Finding Nemo on Ice

Kamryn and I shared a girls afternoon on Saturday with my friend Kris and her daughter Sophie. We went to the United Center to see the Disney on Ice performance of Finding Nemo. The girls really enjoyed it. It was fun to see them ooh and ah over the skating fish. It really helped that Kamryn has seen this movie before so she knew the characters. I was really amazed at the costumes and all the props. They really know how to do it right.

Kris and I spared no expense for this outing. The girls came home with lots of Nemo stuff to help remember the day. They got the official program that came with a coloring book and shark hat, a professional picture of the two of them for the fridge, and a light up Nemo toy, even after we found out that was $20. Yikes, there was no turning back, the girls had to have them. Kamryn enjoyed a $4.00 little box of popcorn but at least she didn't whine much when I said no to the $10 bag of cotton candy! At the end of the day, she was happy enough to just carry her bag of loot.
















I tried to videotape a little bit, but it was too dark and it really didn't turn out that great. It is cute though to hear Kamryn saying, (yes talking!) "time for school, time for school" in the beginning of the performance when Nemo goes to school. It's cute to see her clap too. I'm learning how to download videos onto the blog so maybe I will try to get it on here sometime soon.

Speaking of school, she did great this morning getting out of the car! No tears, no scared look just happy and ready to play.

It was nice for the boys to have time with dad on Saturday. The three of them picked up Kris' two boys and they went to play laser tag and video games. When we got home to Kris' house, her son Steven was ready to go to the homecoming dance. We took some pictures and of course Kamryn had to get in a few. She just loves the attention from the boys! It's funny how she really smiles when she's in a picture with Steven and when I try to get her to smile for a picture, she doesn't really cooperate.

My little blessing started Little Blessings

Kamryn started going to a mom's day out program on Mondays at Little Blessings Preschool at a local church. The first day I walked her in, she cried horribly when I left. The second week she had a yucky nose so although we went to drop off snacks since we were on snack duty, she didn't stay. She did however reach for the teacher and wanted to be held by her that day for a minute. Yesterday I dropped her off via the car drop off line and when the woman came to the car to get her, she looked so so sad. She wanted to cry but she held it in. I felt so guilty for leaving her. When I picked her up, the ladies said she did great and on her little report card in her backpack was circled these three words: cheerful, content, vocal. Ha! I know about the vocal part! Even though she doesn't really talk words and sentences so much, she is always making noise of some sort, whether it's whining (most of the time lately), singing or just loud babble. Mondays from 9-1:30 is my little time for peace and quiet and my power hours to get things done. The guilt didn't last long on Monday . . . moms need "me" time too and as much as I love my little blessing, those four and half hours are a weekly treasured blessing too.

(see, she's still cheerful that night right before bed!)

Time to buy stuff like this?!

Kamryn went potty on the toilet tonight for the first time! You see, she likes to sit on the potty but she never does anything so this first is so exciting for me. If you want to be spared the details, stop reading. Otherwise, here's how it actually happened. She was playing in the tub and got that "oh no" look. I told her not to poop in the water (which she's done in the past) so she got out and sat on the potty. She sat there and sat there and sat there. Then there was that tinkle sound! I told her to be quiet so we could hear it, and she thought that was funny. Back in the tub she went and back out she came and sat down again and made more tinkle noises. Brendan was my witness the second time as he came in to see what all the hubbub was about. I know this is a long process, but we're on our way!

Hoping this works

Here's a music video of Steven Curtis Chapman singing "When Love Takes You In." It's a very touching song and especially popular in the adoption world.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=demRHgul2Zk

It's finally done!

I've been putting off cleaning out Kamryn's closet, but I'm proud to say the job is done! That's because I've been forced to clean it since the weather is starting to change:) When shopping for some back to school clothes for the boys, I found some slim little 2T jeans and khaki pants for Kamryn at Kohl's. It was a big accomplishment that made me very happy! (the Sonoma brand, in case you need little waists too) Since she's still such a peanut, it's hard to find pants that fit her little waist and are the right length. Luckily there are a lot of stores that sell pants with those adjustable waist bands too, gotta love them. All summer she's still been wearing 18 mos shorts. Clothes shopping for Kamryn is so much more fun than clothes shopping for the boys. I really don't have to buy too much for her though because lucky for us, she's got some cute stuff already in her closet thanks to our friends who give us great hand-me-downs. Maybe Kevin won't notice those cute black fashion boots I had to buy for Kamryn one day while shopping with Tina and Lilly or any other future purchase then because they'll just mix right in.

Last weekend, some college friends of ours (Tina & Ken) were in town from Massachusetts with their kiddos. (in the picture with Kamryn) They were able to squeeze in a visit with us, which we were glad for. It was the first time they met Kamryn and by the end of the visit, Kamryn was passing out hugs and kisses like she's known them forever. She is such a little lovey.

The boys have started playing Lacrosse again on Sunday afternoons. They are actually on the same team which is really nice for us. Kamryn has her own little stick and likes to pretend to play lacrosse outside with her brothers. More pictures soon . . .

Ivy Ling Arrived Today!

Ivy Ling is one of the newest dolls from American Girl. I've always wondered why they didn't have an Asian American Girl, so I'm glad they do now! Kamryn loves her bitty baby and hopefully she will love Ivy just as much when she is older. I was thinking of giving it to her for Christmas, but now I think I'll wait until she is old enough to understand the whole American Girl thing. Of course I had to order the Chinese New Year outfit too and Ivy's accessories which includes a Chinese coin.

Ivy Ling is the other new doll's best friend, who just happens to be named Julie. Kinda funny . . . Julie and Ivy Ling . . . Kamryn's surname in China was Ling. These are the 70's girls. It's funny to look at Julie's toys in the catalog and think wow, I remember that! Like the Barbie styling head or the tie dye record case which I swear I had the same one in pink, or the Brady Bunch poster.

I think I'm going to have more fun playing with Ivy than Kamryn some day. I may just have to get Julie at some point too.

Navy Pier Pictures from July

I wanted Kamryn to sit in front of a bunch of pretty flowers. This is what I got instead!















Brendan became a star as he was picked to accompany the funny man doing tricks. Brendan did great spinning the frisbee on his finger while twirling the rings.















My mom, Kamryn and I went on the Ferris Wheel while Kevin, Matt and Brendan played mini-golf.

Matt's first school dance!

Yikes! Can you believe it? He went to his first Jr. High dance on Friday night. I dropped him off alone, and he had no problem going in solo. He was meeting a friend there though. He also had his cell phone with so if his friend didn't show up, he could call me to come get him. I thought 12 was too young for a cell phone, but now I'm glad he has it. He actually called me at the end of the dance to see if I was in the car line for pick up:) I asked if he danced, and he said no, only the girls danced. He had a fun time! Do you remember your school dances? I do . . . and it was the same way, the girls danced and the guys stood against the wall.

Labor Day Weekend Fun

Our friends Carol & Rob and their 4 children came up from Indy last weekend to visit us. We sure kept busy, and we surely had fun. Matt was signed up for a babysitting clinic way before the visit was planned so we signed up Garrett too. Both Jr. High boys spent 7 hours on Saturday at this class while Carol and I took the rest of the gang apple picking.

The Chinese playgroup was meeting at the apple orchard so we joined them. It was a nice outing even if the kids were more into eating the apples rather than picking them. I know Brendan enjoyed eating the homemade apple cider donuts more than the apple picking. Actually, we all enjoyed those. I think it was the first time I've seen Kamryn eat an entire donut. Usually she just licks the chocolate off the top. Baby Logan was a dream as he just hung out with his mom. I think Vince enjoyed picking the apples the best although Lindsey and Kamryn had fun too.




Labor Day weekend is full of fun stuff to do around here so after the big boys came home, we headed to the River Walk in downtown Naperville. We hit the skate park first, and Carol was brave enough (or foolish enough!) to try it too. Garrett was so embarrassed that his mom wanted to skate, but I was impressed that she had guts to go out there with all those young boys! We brought bread to feed the ducks and then since the Last Fling was going on, we let the kids do one ride at the carnival.
At home we had some Chicago favorites for dinner; Italian beef sandwiches and real Chicago style pizza. Italian beef was something hard to find in Indiana. I did find it there finally at a Nancy's Pizza place. When I called deli's there looking for it, they had no idea what I was talking about. Carol told me that they are building a Dunkin Donuts in Carmel! We lived there for four years and that was something we always loved to get when we came back home because Carmel didn't have one. Now if only Chicago would get an Abuelos or a Paradise Bakery.


It was great to see the boys out in the backyard playing football and stuff with their friends. That's what they miss the most. We made sure to find a house here with a big backyard and it's mostly been empty. It means so much that our friends came up to see us. It was hard to say goodbye:( though. Already the kids are asking when are we going to see them next. If only school and sports didn't get in the way, our calendar would be more free for visits. We do hope to get down there soon though.