Australia to China

Gong Hey Fat Choy!

2012-01-23T07:53:00.003+10:30

恭禧發財 Gong Hey Fat Choy which means Wishing You Prosperous Year (my girl's southern Chinese so we say it in Cantonese!)

新年快樂 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon!

PersonalityOccupying the 5th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion. Unfortunately, this passion and enthusiasm can leave Dragons feeling exhausted and interestingly, unfulfilled. While Dragons frequently help others, rarely will they ask for help. Others are attracted to Dragons, especially their colorful personalities, but deep down, Dragons prefer to be alone. Perhaps that is because they’re most successful when working alone. Their preference to be alone can come across as arrogance or conceitedness, but these qualities aren’t applicable. Dragons have tempers that can flare fast!
HealthConsidering their hard-working nature, Dragons are healthy overall. They do get stressed and suffer from periodic tension/headaches, likely because they take so many risks. Dragons could benefit from incorporating mild activity into their lives. Yoga or walking would be good as these activities can work both their minds and their bodies.
CareerDragons prefer leading to being led. Jobs that allow them to express their creativity are good choices. Some good careers include: inventor, manager, computer analyst, lawyer, engineer, architect, broker, and sales person.
RelationshipsDragons will give into love, but won’t give up their independence. Because they have quick, sometimes vengeful tempers, their partners need to be tough-skinned. Dragons enjoy others who are intriguing, and when they find the right partners, they’ll usually commit to that person for life.
Dragons and the 5 elementsMetal Dragons – Years 1940 and 2000Metal strengthens this already strong sign. Metal Dragons are more determined and they’ll fight for what they believe in. They enjoy the company of those who feel mighty enough to challenge their beliefs. They’re true leaders and usually find plenty of others willing to follow.Water Dragons – Years 1952 and 2012Water calms the Dragon’s fire. Water Dragons are able to see things from other points of view. They don’t have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow other’s to become involved. Wood Dragons – 1904 and 1964Wood Dragons also are willing to entertain the opinions of others. Their artistic side is strong, and Wood Dragons enjoy being creative and innovative. They get along with others, but will always be the dominating force.Fire Dragons – 1916 and 1976A Fire Dragon’s emotions can flare instantly. Fire Dragons put themselves on pedestals, and because they react quickly and recklessly, they sometimes make wrong decisions. Fire Dragons need to slow down and keep their tempers in check as that’s when they’re best.Earth Dragons – Years 1928 and 1988More rooted in the ground, Earth Dragons make better decisions because they act more rationally. Earth Dragons are level-headed and able to control their behaviors. They’re more supportive of others, but they prefer being admired by others.
Compatibility Dragons are compatible with the Monkey or Rat and incompatible with the Ox and Goat.

5 weeks and 3 days til we leave for China!

Sunday Snapshot - 22 Jan 2012

2012-01-22T20:12:00.003+10:30

It was a gorgeous warm day, here in South Oz! Mr T wanted to take the jetski for a trip up the River, Miss M & Tiny got to travel first, from Murray Bridge to Wellington. I met them at Wellington, to pick up the girls, and drop off H-Man, then the boys were off to Goolwa. It was a 100kms from Murray Bridge to Goolwa - they did it with one fuel stop, and got a little lost on massive Lake Alexandrina - arriving at Goolwa in just under 3 hours. The boys had lunch in Goolwa then turned around and rode back to Murray Bridge! They loved it.

Tiny and I hopped in the spa just after lunch, then had another spa with the boys when they got home.... all in all, a great, busy day for one little munchkin!! This was Tiny at 7pm tonight...

Counting Down!

2012-01-12T21:47:00.002+10:30

I'm so excited! Only 47 more days til we begin our holiday to China! Don't think I mentioned it here, but last year, one of our local airlines released a new route to Beijing, so they had super cheap deals! We'd just returned home from our USA trip... had no money, coz that cost a fortune! And then they emailed me bout the new route! DOH!! We tossed the idea around for a couple of days, and decided to whack it on credit - because we would never again see prices as ridiculously cheap as these!!!

We had talked about heading back to Tiny's province when Tiny was 5 or 6, so it WAS in the plan... just not quite this soon!!!

I booked the trip as far away as the sale would allow - which gave us bout 9 months to save and get organised! I've booked everything online, myself... we're going CARRY-ON ONLY!! Its going to be awesome!

First stop - Beijing for 3-4 days, see different part of the Great Wall, (I linked to a snowy pic... as this will probably be how it'll be for us!! brrrr) and do a "local" tour, where we'll have lunch with a local family. We will fly to Chengdu - and I've actually booked a tour company for this bit - coz it was going to get messy! We'll visit the Panda Sanctuary & trip out to LeShan to see the giant Buddha in the side of the mountain, (not that I'm a huge Buddha fan... but it looks like one of those amazing things you just have to see?!!). Next day we'll fly to Jiuzhaigou (I think its gonna be FREEEEZING here!)- absolutely beautiful scenery - can't wait to see it in the flesh! The kids are really looking forward to seeing SNOW! It doesn't snow where we're from - so it'll be a real treat! (REALLY CHILLY... but treat, none the less!!) Stay in the Jiuzhaigou area for a couple of days then fly back to Chengdu. We'll head straight out to Guilin, and do a River Cruise & local area tour. We'll then grab an overnight train to Guangzhou. Meet a friend who lives there, who will also accompany us to Tiny's county, of Ping Yuan. I haven't booked our travel there yet - so we'll either go by train or fly, to Meizhou which is the nearest large town. We'll stay a few nights in Meizhou, and I've organised a car and driver to drive us to Ping Yuan. We'll go back to Guangzhou for a few days (SHOPPING!! we don't have to carry-on only home!! I've organised 25kgs of luggage allowance for at least two of us!), fly back to Beijing... then go home.

It'll be busy... but boy it's gonna be fun! (I'm so excited that we're going to Tiny's County. Can't wait to see it!)

Sunday Snapshot - New Life

2012-01-09T09:46:00.004+10:30

I love it when the sheep have babies! Poor little thing was born on a 41C degree day (bout 107F?)! Its Mama kept leaving him behind, while he was trying to find shade. So we had to go find him, and reunite him a few times!! Poor little baby got sunburnt too, he skin under his white fluff was really pink. Its the middle of summer here - our paddocks are so dry... hanging out for some rain!

Christmas in pics

2011-12-29T19:20:00.007+10:30

Here's a few pics from our Christmas celebrations! (I've been fiddling with them in my new photoshop programme! Hence the different exposures etc)

Custard is a good breakfast, Christmas morning?!

Swimming at Auntie Donna's after lunch (sorry these pics are not really in order of when they happened!)

(H-Man got MORE Lego... but he loves it, so we keep buying it!)

Tiny got a new kitchen, coz she just loves to cook!

New Trampoline for Christmas! Its HUGE!

Diesel Dog - because he is a legend!

Every kitchen needs a revolver?!

Because I think she is so beautiful... there's yet another pic of Tiny?!!

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas, made even more blessed because God sent His only son... just for you, and me!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T21:41:00.000+10:30

See our groovy Christmas dance!

xx from our family

Brave Face for Santa!

2011-12-21T20:43:00.004+10:30

Its all smiles for Santa this year!!! Refreshing change! The first year, it was just blood curdling screams. The second year she embedded her nails in my flesh as she clung for dear life (I had to sit next to Santa for the photo)... this year, she was apprehensive, and would sit next to the jolly guy - only if she could hold my hand. I managed to pry her fingers off my fingers, so the girls could snap a photo - only after promising she could blow bubbles if she'd smile!!!

Tiny did find out from Santa, that he prefers Choc-chip cookies. So that's what we'll be leaving out for him.

A friend made some "Reindeer food" for her to leave out for Rudolph and the others (Sultana Bran with glitter in it!!)... no boring carrots here!! Hopefully the bran doesn't kick in straight away and they leave poop all over the lawn?!!

So here she is... in all her Christmas 2011 Glory... Miss Tiny and Father Christmas

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-04T20:01:00.006+10:30

Wow! Can't believe how fast the months, weeks, days are flickin' by!!! Here's some pics!

Decorating the tree... and Tiny!

All Done!

Batch Catch up... pressie hunt!

Day at the River

Been a great few weeks... the weather is getting warmer which is always better! H-Man & Tiny had a funny rash for a couple of days, went to Dr she thought it was Chicken Pox, but after a swab, diagnosis is its just a viral rash. They weren't sick at all, just had the spots! Weird?!!

What happened to Christmas?!!

2011-12-01T18:56:00.002+10:30

OK... this is probably going to end badly but I'm going to say it anyway, coz I just don't get?!!

Quick question... how come American TV shows (talk shows like ellen or the view) don't say Christmas?!! What's the go with that? It IS Christmas... not the holidays? The holidays is something you do when you hook up a caravan, and go away, or catch a flight to anywhere with the express purpose of not working!!

My Dad tells me, its because of the diverse cultures, that tv shows are trying not to offend anyone?!!! What the?!!

I don't think I'm racist - I'm all for freedom to believe in whatever you want to believe in - don't expect me to agree with you, or want to do what you do - but hey - you are welcome to do whatever you want to do, if you feel thats good for you. I'm a Christian. I believe 100% in God, His Son and the Holy Spirit. I talk openly about my belief - and am happy for people to talk to me about their belief - I think knowledge is good, and helps give understanding.

When I visit a muslim country (which I have), I respect there views & rules etc - I don't enter Mosques or enter into prayer sessions - because its not my belief. When I visit a Buddhist country (which I have) - I don't enter Mosques & won't have my child "blessed" by a monk etc - but respect their beliefs and ceremonies. When I visit a Hindu Country (which I have)- I don't enter into the Ceremonies etc - but respect their beliefs & rituals (I don't walk on their little offerings etc)... surely I'm not alone in my thoughts? Surely I'm not the only one, that is happy for folks to worship however they please, but in my Christian Country - don't mess with Christmas and Easter?

If not for Christ... there'd be no Christmas... or as some like to say Happy Holidays.

Sunday Snapshot 13 Nov 2011

2011-11-14T20:55:00.003+10:30

This week I'm putting in my layout of my #1 girl. I used our Store Collab - Moments Like This. Love the colours in this kit - and collabs are always a fav of mine, coz you get a sample of everyones beautiful work!

Sunday Snapshot

2011-11-05T11:53:00.005+10:30

The other morning I had to take Mr T to the airport at 6am! It was a chilly morning - and eeiry fog hung in the valley - I took this pic after the sun had come up - the sun looked massive! I really like this pic. I rarely see the sunrise (I'm love to sleep in!) But when I do - its always magnificent!

Sunday Snapshot - 31st Oct

2011-10-30T20:20:00.003+10:30

It was my lil man's 10th birthday last week - so he's my super star this week! (I DO feed him! He is just very proud of how far he can suck it in!!!)

More pics!

2011-10-16T18:48:00.003+10:30

Took some pics in the last couple of days - thought I'd share!

Its moments like these, my heart melts into a puddle... God sure knew what He was doing when he made our precious gift...

Mastering the hoola

Was too easy in her shoes, had to try it in my shoes?!

Ahhh... those eyes - that smile

My handsome man is 10 on Friday. 10 years? Really? He is a wonderful son and brother (most of the time!!!)- we are so blessed to have him.

(in case you're wondering I got Tiny's gorgeous dress on etsy!

Lollypop Lane Boutique - super cute - check it out!) Also got Hello Kitty one, for her birthday party!

Sunday Snapshot

2011-10-16T18:43:00.001+10:30

Tiny LOVES bubbles!

Kangaroo Island

2011-10-04T21:57:00.008+10:30

Playing Catch Up!!!

Been ridiculously busy of late!!! We've just been to Kangaroo Island (a little island just off the coast of my home state South Australia). If you come to South Australia - you MUST visit Kangaroo Island. I've been there four times, now - when I was on a Year 8 School Camp, again when I was about 14, then with some friends & their 6 month old daughter - when I was about 20, and last week! This was the first time our kiddies have been.

The holiday house we rented, had no TV. Yep - you read that right... NO TV. H-Man was devasted when we pre-warned him. He took his DS, and packed a couple of card games. Just before we left, H-Man says to us "Thank you Mum and Dad for bringing us to this place with no TV"!!! He is so funny!!! I think he was absolutely gob-smacked that life actually goes on (can even be better) without TV!!!

OK, enough words - you want pics right?!! (sorry they uploaded all over the place, and I kept losing them when I tried to move them... so they're not in order... hope you get the idea though?!)

We stayed at Vivonne Bay
Pauls Place, Stokes Bay - absolutely awesome wildlife park - where you get to hold and feed the wildlife! Tiny was facinated by the snake! It was too heavy for her to hold on her own, so she held it with her dad - the photo must be on MrT's phone... will post later!

This little guy was at Admiral's Arch - hundreds of seals frollicking around - they came up so close!

Seal Bay - lots of sleepy seals!

We loved Remarkable Rocks! We climbed, played and took photos for ages here!

Sadly, we found a dead penguin on the beach... MrT thought it'd be fun to rest him up against the bucket, so it looked like he was on holidays too!!! I'm sure Tiny thought we was really on holidays!!!

The koala was too heavy for Tiny to hold too - Miss M held the koala & Tiny (that photo is also on MrT's phone!) Here's H-Man and the lovely koala!

Tiny couldn't get enough of the wildlife!

On the rocks!

Chillin' at Seal Bay

Kelly Hill Caves

Admiral's Arch - spectacular!

Our Baby is FOUR!

2011-10-03T20:56:00.003+10:30

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIIIRRRRTHDAY DEAR TINY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

xxx

We love you beautiful girl!

Her favourite gift was the hoola hoop we got her (cept she calls it her "hooters"!!!) (sorry bout the poor quality photos... my camera was having issues with the lighting & exposure!)

New Movie

2011-09-18T18:38:00.004+09:30

Thanks for the advice, girls!! I've edited & changed my movie - and used Vimeo

Hope I have a little more success than last time!!!

My Gift from OziMum on Vimeo.

Sunday Snapshot - Funny!

2011-09-18T17:00:00.000+09:30

Funny Girl!

Family Day Video

2011-08-16T10:13:00.002+09:30

I'm SO SO ANNOYED with youtube - they canned the audio track to my Family Day Video (which not only had music but Tiny giggling and talking etc) So now its boring as watching paint dry. I've deleted the video. Will see if I can make one with a different programme and upload to my blog a different way.

GRRRR..... SO TICKED OFF!!! That movie took me an entire day to put together.

Introducing - My Little Boy...

2011-08-11T11:32:00.004+09:30

I have felt, for quite awhile now, that we should add to our family. A child that isn't deemed perfect, by some, but perfect in my eyes. Sometimes, things happen and we can't fufill all our hopes and dreams. It appears that this is the case, for my hope and dream of being a Mum to another. I figure, God knows my heart - trying to "make" my dream happen, isn't the answer.

I was reading the Love Without Boundaries blog today, Tiny was sitting on my lap. I opened the sponsorship page, and asked her which child she wanted to help. She chose this little boy:

I would point to others, she said, "no. this one." I asked Tiny what she wanted to name him, she said "Harry"... go figure! That's not really going to work, so I offered 4 other names... and Charlie was the winner!

Sometimes, our dreams don't work out exactly how we plan... but when the door of opportunity opens, to help someone less fortunate that yourself... you should take it. We pray that Charlie is placed into a wonderful foster family, that will love, nuture and care for him.

Something a bit spesh...

2011-08-03T11:34:00.005+09:30

The weather has been glorious (for winter!!) so I dressed the kids up, and we marched down our paddocks to take some photos! I was rapt with how they came out!

I'm getting the BW one of the three kids, blown up onto a canvas! :) Can't wait to see how it comes out!

First Day of Kindy!!!

2011-07-29T19:58:00.004+09:30

Here in Australia, the term before your child turns 4, your child can do "pre entry" kindergarten - which is usually one morning or afternoon per week.

...the time has come....

my baby is almost four.... so its time she left from under my wing, with her lunchbox in tow, and go off to kindy with all the other big kids! *tear*

Because Tiny is excruciatingly shy with strangers, I've asked if she can do pre-entry for the last 2 terms of this year, and start full time kindy next year. I prepped the teacher, "please don't think she's rude or defiant if she doesn't look at you when you talk to her, or answer you... she will come round, once she's comfortable in her new environment - oh, and please don't single her out, if she's not doing what you've asked the group to do - she'd be mortified, then hide under a table"

After staying with her for 1/2 an hour, I told her I was going, and I'd be back after snack time to pick her up. To my utter shock, she looked up at me and said "ok"... and that was it. What?!! No, "Mama, Mama?" No tears? What a let down?!!!! When I picked her up, I snuck in without her seeing me, and watched her as she packed up the blocks, singing to herself! Tiny's teacher bee-lined for me, and told me she was great! She did talk to her, a few words, anyway - but there was no hiding, she ate her fruit - she did really really well!!!!

What a relief. I've been dreading this day, all holidays... how will my Tiny cope?!!!

She never ceases to amaze me!

Sunday Snapshot - rewind

2011-06-27T20:50:00.006+09:30

:) I didn't take this pic this week... hence the *rewind* in the title!! I just love this pic of my girls in Disneyland's California Adventure Park

So much fun!

Sunday Snapshot

2011-06-19T14:13:00.003+09:30

Here's my snapshot for the week -

I call it "A girl and her dog"
(it was very windy - hence the scarecrow hair!!)

Sunday Snapshot - DIESEL

2011-06-12T16:39:00.004+09:30

We arrived home on Monday, from our USA trip. And by Friday night, had a sweet new addition to our family!

DIESEL is a sweet 8wk old male Kelpie pup. Mr T hopes he'll be able to train Diesel to round up the sheep! HA! I'll believe it when I see it!!! So far, he has been a very good boy, had a few accidents inside (and I just found he's chewed my hard drive usb lead - now I can't access my wealth of information on my external hard drive!)... but he IS a puppy... we are very aware of the things that puppies do - I just hope its kept to a minimum!!!

Please welcome DIESEL dog extraordinaire!

USA DISNEYLAND & LEGOLAND

2011-06-07T14:29:00.006+09:30

Out of over 1,200 photos... I chose these 75

USA PICS - HOLLYWOOD & ANAHEIM

2011-06-07T14:19:00.006+09:30

USA PICS - LAS VEGAS

2011-06-07T09:36:00.005+09:30

This first pic, is actually our last night in Anaheim, Miss M visited the Anaheim Girl Scouts (the equivalent of her Girl Guide Troop in Australia!) - the whole night was to honour her!! The troop made a camp fire, and made Smores (?spelling?!) which was really cool, coz we don't make those in Oz! (for Aussie readers, a Smore is a toasted mashmallow, then squished into a sandwich made with sweet crackers (like our Nice biscuits, I think!) and a piece of chocolate in there too!

LAS VEGAS ROAD TRIP!

Our friend hired a Hummer for Mr T's 40th birthday! TOTALLY COOL!!!

USA PICS Grand Canyon & Santa Monica

2011-06-07T08:40:00.007+09:30

SANTA MONICA America Pt IV

2011-06-02T13:45:00.003+09:30

We had so much fun in Vegas! Mr T cracked 40 years. We did a tour of the city in a HUMMER LIMO (thx so much to our friend from England, who organised it all!!) Absolutely wild ride. We went out on the town that night, hit the roulette and black jack (and a bottle or three of champas too!) We had a really good night (kids were with a sitter!) The following day was Miss Ms 14th birthday, and we celebrated in style by going on a helicopter tour of the grand canyon! Got picked up by a limo (downsized from the Hummer!) and went up in the helicopter!! WooHoo!!! I suddenly realised just as we were walking out onto the tarmac, that I'd be strapped into this tiny tin, with a rotor on top, waaaaaay above the ground!!!! As we took off, panic set in... this is worse than the swing ride at California Adventure Park! I don't think I've ever sweated so much in my life, but eventually got used to it - maybe it was the awesome scenery?!!! If you want to see the Grand Canyon - you MUST do it from the air. Absolutely amazing!!! H-man and Tiny slept for half of it!!! Oh, we stayed at DESERT ROSE RESORT, which was BRILLIANT! It was just off the strip (behind Hooters Hotel, which is opposite MGM Grand) it was also a non-gambling resort. We had a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite - which was SUPERB. It also had a full kitchen, and little balcony that we sat on, and had drinks, after we'd put the kids to bed. It was super cheap ($120 a night, I think?), very clean and well maintained. Pool area had lots of seating, plus little kiddy pool & hot tub. Its located up the south end of the strip - I thought the south end was better than the north. MGM Grand is a great hotel, lots of shops & the monorail starts from there - so it was great that it was so close to us.

Miss M requested Cheesecake Factory for dinner, so we went to Circus Circus for some fun - then walked back to Caesars Palace Forum Shops, to the Cheesecake Factory. Unfortunately we got stuck in the Treasure Island show crowd, took forever to get through!! We were eventually seated at Cheesecake Factory at around 945pm... latest dinner ever, I think!!! Was an excellent dinner though!

Next day, we had to check-out and headed back toward LA, for our last leg of our trip - Santa Monica. We accidentally took the 101, and ended up in the middle of LA peak hour traffic, in Hollywood... YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!!!! My lord. I don't think we've EVER experienced traffic like that. We eventually got back onto the 10West - to go to Santa Monica. Then it took us about an hr to find the hotel!!!! We drove past it 3 times before we found it!!! We're done driving in LA. Its all private cars & taxi's from here!!!! Just gotta give a bit of a review on the hotel. We're staying at the VICEROY Santa Monica. Three times the price of any of our other hotels. I have great expectations. Yes, its fancy. Yes, its trendy. Yes, its relatively comfortable (although they are only double beds, not enough towels, internet is $12 a day!, mini bar is insanely expensive, the shampoos & lotion has a tag on it, saying we'll be charged $45 if we take it home, and the basin & shower don't drain properly). But. Its certainly not a hotel for families. The staff are brilliant and VERY good with the kids.... the other guests however are so snobby & definitely not impressed with families. Sad. Its left a bit of a bad taste in our mouth, for the final leg of our trip - we're forever getting mad at the kids, because they're talking to loud, or laughing, or not sitting still. (so they're sad, coz we're cross at them, and we're sad, coz we have to be constantly on their case) It annoys me a bit - coz they are children. They do talk too loud, they do laugh and they don't sit still.

We got up at the crack of dawn and jumped into (yet another) limo, with our friends, and went to Universal Studios today. Had a great day, but must say, I thought there'd be more there?! You definitely only need one day to do everything. We have our friend's kiddies over tonight, so their parents can have some "alone time", and they'll return the favour tomorrow night! Woohoo! Think we'll just chill out at the beach tomorrow. Soak up the sun!

So thats where we're at! 3 more days in USA, then back to freezing cold (and work) in Adelaide... ahhhh... such is life.

VIVA LAS VEGAS!! America Part III

2011-05-28T02:45:00.003+09:30

We waved goodbye to Disneyland, and chewed our nails off as we navigated our way from the LA area to LAS VEGAS! Mr T did a superb job driving (except when we turned on to the 15 - he wanted to go SOUTH, and I was screaming THIS LANE, THIS LANE - because we were in the 15North lane... he thought, because he was in "this lane" I meant, he had to change lanes?!! Male logic, eh?!!!) Anyhoo - after almost side-swiping a car, we pulled back into the North lane, and were on our way!

I'm so glad we opted to drive. #1 we could stuff all our crap into the boot of the Crown Victoria we hired, instead of packing properly to board a plane #2 its cheaper #3 apparently by the time you get to the airport 2 hrs before boarding, then the flight time - the time is the same anyway #4 we got to see the landscape (crikey, its mountanous, hey? we thought it'd be the flat desert!) #5 we have a car, to choof around to the supermarket etc

We arrived around 2pm, ITS HOT HERE!!! Hooray!!! Some warm weather!!! The last 3 days in Anaheim were nice and warm, but its definitely desert weather here in Vegas! So we unpacked the car, and our gear into our fantastic 2 bedroom suite, then hit the pool! Our friend from London, arrived, so we had some drinks with him, then went to the Rainforest Cafe at the MGM Grand for dinner. Was really good! My salad was MASSIVE! It was served in a washbowl, it was so big!!!

I didn't sleep well the night before we left, so after dinner I went straight off to our king size pillowtop bed (the drinks with Ian, probably helped me nod off too)! Ahhh.... I like Vegas already!!!

(Mr T is in heaven! Hooters is next door, MGM Grand across the road (where his UFC fight is on Sat night), and we're all hanging out for our helicopter ride on Miss M's birthday)!!

America Part II

2011-05-22T12:38:00.002+09:30

:) OK I think I'm gettin' the hang of this place!!!

We're having an absolute ball... literally!!! On Wed night, we went to a Dodgers ball game! WooHoo!!! Its been one of Mr Ts life long dreams to attend an American ball game - and it wasn't disappointing!!! (I think if we were actually Dodgers fans, it probably would've been because they lost!) And apparently we were at a great game, because the Dodgers played the Giants, and they have massive rivalary! We decided to be Dodgers fans for the night (when in LA do as the LA'ians do?!!) We had great seats - we were between home base and first base... right in line with the foul balls!!! Crikey! If I knew we'd have to pay so much attention, or we'd get smacked in the head with a baseball, I may've selected a different section!!! (Mr T LOVED the seats... and LOVED the fact that balls were flyin' at us!!) A dude about 4 seats from us, actually caught a foul ball. H-Man became best friends with him, and tried his hardest to get the dude to give him the ball!!!! The dude was very good, and listened to H-Man talking his ears off the whole game. By bout the 7th innings I had to take Tiny to the bathroom, so stopped off at the merchandise store and bought H-man a Dodgers ball. I showed Mr T, who thought it'd be an excellent idea to get the "dude" to give H-man the ball, and let H-man believe it was the foul ball!!! Mr Dude was very happy to assist (and actually said they'd bought H-man a ball themselves!!!!). H-man went to the bathroom with Mr T and when he returned, was presented with the ball... H-man's expression was priceless. He totally treasures the ball. Miss M is in on the "ball swap" secret - and said she's going to tell him on his 21st birthday!! We had SUCH a good night - it will be etched in all our memories forever!!!

Unfortunately, as we were leaving, I was carrying Tiny - she threw herself backwards, I lurched forward to grab her, and totally buggered my neck. Our plans for re-visiting Legoland went by the wayside, as we just chilled around the hotel - all because of crippled ol' me! My legend of a husband rubbed plenty of "bengay" into my sore spots - I had a bit of vodka and nurophen... and was feeling very good indeed!!! :) Seriously, the next morning, I was much better. My husband is the BEST!

Friday we had breakfast with a TOTALLY beautiful Californian family! :0) Was so so good to see them again (the last time was early Sept in 2006, in Sydney... just weeks before they met their super cute twins!) We spent the day with them in Disneyland as well as another beautiful family and gorgeous Californian lady (sorry!!! I can't find your blog to link... but you know who you are, K2 & Michelle!!!!) I hope we didn't mess up any plans you had... and if we did... I'm sorry - but if its any consellation we had a fantastic day, chillin' with you guys!!! The kids had an absolute ball (H-man is very happy to add a few more girls to his harem!!!) I just love the girl's little accents - they are so cool!!! (was so funny, when we first met the girls... they just stared at us with crazy looks on their faces... poor babies, don't think they had a clue what we were saying!) We got to watch the fireworks from our room too!!! :) Its great to just stand in the doorway of our room, in our pjs and watch the show!!!

Today (Saturday), we hit HOLLYWOOD! We met a friend of a friend, who lives just under the Hollywood sign! First we checked out the "stars on the sidewalk", the Kodak theatre and the near area. Then friend of a friend (to be known as FOAF), drove us around in his luxurious Lexus, and took Mr T to his seventh heaven the "Northcutt" collection museums. 2 massive displays of vintage cars and other cool stuff, all in perfect condition. Tiny was too young to attend the "booked guided tour" - so we got to hang out on a park bench for 2 hours! But it was all worth it coz Mr T just loved it.

We've been here a week. Its gone so fast! I'm SURE I've put on about 5kgs (even with all the walking!)... Wii fit will be getting a hammering when I get home!!! We're having breakfast with the beautiful family, in the morning, then I plan to hit some Malls! (can you believe I've been here a week and haven't done any serious shopping yet?!!!)

I know you want pics... sorry I didn't bring the lead... will definitely post some when I get home!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MIL for today! AND HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY TO MY GORGEOUS MAMA (for tomorrow!... which could be today here? I'm not sure!!!)

We're in AMERICA!

2011-05-17T16:03:00.005+09:30

G'Day Mate! (geez the yanks can't get enough of us saying that?!!!) I thought I'd write up a post, because I've had too much coffee and can't sleep - and our hotel has free wireless internet... so why not use it?!!

Here's how our trip has gone so far...
24 hrs to get from our door to the door of our hotel
surprised (in a good way) that our hotel is actual pretty good!
seen Disneyland for the first time - our childhood dreams come true!
Harrison had the best day ever on Sunday 15 May - he got to go to the holy grail of his imagination... Legoland!

Thats the short version!

The long version goes like this...
Flew from Adelaide to Melbourne with Qantas (I was making myself sick with worry, because the Monday before we left Qantas employees were threatening to strike on Friday 13th... the day we were leaving) - thank the Lord, they didn't strike, and we kept our flight. We then flew from Melbourne to Sydney with United Airlines, then Sydney to Los Angeles with United (departed at 1130am on Fri 13th, landed in LAX at 1027am Fri 13th!!! We arrived before we left?!!!!) I'd like to say, that United Airlines service was brilliant. They constantly offered water and food - which is alot more than I can say for Qantas, on our return flight from Shanghai to Adelaide with Tiny. So Bravo United Staff!! There are only 2 downfalls; one was there are no individual screens in economy class. (which does suck - especially when travelling with children). I put a great deal of thought into how I could keep them entertained for the mamoth 13 hour flight. I bought the new Panasonic 13hr battery portable DVD player, and each child had a Nintendo DS, along with some colouring books & pencils. I'm very happy to say - the journey went very well. The kids were entertained and slept the rest of the time. The other was the coffee was absolutely terrible!!!! So stick with tea, softdrink or water!!!

When we arrived at Ramada Maingate Hotel, I thought... hmmm... looks pretty old. I knew I couldn't expect the Ritz - we are only paying $99 p/n!!! But upon entering our compact room, we've come to appreciate the very comfy pillowtop queen beds, single cup coffee machine (with GOOD coffee), fridge and microwave, flat screen tv, new carpet, newly tiled bathroom (with bath), and large vanity bench and closet. H-Man can vouch for the pool, says its great along with the new "water play" area next to the pool, that has water canons and sprayers etc. There is also a hot tub, that I'm yet to test, as its usually full of other guests! The free continental breakfast is adequate, although is very different to our Aussie breakfast! The bread here is really sweet! And we're not quite used to sugar donuts, icing covered (thats frosting here?) danish and chocolate muffins for breakfast!!! There is a bit of fruit on offer and some sugar coated cereal. BUT... the coffee is really good!!! And last but not least the staff here are BRILLIANT! Thank you to all staff - for trying to understand our aussie accent and putting up with our constant needs!!!

Disneyland is almost identical to HongKong Disney. I don't know why that surprises us - I guess its because everyone that has been to both, says "HK Disney is much smaller" - I was thinking that meant rides etc - but theres no real difference in the rides / attractions at all?! Don't get me wrong!!! We love Disneyland - its just different from what I expected... the funny thing is, I'm not really sure what I expected!!!! Even the front gate wasn't what I imagained!! After thinking about it though - to have a huge marvellous front gate on the main road is ludicrous, because there'd be people lined up everywhere!!! The folks at Disney are all very welcoming and absolutely everyone says "Did you find everything you were looking for?" and "Enjoy the rest of your day"!!! A group of (Amercian) high school girls were following us at one stage and trying to work out where we were from, first she said England, then Ireland - so we said we're from the largest island in the world - she said "Long Island?" then she said "No wait, I'm from Long Island"!!!! We then said "What if we said Crikey and crocodiles" She got VERY excited and screamed "Australia!!" Thank God for TV, hey? Educating the young people of our world?!!! At night we went to World of Color at the California Adventure Park - it was absolutely brilliant, and totally worth, trying to stay awake til 10pm to go (remember 10pm is about 2pm the following day at home)!!!!

We've got a 6 day pass, so we'll go back a few times yet!

On Sunday we went to the place that H-Man hasn't stopped raving on about since I booked our USA tickets... LEGOLAND!!! OH! I have to mention first, that we explored all sorts of options to get there (coz its about 45 mins out of Anaheim), and eventually settled on hiring a big ass bus, to take the 5 of us and family of 4 friends who met us here. NOW. I must explain that driving over here, for us, is a huge challenge... YOU PEOPLE DRIVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!!! Your steering wheel is also on the wrong side of the car!!!! So, we all climb aboard big ass bus, with our friend at the wheel. We've got Mr T in the passenger seat (that at home is the driver seat!) trying to get his i-phone maps to work. We've got my BFF in the first row of seats, with one map, and me with another. Next row of seats is Tiny (constantly singing), Miss M (joining in with the singing). Next row is friend's sons (12 & 8) and H-Man, playing some DS game - all connected, so there's all sorts of yelling coming out about who's not doing what correctly. Are you getting the picture here... CHAOS with a capital C!!!! And we haven't left the parking lot yet! We go to turn onto the road, and nearly turned into traffic... CHECK - when turning right its HARD right - not wide right. OK... driving on the road - everyone is very sweaty - find highway 5. OH THERE IT IS!! Whoops, nearly turned into the "off ramp" not the on ramp - "just follow that taxi" was screamed in unison by all adults in the car. OK - we're on the freeway!!! YAY!!! Everyone gives a big hooray!!! Why is everyone passing us?!! We're doing 70 miles an hour, even trucks and buses are passing us!!! Where are the speed signs? How fast are we sposed to be going?!!! I guess we'll just sit on 70 in the middle lane, everyone else can work it out!!! We realised eventually that the far right lane, is the "slow lane" so we moved over (note: we are still very sweaty). Oh - it started to rain. Now we're flogging along at 70 miles an hour in the rain, still don't really know where we're going - still been overtaken by everything that moves. You'll be proud to know, we did actually overtake one truck and one winnebago!!! We finally spotted the exit to Legoland. Parked B.A.B, all got out and kissed the ground!

Legoland was awesome (had to say that coz I reckon I hear an American say that 100 times a day!!!) It was peeing down with rain when we got there, so our first stop was to get ourselves a very stylish bright yellow "Legoland" poncho - otherwise known as our garbage bag raincoat. We figured, the beauty about it raining was it'd probably deter others from coming!!! I think it did - because it was pretty quiet there. About an hr after arriving the rain stopped, the sun came out - and we had a fabulous day. H-Man got his fill of Lego (bought about 4 new sets - all half the price of what it is at home). Mr T braved the drive home - which was great, til we had to work out which exit to take, to get back to the hotel. I'd like to publically apologise to the 5 or so cars that we cut off, trying to zoom across 5 lanes of traffic!!! We got back safe and sound - although Mr T, seriously nearly drove into traffic on the wrong side of the road. Geez its hard work trying to remember to drive on the wrong side of the road!!! (I might add, our friend was terrified we'd get shot at, or carjacked!!!)

Monday we decided to take it easy, do some much needed laundry, and did some shopping at Downtown Disney. (I mistakenly thought there was a discount Disney shop there?!!! Seriously wrong. Nothing discount bout that place at all!!! Did get some nice souvenirs... but for someone who just loves a sale... there wasn't one!) I also had to spruke about Mimi's. An absolutely fantastic restaurant just up the road from Disneyland main gate. (next door to Howard Johnson). We had lunch and dinner there today - it wasn't only fantastic food, but was excellent value for money. AND they put the calories next to all their meals... I tell ya... really made me think about what I was going to order!!!! I had the Sweet n Sour Chicken for lunch, and their "3 course dinner special" for dinner (I chose Corn Chowder, Prawn & Ravoli, Chocolate brownie) - and I am paying for it now!!! My tummy is oh-so full, I can't sleep!!!! (could have something to do with the "bath-sized" latte I had there too?!!!) (I've just re-read my comments, and realised I sound like a fool, saying I watched my calorie intake, then ordered a 3 course meal!!! hehehe!!!! I might add - it was a little bowl of soup, an entree (4 pieces of ravioli, and 2 prawn skewers), and a "petite" dessert)

So - thats our America Experience so far!!! I have a few questions though - so if readers would like to shed some light, feel free!!!
1. No-one here knows what a lemonade is?!!! Apparently is Sprite here. We do have Sprite at home, but Coca-Cola isn't the only one that makes lemonade!!! So we just call it lemonade!!! If we forget to call it Sprite, we usually get a weird look, then a glass of water with squeezed lemon appears!!! Also, Lemon Squash is another thing that no-one knows about? I was thinking tonight, we should call it Mello-Yello - do they still have that in America? Coz that is Lemon Squash!! I asked for a Lemon, Lime and Bitters - the waiter didn't know what that was either, but asked at the bar - the barman said "Yeah, thats Sprite and bitters"... we are trying to educate the American Wait Staff on Aussie drinks... we're slowly getting there!!
2. What's with all this (money) change? Can we use any of it for anything? I discovered today, that "quarters" (the big silver one), is used for the washing machine - but what about the other silver and copper ones?!!! What am I sposed to do with those?!!! And how much are they worth?!!! (ie. whats a dime? 5c? 10c? 50c?!!!)
3. Speaking of money... what's the go with the tax not being on the price tag?!!!! Crikey - how are you supposed to know how much something REALLY is?!!!!
4. All the toilets/taps/paper towel are automated. When you get off the loo (toilet) it automatically flushes! Tiny lent one way to check out what was going on back there, and the loo went off!!! Nearly flushed my tiny baby down the drain!!! Poor thing lept off the loo quicker than jumping jack flash!!! The paper towel drives me crazy - darn thing takes forever to work, meanwhile you're dripping all over the floor - I'm worried some old lady (or me??) will slip over!
5. We must have a strange sense of humour!! Several times we've cracked a joke with a store attendant or any person really, and they smile and nod... I'm guessing they don't have a clue what we're on about?!!!
6. Lots of people say "excuse me" after we've said something, coz they don't understand us! My friend was in America a few years back, and was at Subway ordering a sandwich when the attendant said "what bread would you like" she said "white" the attendant repeated herself, so my friend said "white"... this went on for about 4 times, til the dude behind my friend in the line said, "I think she said whYte" in his strong American accent... apparently the attendant thought she was saying "what?"!!!! I told this story to a nice lady standing next to me at World of Color, I asked her if she'd think I was saying "White, as in the colour" or "What, as in What do you want"... she said "What do you want"!!!! Too funny!!!!
7. Tips. We tip at home, if service is exceptional. Its not expected, and is usually a surprise to the recipient if we do tip! I'm so confused about tipping. I asked the girl at the Target checkout, if I was sposed to tip her. She looked at me like I was an alien (which I am, I guess?!!) and said "no". Mr T said, tip anyone that gives service... she gave me service?!!! My friend said, the tip should be double the tax. Then someone else said about 14%, and someone else said 20%. And you wonder why I'm so confused??!! I will say though - service in restaurants is excellent so far... they obviously want a big tip?!!
8. When you buy a soft drink, at any restaurant, is it the done thing to get free refills? The first restaurant we went to, they keep bringing us drinks (even before we'd finished) our friends that were with us, were getting really worried, they were just trying to crank up the bill, and put the drinks that we didn't order on there!!! Of course, they didn't put the extra drinks on there - but I was wondering if it's the "norm"? Coz most places have done it so far?
9. The meals are GIANORMOUS here!!! A normal serve at home would be the size of a kids meal here. I'm gonna get so fat on this trip!!!!

Well... it's 1230am now. I'm still not tired at all. (thanks Mimi's for that great coffee!) Mr T is snoring like a freight train, so I don't think I'll be dozing off anytime soon! Sorry I've rambled for ages... just wanted to share our experience!!! (I forgot to bring my download lead for my camera - so I'll add pictures when we get home!)

(PS sorry if there's spelling / gramatical errors... I'm doing this in the dark - my eyes are getting sore and I'm tired of re-reading my post!)

Sunday Snapshot - 1ST MAY 2011

2011-05-01T15:28:00.005+09:30

My Sunday Snapshot today is my #1 daughter, Miss M! My baby girl, is all growed up, and pushing 14. FOURTEEN?!!! Holy cow! Where did those 14 years go?!!!

She had a haircut on Thursday, and has gone for a funky "chopped" pixie style. I think it looks fantastic!

See the rest of the Sunday Snapshots here:

Can I just add...

TWELVE MORE DAYS TIL WE HIT THE SKIES FOR THE "HAPPIEST PLACE IN THE WORLD"!!! Twelve days - WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!

My (Easter) Sunday Snapshot!

2011-04-24T21:43:00.005+09:30

As always, this Easter Sunday was spent with hubs family. It's what we do every Easter Sunday - we all eat too much, the kids are waaay to hocked up on sugar... and yet - we give them more?!

I snapped this pic of my Tiny today

So serious?! I wonder what was going through her mind?!!! (you can even see me in her eyes?!)

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! May you spend even just a moment, to thank God for sending His Son, and giving His life, so we may have eternal life.

Visit NiHao Y'All to see the other Sunday Snapshots!

Sunday Snapshot

2011-04-19T23:07:00.004+09:30

I'm having some issues with blo.gger so I hope this publishes!

This is my snapshot of the week!

(I was too late to add my link to NiHao Y'All! But wanted to post it anyway - coz I think its a pretty cool pic! I love the pretty colours in the sky, my little sheepies roaming the paddock and the big moon in the sky!)

Cute Moment

2011-04-16T09:22:00.008+09:30

...yes, it was a brief moment of brotherly-sisterly love...

Sunday Snapshot

2011-04-10T23:13:00.003+09:30

I thought I'd have a crack at Sunday Snapshot (from NiHao Y'All - FABULOUS read; if you've never been there... get over there!) So here's my snapshot: (took it while we were watching H-Man run in his community school sports day! I actually don't mind this photo of me... that doesn't happen very often!)

BOUT FLIPPIN' TIME!!!

2011-04-06T09:48:00.004+09:30

HOOOOOOORAY HOOOOOOORAY HOOOOOOOOORAY!!!

KRISTA IS FINALLY A MAMA!!!! Oh my goodness... its only taken about 5 years?!! But the beautiful Krista has been blessed with a stunning Jiangxi beauty, who is just 6 months old. Awwww - my heart just melts! (I'm not going to post pics - as they're not my pics to post! You'll have to visit Krista!) The thing that absolutely blew me away was that there were little flying penguins in the background of Mia's referral photo... FLYING PENGUINS!!! If you've ever visited Krista's blog - you'll KNOW that she is absolutely crazy for penguins!!! :) Perfect match, I say!!!

And the gorgeous Tonginnator Family has a new addition too!!! :) If you've never visited TonguMomma's blog - its an fabulous read!!!

WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS to these two beautiful families! I'm so so happy for you, and can I just say... TOTALLY

WORTH THE WAIT?!!!

Count Down...

2011-03-29T17:17:00.003+10:30

7 more weeks til we visit....

Our big eared friends who live here...

We may even meet some super gorgeous cuties...

And celebrate hubs 40th in sin city (Hubs is SUPER EXCITED he has booked himself UFC tickets)

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!

Thats code for

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!

Waiting Children

2011-03-24T12:25:00.005+10:30

I thought I'd quickly post about Waiting Children, in China, who are waiting for their families. "Waiting Children" specifically means the child has a special need. After going through the adoption process for our sweet Tiny, my eyes were opened to "special needs", that in my lowly opinion aren't really "special needs"... just needs. I'm yet to meet a child that doesn't have "special needs"!!! Obviously some of the Waiting Children, do have severe delibertating conditions, that DO need extraordinary care. Here in Australia, we are not allowed to adopt a child that will "financially drain our medical system" (those are the words of the Immigration Dept). It is also strongly recommended, that we adopt in birth order (the new child entering the family must be younger than the youngest already in the family). So for Australian's the process to adopt a Waiting Child, is a bit trickier than other countries!

Although I don't "discount" the difficult nature of some needs, I wanted to express, that so many needs are easily worked in with everyday life. Obivously, it is a very personal decision, and everyone has a different view point on what they are able to cope with - I just wanted to express that special needs isn't always as scary as you may think. (To be honest, when we started our process for Tiny, I definitely wasn't open to SN!)

Love Without Boundaries, is an excellent organisation, that advocates for the Waiting Child.

Adopt China, has an excellent series, each day a "special need" is posted, and the comments are open to families to post about their personal experiences, daily life with their child. (adopt china also has an excellent Special Needs Discussion forum - that is a wealth of information)

I thought I'd quickly list a few conditions, and their "laymans terms" description (only because I didn't know what any of these things were, and had to go.ogle them!) Since I've done all the work already, I thought it's only fair to share! (Note: I am NOT a Doctor or have any experience in the medical field... below is what I have read online - usually on medical sites!)

Firstly, anything that is named "Congenital" means a child is born with it.

Aural Artesia / microtesia / anklyotia - all ear conditions. (deformed or missing outer ear (often hearing canals present) / small (peanut shaped ear - usually no "hole" present)

CHD = is short for Congenital Heart Defect. There are TONNES of different heart defects, some will just sort themselves out, some need total heart transplant. Many of the waiting children have CHD, many are also operated on in China. Be aware that if CHD is combined with missing limbs, imperforate anus, hearing / eye troubles - it is very possibly part of a "syndrome". It is very important to get a Specialists opinion. (VSD, ASD, PDH, TOV, TOF, PDA are all shortened names for different heart defects)

Cleft Lip / Palate - present as a big "split" through lip, (sometimes gum) and the palate (roof of mouth). This condition is always sorted out with surgery. The lip and soft palate are able to be fixed in the infantile/toddler years, and hard palate surgery is usually done around the age of 13. What I have discovered with cleft lip / palate, is although surgery is the solution 1. the first surgery may not be successful 2. most often speech therapy and orthodonitc treatments are also needed (just be aware that if you're thinking you can cope with the cost of one surgery... CL/CP usually require alot of specialist treatment) Unilateral means - one side; Bilateral means - two sides

Cyrptochordism - undescended testicles

Hypospadias - wee hole (in boys) not in the right place (urology surgery fixes this)

Imperforate Anus / Anklyoproctia - no opening, or obstructed opening to anus. (surgery fixes this, although some cases may need permanent colostomy bag)

Below are all eye conditions, some more serious than others (some may eventually lead to blindness, some are simply assisted with prescription glasses
Glaucoma
Cataract
Microcornea - small cornea
Strabismus - cross eyed
Nystagmus - trembling eyeballs

Missing eyeball - prosthesitic eyeball can greatly assist appearance

Equinovarus or Club Foot is where the feet turn inward (or outward). Sometimes children born with club foot/feet, are diagnosed with Anthrogryposis, a joint condition which stiffens / curves the joints. The Ponsetti method of casting club feet appears to be more beneficial and less invasive treatment, than surgery, to straighten club feet.

Anemia / Thassalmenia - Blood conditions. As with the heart conditions, these two conditions have varying severity. Some simply require vitamins, other types require regular blood transfussions.

Meningocele - a sac of fluid, either protruding through the skull, or vertebra. Successfully sorted out with surgery. (check that child has normal bowel/urology)

Congenital Torticollis - wry neck (usually sorted with regular manipulation by Chiropractor, occassionally requires surgery)

Laryngeal Web - membrane that covers laryx, can cause hoarse voice, sometimes restricts breathing

Hypoevolutism - I've found two interpretations for this! One was malnutrition / slow growth, the other is delayed! (big word, to say, "the child is small or a bit behind!")

Polydactyl digits - extra fingers / toes
Syndactyl digits - webbed/fused fingers/toes

Ectodermal dysplasia - several conditions grouped together meaning abnormal growth of skin, teeth, hair, sweat glands.

These are but a few of the conditions that Waiting Children have. (please don't get mad at me, if I haven't listed the condition your child has! I just picked a few that I had to look up, when I was looking through the list!)

Here are some excellent Waiting Children websites, advocating for children on the China Shared Waiting Children List. (In Australia, children are allocated to families wishing to adopt a SN child, from the Shared List Only)

Red Thread Kids

Sharing Life and Love

Love Without Boundaries

Philip Hayden Foundation

A Family for Everyone

Waiting Kiddos

Delilah's Dream

Waiting Children

Loving the Fatherless

and the BEST SN site for information and advocation is

NO HANDS BUT OURS

Please consider these sweet children, who if left in orphanages in China, will not have much of a life at all. (these are the words of orphanage workers, in some children's files).

Make a difference to just one child's life, and you're making a HUGE difference.

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Tiny today

2011-03-19T12:53:00.005+10:30

You say she's adopted...

I say God had a plan... she's definitely one of us!

Tiny sings!

2011-03-08T19:36:00.001+10:30

Tiny was singing along with her Doggy this evening, just had to share!

TWO YEARS!

2011-02-14T07:45:00.005+10:30

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

I'm a couple of days late, but can you believe, its been TWO WHOLE YEARS, since that amazing day in Guangzhou Adoption Affairs Office, that we laid eyes on one of the most beautiful children we'd ever seen?

YES!! TWO YEARS!! We went out to dinner with our batch on Sat night to celebrate and reminisce. We all said, it seemed possible that one year had lapsed... but TWO?!!! It has gone at warp speed. So so so different from the years of waiting, that seemed to drag on, and felt like 10 years, not 4!

Here's some flash backs for you!

Our earliest photo of Tiny (don't think I've ever shared this one!): We think she is about 3 months old?
First night (12 Feb 2009)

On the way to Adoption Affairs to make it all official (13 Feb 2009)

Playing around in Guangzhou

Last day in Guangzhou, before we flew out to Shanghai

In Shanghai (Tiny still wears these PJs! not long in the arms anymore, though!!)

Home at last! Our Family is complete! (28 Feb 2009)

Tiny a couple of weeks ago...

Helping Papa:

Family is a beautiful thing.

(I made a new digital scrapbooking kit, to celebrate! You can see it here!) Its called Awaiting China. It has lots of Chinese words, red thread, panda... but its got lots of "non chinese/adoption" elements too, so you can scrap just about anything with it! I also made pink & blue papers, so you can scrap your beautiful son or daughter!

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2011-02-03T19:26:00.005+10:30

Happy Chinese New Year!! Or as they say in Tiny's Province Gong Hey Fat Choy!!

A placid year, very much welcomed and needed after the ferocious year of the Tiger. We should go off to some quiet spot to lick our wounds and get some rest after all the battles of the previous year.

Good taste and refinement will shine on everything and people will acknowledge that persuasion is better than force. A congenial time in which diplomacy, international relations and politics will be given a front seat again. We will act with discretion and make reasonable concessions without too much difficulty.

A time to watch out that we do not become too indulgent. The influence of the Rabbit tends to spoil those who like too much comfort and thus impair their effectiveness and sense of duty.

Law and order will be lax; rules and regulations will not be rigidly enforced. No one seems very inclined to bother with these unpleasant realities. They are busy enjoying themselves, entertaining others or simply taking it easy. The scene is quiet and calm, even deteriorating to the point of somnolence. We will all have a tendency to put off disagreeable tasks as long as possible

Money can be made without too much labor. Our life style will be languid and leisurely as we allow ourselves the luxuries we have always craved for. A temperate year with unhurried pace. For once, it may seem possible for us to be carefree and happy without too many annoyances.

We had fortune cookies after dinner... mine said "you will enjoy a happy and peaceful life" - at the time Tiny was running around the house screaming at the top of her lungs, banging a drum... all with no undies on - just her little tee shirt.

I'm wondering when the "peaceful" part starts?!!

(she looks pretty peaceful in still photo form... its totally an illusion, I tell ya!)

Pool Pics

2011-01-31T20:50:00.003+10:30

Ok... so we don't have a "real" pool! Its a little tiny kiddie pool - but its still gets Tiny wet, and thats all that matters?!! This pic is just showing you Tiny's awesome stlye! I love this get-up!! :)

And just because...

I wanted to share another real cool thing I found today! Its a "renamer"!! Type in your name and it'll spit out a new one for you!!! :) The first name was Alima Holly - then next one was AVATARI Emily?!!! Weird hey! I put in my husbands name, and one of the names was Baker Willie - his grandfathers nickname was Willie - another weird coincidence?!!! It was heaps of fun... just goes to show how little "real fun" I get, if I think that renaming myself is fun?!!!

Nearly two years?!

2011-01-28T21:12:00.003+10:30

Can you believe its been almost 2 years since we brought our baby home?!!!!!! I CAN'T!!!!! Far out!!! The last two years have zipped by so fast. Our baby has changed incredibly. I've just finished making a scrapbooking kit to celebrate Chinese adoption - and will release it on 12 Feb 2011... marking two years of being a complete family, with our 3 beautiful children - the icing on the cake - our Chinese beauty!

She's only just started showing interest in China. We read alot of chinese adoption story books, and books about China, and I always say "Tiny was born in China". Now, if anyone mentions China she says "My China." very defiantly, as if someone is going to take HER China away!!! She's precious!

It hasn't been all rainbows and lollypops though - as with any toddler, she has "tried it on", tested the boundaries and thrown some whopper tanties! She has just worked out that she can annoy H-Man and get a fantastic reaction from him... so the whole school holidays, has been one big scream-fest at our house! Argh. I can honestly say, that having a third child in the family, really does add a massive new dynamic. Friends had told me, 2 is good - 3 kinda tips the scales! Please don't think I'm whining about our daughter - I'M NOT! We absolutely love her to bits, and certainly wouldn't have our family any other way - but my friend was right. Tiny niggles at H-Man, H-Man yells at Tiny, Miss M yells at H-Man to stop yelling at Tiny. Its very frustrating!!! The toilet training has suddenly reversed to wet pants everyday, and a very careless attitude about it. I don't get it?! She has been dry during the day, for about a year?!!!But, as with any "phase", that I've seen my older two children go through - I know this will pass - and eventually, it'll be easy sailing again (not sure when that will be... maybe when Tiny turns 30?!!)

I've said all this, to give a big "I feel ya" cyber hug to any of my friends out there, who are going through similar things, and want you to know - you are never alone.

13 Feb 2009 - Our first full day with our gorgeous girl. Man! She was SO AMAZING!

Today - Tiny chases the sheep!

A couple of weeks ago...

Wearing the beautiful dress that Rachael made for our daughter... years before we even knew her! She is finally big enough to wear 18 month old clothing!!! (did I mention, she's 3 1/2 years old?!!!!)

Jumping on her bed... thought this was a great pic, as it captures her name in the background! :)

Man, we love her. There is no doubt about God's goodness in our family. We have 3 perfectly healthy, wonderfuly children.

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-27T17:55:00.005+10:30

Merry Christmas to you all!!! Hope you were all blessed with a wonderful time with family and friends!

Here's some pics from our Christmas! We just stayed home all day, and had brunch with my brother & his family, and tea with Mr T's family!

And as I'll probably miss a new year wish to you all... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! May 2011 be jam-packed full of good stuff!!

Random photos

2010-11-15T15:08:00.005+10:30

Oh My!!! Two posts in a week?!! What's goin' on?!!!

Thought I'd post those (promised) pics of Tiny's 3rd birthday - plus a few other random photos from the last couple of months!

Tiny with her best pal (Tiny is 4 months older than her friend!)

Tiny & I made a pinata for her party - you can just see Tiny, poking at it (in the foreground)

We gave Tiny a kitchen for her birthday - she's playing happily with her cousin!

my three babies

I made Tiny a Dora cake! When I asked "Who's that?" Tiny answered, her own name! My friends always say, she's chinese dora!!!

Mouth full of lollies!

Jumping on the trampoline!

Eating a donut for breakfast on her birthday!

We also gave her a Melissa & Doug birthday cake set

Tiny "conducting" us as we sing happy birthday!

Blowing up balloons!

My angel... truly - she is!!

COMING TO AMERICA!!!

2010-11-09T14:16:00.002+10:30

HOORAY!!!! After many, many, MANY years of dreaming of coming to America - WE FINALLY ARE!!!! WooHoo!!!

We decided its now or never - especially since our dollar is faring so well against the US$ at present! So we bit bullet, and have purchased our tickets to our 'Californian Dream' tour! Well, I say tour... but we haven't booked a proper tour... its just us, booking as we go!!

We plan on a couple of weeks in Anaheim, around a week in Las Vegas, then finishing off with a few days in Santa Monica or Hollywood (I haven't decided yet!)!! I'M SOOOO EXCITED!!!

So, if you've got nothing better to do in May next year, and you want to meet some FANTASTIC Aussies (that really want to meet you!!!) you better get your butts to California!!!

We toyed with the idea of hiring an RV and doing a "Robin Williams style" RV tour across America... but figured with three kids, in a tiny RV, that we're not only driving in, but living in... I'd probably end up killing someone... or four!! (and I could totally see us wearing poo, as RW did in his movie, when emptying the poo tank, too!!!) So... this trip its just the West Coast - hotels & shuttle buses!! No poo fountains. No confined spaces for hours at a time!

Did I tell you I was EXCITED?!!!!

OMG. I'M. SO. EXCITED.

Email me if you want specifics! goingdigi@gmail.com
(yes its a different address - was having issues with my four2five one!)
PS my folks will still be at home... just in case you thought this was a good opportunity to visit my house when I'm not there!!!

A little Sun!

2010-10-21T23:00:00.007+10:30

We've just hopped off the plane from Bali... thought I'd share a few snapshots with you!

My Baby is Three!

2010-09-28T17:09:00.003+09:30

Tiny is Three Today!!!

Here's a couple of recent bubble blowing pics - will post some birthday pics later!!

She is truly is a blessing.

Little movie clip

2010-08-15T13:44:00.002+09:30

I thought, its been forever since I posted a video of Tiny, so I took a little bit the other day! She was jumping on her bed (she hangs onto her bed head and jumps!) and thought it was cute... of course, when I got back with the camera... she finished jumping! Anyway, here is the clip - its nothing startling! Just Tiny being Tiny!

I couldn't work out how to post the actually little movie box, so here's the direct u.tube link!

Tiny Speaks!

(she is a little conjested, coz she's just got a cold!)

We're still breathing!!!

2010-07-25T22:24:00.006+09:30

I know, I know... its been forever!! We've been really busy!! Unpacking, sitting by the heater, cooking soup in my new kitchen, trying to have a hot tub (which keeps leaking!), walking our acres, chipping ice off our windscreens in the morning, tending to the chooks (inc gathering eggs... huge eggs!)... plus of course, all the usual daily chores!!!

OK... enough of the chit chat - I know you only come here for the pictures!!

This is what happened one day... when baby girl was sposed to be in bed sleeping!! She sneaked into big sisters room... helped herself to the moisturiser, painted the mirror... thankfully only a small bit on the carpet

...and gave herself the beauty treament

Tiny LOVES playing in the dirt/mud

My little bro got married! Tiny in wedding gear

Playing with H-man

Patting the chicken (which is a HUGE milestone!!! Tiny was absolutely petrified of just about all animals, til we moved onto the farm!)

Big Sister, Miss M, is really into cooking at the moment - guess who licked the spoon(s)?!

Our big bonfire! I LOVE living on the farm, where we just burn our boxes... in the city, it took about 3 months to get rid of all the cardboard, in the recycling bins!

I love this photo. I was in the house, I looked out, and there was H-Man taking Tiny for a walk. Protectively holding her hand... so cute! He then gave her a piggyback, back to the house

I've been doing a bit of reminiscing of late. Hanging all my photos, putting out all my picture frames - it's official - Tiny has been at home, longer than she was in the Orphanage. This is Tiny exactly 12 months ago

Today
She's still our baby. She's still tiny. She's still perfect in everyway... even when she's throwing an almighty 2yr old fit, or smearing moisturiser all over the mirror. I definitely have bad days, when I feel I can't cope - its all the life of being a Mama, but more than anything, I'm still in awe of this child that God blessed us with; that China officials matched with us; that a mother gave.

House Hand Over

2010-05-18T12:09:00.002+09:30

We get the keys to our new house on Friday! WooHoo!!! I'm currently flat out trying to organise the flooring guy, air conditioning guy, heater guy, carpets, blinds... did I miss anything?!! I've been pouring over light fitting websites, trying to find "just the right ones"!

We had HEAPS of dirt moved last week, so it really feels like, we're almost there! We've got lawn areas prepped, and hopefully will get some lawn delivered late this week. And just to make our lives that little bit busier, Miss M is having her 13th birthday party on Sat! We're hoping to have a big bonfire, so her friends can toast marshmallows!

ahhhh... so much to do, so little time!

No pics today! Will attempt to post some more next week... maybe?!!!

I was just looking over the last few posts, seeing how much Tiny has changed. Its absolutely incredible. She's gone from being a tiny, scared, tearless little baby - to a confident, emotion expressing, 2 and half year old diva!!! She is absolutely hilarious. The things she comes out with really astound us! She was driving in the car with my parents the other day - they overtook a truck on the freeway, and as they drove past, she looked at the truck and said (in her best Simpson's Nelson voice) HA-HA! To my knowledge, none of us, have done that when overtaking a car or truck... so how come she has it all in context, and did that?!!! She loves to sing too! Its very very cute. And she's recently become a HUGE fan of Pooh Bear! She sings all the songs from the Pooh Bear movie!!! Its so cute!!!!

New pics!

2010-05-09T21:34:00.006+09:30

Few more new pics for you! The house has been painted inside, now... but I keep forgetting to take my camera! Shower Screens & 2nd fix plumbing all happened too! oh! And we have a concrete path all the way round the house, so when it rains, we won't be tracking mud into the house! (hopefully?!)

Ok, the pics...

Just walkin' the dog!
Farmer Joe! (fitting into farm life quickly?!)

(trying to wink?!) this pic makes me laugh, everytime I see it!!!

Struttin' her stuff!

(I asked her to smile and say cheese... not sure what she's doing?!)

Planting trees! We planted over 100, got another 200 coming this week!

Posing! (here she IS saying cheese!)

(Sheryl, I'm so sorry about that - I didn't realise your address was on the card, it certainly wasn't done intentionally - I've deleted all reference to you from my blogs, so hopefully you can't be followed?)

(Mary McG, we (my state) only have 2 families, due to receive allocations this month - I should hear about those shortly! You could also post on the Rumour Queen forum, I'm pretty sure there is an Australian page, maybe hook up there?)

Wot's up?!!

2010-04-07T20:18:00.007+09:30

Hope I didn't shock the socks off you too much by posting!!! Crikey I've been a slacka, eh?!!!

Well... it's been SO crazy busy since Christmas last year! Its ridiculous! For four years time draaagggggged on and on - each day felt like a week. NOW... week's flash by in the blink of an eye! Can you believe that in a few days, it'll be FOURTEEN MONTHS since we first cuddled Tiny?!!!

So, before Christmas we went on our family holiday (see pics in posts below!). January was a blur of work and packing up our house, as we moved to the country! We are living directly across the road from where we are building our new house. We were hoping to rent our house out to international students, but that didn't happen. So we thought we'd have a crack at selling the house ourselves, got a few enquiries, but no buyers. Then we thought we'd try and rent it out ourselves... and after our first ad, we scored!!! So we've just had another crazy week, moving the last bits of our gear out, and organising all the stuff that goes along with tenants!!!

I'm sure you really don't want to read my dribble - you want pics, right?!!!

First week of Feb: The Slab

The very next day: The frames appeared

Second week of Feb: The roof went on, and bricks arrivedBeautiful sightAs the brickies started, the insulation was installed, and gyprock arrived Gyprock went up (we have a HUGE room in the centre of the house, the incorporates the kitchen - which is this space - dining & lounge rooms. We have huge glass sliding doors and windows the look at the following photo)

Our view - our whole house was built to take the best vantage of this beautiful view!

Walking the dog

Our Dads put up the big shed next to the house - its 20 metres x 7 metres... it's a BIG shed!

Last week our kitchen arrived

The builder calls my front doors, my "million dollar doors", I really wanted leadlight, and wanted completely solid doors... they weigh a tonne! (they won't stay that hideous green! Thats the undercoat!) The front door opens into our big room, and you can see straight out the other side, to the view... we love it!

(Tiny appears in most photos, coz we go over to the house during the day, when the older 2 kidlets are at school! .... I just realised, they're not in any of these pics... it wasn't on purpose!!)

Tiny at playgroup!

Had to show you this pic... every girl loves chocolate, right?!!!

Tiny and Daddy on the quad bike!

Sunrise, is beautiful

Fog over the hills... I think its going to be cold in winter?!!! We're only just into Autumn!!!

I must also offer my heartiest congratulations to STACY & RYAN on FINALLY seeing their sweet sweet son, Zachary! He is utterly adorable! And also, very belated congratulations to fellow Aussie (albeit, living in the US!) FLISS & MIKE, on finally holding their gorgeous daughter, Shauna!!! HOORAY!!! **Hugs and Kisses to you both**

A Year of Tiny...

2010-02-17T10:36:00.006+10:30

As promised... here is one whole year of Tiny...

First glimpse - ("OMG! it's really her!!! IN THE FLESH!!! it's really her!!! she's really real!!!")
Can.not belive I'm really holding my daughter.

Day 2 - looks daddy straight in the eye, mimics funny faces

Day 4 (or 5?!) Getting Chinese Passport today

Last day in Guanghzhou - Tiny pulls a face... Mummy is going into ANOTHER shop!

In chilly Shanghai! We went to the Shanghai Museum, this day.

Flying from Guangzhou, to Shanghai... Tiny's first plane trip! She celebrated, by puking all over me, minutes after this photo was taken!!! She then went to sleep!!!

First morning, at home with Big Sister and Brother.

Been home a week (you can just see a suitcase or backpack in the doorway in the background... took a while to get organised!!!)

WALKING! I think this was about a month after Tiny came home?!

Love this photo. Taken May 2009 (home 3 months)

First ponytail! Just about to meet our batch for lunch, June 2009

So cute?!!

Not always a happy chappy?!!! Tiny has always been petrified of the dogs, we had to give Milo to a friend, as Tiny just wouldn't go outside, for fear of him. She tolerated Chewy, but sometimes... as in this photo... it got all a bit too much!!!

Sept 2009, unusually warm day - so we could play outside!

Eating bubbles!

First face painting! At Maya's fairy party... Nov 2009

Fun at Playgroup - Nov 2009 (had a haircut too!)

Up close and personal!

Forever Family Day, 12th Feb 2010 - Home one whole year. (Note: "Guangdong Girl" teeshirt! Thanks Jodie!)

Forever Family Day celebration... cheap supermarket mud cake, loaded with lollies & chocolate and fortune cookies for good luck!!!

Chinese New Year, 2010

Monday 15th Feb, 2010, - on the slide at the park

Blessings abound everyday.

ONE YEAR AS A FAMILY OF FIVE!!!

2010-02-12T08:54:00.003+10:30

WOOHOO!!! It's been ONE WHOLE YEAR since the very day that Tiny was placed in our arms. I simply can't believe its been a year. Its SOOOOOO FAST!

So fast in fact, that I even missed my January update!!! January was a super crazy month... I'm so glad its over!!! Quick recap - went back to work, kids still on school holidays, my parents came to stay, we packed to move house, Tiny kept climbing out of her cot at night, so we put her in a bed... which didn't go so well, so she's in the portacot now! We moved house, our house started construction (just across the road, from the rental we're in!), we kept our previous house and will rent to international students (so been organising that too!), had loads of issues getting our shed (barn) delivered, and loads of work issues too!!! S0 we move into February, and I've started toilet training Tiny! Its going very well. I've just gone straight to knickers, I think those pull up nappy things are just TOOOO expensive!!! We've been going four days now, she has fewer accidents each day, but there's always more success than accidents anyway! HOORAY!

So, its been a year. I sat down last night, and went though the photos from China... it's just SO evident that our tiny daughter was so scared. She was so QUIET in China!!! She is definitely NOT quiet anymore!!! You've never heard a child scream, like Tiny screams!!! Its rarely because she's upset, its because she's excited, or simply wants to be heard!!! But good grief!!! The volume is amazing!!!

Ahhh... the photos.... I was tearing up in moments! Our bald little bubby!!! I remember all the emotion of Tiny Time. Yet on the day, I was so bewildered, I didn't cry at all!!! I just couldn't believe the day had final come... that this tiny girl in front of me, WAS MY DAUGHTER!!! It suddenly dawned on me, she is real. She's not a dream, not a story figment of my imagination!!! And there she was - in the flesh. We'd be taking her home. We really ARE a family of five!!!

She is now a full blown toddler. Can pitch a fit with the best of them! Has become the fussiest eater on the planet... but can see the golden arches a kilometre away - and screams "Chippy". She's still quite reserved in groups of people. Still doesn't really like men (unless she's around them regularly - my Dad is beside himself - she'll finally sit with him, give him a kiss and let him hold her - only because they've been living here for almost 2 months!). She LOVES D0ra. I bought some NiHao KaiLan DVDs and she's pretty chooffed with her as well! She loves music and loves to dance. Clothes still don't fit her properly - I have to pin all her waistbands! She's moved up into Size 1, although, all her summer dresses are still 6-12 months! She's gone up one shoe size, in the last year, and is now wearing size 5... sort of! They're all too wide, but she copes! Knickers are a nightmare, they're all WAY too baggy. She pee'd once, and the knickers were still dry... the leg holes are so big, they don't even touch her leg, so the pee ran down her leg, completely missing the knickers! I think HMan is the favoured sibling at present... she screams his name, when he comes home from school! She does love Miss M, but I think Miss M is a like a little Mummy, and bosses her around more than she plays!!! Tiny isn't very happy when I go to work. She knows the days I'm going, by what I'm wearing!!! As soon as I come out of my bedroom, she starts whining!! She is a sugar freak! She loves to brush her teeth (good, due to the previous character flaw). Being on the farm, she has discovered a real love for Chewy dog. She follows him around everywhere. She tries to ride him (he's a terrier!) She mimicks us, if we yell at Chewy... in her tiny unauthorative voice! She loves being outside. She LOVES the shower and the bath.... and swimming pools... it'd be safe to say, she just loves any form of water! Every 5 minutes she's trying to get her gear off! She also loves to be naked! She loves her batch mates - and can repeat all their names. We see them most Monday's at Playgroup. Its so good to see them so often! She really cries now, if she hurts herself - in the early days, she'd look like she was biting her lip, in an effort not to cry. She had her last vaccinations yesterday (hooray!) and MAN! did she cry! Poor baby was NOT too happy at all. She had a few months there, when she had very disrupted sleep - but seems to have settled back down, and is sleeping up to 3 hrs during the day and a good 11-12 hrs at night (most night's she has a little whinge around 1am, but settles very quickly).

All in all. We are ever so blessed to have this tiny livewire in our family. We are in awe.

Here's my celebratory layout.

I was going to upload a heap of photos... but realised I didn't compres them! Will do it in a few days!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-12-30T18:38:00.006+10:30

I was a bit slow on the "Christmas" message... so instead you're getting a HAPPY NEW YEAR message!!!

We went on holidays on 12 Dec - 28 Dec, up to the Gold Coast where it's nice and warm, with lots of theme parks! We had a fantastic time, except for the part when Mr T slipped down 6 wet (stone) stairs, and has possibly fractured his back (again).... oh, and the part, where a nob driver ran up the back of the hire car I was driving... oh, and the part where the car insurance excess cost me $3300 - other than that - it was a smashing trip!

Here are some pics:

In the rain on Christmas morning... it was still 34 degreesC!
Kisses for big sister

Us

Flume Ride at Seaworld

Waiting to take Tiny on the kiddy rides

Tiny LOOOOOVES THE POOL!

Posers at Seaworld!

Googles for Christmas:

More googles for Christmas!

Layer upon layer, of kids!

Big brotherly love!

We had "old time" photos done... Tiny wouldn't smile!

How old does my girl look, in this shot?!

Serial killer in the making?!!!

Family of gangsters! Check out the rack on Mummy?!!! Honestly... it's all the dress!

Fly Tiny, Fly!

Fashionista... heels and googles - it's all the rage, this season?!

Hangin' with Porky... (and the pig statue?!)

Daddy and Tiny chill out at Wet n Wild (its the name of the water park... not a p0rn0?!)

Christmas morning was a very small affair - because we were on holidays, gifts were light on - but thoroughly enjoyed! Tiny's absolute favourite thing EVA... is Dora. Urgh. Dora? I find her EXTREMELY annoying!!!! Tiny wants to watch her every waking moment! "Dooorah? Dooorah?"

Well, from us down under - we wish you all an absolutely fantabulous new year! May 2010 be the year that your dreams come true - May you smile and laugh more than you ever have before - May you find where your treasure truly lies.

God Bless!

xxx Love OziFamily!

23 Dec 2008... 23 Dec 2009

2009-12-23T06:00:00.003+10:30

Oh what a difference a year makes!! 23 Dec 2008 will be forever permeated into my memory, as a day of extreme emotion! See this post, for the details!

And here we are, a full 12 months later... it's almost strange!!! It's bizaare to think, that one could have a "connection", from purely looking at a photo - but that's how it was for me, from the very first glimpse of our daughter's tiny passport photo, attached to her file. Her eyes were mesmerising, her face completely angelic. The way her tiny mouth sat, slightly downturned - not upset, not determined or stubborn... just a wee bit sad.

I still look at that first photo, and get teary. Her eyes just look right into my soul, as if to say "Where are you Mummy?"

Well, we found each other - and haven't looked back. She is a blessing everyday (sometimes I have to remind myself, of her blessing... when she's throwing a huge tanty!) She's is one amazing little girl - I pray that she will know, what a blessing she is, and just how much she has added to our family. From the 23rd Dec 2008, our family changed forever.

To all you beautiful families, who finally received your allocations or the beautiful gift of your child in your arms this year, may this Christmas be the sweetest ever. To my wonderful friends, still holding onto the dream of their child, don't lose hope. The wait is crushing, for sure - but the first glimpse of your child, is beyond magical. You WILL see the face of your sweetpea... keep the faith.

Merry Christmas to you and yours... from us and ours!

12 DEC 2009

2009-12-12T06:00:00.000+10:30

Well... it's almost a year, since the day we first saw our daughter's face. A YEAR!!! The year, has disappeared in the blink of an eye. So much has happened! Tiny continues to absolutely amaze us! She is talking ALOT more - and we can actually understand what she's saying now! She's even singing the words to some adverts! She loves to draw (on everything... including walls, suede chairs, tables... you get the picture?!!), she adores her older siblings - and here's one I'm not so proud of... she recognises the golden arches!!! Yikes!!!! She gets all excited, in the back of the car, and starts screaming - "CHIP! CHIP!" pointing wildly at the arches!!! Honestly we don't go there that often!!! But, the first thing she ate all by herself (without us feeding her) was a french fry, while we were in China!!! Guess it left a lasting impression?!!! She has a HUGE SWEET TOOTH! She says "lolly" clear as anything... once again... YIKES!!! She still loves shoes (everyone's and anyone's!!), her first word (while still in China) was Shooooz. Ahhh... I may not have given birth to her - but geez louise! This child is most certainly MY DAUGHTER!

Eye Candy for you!

2009-11-27T20:26:00.002+10:30

No words needed... the teeshirt says it all!This girl couldn't get anymore sophisticated if she tried!!! hehehe!

Kisses for you.... right back at ya, sweetheart!

[how cute is the ladybug hairclip? it's not a real good shot of it - but its downright adorable! can't get anything like it here... we have the gorgeous KIM to thank!!! The Queen of Clippies!]

12th November 2009

2009-11-12T06:00:00.001+10:30

Another month has disappeared - which marks, nine months from the first day we held Tiny. I was looking back through our trip photos the other day. How things have changed!!! I remembered the emotions. I remembered the sites and smells. Still gives me goosebumps to this day. How, oh how, did the person at C.c.A.@ allocate Tiny to us? It baffles me, how a person can place a child with a family - a child they've never met, new parents they've never met - yet they are perfect for each other? How does that happen?!!!

Well, they've done it again - CATHERINE finally has Hannah in her arms. Catherine has been an amazing encouragement and outstanding example of true faith in God. I feel my faith is so pathetic when I read of her strength and unwavering peace!!! I never doubted God... but I was such a bad example of peace (especially the week before we got our allocation!!!) Ah, Catherine - you deserve every blessing, that is to be had!

AND Doris and Dan received their allocation late October too!!! WOOHOO!!! I tell ya, there is NOTHING more heart warming than seeing families made. Seeing the photo of their sweet daughter, just gave me chills. They can finally put a face to their long awaited baby!!!

And in closing (ha! I should be a preacher, no?!!) here is my monthly photo report!!!

Tiny is:

* screaming like a banchee when she pitches a fit (I mean - peel the wallpaper off the walls, screaming!!) - I say this first... because she is screaming right now. I think H-man has something she wants?!

* mimics everything we say, but doesn't seem to use many words, on her own

* is now 8.6kgs, 83cm tall and is finally into size 1 (although still fits in many sz 0 dresses! they're made for 9 month olds!!!) still wears size 4 shoe

* still sleeping like a champion - 12 hrs at night, 3 hrs during the day

* is a very fussy eater. will eat something one day, but not the next etc etc. is currently loving oranges and grapes... everything else is on a day-to-day basis

* absolutely adores her older siblings. especially loves to play the piano with miss m, and play on the play equipment with h-man

* LOVES water. It got very warm, very quick here last week. We took the kids to the beach, Tiny just didn't want to get out of the water!!! She threw a huge fit, when we went to leave!

* loves music... even in the supermarket!!

* I think she has hayfever. Has had a constant (clear) runny nose for nearly 2 weeks, and has watery eyes. (**see last note: could be why she's had a runny nose?!)

* Loves LOLLIES! She is a sweets garbage disposal!!! Devours anything sweet in seconds.

* still loves her bath. She's doing a wee on the toilet before every bath, and even done a couple of poos on there... now the weather is warmer - I MUST pull my finger out, and get onto toilet training... I just need to find knickers that'll fit!!! Size 2 just won't stay up - and you can see through one leg - to the other!!! Mr T is going to Bali soon, will measure her, and get some tailor made!!!

* is just starting to get the hang of "loving" a soft toy, or doll. She'll give them hugs now.... then throw them to one side!!

* is much better with men now. Mr T has Wed off, and stays home with her (while I go to work!) and it has helped enormously!

* is screaming when I go to work, or leave her with someone else. Breaks my heart.

* loves my Mum!!! My Mum lives interstate, and has been over a couple of times in the last 6 weeks or so - so just LOVES her! (when my Mum is here... Tiny would rather be with her, than me!!! :(

* turned 2 late Sept... it was like a switch flicked, and now we have a "terrible 2"!!! She is just throwing fits, all the time!!! Over ridiculous stuff!!! And if I tell her off, she gives the most incredible pout, then turns around and slaps the closest thing to her!!! NOT something we encourage... so then she gets told off for doing that!!!

* still has bad teeth, at the front - must take her to the paed dentist (she had black on her teeth when we first got her - it went away for a month or so - but is back)

* has a gorgeous laugh - a real belly laugh

... and finally, to wrap up her 9 months with us... I'm pretty sure she has Chicken Pox!!! Urgh.

First Haircut

2009-10-30T12:28:00.004+10:30

On Tues (27th Oct) Tiny had her first haircut! Poor little thing couldn't see!!! She was brilliant! Sat still. Didn't make a fuss at all!!!

Before (how funny is her expression in this photo?!!)

During

After

She thought it was all pretty good! A girl after my own heart!!!! I love going to the hairdressers!

I think the hairdresser was pretty vicious with her fringe (bangs, for my American readers!)... but it'll grow back! She cut the back into a nice little bob, and the sides are almost as long as the back... one more haircut, and it'll be all the same! Tiny has a kooky hairline, so the hairdresser had a bit of trouble knowing where to cut the fringe! Her hairline starts halfway back on her head!!! Anyway - I think she's very cute... and that's all that matters!

On another note: I went to see Mao's Last Dancer, the movie, last night, with a couple of other Mum's from our batch. I haven't read the book, but have heard it is very good. I liked the movie. Not the best movie I've ever seen... but it made me cry... so I guess the moviemakers did their job?!!! Gives a tiny insight to the Communism Regime, but somehow I think that the family would have received much more persecution than was portrayed in the movie? Anyway, was well worth watching - lots of subtitles, so I'm glad my hubs wasn't there - he hates subtitles!!! I actually liked that the majority of the movie was in Chinese... was nice to hear the language again...

I miss China. Can't wait to go back, one day.

Its been 8 months!

2009-10-12T06:00:00.001+10:30

Holy Cow this year has just gone so fast!!! We're in October, already?!!! Crikey! Just a few more weeks and it'll be Christmas!!!

As is tradition... here is my monthly layout! (I used Vicki's Girly Girl kit... available at Scrap That Idea)

I thought I'd post this one too... just because I like it! I used RebeccaB's freebie kit, called Gypsy Rose... its soooo pretty!!! The picture was taken at Tiny's 2nd birthday party.

I also really like this photo I took today... haven't scrapped it yet!!

Here's little movie from today as well... just to give you a taste of a few seconds in my house!!!

Lil Movie

2009-10-05T13:45:00.003+10:30

I took this yesterday... nothing exciting happens... I just thought it was cute! (I accidentally posted it to my scrapbooking blog, first!! Whoops!)

PS...I'm still in my pjs (stripey pink pants!)... just in case you thought I had terrible dress sense, and actually allow people to see my in horrible stripey pink pants!!!

SHE'S TWO!!!

2009-09-28T10:29:00.006+09:30

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABYCAKES!!!

You have truly enriched our lives - make us laugh - we sing - we dance... Thank You for being YOU! This is your first birthday at home with us - and it was a wonderful day, with family and friends. We had your party on Saturday 26th Sept, at home. We love you, so much, Sweetpea.

This photo was taken before Church on Sunday 27 Sept - you are wearing the dress that TESS sent over... it is just soooo gorgeous!

And finally... this is you today, your 2nd birthday. Monday 28th September 2009.

So precious.

12 Sept 2009

2009-09-12T22:09:00.003+09:30

Today, officially marks 7 months of knowing Tari. I took a heap of photos this arvo, of HMan & Tiny in the backyard. It was an unusually warm day... we actually got to wear a teeshirt today! These are my fav. 2 photos - and I scrapped one.

(and yes... I know Mr T needs to mow the lawn!!! He's been working like a dog for about 3 weeks now... maybe it'll get a mow next week?!)

7 months... already?!!

2009-09-10T12:56:00.003+09:30

Our angel is still going great guns, and continues to be a beautiful blessing to our family!

(I just realised I missed May, in my layout!!! hehehe!)

Its Official!

2009-08-29T22:05:00.004+09:30

On Friday 28 August 2009, we received Tari's change of name certificate... she is now "officially"

TARI MEI

Another chapter, in our tiny, precious, 23 month old's life.

Digi Scrap Freebie kit

2009-08-27T14:04:00.002+09:30

I thought I'd just let you know, I've just made a "China" digi scrap kit - its free, and available on my scrapbooking blog

www.scrappy-bug.blogspot.com

....just in case you are interested!

I will be making an adoption kit, in the future... that one's still in planning stages, in my head for now!

CONGRATULATIONS CATHERINE!!!

2009-08-22T22:30:00.002+09:30

Oh my!!! I'm all teary!!!

FINALLY, a sweet Canadian friend, Catherine - has the details of her long awaited, and much prayed for YOUNG daughter! No photo yet... but on its way! Can't wait to see Hannah's sweet little face!

Catherine, I'm so so happy for you!

CONGRATULATIONS, GIRLFRIEND!

6 months... already?!!

2009-08-12T09:10:00.002+09:30

**You'd better get a cuppa... this post turned out alot longer than first anticipated!!! Oh yeah, some toilet talk in there too**

This year has gone so incredibly fast, I can't believe we're into August already!!! So... what's changed in 6 months?

*Tari is trying to talk all the time! She still doesn't say alot, (that actually makes sense!) but she's verbalising, and thats good!
*Tari does a wee on the toilet before every bath, and has done 3 poos too! I'll wait til the weather warms up a bit, before I really start trying the toilet training.
*Tari is INTO EVERYTHING! I've been sick, for about 3 months now - first with whooping cough, and last week, I got a virus that was like gastro & a head cold, in one. It was disgusting. (I was swabbed for swine flu - but was negative... that's something to be thankful for!!!) Anyway, being so sick, and trying to look after a toddler.... is REALLY REALLY hard. I could barely stay awake for more than about 10 mins at a time, Tari would whack me, to wake me up!! Poor kid, she just wanted to play - I just couldn't keep my eyes open! At one point, I'd shut the toilet door, to chuck, Tari pulled ALL the tissues out of the tissue box. Another time, she raided the kitchen cupboard, and pulled all the musli bars out, and all the ziplock bags out of the box (of 100!). I did the vaccuuming yesterday (we have ducted vac. so it has a really long, 18m hose) - Tari follows along after me - either treading on, or tripping on the cord, so was crying every 2 minutes, and when she wasn't doing that, she'd go into the rooms, I'd just cleaned, and pull everything out of the cupboards! (she LOVES the bathroom cupboard, and my shoes... so annoying!!!). OH, and she's pulled all the toilet paper off the roll... but then tears it up into tiny pieces.
SO, as much as I adore this child beyond comprehension... she frustrates me so much, sometimes!!!
*Everything takes 5 times longer. Running into the post office to get stamps. Popping into the pharmacy to pick up a script. The Bank. Food shopping (coz she'll kick off a shoe, and I need to retrace my steps - she's lost her left shoe from two pairs, in the last week alone!) Grrr!!! AND they were really cute China shoes. Double Grrrr!!!!
*She's got lots more teeth, even getting back teeth now! But I think I'll need to take her to a paediatric dentist. Her teeth are growing behind each other, and her bottom jaw still overlaps her top jaw, and her bottom teeth rub on her top front teeth, and have made a groove in her tooth! (she had that when we first met, but I think its getting worse)
*Tari has become a food conissuer, and can be really fussy about what she eats. She will ALWAYS want something of what you're eating.
*There is no doubt, she understand everything we say to her. I poured a lemonade yesterday, she stood at my feet squawking like a seagull, I said "Get your cup" - and pointed to it on the coffee table. She wandered into the lounge room, but I didn't think she knew what I'd said. A few seconds later, she appeared at my feet with her cup!!! (BTW, I do one quarter lemonade the rest water... just in case you wanted to harrass me for giving a one year old soft drink!!!)
*Tari LOVES the phone. She's obsessed with it. She'll even hold a biscuit to her head, and start babbling!!! I think she's going to be in communications?!!
*She is the absolute champion of sleeping. Tari sleeps a good 12-13 hours at night, and another 2-3 hours during the day..... maybe that's way she's so busy when she's awake?!!!
*Tari is STILL petrified of our dogs. She isn't so worried about Chewy (coz he's a little terrier), but is TERRIFIED of Milo (a large spoodle). Milo is still a pup, and has no common sense at all - he'll just go bounding over to her, and has licked her on her face before - she shook with fear, and screamed... but no sound came out... she was that scared! We take her outside with the dogs, everyday. I guess she's marginally better. But most of the time, she just screams. I used to stand her at the laundry door (its a glass door) so she could see me, and see the dogs, but not have them near her.... but now she's developed a fear for the washing machine as well!!!! So she screams in there, too!!!
*Tari is starting to sing! Its so cute! We sing Twinkle twinkle little star, row row row your boat, if you're happy and you know it, mostly. As soon as we start singing, she'll do the actions. Yesterday, she was in her high chair and started "Row row row row row row"... so its not perfect! But its so cute!
*Tari has HAIR! But now that she has hair, I have to decide what to do with it!!! Fringe, or no fringe?!! Side part? Its really hard, coz her hair grows from the back of her head, forward. I think I'll ask my hairdresser, what will be best!
*H-man was having a bath with Tari the other night, and asked what the purple spots were on her bottom. (mongolian spots) - I think thats funny! She's been home 6 months, and he's only just asking that now?!! Maybe he thought it was a bruise... but they never went away?!!

*Tari loves to scream. Like, peel the wallpaper off the walls, kinda pitch. Its unreal! She particularly likes to do it in the car. Maybe she likes the acoustics? Or maybe its just that I've just picked up the older two, and am talking to them... she feels the need to be heard? Whatever the reason, its incredibly annoying!!! Sometimes its so loud, my ears hurt, and I can't concentrate on driving!!! (its not usually a short scream either... it usually goes on for a good minute or so!!!)
*The kids all get on so well. Miss M, is a godsend. She is such a great big sister. The only time we have any issues, is in the car! Tari doesn't like anyone to touch her carseat!!! (and she's in the middle) - so if H-man leans on it - she freaks out! But she gets him back... when he's playing his DS, she'll pull his hair, or put her fingers on the screen... then he starts screaming!!!

Life is good. I'm sick of being sick. And I have days where I'm totally "over" the toodlerhood stage. But hey... that is life, right?!!

Tari-licious Film

2009-08-03T14:11:00.004+09:30

Here's a wee movie of Miss Tiny today! (sorry its on its side, i did the movie on my still camera, not movie camera!!) ** Beware: crazy bedhead in picutre ** (sorry I sound like I'm talking through my nose... I have a shocking head cold. Yeah, first whooping cough, now cold.... I'm on a roll)

Other big news... Tiny is finally into Size One!! Hooray!!! She's still only barely tipping the scales at 8.4kgs - but she's def. gotten taller!

Its been FIVE months!!!

2009-07-14T23:04:00.001+09:30

Hooley Dooley this year has FLOWN! We're in JULY already?!!!

Well, Sunday came and went, and I even forgot the significance of the day!!! It marked 5 months, exactly since we first laid eyes and hands on our sweet baby girl. Geez - FIVE months?! It seriously feels like an eternity ago (even though, I just said, this year is flying!!!) Little Miss Tari Mei is a pea in our pod. We had an interview with a head master the other day, we introduced our children, oldest to youngest. With great enthusiasm, he knelt in front of Tari and said "this little one is obviously adopted, which country is she from?" (turns out, his youngest child was adopted from Taiwan) - but I had to stop and think "Is it REALLY that obvious, that she's adopted?"!!!!!! I know, I laugh about - because apparently she looks very asian?!!! I CAN'T SEE IT!!! I keep looking at her, trying to see how chinese she is - but all I see is my funny girl laughing back at me!!!

Its like people telling you (when you're waiting for your precious child of your dreams) - "she'll be worth the wait". When she's not in your arms - that statement is no comfort and makes no sense. People told me, that our daughter wouldn't be "our adopted daughter" - she'd just be Tari, your third child. I couldn't possibly realise the magnitude of this statement, until our daughter was living in our house... BEING our third child.

Life is good. Unbelievably good. Tari is more than the child of my dreams - I could never have dreamed how wonderful this little girl is. And how fulfilled I could be. Oh yeah... VERY important news... Tari finally has enough hair for it to sit down flat!!!! And what does a Mummy do, when her daughter's hair is long enough to sit flat? Put it up in a tiny pony tail of course!!! (you can just see it in the 12 July photo!)

I'm sorry I don't get to "pop in" to as many blogs (and certainly not as often), as I'd like - but I think of you all often. Are the Salsa twins baking cookies? Wondering how Harlow is? I bet Bri is such a grown up little lady now. Hope Emma's health is on the improve. I wonder how many words Claire is saying now? Is Ava sleeping well? Is Abby at the park? Is Alice enjoying winter holidays with her siblings? I wonder how Delilah's toilet training is going? Is Oliver crawling faster than ever? Is Hannah at School? How long has Alyzabeth An's hair gotten? What are Naomi & Zoe up to? Is Eme loving her new family and home? Is Olivia visiting her farm? I wonder how Maisie's gymnastics is going? What's Elena up to? Is Maddie watching football? Are Aly & Lili singing? Has Tate had a haircut yet?!! Bet Adam & Jeane are doing something crazy with their brothers and sisters!! Lordie! I bet Gracie is just huge now?! I think of Tess everytime Tari wears one of her gooorgeous outfits. Is Julia in school yet? Bet Lana is blitzing her class (or is she still on holidays?!)

Then my thoughts turn to my beloved cyber-friends, who are yet to see their beautiful children. To Doris, Catherine, Krista, Stacey, Heather, Kim, Tonginnator's Mum, Fliss (geeeez... I shouldn't name names... I'm sure to have forgotten someone?!!) Ladies - I'm thinking of you all. Keep the faith... even if by a thread... one that thread will bind you so tight - to someone beyond your wildest expectations.

To Emily's family - YAY!!! You finally meet!!! (in China now)

And lastly, to those special families, who are in that "limbo" stage - of holding that precious photo... yet waiting to actually reach out and touch their blessing. To the Bouton Brood, Kris & Garth, Debbie & Shane, Amalia's family... hugs to you - I am thinking of you!

And Finally (yes... I'm practicing to be a Preacher?!!!), in closing...

Here's a snapshot (or 10!) of the last couple of months

Look who rules the roost?!!!

WEE LITTLE GIRLS!!!

2009-06-16T22:04:00.002+09:30

TWO OF EM!!!

Gotta go visit Deb at Sugar & Spice

and

Kris at Tell Her This

(I did say, I'd come back for very special occasions?!!)

CONGRATULATIONS to both lovely ladies and their families! So So GOOD!

Its been four months!

2009-06-13T17:29:00.002+09:30

Time's flown, yet on the other hand, it feels like Tiny has been with us forever. Its been a truly remarkable four months. We've seen Tiny really blossom, and show us who she really is (including her incredibly stubborn side!) As with any toddler, there is the good, the bad and the ugly - although for the most part, its definitely pretty good! :) And look! her hair is growing!!! Our little peanut, is also getting a little taller, she's actually wearing some size ones (or 12 mth size) now!! WooHoo!! She's almost 21 months old, and is talking alot more too! She's also decided as of last weekend... sleeping isn't her thing - which is really starting to tick me off! Especially when she lulled me into a false sense of security, by sleeping 12 hours straight every night (for the last 4 months!) - so what's with this screaming half the night, now?!!!

Just wanted to shout out to two incredibly precious families, who've travelled along with me on my journey, and I with them. Huge hugs to BellaLuna & to PugMama - I am just so so happy for you - I could burst!

We're all well (except, my hacking cough), happy and well adjusted. Life is good.

The time has come?

2009-05-18T13:11:00.002+09:30

I guess you've been waiting for it? I've been thinking it for a long while. Its time to close this chapter.

I had great intentions of journaling / blogging our new life as a family of five. But I just don't seem to have the time, and everything seems so mundane! We live a very busy life, of just doing life. I can't seem to keep up with reading all my fav. adoption blogs. Or even surf the net.

Tari isn't a figment of our imagination anymore. Our long awaited and dreamed about child in China. She is living and breathing in our family. She IS us. Our journey is no longer about "adoption", rather living and enjoy life.

I was told, before Tari came home, that its not really about "adoption", its about your son or daughter. I heard it - but it didn't feel like it, because she wasn't in my arms. It WAS about adopting a child from China. I knew that child was my son or daughter... but it was about waiting, process and Ch!na Ad0ption Affairs.

Now, she's Tari. She's our daughter and our sister. She was born in China - but long long before, she was born in our hearts and our dreams.

My newest hobby is to digital scrapbook, and it's pretty much all I've been posting anyway - so I've created a new blog, for my pages. There won't be chit-chat - just pictures that tell a thousand words. So, if you want to still see us - we'll be at
www.scrappy-bug.blogspot.com

I may post here, at Aust2China every now and then - so keep me bloglined, (or not!) ~ I just don't want to feel like I must post something, at regular intervals!

Lastly, THANK YOU, to my regular readers, and an incredible network of friends that I've met through blogland. Your comments certainly pulled me out of some pretty dark moments over the last four years. They've made me laugh, smile, and feel loved.

THANK YOU.

Couldn't stop!!!

2009-05-14T21:57:00.004+09:30

Some days, I got 'nudda'. Now creativity at all.

And then other days... I just can't stop!!! I downloaded that latest two freebie kits (see last post for links) - that lead me to Enchanted Studio Scraps - where I picked up 3 more kits for only $1 each!

I just realised, I have done two "birthday" pages, of Miss M, in a row (by accident!) This one is on her first birthday...
This one is her birthday last year...

3 months

2009-05-12T13:15:00.002+09:30

... since our dreams came true.

So how did we celebrate our "3 months together" anniversary... we went to the hospital and had blood drawn (well Tiny, did anyway!) Poor darling. Screamed like a banchee. Thankfully, the nurse was awesome, and hit the vein first go, and the blood flowed. Took about a minute!

Just a quick note, to visit Stacey for her new freebie kit "Space Cadet" and then head on over to Mel's Lightbulb Moments or Color with Caryn or Scrappyweiss for their new collaborative kit, "Make Believe". Awesome stuff, girls!

Tiny speaks

2009-05-11T17:42:00.004+09:30

Tiny has just started saying "Chewy"... and it sounds so cute! You also get bonus footage of my son, picking his seat!

Hope you all had a Happy Mothers Day! I was pampered all day, got special handmade gifts, cards and poems and Miss M asked Mr T to buy me a couple of "Will0w Tree" Statues. I got the Mother & Son one, and the Mother & Daughter one. A beautiful addition to my growing collection!

I entered this page into a competition, I'm not that keen on the layout, but love the photos! Tiny was fully checking out Miss M... I mean, EVERY orifice!!!

And I made this one, just for fun! Tiny LOVES to rip up tissues or pieces of paper into a thousand pieces... usually just after I've vaccuumed?!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

2009-05-09T23:07:00.005+09:30

The last few Mother's Days, there was something missing. THIS Mother's Day, I couldn't feel more complete! We are all doing very well, albeit ultra busy. Prioritising has become the key, to getting through each day. Slowly but surely, things are getting done.

Here's a little montage of pages, reflecting my "motherhood". My hearts are with those of you, who are celebrating their first Mother's Day with their child/children and especially to my dear friends, holding onto their dreams, of their waiting child/children. Blessings to you ALL.

And to my wonderful Mum... I love you, wish you were here.

Sw!ne Flu

2009-05-04T21:35:00.005+09:30

Here in Adelaide, my home City, we have lots of brass statues and "arty" sculputures up our main shopping street... apparently Adelaide is also home to a few comedians?!!

Cracked me up!!! We are very serious about flu prevention here!!!

Tonight, I snuck into Tiny's room, while she slept, and snapped this gorgeous photo, of my angel, snuggling her "Tuli Cat". So sweet... I've never seen her cuddle anything before!

I also whipped up a couple of pages for the newest Digi Chicks Challenge. I couldn't decide if I wanted to do Grunge or Shabby Chic, so I did one of each!

My Shabby Chic page, features my niece (who took the "Captivated" photo of Tiny, below) - I love this photo of her.

Also, Stacey has a new freebie kit out! Love Pink & Navy!

All I do is scrapbook?

2009-05-03T08:01:00.004+09:30

Quick update on family news: We are so busy!!! I'm slowly getting my head around, all that needs to be done each day, and prioritising certain days, to get certain things done. I guess its a start?! I've got so much bookwork to do, but I'm getting there. This week I started a "one sleep" a day routine, with Tiny. The first couple of days, she only slept just over an hour. She's getting better, I think the longest she slept was 2.5 hrs. (thats more like it!) Tiny has had a few tough days, this last week. She truly is an amazing little girl. Not sure what brought on the little tantrums, maybe it was the kids going back to school, after 2 weeks of holidays? I'm finally taking Tiny to the Paediatrician this week. That'll be fun, I'm sure!

Miss M had her sports day, on Friday. She did really well - didn't come first or anything, but did a great job anyway! It rained (again - it rains at her sports day, every year).

Before the kids go to sleep, I say prayers with them. H-man tends to have bad dreams, so he's taken to asking God for particular dreams! (ie. "Dear God, I pray that I dream about playing soccer and playing with my friends etc). Well the other night he prays "Dear God, I pray that I dream about my friends having a sleepover, and Miss H* (Hman's teacher), can sleep in that bed over there"!!!! (he has 2 beds in his room!) Oh gosh, took everything within me, not to pee my pants laughing.

OK, so you're probably thinking, all I do all day, is sit around scrapbooking?!!! Its not true!!! I do spend about an hour or so a day (more, if Mr T is out late) putting together special pages for my kids. I love the challenge of a blank page (and a new kit)!! Sometimes when I take a photo - I already know, what kit I'm going to use, to present that photo!!! Oooo - I got it bad, don't I?!!!

Well the juices most have been flowing on Thursday night (while Mr T was out late!) and I whipped up a few more pages!

Photos - no dribbling!

2009-04-30T21:26:00.005+09:30

No dribbling on... just gorgeous kids, today!

This is my favourite. My 14 yr old niece took this picture - isn't it beautiful??

Attachment issus etc

2009-04-28T12:45:00.006+09:30

Of late, I've read on several of my fav. blogs, how life with an adopted toddler can not only be hard, but throw all sorts of "curly" ones at ya! Stuff that isn't "common sense" to us, Western Folk! I read a dozen books, on attachment / bonding / adoption "blues" etc, before we brought Tiny home. Of course, things are always different when you have a "real live, in-the-flesh" baby or toddler at home! I'll admit, I'm naive. I've never been one to claim to have it "altogether", or sprout knowledge on parenting. I do speak from my own experience, and my thoughts. Well, the more I get together with fellow Mum's, the more my thoughts change! That's normal, right?! I tell ya, when I do talk with my Mum friend's - I certainly walk away, thinking I'm a moron, sometimes!!!

What am I prattling on about? I'm a bit embarrassed to say, I was one who thought "How on earth can a newborn remember his or her beginnings?" Coz that made sense to me. Now, after many hours of talking and reading, I DO believe that its possible. As I said before, I don't claim to know everything... not very much at all, in fact! But I want to know more. I want to try to understand. I get very confused, as I get told "but my 18 month old is doing that, and she's not from an orphanage" so I struggle with what exactly is "normal" and what is not?

Our baby girl has only been with us 2 and a bit months. Its very very early days. I've got no idea what the future holds - I can only pray that Tiny grows up to feel loved, secure and protected. Take each day as it comes.

OK, I've done waaay to much thinking - here's the good stuff! Another free kit, at Stacy's blog (and links to 2 other blogs from there!) Mr T was watching some "shoot em up" thing on tv last night, I wasn't in the mood - so it was a good excuse to hit the scrapbooking!

I designed this page for a friend's little girl, and loved it so much, I had to do one for Tiny too!

More pages, more freebies

2009-04-25T10:15:00.006+09:30

This first page is made with the freebie kit (all except the wings on Tiny) See the links below

A couple of these, I did a while ago, but can't remember if I posted them?! I found another freebie kit, if you're interested, on Loucee Creations blog & Vicki's blog (they did a collab-kit).

My washing machine, appears to be working normally... for now! At least the repair dude, didn't charge me for the last visit. He said "the belt had partially come off, that doesn't normally happen".... of course not! it would only happen in THIS house!!!

What's the go? I have a new baby in the house, I'm completely exhausted, don't get anything achieved all day - I mean NOTHING! I start a thousand things, but nothing actually gets done. What is most ridiculous, is I have two children before Tiny, and I'm still shocked at all this?!!! How quickly I forget. Due to the exhaustion (that I feel very embarassed about, because tiny is a GREAT sleeper), and the frustration that I'm not achieveing anything, and the pressure of another person relying on me to meet their needs... I had a bit of a melt down this week. I feel so pathetic, as I've had 2 other babies, why aren't I more prepared? Because nothing prepares you. Not even past experience. I chucked a huge wobbly at Mr T, I cried, I threw stuff, I had lots of "I'm so pathetic" thoughts. I am OK. I'm just trying to find my groove. I'm just a little "derailed" at the moment. I know I'll pull it all together. The seams just exploded this week. For whatever reason, I felt so under pressure, so many people relying on me.... and can't get things done.

Ahhhh. I guess there's always next week.

When I look around me, I know I'm blessed beyond comprehension. I have absolutely nothing to complain about, whatsoever. I pick myself up. And I will try again.

Kits & Bits!

2009-04-22T08:36:00.006+09:30

I've quickly put together these two pages, from the new freebie kit from Stacy. The kits are only free for one week - so get over there and download now! I use Photoshop Elements, then download or buy kits online. Kits are usually around $1-$6 if you want to buy. Here are a couple of great stores: Sunshine Stuidos, Groovy Scraps, Scrap that idea, Peppermint Creations, Lilypad, Free Digital Scrapbooking, And then there are the blogs that offer free kits - see a my post from last week for links. Its easy-peasy, and I love it!

This first page, is from our Bali holiday in 2004, H-man had his 3rd birthday in Bali! We went on an "Elephant Safari" - was really cool!

This next page, was from our last trip, in March, we visited the new Bali Safari Park, and got to pat a real live lion (albiet I'm pretty sure he was totally wasted on some kind of sedative!)

My Washing Machine. Ahhhh, my beloved machine. It pooped itself again, on Easter Sat (why does it always happen on a long weekend - then I have to wait four days before I can even ring anyone, let alone have someone come out and fix it?!!) The repair dude, took my (rusty) little motor away, and said it'll either be the brushes ($165), or the motor ($380). A week later, my (rusty) little motor was returned, with new brushes. Its all fixed. Its still screaming like a banshee, but it working, so I'm happy. Well, kinda happy. I can't believe the amount of washing we stack up in 10 days! Our little weekend trip away, added to the carnage, because we had a bonfire too! Nice. Nothing like smoke to go through an entire bag of clothes. I managed to get about 5 loads done yesterday. I reckon there's another 10 sitting on my laundry floor! (no kidding!) I'd just stripped all the beds, the day the machine pooped itself too - so there's sheets and towels everywhere as well. And you people thought it couldn't happen - but Tiny HAS run out of long pants (that fit her). Truly. So we're down to a bit of a mish-mash ensemble today, of a mini skirt and stripey tights!

WASHING MACHINE UPDATE (5pm Wed) - Would you believe, it's shat itself again?!!! Un-freakin-believable. This time, the repair dude thinks it sounds like the belt, its either busted, or just slipped off. OH FOR PETE SAKE!!!! WHY THE HECK DIDN'T YOU CHECK THE "WHOLE" DARN MACHINE, THE LAST 3 TIMES YOU'VE BEEN HERE?!!!!! I'm really really not happy now. Still got about 5 loads on the floor - one wet one in the machine - and he's coming back in 2 days. Thankfully, I have a wonderful neighbour, who's letting me wash the "wet load" in her machine. Think I'll be visiting the laundramat tonight, to get the rest done. I'm TOTALLY sick of having piles of laundry all over my house. Oh yeah - is forecast for 5 days of rain. Typical.

And I've said the best til last:

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to my wonderful QLD friend's who finally their beautiful children in their arms. Thinking of you all, as you and your kiddies work through these initial days. No, its not really easy for anyone. But it gets better (and then it gets worse) then it gets better again! (once you're a parent, this cycle happens forever, I think?!!! Biological or not!!!)

River Weekend

2009-04-20T21:09:00.008+09:30

I was going to make a slideshow, but that sounds like, all a bit too much work, tonight!

Tiny had a ball, exploring all the sticks, bark, leaves, bottle caps and even the odd cigarette butt (ewww!) Here she is proudly presenting a big piece of bark she thought was very valuable!

Just clowning around (who else thinks she looks "cute as" in this outfit?)

Sunrise, on the river. God Bless Mr T, for getting up, and taking a very vocal Tiny out for an early morning (630am!) stroll along the river!

Mr T even took Tiny on the Ferry!We're all up - time to chase Tiny! (yes, she's still in her PJs!)

Going back for a re-run... of course, there were fierce arguments over, who actually won... I was too busy trying to take the photo, I didn't see!

Father & Daughter. Mr T decided to go all "Grizzly Adams" for the weekend! (note: stubble)

Father, Son, & "youngest" daughter! (Miss M took this pic.. isn't it great?!)

H-man digging his way to China?!

Watchin' how the big chicks do it? Do you dig it?!
H-man has an unusual take on "boat ride"! And there's no show without Punch - Tiny goes in to inspect!

Drive home... 1.5 hrs.

We had a great weekend. Tiny slept well, in her porta-cot, and even napped in her pram.

Just had to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Old Uncle Tommy and Hot-Mama Auntie Linda (didn't think you'd appreciate "Old" Auntie Linda!), and to your wonderful "River Friends", for being awesome hosts. For feeding us. For taking us out in your awesome boat. For "accomodating" our children! For "going without". And for just being great friends. THANK YOU. (now, that I've kissed your butt - I imagine the pay rise you expect is off the cards?!!)

Also, as you know, I'm a bit addicted to digital scrapbooking. I've stumbled across some fantastic blogs that offer free kits. So I thought, I'd let you know when a freebie comes up. Stacy has one this week, called Cirle of Life. Great for all those Zoo trip photos! I'll post some of my latest pages tomorrow. If you're into gorgeous kits - you should also check out SCRAP THAT IDEA store, they have loads of super cheap ones, and very reasonably priced new ones.

Gone...

2009-04-17T13:22:00.000+09:30

Up River!

See ya next week!

Love n Chocolate

2009-04-13T19:44:00.005+09:30

(Overload of the elements!)

Just had to show this one... I thought she looked uber gorgeous today in her blue dress and white headband! (which she surprisingly kept on, most of the day!) I also found a baby hairbrush, which Tiny loved, and kept trying to "brush" the headband!!!

Just had to add one of H-Man too... (back in the day, when he was a different super hero, everyday!)

Spending my time..

2009-04-10T11:11:00.005+09:30

SCRAPBOOKING! Its 11:10am Good Friday, and I'm still in my PJs!! Excellent!!!

While Tiny had her morning sleep, I thought I'd mess around with my digi-scrapbooking (again!) - its very addictive you know!! Anyway, here's what happened...

I think this one is my favourite~

I really like digital scrapbooking!

Happy Easter to you All

2009-04-09T14:18:00.002+09:30

If not for Christ, I would not have everlasting life. I'm forever thankful, for Christ's sacrifice ~ just for me. May God richly bless you, this Easter, and always... I know He has blessed me, beyond my comprehension.

This Easter I'm so aware of God's goodness, as I look into my daughter's eyes. He's answered every prayer, and fulfilled every dream. I love my family. I'm so blessed.

Progress Report

2009-04-07T21:24:00.003+09:30

Firstly HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO: this lady, this family & this family! I've followed these wonderful women, for about 3.5 years. I've seen them go through good times and bad. All the while holding on to their dream, of a daughter. At last, that dream is fulfilled... well, almost! In less than two months, these families will have their daughter's in their arms. I'm so so happy for you guys! Gives me goosebumps, and brings back so many wonderful memories of my own. It still boggles my mind, how I could feel so close, to so many "strangers" that I've never even met, who are so far away. I'm blessed to call the girls, my friends.

A friend emailed me, and asked how Tiny was going - so here's the skinny (I'm feeling extremely lazy tonight, so I've just copied and pasted from my email to her!!)

Well you know she's walking on her own now. Doesn't crawl at all now.
Knows her "nose" and "ear" and points to them when asked
Knows her name & our names (although doesn't say them, she'll look at the person if you mention their name)
She gives kisses now, when you ask for a kiss... awwww... its so sweet!
She's not a "cuddly" girl though. Will have a short cuddle when she wakes up, but she is definitely little Miss Independent!
Freaks out when I leave the room... even if she can see me, but can see I'm leaving, she starts a whiney-cry!
She loves Mr T now - and the kids, and doesn't like going to other people, even women.
She says Ta
She's eating steamed rice again (she refused to eat it once we left China!) but only if it has soy sauce on it!
She LOVES sweet stuff - especially CHOCOLATE!
Eats just about everything, but doesn't like tomato (or pasta with tomato base sauce)

Prefers "soupy" kind of food
Shes VERY loud!

She gives Milo a run for his money, in the pooping stakes!!!
Loves her bath - any water, for that matter!
Not so keen on the dogs. Is getting better. But TOTALLY let the "I've never been more scared in my life" scream when they first came near her.
Hated grass, but if ok with it now.. still not her favourite thing!
Haven't taken her to the beach yet... so the sand will be interesting!
LOves music, and dance when she hears it (even if its just one of her toys!) - she even bops along in the car!
She waves her fingers in the air, and sings... that means she wants you to sing twinkle little star
Loves books.
Not interested in TV - not even Wiggles etc
Not interested in dolls or teddies at all, but loves to push her own stroller, and dolls strollers
Doesn't like things on her head or in her hair - is keeping them on a little longer now, maybe 15 mins.
She laughs out loud, often - its the sweetest sound!

So thats about it, rivetting stuff, hey?!

Here's a movie, from tonight. Mr T found if he stomped hard on the floorboards, they made a loud sound, which totally enthralled Tiny!!! I just love her laugh, its contagious. She totally looks like "Happy Feet" at the end of the movie!! And Mr T looks like he's from the "RiverDance" troop!! (PS sorry for the crap heap looking lounge room... ironing board is out - high chair is out - magazine on the floor!!! Where the heck are those cleaning fairies?!!)

Here's a couple of pics from today... I just can't get enough of this face!!! She pulls 100 different faces everyday! She cracks me up!

And here's the finale.... I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME A CAPTION FOR THIS PHOTO - leave it in the comments! I'll pick a winner in a few days... you won't win anything, other than the satisfaction that you're a witty, clever individual!!

Milo's birthday

2009-04-05T15:12:00.005+09:30

Its Milo's birthday today, and to celebrate, our friend (who owns Milo's Mummy and Dadd) threw a first birthday party, at the beach, for the 6 puppies! It was hilarious! We got official invitations on a photo of the Mummy and Daddy dogs. We were set to have coffee at the Kiosk on the beach, at 830am. When we got up, it was pouring with rain! Not great beach weather (particularly with 3 kids, and 2 dogs!)

Here's some pics:

"Good grief! Do you know what time it is... on a SUNDAY morning? And you've dragged me down to the beach, in the wind and rain? What sort of Mother are you, anyway? I'm ringin' the social worker."

Miss M gives Milo a walk before the rest of the party goers arrive

Chewy prefers to run

Windy Beach

CHAOS!!!If you can believe it - Milo's Mummy and Daddy are both very curly Spoodles... I think Milo was the milkman's puppy?!!

I wanted to get some nice pics of the three kids together, for a gift I'm making for my Mum and Mum-in-law for Mothers Day... thought they were really good (finally! a decent pic of the 3 of them together!!)

CONGRATULATIONS!

2009-04-04T19:33:00.002+10:30

Huge Congratulations to THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY! On the arrival of Emerson Grace!

Now... Mr Stork (otherwise known as dopey DHL staff)... I have at least 3 more friends that are in urgent need of being united with their children... PLEASE make it snappy.

Now to more pressing matters....

Truly... I need someone who's good at "pressing"! (BTW... its all clean... just in case you thought I was one to air my dirty laundry on the web!) Its one friggin huge pile. Look how scared Tiny looks sitting up there!!!

Australia to China

Gong Hey Fat Choy!

Sunday Snapshot - 22 Jan 2012

Counting Down!

Sunday Snapshot - New Life

Christmas in pics

Merry Christmas!

Brave Face for Santa!

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

What happened to Christmas?!!

Sunday Snapshot 13 Nov 2011

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot - 31st Oct

More pics!

Sunday Snapshot

Kangaroo Island

Our Baby is FOUR!

New Movie

Sunday Snapshot - Funny!

Family Day Video

Introducing - My Little Boy...

Something a bit spesh...

First Day of Kindy!!!

Sunday Snapshot - *rewind*

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot - DIESEL

USA DISNEYLAND & LEGOLAND

USA PICS - HOLLYWOOD & ANAHEIM

USA PICS - LAS VEGAS

USA PICS Grand Canyon & Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA America Pt IV

VIVA LAS VEGAS!! America Part III

America Part II

We're in AMERICA!

Sunday Snapshot - 1ST MAY 2011

My (Easter) Sunday Snapshot!

Sunday Snapshot

Cute Moment

Sunday Snapshot

BOUT FLIPPIN' TIME!!!

Count Down...

Waiting Children

Tiny today

Tiny sings!

TWO YEARS!

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Pool Pics

Nearly two years?!

Merry Christmas!!!

Random photos

COMING TO AMERICA!!!

A little Sun!

My Baby is Three!

Little movie clip

We're still breathing!!!

House Hand Over

New pics!

Wot's up?!!

A Year of Tiny...

ONE YEAR AS A FAMILY OF FIVE!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

23 Dec 2008... 23 Dec 2009

12 DEC 2009

Eye Candy for you!

12th November 2009

First Haircut

Its been 8 months!

Lil Movie

SHE'S TWO!!!

12 Sept 2009

7 months... already?!!

Its Official!

Digi Scrap Freebie kit

CONGRATULATIONS CATHERINE!!!

6 months... already?!!

Tari-licious Film

Its been FIVE months!!!

WEE LITTLE GIRLS!!!

Its been four months!

The time has come?

Sunday Snapshot - rewind