Let the Celebration Begin!

Sarah Martin's birthday week began yesterday.  Yep, birthdays are a BIG deal around here.  The girls' birthday weeks are also affectionately called "Jilli-Gras" and "Sarah-Gras", because our birthday related excitement trumps any Mardi Gras celebration.  I even overheard Jillian tell Sarah Martin a few days ago that she could play with her beloved toys and books, because it was her birthday month.  Makes my heart sing.  Last year I blogged about our birthday pillow tradition.  My girls LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the happy birthday pillow.  We all sleep on this pillowcase each year during our birthday month...yes, even Jason (the girls insist).  I highly recommend this silly birthday tradition.  It is a source of much joy at our house.  Sarah Martin also received Boots as a wragglefratz (a gift for absolutely no reason) to kick off her week.

"Sarah-Gras 2010"

CCCWA Visits UAB

Delegates from the CCCWA (formerly known as the CCAA) toured the UAB International Adoption Clinic in Birmingham yesterday and Sarah Martin and I had the honor of meeting them during their visit. Sarah Martin participated as a mock patient in the speech clinic during the tour.  Physicians and therapists were assigned specific patients so the CCCWA could gain a better understanding of the medical, emotional and developmental support offered to children and parents once they arrive home from China.  Each group of delegates were interested in Sarah Martin's care and asked several questions about upcoming surgeries and about her speech and language development, which are within normal limits for her age.  The goal of this visit is to further enhance relations between China's child welfare program and the USA.  These officials are scheduled meet other adoptive parents and children, child welfare experts and other adoption related professionals during visits to Washington D.C., Georgia, Michigan and New York later this month.

  (BTW~ Sarah Martin and I are standing at the far right in the above photo).

My Latest Projects

I've been crazy busy doing either one of three things lately. 

#1

Getting the girls settled in school. 

Jillian LOVES being a 1st grader and has declared on more than one occasion that school is her "thing".  Sarah Martin began attending preschool one day each week and has finally decided that she enjoys playing with new toys and new friends and no longer tears up when I drop her off at school each week.  Woo Hoo!

Jillian was awarded the Golden Apple Award last week "for showing excellent character and citizenship at school".  I am super proud of my gal!

#2

Unpacking a blue million boxes and organizing our new house.

I have managed to hang three things on the walls to date.

This map in my office....luuurve!

Jason is still scratching his head while trying to understand how I successfully claimed this office as my own.  He didn't even see it coming. 

I also hung this mirror and coat hook in the entry way.

  You can't even see that they are off center in this photo (or can you?).

The Playroom.

This room is the closest to being complete in the entire house.

Rest assured trusty blog joggers, this sofa is fully slipcovered and I (thankfully) had the presence of mind to purchase a spare slipcover to use while the filty one is being bleached and/or Oxy-Clean(ed) in my washing machine.

My goal is to have my house completely decorated in time for Sarah Martin's birthday party next month.

Wish me luck.

Wall decorations waiting to be safely secured to the walls (magnetic board, art paper holder, crayon bucket).  I plan to hang a round mirror above the art table to serve as a fancy beauty shop mirror when the make-up and hair brushes come out.

The Reading Nook.

This is Jillian's favorite area in the house.

The Cupboard Under the Stairs.

AKA "The Get-To-School-On-Time Closet" because all school-related paraphernalia lives here.

This is my favorite area in the house.

#3

I've spent way too much time perusing Pinterest.

I have redecorated my house in my head at least 2 dozen times thanks to Pinterest.  Also, I've stumbled upon some tasty recipes while there. 

I've made this, this, this, and this. 

YUMMO!

Next up...

Getting our old house ready to put in real estate. 

All it needs is some touch-up paint and a thorough cleaning. 

Oh, by the way, We've Moved!

I know, it's crazy.  Jason and I have lived in the same small town our entire married life, so this is a big deal to us.  We have only moved about an hour west of our hometown, so we aren't too far away from friends and family members. Our main concern is getting Jillian settled and ready to begin the 1st grade this coming Monday.  She has met her teacher and fellow classmates and she is super excited about school.  My summer has been consumed with this move...finding a house, packing, moving, unpacking, etc...so I just couldn't be bothered to blog.  However, I have photos ready to upload here to get me up-to-date.  Lots of fun photo-filled times are ahead for the girls.

I had to change my email address, because I no longer have charter Internet.  My new email address is now:  sunnyinchina@live.com  BTW- We had no home phone, Directv or Internet for almost TWO weeks.  TORTURE.  I'm just now getting caught up with my favorite blogs.  Two wonderful families are currently in China meeting their precious daughters. Click HERE & HERE to follow their trip. 

I hope you all had a relaxing summer.  See ya soon!

Happy 4th, Y'all!

Look at how much my babies have grown in the past year!

July 4, 2011

July 4, 2010

More festive family photos from the 4th to come!  I'm off to watch Band of Brothers with the hubs.

Thousand Island Dressing

1 cup ketchup
1 quart mayo (I use Hellmann's Mayonnaise)
4 boiled eggs, finely chopped
2 small onions, finely chopped
1/2 cup cottage cheese
3 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp Worcestershire
chopped sweet pickles or a little pineapple juice (I use small amount of sweet pickles)

*Mix all ingredients together.  Chill.  You may thank me now.

More Summer Fun

Show Choir Mini-Clinic

Pool Party!

No sun?  No problem!

May Madness

Thought you might want to see pictures from our super busy, but super fun month of May. 

Jillian's dance recital was held May 21st and we are so proud of our tiny dancer.  This was Jillian's fourth dance revue and we look forward to seeing Sarah Martin hoof it across the stage next May.

My gals celebrating Tuck & Griff's 6th birthday after dress rehearsal.

Kindergarten Graduation

May 26th

Pre-graduation festivities.

Graduation ceremony...

What was Sarah Martin up to during kindergarten commencement?

Lovin' life!

Field Day!

May 27th

I'm going to miss Mrs. Chamblee as much or maybe even more than Jillian.  She had a fabulous kindergarten year and I was a little sad to see it end. 

We were busy with VBS last week and swimming lessons this week.  Other than driving Jillian to twice weekly gymnastics practice, I foresee many, many hours of relaxing by the pool with my girls during the next two months.  Ahhhh, I love summer!

Happy Memorial Day

Hope your day was filled with friends, family, food and freedom.

Sarah Martin & Ear Tubes: Round 2

Please say a quick prayer for my Sarah Martin.  She is having tubes replaced in her ears first thing tomorrow morning.  Her first set of myringotomy tubes were inserted during her palate repair surgery in April 2010 and both tubes have managed to work themselves loose.  It's a simple procedure, but it's a momma's job to worry.  Thank you in advance for all happy thoughts and prayers.

Update:

Sarah Martin's myringotomy was a success!

She napped during the drive home. 

She is now tucked in tight...

in my bed...

watching Max & Ruby...

while eating french fries. 

All is right with the world.

Our Weekend in Chattanooga

The tornadoes that devastated the south on Wednesday, April 27th knocked out power lines across the state. We were in need of groceries, pull-ups and hot water, so my mom and I took the girls to Chattanooga for a long weekend while Jason worked 18+ hours/day as he surveyed damage to his plant and secured generators to supply electricity to his three plants and feed mill.

Jillian is still traumatized by the tornado that hit our small town in April 2010 and panics at the mere mention of tornadoes.

Leaving town Thursday morning.

We witnessed damage in Dekalb County, AL on our trip to TN.

Once we arrived, we checked into our hotel then hopped the shuttle to eat dinner here.

Later that night, the girls played while mom and I tuned in to watch coverage of the storm damage on the news.

We were shocked.

We turned in early that night to prepare for the Royal Wedding on Friday morning.

My little royal watchers.

Wasn't Kate gorgeous?

We headed out after the wedding on Friday morning to explore Chattanooga...and eat rock candy.

My mother is somewhat obsessed with historical markers.

Her dream is to visit every historical marker in Alabama.

Our first stop was the Creative Discovery Museum.

After lunch, we visited the Tennessee Aquarium and IMAX Theater.

We loved the penguins.

...and crabs.

We spent the day strolling the streets of Chattanooga on Saturday.

I stumbled upon the Chattanooga River Market (held on Saturdays from March 19-September 24) at the Tennessee Aquarium Plaza.  How did I not know about this event?!?!  I purchased two precious dresses for the girls from Jules for Kids.  She had the cutest things and no two dresses/outfits are the same!  Check out her website HERE.  The Chattanooga Market is held on Sundays from May 1-December 17th.  JILL, clear your calendar and let's kidnap Amos for a road trip to this Sunday market ASAP!

I returned home to an empty fridge on Sunday afternoon. 

Thank goodness we filled the cooler with groceries before leaving Chattanooga.

Jillian and Sarah Martin spent the remainder of the weekend playing "storm shelter".

What a scary lesson to learn.