash pickup...Now, I will sit back and enjoy!

Swine Flu Vaccine Debate...

2009-09-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

Swine flu jab link to killer nerve disease: Leaked letter reveals concern of neurologists over 25 deaths in AmericaRead more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206807/Swine-flu-jab-link-killer-nerve-disease-Leaked-letter-reveals-concern-neurologists-25-deaths-America.html#ixzz0RlowJQSH

A friend sent this article to me today. What do you think? I am thinking twice about vaccinating the kids. I would love to hear some opinions on this issue.

Here is another article from Reuters.com she emailed today: http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSTRE50R6IK20090128

Will you be getting vaccinated?

2 Year Well Visit for Sarah

2009-09-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

Sarah had her 2 year well visit today. She had 2 immunizations, a nasal spray flu vaccine, and a blood test. Needless to say, she was very upset with the whole situation. She walked away with 3 pretty stickers and blew kisses to the office staff. I think she was just so happy to get out of there. After our appointment, I took her to Panera Bread for a little breakfast. The ladies there treated her to a complimentary giant chocolate chip cookie! She was too funny....showing everyone her band aid and informing them of her boo boo. She certainly worked it! As it turns out, Sarah is 95th percentile for height. She is 36 inches tall. Her weight is average. Her development is right on track. We are on a list for the H1N1 vaccination. I made sure to tell our Dr that all three kids will be vaccinated. Flu season is on it's way and the Swine Flu just freaks me out!

Roses & Lincoln Logs

2009-09-18T19:11:00.001-07:00

I received roses from our window treatment designer today! I LOVE red roses! My little urchins have been playing Lincoln Logs all night...here is something Alexander put together. Sarah kept running around and knocking everyone's masterpieces over...let the fun begin!

Living Room Drapes!!! Finally Here....And Dining Room Cushions are Done!

2009-09-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

FYI: Removing Grass is Backbreaking Work!

2009-09-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

I have been working on the landscaping in our back yard a little bit each day. Today...let's say... I overdid it! I am crippled tonight. Am I getting old? My back is a wreck. I worked for hours removing grass from a large area. I can not get over how anchored the grass is...and such a nightmare to remove. I started to think "Why did I start this???" I am half way through at this point. Once all grass is removed from the garden area, I will begin to place the palms, plants and boulders. I will finish with some mulch and river rocks. My goal is to be finished with this project by Sunday.

My other little project is painting the boys rooms. I painted Alexander's room a very very cool color...Orange. I am hanging a skateboard mural behind his bed. Once the entire room is done, I will post pics. I wish I knew how to hang crown molding. I will have to call in the experts for this one. I don't have the cutting machines necessary to do the job....otherwise, I might take a stab at it.

Nick's room will be painted dark blue. He already has a world map the size of the entire wall behind his bed. I just need to find some hanging antique airplanes. I think Pottery Barn sells those? I will start his room late next week. I will post before & after pics when I am all done.

Sarah Dancing at Downtown Disney!

2009-09-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

Somehow...this loaded sideways on YouTube. I can not get it to flip around....sorry.

Afraid of Shadows???

2009-09-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

Sarah is petrified of her own shadow! Every time we go somewhere with shiny floors, Sarah notices her shadow and freezes. She stands still and screams for me to pick her up. When I ask what she is afraid of, she points and says, "right there". I tried to show her that I have a shadow too and that we can make our shadows move when we move. She does not want to hear about it. In fact, when I pick her up and begin to walk she waves bye bye to where she saw her shadow last. I will try shadow puppets tomorrow. Any ideas on how to handle this one?

Another development is her fear of going to sleep in her room?? Why the change? She has always gone to sleep on her own. Now, she needs to be rocked to sleep or she will fall asleep on the couch downstairs. If I try to put her into her crib before she is asleep, she screams in terror. Maybe this is a developmental change? A stage??

Finally, Sarah has been such a chatterbox. She loves talking on the phone with Aunt Katie and my mom. Every time she talks to Katie now, she opens with "Katie...Baby" She knows Katie will have a baby because I have been talking about it with her. She repeats everything and is speaking in phrases. Her voice sounds soft and sweet...like a little angel!

Peace & Quiet!!!!

2009-09-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

My Big Girl!

2009-09-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Katie and Cameron are having a baby!!!! Yea!!!

2009-09-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for my sister and brother in law!!! They are expecting their first baby! Katie is a little over 2 months pregnant. Of course I have been shopping already....gender neutral presents:) This will be the first cousin on my side of the family.

Dealing with Racism at School

2009-09-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

School started a few weeks ago. I noticed Alexander's attitude towards school has changed. He is not as enthusiastic (He is a straight A student and usually loves school). He has had trouble sleeping. He has been moody. The other night he had a melt down. He did not want to go to school the next day. He asked me why I could not home school him. He asked if he could get a school transfer. I knew something was up....I started asking him questions about his change of heart. He finally broke down and told me that 6 kids have been targeting him for racial bullying. My heart sank....this is not our first experience dealing with racism in the South Florida public schools. Our schools are very diverse with a great mix of ethnic heritage. I am sick that his educational experience has been impacted by racism. Evidently, this has been going on since the start of school. He was embarrassed to say anything and has not told any teachers because he is afraid that the bullying will intensify. Alex did not come to me because he was afraid I would embarrass him by pulling him and the offenders into the principles office. Yesterday, I called the principles office. I reported what was happening. I was supposed to get a return call.....11:30 arrived (right before Alex's lunch) and I did not hear back from anyone. So, I hopped into the car with Sarah and had Alexander pulled from class. I did not want him to go through another day of torture. I voiced my disappointment in the offices lack of response. I made it clear that Alex will not be returning to school until this matter is handled effectively. Suddenly, we had the guidance counselor and vice principal on board. We filled out an incident report. Today, the vice principal will be at lunch and recess with Alex. Alex will be identifying the offenders. Justice will prevail. What shocks me is that diversity education does not exist in our schools. As our schools become more diverse, kids need to learn tolerance for each others differences. Why should Alex be victimized because of his Asian appearance?? I get furious just thinking about this! I hope all went well today...I will know in a hour or so how everything went- hopefully we have resolution today.

UPDATE
The school has taken great measures to help Alexander. The vice principal has been present (every day)during lunch and recess. The guidance counselor has launched a "NO BULLY" campaign with posters in hallways and a speech in every class. She had this planned before Alex's experience. However, this will help raise awareness amongst students. They will know what to do in a situation and what steps to take when bullied. The perpetrators parents will be notified. The situation is on record. The school has procedure in place in which the consequences for bullying are well defined (including suspension after a few offenses). I asked Alex how he feels about how it all was handled and he is happy. In fact, he is relieved that he will NOT be dealing with any more racist remarks from that group of brats. He has come home with a smile and seems to be getting more organized with his studies. Thanks for all the supportive comments.

Disney World!

2009-09-09T06:29:00.001-07:00

We met with Courtney and her mommy Dana yesterday. We also had the pleasure of meeting Courtney's grandparents and uncle. What a nice family! Sarah and Courtney were so cute. They gave each other a nice hug when they first met. So sweet! We enjoyed lots of rides. The boys wanted to go on Pirates of Caribbean. It is safe to say that this ride was not a big hit with the girls. Sarah & Courtney loved Small World. The Merry-Go-Round was a huge hit!

The night before we met up with our friends, I took the kids to the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. Sarah almost had a nervous breakdown when she saw the gorillas and monkeys in the trees. She was shaking in fear and buried her head in my chest. She kept pointing up without looking and repeated "Bye Bye". She wanted those monkeys out! We distracted her with crayons and a coloring book. After dinner Sarah entered a dance contest....yes, my 2 yr old! I will try to get a video up. She is such a good dancer. You will have to see it to believe it! When we returned to the hotel (Animal Kingdom Lodge), we went for a late evening swim. Once we returned to our room for the night, we ordered up ice cream and hot cocoa! For a 2 day trip, we had a great time!

We met Courtney and her Mommy Dana at Disney!

Swing Set Pics

2009-09-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

Some Birthday Pics..opening presents with Grandma

2009-09-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

Backyard Landscaping Project

2009-09-01T06:23:00.000-07:00

Our side yard before..

Our other side yard...

We can not do a water feature. I don't want to maintain it...But, I like the shape of this design and love the color. A pagoda or arbor may be an option?

Again...love the color and shape. I will be checking into the price of stone borders. A mix of different rock (river, lava) and mulch will make a difference.

I might add 1-2 trees with color. I am not sure what kind yet. I also like the round shape of this one. We will not have that much space once the swing set is installed....

Finally, this is most like our yard. I will go down the fenced side yard. Also notice the landscaping at the patio border...We need to add some of this too. It is a small touch and really makes a difference.

The boys and I will begin the landscaping project in our backyard. The swing set gets installed on Wednesday. Once that is in place, we can plan the perimeter space. I have been surfing the web for various ideas and picked a few inspiration pics. The boys and I will head to the nursery and hand pick everything. This will take a few weekends to complete. They love landscaping and are a huge help!

Happy 2nd Birthday Sarah!

2009-08-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

Sarah will turn 2 tomorrow! I can't believe it! It seems like yesterday that I was in Vietnam meeting her for the 1st time. I bought her a swing set to celebrate her 2nd birthday.... the boys are so excited. I am surprised as they are turning 11 and 9 in December. They have big plans for the clubhouse and fort above. I made sure to get a toddler swing, a periscope, a captains wheel, and binoculars. I have made arrangements for delivery tomorrow. I am sure this will take several hours to assemble. Jim has no clue about assembly, so I hired someone to assemble this bundle of fun. In the coming weeks, I will be planning a Tea Party at a little tea house in West Palm Beach where Sarah can celebrate with a few friends. On Labor Day, we will be heading to Disney for 2 days to meet with Courtney and her mommy Dana (another Vietnam family). I can't wait to see Sarah's reaction to the characters. She was only 1 years old at her last visit to Disney. Now, she is all about the princesses! The boys are looking forward to a few days of fun.

Student of the Month!

2009-08-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of Nicholas! He was recognized as Student of the Month this week. Nick has worked very hard in karate class. Moreover, he has really excelled in

changing his behavior at home. Nicholas was diagnosed as having Reactive Attachment Disorder (a result of 4 years in an orphanage) , Oppositional Defiance Disorder, and ADHD. He is an amazing example of resilience and strength. He has experienced so much in his young life. I am so proud of all his hard work. I am so proud to be his mom:)

Princess in the Making

2009-08-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

Sarah picked out her princess Halloween costume today. She chose Mulan. Her shoes light up when she walks. She has worn her dress all day....too cute!

Someone Loves Elmo!

2009-08-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

Graduation!!! I am Done!

2009-08-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

I am finally finished! Whew....I will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management /summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. I am so ready for a break from studying!

My next venture will be an MBA or Nursing School. I will not begin until January 2010. My main focus is getting a job at this point. Sarah starts nursery school in September. I hope to work in the pharmaceutical industry. Time to celebrate with the family!

Working on the Dining Room....

2009-08-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

These are the ivory stained dining room cushions! Yuck!

Here is the new dining room chair fabric...Love It!

This centerpiece is way to big and does not work here.

This is the new dining room carpet that just arrived today.

Does anyone know where I could buy (Internet) a beautiful dining room centerpiece? I have been searching and can not find anything great. I am thinking of doing a color on the walls with molding. Any ideas on color?

Alex earned his Yellow Belt!

2009-08-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

After a summer of a broken ankle, 2 casts, and a brace (which he still wears), Alex earned his yellow belt! We celebrated with my parents at dinner last night.

A Dose of Morning Cuteness!

2009-08-19T05:37:00.001-07:00

A New Look for the Family Room

2009-08-19T05:35:00.001-07:00

A New Look for the Living Room

2009-08-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

This is what I want to do to our fireplace in the living room.

I will be putting drapes on these sliders...The ceiling is 21 feet high. Can't wait until the drapes are done (October)

Here is our unfinished fireplace now...

These are the fabrics for the living room sliders. The floral will be along the top and the stripe will be the drapes that fall down to the floor on both sides.