Lost Pet

Vu's teacher loves bugs.  Go into her classroom and you will immediately be greeted by a large cage of Vietnamese Walking Sticks. 

Very cool.

If you like bugs.

Which I do.

At least I used to.

Vu is the proud owner of one large black beetle bug.  With the help of his teacher he nursed it from the time it was just a wee little egg, loved it through the larvae stage, then helped it grow into a big strong bad boy.

Meet Darth Vader.

Yes, he has a head, abdomen, and thorax that only a dad could love.

And loved he is.

Or perhaps I should say, "loved he was"?

You see, Vu liked sharing his love of video games with Darth Vader.

And Darth Vader seemed to share this love.  Never pooped on the console once.

But the downside of sharing a video game with a beetle-friend is that it is very easy to get distracted by Mario and Sonic (they are at the 2012 Olympic Games after all!). 

And in all that excitement and distraction, it is very easy to forget that a real live pet has suddenly gone in search of a bedtime snack and is now missing!!!

Missing I tell you!

M-I-S-S-I-N-G!

And in case you didn't know, when you have a pet that is only two centimeters long it is very hard to find that pet.

Especially when his absence is not reported until AFTER the house has been vacuumed.

In fact, I am sorry to report that Darth Vader has yet to be found.

I'm just hoping HE wasn't a SHE.

Lost pet. 

REWARD.

Bug Bites

We have this little white lie in our family.

Girls don't get pimples. 

A lady would never admit to having something is horrid as a PIMPLE!

Oh no!

Ladies get "bug bites."

Last night, as I was tucking in Patrick, he was recounting for me his latest literary adventure, The Throne of Fire.  Suddenly, he stopped mid-sentence, wrinkled his forehead in a frown, and leaned down close to my cheek.

He pointed near my nose with a look of disgust, then said, "Mom, what happened to your face?"

Me, trying to act very nonchalant, "Oh that thing?  It's just a little bug bite."

Patrick gets a wry smile on his face, tilts his head and says, "A bug bite mom?  Really?"

Me, a guilty smile.

Then Patrick says, "Well Mom, with that one, you might not be able to use the "bug bite" excuse.  He peers ever closer, making me feel like an insect under an entomologist's microscope.

"With that one Mom, you are going to have to use the "shot-by-a-BB-gun-excuse."

This kid makes me laugh!

And if you don't see me in public for a few days, you'll know why.

Icing the wound.

Special Visit

We just returned from our son's graduation.  It was such a joy to spend time with Will and his wife--and of course to see our grandpuppies and granddaughter (t minus ten weeks--doesn't Cort look fantastic!)! 

We were up at O'dark-thirty for our flight.  The lucky travelers were James, Lizzy, and Mei Mei--along with Hubby and my dad.  And me.  Of course.  Even tho I'm not in any of the pictures.  Because I was taking all the pictures.  But I guess you already knew that. 

I miss having all my babies living under one roof--time together is so very special.  I love just sitting and talking, reminiscing and laughing. 

I love hearing about plans for the future--getting details on their new home, new baby, and new life.

And I love seeing the older kids together again.  And it was so memorable watching Mei Mei literally run into her brother's arms for the very first time!

She loves having a family to love! (She wasn't quite so sure about the dogs tho--she would sit on the couch wielding two couch cushions as shields from doggie kisses.)

What's not to love?

The only part of the trip I didn't like was saying good-bye. 

Boo-hoo!

We miss you Will and Cort!  See you this summer!

The Truly Important

A loyal reader sent me this link to a Mother's Day article written by a Korean adoptee.  It will touch your heart--kleenex alert!  The writer (Corina Knoll) captures so many emotions from multiple perspectives.  I loved it.

And I love it when I hear from readers!  Please e-mail me any time!

Here are a few more pictures from Mother's Day. 

The best things in life are simple pleasures, like watching my children play.  Too often, I am distracted by the seemingly urgent, and I miss out on the truly important. 

But not this day.  Those smiles . . . and all those antics . . . such blessings.

Mother's Day 2012

Happy Mother's Day to women around the globe!  I hope your day was extra special.

I was blessed by a special day with my mom. 

Time at the skatepark and a BBQ.  What fun!

My children spoiled me with lots of special treats, smiles, and phone calls from afar.

What a beautiful day!

The Quad Squad

Meet the Quad Squad:

Shortly after Lan Lan came home it became apparent that she was probably much younger than her given age and we decided to age her down. 

And right about that time we were matched with Mei Mei.

In a strange turn of events, we suddenly found ourselves parents of FOUR children all born within 12 months of each other. 

So currently, we have four 10-year-olds. 

Appropriately, they are placed in three different grades.

3rd:

4th:

5th:

Mei Mei fits in as if she has always been part of The Quad Squad.  She gets along well and is easy-going, very sweet, and kind-hearted.

And did I mention she can bust-a-gut with the best of the Squad?

But at some point Hubby and I realized that having four ten-year-olds meant we would also have four sixteen-year-olds. 

(Yes, we are slow to figure out these sorts of things.)

We wondered how we would navigate the whole car/driver thing.

Mystery solved.

A little bit of this:

And a whole lotta that:

I'm a genius!

And On The 66th Day . . .

On the 66th day of our life together, Mei Mei came over to me . . .

and stood quietly by me . . .

and looked at me pensively . . . and then, oh then, the most wonderful thing happened!

She sat on my lap.

Mei Mei sat on my lap as if it was the most natural thing in the whole wide world!  Which is the way it's supposed to be for a mother and child.  But that's not the way it's been for us. 

Before, there were rare occasions she would sit on my lap, but she would sit stiffly, and only to mimic her siblings.  She would sit straight up.  And she would giggle, as if she were expecting me to tickle her at any minute.  And she would immediately hop back off.

But today?  Today she was relaxed.  And she even snuggled down onto me.  What joy!

I had been sitting next to Lan Lan watching a video on YouTube when Mei Mei came over.

And when she sat down, I tried to act non-chalant, as if it was something that happened every day.

But inside? I was celebrating with joy!  I didn't want to move.  And I didn't.  After about fifteen minutes I put my arms loosely around her and yet still, she stayed, even more relaxed.  Lan Lan continued to click away on more videos.  And I let her. 

Laura Story--Blessings

My legs were falling asleep, I needed to use the restroom, but I didn't want to move.  And I was fighting back tears as the current video played What Makes You Beautiful By One Direction (which I originally thought was One Erection--and remembering that made me laugh instead of cry.)

Mylie Cyrus--The Climb

Taylor Swift--Eyes Open

Mei Mei still sitting--even snuggling--her bony little bottom causing my legs to fall off and my bladder to explode! 

And me, still afraid to move.  Wishing I had a picture of this moment.  Knowing it will forever be etched in my mind. 

Justin Bieber--Baby

Susan Boyle--I Dreamed A Dream

And with that song, I couldn't help but cry tears of joy.  I had truly been dreaming of this moment for so long--wondering if it would ever come?  Wondering if she would ever learn to trust me enough to let me hold her.  We had been spending our days together, taking baby steps forward--only to seemingly start all over again the very next morning.

But today?  Today was the day! 

Celebration!!!!

(Self portrait compliments of Mei Mei herself!)