Jack and His BFK

Best Friend Kitty

Weekend in Review

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. Jack and I made pancakes on Thursday morning, just like the pilgrims. :) That afternoon, we went to my mom's house for the annual feast.

My brother Steven and niece, Meaghan.

Nephew Christopher.

Miss Meaghan and her one-of-a-kind artwork.

Blame that "d" in the first gobble on me. She asked me for the letters and didn't understand my first mumbled "b".

Eventually mom and I got around to the annual wish bone pulling. Unfortunately, it had been cooking in soup, so the tug-of-war was a little tough.

I can't believe that I actually won this year. Mom was a good sport about it.

We visited Jack's birth family yesterday. I took very few pictures. I was too busy talking. Here's Jack playing train with his friend, cousin Chris.

Then we went to my mom's side of the family's annual Thanksgiving/Christmas get-together. Below, Jack is teaching cousin Abigail the finer points of BINGO. Yes, we play BINGO during the get-together. Why not?

In the background, Jesus seems to be saying, "If you have a gambling problem, please call 1-800 BETS-OFF."

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for this Thanskgiving. Thank you God for the gift of family and friends and the blessings of adoption!

Brain Numbing

It's been a slow week at work. Our editing systems are down so we're left trying to find things to do besides our usual production. And, while I should be enjoying this slow time, I am bored to tears. And I feel like my IQ has dropped. Why is it when I'm bored I feel dumbed down? Is this why older people do crossword puzzles and other activities that test the mind?

Weekend in Review

All in all, last weekend was beautiful, probably the last decent one weather wise that we'll have for a while, unless my mother's dream comes true and Missouri turns into Hawaii.

On Saturday, I rang the bell for Salvation Army. On Sunday, we headed to mom and dad's house. Jack and I took a walk down to Brush Creek and he enjoyed throwing rocks in the water.

Check out that arm!

He looks like a little hick with his shirt undone but it made him feel more comfortable.

We're looking forward to a four day weekend. Whoo-hoo!

Saying Goodbye

During my ministry visits this morning, I found out that one of my friends passed away last week. I walked up to her room and her name was no longer by the door. I looked inside and everything she had owned was gone. Whenever this happens, there's always a fleeting hope that the person has been moved to a different room. But an employee confirmed that she had passed away. The people I visit become good friends, family really and it stings when they go even though you know that they've gone to a better place.

The Epic Battle

A few weeks ago, I produced a Parks and Recreation promotion about a Princess Dance Party. Well, I decided to have a little fun with it and turned it into an epic battle: Pirates vs. Princesses. The following link takes you to the video. The first segment is a game show that features me having an emotional break down. That was a fun shoot, but the second segment after an event slate will show Jack as the terrifying pirate and my niece and her friends as the princesses. Very cute!

Leisure Times, November 1, 2010

3 Year Olds Say the Darnest Things

We went to a parish dinner with my mom and dad today. After getting in the car to head to the dinner, the following conversation took place:

Jack: "You in (the car) mommy?"

Me: "Yes, honey."

Jack: "Good. Otherwise, you fall out, get hit, I cry, you die."

I sure hope he doesn't have nightmares about this kind of stuff at night. We don't let him watch any shows that would portray violence or scariness like this. Of course, there are cartoons that border the line, like Bolt, where the characters fall off a moving train, among other action-type scenes.

On another note, someone was Mr. Crabby this afternoon and I found out why. I wondered why Jack was all smiley after I woke up from our nap. Usually, he sleeps longer than me and when he does wake up, he is crabby. Later, I found out that he had not taken a nap and played with Piggy while I slept. "So, you just played in bed while I slept?" I asked. "Uh-huh," Jack answered, with a huge grin on his face. The little turkey.

Please don't tell me he's finished with taking naps.

Happy Birthday Meaghan!

Our niece is turning 7 this week. We celebrated her birthday on Saturday. Poor thing. She was sick last week. Everyone seems to be getting the same thing: fever with no other symptoms. Although her spirits were up, she didn't feel good enough to eat cake and ice cream.

On the other hand, Garrett couldn't wait to get some of that cake and ice cream action.

Our nephew, Christopher.

My dad and brother, Billy.

Poor Meaghan. I hope she feels much better soon.



The Real Nightmare Before Christmas?

Trying to take a family photo with an uncooperative 3-year-old. It was horrible. What happened to the little boy who used to smile at the camera?

Another Year

older, another year wiser, right? So, it was my birthday today and I spent it at home because my big boy has been sick. He took a turn for the better this afternoon and even sported this new look. (Ignore the dirty whites behind him.)

Where did he learn to do that?

Anyway, he's on the mend and now I don't feel so hot. Go figure.

Tonight, Jack informed me that he has one nose and two holes. He cracks me up.

Hayride

We went on our second hayride Saturday night. Mike's brother hosted the get-together. The weather was incredible. We bundled up and enjoyed the ride.

The fearless Uncle Joe.

Who let this clown on the ride?

What I Want for Christmas

Jammies with feet! Jack is sporting cool pjs from Grandma. Now I want one!

Directions to China

I noticed this on Rumor Queen's site and just had to share.

Go to Google Maps and ask for directions from Charlotte NC to Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. Line item #41 might be tricky.

More Halloween Pics

Miss Meaghan as an Asian girl.

Mr. Garrett as Me-Mouse (Mickey Mouse).

The Latest on China

I don't write much about China anymore. After four years, it is hard to get one's hopes up about a process that once took a year or less to complete. This past July marked four years since we have been logged into China's adoption program. This week, I sent in a request to be fingerprinted for the fourth time. (Fingerprints expire every 12 months.) However, we think this will be the last time. Rumor Queen's predictions indicate that we should have a referral next year and it may fall in the spring. Our LID is 7/6/06. We are in the first column! So, fingers crossed, China doesn't slow down its program to a new snail gait and we will travel in late spring, early summer to bring Maggie Rose home.

The Makings of a Traffic Safety PSA

After reminding Jack how important it is for all of us to be buckled safely inside the vehicle, we talked about the traffic driving past us in our daycare provider's subdivision...

Jack: "You get hit. I cry. You dead."

Awe...isn't that precious?

Halloween 2010

We had a blast on Halloween night. We were fortunate to spend the evening with EE and the fam. EE was the resident photographer so all I had to do was drag Jack and EE all over the neighborhood. "Just one more culdesac," was my Pee Wee Herman phrase of the evening. I admit it . I was into the whole thing a little more than Jack. And poor EE. She may never invite us to their neighborhood for Tricks and Treats again.

I can't help it. It's the little kid inside of me trying to crawl back out. We went trick-or-treating when I was little but if the weather was bad (raining) mom frowned on going out. I guess I'm reliving the fun through my boy.

EE invited us to her neighborhood a couple of years ago. At the time, we learned that there is a guy who jumps out at kids. Well, we pretty much knew which house it was and I was ready to avoid it but I saw a bunch of other kids going to the door and hoped we would get looped in with them and not get the full attack if the guy was up to his old tricks. Since we were the last to approach the door, I said, "Scared boy. May pee in his pants," thinking that would persuade the monster to pass on us. Not so. Just when I thought it was safe, the guy started coming after Jack. My poor boy was in tears. I will never go back to that house again.

A very big thanks to EE and family. We love hanging out with them. We had a blast trick-or-treating and then eating their yummy goodies including a delicious Mexican soup. It was perfect after being out in the chilly night. As Jack would say, "Argh!"