Thanks Joey

The girls got a package from Canada from my parents Florida neighbor. Thanks Joey! The girls love getting mail. The shirts are a little big but they are wearing them as night gowns.

camping out

We're having a major heat wave for these parts. Its been over 100 degrees for 2 days and going up. I'm definitely wishing we had a/c. We have been camping out on the back deck the past few night. (thanks for the tent Mikel) Last night was the first night Billi actually fell asleep in the tent. But not until about 9:30. Three hours past her bed time she was stumbling around, falling over Joshi who was trying to sleep, and standing up to dance every time a song started on the movie we were watching. Yes we had a tv/ dvd and a fan out there. With out elec. camping is no fun. Then she woke up at 4 am wanting to get going so I had to put her up in her room. She might not be invited to the camp out tonight. But the girls room is the hottest in the house.

Daddy's visit

Elwood went back to work on Friday. We had a great visit. We basically did nothing and it seemed to make the best of our few days. Here are some pics of our picnic at Wildwood. Elwood took Joshi on a hike in the woods one day And the next day he stayed with Billi while Joshi and I went to the movies. So he got daddy/ daughter time with both girls.

Sunday fun

Elwood was home this week so I never got a chance to post pics from Sundays church BBQ. The girls had a blast. It was the finale to their week of VBS. I was contemplating going to this church full time, despite the 20 minute commute. Mainly because there are several adoptive families. Joshi had 2 Chinese girls in her age group. But after the Sunday Sermon I was not that impressed. I think I just really like our local pastor. So for know we are going to stay at 'Church on the Mountain'

Our frugal hobby

Here is one of our new obsessions.  For the past 3 years Elwood has brought home the hotel soaps he didn't use.  Joshi and I enjoyed it so much that he started to make a concerted effort to conserve his soap so he could bring us as much as possible.  I haven't had to buy soap for 3 years.  And this photo is just our surplus.  Not bad, huh?  You have to have hobbies right?  Its really a win win win situation.  I get have a new bar of soap(and scent) every week.  I save money and it gives elwood an 'on the road' hobby :0)

shucking corn

Here, Joshi is shucking corn while on her tricycle. Then putting the corn silk on her head to be a blonde. She has an unhealthy obsession with blondes. I blame Barbie princess movies.

Crayons

Billi has started coloring. The pages have to be taped down and then she scribbles. On this day however she managed to throw half the crayons from that box all over the floor before I got down stairs after taking the picture.

Beautiful Ballerina

Billi wanted to put on Joshi's tutu yesterday. And it looked so cute I took her outside to get better light for a photograph. But she never stops moving so it was very difficult. I may just have to post video of her from now on.

Take our picture

Joshi requested I take this picture and put it on the blog. She was laying on the couch before bed watching a movie with her kitty. The kitty has been a great success. After the disapointment of a pet bunny that was scared of her. Daphnee plays with her , sleeps with her and actually has more energy then her. I think it will be fun for her to grow up with this pet.

I'm off to the gym to work out for the first time in a week. This is probably a mistake since I still can breath fully but I'm sick of being sick.

Sandy Mountain Festival

Here are some photos from the Sandy mountain festival on Saturday. Joshi getting her face painted and all of us watching the Reptile man. We had front row seat and I almost tossed my cookies when he came by with the 'Legless lizard' Of course it didn't help that I was sick. (and still am.) So no photos of this week. But I have been driving Joshi in to a Vacation Bible School in Sandy. Its 9am - noon, and she's been having a great time. Her 4 yr old group had over 40 kids in it. Billi and I still have really bad colds. And just when I thought we were getting better, I left the screen door open all night. So we woke up at 4 am,to 58 degrees. I think sleeping in that cold set us back a bit. I hope were better by Monday, when Elwood comes home to visit.

uT O

Ok, I think I may have it this time. This is my 3rd attempt at putting video on the site.

Billi is starting to communicate verbally. She has very few words. Thankyou, hereyago, and Ut o.

Morning Hair

We'll miss you Pepper

We'll it was a very bad morning. I awoke to find our bunny dead. I really don't know what happened, she seemed healthy. It really sucks that after trying to befriend that bunny all year, when we finally get her figured out and she dies. She was neutered 6 weeks ago and it ended all her aggression. She was so lovey and soft. There were a lot of tears this morning. Joshi helped bury her and put flowers on her grave. Then I did exactly what your not suppose to do. I got her a new pet. Joshi picked out a 10 wk old kitten and promptly names her Daphnee. Our other 2 cats are 14 years old, so really they don't have too much time left. This kitten is perfect for Joshi,she's not scared of her like another bunny would be. They been playing with a string together for 45 minutes. Joshi just came out of the room and breathlessly said "I'm so proud of that kitten, she can stand on 2 feet. I can't believe she can do tricks" Joshi is under the impression that since she walks on 2 feet, she taught Daphnee this mazing feat. (pun intended)

Mikels new baby

How cute is he? I finally held him at Mikels BBQ on the 2nd. So she had to immortalize it in photos. I've been scared to hold him until now. I don't know why nature lets those babies come out half baked like that. I'm much more comfortable with babies 6 months and older. I guess its a good thing I'm not a breeder =0)

American Girls

Happy 4th of July. It was Billi's first as an American. On the 4th I always think of my girls as the classic Americans. As strange as that seems. But they started out as citizens of other countries, of modest(to say the least) means, and immigrated here. And isn't that what America is all about. First generation Americans in their line, it seems very cool to me.

We went to Little Crater Lake. To visit with friends in from Portland camping. I was underwhelmed with the lake. Slightly bigger than my bath tub. But beautiful aqua blue water. Glacier melt that comes up from under volcanic rock, considered a geological oddity. We also finally got to meet Akila, another little girl adopted from Ethiopia. She's a cutie. Fun day in the forest. It sure is beautiful where we live.

"What happened to you panties?"

Ok, Here's a quiz? Which girl in this photo isn't wearing panties? Well, we can eliminate Billi since she's still in diapers. So, if you take into account the overall togetherness of both mothers you have a pretty good bet. We were at Mikel's BBQ Thurs. The kids had been playing for hours and Ginny decided to spray them down with bug spray because the mosquitos were in full force. It comes to joshi's turn and I hear Ginny say "what happened to your panties?" Yup, my girl was (and continued) to climb, swing, play for hours in a dress with no panties. I vaguely remember telling her to get some on and she said she didn't feel like going upstairs. In order to avoid a big thing and be late to the party, I just said OK I'll go. But I never did. Hey, I can't remember everything!

The proud Farmer

Joshi's first crop has come in. We planted lots of seed this spring. Some didn't survive transplanting, but most did. This week the Nastrium were the first to produce blooms . I think she'll be really excited when her sunflowers bloom.