THE Flu Strikes

What a wonderful way to start summer vacation! Frances came down with the flu on Thursday - high fever and feeling punky. She is on the road to recovery today; hasn't had a fever since this morning. Once the swine flu hit 10,000 cases here, they stopped testing for it and said to assume it's the swine if you get the flu. Hmmmmmmmmmm

On Wednesday, Frances "graduated" from elementary school!!! In September she will start middle school, which makes a cold shiver run down my spine. Should a child in puberty and a mother in menopause really share the same home???
Here she is with her fabulous teacher.



In other exciting news, Analise graduated from the little kid karate class to the Juniors' class. She got her red belt on Saturday, which signifies that she is a new junior. Ana is thrilled!

She won't be in the same class as Lewis and Elly, which is a very good thing. Such a big kid!

Since school is winding down, s*l*o*w*l*y, the first graders of the family are having several theme days.
Today was "hat day." To jazz things up a bit, I embellished and told Lewie and Elly that it was "crazy hat day."
I think they look pretty dang cute.



Lewie loves to watch Sponge Bob so he is "Mr Crabs" when he wears this hat and he walks around yelling "I'm feelin' a little CRABBY!"


Who knows how I'll dress them for "farm day" next week.

Here come the monkey sock bride

If I ever get married, I have the dress picked out. Isn't it AWESOME??




Update: Due to Suzanne's brilliant idea, I have ditched the wedding plan. I'm going to feverishly knit all summer to make my dress, in time to drop Frances off on her first day of middle school in September! Thank you my sister!

Read o' the week

Happy birthday or whatever was f*u*n*n*y. I was cracking up on the first page and read many passages out loud to the lawyer..... some I could barely get out because I was doing that laugh-so-hard-you-can't-be-understood laugh.
The author, Annie Choi, also has a website annietown.com

Ten years

Ten years ago today, I became a mother. I was scared and excited and Frances was terrified. All the nannies and babies were in a hotel room, waiting for Frances to stop screaming. When there was a lull, everyone in our group was called down to receive the babies. I met Frances in a hotel hallway in Nanning!


Aunt Suzie and Frances on a train to Guilin.


Frances wanted to be held all the time and liked/disliked Lisa and I equally!


When we got a little smile or laugh, it was such a treat.


We celebrate every adoption day with a cake and a song. Frances didn't want a lot of reminiscing and that's ok.


She didn't say no to the cake!


June 7, 1999 was the most amazing day of my life!

11 years old

Yup, 11 years old. Just a couple of years ago Frances looked like this, little toothless, baldy wonderbaby.


How did this happen?


She was very casual about being another year older on her b-day. Until it was time to open the pressies.
UGGGGGG SLIPPERSSSSSSS - OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGG


The loudest screech was for sharpies.......... yes, the girl has a thing for office supplies. These sharpies are gold and silver oil-based. Special, very very special.


One of a few shirts from one of my favorite places to shop - Marshalls.


Instead of cake, Frances wanted a make-your-own-sundae dessert. I gladly obliged.


10 years ago today I was in the air, over the Pacific Ocean, on my way to China. Hard to believe....... more to come!