Coincidence?

We have been doing a lot of dirt work around her lately trying to get the yard ready to be sodded...it's really hard work. So, I'm working away and I find a thick piece of glass on the ground. When we were building our house we found a lot of very old glass bottles and other things, but we haven't seen anything in while. So, when I saw this piece of glass I made sure to take a good look at it. And I couldn't believe the coincidence...the piece of glass was dated August 31st, 1915....today's date! I just think that is so cool and wanted to share it.

Megan and Grandma

Grandma and Megan

Grandma said the chalk people clothes were the same colors as their clothes.

Museum of Flight

This hot air balloon basket was hanging from the second level of the building.

Sherry loved the Museum of Flight! Megan was a little bored.

Air Force One

Megan was tire so she took a seat...note the plexiglas.

Hello Mr. Pibbs...

We have a new fish, his name is Mr. Pibbs...Megan brought him home after spending the day with Grandma and Grandpa, he was "free". She won him at a grand opening of something. Megan named him Mr. Pibbs because in the movie Zoom the characters didn't have anyone to play with so they built a robot and named it Mr. Pibbs. Megan said since she was an only child and she didn't have anyone to play with (excluding her three dogs and two cats) Mr. Pibbs was a perfect name for her fish. And let me say ouch on that one.

Megan has lost interest in Mr. Pibbs, she still feeds him but that's about it, however, Pete is fascinated by Mr. Pibbs, he gets up on the counter (which is a no no) and stares at Mr. Pibbs for as long as we will let him. Good thing Mr. Pibbs has Pete to look after him.

Back to work...

I have a new job! I am now the office manager for one of the departments with the city (city name left out due to the fact that my dad will think stalkers will get me if I list it on my blog..and I'm sure my dad thinks I have already said to much). The hours are perfect, the commute is great-it's only two miles from the house. I'm really excited about it; I think it's going to be a very intersting job.

8/8/08 Lucky Day

I just had to post something today since it's 8/8/08... it's a very lucky date for our Chinese friends. Today is the day that Sherry arrives back home, it's also her parent's 20th wedding anniversary. Our friends, Amy and Wiktor's dog Daisy turns 1 today and tomorrow they leave for China to pick up their baby girl. If you want to know more about their baby girl click on Greger Adoption Blog.

Yellow Belt

Yeah, I got my yellow belt today!

My family through Sherry's eyes....

Shirley, Me, Jenna, Megan, Sherry and Beth, dishing out Strawberry shortcake.

I wanted to include a picture of my Grandpa, this was taken last year.

Megan, Sherry and I went to visit my Grandpa and Shirley with my Uncle and his family while they were here in Seattle. We had a wonderful visit, Shirley made strawberry shortcake and it was delicious. The adults sat and talked while Jenna and Sherry played the piano in the living room, and Beth and Megan played with toys on the stairs. When it was time for us to leave everyone gathered around the front door and said goodbyes and nice to meet yous which lasted about 10 minutes. When Sherry got to the car she said to me very sincerely, with bubbly happiness, " They are very nice people, they love music, love dessert and love life"... I have never heard anyone describe my Grandpa and Shirley so beautifully, I had to stop and write it down to make sure I didn't forget her exact words, the only thing I could find in my purse to write on was back of a Burger King receipt, with a few happy tears I wrote her down her quote. I have so many emotions tied to this quote... love, pride, guilt and gratitude.

Thank you Sherry for your wonderful observation.

My Chinese Daughter...

On the fourth of July, our little family was at the Lake having a picnic with our friends and family and to watch the fireworks show. We were just sitting there and this women comes up to us and asks us if we would like to host a Chinese exchange student. At first, I thought I would just be polite and listen to what she had to say and then tell her we weren't interested but, it didn't work out that way. She said they were in desperate need of host families, the students arrive on the 9th (of July) and they still have 6 kids that need to be placed with families. She asked me if I would like to look at the book with the students application and photos...I said yes and I followed her to her booth. When I read Sherry's profile and letter to the host family I knew she was the one for us. I asked Eric if we could host her and surprisingly he said yes, I asked Megan and she was so excited she said, " I always wanted a big sister". Sherry's schedule was, she would arrive on the 9th and leave on the 30th, she would be in school Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30.

When Megan and I picked up Sherry we were even more sure we had done the right thing by hosting her. She is wonderfully sweet, polite, smart, fun, talented and serious about education and her future. She is also very mature at the of age 15, but not to serious that she wouldn't play with Megan. They had a really good time with each other. She loves music and she plays the piano very well.

Sherry is from the Sichuan province of China in the capital city of Chengdu, her real name is Xiruo...all the kids take American names, that way we can pronounce them...I tried so hard to pronounce Xiruo but, I just couldn't do it correctly. Sherry goes to boarding school 6 days a week, I have forgotten the exact hours our her school day but, it's something like 7:30 am - 9:00 pm. If Megan ever complains about school I'm going to be sure to bring that up.

Sherry is off touring a few other states and she will be back home to Chengdu in a week or so. I miss her already and I hope I get to see her again soon. She is part of our family now, I love her very much and I'm so glad that she was brought into our lives. She has confirmed for me that we really are more alike than we are different.

I will be posting more pictures soon, we have so many...

America picnic at Lake Wilderness...with Kentucky Fried Chicken, yum.
Alki Point

Sherry's First Red Robin hamburger!