Sunday Snapshot {his A2}

The day after Christmas my baby and his sister's A2 series Razor scooter had an encounter.

More specifically, my baby's face and the handlebars of his sister's A2 series Razor scooter had an encounter.

This was the result.

the black eye didn't fully set in until the next day

After that brush with vision catastrophe, no way was I gonna let him near another Razor until he was 5 ~ maybe even 8.

But he so wanted to ride.  And then I remembered my own bumps and bruises, both physical and to my ego, as I learned to ski about ten years ago.  I was gonna get down those black diamond slopes with Ian by the end of the season or die trying.

I could see in my baby's eyes how important it was to him to learn.

So I let him practice on very flat surfaces while his big sister was in school and her purple scooter was available.  The first few days brought several wipeouts and I was just about to go back to my original position about him riding.  But he kept picking himself up and brushing himself back off.  He was so determined.

As the days went by his awkward riding ability became more and more graceful.

And his painfully slow snail pace increased to one that I can barely out-run.

So this weekend Ian and I decided it was time.  (And it may have helped that a major toy chain had their Razors on mega-sale).  Yesterday afternoon while he was napping my mom and I made a run to pick up his very own blue "stoo-ger."  His expression when we handed him the box was priceless.  Couldn't have gotten a bigger smile unless Lightning McQueen had appeared in our driveway.

Of course you as soon as we had that scooter out of the box and snapped in place, all he wanted to do was go to the cul de sac.

Once there, he was a focused little guy.  It was time to forge a bond between boy and scooter.  Finally he was free to ride, ride, ride on his own set of wheels.

And ride he did!

He even decided to try to race his Daddy.

Daddy won because he is still faster ~ for now...

The sun continued to sink lower and lower in the sky as he happily zoomed across the pavement, but eventually hunger won out and it was time to head home.

I do believe it's just the beginning of a long and happy relationship between a scooter, that begs to be ridden ~ fast, ~  and a little boy ~ no longer a baby ~ who is thrilled to oblige...

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Don't know what Sunday Snapshot is? Stefanie, the creator, describes it as:

"Sunday Snapshot is just a way to capture that special someone or something right now, because we all know time is fleeting... right now will be a distant memory before we know it!"

To join in, stop by her blog to get details.

Sunday Snapshot {5 years}

My memory is simply not what it used to be.  So many moments that I thought I'd never forget have become lost in the recesses of my mind.

But there are a few that remain with amazing clarity...

Rewind five years, almost exactly to the minute.  I can still hear Amy calling our last name and I stumbled forward to receive my baby girl.  I finally felt the weight of her in my arms.  As I found my way back to "our spot" against the wall, she gazed at me with a curious stare.

In that instant, my life was forever changed.

And back to present time.  She sits at my feet on the living room floor, watching Princess Lillifee with her sister.  Could it really have been five years already?

One glance at her says yes.

Her height is our most obvious reminder of the passage of time, but there has been other growth as well. For both of us.

I mean, we may have passed a rigorous home study, but when that orphanage nanny placed Ky in my arms, I had no idea the enormity of the role I had just stepped into.  Five years later, I'm still learning...

Thank goodness she has been overall an easy one to parent.

Today we took advantage of living very close to two of her "China sisters" and went out to celebrate.  Thankfully the Asian Bistro we selected wasn't overly busy and could handle a party of 16.

the three "gotcha day girls" and their sisters

the five brothers
(yes, that means 10 of our party were 12 or under...)

It sorta takes my breath away when I look at her and these two sisters friends.

Kylie has grown up right before my eyes.  And while it seems like it has been so fast, since she was 11 months old, I've been there for it all.

What a marvelous role I've been assigned.

"Heredity determines the color of her eyes, but environment lights them up." ~ Sentinel, Pomeroy, Ohio (Newspaper)

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Don't know what Sunday Snapshot is? Stefanie, the creator, describes it as:

"Sunday Snapshot is just a way to capture that special someone or something right now, because we all know time is fleeting... right now will be a distant memory before we know it!"

To join in, stop by her blog to get details.

Sunday Snapshot {the year of the dragon}

Last year, to welcome in the year of the rabbit, we experimented with making jiaozi on Lunar New Year's Eve.  Our dumplings weren't quite dim sum quality, but they sure tasted good and we had a great time making them.  We vowed to make homemade jiaozi a yearly tradition in our home.

Then the Lunar New Year snuck up on me.  I'll blame it on the fact that the date jumps around so...

To ring in the year of the dragon, we didn't do much more than ask the kiddos if they wanted to sport silks to church last Sunday.

Dumplings or not, they did wish most everyone they saw "Gung hay fat choy" (wishing you good fortune and happiness in the new year) and got lots of smiles both at church and at the Asian restaurant where we had lunch.

While my crew was forgiving that I had overlooked blocking off New Year's Eve for dumpling making, my oldest ~ who has the memory of an elephant ~ did want to know when we'd be making our jiaozi for New Year.  And since we had so much fun making them a second time with friends last year, we invited our neighbors to join us Friday night for a dumpling making party and feast.

While Abbey and Elijah hadn't made dumpings before, they weren't afraid to jump right in and get their hands a bit dirty.

Caleb quickly seemed to remember the process and cranked out dumplings as fast as Ian could scoop filling

Elijah and Daniel getting a little help moistening the edges by my mom.

DQ watches Abbey's technique.  (and what is it with my girls and gymnastics leotards?)

Ky decides moistening BEFORE filling is easiest.

Within 15 minutes, all 75 dumplings were filled.  The only thing that happened more quickly was how fast those 75 dumplings were eaten.

Then Saturday we went to the CNY celebration hosted by our metro area's Chinese American Society.

And yes, I did sport my cheongsam.  I'm tellin' ya, Kylie has a memory like a steel trap.  She may have been only 2 1/2 when we traveled to meet her first sibling, but she remembered that I bought myself a dress on that trip.  And each year when she has worn hers, she's asked me if I was going to wear mine.  I was pretty self conscious about it, but this year I realized that it won't likely be much longer that my girls would want me to dress like them, so I bought a pair of leggings to wear under it and decided to hold my head high.  Ky and DQ's smiles were worth any second glances I got...

While we were there we took time to do a few crafts.

And of course the artists had to proudly display their dragon creations!

This year we carefully studied the performance schedule for the day to guarantee we would catch a dragon dance.  

being able to carefully study the dragon while it was not dancing helped all four not to be frightened ~ too bad Ian and I didn't think of that the first year...

We ran into our neighborhood pals while there.  Please imagine if you will the spectacle we created in getting this gang to stand together and smile...

yes, we do realize how blessed we are to live in the same neighborhood with two other families that "look like us" ~ one of whom we traveled with on our first trip to China in 2007.

Caleb may have gotten to test his skill at Chinese yo-yo,

he was actually freakishly good considering it was his first try

but his smile would indicate that the highlight of the day was running into "the one with the purse!"

This year's festival had less booths hawking trinkets (a disappointment for the girls) and crazy long lines for the dim sum (a disappointment for Ian and I), but we did get to see lots of dancing, singing, and of course the dragon dance.  Overall we had a great time, best modeled by the one who left it all at the festival.

despite the noise around him, wee one did indeed give up the fight with sleep before we headed out

We may have been behind on celebrating, and may have missed a few of the traditions (no haircuts, no new outfits unless buying summer wardrobes at consignment last week count, and the big housecleaning before the holiday didn't quite happen) but our family is looking forward to the year of the dragon.  A new year is always exciting.

Gung hay fat choy!

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Don't know what Sunday Snapshot is? Stefanie, the creator, describes it as:

"Sunday Snapshot is just a way to capture that special someone or something right now, because we all know time is fleeting... right now will be a distant memory before we know it!"

To join in, stop by her blog to get details.

Sunday Snapshot {what He meant}

While reading a blog that I frequent one day this week, I was struck with an image that made the following verse come to life.

And he [Jesus] said:“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  ~ Matthew 18:3

Despite a culture that screams, "me, Me, ME!" and a world that says, "be more, have more, do more," a six year old gives her own crocs to a child who had only one pair of tattered flip flops to her name.

I know those shoes.  They were ones bought for her just last summer to match those of her cousins.  They may look old and worn, but it was just the dirt and dust of a few days in Honduras on them ~ those shoes still had a lot of life left in them.

I know those shoes because on the day after Christmas they still belonged to my beautiful niece.  Just a few days later she transferred ownership to a little girl she met in Honduras.  Not because anyone told her to.  Just because she saw the need and acted upon it.  The moment was recorded only because my sister stumbled upon it during their time in Honduras working in some orphanages.

I suspect this is what He meant by becoming like little children.

May we all strive to become more childlike every day...

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Don't know what Sunday Snapshot is? Stefanie, the creator, describes it as:

"Sunday Snapshot is just a way to capture that special someone or something right now, because we all know time is fleeting... right now will be a distant memory before we know it!"

To join in, stop by her blog to get details.

Sunday Snapshot {waiting their turn}

It truly has been "the most wonderful time of the year."  Our family grew by one in 2011 and here at six months of being "the M6," we've reached a new equilibrium.  On top of feeling that we've caught a groove, this season we enjoyed introducing the wee one to our yearly traditions of attending a small town parade, putting up our tree, baking mass amounts of cookies to share, and going caroling.  We've so enjoyed celebrating the Christmas season as a family.

And yet, as happy as I am, my heart is also twinged with heaviness.

Why exactly?

Because I have seen and can't forget some of those waiting for their turn to "come home."

This summer at New Day I played with, held, and listened to other children as excitedly called out, "Mommy!" to any female who walked in the room.  They may be young, and they may not know much English at this point, but they've watched their friends "go home" to loving, forever families and while they are cared for so well in their foster home, they too long for their own set of parents.

I just know that sweet Noah's parents are out there somewhere.

He seems to know it too!

He is an amazing little guy who has overcome much with the love of his foster mother.  I dare you to check the posts tagged Noah on the New Day blog and not fall for him yourself.  Even if you aren't his forever family, you can join me in praying that they will find him soon.

Another sweetie that captured my heart was little Lucy.

Every time I pulled out my camera while visiting the preschool she had a wry little grin for me.

She seems to have a zest for life and her future forever mommy will cherish her sweet spirit.

And I certainly can't forget about Eliana.

Anytime my lap was open, she was in it.  And she'd happily call out "Mama, mama!" the entire time I'd hold her.

And if she wasn't in my lap, she was doing everything possible to get my attention.  She is a giggly little gal and would add lots of life to a family.

There's one other sweetie who needs a family of her very own, Miss Ella.

I didn't get to meet her in person , but I highly respect one who holds her every day and pours much love into that sweet soul.

Because of her condition, Ella does need a very special family, but I have no doubt that they are out there.  Would you help spread the word?

These precious four children ~ along with many others ~ are so well cared for right now.  New Day has done amazing things for their health and spirits.  And yet, as wonderful as their current home is, nothing can quite replace the dedicated love of a forever family.

Will you join in with me in praying that 2012 will see them have their turn to go home? We're putting their pictures on our fridge and will pray over them daily.  And oh!  How will we celebrate when we see the much longed for "*" beside their name on the Our children page that signifies their family is on the way!

**If you think one of these darlings may fill out your family, email me at fireworksandfireflies@gmail.com and I'll put you in touch with a contact from our most recent adoption agency.  I'd be willing to bet she can help you get your dossier together "lickety-split" so you can bring your newest family member home.**

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Don't know what Sunday Snapshot is? Stefanie, the creator, describes it as:

"Sunday Snapshot is just a way to capture that special someone or something right now, because we all know time is fleeting... right now will be a distant memory before we know it!"

To join in, stop by her blog to get details.

Sunday Snapshot {Small town parade}

A small town parade.

That's where we found ourselves two days after Thanksgiving.  The kind of small town parade that features every firetruck in the county along with most of the riding lawn mowers.

It wouldn't seem that a procession of mostly rescue vehicles, local town officials, the grinch in a dentist chair, and wooden trailers being pulled by tractors would be blog worthy.

Until you consider that for one member of our family, it was "the very first parade."

at this point wondering what all the fuss was about

Those very same firetrucks that I found loud and somewhat annoying with their blaring sirens totally captivated my littlest one who loves his firetruck 'bank' (blanket).

He was spellbound by it all.

we watched with grandma m, grandma s and a bunch of friends from our hometown.  (i taught the sweet girl wearing pink in two and three year old preschool, and her little sister was in ky's class before we moved)

And then, after the rescue vehicles, it got even better.  People in cars and on floats started throwing candy at the crowd.  Wee one could hardly contain his excitement!

If I were to guess, he was thinking, "forget walking from house to house trick-or-treating, here they throw candy at you!  It's there for the taking!"  I can still hear his little voice hollering, "Nook Mommy, nook!" with each piece of candy he retrieved.

yes, he racked up on the candy.  between the two boys they raked in as much as they got on halloween.

And then the ultimate surprise.  Suddenly the candy being pelted at him was being tossed by his daddy, sisters and cousins!  If he had been excited before now he was beside himself.  

love that we are still loved enough by our old church to be included in the float...

Following the parade we milled around the town square to get some free cookies and participate in a craft or two provided by our church home.

making reindeer dust with ms. katie and aunt ci ci

saving it for the big night!

learning the legend of the candy cane

While there we saw dear friends and were reminded that while much time has passed since we were part of one another's everyday lives, the friendship lives on, both between the parents and kids.  

my big girl with her cousin and sweet friend

 Oh yes, a small town parade.  Not one that gets covered in the New York Times.  But it is one that is part of our holiday season year after year.

It's part of our tradition...

we didn't even stay for the tree lighting ~ no nap was catching up ~ but it was a good time anyway!

I look forward to little one remembering it with excitement next year!

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Don't know what Sunday Snapshot is? Stefanie, the creator, describes it as:

"Sunday Snapshot is just a way to capture that special someone or something right now, because we all know time is fleeting... right now will be a distant memory before we know it!"

To join in, stop by her blog to get details.