Catch up

Yep, back from blogger vacation. Finally I have a moment to catch up. And it looks like it's about time...I'm starting to get hints - from friends and family of things to write about, or pictures to post. Below you'll see my Dad's contribution to my blog, some interesting photos of things around Vermont.
So since I've been on blogger vacation for so long that I have made a list of posts I have in mind, that I will hopefully be able to write this week. Let's see...

1) Identity crisis - Some days I look in the mirror and I'm shocked to see some stranger looking back out at me. This woman looks much older than I am, she has some, well we'll kindly call them "laugh lines" and some gray hair. Certainly this can't be me...
OK so it's not really my identity crisis I want to write about (that's a whole other post!) but my daughters. At almost 5 years old she's starting to feel the impact of her Chinese and American cultures and she's questioning where she fits in. I didn't really expect it this young... More to come on that.

2) Anniversaries- Yep, eight years of marital bliss was just celebrated by Adam and me. Well, maybe not all bliss, we've had some real tough times and have gone through a whole lot of trials in our 8 years of marriage. Although our love and feelings for each other has always been strong, we've had a few emotional curve balls tossed our way. But we've had even more amazing joys, blessings and so much everyday fun. I was a lucky gal to have met my hubby, and I look forward to many many more years...

3) Friends visit- We had our dear friends visit from Florida last weekend. It was just wonderful to see them, and we are so glad that they came. They brought their two kiddos, Brady who is 3 and baby Addison who is two weeks younger than my little Wei-Che. Bittersweet...getting to hold and cuddle a baby the same age as him. Made my heart just ache. (let's all send a good vibe to that almighty Judge over there for some quick rulings!) But we had a great time hanging out and trying to convince them to move here to East Tenn. I'll post some pics later!

And so I still need to catch up on all my blog buddies and read the latest with them, maybe I'll sneak into work early one day and get on that. We hear so much about this recession, but I tell ya...we have never been busier at work (I work for a title company - real estate transfers, refinances & commercial development) We had 30 closings in the last two weeks of May alone. For our little company that is a lot, and now my boss is on maternity leave! SO I've been non stop at the office, and while I love being busy and the challenges that come with it, well it leaves me little time for blogging. I guess I really cannot complain about a steady paycheck and job security in these times though. I do know how lucky I am to have this great job.

So below are some fun pics my Dad sent me to share with my blogger friends.

My sweet niece. She gets bigger and bigger every time I see her! She's a cutie - what personality!

Here's the sugar house my parent visited a few months ago. A sugar house is where REAL maple syrup comes from, and there is nothing like fresh hot syrup! My Mom's the pretty young gal in the black coat.

And this is the outside of the sugar house. It was way up in the woods, they said it was a beautiful walk/climb to reach it.


And this is an apple tree out front of my parents house. My Dad says people stop their cars to look at it and take photos, its a real beauty!

And "Jenny's" is open for business again. Sure looks like a wonderful day to be outside in Vermont...and to shop for antiques. Don't forget, if ever you are near the village of Barton to stop in and say hello to my folks at Jenny's!

Thanks Dad for being a great blogger guest and supplying these pics!

So I promise I will be visiting all my favorite blogs soon and I can't wait to see what's been going on in my blogging pal's lives!

I say this with such belief that I'll really have time! Let's hope I do...I NEED my blogger therapy. Keeps me somewhat sane!

And I'll work on my 3 post ideas as soon as I get a chance.

Happiness to all, may your weekend be grand!

J

Care Package and First Hearings & bad blogger

Care Package 2 has been sent (actually Saturday, but I was hesitant to post and move my little guys newest pictures down the screen, we all know how chatty I can accidentally get!)


So here's his little package. We sent a few outfits, some booties, a photo album a little shaker toy and a soft snugly blanket my friend Starla bought for him right after we got his referral. Simone kindly cuddled with all the items to smell em up, and Ollie actually was caught sleeping on the blanket once or twice! Wei-Che will at least recognize those two scents!

We also had our first hearing on the 20th. I am assuming no news is good news, and so far we've heard nothing. Needless to say, this has been a bit of an emotional week for me. Although I want the Wei-Che's birthmother to be confident in her decision and I want the Judge to believe we will be a good family for him, I really just want to go and get my baby! Then pick him up and then not let him go for a good long while (oh, OK...I suppose I'll let Adam hold him for a moment, but that's all!). But alas, we must wait a while more for said Judge to mull over our case and then find the time to sign off. Oh please hurry, dear Judge!

And now to the bad blogger part... I've been so very busy both at work and at home I've been neglecting both my blog and all of my blogger buddies! So much has happened with all my friends in blogger world, and I've barely looked at all my favorite blogs! I promise I'll get to them this week, I do so love to read them all and I've only had a chance to glance over them. And this is how bad it really is...I am finishing this post up on 5/21 @ 2:37, but I started it yesterday, morning! Hopefully things will slow down at work (yes Terry, I'm still allowed to blog at work, sorry to hear about you loss of blogging ability!) or I'll have a few spare moments this weekend to attend to the very important business of blogging!

Until then...farewell and adieu! J

Updates are in! Updates I said!

Yippeeeeee!!!!!

Our updates came in. I now have three new (and totally awesome, if I may say so...) photo's and a video of our handsome little guy! We are so thrilled and delighted at how adorable he is, and to see how much he's grown and to get that first glimpse of his little dimpled cheeks!

Love this close up. Look at how intently he is checking the camera out.

Don't you just love it! I mean, I just can't get enough. He has such sweet spikey hair and his little face is so much fuller. (OK, I'll stop being so mushy gushy and let you just look without my two cents!)

And now for the video! And Oh yes, he has his own little gift to give at the end...typical Friedman!

Have a fantastic evening!

I'll be dreaming of my little won ton and looking at his pictures over and over and then maybe I'll look at them a little more!
J

what's this!

So our modem has been on the fritz. Sometimes we get Internet, most of the time we just don't.
So that combined with being on a family vacation last week means I have been very behind on my blogging (both playing on my own and reading all of my faves!)
We spent a few days in Clearwater visiting family, playing on the beach, swimming in the pool and relaxing. Adam and I even had a date night, hitting some of our old haunts like the Chic-a-boom room and Skips in Dunedin. We then brought Simone on her first trip to Disney! What a blast...the amazement and excitement for Simone was awesome for us to see and share. We had a wonderful time, and when I get my new modem I'll work on posting pictures.

When we returned home I noticed the first of my late spring/early summer flowers blooming in the garden! I was thrilled and immediately ran out to take a closer look, and pull a few pesky weeds.

Aren't they lovely...

But wait, what's this??? There in the middle....

Ah, my arch enemy - poison ivy strikes again!

There in the middle of my flower garden it has crept all over. And it did it in just over a week, because Simone and I were out there the last weekend of April planting seeds and pulling weeds and I didn't come up with any itchy welts (and we all know if it's there I WILL get it!). Guess my gardening days are over until my big strapping P-I pulling hubby gets out there!


And I leave you now with a big Happy Mother's day to all the amazing Mom's I know... the Mom's that are tripping over their kids daily, the Mom's waiting to hold their babies for the first time, and for the Mom's yet to be!

And especially to the one I love the most...my incredible Mom!

I hope you all get breakfast in bed and a few quiet moments to reflect on this wonderful and awesome job of being Mama!
J