Robin's Treasures

This and That...

2010-10-30T14:32:00.002-04:00

My slow, antiquated computer is just sucking all the fun out of blogging and picture taking!!

2010-10-14T13:37:00.004-04:00

Don't let anyone ever tell you
Who to be, or what to think.
Be the man you were born to be
You needn't walk in sync.

Just spread your wings and fly
From the mountains to the sea.
Soar across the heartland
Just be who you want to be.

Don't worry what others think
Their opinions are just that.
They don't amount to a hill of beans
In your life and that's a fact.

Just spread your wings and fly
They can take you anywhere.
Live the life God meant for you

As if you didn't have a care.

Just stand by your convictions
Don't waver in anyway.
Show the world who you really are.
Then you'll never go astray.

(bellavistabear)

Yellow Belt Testing

2010-10-05T17:24:00.001-04:00

Christopher is testing for his yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do all this week. Due to the sizes of the classes they are breaking up different elements of the testing with the final element on Saturday followed by a pot luck supper. Christopher was asked to be on the demonstration team for the Saturday event!

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Another Milestone..

2010-09-25T11:38:00.002-04:00

Another baby is growing up. I can't believe this is Taylor's last year of high school. Where does the time go? Taylor, I am so proud of all that you have accomplished. I admire your strength and courage. You are destined for great things! I love you xoxoxo

2010-09-17T23:07:00.004-04:00

I guess it's Fall. It doesn't really feel like it in these parts though! However, I did notice a distinct change in the weather today; instead of 93 degrees, I think we may have dipped to 90! I did actually feel a slight breeze. Ahhhhhhh!

Things have been very hectic these days and I feel like I'm running a shuttle/taxi service between two schools, tae kwon do, movies, malls and visits with friends, etc. I'm not complaining however and am enjoying every moment with my wonderful kiddos!

Taylor is down for a long weekend visit and we will be making our way over to the east coast of the Sunshine State for a much anticipated birthday party for a special little boy who is turning three!!! Only one thing could make it more perfect....Britany!!!! xoxo

2010-09-03T16:09:00.001-04:00

All Things Bright and Beautiful

2010-08-27T17:05:00.002-04:00

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

~Cecil Frances Alexander

Summer2010 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-08-13T12:30:00.001-04:00

Tonight, Hope leaves for her last New Hampshire visit before school starts and she is officially a high school freshman. This marks the official end of the Summer of 2010.

On the 19th, Christopher and I will escort Taylor back to New Hampshire to get her settled for her senior year of high school. Brit has started her sophmore classes at the Air Force Academy and is settling back into cadet life.

Life has been crazy and hectic this summer, but I would not trade one moment of it for all the money in the world.

Another Memorable Day Summer 2010

2010-08-08T22:51:00.000-04:00

Always Forever...

2010-07-31T22:55:00.004-04:00

Time just passes too quickly when you're having fun. We had the absolute joy of sharing 20 glorious but short days with Britany. I waited six months to have her for 20 days and now must wait four months to see her again. I would never have imagined this just a few short years ago.

I strongly believe that all of these good-byes are having a negative effect on Christopher as well. He is thinking about things that most four year olds don't have to. For sometime now, I have noticed he has seemed pre-occupied with aging, growing up, leaving, moving out, etc. He asks alot of questions about it. "Mama, why do you have to get old? Why do I have to grow up and leave you? I don't want to move away from you. I want to stay four forever. I want you to live forever and I want to live with you forever."

No doubt, he is reacting to the sadness whenever one of the girls fly away to New Hampshire or Colorado or we leave Patrick in Toronto. His little mind is trying to comprehend it all. He is associating being a "big boy" with leaving me and he doesn't want to have to think about that just yet.. Believe me, neither do I.

2010-07-23T09:10:00.002-04:00

Life Is What You Make It

2010-07-16T16:23:00.003-04:00

I am thoroughly enjoying these precious times with my beautiful children. The expressions "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" and "You don't know what you've got till it's gone" have taken on a new meaning for me! For example, I have not complained about the sandy beach towels lying on my laundry room floor or the constant stack of dishes in the sink. The girls have been very cooperative with one another and patient with Christopher as well. I am truly blessed and I am finding myself saying "thank you" under my breath more and more often. Life is Good =) Thank you Lord!! xoxoxo

Beach 7/7/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-07-07T23:19:00.001-04:00

Well, summer is in full swing and I have the pictures to prove it! It has been raining and cloudy for about five days or so. The sun today was much appreciated and we wasted NO time getting ourselves to the beach! Hope was at a friend's house today, but she (along with two friends) will be joining us tomorrow.

Britany comes on Saturday. When I asked her what she wants to do during her vacation, she answered with one word...BEACH!

So it is!

New Blog

2010-07-02T12:36:00.002-04:00

Summer is in full swing! I am so happy to have Taylor and Hope home here with Christopher and I. Britany will be coming for three weeks on July 10th! Let the party begin!!

I have started a second blog as my own personal photo gallery. I will still be posting pictures here if they are relevant to my post, but the gallery is just for a large assortment of various photos. To keep things simple (for me mostly lol) I just named it RobinsTreasures2. I have the link over to the right under "Blogs I Read".

Between Facebook, the kids being here and the new blog, I may not be updating here as often, but check back often for news!

I want to wish everyone an AMAZING summer!

MagicKingdomJune2010 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-06-28T12:29:00.001-04:00

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Robin&Christopher's Excellent Adventure!

2010-06-10T12:34:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, Christopher and I enjoyed a beautiful day Downtown Disney. I decided we both could use a little Disney magic. It is great now that he is old enough to not only manage the trip fine, but to look forward to it. I am looking forward to more trips like this in the future, especially when the girls are here!!

Memorial Day 2010 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-06-01T12:55:00.001-04:00

Hmmmm...New Career????

2010-05-28T12:07:00.003-04:00

Recently, I ordered some pictures from my local Walmart. The next day, I received a phone call from the manager of the Photo Department. He informed me that because some of my photos appeared to be professionally done, I would need to sign a release in order to purchase them.

When I arrived in the Photo Department, he went on further to say that he was "allowing" me to pick up my photos with a release "this" time, however, in the future if he was not there and I ordered them "the girls" would most likely REFUSE to print my photos!!!! WHAAAAAT??? "So," I said "in order to have my photos printed by Walmart, they need to be crappy?" He laughed nervously and went on and on about he was only protecting his job, etc., etc. He then suggested that I have some business cards printed up and leave one on file with them. I said "What are they supposed to say 'Mom who takes pictures'?"

At first I was peeved to say the least. Then I thought about it and wondered if this was perhaps a greater power at work here, forcing me into making a step toward some new path in my life. Hmmmmmm. I wonder....... I got 100 business cards a couple of days ago. =)

Prom2010

2010-05-22T20:22:00.005-04:00

Needless to say, I was very sad that I could not be in New Hampshire for Taylor's Junior/Senior prom. Thankfully, however, my dear friend, Sarah, has a daughter, April, who is a great little photographer. She graciously agreed to meet with Taylor for a photoshoot. Here are just a few of the amazing results =)

Toronto!

2010-05-12T23:47:00.000-04:00

When we first arrived, the weather was beautiful. However, things went downhill quickly after about three days. We even managed to see some snow flurries in MAY!! Needless to say, I have not been excited about the weather the second half of the trip. I am not a fan of frigid, rainy days!! Friday, it's back to the Sunshine State!!

Obivously, these pictures were taken a day or two after we arrived!

2010-04-29T21:10:00.004-04:00

We haven't had a lot going on lately. Hope is working hard on her school work each day and trying to make sure she wraps it up by June 4th when the school closes. Christopher is still doing well in tennis and LOVING it. I did manage to convince Colin to take a few hours off work on Saturday and join us at Busch Gardens! I decided to get some new highlights too!

(Busch Gardens)

(Busch Gardens)

(New Highlights)

Future Tennis Pro!!

2010-04-18T19:38:00.001-04:00

Christopher had his very first tennis lesson last Thursday. He had so much fun! His coach said that he is "a natural" (of course!) and that he was "a great kid...a pleasure to work with" Perhaps we have a future tennis pro on our hands!!

USAG Women's Nationals Texas at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-04-16T11:49:00.001-04:00

Study: Spanking Kids Leads to More Aggressive Behavior

2010-04-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

By ALICE PARK Alice Park – Mon Apr 12, 1:50 am ET (TIME)

Disciplining young children is one of the key jobs of any parent - most people would have no trouble agreeing with that. But whether or not that discipline should include spanking or other forms of corporal punishment is a far trickier issue.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not endorse spanking for any reason, citing its lack of long-term effectiveness as a behavior-changing tactic. Instead the AAP supports strategies such as "time-outs" when children misbehave, which focus on getting kids to reflect on their behavior and the consequences of their actions. Still, as many parents can attest, few responses bring about the immediate interruption of a full-blown tantrum like a swift whack to the bottom. (See pictures of the evolution of the college dorm.)

Now researchers at Tulane University provide the strongest evidence yet against the use of spanking: of the nearly 2,500 youngsters in the study, those who were spanked more frequently at age 3 were more likely to be aggressive by age 5. The research supports earlier work on the pitfalls of corporal punishment, including a study by Duke University researchers that revealed that infants who were spanked at 12 months scored lower on cognitive tests at age 3.

"I'm excited by the idea that there is now some nice hard data that can back up clinicians when they share their caution with parents against using corporal punishment," says Dr. Jayne Singer, clinical director of the child and parent program at Children's Hospital Boston, who was not involved in the study. (Read "Should Kids Be Bribed to Do Well in School?")

Led by Catherine Taylor, the Tulane study was the first to control simultaneously for variables that are most likely to confound the association between spanking and later aggressive behavior. The researchers accounted for factors such as acts of neglect by the mother, violence or aggression between the parents, maternal stress and depression, the mother's use of alcohol and drugs, and even whether the mother considered abortion while pregnant with the child.

Each of these factors contributed to children's aggressive behavior at age 5, but they could not explain all of the violent tendencies at that age. Further, the positive connection between spanking and aggression remained strong, even after these factors had been accounted for.

"The odds of a child being more aggressive at age 5 if he had been spanked more than twice in the month before the study began increased by 50%," says Taylor. And because her group also accounted for varying levels of natural aggression in children, the researchers are confident that "it's not just that children who are more aggressive are more likely to be spanked."

What the study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, shows is that outside of the most obvious factors that may influence violent behavior in children, spanking remains a strong predictor. "This study controls for the most common risk factors that people tend to think of as being associated with aggression," says Singer. "This adds more credence, more data and more strength to the argument against using corporal punishment."

Among the mothers who were studied, nearly half (45.6%) reported no spanking in the previous month; 27.9% reported spanking once or twice; and 26.5% reported spanking more than twice. Compared with children who were not hit, those who were spanked were more likely to be defiant, demand immediate satisfaction of their wants and needs, get frustrated easily, have temper tantrums and lash out physically against others.

The reason for that, says Singer, may be that spanking instills fear rather than understanding. Even if a child were to stop his screaming tantrum when spanked, that doesn't mean he understands why he shouldn't be acting out in the first place. What's more, spanking models aggressive behavior as a solution to problems.

For children to understand what and why they have done something wrong, it may take repeated efforts on the parent's part, using time-outs - a strategy that typically involves denying the child any attention, praise or interaction with parents for a specified period of time (that is, the parents ignore the child). These quiet times force children to calm down and learn to think about their emotions, rather than acting out on them blindly.

Spanking may stop a child from misbehaving in the short term, but it becomes less and less effective with repeated use, according to the AAP; it also makes discipline more difficult as the child gets older and outgrows spanking. As the latest study shows, investing the time early on to teach a child why his behavior is wrong may translate to a more self-aware and in-control youngster in the long run.

See pictures of kids comparing their paychecks at school.

See TIME's Pictures of the Week.

Love...

2010-04-07T22:55:00.001-04:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Zoo

2010-04-01T22:09:00.001-04:00

2010-03-26T16:50:00.000-04:00

Proud Mom...

2010-03-22T15:38:00.009-04:00

OK, so it's time for some proud mom moments here! I have four amazing kids and I don't mind telling everyone!

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CHRISTOPHER - Christopher is doing great in Chinese school. He is having a blast!

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HOPE - Hope is settling in and still loving her new room! Thanks again Rob & Ann-Marie! She is adjusting to her virtual school and has been getting some excellent test scores =)

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TAYLOR - Taylor was invited to apply for the National Honor Society and helped lead her cheer squad to a State Championship.

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BRITANY - Britany has been working very hard at the Academy both with academics and gymnastics. She recently completed the Recognition process and is officially considered an equal to the upper classmen, which is a huge relief to her. I recently watched her compete against the University of Alaska via livestream. Simply amazing. On March 14th, she placed first on beam against Alaska, giving the Falcons their first beam win of the season!

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M is for... cat?

2010-03-21T19:37:00.002-04:00

The Chinese (Mandarin) word for Cat is Mao...

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Congratulations FHS Cheerleaders

2010-03-14T17:11:00.004-04:00

State Champs again this year!!!! I wish that I could have been there, but it just did not work out. Now that Hope is back with me and trying to get settled with school and adjusting, it was not a good time to leave her here to travel to NH. I am looking forward to some video from the coach. When I get it, I will post it for sure!

USAFA Vs. University of Alaska March 2010

2010-03-13T17:01:00.002-05:00

It was so amazing to get to watch Britany compete as a college gymnast. This was the first time that I got to see her in action. I watched her online via the University's website. Modern technology is great! She looked awesome and I am just so proud of her! As you can see from the stats she placed 2nd in the All-Around. I am pretty sure she placed 1st on bars even with the fall. Because her start value is so high (10.0) the fall didn't hurt her score too much. =) It was so nice to be able to see her face. I miss her very much and this was as good as it gets without being able to fly to Alaska to watch in person! Love you Brit xoxo

Photo essay: Gymnasts compete in tri-meet

2010-02-26T11:01:00.003-05:00

Photo essay: Gymnasts compete in tri-meet
(Click this link above in Gray, then once on the website click "view slideshow")
Britany sent this link to me today via email. These pictures are from her recent meet. She said she did not have a great meet. She had/has a bad cold and without thinking about side effects, she took some cold meds before the meet; needless to say she was feeling a bit groggy... I must say though, she looks beautiful =)

Chinese New Year 2010

2010-02-16T13:03:00.001-05:00

新年快樂 Happy New Year! This is the year of the TIGER!!!

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2010-02-14T22:18:00.002-05:00

"The Cove"

2010-02-13T17:31:00.001-05:00

http://www.takepart.com/thecove

One down; Two to go!!!!!!!!

2010-02-11T16:58:00.003-05:00

Hope is coming, Hope is coming, Hope is coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it's true. Hope is moving back to Florida tomorrow and I am never ever letting her leave again!!!!

2010-02-08T20:03:00.003-05:00

We decided to check out the Florida State Fair today. I wasn't really sure if Christopher would be into it or not, since he isn't really a big fan of rides. We brought Nana along, but she had big plans tonight so we couldn't stay long. We will be heading back on Wednesday because Christopher really liked it. I want to stay all day and check out all of the animals and exhibits. Hopefully, next time I can avoid the chocolate and carmel covered apples! I don't know if I will be able to resist the funnel cakes though. Hmmm..I wonder how many miles I will have to ride on my bike to burn off one of those????

2010-02-02T12:43:00.002-05:00

From The Secret Daily Teachings

There are two words that, when spoken, have the most unfathomable power to completely change your life. Two words that, when they pass your lips, will be the cause of bringing absolute joy and happiness to you. Two words that will create miracles in your life, wipe out negativity, and bring you abundance in all things. Two words that, when uttered and sincerely felt, will summon all the forces in the Universe to move all things for you.

There are just two words standing between you, happiness, and the life of your dreams . . .

THANK YOU.

(photo taken by me in Sedona,AZ 2009)

2010-02-01T12:01:00.002-05:00

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Resolutions...

2010-01-25T13:25:00.005-05:00

So, Colin and I decided that our New Year's resolution would be to "keep life simple". I have been on a mission to simplify my life. I have started with cleaning some of the clutter in the house. It is actually quite therapeutic cleaning out a closet or cupboard isn't it?? I went to Wal*Mart and bought some storage organizing items and started my project. I still have a LONG way to go, but at least it is a start. With each freshly organized cupboard or closet, I can literally feel stressful energy being lifted off of me. You know how when you just keep shoving things in that drawer saying "I've got to clean that out "soon", but really when is "soon"??

I was in Borders one day with Christopher when I passed the clearance rack on my way to the cashier. I saw a CD collection about "getting in balance" and balancing thoughts in order create the life you want. Soooo, I bought it. I thought "Wow. Yes, I could use this". So, after about a week, I finally got a chance to listen to it. It had been an utterly crazy couple of days. I had lost one set of car keys and had been using the back up set. I was stressed out about that. I had purchased some items for Colin's new office for a good sum of money and lost the receipt. I was stressed about that. It was just one thing after another. I put the CD in and one of the first things the speaker said was "Do you crave peace in your life, but attract chaos?" I kind of looked around thinking "Wow. This guy is talking to me!"

Anyway. That is my goal. I am trying to simplify my life. After listening to a small bit of the CD lecture, I ran into the book store and purchased the Tao Te Ching. I am trying to read it (and understand it lol) I am not only trying to reduce the clutter in my home, but in my life as well. You know what I'm talking about. You know how negative thoughts or stressful thoughts can make your mind feel cluttered?? I am trying to restructure my way of thinking so as to attract more peace to my life and less chaos!

Wish me luck!

A Very Happy Holiday 2009

2010-01-06T12:01:00.002-05:00

Another holiday season has come and gone..funny how they pass so quickly..anyway, I am home now at last. All of the luggage has been unloaded and my house is a complete disaster!

My dog did in fact recognize us when we picked her up at the puppy hotel, however, she is in desperate need of grooming! When I first saw her, I realized that I am not the only one who gained a few holiday pounds! She looks great though, except for the grooming that she needs.. Another errand to run *sigh*

All this extra work is well worth the wonderful, amazing, and very special Christmas that I shared with my beautiful family! I am looking forward to accomplishing ALL of my resolutions for the new year!! XOXOXO

Children....

2009-12-20T12:14:00.000-05:00

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte

Happy Birthday Christopher!!!

2009-12-19T12:21:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you get discouraged,
because I am so small
And leave my little fingerprints
On furniture and walls.
But everyday I'm growing
And soon will be so tall
That all these little fingerprints
Will be difficult to recall.
So here's a little handprint
That you can put away
So you will know how my fingers looked
On this special day.

FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY, GOD SENT ME A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BOY!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER!!!

Like star dust glistening on fairies' wings

2009-12-17T13:20:00.001-05:00

Like star dust glistening on fairies' wings
Little girls dreams are of magical things.
-- Sherry Larson

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer

2009-12-15T11:08:00.002-05:00

Wow. Everyday is a learning experience for a parent! I never put a collage on my Facebook for Taylor on her birthday as I did for Britany (previous post). I thought about it, but Taylor is extremely picky about which pictures she considers flattering and is very particular about me not posting anything that she would deem "embarrassing".

Of course, though, yesterday she saw Britany's birthday collage and wondered why I had not done the same for her. So, I have sent her this collage via email hoping she will "approve" it for Facebook. I will post it here, because I am fairly certain that none of her more than 500 FB friends visit my blog. I do feel terrible however, because I was certain that I had posted a Happy Birthday wish to her here on my blog. After careful review of my previous posts, I do not see one.

In my defense, however, her birthday was sandwiched between back to back to back trips between Toronto, Arizona and New Hampshire. I can remember those few weeks not knowing if I was coming or going. I did get her a cake and gifts when I was visiting NH in October, but alas, I have slipped with my blogging duties. So, Taylor, my love, my precious ~ here is your collage. Do NOT flip out on me if you don't like any of the pictures. I did my best to recollect your previous reactions to these and I think I'm good. Here's hoping!! I love you MADLY forever!!!!!

There Was A Star That Danced..And Under It, I Was Born....

2009-12-14T18:18:00.003-05:00

19 years ago today, God sent me my first Treasure xoxoxo Happy Birthday Britany Faith!! I love you madly forever...

Chinese School December 2009

2009-12-13T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today was the Christmas party at Christopher's Chinese School. We had a great time. I have more pictures on Colin's camera that I will try to add later. As you can see, Christopher is just loving it!

2009-12-03T12:35:00.001-05:00

Well, we are home again. I am still pretty tired and busy unpacking and gettig ready for Christmas. The girls arrive the 18th in Orlando! We are looking forward to a wonderful time.

NH Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-28T14:15:00.001-05:00

Les Miserables - I dreamed a dream....

2009-11-28T00:51:00.002-05:00

Thankful For My Treasures

2009-11-25T09:09:00.002-05:00

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

Well, I am off to New Hampshire today for a week. I am looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with my family. Britany is flying in from USAFA and it will be so amazing to see her again and give her a big squeeze.

Despite the amount of travel I have done lately, it just doesn't seem to get any easier. It seems like there is always something to stress me out. This trip, I cannot find the battery charger for my camera. And me on a trip without a camera???? I know that I saw it when I unpacked from my last trip, but my mind was on so many things. I remember thinking to myself "you'd better put this someplace safe so you don't forget about it" and yep, no clue where it is.

I'm thinking I can probably borrow Charmaine's camera and just put my memory card in there and bring it back home. The way my brain has been lately, I'd better not lose that memory card!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! God Bless xoxoxo

GO FALCONS!!

2009-11-19T12:33:00.000-05:00

Chinese School has begun.....

2009-11-16T12:40:00.006-05:00

We had such a wonderful time at Chinese School yesterday! I was happy that Colin was able to join us. It is going to work out great that it is on Sunday, so he will be available to participate in the process.

They usually only allow one parent to stay, but since it was our first day, they let us both stay. Colin ended up leaving and walking around; talking with the principal who was also born in Hong Kong.

School is three hours long, but it is broken up into three different segments with snack and recess in between which makes it nice. The first segment the teacher reviews common words with them all together as a class before handing them each some individual work. There were 12 kids in his class yesterday. Christopher worked on writing the numbers 1, 2 and 3 (yi, er, san). At one point, he looked at me, smiled and said "I love Chinese School".

He will even get to bring a little lunch box for snack time and a back pack for his notebook with all of his work sheets. It is so adorable. It is great that at least one of us can stay because that eliminates any anxiety and just lets him get excited about it and look forward to going. He is already looking forward to going again and going shopping for his notebook and pencils and crayons.

I could tell by the last segment yesterday that it won't take too long and I will move to the back of the class rather than right next to him and then before I know it, he will be telling me that I don't need to stay. At least it will be on his terms though when he is ready to stay alone which will set my mind at ease.

He was so pleased when the teacher pointed to a bowl of rice and asked how to say it because he knows how to say rice in Chinese, so he was all smiles and very proud! He was shy of course at first, which made him very well behaved. When the teacher took him by the hand to lead him somewhere, he would turn around with this worried look to make sure that I was following, then I could see his relief as I smiled and gave him the big thumbs up. They did work sheets in the class room, sang songs in a big room with a stage and organ and then back to the classroom for more work sheets and coloring.

At the end of our last segment, he smiled and said "Dis is juss like First grade or Kindergarten or somethin" with a wide grin. I think this was a great idea!

My Montage 11/12/09 at OneTrueMedia.com

2009-11-13T18:18:00.001-05:00

As Christopher's fourth birthday fast approaches, I thought it would be a good idea to start getting him involved in some activities again such as Art class at Gymboree. When I scheduled the preview class by phone, I was not told that it was a drop off class, so I was not prepared to leave him, nor had I attempted to prepare him that I might leave. I thought I would give it a try. I told him just to "try it" and if he didn't like it, we wouldn't do it again. I told him that I would watch him from the window and that he could see me. He was fine - until the teacher closed the door! Then, it was the saddest thing I have ever witnessed. With his elbows on the table, he placed his chin in the palms of his hands, squinted his eyes and cried this sad little cry. He was devastated. He just looked so helpless and sad. He was rubbing his fingers into his eyeballs and I said to myself "That's enough of this. It is not worth it and I am NOT ready for this".. I rescued him and we headed to the mall. I am just not ready to let go of my baby yet...

When I got home, I started working on this video as I poured over the thousands of photographs uploaded to my computer. I think I will have this made into a DVD and give it to Daddy for Christmas.

Warning: It is a long video...approx 20 minutes...

2009-11-03T13:41:00.001-05:00

Aye, Aye Matey!!

2009-10-31T21:49:00.003-04:00

So, I predicted that it would rain tonight because it ALWAYS rains on Halloween in New Hampshire and guess what? I was right!!! (But at LEAST it wasn't freezing rain) Christopher had a great time, however after an hour he said "I wish we could go home" LOL....

Sedona, Arizona

2009-10-26T17:20:00.004-04:00