Costume shopping and Trevor

We love Halloween around here, not the gory scary stuff but the kid friendly, pumpkin patch, trick or treat kind. Trevor and his friends get into it still, they all volunteer at local community events. CJ and I took the girls to the Di$ney store at a mall up north today so they could pick out their costumes. This will be Linzhi's first Halloween! She is so excited and just loves her pink pumpkin bucket. After we left the mall, CJ called his mom to let her know we were in the area, we stopped so the girls could show them their costumes. Normally, we don't see this Grandpa and Grandma on Halloween so it was fun for the girls to get dressed up for them. Trevor had plans with friends to go to the movies so we had to make it a quick visit but I got some cute pictures.

This weekend has been very nice and quiet. CJ replaced the console on my treadmill so I'm back in business. CJ and I have been walking 3-4 nights a week since June which I absolutely LOVE because we get uninterrupted time to just talk. Some nights I could tell the last thing CJ wanted to do was go for a 2 mile walk with me but he never turned me down. =) Now with my treadmill up and running again, he told me he would watch TV with me in our room as I worked out...LOL... That's my man!! =)

Trevor has been working been doing telephone sales calls for my uncle since May. Unfortunately, his company outsourced to a marketing firm so there's no work for Trevor. This is the first time in 3.5 years that Trevor has not had a job. He had a paper route that he happily gave up for this job with my uncle. He'll be 16 in January so he has to wait until then before he can apply at Barnes and Nobles (he's wanted to work there since he was little. He's a book worm). He told me he was worried about buying Christmas presents for his siblings (he has 4 total). This kid is so generous with gift giving that I had to tell him this year will be slim. I could help him out but he would have to earn some of the money by doing chores again. I wish I could have snapped a picture of his face...LOL... Trevor had chores until he got his paper route, With the amount of homework along with the route, we cut his chores other than taking the garbage out and keeping his room tidy....Now it's going to change. Should be interesting! =) I love his generous heart, he truly loves to see the joy on the kids faces when they open their gifts. I told him they would love him no matter what and to not worry about gifts so much. He's so afraid of letting them down, he takes pride in being the big brother. Bless his heart!

Anyway, it's terribly late (I'm a night owl), I hope everyone is having a great weekend!



Isn't he adorable! (got him again)!

Mom and Dad with the "Princesses"

Grandpa and Grandma with the girls.

Surprise!

Changing in G&G's bathroom, getting ready to surprise them with their costumes!

CJ patiently waiting for his girls...

Mama with her girls at the Disney store...

Privacy...What privacy?

Random pictures, text at the bottom of the post.
I love this pic of Trevor, He really does not like me to snap his image for this might be a duplicate from another post.
Sweet, happy, precious Linzhi!

Beautiful Rachel with her baby!

Beautiful Chinese girls at Harvest days!

Football? No, it's time to play daddy!!! GO BEARS!

Rachel and my little sister Sage at Harvest days!

Trickster #1

Trickster #2 (I curled her hair, it's too cute)

Ok, I have to get this down in black and white. Since I've become a mother almost 16 years ago, I have NO privacy. I know this is the case with every parent, I'm no exception. Today, my girls have been very clingy which is just fine with me. Towards late morning, we had to get moving in order to get to school on time, etc... So I got the girls situated upstairs with some bubbles so they would be occupied while I jumped in the shower. I left the door open like always but I tell them if they need me to knock on the door so I don't get startled. No sooner did I get in the shower I heard them at the door. I asked Rachel what she needed and she replied "Just checking on you Mama". I told her I was fine and that I would be done in 2 minutes. When I opened my eyes from rinsing my hair, I see bubbles all over coming in from both ends of the shower. Yes, my little pumpkins were playing a trick on mommy. I wish I had my camera to record how cute their laughing was. They really felt victory over getting mommy with a prank. I may not have privacy for years but I gotta tell you, I wouldn't trade my company for anything in the world. =)

My four blessings...

My first blessing, my Trevor.

My boyfriend! Picture taken by Miss Rachel.

You wouldn't know it from this picture but both girls had temps of 102, we were on our way to see the doctor.

I love my big girl!

Goodness, I love this kid!

BUSTED!

This is a post dedicated to my little Miss Linz, sweet baby Rachel and my big guy Trev. I love them dearly and thank God everyday for blessing me with opportunity to be their forever mama... I find humor in my kids everyday and some days if I don't laugh I could literally end up crying myself into the funny farm... Can I get an Amen from the parents out there! I also dedicate this to my sweet hubby CJ.

Today like everyday, I was pressed for time. I picked the girls up from school @ 11AM, ran home popped the new Barbie movie in which I knew would keep Rachel's attention, Linzhi's not so much and told both girls that mommy was going to jump in the shower so they had to stay put. As soon as I got in the shower I could see a little girl with black hair standing on a step stool in order to reach the candy dish I brought in the bathroom with me so someones little fingers couldn't get into it before lunch...hmmm, who could it be? As I asked her what she was doing, I get the famous reply..."nothing". I continued with "LuLu Belle, get out of the candy corn, now"! She replied. "Fine" and off she went. Once I got out of the shower, I called to Rachel..."still watching the movie" and got my "yes, mommy". Linzhi lu, where are you??? I hear a faint "nothing" Hmm, what is she up to? I grab my camera in my bedroom walk into my office and find my China baby with the candy dish and a mouth full of candy corn! I'm sorry, I broke my rule and started laughing right along with her. She is addicted to Fruit snacks and candy corn!! Bless her heart, she's too darn cute!

I have been getting very sentimental over Rachel lately. Next fall, she will start kindergarten at a private Christian school which has full day classes. UGH! I am not ready for this at all. I know I have a year before she goes but I am already getting teary eyed when I think about her being gone all day. I wish I had the heart to home school but I just do not. I've actually prayed about it and God has clearly revealed his answer. I do feel however, down the road after the basics are learned (reading, writing, etc) if one of the girls asked to be home schooled, I think I could do it. I know in my heart my gifts are not in teaching a curriculum at this age but again, maybe down the road when they're a little older...???

Trevor had some friends over this evening (8 total), they all watched a movie and walked to Starbucks for a coffee (how cute). Anyway, after everyone left, Trevor walked Miss Vickie home(she lives down the street). I thought it was very gentlemanly of him and I could tell on his face as I said good bye...HE LIKES THIS GIRL! Oh boy, here we go! LOL...

I also want to give a shout out to my hubby. Our weekend away was cut short which was a bummer but no way were we going to be away from our sick baby girls. I had a wonderful day and a half being your girlfriend again... =)

Update on my dad

First of all, I am humbled by all the comments and prayers. Thank you, I love you all!!!

My dad went to see a endocrinologist and is scheduled to get the biopsy within the next couple of days. I got my wires crossed and thought he was getting it done on Monday. The good news is the doctor is very confident that if it they are cancerous it will be easy to treat with just one dose of radiation. So we still wait...I should know more next week. UGH!

I have been up to my elbows in Kleenex, Tylenol, Motrin and antibiotics....My baby girls are both sick with ear infections! CJ and I left on Friday for our annual trip to Galena and had to cut it short because Rachel spiked of fever of 103.7 and Linzhi was close to 103. That was enough for us so we checked out of the B&B and drove home to our babies. Linzhi bounced back rather quickly, Rachel is still not 100%, she has the ear infection plus a sinus infection so she's been having sleepless nights from congestion. The girls were not moving too far from the couch so I was able to get a pot of homemade chicken soup made, catch the laundry up and cuddle my baby girls who seemed to need it more than normal (which was heaven).

Anyway, I hope everyone has had a nice week so far and again, I can't thank you enough for all yours thoughts and prayers. I'll post an update as soon as I hear the results of the biopsy.

God bless,

PS... Trevor never got the bug the girls had and was a little bummed (I think) that we were coming home early. See, my mom would spend the nights at our house with him and during the day he had the place to himself. I totally trust Trevor but I'm not going to be the type of parent that lets him have free rein so I parent locked the computer so he had limited use of it and called my neighbor to let her know he would be alone during the day...Just in case ;-) He was fine with it but felt I needed to trust him, I told him I do but I don't trust Satan and I think he can lurk in computers when it comes to teenagers (and adults). I may be paranoid but I don't care! LOL.

Please pray for my dad.

I was told this evening by my dad's wife Cathy (she's more than my dad's wife, she's been like a mom to me) that three suspicious spots were found on my dad's thyroid. Tomorrow he's meeting with a specialist to perform a biopsy. I will know more later in the week. All prayers will be so very much appreciated. God bless.

First Dance Class!

Look at that sweet little face concentrating on her teacher.
She loves this pose.

cache...cache...cache (I think I'm spelling it right)?

Poor Miss Linz has had enough and needs daddy sugar. =-(

Rachel trying to comfort Linzhi as she sheds some tears. Nothing like a sister!

Yesterday was day one of Dance class. Rachel has been counting down the "sleeps" to opening day. Rachel has a passion for dance, musicals, acting, etc... I truly believe she will go be involved with this type of activity for a LONG time! It was so neat to watch her cache' across the floor, I could see the excitement in her eyes. In fact, it just about brought tears to my eyes to see her so joyful. She is already SO excited for next week...

Now Linzhi lasted about 15 minutes!! =) At first, she was having fun but when a little girl started to cry for her mommy, it didn't take Miss Linz too long to want hers. Now, Rachel wasn't going to have her sister leave and ordered her to sit down next to her. Rachel then proceeded to wrap her arms around Linzhi while talking firmly but nicely to her(I have no idea what she said but it was sister talk for sure). It worked for maybe 15 seconds until mommy had to walk in and take her sobbing baby girl OUT! We will try one more time but if she's not ready that's just fine with us. We'll try next year OR something else that peaks her interest. Enjoy the pictures and video!!

I love this video. Precious sisters! No words needed. I knew God would find Rachel and Linzhi the perfect sister to share life with.

First day of school!

Today was the first day of school for the girls. They will go three afternoons per week. I think that's plenty for now. Next year Rachel will start Kindergarten so this was a bittersweet beginning for us today. I know she will miss her teachers so much, especially Ms. Robin (below) and Ms. Michelle (not pictured). Our girls are genuinely loved by them and it shows by the way my girls show affection to them. We feel this school has blessed in so many ways. Now, I posted a picture of Trevor from his first day of school but I couldn't figure out how to get the pictures off my new camera. I wish I had more pictures of Trevor to share but he HATES when I come at him with the camera. I always tell him, these will be memories you'll be happy to have one day... mother guilt...LOL.. Anyway, Trevor is getting the hang of a new school year and the girls are at school as I type this so I'm sure they'll have many stories for us when we pick them up at 3 o'clock. We had a wonderful summer but now I'm ready to get back in a routine and prepare for all the fun FALL activities that are coming our way...

Hope everyone is having a great day!!



Rachel and her best buddy, Ms. Robin. Together again! =)

Sweet Linzhi Rose.

Sweet Rachel Catherine.

Getting ready to leave for school.

My babies...

The girls with their daddy. He was able to meet us at school. =)

Trevor after his first day of school... Gesh, I love this big guy!

Please pray for Abby

***Update**** I just went to this family blog and Abby is in remission! Praise God!!



Hello all, I copied this from my friend Melinda's blog. Another family afflicted with Cancer. Please pray!

Does everyone follow the Riggs family blog? If you are not familiar with this amazing family.... check out their blog. They are a diverse family and full of love. They have 4 biological children, 2 children from Guatemala, and a beautiful daughter from Ethiopia. One of their Guatemalan children, Abby, was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. Bless her little heart. She is precious!Abby has some pretty intensive chemo treatments 1-4 times per week for the next 5 MONTHS.... This means lots of time at the hospital, lots of time needing to be spent helping Abby.... a lot less time for making meals and cleaning houses, etc...You can read more about what is going on at the Rigg's blog. For those of us who love this family and don't live close, it is hard not being able to do much.But here is the perfect opportunity.If you are interested in sending or giving money for meals, that is welcomed. Either contact Amy to send the payment, or pay via paypal. (Directions on how to do this below) A few of these friends in OKC area are going to be making frozen meals at Supper Thyme to give to the family. (One meal to serve 7 is approximately $25) If you live local and are interested in delivering a frozen or refrigerated meal to them at the hospital, either message Amy at amyde63@hotmail.com or leave a comment at her blog.Directions to give via paypal: Once you are logged into your account, click Send Money. In the "To" box, type in my email address - amyde63@hotmail.com Type in the amount, and then click services/other, and then click continue. Wah lah.

Would you also consider posting this on your blog to help us spread the word??? THANK YOU SO MUCH! This is what the church is all about. Taking care of our sister and brother in Christ in their time of need. Please continue to pray for this family as well as they all pull together to help Abby out. This puts so much stress on the entire family and they really need our prayers right now!