Monday, November 20, 2006

A Visit With Friends



Sunday we visited with our friends Marc and Carmen who live in Oxnard. Their first daughter has just left to college and now they are home with their 14 year old, Alicia, and their 4 year old, Kamille. Chloe and Pearl had a great time playing with Kamille and her toys. This was the first time Pearl met the family and she settled in quite happily. As old friends, Kamille and Chloe spent much of the day working on the car, getting the rust off and balancing the tires.

National Adoption Day Celebration




Saturday was a reunion/get together with other families created through adoption. We went to a park in Thousand Oaks and it was a very warm (almost HOT) November day. When we arrived at 11 AM, our thermometer read 87 degrees. I remembered to pack the sunscreen and the cool tops, but I forgot to pack shorts for the girls. They had a lot of fun playing in the park while us parents tried to visit and reconnect. There was even a lady there who had just returned home from China with her 18 month old daughter the day before.

The organizer, Teresa is a mom to two, son Peter and daughter Caroline. Caroline and Chloe are both Sweet Peas; that means that Teresa and I both waited together as our paperwork was being processed at the same time. We and other waiting families at the time dubbed ourselves "Sweet Peas". We still keep in touch on a message group online where we can share stories of how our kids are doing. Caroline and Chloe are just 3 months apart.

Another internet friend that we got to meet was Lori P, mother of Sami, Mose and Donnea. Sami is from China and the other two are from domestic adoptions. We belong to a different group of friends online who all share the philosophy of adoption over biology. It was our first choice when we decided to form a family. We had no desire to bring more children into the world when we knew there were plenty out there in need of a family. Our lives could not have been more fulfilled.

More Birthday pictures




Dad's 87th Birthday


November 17th was the 87th birthday of my Dad (Grandpa) Earl. He and my mother have been staying at our weekend home in Tehachapi for a few weeks now. This day turned out to be particularly special because our entire family was there. My sister Nancy, her husband Mike, and my brother David and his wife Lahatha all managed to come. It was the first time Lahatha had ever made it out for a visit. They live in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. I am sure Mom and Dad were very pleased to have all their children under one roof.

Of course Chloe and Pearl had a wonderful time being spoiled by their aunts and uncles. Lahatha is an artist and musician and she had great fun sharing her joy of music with the girls.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Halloween




The girls had a wonderful time visiting friend's houses on Halloween. We went to about 5 homes and it took all night. First, we visited their cousin Faith age 7, who was dressed in a beautiful gown and had her face painted white, with her lips painted black. I think Pearl was afraid of her at first, but they quickly warmed up once cookies were offered.