Thanksgiving 2008

Ahhh! Linda, Michel and Mom visiting, sipping veuve cliquot, pedicures and beach weather. What more could one want on Thanksgiving? Amy is in her glory. Our normal threesome has become 6 this weekend, and she is relishing the company and the attention. I hope just one year of my life I can get the cooking right. Usually I just botch the "roasted root vegetables". I'm notorious for undercooking hard vegetables. This year the sweet potatoes and carrots were like rocks, the turkey meat was red and gobbling, and the brussel sprouts were raw. If there is anything to the raw food movement, then we are all healthier today.

Does every parent melt when they get their child's "school" photo?

Oh my goodness! Could she be any cuter, prettier or angelic?

Thanksgiving prep weekend

We had grandiose plans this weekend, which were abruptly halted. Don and I both had fun with a GI bug, that we probably picked up from Amy's preschool. Nice weekend! Robust Amy, seems to have fended it off with her miraculous immune system. She was so sweet, giving us space to nap and hurl. Don't worry, Linda, Mom and Michel. We're fine now and you won't catch it!

Look at the angel. I am so lucky to have a child to love. And I am so extremely fortunate to have AMY to love. She makes our days so much fun, and gives us endless fodder for laughter.

She went with me on the shopping trip for the Thanksgiving meal. It was a hoot. She enjoyed crossing off the items as they went into the cart. I had to show her the word, but she proudly crossed the words out with a gleeful smile.

Weekend stuff

This adorable picture of Don and Amy on the couch is a ritual of theirs, which Don calls, the "Puzzle-Off". They both do a board puzzle and compete for time. Amy shrieked with joy when she "won" this weekend.

Amy and I went to see Escape 2 Madagascar this weekend with our neighbors. Our chosen time was sold out, so we passed time on the merry go round and in the Disney Store. We all enjoyed the movie.

Thanks to Dr. Chang and our trip to Orlando

Dr. Chang graced Hampton Roads Families with Children from China with a live screening of his DVD, the Long Wait For Home. He is a talented and generous man, who is touching the lives of international adoption families, and he is helping the many orphans in China who are not in the international adoption pool. See link to upper right.

Ahhhhhhhhh! The best trip to Orlando ever. Orlando with a child is 9,000 times better than without. Universal Studios/ Islands of Adventure is really, really fun. The last few days have been great on so many levels. Don had a conference at the Leow's Hawaiian (or Polynesian) resort at Universal Studios. When I visited the site, I saw an opportunity. The property was lovely, and the service was nonpareil. We had great family time, and I had great Mommy, Amy time.

Cute Amy-ism: On the first day we gathered our lunch to an outside table in Universal Studios. Per habit, I poured the top two inches off of my coffee to add lots of milk. Amy reflexively mimicked me by pouring the top two inches of her milk off. I had poured my coffee into the dirt surrounding a near-by tree. Amy poured her milk onto the plate holding her ham sandwich and potatoe salad. We held back our laughter as she proceeded to eat her ham sandwich, which was dripping with milk.

Ahhhhhhhhh! Suess-land in Islands of Adventure. Magical! The best face painters at Universal Studios work in this land.

Ahhhhhhhhh! Kid-zone at Universal Studios. She loved the Woody-coaster, Barney show, animal show and the Curious George Ball factory.

Wierd: She freaked out in "The Cat in the Hat" ride. On the flip side, she insisted on riding the Pterodactyl. She waited (I know you won't believe this) 45 minutes patiently to do the ride of her own selection. This ride seemed way scary-er to me, as you are in an open seat, gliding high above "Jurassic Park".

Halloween!

I'm so lucky to be experiencing Halloween and other child-delights vicariously through Amy. Don stayed home to give out candy, Amy and I went door to door, and Margaret our darling babysitter joined us. Amy, Margaret and I came home to find our next door neighbors and their little doll hanging out inside with Daddy. The kids shared candy, and the adults shared fermented grape juice. After the next door neighbors left, we enjoyed the sushi which had been delivered and placed in the refrigerator. Note to self: eat dinner after trick or treating and a few pieces of candy. Amy ate all of her salmon sushi, tofu and edamame. Had we tried to eat prior to the evening events, she would have been too excited to eat.