This past weekend was full of Taiwan Connections! On Sunday, we enjoyed a day with the B Family, and we Mamas went mamarazzi.
I met Staci, Mama to the B Clan, via blogging, of course! We figured out we were in close proximity to one another when I posted about a local venue. We've become friends ever since! Natalie, the big sister of the B Clan was exposed to Peyton to prepare for her little brother's arrival. That would be Jake. Jake and Peyton are both in kindergarten now! Shortly after Addi was born, the B Clan received their referral for Jayden!!! Addi and Baby J are just weeks apart in age. We're growing our families in tandem!!!
Staci is a wonderful Mom, so sweet, so patient, so thoughtful, so beautiful. While Baby J is at SLC, there is a unique connection our children Jake and Gracyn share. Both arrived home as toddlers, both were cared for Foster Families, both resided in Christian homes and attended church in Taiwan, and both were residing in Southern Taiwan, in the Ping Tung area. When these two first met, they weren't quite sure about each other. Now look! They're quite smitten, and as Staci commented, they look like a little Mr. and Mrs.!!! Notice who's taking the lead and making the decisions on the direction!!! LOL
Staci - praying for that "final decree" call to come soon!!! Can't wait to see all 6 or 7 kiddos on that bridge next year!!! That is, if we can contain our littlest littles, and Morgan comes home too. And thanks for the posh hand-me-downs for the girls! Addi will be wearin' that two-piece any day now! Can't wait to get together again!
10.05.2010
10.04.2010
Princess Reunion and Our Connection
Once upon a time there three blogging Mamas. They met because all of their girls were perfect little princesses waiting in Taiwan at the same time. We waited, and we waited, and had dreams of our girls playing at Disneyland together. Princess Jaden came home first, then a few long months later, Princess Gracyn and Princess Lucy came home just a few days apart. In fact Gracyn was flying home, as Lucy was about to fly into her Daddy's arms for the very first time. (Lucy had already met her Mommy for a visit months before. For those of you survived "Taiwan Lucy" with us, you'll tear up thinking of the footage Jackie posted when she had to say goodbye.)
All of the Taiwanrascals Princesses are home, and have been home for over two years now. We've been so blessed to keep in touch over the past two years. Looking for a way to stay connected??? Be sure to stay tuned for Taiwan ROCks and the first-ever Reunion in 2011!!
Here are our girls today. . .
Princess Jaden loves the camera, can you tell?
What a doll!
Lucy loves to play!! Can you tell?
Super coordinated and strong!!!
Look at this one!
And this one. . .
And then there's my little. . .My little wanted to do the stunts above, but we're still working on the upper body strength!
Really? Were there 11 littles all in one house??? "My Mona's" a brave woman! (This is Lucy's name for Ramona. Cute 'aint it?)
Yep. . .10 kiddos and Addi. . .
Whatcha think of my new shoes? Do you think they have a slimming effect on my legs?!
Mommy says my legs are yumi-licious! What does that mean? This bread is yummy, that I'm sure of.
Bread lasts a really long time when you're given the end of the loaf and it's hard. Great for my budding teeth, huh?
Uncle Mike was pushing me on the swing AND making me laugh!!
Do I hear "Most Attentive Daddy Award"? (Gracyn took to Uncle Mike the first time they met too. He sure has a way with the cutie patooties! Jaden's a lucky girl.)
Ramona tried, but Addi would only to go to Uncle Mike. Shhh, don't worry Auntie Mona, it's a "baldie" thang. . .You have much, too much hair and you'd definitely show me up in a photo op!
What's this guy smilin' about? He has no more hair than I do, and I have the hair pretty!!! (Thanks to Auntie E)
So if you're looking closely at the photos, I'm sure your wondering who the other beautiful kiddos are in the group shot. They would be Auntie E's kiddos!
Miss E, our Kaz Princess. . .
Master N, our Japan Prince. . .
Miss M, our Japan Princess. . .
Who is so beautiful, but didn't want her photo taken.
And this is is Auntie E! Well, it's actually Miss K waiting in Auntie E's tummy.
And, we will proudly claim 8 of the 11crazy kids pictured above. . .
The GIRL POWER picture. . .I love Jackie's terminology!
Traveling back in time. . .over two years ago, we were waiting for our girls, ever so patiently. NOT. We were miserable. Or at least Jackie and I were. Jackie's plan was very clear. Since Ramona traveled to bring Jaden home first, Ramona was supposed to "grab and run". . .Seemed like a good idea back then. Link to original post HERE.
But looking at 'em now, and picturing Ramonasmuggling juggling these three sillies through customs is a scary thing.
Seeing these girls grow up together, and keeping them connected as the journey continues at home however, is a BEAUTIFUL THING. A big thanks to the beautiful Mama's of these girlies acting all crazy with my girlfriend. We may have started out as bloggy pals, or strangers sitting next to one another in those meetings "while you wait," but regardless of how we met, or how we stayed connected through the wait, through the tears, through the anger, and the challenges, I don't know what my journey would have been like without them. They were and are my sanity check. They are not only beautiful, and witty, and brutally honest. . .they are my friends.
I haven't spent this much time on a blog post in months! This goes to show how much I value these women, our connection. Love you guys! Thanks for a wonderful time.
All of the Taiwan
Here are our girls today. . .
Princess Jaden loves the camera, can you tell?
What a doll!
Lucy loves to play!! Can you tell?
Super coordinated and strong!!!
Look at this one!
And this one. . .
And then there's my little. . .My little wanted to do the stunts above, but we're still working on the upper body strength!
Really? Were there 11 littles all in one house??? "My Mona's" a brave woman! (This is Lucy's name for Ramona. Cute 'aint it?)
Yep. . .10 kiddos and Addi. . .
Whatcha think of my new shoes? Do you think they have a slimming effect on my legs?!
Mommy says my legs are yumi-licious! What does that mean? This bread is yummy, that I'm sure of.
Bread lasts a really long time when you're given the end of the loaf and it's hard. Great for my budding teeth, huh?
Uncle Mike was pushing me on the swing AND making me laugh!!
Do I hear "Most Attentive Daddy Award"? (Gracyn took to Uncle Mike the first time they met too. He sure has a way with the cutie patooties! Jaden's a lucky girl.)
Ramona tried, but Addi would only to go to Uncle Mike. Shhh, don't worry Auntie Mona, it's a "baldie" thang. . .You have much, too much hair and you'd definitely show me up in a photo op!
What's this guy smilin' about? He has no more hair than I do, and I have the hair pretty!!! (Thanks to Auntie E)
So if you're looking closely at the photos, I'm sure your wondering who the other beautiful kiddos are in the group shot. They would be Auntie E's kiddos!
Miss E, our Kaz Princess. . .
Master N, our Japan Prince. . .
Miss M, our Japan Princess. . .
Who is so beautiful, but didn't want her photo taken.
And this is is Auntie E! Well, it's actually Miss K waiting in Auntie E's tummy.
And, we will proudly claim 8 of the 11
The GIRL POWER picture. . .I love Jackie's terminology!
Traveling back in time. . .over two years ago, we were waiting for our girls, ever so patiently. NOT. We were miserable. Or at least Jackie and I were. Jackie's plan was very clear. Since Ramona traveled to bring Jaden home first, Ramona was supposed to "grab and run". . .Seemed like a good idea back then. Link to original post HERE.
But looking at 'em now, and picturing Ramona
Seeing these girls grow up together, and keeping them connected as the journey continues at home however, is a BEAUTIFUL THING. A big thanks to the beautiful Mama's of these girlies acting all crazy with my girlfriend. We may have started out as bloggy pals, or strangers sitting next to one another in those meetings "while you wait," but regardless of how we met, or how we stayed connected through the wait, through the tears, through the anger, and the challenges, I don't know what my journey would have been like without them. They were and are my sanity check. They are not only beautiful, and witty, and brutally honest. . .they are my friends.
I haven't spent this much time on a blog post in months! This goes to show how much I value these women, our connection. Love you guys! Thanks for a wonderful time.
9.24.2010
Parosol Princess Party - August 2010
Well, the time has come. . .my posts are so far behind, it would be a bloggy-crime to "back date" posts, so I'll just have to date the title, so I know, when these things really happened, and well, the reasons behind why they aren't getting posted ON time. . .and btw, I can't find her cake pictures from her "real birthday". . .I may have to do to three posts to get this covered, huh????
Gracyn's pre-school class came over for a swim party and of course it was the coldest day ever. . .
Decorations and Favors (My favorite part)
The cake!!! So fun to decorate this one! (No, I didn't make it, just my design and I added the "toppers")
A girl after her mommy's own heart. . .
I think she enjoyed the sand more than the water. This is her old sand table, but we did get her a new CRAB sand box (see it in the backround!)
Make a Wish! She's too cute trying to "blow out candles" with no front teeth!
My favorite shots from Gracyn's Birthday Shoot. . .can't believe she's four.
My "new favorite shot" from this set. I totally overlooked this one until now and I love it.
1 of the THREE reasons why I'm behind. . .no excuses, of course.
One of her favorite gifts and one that she and her baby sister fought over!
And a different version of my favorite photo of her the day of her party. . .
My girlfriend actually enjoyed being the center of attention this year. I set up her cake "sideways" so she wouldn't feel the pressure of several sets of eyes upon her, but no need. . .she was happy to be sung too, didn't try to grab my hand, she just gave it her best shot, and I think her friends guaranteed her wish to come true by helping out a bit with the lung power!
Now, you all understand why I'm behind on blogging. How do I explain to the parents of her classmates that blogging came before writing Thank You Notes? Ugggghhhh, major faux pas. . .so not how I was raised.
Gracyn's pre-school class came over for a swim party and of course it was the coldest day ever. . .
Decorations and Favors (My favorite part)
The cake!!! So fun to decorate this one! (No, I didn't make it, just my design and I added the "toppers")
A girl after her mommy's own heart. . .
I think she enjoyed the sand more than the water. This is her old sand table, but we did get her a new CRAB sand box (see it in the backround!)
Make a Wish! She's too cute trying to "blow out candles" with no front teeth!
My favorite shots from Gracyn's Birthday Shoot. . .can't believe she's four.
My "new favorite shot" from this set. I totally overlooked this one until now and I love it.
1 of the THREE reasons why I'm behind. . .no excuses, of course.
One of her favorite gifts and one that she and her baby sister fought over!
And a different version of my favorite photo of her the day of her party. . .
My girlfriend actually enjoyed being the center of attention this year. I set up her cake "sideways" so she wouldn't feel the pressure of several sets of eyes upon her, but no need. . .she was happy to be sung too, didn't try to grab my hand, she just gave it her best shot, and I think her friends guaranteed her wish to come true by helping out a bit with the lung power!
Now, you all understand why I'm behind on blogging. How do I explain to the parents of her classmates that blogging came before writing Thank You Notes? Ugggghhhh, major faux pas. . .so not how I was raised.
9.21.2010
Seven Years and . . .
Three Kiddos Later. . .
And we're still going strong. Happy Anniversary D!
I enjoyed sharing that pizookie with you - NOT. Get your own next time, k? And seriously, could you not eat so much or so fast, or pretend to be thinking when you're really watching Monday Night Football. You do realize there was a screen behind your head as well for me to watch the game, and while I may not get football, I did cheerlead for football, and you aint' foolin' nobody.
(Playing catch-up on my blog. . .this should have been posted on the 20th, but not so bad, right?)
To make up for my tardy post enjoy my walk down memory lane. . .
We don't have a single photo of our wedding up in our home. We have an album which gets taken out every now and then, but no photos. After watching the slide show of our wedding, I think I know why. Our wedding day was a mix of raw emotions, and pure joy. It was bittersweet. My mom died unexpectedly 6 months prior to our wedding date. We went back and forth on whether or not we should postpone, continue, go smaller, etc. . .it was a tough decision. But, one day I walked downstairs, and a box of shoes sat on the bannister. It was the pair of shoes my mom and I picked out for my wedding. My dad somehow found them while cleaning up???? Anyhow, this was the sign. We went through with it.
Me in the dress my mom and I picked out. . .
The shoes that appeared on the banister as a sign to go through with the wedding. . ..
The single red rose I carried with me down the aisle in memory of my mom. . .
My handsome husband-to-be. . .cool, calm, and collected. . .
The picture I wanted all my life, and got. The same church both of our parents got married in. . .Red carpet and all.
The reason why I chose this dress. . .although I did have second thoughts (just once when I saw a champagne colored gown)
Us in front of the church after we said our vows. . .
Seven years later, and this is still one of my favorites. . .
Another few of my favorite shots. . .
The other photo I dreamed of having. . .posed just as my mom was in her cheong-sam. . .
I'm not a "normal" gal. . .see my GREEN cake?
Almost forgot about our two lions. . .
. . .and these chocolate dipped fortune cookies.
And I know I forgot about the coffee bar. . .
And I forgot about the teddy bear toss in lieu of tossing my bouquet. But I do remember why. . .my bouquet went to my mom.
I remember, however, getting cake all over, and changing into my second cheong-sam, and I remember that we FORGOT to do a toast. Where the heck was the wedding planner?
And I certainly did not forget how sloshed my husband was. . .see below for PROOF. . .and yes, I reminded him of this yesterday during our anniversary dessert.
As I reflect upon our wedding day, I know I was numb and that I don't remember a lot about the day, unfortunately. . .well, except for the fact that my groom was hammered. Maybe it's time to get some of these photos up in the house. As I watched the slide show and was reminded of all the details of our special day seven long years ago, the tears stream, and they are still filled with pain. While my dreams came true, my heart was broken. My new dream is one of renewing our vows. I'd really like to enjoy the moment and remember the celebration of our love. I'd like my tears to be only tears of joy, and if DH want's to get sloshed, that's okay too!
Love you D. . .
Don't forget my other wish is to take up dancing with you, okay?
Snapshots above taken from our slideshow, created by Cara Rhyner in 2003.
And we're still going strong. Happy Anniversary D!
I enjoyed sharing that pizookie with you - NOT. Get your own next time, k? And seriously, could you not eat so much or so fast, or pretend to be thinking when you're really watching Monday Night Football. You do realize there was a screen behind your head as well for me to watch the game, and while I may not get football, I did cheerlead for football, and you aint' foolin' nobody.
(Playing catch-up on my blog. . .this should have been posted on the 20th, but not so bad, right?)
To make up for my tardy post enjoy my walk down memory lane. . .
We don't have a single photo of our wedding up in our home. We have an album which gets taken out every now and then, but no photos. After watching the slide show of our wedding, I think I know why. Our wedding day was a mix of raw emotions, and pure joy. It was bittersweet. My mom died unexpectedly 6 months prior to our wedding date. We went back and forth on whether or not we should postpone, continue, go smaller, etc. . .it was a tough decision. But, one day I walked downstairs, and a box of shoes sat on the bannister. It was the pair of shoes my mom and I picked out for my wedding. My dad somehow found them while cleaning up???? Anyhow, this was the sign. We went through with it.
Me in the dress my mom and I picked out. . .
The shoes that appeared on the banister as a sign to go through with the wedding. . ..
The single red rose I carried with me down the aisle in memory of my mom. . .
My handsome husband-to-be. . .cool, calm, and collected. . .
The picture I wanted all my life, and got. The same church both of our parents got married in. . .Red carpet and all.
The reason why I chose this dress. . .although I did have second thoughts (just once when I saw a champagne colored gown)
Us in front of the church after we said our vows. . .
Seven years later, and this is still one of my favorites. . .
Another few of my favorite shots. . .
The other photo I dreamed of having. . .posed just as my mom was in her cheong-sam. . .
I'm not a "normal" gal. . .see my GREEN cake?
Almost forgot about our two lions. . .
. . .and these chocolate dipped fortune cookies.
And I know I forgot about the coffee bar. . .
And I forgot about the teddy bear toss in lieu of tossing my bouquet. But I do remember why. . .my bouquet went to my mom.
I remember, however, getting cake all over, and changing into my second cheong-sam, and I remember that we FORGOT to do a toast. Where the heck was the wedding planner?
And I certainly did not forget how sloshed my husband was. . .see below for PROOF. . .and yes, I reminded him of this yesterday during our anniversary dessert.
As I reflect upon our wedding day, I know I was numb and that I don't remember a lot about the day, unfortunately. . .well, except for the fact that my groom was hammered. Maybe it's time to get some of these photos up in the house. As I watched the slide show and was reminded of all the details of our special day seven long years ago, the tears stream, and they are still filled with pain. While my dreams came true, my heart was broken. My new dream is one of renewing our vows. I'd really like to enjoy the moment and remember the celebration of our love. I'd like my tears to be only tears of joy, and if DH want's to get sloshed, that's okay too!
Love you D. . .
Don't forget my other wish is to take up dancing with you, okay?
Snapshots above taken from our slideshow, created by Cara Rhyner in 2003.
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