Blogger Buddy Award!!

I was given the Blogger Buddy Award by Cherrie at I'm a Hot Mom. I really am thrilled to receive this award! Thank you so much for thinking of me Cherrie and for passing this award on to me.

I am passing this on to some of my favorite blogger buddies. These bloggers always bring a smile to my face when I see a comment from them and I look forward to hearing from them often!

Ellie from Tia Time and Shine. Ellie is an amazing photographer and has super adorable kids including Tia. Tia was adopted using the same agency as we used to adopt Rylee and I always look forward to her posts and comments!

Amy from China Caboose who also adopted through our same agency. Amy was one of the first regular commenter's on my blog and she always makes me smile. Sometimes she makes me laugh, like recently when she said maybe I should wire my dogs mouth shut, so funny - and true!

Rebel from Simply Family who (yep, you guessed it) adopted a little cutie from China also using our same agency. Rebel is a busy, busy Mom with a great sense of humor and I am so looking forward to meeting her in person this summer! I am really hoping that some of her awesome decorating skills will rub off on me too!

I am supposed to pass this to three of my blogging friends, but I have a couple more that I want to include.

Denise from What's Next is another CHI adoptive family. She is Mom to grown kids, Adoptive Mom and Foster Mom. I truly admire Denise for the love she pours in to all of her kids and especially her foster kids. She truly seeks to do what is best for them and to follow God's will, above her own.

Julie from mom by faith (not by sight). Julie is one of my newest blog friends and I really think we would totally hit it off IRL. If we get up the courage and decide that torture is the way to go we might provide support to each other for the 30 day dead also known as Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred.

There are more, but I am going to stop here. Thank you my bloggy friends for always bringing a smile to my face and comments to my blog :) You are all awesome and totally deserving of this blogging buddy award!

Reflection...

Just a couple more reflection shots that I wanted to share...

Laughter Lives Tuesday!

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

Imagine the excitement and pride that I felt as I was going through Rylee's school papers and discovered that I have a budding meteorologist on my hands!

I am wondering how you all "weathered" the storm?

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I have a friend that gave Rylee a set of fake teeth. Rylee can't understand why I tell her that I just can't take her seriously when she is wearing the teeth.

She looks up at me with a super straight face and asks "But why Mama?"

iHeartFaces - Kids Entry - Week 16

"Reflection"

Here are the rules for this week: "To be considered as a winner for this week's challenge, your photo needs to have a reflection of a face in it (Kids - a child's face; Adults - an adult's face.) Be creative ~ the reflection can be in a mirror, glass, water....or any other way you can think of to show a reflection of the beautiful face you photograph!"

We actually had fun trying to get a good shot for this week. We headed outside and looked for things that we could see reflections in. We tried mirrors, windows, doors and various parts of my car. Here is the shot that I picked to enter:

To join in this weeks challenge click here.

Dogs Who Eat Frogs

Yeah, that would be him:

As opposed to dogs who eat acorns!

Oh Happy Day!!!

Martha was having a 200th post giveaway on her blog: A Sense of Humor is Essential and I won!!! Thank you Martha!!!

The package arrived today, when no one was home but me! This never happens, but both girls wanted to go to work with their Daddy today. I had some work to finish up and blog catch up to do, house cleaning etc... when the doorbell rang.

This smells heavenly - and no one knows it's here but me :) I could savor this, one delicious piece at a time............ so tempting :)

We could keep this just between us right?

Fashion Challenge Friday

This weeks self designed outfit was actually pretty good. She found a "Daddy's Girl" pink and black dress and paired it with footless pink tights and off she went to spend a few hours with Daddy at work.



When she came home she added the red tutu. I'm thinking my husband was pretty relieved that she did not have this on before they left the house in the morning!



And she - well she thought she was hot stuff with the addition of the tutu - you can tell by the very satisfied look on her face!


Show us your child's creative side - head over to Do They Have Salsa in China and link up!

Laughter Lives Tuesday!

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.



Conversations With Rylee - Confusion Rules!


Many times my conversations with Rylee leave me a little bit confused. For example the other day she came home from school with this story:

Rylee comes running off the bus "MOM, I have to tell you something!"

I'm thinking oh no - she has a note from school (we have went the longest amount of time yet with no school "issues"). Even Hanna thought the same thing "What, did you pull your card today Rylee?"

Rylee frowns at Hanna "NO, I not pull card! Collin grab my arm at school Mom!" and she demonstrates on my forearm, how he wrapped his hands around her arm and squeezed.

"So, I run Mama, really fast like this (pumps arms up and down quickly) and then know what happens? Know what happens next Mom?"

I say "No I don't, what happened next Rylee?"

She said "Look, LOOK Mama - now I have monkey skin - wanna see? Do you see that monkey skin Mama?" She sticks her hands palms up so I can see them.

I look closley and feel her hands, but they are perfectly the same as when she left that morning, which I tell her.

"NO Mama, (looking annoyed with me) this is monkey skin and you know what else? Now I have STINKS feet too - wanna see?" As she whips off her shoes and shows me her feet...

Honestly, I have no idea what we are talking about so I ask her if this is something Collin told her. Again I get that disgusted look - "Just changa mind Mama - you don't know I talkin bout!" She shakes her head at me and walks away and she's right I DON'T know what she talkin bout!!!

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A few weeks ago when my Mom was here visiting, she told the kids that she could do something really cool - she can stand on one finger!!!

They look at her to see if she was serious and then ooh'd and aaah'd over that information and decided that if grandma could do it, so can they!

Hanna went first:

A decent attempt really, but falling short none the less.

Rylee does even better, making it to one hand. But still, it's not exactly standing on one finger!

So Grandma walks over and very dramatically, stands on one finger:

They stare at her for a minute and then they both crack up laughing.

Now they keep trying to play the joke on me. First of all - this woman raised me, I would never fall for this (anymore). Second - I WAS THERE! Really, my memory is still intact girls!!!

iheartfaces - Adult Entry - Week 15

This week's challenge at iheartfaces is "self-portrait" and I will admit that I was pretty much sure I would be skipping this week, especially since I don't have photo shop. To make it even more interesting you must be holding the camera when you take the photo - no tripod even. This means extreme close up!

Well, I decided if I ever want to learn how to be a "real" photographer, I need to be able to get in front of the camera myself. So after only about three thousand several tries, I came up with one that I could live with posting.

So, here it is - my best try (wrinkles and all)! Oh, and I am asking for Photo Shop or PS Elements for Mothers Day and if that doesn't work, then my birthday. (This is totally a hint for my husband!)

So come on, be brave and join in the photo challenge. Click here or on the iheartfaces button above, to get to the iheartfaces site and join in or see the beautiful entries!

Our Easter in Photos

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Just wanted to share a few pictures of our Easter day. See the tree picture? This is our neighbors tree that fell over (thank goodness it did not fall towards us because it would have went right over the top of our house!). It went over another neighbors pool and landed just inches from their house. We have had so much rain this year that the ground is extremely soft and trees are starting to fall over - yikes!!!

Also, we had this very large green visitor to our house - does anyone know what this is? The girls were fascinated and a little scared :)

8 Things

I've been tagged by Patty over at Little Miss Sunshine and though it has taken me a while to respond I appreciate that you thought of me :)

So here we go:

8 Things I am looking forward to...

The day I finally finish decorating my house.
Going to Michigan this summer to see family and friends.
The economy picking back up.
Getting to know my blogging friends better.
My special day just with Hanna (today)
The next time Rylee tells me "You is my best Mama, Mommy!"
Getting caught up at work (it's a dream, but maybe someday)
Improving my photography skills.

8 Things I did yesterday...

Worked
Blogged
Highlighted Hanna's hair (much to my husbands horror - she is ONLY 9!!)
Cleaned the playroom with the girls
Laundry
Cooked dinner
Played freeze dance
Video taped the girls being silly

8 Things I wish I could do...

Take amazing photos
Pay off all our debt
Sing well
Add 5 hours to the day (2 for sleeping, 2 for playing with the kids and 1 for blogging)
Make the neighbors dog stop barking
Live on a ranch
Take the kids to Disney
I would put adopt another child - but my hubby would pass out, seriously!

8 Shows I watch...

Survivor
Amazing Race
Top Chef
House Hunters
Celebrity Apprentice
America's Next Top Model
Biggest Loser
Project Runway

8 People I tag...

Hmmmm... I think I will tag you! I mean any of you that would like to join in. Let me know if you do and I will feature your blog here :)

Now the biggest thing I am looking forward to right now is my morning coffee - yep, I did this post without having my morning cup of tasty goodness. Pretty impressive huh?

Fashion Challenge Friday

I love this weekly fashion challenge that is held over at Do They Have Salsa in China. Why don't you click on over there and join in the fun?





This time Rylee picked her absolute most favorite dress, which now is really closer to a shirt since she is growing so fast! She paired it with her favorite tights and some great (but not matching) accessories. She LOVES doing this and gets so excited when I tell her that she gets to pick her own outfit!

And I took her out in public... but I did make her put on more appropriate park/play shoes.

To see the other creative outfits, click here.

It's iHeartFaces - Week 14 "Easter/Spring"

This week over at iHeartFaces - Week 14 - Kids Theme is "Easter/Spring". Click here to join in the fun and to check out all the amazing entries!

I'm going with spring this week and entering this photo of Hanna that I took today, while we were out at the park. I can't wait to check out all the great Easter and spring photos this week!

Happy Easter!

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)

Rylee's Prayer tonight:

"You are beautiful,

You are in my heart,

I love you"

Fashion Challenge Friday - I can't resist!

Join in the Friday fun with Fashion Challenge Friday for your little one! The only rules are that you have to let your child pick out their own outfit!

Check out Do They Have Salsa in China? for all the cute entries!

Rylee recently got a new tutu and she is dying to wear it everyday! When I told her she could pick her own outfit, I should have known what she was going to do!

The problem with the outfit was not necessarily the tennis shoes but more... the backside:

Pants and tutu's are a difficult combination to pull off!

Laughter Lives Tuesday! & Serious Life Magazine!

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.


Conversations with Rylee:

I was running behind on making dinner so I threw some hot dogs in the microwave and french fries in the oven. It's all done just in time to sit down to family dinner.

Rylee: "I can't eat dis Mama - it's too fat!" She puts her hot dog back down on her plate.

Me: "What do you mean it's too fat?"

Rylee: "You know Mama, IT'S TOO FAT!" (she always raises her voice when I ask for clarification, as if I can't hear her!) "It's FAT like a horse leg, dis is like a horse leg, I'm NOT gonna eat it!"



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The girls are having breakfast before school and they are both chatting away when I hear Rylee say:


"I can't stand you Hanna"


I say "Rylee, you don't ever tell someone that you can't stand them! That is not nice!!! It's the same as saying to someone I don't like you. Wouldn't you feel so sad if someone said that to you?"

She nods her head and has tears starting to well up in her eyes. She said "But Mama, I don't know what she saying..."

I look closely at her "were you trying to tell Hanna that you can't understand her?"

She says "Yeah Mama, you don't know dis what I say Mama?"

Me: "No Rylee I'm sorry, I sure didn't understand that's what you were trying to say!"



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I was in my bathroom one morning getting ready and Rylee comes running in. She stands in the doorway with her hands clasped under her chin and she is swaying back in forth. In a dreamy voice she tells me:


"I wonder who I es gonna marry Mama, I wanna know who is dis boy that I gonna marry AND KISSSSSSSSSSSSS!" Giggles burst forth from her as she tells me ,"When I get marry en I can KISS my busband MAMA and you hafta say YES!!"



She runs off leaving me with my mouth hanging open and speechless...



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It's time for the new issue of Serious.Life Magazine! They new issue is out today, and I am in their Featured Blog Directory. It’s a very high quality magazine that includes a lot of great content from bloggers you probably already know and appreciate, as well as great features, photos and other content.

If you don't already know the magazine is owned and published by a family who have seven kids, three adopted and one who has Leukemia (http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/). The magazine gives away a bunch of ads to charities and ministries. Besides great articles on interesting people, there is a lot about family, adoption, personal finance, spiritual life, humor… all sorts of “life” topics.

As always the subscription is FREE, so take a minute to check it out and sign up to get future issues. http://www.seriouslifemagazine.com/ I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!

iheartfaces - kids entry - week 13

The theme at iHeartFaces is "My friend and I". This week I'm entering a picture of Hanna with her BFF (and next door neighbor at the time) Sammie. We miss Sammie since we moved to Alabama, but we still get to keep in touch.

I love this photo because it captures the spirit of their friendship.

Join in the fun or click here to view all the great entries for this week!

It is Fashion Challenge Friday!

I love this new feature being held over at Do They Have Salsa in China. Why don't you click on over there and join in the fun?


I think this may just be a bit more of a challenge for me than it is for Rylee though. I let her choose her outfits two days this week. My husband raised an eyebrow a couple of times, but has not said anything yet. I think he's assuming I've just lost control...


But there's a difference between losing control and giving up control...

Right??


So the first day I tell Rylee she can go pick her outfit. She looks at me for a minutes and says "by myself?" I nodded to her, she looked a little doubtful but went upstairs by herself.


She came down the stairs in a one piece leotard with attached skirt. Okay I'm safe because it is too cold for this one! So I tell her that it's cold and we are going outside, she needs to pick something warmer. "Okay Mama!!!" She takes off running, smiling and singing...

Enter ensemble #1:


Okay, not what I would pick but I can live with this one. I just hope she leaves a little extra time for the bathroom, since she still has that one piece leotard on under all that...


The next day she asks me "Mama, I can wear what I want to do, right Mama?"


I said "Do you mean that you would like to pick out your outfit today?"


She grins and nods!


"Okay, sure you can pick your outfit today!" She squeals and runs away yelling "I can do whatever I wanna do cuz I'm bigger den Hanna now!"


I tell her, "We are only talking clothing here Rylee" She yells back "I KNOW DAT MAMA!!!"


So here we have a yellow sundress, with pink flowered t-shirt (dis match Mama cuz dey both have da flowers - see?), brown leggings, orange socks (to match the yellow dress), turquiose scarf for "cozyness" and green hair accessory and bracelets to tie it all together. (???)