A Little Bit of Sunshine!

We spent a wonderful morning exploring the Allan Gardens Conservatory. Hidden away in the midst of the busy city it was a wonderful escape from the winter weather that is holding on. The kids enjoyed exploring the pathways and even discovering a BANANA TREE! We completed our morning excursion with lunch at Old MacDonalds (aka: McDonalds) and a trip to our favourite toy store....Mastermind. Didn't get out of that one without spending some $$ on new puzzles and books.
Now we are off to watch the "Bee Movie" and tonight we will be participating in Earth Hour where we turn off our power between 8-9 pm to recognize the need to conserve energy in our daily activities. A good lesson for everyone!
Enjoy your weekend!

Taking time to smell the flowers

Loving exploring the paths!

A great day with daddy!

A Great Website!

To those in blogger land, and especially those who are in the midst of a "journey to China" you are most likely familiar with the amazing Jen and Joe over at www.myadoptionwebsite.com They do a great job of documenting the adoption process from the waiting period, through referral, to the trip to China, to returning home with baby.
I discovered their site, quite by accident, and have been hooked ever since! It's a fantastic way to experience what China is like, see the magic of families being created, and watch their little ones 'bloom" in front of our eyes. It has definately been a source of reassurance that this long road will be worth it in the end.
So to those friends and family who wonder "why" we are embarking on this journey; and to those who question "why" we would adopt when we could "just have more of our own" I invite you to visit this site, gaze into the eyes of the children that have found their forever families, and learn how a small gesture can make a world of difference in the life of a child.

Sunshine.....and Snow?

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday and found time to spend with friends and family. Yesterday morning was the "big event" in our house and the kids didn't disappoint in their enthusiasm and excitement over a visit from the bunny.
The kids had left their Easter baskets just outside their bedroom doors and in the night the bunny had left a handful of chocolate eggs in each basket (to get them started). At 6 am I heard Evan's door open, the basket slide across the floor and the door close again. Half asleep I chose to roll over instead of investigating. At 6:30 I heard the door open again and little feet head down the hall to the living room. This time I intervened, worried that if I didn't there wouldn't be any left! Sure enough, I caught the little "egg stealer" with his hands under the couch cushions! After quickly waking Claire everyone joined in on the fun and the bunny didn't disappoint. There was new summer clothes, toys and treats for everyone. Even some "carrot crumbs" on the front walkway!
Today we felt we needed to work off some of those treats and we took the kids hiking for 2 hours at the local conservation area. The sun was warm and beautiful and even though it is still snowy we had alot of fun. We hunted for signs of Spring and were lucky enough to see 2 Canada geese along the waterway. What a nice ending to a fun family weekend.............

Enjoying Easter morning! Note the rubber boots, summer dress and winter jacket..........

Evan hanging around at the conservation area

Playing "horsie"

Going up is easier than coming down

Sparkles Everywhere!

Note to self:

Do NOT let 2 children under the age of 5 use food dye and sparkles (especially when the directions require mixing the above mentioned together).

Just kidding....

Actually the kids did great and I'm sure the dye will wash off their fingers by Labour Day.............

Lovin' the pink!

"I get to use dye AND sparkles?"

Spring Has Sprung!

We have been patiently waiting for the end to this winter. This morning as the kids and I looked out the front window at the grey dawn we saw no less than 5 ROBINS!!! Around these cold, northern parts seeing a robin symbolizes the return of Spring with the hope of nicer weather on the way. Every day Claire asks if she can wear her new "warmer weather" clothes that I've been buying and stockpiling for the next season. Evan is anxious to ride the bike Santa gave him for Christmas. Riding in the house is just not quite the same! And Alec, is looking forward to summer days filled with camp, hiking and challenging me to badminton matches in the backyard. So, come on Spring....come on warm weather.....come on sunshine.....we are waiting for you!

Easter Fun!

It is a beautiful day today, the sun is shining and if you close your eyes you can almost imagine that it's Spring. Too bad when you open them though, because you still see mounds of snow!
A bit depressing but not to be deterred we headed out this morning to Pucks Farm. It's a family run business with lots of animals to pet, ponies to ride, a hay wagon adventure and a giant Easter Egg hunt! I was solo with the two little ones as Adam and Alec are in a father/son curling tournament today. It is actually the first time that we've had to "split up" to accomplish 2 family activities. From the smiles in the pics I'd say the day (and the chocolate eggs) were a success.

If you can't beat them...then join them

The late winter (early Spring?) dumping of snow we received Saturday is making us wonder if Wiarton Willy (the groundhog) was right in predicting an early Spring! Instead of complaining about the weather though we've decided to embrace it. Today I took the kids (and the whole daycare) tobogganing. We had a blast and came home wet, hungry and tired. The rest of the afternoon should be pretty quiet!

100 things about me........

First I thought I wouldn't bother trying to think of 100 witty and revealing things about myself, but a little self-evaluation is never a waste of time and opportunity presented itself so here goes:

1. I've always known there was a baby waiting for me in China.
2. I have an older brother who I rarely see.
3. We are both adopted.
4. I think adoption is an amazing way to grow a family!
5. I have a weakness for chocolate chip cookie dough
6. I have a gym membership, but easily get deterred from going.
7. I LOVE to shop for my kids (Gymboree, Mexx, Roots...you get the idea)
8. I HATE shopping for myself.
9. I avoid mirrors and generally dislike the way I look.
10. I am the worrier of the family (money, kids, health)
11. I am happiest when we are in a state of renovation, adoption, or some other huge life changing event.
12. I get bored easily.
13. Although my days are busy and full I am not challenged intellectually
14. Not being challenged leaves me feeling unhappy.
15. Sometimes I'm lonely.
16. My husband is my best friend.
17. I have 3 biological kids and one to join our family from China.
18. I probably will want to adopt again.
19. We live in a small house.
20. We need a bigger house.
21. We need more money to pay for above mentioned house.
22. I LOVE to garden (cheaper than a therapist).
23. I am extremly organized and Type A personality.
24. I am creative.
25. I am working on a novel that may never be finished.
26. I write poetry for my children.
27. I attended University and have a degree in English.
28. I was accepted at Teachers College.
29. I declined the offer of admission.
30. I persued a career in Credit/Collections and Accounting.
31. I am typically shy.
32. Behind the desk or the telephone I am one agressive babe!
33. I left my career to stay home with the kids 4 years ago.
34. I opened a Home Daycare and currently care for 5 - 7 children every day (11 hours a day!)
35. By Fridays I'm always exhausted.
36. I wish I could nap more often.
37. My favourite outing is a bookstore with a Starbucks attached.
38. I LOVE to read.
39. My idea of a perfect day would be a glass of wine, an awesome novel and the house to myself.
40. It's never happened.
41. I am petrified of flying....fear of crashing and leaving my children motherless.
42. I am not looking forward to the flight to China with 3 kids in tow.
43. I can't wait to go to China!
44. I worry about the conditions that baby Lauren is living in.
45. I worry that she will someday resent me for taking her from her country of birth.
46. I am not looking forward to the flight home from China with 4 kids in tow.
47. I am a really bad singer.
48. I sing anyways!
49. Sometimes my kids ask me to stop and suggest I turn the radio on.
50. I married my high school sweetheart.
51. We divorced.
52. I married my soul mate and plan on being together till eternity.
53. My parents have been married 51 years.....enough said.
54. I get grumpy when I have to do all the cooking, and cleaning.
55. My friends all say my house is spotless.
56. I have more than 1 "junk drawer"
57. It drives me crazy when there is sand on the hardwood floors and it sticks to my bare feet.
58. My dream is to live in a log house....a big one.
59. I want to be a "cool" grandma baking gingerbread cookies with my grandchildren someday.
60. My hair is turning grey and the wrinkles are creeping in.
61. I'm 36.
62. My husband tells me I'm beautiful and he loves me everyday (this is no exageration).
63. Wastefullness drives me crazy....like when my kids ask for food and then only eat one bite.
64. My goal is to raise my kids to think globally and act both globally and locally.
65. We pick garbage out of ditches on Earth Day.
66. It makes me feel good!
67. I only have a few close friends.
68. People that do not put effort into friendships are not worth my time or effort. Friendship has to be a 2-way street!
69. I love to eat!
70. When I was a kid we ate roast beef, mashed potatoes, veggies, and homemade rubbarb pie every Sunday night.
71. Once, the gravy smelled so yummy I took a spoon and "stole" some from the bubbling pot and burnt my tongue so bad I couldn't taste anything for a week.
72. I never told anyone.
73. I used to hide my lunches in the ditch on the way to school so I wouldn't have to eat them.
74. I have no idea why I would do that!
75. My Dad is the hardest working person I know.
76. I learned my work ethic from the example he set.
77. Spring and Fall are my favourite seasons.
78. I HAVE to walk in the woods on Thanksgiving weekend every year....it's tradition.
79. I'm learning Cantonese.
80. I know what my mother-in-law is talking about when she speaks to my husband (well, most of the time).
81. I know a little French.
82. I'm too shy to try to use my French....my husband talks for me when we travel.
83. I wake up most mornings to a hot cup of Tim Hortons coffee waiting for me on the kitchen counter.
84. I'm too lazy to use the coffee machine.
85. I've been known to watch WWE wrestling on Friday night and then attempt to headlock my husband.
86. He always laughs and then pins me!
87. I grew up watching wrestling, playing checkers and eating pork rinds with my grandfather.
88. He lived to be 90.
89. I miss him.
90. I have very little time for television.
91. My one weakness is American Idol.
92. My bets are on the guys this year!
93. I restrict the amount of time my kids watch television and have access to the laptop.
94. Sometimes I bend the rules.
95. I feel incredibly lucky with my marriage, children, and place I am in my life.
96. I never thought my life would be this good.
97. I can't wait to see the path the future holds for me.
98. My new favourite passtime is blogging.
99. Writing 100 things about myself was harder than I thought it would be.
100. My fingers hurt......................

O.K. everyone I did it! Now it's your turn and leave me a comment so I know where to find your list. Really it wasn't so bad..........

2 Months and Counting

Such a drop in the bucket. I honestly don't know whether to celebrate our 2 month LID milestone or just bury my head in the sand (if it wasn't for the snow) because we still have many months to wait. For those that know me well, I'm a total Type A personality. Happiest being in charge preferably making a spreadsheet and crunching numbers.
If there is one thing I've learned about International Adoption is that nothing is predictable and we are definately not in control over the timelines or the outcome. Maybe, just maybe this process will teach me that things are meant to be simply when they are meant to be. But man that's a hard one for me!
So for now I'll do a small "yay" for having 2 months under our belts. We ARE coming baby Lauren.....

Big Boy Room!

It seems like yesterday I lay in the hospital and gazed into Evan's big brown eyes for the first time. Everyone always told me that the time goes too fast when they are little and in a way I guess thats true. It makes me love every minute (well, most of the minutes minus the occasional temper tantrum etc.) of being home with them. This past weekend it was Evan's turn to graduate to a "big boy room." We involved him the the process from picking out the bedding, to helping choose the wall colour (I had to veto red walls), to helping build the bed. The result: he loves it! I still have the finishing touches to do (art work, a new lamp, and stain an antique dresser I found) but for now he is happy, we are happy....and what more could a mother want?

A Message Worth Reading

When I started with the whole idea of creating a blog I had several "goals" and "objectives" in mind. First, I wanted a place where I could share stories of people that inspire me to live the best life possible, chronicle the fun and laughter that we share with our children, and learn about International Adoption. I also wanted this blog to be a gift (of sorts) to baby Lauren. A way for her to look back over the last 12 months while we waited for her to be born and chosen for our family. I wanted her to know that she is in my thoughts every day; that not a moment goes by that I don't worry about her, and dream of the day we bring her home. In my heart I am already her mother.
When we began our journey towards adoption we were aware that the program is divided into NSN (non special needs) and SN (special needs) kids. The additional needs of SN children range from minimal in nature to more serious. The kids on the SN Program are truly amazing, resilient children, deserving of "forever families."
As we swamped through the paperwork, prepared our Dossier, and discussed the adoption as a family we felt that our lives could not really handle a child with special needs. Thinking back I believe we may have made that decision too hastily and were probably deterred by the unknown more than anything else. I've had plenty of time to research, read and learn about the SN Program and the wonderful children who are waiting. It is documented that 80% of children in orphanages in China are Waiting Children. A staggering number to say the least! I guess in hindsight I wonder if maybe we should've taken a leap of faith but in the moment of being overwhelmed by paperwork and decisions we chose to go with the NSN Program. Do I regret our decision? Absolutely NOT. Do I believe that there is another baby, perhaps with a SN that we are meant to parent. Absolutely YES, and only time will tell if our paths are meant to cross.
If you want to be truly inspired then I urge you to visit my favourite blog site. This family is truly an inspiration and excellent role model for what it means to "give back" to others and lead a life rich in family and morals. Enjoy. http://wheneastmeetssouth.blogspot.com