Evan Almighty

We scored some free tickets, so I took the kids to see Evan Almighty today! I was a bit dubious, as to whether it would slander God, but M was nagging to see it. So off we went to the mid afternoon session... 2 minutes in, H was fast asleep! M laughed (very loudly!) all the way through! I was impressed and came away feeling all warm and fuzzy inside! It is definitely a feel good movie, with some laughs. Steve Carrell is fantastic, as always, and I love Morgan Freeman in anything he does as well! Mr Freeman does a spectacular job being God!!! Its not a religious movie, although it is obviously based on a biblical story. It certainly didn't make fun of Christianity, if anything it made me feel that, God IS real, and God CAN do anything.

Excellent movie! Well worth a look! Its been a long time (probably Dr Doolittle?) since we can take our kids to a wholesome film, without violence, smut or foul language. Don't get me wrong, I loved Tranformers, full of violence!!! But this was nice for a change!

Janet's 2x2

I have nothing better to do/talk about, so I decided to participate in Janet's 2x2 Questionnaire!! If you haven't read Janet's blog, you should pop in for a read, it makes me feel like my life is rather boring!!! Janet is an amzing Mum of 4+1 kids!!!

If you feel the urge, copy and paste in your own answers!




2 x 2 About Me

Two names you go by:
1. Lee-Anne
2. Mum


Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Pale blue jacket
2. blue undies (I am wearing more than that, but it said only to mention two things!!)


Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Be with my family
2. Sleep


Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup (I blame you, Gen - I'm totally addicted!!)
2. To have Mini here/or be in China to be with Mini!!.


Two favorite pets you have had/have
1. Chewy (living... only just! How the heck to do I stop him from trying to escape every two minutes?!!)
2. Alby (RIP. My childhood fluffy white cat)


Two people who will fill this out
1. You?
2. Who ever wants to!!


Two Things you ate today:
1. Pancakes
2. Tinned spaghetti! (yes, I'm on a big health kick!!!)


Two people you last talked to:
1. Daughter, M
2. Son, H


Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Going to Church
2. Sitting at my computer?!!


Two longest trips:
1. Singapore, when I was 17
2. Bali, a few times!


Two Favourite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Easter


Two favorite beverages:
1. Chai Tea
2. Zero Coke



So there you have it, some very insignificant trivia to waste your time!!!


I also found these photos of us, from different theme parks, when we were on holidays in June!! They were still in the suitcase! We thought we'd lost H at one stage... only to find, he'd gone back around to the "boat ride" queue, and went on all on his own!!! We were petrified he'd get scared half way around, and hop out!!! He didn't and come down the big dip like a champion! You should've seen the mischievious grin on his face when he came down!!!

The big tube ride was hilarious! We went on this one about 6 times in a row!!! We all laughed all the way down!

We loved this Shrek photo! I HAD to stand with my favourite character... "Cat in Boots" as H calls him!!! I think it's more Anthony Banderas that I'm partial to?!! It was good to look at these again, and remember a fantastic holiday!

Spring Moon Festival

Most of my photos are pretty blurry, as we arrived at the park on dusk, and the lighting was a problem, so I set my camera to "night mode"... you've got to keep the camera dead still... something I obviously didn't quite achieve!!!

Pic One: We made "simple tube lanterns", and stuck glow sticks through them, as it got dark.

Pic Two: Buddhist Monks "blessing" the evening, in the Rotunda. Huge turn out. Apparently organisers were expecting about 1500 people - I reckon there was at least 5,000 people there!

Pic Three: The Spring Moon... hidden behind clouds, most of the night!!!

Pic Four: An awesome "tree" lantern made by a local primary school. Sorry its so blurry - they were moving, in a parade!

Tag

Chelley tagged me! She asked, What do I sleep with?

He's a bit like Chelley's bear - his fur is nearly all rubbed off the top of his head!!!

I've never really had a faithful teddy, I did have a baby blanket til I was about 4.

Spring Moon Festival is on tonight! We've made lanterns, got our glowsticks ready, and packed a picnic tea! The kids are all revved up! I'm sad that we don't have Mini yet, coz we'll probably be the only family there without asian kids, but that's not stopped us before, and won't stop us tonight! Hoping Mini will be here, by this time next year.

19

22 Sept 2007. 19 months logged in.

See... I did do it!

My friend gave me a disc with her Show pics on it... I thought I'd show you I really did go on a scary ride!!!





This morning on the way to school, this is the conversation I could hear going on in the back seat. (H= 5yr old son M=10yr old daughter)
H: "What's that new girl's name in your class"
M: "Grace"
H: "That's a weally nice name, I like that name"
Pause
H: "Is she mean to you"
M: "No"
H: "That's weally good. I weally like that name but we can't call our Mini that name"

H just cracks me up! I have no idea how his little brain works, I wonder why he asked if she was mean to M?!!

We were also following a flash B*M*W, on the way to school, and I nearly wet my pants laughing at the sticker on the back window "WARNING: H* COULD BE ON BOARD" *insert my son's name here!!! Maybe reckless behaviour goes with the name?!!! I wish I had my camera!


I've just come from the Queen of Rumours, and was VERY interested in this post about the 0lympics. I don't know whether, I'm excited by the fact that it appears things WON'T stop... or whether to be scared and have a panic attack, due to the squillions of extra people that will be in China at that time?!! The way I see it - our referral/travel will be right on 0lympic time. yippee. (note: no exclamation mark)

Stuff!

H is trying his camera skills again! If only the dog would sit still!!!

So, I thought I'd have a go at taking one of H with Chewy... H had to hold Chewy down with his hands and feet, before I could get a clear shot!!!

Yesterday, we had some much needed rain. You wouldn't even know that it was winter 20 days ago. Its been sunny and really warm most days - weird for September! Today it was sunny again, and clear skies, and about 22 degreesC.

(71.6 degreesF)

It has also just occured to me, that right around now, we have hit the "3 year" mark, from our first step towards our daughter in China. It was about this time in September, 2004, that I rang the Agency that handled international adoptions to send me out an info pack on international adoption. We didn't send in any paperwork until January 2005. Wow. 3 years. From the time I asked for that initial information, we've been praying for our daughter and her birth family. The scary part is... I can't even be sure that she's even born yet! Mini, you are loved already. You are a prayed for member of our family... you just don't know it yet!

Encouragement

This morning M had her trophy presentation for Basketball. It's really sad, because the team was a "brand new" team, the girls had never played before, AND all the girls were super short! Poor things, got WHIPPED every game, but went out every week, gave it their best shot, and had a good time! Well done Girls!

Yesterday, I went and visited some friends who've just come home from China with their Gorgeous daughter. I definitely had my fill of "cuter-than-cute" China baby time! I want to say a huge shout out to them "THANK YOU", for sharing your trip/experiences/knowledge with me. Its worth more than gold! And more importantly, in this wait that feels like it will never end... I can see that dreams definitely come true, and that the wait DOES end! It still boggles my mind, how China can match the perfect child for each family! Truly amazing!

Gifts and Shopping!

My 2 most favourite things in the world! My Australian Secret Pal, sent these gorgeous PJs and sweet soft lambie for our "Sweet Dreams" theme of the month! I'm just drooling over these PJs and can't wait for our sweetpea to be strutting her stuff in them!!! I love green and pink together (actually the photo is quite washed out, they are quite a bit brighter than they appear, more of a lime green with hot pink ladybugs)

And a couple of posts ago, I mentioned I went shopping for saucepans...blah,blah,blah...

Anyway, here is the Quilt Cover I bought (some may call if a Doona cover, others a bedspread, others a comforter cover... but here, it's a Quilt Cover!) I paid more than I've ever paid, for bed linen, on this baby, but I'm soooo in love with it! I just think it's the prettiest thing I've ever seen! T reckons he'll wake up kissing himself, it's so pretty!!! (this photo is washed out too! Its more of a sage green with pale pink flowers and pale pink & white stripes on the end).

Never underestimate...

Men. Just when you think you have them worked out... they'll pop one out, to surprise you! Or maybe I should say "Never underestimate a persistent woman?"!!!


I think we're about 80% there on choosing our daughter's name. I'm going to follow M3's example, and not tell anyone, we'll just announce it, and people will just have to like it!!! And don't go thinking you know what it is... coz you'll probably be wrong! And I did say 80% there (he said he didn't mind the name)!!!


You watch... despite our social worker approving us for a girl... we'll be allocated a boy, then the name drama's will start all over again!!!

On a different tact - 87 "Logged In" days before ours, to be allocated. Doesn't sound like too many! And it shouldn't take too long to get through IF CC@@ start allocating more than 4 damn days worth of files per month! *breathe in - breathe out* I'm sure it's very important to allocate as many children as possible pre-Olympics... this family would really really really really really like to be in China, pre-Olympics! And our baby wants us there too!

Another day at the Show

We left home at 7:50am to pick up M's friend.

It was great weather, a little windy, but sunny! We met some friends at about 11am.

We had a couple of rides. Watched a singing and dancing stage show with Humphrey Bear (sorry overseas readers, you'll have no idea who this is, he's a "Barney" style Bear who doesn't talk, uses hand motions to communicate, but has a young chickie singing, dancing and interpreting for him! - he's been around since I was a wee lass!) We held some more chickens, goats, pigs, ducks and patted some dogs & some calves. We sampled local foods (yummo!). Bought a show bag. Watched some wood chopping champions. Ate hot chips, drank a couple of cappacino's. Saw a trapeze display. Sampled some dairy products and had a milk shake. Played a couple of (those rip-off) games. Won a couple of pathetic soft toys. Made our own teddies, and picked out an outfit for them. Watched the grand parade of the winning animals. Watched the V8 utes race. Watched the freestyle motorbike stunt jumping. Had a couple more rides. And finished the night off by watching the fireworks display. Home, in bed... exhausted... at 1045pm.

H is the one on the left hand slide, in the grey tee... can't go down like a "normal" kid, goes down on his back, head first!


M is a very brave soul and goes on ANY ride... alone! I did go on a ride with her in the afternoon... I was very scared, and had fingernails embedded in my palms when I got off!!! She said, "Yeah, you wouldn't stop screamin'! I wasn't scary, just really cool!" Ahhh... to be 10 again?
**I apologise it's on it's side! M is wearing a pink top, and is sitting on the left hand end of a row... not sure if you can spot her!**

Diagnosis=Depressed Remedy=Shopping

What is a girl to do? I've had a major headache all day, and I think I'm going to explode! Work, adoption, lack of sleep... I've had enough!

So, I had an hour to kill before I picked the wee-ones up from school, and I needed to get an Engagement pressie for some friends, so off I trundled to the shops!

Shopping List:

Saucepans for Engagement present

CheckOut:

Quilt

Quilt Cover

Bed Sheets for M

Baby keys

"Who Loves Baby" soft chewy album

Baby Seater (this thing is awesome!!!)

oh yeah, and saucepans.

Linen was 50% off, Nursery stuff 30% off... the bugga's why do they put those big sale signs up, it sucks me in EVERYTIME! I'm really rapt with the baby gear. The little baby keys - $3! Who loves baby album $10 (gotta have one of these for the care package! I actually have one coz the superstar Jodie Ho-Ho, no longer blogging, sent me one from California! So this one is for my Secret Pal). I digress, I saw the Baby Seater AGES ago, and was looking at similar ones on ebay, then they disappeared from Target. Well, when I saw the 30% off sign, I walked the baby aisles - and saw it! Its back! AND it's cheaper!!! I'm sure when I saw it over a year ago it was about $24... I bought it today, on sale, for $7!!! Friggin fantastic!! What's more its about the size of my hand! So tiny to pack, and take to China!!!

My headache still lingers, but I have a happiness inside... I got great bargains!!!

Royal Show

Another day at the Show. It was freeeeeezing today, it rained and the wind was blowing from the Arctic!

Back there again later in the week - so I'll try and get some "ride" shots for ya!

"The Wait"

It sounds like a movie or book title doesn't it? In the "Adoption Community", "The Wait" refers to the time from when your file is sent to Country of your adoption choice, until the time you receive your Allocation or Referral (photo, paperwork, medical information about the child the country has matched with your family file). "The Wait" varies from Country to Country. One (of the many) reasons we decided to adopt from China, was because "the wait" was, at the time, 6 months. And as our fortune/Murphys Law/destiny/fate would have it... it's now a minimum of about 22 months, and increasing with each passing month. Lucky us. On a less selfish note, truly, it is very lucky for the children, because more families are sending files to adopt these beautiful family-less children.

So why am I rambling? Who knows!!! I can only say, that some days "The Wait"/our child/travelling etc is ALL that occupies my mind. Trust me, not alot happens up there, so it can't be a bad thing?!!!

Today is one of those days. I was just folding about 6 loads of washing, when I felt the urge to come share this with you!!! (lucky you?!!) Yes folks, I'm obsessing about names again! Oh my, you are going to be SOOO tired of me, and you'll all be praying that we receive our referral soon... coz all this agonizing will be over!!! My friends have just returned home, from China, with there sweetpea daughter... and I can't stop thinking, of what it will be like for us. Will it be hot or cold? Which Province is our little one from? What will her Chinese name be? (I'm very odd, because I think about her Chinese name alot! I love reading new referrals, just to see what their children's Chinese name is! Weird, hey?) Yes... there's alot to think about... hubs keeps saying to stop stressing/thinking about it, coz we can't change it or do anything about it... but I can't stop.

So here are my "new" names, that I've thought of in the last week or so... do you like them?
Skyla (means Scholar) - T loves the name Skye but with our surname, it's just wrong. (a bit like calling your child Sandy if your surname was Beach). Anyway, he chose the name Bella, which I'm now disliking coz every second girl is named Isabella or Bella, where I live... so I combined the two names! I haven't run it by him yet... so we'll see if its a goer or not!

Kyla (means narrow) - I actually come up with this one after reading a new referral, and the little girl's Chinese name was Kai (pronounced Ky).

Ella (means young girl) - is quite popular here, but not as "common" as Bella!

Yes, I do have a "thing" for names ending in "la"!!! I was talking with a very good friend the other day, and she said, "Oooo wouldn't it be nice if your girls names ended the same", so that got me thinking... (as if I wasn't thinking enough, already?!!!) And from my other list, I'm still loving Lila and Ruby (M LOVES Ruby... but it's winning over Daddy that is proving a challenge).

What have I missed?

I just realised it's been nearly a week since I've posted! I've been out, every single day, come home to do homework and make tea, and then run the kids around to various activities... I'm pooped! I haven't even had time to read any of my favourite blogs - *shock*horror*!!!

I sat staring at my calendar and realised, that families will have gotten their referrals this week! I flicked over to Rum0ur Queen to peruse the sweeties, then went to CC*@@ to see that they'd only gotten to the 25 Nov 2005. Crap. 4 days worth of files. Ho-hum. I was soooo sure we'd be cracking Dec this month.

I went on excursion with M's class this week and we visited a "pioneer village". A village set up of our ancestors style of housing, furniture, cars, tractors, trains etc. We had a fantastic time. I took 4 girls up in my car, so we had to stay as a group as we toured around the village, answering our worksheet.

The first pic, the girls are in an "olden day" gaol (or jail, for the US contingent!) M's the one with her mouth wide open!!!



The second pic: I thought I'd be a tricky Mummy, and get the girls to put their heads in a row, on the pole of "Head St"... didn't quite work, the 3rd girl had long hair, so you can't even see the 4th girl!!!

Busy, busy, busy!

Holy Cow! I need another weekend just to recover from this one!!!


Friday night, after school, we went to our China Adoption Support Group's "Chinese Calligraphy" seminar. There was a visiting "world famous" Calligraphy man, Mr Wu, visiting from China. He spoke to us (via an interpreter!) about his work, and where he is from. He showed us photos of his home town and his work. He is very famous in China, and his Calligraphy is engraved in Stone and Wood at many Landmarks (this distinguishes him as well respected in his field). We all got to have a go at Calligraphy too. Pretty much, we all sucked, but it was a fantastic and unique experience. H has just discovered how to use my camera, and he took and "abstract" photo of his Calligraphy! I was impressed with his photography!







Saturday I shovelled mulch onto the garden... thank heavens H didn't whip the camera out to capture this moment on film!!! Saturday night, our school had a "Festival of Arts", the kids got to enter artwork and/or do some form of dance/musical performance. It was a fantastic night. M, entered a fantastic painting she did, and she also played the piano. She was a champion, and didn't make any mistakes! You go, Girl!






Then Sunday was the big day... FATHERS DAY! It's the first time in more years than I can remember, that we actually got to spend the day WITH T & his Dad. Usually Fathers Day is during the Royal Show, which both the fellas work at, and we don't really get to see them, let alone spend much time with them. BUT This year was different, as the Show starts next Friday! I was trying to think of something unique to do, not the boring old dinner at a fancy restaurant where you pay too much, in a crowded room, for very ordinary food!!! I surprised myself by suggesting we go to Second Valley, a secluded little beach with a Jetty for fishing. We went with T's folks and his sister and her 5 kidlets! We had a fabulous time!


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