Triple the fun

This past Sunday, Lindy attended a triple birthday party for her friends Maliah, Ava Claire, and Olivia who all just turned three. I'm not sure what was going on in China during February 2005 (maybe Chinese New Year) but almost all of Lindy's local friends were born nine months later (including Karleigh Mei who'll be coming home VERY soon). We've met all these girls this year and that has been a special thing for Lindy to have some friends who look like her. Lindy had a great time being with her buddies and eating pizza and cake.

The afternoon wouldn't have been complete without a group shot of all the girls. No sweat, right? These girls are used to having the Mammarazzi following them everywhere and constantly being photographed, so it would just be old hat. Nope. Try again. This feat actually was tougher than the mandatory Red Couch shots at the White Swan in Guangzhou. Here are the hilarious shots I caught...

That's sweet Lily, the youngest member at almost two, trying to make a get away.

Better luck next year...

Happy Birthday, girls! Thanks for including us in your special day.

Halloween Report

Lindy had a fun Halloween. Instead of trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, we went to Trunk-o-Treats in the church parking lot. It was a beautiful evening and she had lots of fun visiting people she knew and seeing how cleverly people had decorated their car trunks. She refused to stop playing the cake walk until she won a cake. My thighs thank you for the chocolate cake you chose, my dear...


I was in charge of picture taking but Don and Lindy ditched me from the get go, so we didn't get many pictures. Apparently, Don doesn't share my fondness for taking pictures as I didn't get any of him as Indiana Jones with his little fairy.






After Lindy gathered her weight in candy, we went to a party where we ran into this couple. Mom and Dad, I'm sorry. I really do try to keep better company.


Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween. Let the sugar rush continue!

Picnics, Pajamas, & Pumpkins

~~~Happy Fall~~~

This is a potpourri post of some stuff we've been up to the last few days...

On Saturday, we went to Don's company picnic. Actually, it was only a portion of his company but it was a big to-do at a fun local ranch. So Texas, I know. There was food galore (mainly BBQ), carnival rides, petting zoos, a rodeo, and arts and crafts. Lindy loved taking a pony ride, going on her first ferris wheel ride, feeding the longhorns, and making, "snores."

On Monday, the gym Lindy attends for gymnastics had a Pajama Progress Party because it was the halfway mark of their 20 week program. The parents got to be on the other side of the class and be with them during the session. Although I charged my battery, for some reason it died so I only got a few shots at the beginning of class and none of her on the gymnastics equipment. She was thrilled because she got to show off her princess pajamas and her daddy surprised her by showing up to watch.

This morning Lindy and I carved pumpkins. Okay, I carved and she played and fed the deer and birds the pumpkin seeds and goop and supervised as I free-handed his face...I truly believe this was the first time I had ever carved a pumpkin. I am a total novice and had no idea what I was doing, so I no doubt made several rookie mistakes like breaking Jack's bottom row of teeth, the stem, and making the lid too small so now it falls in unless I place it on top of him like a hat. Oh well, despite my broken thumbnail, the blisters on my thumbs, the fact that I'll be in traction from lifting this thing, it was good not-so-clean fun. Fortunately, there weren't any knife injuries! It was such a pretty day outside, it felt good to just do this on the back porch and enjoy the slight breeze, the beautiful blue sky, and the cool of the air.




Hope you're having a great week and enjoying the beauty of the season!

Highlights of Pennsylvania according to Lindy

We just got back from a magnificent trip to Philadelphia and the surrounding area. Each time we travel we are reminded how blessed we are to have such an easy-going, adaptable, flexible child. I truly don't like to brag about Lindy but she is a total trooper. She was an absolute dream and I'm so thankful things went as smoothly as they did.

I've asked Lindy what her favorite things about the trip were. In no particular order, I present some of the highlights of her trip to Pennsylvania:

Seeing the "crackin'" bell...
Seeing Grandma & Grandpa and having Grandma paint her fingernails.
Playing with that "little Chinese girl like me." AKA Hannah... Lindy is taller in this picture because she's wearing the coveted heels.

Playing with Emily.

Seeing the place where pennies are made. She found SEVERAL on this trip but sadly the mint doesn't give out complimentary souvenirs.

Meeting Mr. Cheese, Mrs. Megan, Connor & Clare (and Daisy, too). This family was the most influential in our decision to pursue adoption.

Meeting Olivia.

Playing with Kaci and seeing her chickens, peacock, and dog.

Going on a picnic in the Poconos and drinking lemonade.

According to her, she wasn't so fond of her parents' obsession with eating Philly cheesesteaks

or the scarecrows at Peddler's Village.

Our little traveler has now been to the east coast and can't wait to go back again!

The money laundress

So I've previously told you about Lindy's obsession with looking for money, right? This week she found 27 cents and for some reason two women in the store yesterday felt the need to give her change as we were waiting in line. Maybe we looked a bit scruffy? With those very benevolent contributions, that brought her total for the week to 34 cents. That's probably more than most people made this week, given the horrific week on Wall Street.

After her big find of a quarter on Wednesday, this is what I caught her doing when we got home.

That brings a whole new meaning to money laundering. I don't think this is an indicator to any future white-collar crimes. In fact, I'm just glad she actually has taken to heart that money is DIRTY.

Seussical the Musical and other stuffety stuff...

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”-- Dr. Seuss

Yesterday afternoon we had a fun little outing as a family. First, we went downtown to the Riverwalk and had lunch--Mexican food of course-- right on the river at Casa Rio. It was a really pretty day for people watching and Lindy loved watching all the ducks and river barges. It would've been nice to stay longer but we were in a bit of a rush because we were on our way to see Seussical the Musical at the Magik Theatre.

It was our first time to attend the Magik Theatre but it definitely won't be our last. It was a darling theatre and they really put on a fun little production that was enjoyable for Seuss fans big and small. I had hoped to have some pictures of Lindy with the cast but Miss Congeniality decided to get shy and reserved confirming it'll be a while before we plan a trip to Disney. She didn't want anything to do with Horton or the Cat in the Hat or anyone else. Oh well...

As we made our way to the car, I couldn't resist taking a picture of the Tower of the Americas, one of San Antonio's most well-known landmarks.

I know I've talked about how time is such a precious commodity and the weekends just seem to go so quickly. I have to remember to intentionally plan things to do as a family and not always get caught up in our mile-long to-do list. I hate that not everything gets done that I want but I know that NOW is the time to be making memories because time goes so quickly as dear Dr. Seuss reminds us in this quote, "How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”

Thanks for the memories and important life lessons, Dr. Seuss!

Beauty is DEFINITELY in the eye of the beholder...

These pictures have nothing to do with the story. They are just quick ones I snapped yesterday afternoon while messing around...


This morning, as we were getting ready to tackle several errands in a very short window of time, Lindy and I had the following conversation:

Lindy: What's this, Mommy???
Mommy: Eye liner. Please don't touch.
Lindy: Oh. It looks like a pencil.
Mommy: Yes, it does.
Lindy: What's it for?
Mommy: To help me make me pretty.
Lindy: But why? You're already beautiful.

On a day where I look very plain and frumpy, this was music to my ears and made me smile. Yes, I know she's three. Yes, I know she could've told me I'm not pretty in her next breath (she didn't); however, for a moment it made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.

I have selfishly feared that Lindy and my next daughter won't see me as beautiful because I'm an older mom and they'll never have seen me young. I know it is silly but it is the truth and that's what you get here...So, for today, I am on cloud nine knowing that for at least one moment in time my daughter thought her mommy is beautiful.

Oh, and yes, I KNOW that outward beauty is not really what it is all about and there will be MANY of those conversations through the years!

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment..Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

But I'm big, Mommy

Lately, Lindy has been very caught up in being a big girl. Many times during the day she'll proclaim she's big enough to do something. I'll admit there are things I say no to her about because in my mind she's still too little and she's out to prove that's not the case. Instead of fighting, she'll often say in a reassuring voice, "It's okay, Mommy. I'm big for that." Lately I've been struck by the fact that she is getting bigger and boy is it ever bittersweet. I just want to keep her little and freeze her right where she is...

As someone who would love to turn the clock back some (or quite a bit), it is hard to remember the days when you wanted to move it forward. The other day I pulled something out of her closet and was surprised she was too big for it. I jokingly said in a stern but playful voice, "When did you get so big? I don't like it one bit. Stop growing. You must stop growing." Next thing I knew, she had the biggest tears spilling from her eyes. Of course I felt terrible, so I started crying, too. When I asked her what was wrong and reassured her I was teasing, she told me, "But I want to be big, Mommy. I want to be big..." I think she was crushed that I wasn't excited she was getting big.

My dear Lindy, I want you to know I enjoy every day with you--even the hard days. As much as I would like to keep you from getting bigger, I know that's not the way things work. Today you promised you would always be my little girl no matter what. I can't wait to see what our life together unfolds...

I Can't Wait

by Sara Groves & Don Chaffer

When you reach the proper age
I will teach you to read and you can turn the pages
How to dress and tie your shoes
Your one plus ones, and your two times two's
And you'll teach me
Of hearts and dreams
And all the most important things
And all that I have lost along the way
And I can't wait

As you grow, I'll show you things
How to ride your bike and kick your legs out on the swings
To fold your hands and bow your head
How to say your prayers before you go to bed
And you'll teach me
Of hearts and dreams
And all the most important things
And all that I have lost along the way
And I can't wait

How do you sleep so peacefully?
How do you trust unflinchingly?
How do you love so faithfully?
How do you dance so joyfully?
Oh you'll teach me
Of hearts and dreams
And all the most important (essential) things
And all that I have lost along the way
And I can't
No I can't
Come teach me
Of love and dreams
And all the most essential thing
And all that I have lost along the way
Cause I can't wait

Pennies from Heaven

One of Lindy's favorite things to do when we are out and about is look for pennies (or any other denomination) on the ground. Hardly a time goes by that she doesn't find something to put in her piggy bank. Just a couple weeks ago she found two $1.00 coins that we almost dismissed as play money. Today she found a quarter. She is definitely capitalizing on all the people who literally throw pennies away or think it isn't worth their effort to bend over and pick them up when they fall to the ground.

Elephant memory Lindy always remembers that she needs to put her money in her bank and it is usually one of the first things we do when we get back home. As you can see, she has a bank divided into four slots:

• Save
• Spend
• Donate
• Invest

She methodically chooses which slot to place her coin in and proudly announces her decision. I have to say that I'm so proud that she often says, "Donate. This is for God." I am sure she doesn't understand the distinctions between each slot but eventually she will.


Knowing money matters can be such a problem for so many people, I am convinced it is NEVER too early to teach the value of saving money and handling it wisely. I am by no means a guru, perfect with money, nor do I have all the answers. I am, however, a bit passionate about this subject because I have watched the ill effects of over-indulged children who never work for a thing, are never taught to think beyond self, aren't taught to respect money or the things it buys, and don't know how to wait to purchase something special; it isn't a pretty sight and it often spills over to adulthood.

I doubt Lindy's current money-making venture will make a dent in her college tuition but every penny counts, right?

Many of you asked where we got Lindy's bank. We got it when we opened up her savings account at USAA. It is called the Money Savvy Pig and you can order it here. It isn't the prettiest bank but it is practical.

Conversations with Lindy

I don't scrapbook. I didn't do a good job writing in Lindy's baby book. (BAD MOMMY!) I rely on memory and find that memories fade. I have found this blog is a great way to capture some of the funny moments that keep me laughing...This is real life, completely unscripted...

Here are some of our recent conversations.

Mommy & Lindy singing: "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."
Lindy: It is silly to hide a light in a bush, Mommy.
Mommy: Well, actually, the word is bushel.
Lindy: Oh.
Mommy: When are you supposed to let your light shine?
Lindy: 5:00.

Recently I treated Lindy to a glass of chocolate milk. After she drank it at mach speed, here is what ensued...

Mommy: You look funny. You have a HUGE mustache.
Lindy: Hee hee...let me see, let me see...
Mommy: Who else do you know who has a mustache? (Expecting her to say Phil or Kevin)
Lindy: You.

Guess I'm overdue for a waxing...

With my ongoing love affair with the library, we've been bringing home a lot of Amelia Bedelia. They are as great as they were SEVERAL years ago.

Mommy to Don & Lindy: Okay, I'm going to go jump in the shower.
Daddy just shook his head because he knew EXACTLY what was about to happen...
Lindy (with hands on hips): Mommy...WE DON'T JUMP IN THE SHOWER!
Daddy: We've been through this. I got in trouble for hopping in the shower a couple days ago.

What do you think, perhaps we better ease up on the Amelia Bedelia?!

In church the other day the father of one of our friends walked in with the TALLEST cane/walking stick I've ever seen. He is probably over six feet tall and his cane was probably taller than me (5'3"). Lindy noticed him right away and asked, "Is he a shepherd?" Thankfully, she was "whispering."

As much as she can exasperate me and send me to tears, I adore this child's ability to make me laugh.