HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Elf on the shelf

This is the BEST thing EVER! A friend told us about the 'elf on the shelf' the other day. We've been having some serious Sassy McTalkbackerson issues of late, and the average distraction, dissuasion and other reasonings du jour just haven't been doing the trick...so who happened to arrive on our TV cabinet this afternoon, straight from the North Pole? Well, it's our own personal Elf...sent by the man in RED himself! The thing about our Elf is that he appears magically around Thanksgiving and reports back to Santa each night, so whatever happens in our house does not stay in our house(this ain't Vegas people!). Well, as part of our job, we had to name the Elf...it took Piper a nano-second to decide on 'Jingle' which is appropriate for an elf...especially since he has a bell on his cap! So guess whose behaviour was STELLAR today? Correctomundo people...Miss Piper was an angel...she napped, she used her manners, she basically 'flounced' her 'goodiness' in front of Jingle to prove she is worthy of Santa's favor. Jingle came with a book explaining how his magic works...one very important thing, children absolutely cannot touch him, or it might take his magic away...so we have to be very very careful. The other cool thing, is every morning after the flight down from the North Pole...Jingle finds a comfy spot somewhere in the house from where he will survey the days good deeds and pleasant manners.

GENIUS!

ONE YEAR AGO!Somebody got some awesome news!

One year ago we got 'THE' call from our agency CCAI. A year ago we saw Paisley's sweet face for the first time.

Our first look...what a beauty!

to this...a stunning, sweet, snuggly, funny, adorable, thoughtful, cheeky, bubbly little monkey..in just one year! I cannot even contemplate how it will be in March when she has officially been in our family for a full year! I'm pretty sure by then she will be a Rhodes Scholar!

MY SUPERHERO

He may not wear a cape, leap from tall building to tall building, or drive an Astin Martin...but my husband is my superhero.

I LOVE YOU

baby it's cold outside!

oh la la...it's Fancy Nancy!

and while I'm on the topic of books...here is one of Piper's favorite! Fancy Nancy! Of course she also loves Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy, and Bonjour Butterfly...need I say more! We truly love these sweet books, so much in fact that it will be the 'theme' of Piper's fourth birthday party in January...oooh la la, I can just see all the little girls a-glitter with hairbows and all things exquisite(thats a fancy word for fancy). I was also tempted by the illustrator, and picked up this little book for Christmas...just because, well...all girls should aspire to Tea with the Queen! Tea for Ruby is written by Sarah Ferguson, and I guess she knows a little bit about the subject! Can you tell that one Snowflower is beginning to like things pink and frilly...well, maybe not frilly, more Punky Brewster meets Pippi Longstockings but hey, I think that's a rocking combination!

I absolutely cannot wait for this very especially extremely good book!

release date March 2009

PEACE

NEW ROOF

Yesterday the skip arrived. Tomorrow the roofers will come and tear off the old green shingles marred over the years by hailstorm upon hailstorm. By the weekend we will have a safe, environmentally friendly roof above our heads to protect us against the elements. Hmm...perhaps that's a metaphor for something? or perhaps we're just getting a new roof.

IS BEING UN-CHRISTIAN

THE SAME AS BEING UN-AMERICAN?

just curious, it sounds eerily (and scarily) familiar.

The truth is I'm disappointed, and a little surprised (but not shocked) about what has transpired over the past few weeks since we started posting about the election and issues our family believes are worthy of recording in our blog-journal.

A friend told me today that she, like I have been lucky enough to experience life from many different corners of the world thus giving us a slightly different overview on a lot of things, not better, not worse, just different. I think that the world needs healing more than judgement, yet I see little of the former from those who sling mud because our beliefs are not in line with theirs. Let me tell you one thing...our family's relationship with God will not be judged by others.

Not once have I left a message of hate on anyone's personal blog, not straight up, nor thinly veiled. If I read something I don't agree with I have the good sense to push the back button and go elsewhere. Yesterday I cut off ties with a group I have been a part of since I started the adoption journey...several of it's members felt that it was important enough to come to my blog wielding threats of 'prayer' for my family because of my beliefs. Let me tell you...my family does not need these empty promises of prayer veiled in anger or pity.

Prayer should never be used in the context which it was delivered here. Prayer is sacred, at least ours are, and our prayers are never delivered with venom or ill will, sarcasm or distaste.

When our daughters are older I hope they will read through this blog and know that both of their parents cared enough to speak out against injustices, stand up against those who want to block out the voices of those who question.

If that makes me unpopular to some critics then so be it...at least I stand in good company.

and so...in the attempt to change the world one heart at a time...I am suggesting my new favorite book...which exemplifies the most beautiful virtues that I believe will stand the test of time. Don't let fear motivate how you live your lives, let love....

Three Cups of Tea

Olbermann Special Comment: Proposition 8

I thought Keith said it well...better than my attempt.

beautiful

from the talented hand of my friend Maia

The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.

The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference.

The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference.

And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.

- Elie Wiesel

Indifference is a dangerous path that only cowards tread upon

- me

Why HATE attacks LOVE

Why do hatemongers think it's okay to push their beliefs on others. I am sad Prop 8 passed this past Tuesday. I am however hopeful that with time it will be reversed and we will stop stripping away HUMAN RIGHTS from people regardless of their sexual orientation. I think there will be a day when we can move beyond this kind of pettiness and evolve into a HUMAN RACE that cares about each other rather than plotting defeat for those with other beliefs. Right now, I feel a fundamentalist wind blowing debris of hate over this great Nation. Go buy your pop tarts and build your bunkers and teach your children to hate....true love will never be defeated... my God teaches me that. I also want to say a word to those who post anon comments or untraceable comments...I don't post them unless I know where they come from. END OF STORY. I also cannot believe the idiocy of some of the comments...really, it's best if you go back home, lick your wounds and educate yourself. Real change is not built on hate...that sort of thing will never survive the times...only LOVE can make real change happen.

UPDATE: well well, this has become quite the controversy...

POPPY & DEDE

With all the commotion of the last week, I forgot to post a photo of Poppy & Dede with the Snowflowers. Mike's Dad Paul and his wife Deb came to MN to see the girls and meet Paisley for the first time. We had a really great time and Paisley ADORED both her 'Poppy' and her 'Dede' it was wonderful to see her blossom with her grandparents! We just wish we could see them more often. They did spoil us, and the girls..which was quite a treat! Dede even taught me how to make knot blankets....so the girls will be sporting fancy new 'car blankies' this winter(don't hassle me, I have to have blankets in the car for the girls, it gets pretty cold here in Minnesota!). We love you guys and can't wait to see you again...perhaps after winter!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Today is Mike's 34th birthday...and it started early(5am) with a conference call from Singapore! This week has been challenging to say the least...with the 'reorganization' at work and the reassignment of the workforce that remains...well, lets say Mike feels like he aged a decade not just a year! Good news for him, he still looks like he's in his 20's! So, tonight we celebrated with a homemade dinner of Pad Thai, and lashings and lashings of delicious chocolate cake(not homemade)! Happy Birthday Daddy, we love you!

p.s. we're pretty happy with the outcome of the election, but we thought you'd dig this cake! Notice the little 'vote dem' chocolate...totally ass kickin' (pardon the pun)

YES WE DID!

History in the making!

TODAY'S THE DAY!

LAYOFFS

As a victim of the current economic situation, the company that Mike works for had a workforce reduction today. About 10% of the company lost their jobs. Luckily, Mike kept his but he is deeply troubled and under a lot of stress due to those around him that were notified today that they were no longer employed. What this means for Mike is still uncertain, but he is probably looking at a doubled workload if not more. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families who are affected by this layoff.

Mike' group of 14 people lost 6...so the odds were not in his favor. This week is reorganization week...for whatever that means?

ONE MORE DAY!

...and I cannot sleep. I feel like I am perpetually holding my breath waiting for election day when I will be able to either exhale, or....well, lets not think about the other option!

I saw an interesting show last night where some good points were raised about the state of the election and what we can do to make voting easier for all involved. What troubles me about the current situation is that many Americans do not have the ability to take time off work to stand in line for 4-6 hours waiting to vote so I think it sets itself up for unfairness...and this is a bipartisan issue. Here's some of the ideas that were discussed that I like the sound of....

1. Election Day should be on a weekend, like MOST other major Democratic Nations, if not, then there should be early voting in ALL 50 States and at least one of the early voting days should be on a weekend.

2. Voting machines....should either be the same country wide or we should use paper ballots and a #2 pencil....once again, this tried and true method works for a lot of other Democratic Nations!

3. The campaign period needs to be shorter...6 months sounds more than adequate.

4. No Television Ads....NONE! I think that the candidates should get the chance to debate more often in the campaign period, and also have small 15-30 minute television slots to talk about specific issues...ie; each week they get to address their particular Parties policies.

5. STOP THE ROBOCALLS

"aaah McCain, you've done it again!"

sorry folks, I just had to borrow this old Ad slogan from New Zealand(McCain is a brand of frozen foods). It seemed pretty fitting in light of the fact that the McCain campaign just can't seem to get it right, that they are so out of touch with reality that they think an endorsement from DICK CHENEY will work in their favor...um...I don't think so! someone just hand these people another nail for that casket they've been working on.

All I have to say...."good luck with that"

'appy 'alloween me 'earties!

Buccaneers of the Hood?
turns out....there was quite the contingent of Pirates last night in the cul de sac. Many ships(houses) were appropriately pillaged of all treasure(candy). Lets just say, some of the deckhands had a bit too much and were feeling a wee bit green this morning! Piper and Paisley had 'boyish' costumes on, so they kept being called "little boys'...eh, they don't care, just as long as the candy kept a-flowing! Piper = Batcat(but more realistically she looked like a retro Batman circa Adam West) and Paisley...well, she be the pirate. As you can see...Piper was definitely motivated by all the different kinds of candy she scored...one house was offering full sized candy bars or small packets of goldfish..guess which one Piper got...the stinkin' goldfish! Bummer, Mummy was hoping for a 3 Musketeers bar! Oh well, we'll just have to make do with the spiderweb cupcakes we made...scary huh!