Getting Ready For School

Well the girls passed their physicals, eye exams (although Maggie is slightly near-sighted and Ellie is slightly far-sighted they don't require glasses at this time) in preparation for the new school year. Ellie has a big dental appointment next week where she'll get 6 teeth pulled at one time. Doesn't sound like fun, but it needs to be done. Her baby teeth are refusing to fall out so they are going to just take them all out at once.

This has been a tough summer in that I've had lots of talks with the girls about their China mom and why they were adopted, why their mom gave them up, etc. Not easy conversations to have but completely natural for them to be curious and asking questions. I'm sure we'll be having more of these conversations.

I breakthrough with Ellie this summer though. Since the day I met her she's been obsessed with princesses, castles, princes, etc. I know most 5-year-old girls are but this is beyond normal. Anyway, during one of these "why am I adopted" conversations I pulled up on the computer a picture of Ellie's SWI (orphanage). Bingo!! It looks just like a castle! It's got a turret on top with a flag and the roofline looks just like a castle in all the children's books! So it all makes sense....she grew up in a castle....she's a princess!

Amazing.

Getting Back on the Horse

I've been away from the blog for a while and I'm trying to get back in the saddle again...summer has kept us very busy. I can't wait for school to start. The girls have been great but I think they are OVER each other and need someone else to play with. Ellie is excited about being in 1st grade and Maggie, as usual, is really worried about starting 2nd. She is so worried that she is going to have a boy teacher. I'm still working on my finances, weight, getting off the Diet Coke, etc. I've had the most success with decluttering, although I have a long way to go. I swear Ellie goes behind me and pulls everything out of the garbage can that I throw away.

In my next life....

...I want to be able to play the cello like this....check out the electric cello...

http://www.montanaskiesmusic.com/cello-guitar/Home_.html

Amazing.

New Beginnings

Even though it's March already I've been working since January to make some major changes in my life. New direction in work, healthy lifestyle changes, lose weight, increase my income, work less, have more time to spend with the girls, the list goes on and on, but basically I'm working toward achieving a more balanced and happier life for me and the girls. I've had a good start with supportive friends and family and feel pretty optimistic about my plans. On the list was a new look to my blog. I think it turned out great, Rebecca did a wonderful job. I hope to share more in the future how my "Six Sigma" sister June is helping me create my new life. She is my own personal lifestyle coach. She should be on Oprah!

Christmas 2007 pictures

Confusion Reigns

Ellie ran all over the house looking for me the other day. She thought I was in the office but I was folding clothes in the bedroom. She was quite irritated with me..."you're confusing my head!" I didn't have the heart to tell her that I confuse my own head all the time.

Holiday Show

Here we are after Maggie and Ellie's Holiday show at school. They were so pretty in their new dresses. They were the cutest ones there!

Red Thread Girl Scouts

I never thought I would be saying this but....I am now a Daisy/Brownie Troop Leader for Troop #746, aka Red Thread Girl Scouts. This troop is made up of girls from 5yo to 8yo that have been adopted from China. While we will do some of the usual Girl Scout stuff, we are also going to focus on learning about the many different aspects of China. We had our first meeting last weekend. It was quite the zoo. We have about 14 girls sign up and are still working through the paperwork. I'm sure my mom had paperwork to fill out when I was a Girl Scout but I can't imagine it is anything like there is now. The girls had a great time and I can't wait for the fun to begin. Right now Maggie and Ellie are ecstatic over the idea of the uniform and Ellie has already asked me if she can wear makeup with her uniform. I see a pattern here.....