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Friday, May 30, 2008

PLEASE HELP!

There is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the US and Vietnam that is scheduled to expire this summer - if it is not renewed and my brother and sister in-law do not have a referral for a child, their adoption process and hopes of becoming parents could possibly come to an end. They do not have very many options as to other countries that they could then turn to and start over as very few of them will work with them because of Tricia's cancer history.

The following is a link that will help you send an email to YOUR state representatives urging them to sign the petition to help get the MOU resigned and allow adoption processes to continue between the US and Vietnam.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

I'd appreciate it if you'd take a minute and take the steps to send the email - it's so easy, just put in your info and click the SUBMIT button and it does all the work for you - the email is composed and it will identify YOUR state reps who need to receive the notification.

Thanks for your help - the more voices the better!!! It pains me to see them going through this. To want to become parents so badly to have a piece of paper standing in your way is NOT FAIR!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Water Works!

Just a fun afternoon playing in the hose on Memorial Day!
Kids just being kids!








Sunday, May 25, 2008

I'm In Love!

With my new camera! The pictures that I have taken in the two days since I got it are AMAZING! I always thought that my Sony took good pictures until I got my new Kodak 1012IS! I am now IN LOVE witht he thing! Tim said he's going to have a hard time getting it out of my hands and he's right. Here is just a sample of what I've taken in the past few days :















Get ready....and check back to see what more I can take a picture of!!!

Friday, May 23, 2008

In Celebration Of.......

Team Sarcoma 2008

Saturday, May 17th, along with 30+ other friends and family, we gathered at Creve Coeur Park to walk. Dressed in tye-die orange shirts, we walked In Celebration of Tricia, my sister-in law, a cancer survivor and our hero. It was a beautiful day and just reinforced for Tricia and my brother, Hank, that we all support them and continue to celebrate her success with beating and being cancer free for 4 years now!




Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A Special Birthday Shout-Out!

Jack and Mason want to send a special "Happy Birthday" Shout-out to UNCLE HANK on his birthday today! He's the best and coolest Uncle in the WORLD!


Happy Birthday, Uncle Hank!

We love you!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Swimming Lessons Here We Come!

Tim and I decided that we'd sign the boys up for swimming lessons to get them in the right mode for Summer. Jack is not fond of the water. Imagine bathing a cat...that's kind of what Tim deals with at bath time at our house. He can't stand water getting into his eyes and ears so I have no clue what he's going to be like in a swimming pool. Mason doesn't seem to mind the water one way or the other.

The boys have always had fun in our kiddie pool, but now that they are getting older, they are showing more and more interest in the Water Park that is within walking distance of the house. I want them to enjoy the water and learn how to swim, so this is our first step.

Every Saturday, from 11:00 - 11:30 starting in June running through the end of July, we'll be heading over to our local indoor pool for Parent & Child swim class. The boys seem interested and very excited about it but the truth will come out on day #1 when they realize what it's all about. Hopefully, it will be FUN that we are doing it as a family and we will get the results that I am hoping for - two FISH that we can't get out of the water!

Check back to see what happens - our first lesson is 6/7!!!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Monday, May 12, 2008

"Happy Smother's Day!"

As I walked into the kitchen yesterday morning after getting dressed for the day, I got a big, happy "Happy SMother's Day, Mommy!" with a huge smile from Jack. It was the most wonderful thing I could have heard him say. Tim even said he didn't tell him to say it - that made it even better!

Yesterday was a wonderful Mother's Day! I would have loved better weather, instead of the damp and dreary 50 degree, rainy & windy weather that Mother Nature delivered to us here in St. Louis, but I don't think we were alone in that respect. I am just thankful that we were not one of the unfortunate families in the mid-west who were affected by the severe storms that moved through Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Our morning was no different than usual. Breakfast for the boys, breakfast for Mommy and breakfast for Daddy. A little TV and then everyone got dressed. In order to break up the mundane day of being inside all day, we decided to pack the boys up and head to the play place at the Mall for them to burn some of their extra energy before lunch. A ride on the beautiful Merry-go-round and then lunch from Subway.




Oh....and my present? A digital picture frame for my desk at work. See.....


Anyone who knows me knows that I am a picture FREAK and that my office is a shrine to my children and my husband. Well....why shouldn't it be? I am here 8 hours a day, 40 hrs a week - I miss them and it helps pass the time. But...my company is starting to implement a clean desk look so personal pictures will be a thing of the past. Tim though this would help me in making the transition from the 21 pictures that I currently have in my office (those are the ones in frames and don't include the ones in my desk blotter). It was THE BEST present! I don't think he could have done any better! Thanks Honey, I love it!!

The rest of the day was spent playing and napping and then we had a nice dinner, at home. Nothing that fancy, just chicken breast and shrimp for Tim and I and mac & cheese, meatballs and corn on the cob for the boys.

I told Tim, I really didn't need a special day to know that my children love me and that he appreciates me. They tell me that 364 days out of the year (yes, I know there are 365 days in a year, but I have to be the bad guy once in a while!) However, it's still nice to be pampered and treated like a Queen anyway! I LOVE BEING A MOM!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Before I Was A Mom.....


Before I was a Mom...
I slept as late as I wanted
and never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom...
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations

Before I was a Mom...
I had never been puked on, pooped on,
spit on, Chewed on, peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom...
I never held down a screaming child
so that doctors could do tests.
Or give shots

Before I was a Mom...
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep

Before I was a Mom...
I never held a sleeping baby just
because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into
a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom

Before I was a Mom...
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom...
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love,
the heartache, the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much
before I was a Mom.




Jack & Mason - Thankyou for making me a Mom!

I LOVE YOU BOTH!

To My Mom - Happy Mother's Day!

I LOVE YOU!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

A Proud Mommy Moment


They're born...they smile their first smile....they sit up...they crawl...they walk...they learn to talk...they learn to say their names....they learn to WRITE THEIR NAMES!

Yesterday had to be one of the proudest "Mommy Moments" that I've ever had watching Jack show Tim and I how he could write his name ON HIS OWN! It was so cool! I almost cried.


Yes, I'm a proud Mommy!


Monday, May 5, 2008

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Saturday evening, Tim, the boys & I went to a Cinco De Mayo party at one of Jack's classmates house. They had a pinata, Balloon guy, pin the tail on the donkey and tons of more fun! It was a great night for everyone (even the parents)! Thank you to Laura, Guy & Lecie Link for the invite!