tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64009392343954493342024-03-12T20:02:58.526-07:00Ob-La-Di VietnamYour life is a song we shall sing together,
your life is a story we shall tell together
- Richard Van CampCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-85314252320966948062011-10-02T22:27:00.000-07:002011-10-02T22:27:27.072-07:00Catching Up - April 2011April went by like a big black hole, as usual. It's the worst time at work - lots of stress and usually lots of extra hours for accountants like me who do personal taxes. However, we always know it's all over at the end of the month.<br />
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Molly and I took advantage of the spring weather whenever we could. We got a call from Nhan one afternoon, and joined him at our favorite park.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We took the bikes, and they had fun riding around the basketball court</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7M9sujnwp0L0f-NPLtoZc-76SflVg0wrM-7FE_eIwZd8AiqW-N3dUYrXA8zw2BbBjvkq_oL8n_x4Nh-xIiwRRJYI5F9nvHKCCHt9_3IhVoVgXLatemPwTn99INadEzYGAQJIHrItQUZA/s1600/IMG_7249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7M9sujnwp0L0f-NPLtoZc-76SflVg0wrM-7FE_eIwZd8AiqW-N3dUYrXA8zw2BbBjvkq_oL8n_x4Nh-xIiwRRJYI5F9nvHKCCHt9_3IhVoVgXLatemPwTn99INadEzYGAQJIHrItQUZA/s400/IMG_7249.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Another sunny afternoon was spent on the swings with our neighbors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU1aIpZVikr3iNdmJ1ZVlD7HYHJfhgNl3DONh6IsJY1kraFEuvJyUKM3ebutKqarVJrxraGHzd_XcyML9v_gSVS7xOOwt9IrDGWZtnDFTqq7KzB9IrDcFN5TYiUpVXNXd_NLnqxEpm68/s1600/IMG_7305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU1aIpZVikr3iNdmJ1ZVlD7HYHJfhgNl3DONh6IsJY1kraFEuvJyUKM3ebutKqarVJrxraGHzd_XcyML9v_gSVS7xOOwt9IrDGWZtnDFTqq7KzB9IrDcFN5TYiUpVXNXd_NLnqxEpm68/s400/IMG_7305.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And later, Molly helped Mama out in the garden. Molly planted flowers and peas and birdies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Easter Bunny came and left some pretty eggs for Molly to find on Easter morning. It took Molly a little time to catch on, but after she had found them all, she kept asking for more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoqv8ikkXVCRLYiOpkn5YdUeQz9X2pI6L-EgZ1llYcEIZ55_ct9Y-xq6QbOFC_1f2DfuVCcFu3_t6rcgliHHPCBshOnuojP8ZoBLW7d5Iz6QNV5Vv3NcVuvbcW_zCsxLwytDetPtYLrc/s1600/IMG_7281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoqv8ikkXVCRLYiOpkn5YdUeQz9X2pI6L-EgZ1llYcEIZ55_ct9Y-xq6QbOFC_1f2DfuVCcFu3_t6rcgliHHPCBshOnuojP8ZoBLW7d5Iz6QNV5Vv3NcVuvbcW_zCsxLwytDetPtYLrc/s400/IMG_7281.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufPYYU_8_06WbVNAbnRV9TB5cr871MIOgSXHWFNhYYDEm65CpPc0a4X1NkfIkLWCxjqCk-vKRGzf_r4aFXG4nyS0k5bAeLgY_NeodYTfEbDuGCs2hbNVNROfD5aIn8DhMaqIvJLNU820/s1600/IMG_7287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufPYYU_8_06WbVNAbnRV9TB5cr871MIOgSXHWFNhYYDEm65CpPc0a4X1NkfIkLWCxjqCk-vKRGzf_r4aFXG4nyS0k5bAeLgY_NeodYTfEbDuGCs2hbNVNROfD5aIn8DhMaqIvJLNU820/s400/IMG_7287.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And here's that Easter Bunny herself!</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFxMhNbZbTCjdit0bV05bqUa7Rm0MOie_SkMmLOV3os9dtFxSvro33Jow1cQecO_u4oeYV0Q0I5cdUIVQkKTjxbZygIN1H11ivMjNAt_pDDsi-36sxDKHHuJuKMvJa6Jmn_YHUePoc-E/s1600/IMG_7264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFxMhNbZbTCjdit0bV05bqUa7Rm0MOie_SkMmLOV3os9dtFxSvro33Jow1cQecO_u4oeYV0Q0I5cdUIVQkKTjxbZygIN1H11ivMjNAt_pDDsi-36sxDKHHuJuKMvJa6Jmn_YHUePoc-E/s400/IMG_7264.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div align="justify"></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-71613611969924401202011-08-29T22:08:00.000-07:002011-08-29T22:31:38.520-07:00Catching Up - March 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">March is the beginning of so many memories, anniversaries and celebrations that last for the next 3 months. I met Molly on March 5, 2010. Here is my story of <a href="http://ob-la-di-vietnam.blogspot.com/2011/03/year-ago-today.html">A Year Ago Today</a> of the 2011 anniversary celebration. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next most exciting event this month was... we had a visit from Aunty Loan, from Vietnam!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our adoption agency holds a big gala every year to raise money for the orphanges. They invite a delegation from Vietnam to come to the gala, and this year Loan was one of the guests. They were able to spend one night in Vancouver, then flew back to Vietnam from the Vancouver airport. We arranged to have a breakfast reception with them at our favorite family-friendly restaurant, and had an emotional, way-too-short visit with them.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOphSad94CzOvAfl-mshM4WlnKu_Sf59iD0sWQoHFhCMI3MFqX_1pSqMjL4brlQKJjAtTMwtFxgIEwGP0pPoHgi-ZOtUSMFAwF9hZkAYQ5wrGkDGanrB_r55cEf-7v4Zyp-XQMjIROUQ/s1600/IMG_7198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOphSad94CzOvAfl-mshM4WlnKu_Sf59iD0sWQoHFhCMI3MFqX_1pSqMjL4brlQKJjAtTMwtFxgIEwGP0pPoHgi-ZOtUSMFAwF9hZkAYQ5wrGkDGanrB_r55cEf-7v4Zyp-XQMjIROUQ/s400/IMG_7198.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC8dd6ae-W39NH4vABO5Jh9Cu8KlEHJKjf_9t_QZ4IY_LvCHQ56uEopiY0v4bHxWnm35n7twUHkwX7a_keGS_UNVEP0CXnYxAajagqv8zeehEfeHtlEChbXG8KHZvTb7HnxdeY8cVtkI/s1600/IMG_7199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC8dd6ae-W39NH4vABO5Jh9Cu8KlEHJKjf_9t_QZ4IY_LvCHQ56uEopiY0v4bHxWnm35n7twUHkwX7a_keGS_UNVEP0CXnYxAajagqv8zeehEfeHtlEChbXG8KHZvTb7HnxdeY8cVtkI/s400/IMG_7199.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJuqHs8DAa1PnwpxreiVU9no8XPndKy_3deNDApy8X5CK52dX4R-hr1YrknARVuaSPM0WHT7MwM46Xot1t5qOqJL00qrIO1MQKoJNoBhUFhOwrZRXJW01EjBbcCShyBuPgL9WjVak9jg/s1600/IMG_7207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJuqHs8DAa1PnwpxreiVU9no8XPndKy_3deNDApy8X5CK52dX4R-hr1YrknARVuaSPM0WHT7MwM46Xot1t5qOqJL00qrIO1MQKoJNoBhUFhOwrZRXJW01EjBbcCShyBuPgL9WjVak9jg/s400/IMG_7207.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Here is a link to another posting about <a href="http://ob-la-di-vietnam.blogspot.com/2010/05/loan.html">Loan</a> from last year, which explains why we love her so much. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The other guests include Trang Dai, who is the woman in the picture holding Molly, above. She is the director of the orphanage in Vung Tau where a couple of Molly's friends are from. She owns the residence hotel where Molly and I lived for our last month in Vietnam, and was very good to the two of us while we were there. It was really nice to see her again too! The other two gentlemen are officials within the provincial government offices that have a part in processing our adoptions. We don't meet them while we are there, but I am very grateful for their participation in helping Molly and I become a family. It was wonderful to show them how much we love the children they allow us to adopt, and I was quite proud that as a group, the Vancouver families were able to show them our close friendships, pictures of the many activities the children have had together, and a desire to keep their Vietnamese heritage an active part of the children's lives.</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-8640962962461307472011-08-18T23:31:00.000-07:002011-08-18T23:31:30.178-07:00Catching Up - February 2011The biggest event in February was celebrating Tet, which I already blogged about. The other special event was a visit from Aunty Margie and Uncle Larry. They came through town with arms laden with gifts for Molly, and we had a fun time with them:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKbIEDxJ2o4DZ7LA-P-VMG-HEbTnB_FxZRF2LCRBISrxxPzljXxsxDnZwLha8VRXOnvQgv7-lngX5YDIwLHJgO4R4jOcZVZ345BeGYK-deyGyGCOhhth2EN2PsDfl8imKsRerpPYDcu8/s1600/IMG_6941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKbIEDxJ2o4DZ7LA-P-VMG-HEbTnB_FxZRF2LCRBISrxxPzljXxsxDnZwLha8VRXOnvQgv7-lngX5YDIwLHJgO4R4jOcZVZ345BeGYK-deyGyGCOhhth2EN2PsDfl8imKsRerpPYDcu8/s400/IMG_6941.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy2ZoMX2QrkjDvnEMCm13uOY-3ALikKOFw3XLdU4Q13c4RmKsgwO3MW_FnXyxYXte5vyO1dnFtYNC8NpqoS5XfXUOOXS990x78vuT-qxt991I9pdI6vrJcDNzch3YfWzs5LNX_qdsuhY/s1600/IMG_6945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy2ZoMX2QrkjDvnEMCm13uOY-3ALikKOFw3XLdU4Q13c4RmKsgwO3MW_FnXyxYXte5vyO1dnFtYNC8NpqoS5XfXUOOXS990x78vuT-qxt991I9pdI6vrJcDNzch3YfWzs5LNX_qdsuhY/s400/IMG_6945.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBe3OxoeqWJnuFoo3bI0TM9JthxZyCjIIiCNqDhIQal8Zcn1iHYxXKyLNjcqIUptd1-dyXwF5tP_qMFjZ2K2TzwfTIcWiafwvgjzsJxB0bCp5d1MBqdCNilpwVtleKB66j2sOXszdXo8/s1600/IMG_6939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBe3OxoeqWJnuFoo3bI0TM9JthxZyCjIIiCNqDhIQal8Zcn1iHYxXKyLNjcqIUptd1-dyXwF5tP_qMFjZ2K2TzwfTIcWiafwvgjzsJxB0bCp5d1MBqdCNilpwVtleKB66j2sOXszdXo8/s400/IMG_6939.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-32337177737368639492011-08-13T14:54:00.000-07:002011-08-13T14:54:49.424-07:00Catching Up - January 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">Despite my lack of postings over the last 6-8 months, we have still had a lot of adventures, and there are stories I want to tell here so that Molly and I can look back at them later to enjoy the memories. I'll get started now, and try to make each month a posting:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrdQHlL-we6ZPoJQ8WCx3n4pc14dFRZCMNKHTkLJBEVSca1c_LrXFjcnmFdB7DKZRCnWaVlPsLUEY5ywzxmykMtiAK8JuS3oq_quY7jdjqe8MIvZlUID7-x69aYxENJhjettdjpgKvec/s1600/IMG_6687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrdQHlL-we6ZPoJQ8WCx3n4pc14dFRZCMNKHTkLJBEVSca1c_LrXFjcnmFdB7DKZRCnWaVlPsLUEY5ywzxmykMtiAK8JuS3oq_quY7jdjqe8MIvZlUID7-x69aYxENJhjettdjpgKvec/s400/IMG_6687.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Molly's first snowman! We were visiting the family that provides Molly's daycare, during one of those rare snow days we get on the West Coast. We built a snowman, and were quite proud of it, but then Ginger ate the snowman's nose.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hPg47yBMYDhb9L8NlAJaSOaTFhzgIGsSsI65IB7VeAK00OwYLJfGxV4irszlKdnAJ02y9I6l38tFh_QrFPD6IshkwNWaUFRLpFyGBZQZBD_mDWcNOWQAxbPnVGf3yU8NcA-tTQcKGss/s1600/IMG_6692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hPg47yBMYDhb9L8NlAJaSOaTFhzgIGsSsI65IB7VeAK00OwYLJfGxV4irszlKdnAJ02y9I6l38tFh_QrFPD6IshkwNWaUFRLpFyGBZQZBD_mDWcNOWQAxbPnVGf3yU8NcA-tTQcKGss/s400/IMG_6692.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Molly's new hair-do. I am still reluctant to cut her hair, but the bangs-in-the-face look just isn't appealing. Early one morning she let me play with her hair, and I was able to get the bangs into a ponytail. She was thrilled with it, and so was I. She has such a beautiful face, and now we can see it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgItxFfOQ9Q_GrL2tm1g127tzvR1o6XJSV4V_17cXo9G5qsd7NSv_TtKTAanUVFAxqhkgqJEjcvRknZ6JAsoMgK87nZinWP-JxDuzEqI0h2eGBfdp2iXTzhYnf1ZKci_NlQ_WsnWOUWY/s1600/IMG_6693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgItxFfOQ9Q_GrL2tm1g127tzvR1o6XJSV4V_17cXo9G5qsd7NSv_TtKTAanUVFAxqhkgqJEjcvRknZ6JAsoMgK87nZinWP-JxDuzEqI0h2eGBfdp2iXTzhYnf1ZKci_NlQ_WsnWOUWY/s400/IMG_6693.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jonathan's birthday party. We were thrilled to get the invitation and celebrate with Molly's little buddy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwbPeOLqSWvptW0XnSN96HzLMnnJTC1Dk4pUQcJ1dqe9lqeOT0c1jlPQwkkOSObZEkZ5pC7t11eP9Qfo4RASa_oKri9kLroISUbNOKooaYjhiuSr-iz4sbsvierDFgTcr4bW0l_eoKv8/s1600/IMG_6700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwbPeOLqSWvptW0XnSN96HzLMnnJTC1Dk4pUQcJ1dqe9lqeOT0c1jlPQwkkOSObZEkZ5pC7t11eP9Qfo4RASa_oKri9kLroISUbNOKooaYjhiuSr-iz4sbsvierDFgTcr4bW0l_eoKv8/s400/IMG_6700.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A good time was had by all, but no kiddies in the picture as I don't have permission from the parents.</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-33338858378496309032011-06-20T20:52:00.000-07:002011-06-25T19:00:18.872-07:00I'm Still Here...<div style="text-align: justify;">Wow, its been almost 2 months since I last posted anything. You can probably guess why - I've gone back to work full time. Yup, now I'm a working single mother. That means:</div><ol><li><div style="text-align: justify;">Sleep deprivation - not Molly's fault, she is a good sleeper. But I have so much to do every evening after she does to bed. I'm up until almost midnight most nights getting prepared for the next day. Packing the diaper bag, cooking meals for the following day, laundry, chores, etc. Oh, and eating my dinner and sometimes getting a shower too. I'm always sooo tired.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">No time - when I think about the first months a year ago when I got back to Canada with Molly, I just have to laugh! Why did it take me 2 hours to get out of the house? Why did I think I was so busy? HA! Just look at me now! My house is a disaster, my car is a pig sty, and it is still hard to get out of the house, but again, not Molly's fault - there is always too much to do. Ergo - no time to blog!</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Stress - yeah, crying in my doctor's office, hoping she has a magic pill for me. We decided on a couple of changes I need to make to help me though. The biggest thing I need to change is to find a nanny to care for Molly in our home. That will relieve a lot of my stress, and Molly will be a lot happier too.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Financial shortfalls - I can't afford daycare. I run out of paycheck twice a month. I need new shoes. I thought that going back to work full time and getting paid would be a good thing, but I obviously don't make enough. Ah, I wish for the good old days last year when I was living on EI and draining my savings. </div></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;">I have actually written a couple of blog postings about going back to work. I haven't posted them because they are too whiny. I've been doing lots of whining! But seriously, are we really supposed to adopt a kid from an institution, drag them across the globe and stick them in another institution for 5 days a week of the rest of their childhood? Are they supposed to be away from us more hours than they are with us? Are we supposed to go to work so that another woman can raise our children? Then pay her lousy wages for taking care of our most precious loved ones? I'm not judging, just whining. I know that some of us, including me, have no or few choices to do it any differently. I know that this is the only way I am able to have a family of my own, and I know that things will get better as Molly gets older and can start wiping her own bum. I would do it again and again, if I could. I just wish that lotto ticket in my Christmas stocking had been a winner...</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-25205249609821415652011-04-24T23:41:00.000-07:002011-04-24T23:41:23.358-07:00Happy Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNk3k6dgXeCYfTYBJ4OjWOUYa_TfQkJ0K2TowAlqfLpgGet7EN_PnQY-FM8rjmsUgCNhXYpii-1BdbbcYP4pVP1bgUvl0NdgH8an88BH1jgVqT93Qs4nVCgP4rH8I1R70tmYZBnaA_Q9k/s1600/IMG_7268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNk3k6dgXeCYfTYBJ4OjWOUYa_TfQkJ0K2TowAlqfLpgGet7EN_PnQY-FM8rjmsUgCNhXYpii-1BdbbcYP4pVP1bgUvl0NdgH8an88BH1jgVqT93Qs4nVCgP4rH8I1R70tmYZBnaA_Q9k/s640/IMG_7268.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-63167067829619860822011-03-26T11:04:00.000-07:002011-03-26T11:04:03.093-07:00About a Year AgoThis is what we were doing:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxRlLVLr3o1QkaSbAbg6l_WMCvqsQwkA8WKew2MqR27D5YCPP3npAaJcs97NiMcJI9QOnUZQn7InGPG_QV3vQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-39960909825111114992011-03-13T19:01:00.000-07:002011-03-13T19:01:18.910-07:00A Sunny January Afternoon<div style="text-align: justify;">Early in January, we spent a day with our good friends Rita and Ninh. It was a beautifully sunny day, although chilly, so we bundled up and took the kids for a walk along the riverfront in Fort Langley.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Look at these beautiful views of the river with Mount Baker in the background.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayYdmKPBjmjzVHMBPMC5q8Apg9WsdOQZzKbl4TPwt1OE0zqNPO_AHFZwetmYmYOevDCDxrSO0lFzWhDJerh9HYqQE9NlnCqIzBsF-g6iOahdX8hY6bMPUCZCgcexfZKqT26cLUqodiWM/s1600/IMG_6635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayYdmKPBjmjzVHMBPMC5q8Apg9WsdOQZzKbl4TPwt1OE0zqNPO_AHFZwetmYmYOevDCDxrSO0lFzWhDJerh9HYqQE9NlnCqIzBsF-g6iOahdX8hY6bMPUCZCgcexfZKqT26cLUqodiWM/s400/IMG_6635.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4QDsCMITrOM256ItFTv2ZqAFkgx1Ge_AMTUVG5r5Foek9df2WWVten1iq4C79aioPYT0g-V6XLNSx0RxAvffo06oQxI1xGOKGRBCe1J3ORVUALDbtreZzZ0r4MlBTfm2WVSOC0yrnaA/s1600/IMG_6653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4QDsCMITrOM256ItFTv2ZqAFkgx1Ge_AMTUVG5r5Foek9df2WWVten1iq4C79aioPYT0g-V6XLNSx0RxAvffo06oQxI1xGOKGRBCe1J3ORVUALDbtreZzZ0r4MlBTfm2WVSOC0yrnaA/s400/IMG_6653.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And look at our beautiful children!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLeAUhYoDoHO-WmkFbaXmLupIE36V0T3qysD9E9xMBjAG9B_Pw2DIuh7aRhZrEwrmLbWza1iq-YQlX8Ao_5N-ZhatebbNEd2u2QvCb_22SCbSZzEIlsKanXV4mndm37d1QNKGvylyojk/s1600/IMG_6629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLeAUhYoDoHO-WmkFbaXmLupIE36V0T3qysD9E9xMBjAG9B_Pw2DIuh7aRhZrEwrmLbWza1iq-YQlX8Ao_5N-ZhatebbNEd2u2QvCb_22SCbSZzEIlsKanXV4mndm37d1QNKGvylyojk/s400/IMG_6629.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxJWyTF4-jNhn0VMSFnFtkPsqDZJXyiRklKQbU5R-smFo2LsbCvqWB_lHf7fOG6Mu_k2UiZZMAQ-1lUBcDK4tr752M6OfJpUywvrVDnPd8GXOT9LIKT6ZmFO1Ey3Wp5GkUeT2EtfIqWU/s1600/IMG_6633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxJWyTF4-jNhn0VMSFnFtkPsqDZJXyiRklKQbU5R-smFo2LsbCvqWB_lHf7fOG6Mu_k2UiZZMAQ-1lUBcDK4tr752M6OfJpUywvrVDnPd8GXOT9LIKT6ZmFO1Ey3Wp5GkUeT2EtfIqWU/s400/IMG_6633.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After a long walk during which both kids napped in their strollers (something Molly has only done ONCE before!), we were frozen and starving. So we thawed out at a local cafe and had dinner.<br />
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</div>And Molly fell asleep in the car on the way home. What a wonderful day!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-12773393435178079942011-03-07T18:45:00.000-08:002011-03-07T18:45:56.279-08:00Applesauces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyvHxVOA360svPufdvKnrtZ-LrwN1bXbFLzueYS6bTEKnW6NcfsVuFHB5-0JJVeO1S0j5YOq360jPjLfsUvpQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-80993451110026681562011-03-05T23:48:00.000-08:002011-03-05T23:58:11.234-08:00A Year Ago Today<div style="text-align: justify;">Today is the 1 year anniversary of the day I first met Molly! You can read my posts about that day <a href="http://ob-la-di-vietnam.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-5-2010.html">here</a> and <a href="http://ob-la-di-vietnam.blogspot.com/2010/03/journey-to-molly.html">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today Molly and I had a leisurely morning, ate our favorite breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast dipped in "applesauces". We spent some time looking at our pictures from Vietnam, and I did a little crying(!). Molly loves looking at those pictures and videos from when she was a baby. I don't know how much she understands yet about why we were there with Nhan and the others, but her Vietnamese family will always be familiar to her as she grows up. We went to our favorite coffee shop to share a scone together while she read books and I sipped a coffee. Then afterwards, we went shopping!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We had been given a giftcard as a shower gift for Molly, and decided to spend it at Ikea. What fun! We were able to get a tea set, toy fruits, vegetables and breakfast food. We picked up a set of ice cream cones with cups, a scoop and an ice cream bucket, plus a baking set, all of which we can take to the beach next summer. And we found a bed for Molly's baby which comes complete with bedding, and needs to be assembled just like any other Ikea furniture! With what was leftover on the giftcard, we bought a clothes hamper for her bedroom, a roll of paper to color on, some towels to use as doll blankets and a couple of picture frames to save the memories from this special day. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjNZdJqLWJ9lHSw6s7EbQPFJljpb7um8jpb13sDJO6VhN7_XkRz37Gw6pMgAiqAeWDnlv_bFdgmJ-Bk35f_N00kmzZfdVSHuTngyRqW-iGgZNXSVzbaXute2E0QQJ3UQBxRjhx1sc-Ts/s1600/IMG_7070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjNZdJqLWJ9lHSw6s7EbQPFJljpb7um8jpb13sDJO6VhN7_XkRz37Gw6pMgAiqAeWDnlv_bFdgmJ-Bk35f_N00kmzZfdVSHuTngyRqW-iGgZNXSVzbaXute2E0QQJ3UQBxRjhx1sc-Ts/s400/IMG_7070.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OsBwkSYG-ry8TRMia9kHmoKjaxt8QEljBKTobfrUQbPl3sG4aNKioe0vhAVBM1tfHREZUrTXtxWDnz545eNcnVQt4p1Odd-sSbic_a5CzPXAeSLgJDkXYQqyb-9qQg3kX6_6WTZXB2k/s1600/IMG_7083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OsBwkSYG-ry8TRMia9kHmoKjaxt8QEljBKTobfrUQbPl3sG4aNKioe0vhAVBM1tfHREZUrTXtxWDnz545eNcnVQt4p1Odd-sSbic_a5CzPXAeSLgJDkXYQqyb-9qQg3kX6_6WTZXB2k/s400/IMG_7083.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the last couple of months, Molly's personality has just blossomed. I've noticed a big change in the way she is playing, and have watched her imagination start to soar. She is "making eat, Mama" with toys that double as a bowl and spoon. She stirs and blows on the hot 'food', then pretends to eat it, feed it to me, and/or feed it to her dolls. She has learned to hold her finger to her lips (sideways) and 'shhh' me to say that her baby is sleeping. She's started putting her dolls to bed, covering them up with blankets. She's also started to play this way for much longer periods of time without needing me, which makes it easier to cook or do chores during the day. So getting these types of toys is just so appropriate for the stage that she is at right now. She certainly doesn't need any more toys - we just got tons of new ones at Christmas - but the toys we bought today will bring both of us lots of enjoyment for a long time. I can't wait to see what she does with them next!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the afternoon, Molly laid in bed for 2 hours WITHOUT sleeping, but gave me enough time to get myself ready for our dinner plans. We got dressed up and went out to a Vietnamese restaurant with some of our favorite people. My first thought was to share the evening with David, Peter and Chloe, who were with me the moment I met Molly, and David took pictures of the big event for me. But a few days ago was also the anniversary of when I was with Susan when she adopted Quan, and I wanted to celebrate with them too. And Merel, Nathan and Nhan were a huge part of my time at the orphanage, so they were invited (but sadly had other committments). We had to invite Uncle Ron, simply because he is such a big part of our lives, and there was no way we would celebrate without Rita and Ninh either, so the evening was a big, lovely party. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you to our friends who celebrated with us tonight - for your generosity, your love and friendship, and your continued presence in our lives. And thank you too, to all the other friends and family in our lives who couldn't join us this evening. We have had an incredible year together - Molly and I love you all.</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-14800917103031911652011-03-05T21:40:00.000-08:002011-03-05T21:40:46.575-08:00Wrapping up the Tet Celebrations<div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the last (and late) posting of our Tet celebrations. We ended up missing the Chinese New Year's parade, as Molly and I were both under the weather, and it was a rainy day. So we stayed inside, pretty much in our pajamas all day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, the following weekend Lesia and Mylan and Mylan's grandmother, Ruth, came over so we could all celebrate Tet with other families with children from Vietnam. A Vietnamese woman opens up her home every year, and with the participation of some of the other parents, they bring the community of families together to celebrate and honor the heritage of our children. Over the years, it has grown from a core group of families, to include the few of us who were waiting, and more recently to all the boom of families bringing babies home through two adoption agencies in BC. It was a very large group this year!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There was a dragon dance, where the group of us followed the dragon and the drummers through the neighborhood. The dragon dances at the door of some of the neighbors, which brings luck and honor to the home. There was lots of good Vietnamese food, a cake, and many people handed out red envelopes to the children. It was a wonderful chance to reconnect with other families that we don't see very often.</div><br />
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After eating and visiting indoors, our children needed to get outside again, and there were lots of toys to play with in the yard. The three of them decided to be a train and play choo-choo. Nhan made a great caboose:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Group hugs:</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brunch at our favorite kid-friendly cafe:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">And photo-ops as our children run rampant through the restaurant:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhXOPEFQxgb71BMuVAVT0jfhSiUT4ukufhkK0cAMjUzzwMpouOENUFuo2F-jqK0dRaw7Mz76poocJAhKJXkwNIy2hWK6KpjWBtpVMIMzvtvZrkq2ssnSJuKC2YePcP2H_nKNOgZOvlvU/s1600/IMG_7003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhXOPEFQxgb71BMuVAVT0jfhSiUT4ukufhkK0cAMjUzzwMpouOENUFuo2F-jqK0dRaw7Mz76poocJAhKJXkwNIy2hWK6KpjWBtpVMIMzvtvZrkq2ssnSJuKC2YePcP2H_nKNOgZOvlvU/s400/IMG_7003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj686HgDZqGkCWUF-7glhyV4qVrHh1wK-JgwKWV6jiTh8jcHpny9WP5e13YOJayRQ5c75sOtuN570nOTsAbdP3Kw7jykoYus2zw7JjwAJ81Op8H5CDPJa_ReUVnqMPUeeIPRxL6gTDVwew/s1600/IMG_7006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj686HgDZqGkCWUF-7glhyV4qVrHh1wK-JgwKWV6jiTh8jcHpny9WP5e13YOJayRQ5c75sOtuN570nOTsAbdP3Kw7jykoYus2zw7JjwAJ81Op8H5CDPJa_ReUVnqMPUeeIPRxL6gTDVwew/s400/IMG_7006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Could they be any cuter?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-85913735329898958912011-02-10T16:47:00.000-08:002011-02-10T16:47:44.833-08:00Celebrating Tet in PicturesHere are some of the promised pictures from our Tet celebrations so far:<br />
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The parade:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From our potluck dinner:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcddy6jiE-f-ISUhktg3Mz2UVnJ8TTUc7LhS7eLxiVsYjY-jznuK4Pf0racvwbxfOE8yYhd_i497mJ-ictfvAKLLYu7BsvvJLsvnsBb9uNe2ReCJsgO-OPl-96LxHXSBWxskSTX3wzLk/s1600/IMG_6919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcddy6jiE-f-ISUhktg3Mz2UVnJ8TTUc7LhS7eLxiVsYjY-jznuK4Pf0racvwbxfOE8yYhd_i497mJ-ictfvAKLLYu7BsvvJLsvnsBb9uNe2ReCJsgO-OPl-96LxHXSBWxskSTX3wzLk/s400/IMG_6919.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT506_0vjQ3zc27W6UQ8yWdlKtuXKYgWdLX22eD570KwabSMwz6z4mF1ncttj2RmkQNuHavtA9ZvCTf2CxZrfnB5E059dhm3mwY-irQAdFKHuPIcnEBnZ7xmipfs3ps7hC5BbszdCgjj0/s1600/IMG_6913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT506_0vjQ3zc27W6UQ8yWdlKtuXKYgWdLX22eD570KwabSMwz6z4mF1ncttj2RmkQNuHavtA9ZvCTf2CxZrfnB5E059dhm3mwY-irQAdFKHuPIcnEBnZ7xmipfs3ps7hC5BbszdCgjj0/s400/IMG_6913.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2Ji5RgJMKrpp50nI_w2bjS-HtxYcQ6bt-u70h35cbPps_M4ozTcCqqBoP6fWNz49M2X5a8SOixfJMOjhDLCTdOpFnyGNfnG5IeUajiclJE6YUG-vzacRvxfN1dIKOzlUaX4HC0o1GCk/s1600/IMG_6908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2Ji5RgJMKrpp50nI_w2bjS-HtxYcQ6bt-u70h35cbPps_M4ozTcCqqBoP6fWNz49M2X5a8SOixfJMOjhDLCTdOpFnyGNfnG5IeUajiclJE6YUG-vzacRvxfN1dIKOzlUaX4HC0o1GCk/s400/IMG_6908.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-72643278053997476432011-02-03T14:17:00.000-08:002011-02-03T14:18:34.929-08:00Chuc Mung Nam Moi! (Happy New Year!)<div style="text-align: justify;">Today is Tet Nguyen Dan, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. It is the biggest cultural celebration of the year in Vietnam, and Molly and I will celebrate it every year from now on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As it is our first Tet together, I have made a lot of effort to learn what it is about, and 'how' to celebrate it. I know I will always fall short of 'authentic', but instead will create our own style over the years. Perhaps sometime in the future we can travel to Vietnam to celebrate it there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last weekend Molly, Uncle Ron and I took part in the very first Vietnamese parade held in Vancouver! It was a very small and short parade, but at one point, we actually joined the parade and walked a couple of blocks together with other families with Vietnamese children. It was great to be part of the grassroots event. Ron's pictures will follow later in a separate posting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This afternoon, the Fab Five kids and their families (sadly, with the exception of Lesia and Mylan who were not able to come over from Victoria) are coming over for a potluck dinner. Vietnamese food, of course! I have cleaned and decorated the house, as is the custom, prepared lucky money in red envelopes for all the kids, bought 'banh chung' - a special rice cake cooked especially for Tet, and made a five-fruit plate to put on display. Again, details and pictures will follow later.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the weekend, we will also join the larger community of families with Vietnamese children, and watch the big Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown. China, Vietnam and Korea all celebrate the same new year, and of course, the Chinese community here has been celebrating in a big way for many years. Wish for good weather!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, the following weekend, for the 3rd time, we have been invited to join a group of families to celebrate Tet together. This group has a dragon dance that goes to houses in the neighborhood, the children perform traditional Vietnamese dancing, and there is a cultural martial arts demonstration. Plus a huge buffet of Vietnamese food, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and red envelopes for the children. I am so excited to be able to bring Molly to this celebration this year. We are really looking forward to it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Welcome to the Year of the Cat!</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-37402849503663257872011-01-28T21:55:00.000-08:002011-02-02T07:46:31.450-08:00New Year's at the Cabin<div style="text-align: justify;">For many years, I have gone to a cabin with a group of close friends to celebrate New Year's together. This is the 12 or 13th year in a row we have been together. Since the beginning, there have been marriages and births and/or adoptions of children. Up until this year, I was the only one who had not yet become a parent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I was looking forward to celebrating with Molly this year! We went to a lodge in Port Alberni for a week, and had a great holiday. There were just 3 families for the first couple of days, then the rest of the gang joined us in time to ring in the new year. Molly has never had such a sustained social life since she left the orphanage. The older kids played with her, dressed her up, pulled her around in her wagon, taught her to run, and I also noticed that her speech development took great leaps forward during the week. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBubwTTZs7EjNmjg5JRyKI27tC6SMVVoF0iSJHKJkigBO-orR_v03ZTvf7Y6bKSzzy4oHtkelQvEGOI7neMsFIV5BexLCaWK2k_Z9yl12NTtkGrAYI862szELz70pi7m65aYRtbqfTZ4/s1600/IMG_6460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBubwTTZs7EjNmjg5JRyKI27tC6SMVVoF0iSJHKJkigBO-orR_v03ZTvf7Y6bKSzzy4oHtkelQvEGOI7neMsFIV5BexLCaWK2k_Z9yl12NTtkGrAYI862szELz70pi7m65aYRtbqfTZ4/s400/IMG_6460.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quiet time</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVy5HhvVSMtk5IgtH1BdzgYBvYIpHNuaSfr4LgrbZOY9BNPRaG2567sEC3qEoM2yrvcHTYt9K4sg4t_DBtLkcohLDqYEBKVbwYBvNrWIWfXgeCy8huK-GmoZCv0JsFQy7_DnS2kFrrYo/s1600/IMG_6464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVy5HhvVSMtk5IgtH1BdzgYBvYIpHNuaSfr4LgrbZOY9BNPRaG2567sEC3qEoM2yrvcHTYt9K4sg4t_DBtLkcohLDqYEBKVbwYBvNrWIWfXgeCy8huK-GmoZCv0JsFQy7_DnS2kFrrYo/s400/IMG_6464.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Playing with the big boys</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOhcmfwT-wVTLbvWrWf4kJmwG0LjfhoWHLdS0jOdzOAy3KGaYFpIpZlg_0eqO_G2E0DsdMfdizKv03Bx5PTuT5i1nMGAYDDw34PhrqimBsVCplu3nL0nolRlQ63w9Gpsd0Kir4mqs2LE/s1600/IMG_6471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOhcmfwT-wVTLbvWrWf4kJmwG0LjfhoWHLdS0jOdzOAy3KGaYFpIpZlg_0eqO_G2E0DsdMfdizKv03Bx5PTuT5i1nMGAYDDw34PhrqimBsVCplu3nL0nolRlQ63w9Gpsd0Kir4mqs2LE/s400/IMG_6471.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Group coloring project</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNthbarnCW99xf60yANIaf5FTJlwpDkIkCW5H9Gw3efz7hUDxchYxAmkIStQZVbsch_zGE9BEK-Umv00hoHHlSM88kltQj8f_qRiOfNC5Yq1v37pREQExr4XLh8si3CxNZZcAhQm4L-mk/s1600/IMG_6475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNthbarnCW99xf60yANIaf5FTJlwpDkIkCW5H9Gw3efz7hUDxchYxAmkIStQZVbsch_zGE9BEK-Umv00hoHHlSM88kltQj8f_qRiOfNC5Yq1v37pREQExr4XLh8si3CxNZZcAhQm4L-mk/s400/IMG_6475.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lots of cuddling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR9kl8MEbruZwRHwTnd8v6S4TuYIZUcD9U8j9qfnFQHnzDNQD5Lw_SK-26Z4Qbdd8ajz0PtXEGQRbqT2KQyhE1ZuTbw5FZdHlGhbmP_cWuE_1TUajXZQEyo890fB4Wg5qSH0FkaOdUUg/s1600/IMG_6495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdR9kl8MEbruZwRHwTnd8v6S4TuYIZUcD9U8j9qfnFQHnzDNQD5Lw_SK-26Z4Qbdd8ajz0PtXEGQRbqT2KQyhE1ZuTbw5FZdHlGhbmP_cWuE_1TUajXZQEyo890fB4Wg5qSH0FkaOdUUg/s400/IMG_6495.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Flying paper airplanes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4vDzRDfEH5_fjs_PifDKlOK88wZf9YKBDCW-jZG3uHb2WuCMlpx5dCoqOFuZvbDqpyct1OJ2sUx7_mA4yPwCwi9OrjLt_1lbCUVVWx16T72sR5h4U5WCVs1K9nhWYJmudKCQvaCNWs8/s1600/IMG_6490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4vDzRDfEH5_fjs_PifDKlOK88wZf9YKBDCW-jZG3uHb2WuCMlpx5dCoqOFuZvbDqpyct1OJ2sUx7_mA4yPwCwi9OrjLt_1lbCUVVWx16T72sR5h4U5WCVs1K9nhWYJmudKCQvaCNWs8/s400/IMG_6490.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRL740ceql8gtsj_wqzQZqRU50mhiBVxGNddSILgTF2NBCzSfdOrnm7vIubx08fEILKvspp9gSn65KPa_jFZfypA42Os6fBSPautmKReyWePgkeb14ZZOCK1hizKlIpnnF7IG6AeTvCpI/s1600/IMG_6515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRL740ceql8gtsj_wqzQZqRU50mhiBVxGNddSILgTF2NBCzSfdOrnm7vIubx08fEILKvspp9gSn65KPa_jFZfypA42Os6fBSPautmKReyWePgkeb14ZZOCK1hizKlIpnnF7IG6AeTvCpI/s400/IMG_6515.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A couple of cuties!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjhItpZTWWG1H4MnNcggLaBVq6Cpve2IWJB4UXlqwyA_xffgOqEADyaWG1DFUf44wkj7Q44kMe0GIO4VSU8V8yFyL15Lm2o1-J9uOKSlKmFW_PlU4boXAQ3MX2rz7tgaHF2QgZdx6w3E/s1600/IMG_6524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjhItpZTWWG1H4MnNcggLaBVq6Cpve2IWJB4UXlqwyA_xffgOqEADyaWG1DFUf44wkj7Q44kMe0GIO4VSU8V8yFyL15Lm2o1-J9uOKSlKmFW_PlU4boXAQ3MX2rz7tgaHF2QgZdx6w3E/s400/IMG_6524.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the girls</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oUD56pHOb2ixcfnbl3OO0UI6qtbvEDeUdcrXbBSTD5BzhmKOd1sDfkXU4vZlzE8oiCCCP-8lQsKTi5CeKzdvzCXYmK1qHcxUPup8sghEllaoMYYKURQk0JCmZCwWBRle2p78yTe5uhk/s1600/IMG_6540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oUD56pHOb2ixcfnbl3OO0UI6qtbvEDeUdcrXbBSTD5BzhmKOd1sDfkXU4vZlzE8oiCCCP-8lQsKTi5CeKzdvzCXYmK1qHcxUPup8sghEllaoMYYKURQk0JCmZCwWBRle2p78yTe5uhk/s400/IMG_6540.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dressing up Molly like a doll</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFja-5Ky7-rgRrIK1xfjQhfVnXwhKZKkQHKJgkjN1dCYDp1HNKm2f5_n35_cgW-LTfirQcH_FhSUf0d870ummepshvMNkvSaet7orcpEqDIN1RJz4oHhSseSoi_Ze0pTYW93Ww64NAD0/s1600/IMG_6558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFja-5Ky7-rgRrIK1xfjQhfVnXwhKZKkQHKJgkjN1dCYDp1HNKm2f5_n35_cgW-LTfirQcH_FhSUf0d870ummepshvMNkvSaet7orcpEqDIN1RJz4oHhSseSoi_Ze0pTYW93Ww64NAD0/s400/IMG_6558.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Party girl on New Year's Eve</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3L1jFYJakjk5ibFI285AGuW8V6jwkwnn_teczCtRfTJUoQqI4FTaIytGlPryFpNBB5Pdivl_rzIJGL9qONKsJI-G3YQXUxZwtRv2FjvFiKjuiJK_17QBIUzi6Re9Do3OoUcPNC2x5HQ/s1600/IMG_6567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3L1jFYJakjk5ibFI285AGuW8V6jwkwnn_teczCtRfTJUoQqI4FTaIytGlPryFpNBB5Pdivl_rzIJGL9qONKsJI-G3YQXUxZwtRv2FjvFiKjuiJK_17QBIUzi6Re9Do3OoUcPNC2x5HQ/s400/IMG_6567.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lighting sparklers outside</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWyEdvUGJ6QYONsMUY895xD14MQPUSg1DLc7ySoFggWkhoD2E84seS1Y-beqbVFnAgeG4775XW1kzsO6GYVIAY0oU-Z0SMhaCsenWleaQCznFsI3Hg2UGKdOsx2WJ-oeKQ3O4VSajiY8/s1600/IMG_6602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWyEdvUGJ6QYONsMUY895xD14MQPUSg1DLc7ySoFggWkhoD2E84seS1Y-beqbVFnAgeG4775XW1kzsO6GYVIAY0oU-Z0SMhaCsenWleaQCznFsI3Hg2UGKdOsx2WJ-oeKQ3O4VSajiY8/s320/IMG_6602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A quiet New Year's Day afternoon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NBfFdCvHHiXSn76Qb5cRIKDT-1au2zpmz5i0Hu3F7NRKyhYWZUJhTqpkbMUITxrGX01fuS3AJipOo2i34FVHhHSKormlUe7kY5VgmNXwDLHiTUmj-QTmxBHn4S8qlm2IAePwIOpPXlw/s1600/IMG_6615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NBfFdCvHHiXSn76Qb5cRIKDT-1au2zpmz5i0Hu3F7NRKyhYWZUJhTqpkbMUITxrGX01fuS3AJipOo2i34FVHhHSKormlUe7kY5VgmNXwDLHiTUmj-QTmxBHn4S8qlm2IAePwIOpPXlw/s400/IMG_6615.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eating noodles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-72576741099711648552011-01-28T15:10:00.000-08:002011-01-28T15:10:13.050-08:00Our First Christmas<div style="text-align: justify;">The next morning, when Molly woke up, I jumped out of bed and ran to turn on the lights on our Christmas tree. I went back to Molly and told her that Santa had visited during the night, and he left her some presents. She sleepily walked out to the living room, and the first thing she saw was her new trike.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGX3_wq9MHRkdSy2dpjWdjcC7MduPhNEWTsyx_v7HkWWPlESwTkk0M99NyIjsBNAzTo5McYsVTa28XCI1ZNdzAeedRlOY8G4RbnXH7xHCc6nfnbInEBkGNKf2uklvJAOflWJWVvyZXEQ/s1600/IMG_6365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGX3_wq9MHRkdSy2dpjWdjcC7MduPhNEWTsyx_v7HkWWPlESwTkk0M99NyIjsBNAzTo5McYsVTa28XCI1ZNdzAeedRlOY8G4RbnXH7xHCc6nfnbInEBkGNKf2uklvJAOflWJWVvyZXEQ/s400/IMG_6365.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And she knew exactly what to do with it too:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdeuc6luIDZ9xKo9jr81l0yTaXfadZZgeBQqAMLtX9JR0eNua1QnMdEDp5oCOW-d-95dy-uKmLdgMC4C6YWJ1W93iqXKMcaRqY1095gPg-SZivfMgjwXS7JWI7XeGmMCP0SiznO81KsI/s1600/IMG_6371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdeuc6luIDZ9xKo9jr81l0yTaXfadZZgeBQqAMLtX9JR0eNua1QnMdEDp5oCOW-d-95dy-uKmLdgMC4C6YWJ1W93iqXKMcaRqY1095gPg-SZivfMgjwXS7JWI7XeGmMCP0SiznO81KsI/s400/IMG_6371.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After a while, I took her stocking down from the fireplace, and she 'oohed and ahhed' at the treats inside.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEiuPKUfJ3uI0U4Z8Px3Rfe7DKrzYaikgBlUIZhrtORg-wyF7pDPcIcGDMP-l9_5pfz-JSMxT3hM1iWpuJQNu1HveogI3-bHbyZMckM-x5KeUYae3z3Sy-E10azhMm46LOJkqqCkNkEU/s1600/IMG_6374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEiuPKUfJ3uI0U4Z8Px3Rfe7DKrzYaikgBlUIZhrtORg-wyF7pDPcIcGDMP-l9_5pfz-JSMxT3hM1iWpuJQNu1HveogI3-bHbyZMckM-x5KeUYae3z3Sy-E10azhMm46LOJkqqCkNkEU/s400/IMG_6374.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxIfy05ghX333cheZbxLsU3uSRDyeRalmwe5fPFTWHRBbxVqEHHWhO0lbeGvM7swqPBt01WIlnSHiww6w9yQQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>She found a set of five hair bands, which she just HAD to wear all at once. She's pretty good at putting them in her hair by herself!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLALVxGK5A3a9GPKCKVlo1PGJrCIOtKMegxXfvbm73_c-fj0OZbTmPzO0OjF9P-R3-Ia2JVgw8s_J5oZMkOwQtOO0qucEpGejXRHAJlw4AVZmhR2cjs4QCv7jJbrJxQwbPd7i_rEOm08/s1600/IMG_6390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLALVxGK5A3a9GPKCKVlo1PGJrCIOtKMegxXfvbm73_c-fj0OZbTmPzO0OjF9P-R3-Ia2JVgw8s_J5oZMkOwQtOO0qucEpGejXRHAJlw4AVZmhR2cjs4QCv7jJbrJxQwbPd7i_rEOm08/s400/IMG_6390.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Then she helped herself to opening the presents under the tree. She had learned how much fun it is when we were in Kelowna, so didn't hesitate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlFPbDm7FyjXV87xKs6abVQppoBB1lMVQSOysVZHmizZKPOQdIAcSs2crYGR7K0Ch1W21EnBJI999EuRWUZrIHHwBh7KISYwGWT1No2ejncLnHAe9Wt7JzbmUuyx0tBv-JgrJU4Mz1X8/s1600/IMG_6377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlFPbDm7FyjXV87xKs6abVQppoBB1lMVQSOysVZHmizZKPOQdIAcSs2crYGR7K0Ch1W21EnBJI999EuRWUZrIHHwBh7KISYwGWT1No2ejncLnHAe9Wt7JzbmUuyx0tBv-JgrJU4Mz1X8/s400/IMG_6377.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I interrupted her by getting her dressed, as our friend Hilary was coming over, and I wanted to hold off with the gift opening until she arrived. Hilary was soon there, and helped Molly open gifts while I prepared breakfast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas4vnZSz8FUNkVUK3QcEslB217cgL9fsYxb72dwd035KceXIUvxmeD0YXMs7noVfFsiLU-6_ww-KAhFE6NesE3d7OLRtrZXtdIxxbsjJSlqnR9eMe9cmqje9bezhFWVFvraZBqZCuqHU/s1600/IMG_6392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas4vnZSz8FUNkVUK3QcEslB217cgL9fsYxb72dwd035KceXIUvxmeD0YXMs7noVfFsiLU-6_ww-KAhFE6NesE3d7OLRtrZXtdIxxbsjJSlqnR9eMe9cmqje9bezhFWVFvraZBqZCuqHU/s400/IMG_6392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTbQ88-k16mQo4Mkptf-cLYC1X1OF0AysiAZ8vEbS_o_ilzjfVGMzKkUOtKzi7ihwSDyfvg6NhdqNH1z6hpE8OlJ9GPbHIHzmk0o9eRmXH5oJFYcDTvHF8Bm9-W3J1ystMnYqwqYHsR4/s1600/IMG_6398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTbQ88-k16mQo4Mkptf-cLYC1X1OF0AysiAZ8vEbS_o_ilzjfVGMzKkUOtKzi7ihwSDyfvg6NhdqNH1z6hpE8OlJ9GPbHIHzmk0o9eRmXH5oJFYcDTvHF8Bm9-W3J1ystMnYqwqYHsR4/s400/IMG_6398.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WnPzWrRe8wcc3CkNX1PviabS4PnmCg1ew0cEmwy8eMmPKTBPMvDs6DE26EB80BZGgelpwlViyg4gyhwbwsDa8IaLEzMwxEXfl4wXWU68gZixv679toePstKyGKQfxsMS-dBg6nNzcwE/s1600/IMG_6403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WnPzWrRe8wcc3CkNX1PviabS4PnmCg1ew0cEmwy8eMmPKTBPMvDs6DE26EB80BZGgelpwlViyg4gyhwbwsDa8IaLEzMwxEXfl4wXWU68gZixv679toePstKyGKQfxsMS-dBg6nNzcwE/s400/IMG_6403.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTic82YKYSCROC5m_FpYiFrzi5KBAvpbtQGknhqM_gKB9Ts6aBLG2G8JgkD-KgSIiQIuMJrcQTJzrcGYKXvyGFpBJDhim3tff-2cOfbyh43Ujq8z8fI1EjBUyKn3o_3VXvhM4wH2UNVE/s1600/IMG_6407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTic82YKYSCROC5m_FpYiFrzi5KBAvpbtQGknhqM_gKB9Ts6aBLG2G8JgkD-KgSIiQIuMJrcQTJzrcGYKXvyGFpBJDhim3tff-2cOfbyh43Ujq8z8fI1EjBUyKn3o_3VXvhM4wH2UNVE/s400/IMG_6407.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We had a really nice morning, visiting with Hilary, opening gifts, and eating breakfast together. Hilary soon carried on to her next commitment, so Molly and I had a few hours in the afternoon to visit with our friend Lori and her family. As they have a family of two teenage boys, we got there just in time for the boys to get out of bed and start opening their gifts!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFkfsxH6JIpl6MzyELlTL9Xv9sitRHfN37wfDGSeFjEzCAW-eJsqsSTC7YzlpLeAie55PSQEuWILVVemFACowvKXjpKqurQuKUOcp6rsV10jAFQLyejTwjJGTti4xwT8zZduyjgQYd-s/s1600/IMG_6417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFkfsxH6JIpl6MzyELlTL9Xv9sitRHfN37wfDGSeFjEzCAW-eJsqsSTC7YzlpLeAie55PSQEuWILVVemFACowvKXjpKqurQuKUOcp6rsV10jAFQLyejTwjJGTti4xwT8zZduyjgQYd-s/s400/IMG_6417.JPG" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Lori and Molly played and sang some Christmas carols together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX1wKX-51a-FaQdN6g6rC7XTDWaNRk1ZiDGpfiGGVoKahCjurIiFx2xf-Do1DzSq9Tx8h_qJilzBc8UzFX-eoGy4iY9h8Gy7l3Xla-m-0fgtFpB-1kvJJw5rBPjhTMUITNwb3uPGlCuo/s1600/IMG_6426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX1wKX-51a-FaQdN6g6rC7XTDWaNRk1ZiDGpfiGGVoKahCjurIiFx2xf-Do1DzSq9Tx8h_qJilzBc8UzFX-eoGy4iY9h8Gy7l3Xla-m-0fgtFpB-1kvJJw5rBPjhTMUITNwb3uPGlCuo/s400/IMG_6426.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Eventually, we had to get home to put the turkey in the oven and get Molly down for a nap, because Uncle Ron was coming over for Christmas dinner.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Molly played for a while with her new toys, then we popped some Christmas crackers and dug into our turkey dinner.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8CtL5WKbslCMgUt54kCnxHouVGL2bXW_WFkUroSb9nojwcWqp8lWoCYc_Uxz2wcUfLyI-cwrGA3R9ChJeK0XPIYeuWe37Gyv_XY0PDMMik7c14VhKUgNt-qiBnrA0IlNzZzdSyoGp5o/s1600/IMG_6439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8CtL5WKbslCMgUt54kCnxHouVGL2bXW_WFkUroSb9nojwcWqp8lWoCYc_Uxz2wcUfLyI-cwrGA3R9ChJeK0XPIYeuWe37Gyv_XY0PDMMik7c14VhKUgNt-qiBnrA0IlNzZzdSyoGp5o/s400/IMG_6439.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqgCwCdgoi6U5_-5Fmuhwz7lR_F6MLexc133kWmWQHulmwG-Gm2-ROsdqFmqsK4lkzpHabDeikQkAAQn40p0Pn6_GW7Rirv0RrWwO5vQkHIWb2J3KJyT1mgpIqx0NFfh1wRl6lzlDNkw/s1600/IMG_6451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqgCwCdgoi6U5_-5Fmuhwz7lR_F6MLexc133kWmWQHulmwG-Gm2-ROsdqFmqsK4lkzpHabDeikQkAAQn40p0Pn6_GW7Rirv0RrWwO5vQkHIWb2J3KJyT1mgpIqx0NFfh1wRl6lzlDNkw/s400/IMG_6451.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I had many reasons to pause throughout the day and just feel happiness for all I have, and for the love of my daughter, family and friends. I felt lucky, grateful, and joyful this Christmas.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aaj3hs85DXquKBofd6dUaBNS9PYpFbilAgIy2sqoEcoiEbzgTEAn42z4pt_GoYSrlfmyC0KF4sqxPrgx8Iz8xLqfjiMvrzFd2RFU7elUAp7IJboX5mQeswddUanCehBZUYfd7dnNdQw/s1600/IMG_6458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aaj3hs85DXquKBofd6dUaBNS9PYpFbilAgIy2sqoEcoiEbzgTEAn42z4pt_GoYSrlfmyC0KF4sqxPrgx8Iz8xLqfjiMvrzFd2RFU7elUAp7IJboX5mQeswddUanCehBZUYfd7dnNdQw/s400/IMG_6458.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-17295764277513207852011-01-23T08:23:00.000-08:002011-01-23T08:23:36.671-08:00Later That Night...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1:00 am</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvju45nIMKPg74S3PDnSbfRkFGRPyPk2LQh2UtQ0xugaitS-J99IedJJbSSZWGSLcELP-bs_ytHP56LCCV2wlxQx0k_jZB4P62GGsvVoaGswyPp1gyNGxArvr4ubP5Kp-l7FggHWCo8p4/s1600/IMG_6348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvju45nIMKPg74S3PDnSbfRkFGRPyPk2LQh2UtQ0xugaitS-J99IedJJbSSZWGSLcELP-bs_ytHP56LCCV2wlxQx0k_jZB4P62GGsvVoaGswyPp1gyNGxArvr4ubP5Kp-l7FggHWCo8p4/s400/IMG_6348.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1:45 am</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutW5LWlvdgoX4_UujlwuoG-7L5IlNvz0rzcTDInMz4o517ngUl9LzqI1wYWrBM1zd3IZPiwdox_bNNiX6nNy64ordKUoD9qKS4dWjf81IhUbpc_igaw6vTZAUnQC_a75edV1nbUG3Bd0/s1600/IMG_6349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutW5LWlvdgoX4_UujlwuoG-7L5IlNvz0rzcTDInMz4o517ngUl9LzqI1wYWrBM1zd3IZPiwdox_bNNiX6nNy64ordKUoD9qKS4dWjf81IhUbpc_igaw6vTZAUnQC_a75edV1nbUG3Bd0/s400/IMG_6349.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2:00 am</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHe4w863qPMqkSSPikQLYJwXbSy2MHFtcVwEAJYPreEMYoacCDw-kh7LHsQoY7WA8j2rcp2NXIQjbqS6UwFJeqrpjGqvJpiBwQZAAa3_7GZ4doiyF9SnkN9oG4PRgR2hbAIprsgiVhzU/s1600/IMG_6356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHe4w863qPMqkSSPikQLYJwXbSy2MHFtcVwEAJYPreEMYoacCDw-kh7LHsQoY7WA8j2rcp2NXIQjbqS6UwFJeqrpjGqvJpiBwQZAAa3_7GZ4doiyF9SnkN9oG4PRgR2hbAIprsgiVhzU/s400/IMG_6356.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-65980290645027802642011-01-22T14:16:00.000-08:002011-01-22T14:19:03.493-08:00Christmas Eve with Susan and Quan<div style="text-align: justify;">Susan and I started a Christmas 'tradition' last year, when we were both on edge waiting to get "THE CALL" to travel to Vietnam and get our children. We had hopes of being with them for Christmas 2009, but ended up still waiting. So on Christmas Eve, she invited me over for tea. We read a couple of Christmas stories to our babies on the other side of the world and exchanged gifts for them from each other. This is the picture she took to remember our visit:</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIQC4zYsBMLVD6lVbqopOWvKgoINjUlfphC0ewtRf8VnfQwEVIEll1BSn25eUGkVltSE2oJJCdlJ0Q0EpfrH39uwskt-0RZk5IT1SebK9FNC8Ur3YVsWweR9jelGDCtxqhq4myNPO2kU/s1600/IMG_4406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIQC4zYsBMLVD6lVbqopOWvKgoINjUlfphC0ewtRf8VnfQwEVIEll1BSn25eUGkVltSE2oJJCdlJ0Q0EpfrH39uwskt-0RZk5IT1SebK9FNC8Ur3YVsWweR9jelGDCtxqhq4myNPO2kU/s400/IMG_4406.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">This year, Molly and I went over again, and had a touching, emotional evening with them. We were able to read the stories to the kids in person. They were able to exchange gifts and open them in person. We were finally having our first Christmas together as family. Yes, I cried, of course.</div><br />
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Quan played some Christmas carols on his ukelele for us, and Molly showed him how she plays it too.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Susan and I reminisced about the past year, drank tea and watched the kids play together</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jgr2JfQDOgX2SGYABGeR6BP_iPYuljvjRyW_JTvlkK9e7cEFh2C8vb_EaghBlM2cYjqWXFFO9o4VpaQ-QZl0OFO3ZLTf1h_O246VS6d4CHvqmrkmUW34p-kK4puFVMzmOskKT4nt0i4/s1600/IMG_6329a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jgr2JfQDOgX2SGYABGeR6BP_iPYuljvjRyW_JTvlkK9e7cEFh2C8vb_EaghBlM2cYjqWXFFO9o4VpaQ-QZl0OFO3ZLTf1h_O246VS6d4CHvqmrkmUW34p-kK4puFVMzmOskKT4nt0i4/s320/IMG_6329a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofcx2W4la249xQY54RYPJntwQg_GSVebYiRh9XVwZg8ZOqhUm68sUYy1x6a2rFtWN7Mk9Riyc6VstjJsfcEoeTT9B7mcfkNETA7ufYQk-kW81KT5hgbGquxfEl5UNqYcNKRv-BRsZd0Y/s1600/IMG_6339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofcx2W4la249xQY54RYPJntwQg_GSVebYiRh9XVwZg8ZOqhUm68sUYy1x6a2rFtWN7Mk9Riyc6VstjJsfcEoeTT9B7mcfkNETA7ufYQk-kW81KT5hgbGquxfEl5UNqYcNKRv-BRsZd0Y/s400/IMG_6339.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we said our goodbyes, as I needed to get home to put Molly to bed. I still had a lot of gift wrapping to do on behalf of Santa Claus!</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-49189815661982538822011-01-19T08:56:00.000-08:002011-01-19T09:00:21.856-08:00A Molly Christmas in Kelowna (Dec 17 - 21)Molly and I went to Kelowna the weekend before Christmas to celebrate with our family there. We had a wonderful time! Molly got so much attention, and the whole family spoiled her rotten. <br />
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This was 'Christmas Day', celebrated about a week early, at my nephew's place. A big thanks to Jonathan and Debra for hosting the whole family. xoxo<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxIefdGKk9PyryC6k2pBjV0irpT5yRaNEx-zmpLUU2Fis1ACtRQEA67Jo0DglDivMBpU9q3lWOJn89wEKLAA-8i5iwtwMy88J0m-CUUHZQdUGWvDISVVyi9ACZYRiYbl3xdoJyLhHYMo/s1600/IMG_6174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxIefdGKk9PyryC6k2pBjV0irpT5yRaNEx-zmpLUU2Fis1ACtRQEA67Jo0DglDivMBpU9q3lWOJn89wEKLAA-8i5iwtwMy88J0m-CUUHZQdUGWvDISVVyi9ACZYRiYbl3xdoJyLhHYMo/s400/IMG_6174.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Making a gingerbread house with her cousins and Uncle Rob</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94_SAxt45LA8ovfbRKjQomHj92rT_y-n2c4RXGLYHozpB4SLcmDzcFGDbqL13mRMa4Is80AtW73koGpcJTcTbHAjdLmu8l162Cu3jCLscI4DaI37alkp6ajLLDVm4bDn3-s0yPnPqRo8/s1600/IMG_6189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94_SAxt45LA8ovfbRKjQomHj92rT_y-n2c4RXGLYHozpB4SLcmDzcFGDbqL13mRMa4Is80AtW73koGpcJTcTbHAjdLmu8l162Cu3jCLscI4DaI37alkp6ajLLDVm4bDn3-s0yPnPqRo8/s400/IMG_6189.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxleRr7yxWFvyWK25pBeXezj_MpgdMEumWjJevgMs8094PUFMSerujagPJqVlMpu9kRzEyAKUcEkQJBEIGbPMN7F6k6aVL3ZAz2fbRqaA5r8iAJCBP96ILMmJt-3nuLjsGcpdd0MXwt8/s1600/IMG_6190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxleRr7yxWFvyWK25pBeXezj_MpgdMEumWjJevgMs8094PUFMSerujagPJqVlMpu9kRzEyAKUcEkQJBEIGbPMN7F6k6aVL3ZAz2fbRqaA5r8iAJCBP96ILMmJt-3nuLjsGcpdd0MXwt8/s400/IMG_6190.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c82jr7l9kXPCykQFXgFH50d0OwhDOwmMbXAhA7fTHxzsbYBtk5x9xGhxRrh8crUz1Kg5cxbJMENdWs1q9lSTAl0ih2e2RVyruitmaj4bAGUdHxvDpfkyEo64UtUvEN5PQ1Qb3PUhwWI/s1600/IMG_6182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c82jr7l9kXPCykQFXgFH50d0OwhDOwmMbXAhA7fTHxzsbYBtk5x9xGhxRrh8crUz1Kg5cxbJMENdWs1q9lSTAl0ih2e2RVyruitmaj4bAGUdHxvDpfkyEo64UtUvEN5PQ1Qb3PUhwWI/s400/IMG_6182.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tree!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdem7RR8pUNUujmlFcQuUFj7xr_BDA1Ki3oAKs6Az4QPIGqzJYHpElTsfRQXZWUESqBCLnvc_YX1tVUoJ_Oa1DFOWiAouDBTtU_QcGclFOWpFUwQb5ZewiieuJMEQfWa7uZcaoaji1Ss/s1600/IMG_6183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdem7RR8pUNUujmlFcQuUFj7xr_BDA1Ki3oAKs6Az4QPIGqzJYHpElTsfRQXZWUESqBCLnvc_YX1tVUoJ_Oa1DFOWiAouDBTtU_QcGclFOWpFUwQb5ZewiieuJMEQfWa7uZcaoaji1Ss/s400/IMG_6183.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">16 Stockings hand-made by Janel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dSAeMfrHUD2_mUal6FI4HzPdoRJeFAIpbiEyjoYKXfEXAmnBaOOBe6i8F6YG9OTxDdqqhdgeDBAIPBT1C82TU8rPfup7VwaXLccpbdR2c_UWXfAG3PZVctXXhJ7k2sJDrKPMMh03Lw0/s1600/IMG_6193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dSAeMfrHUD2_mUal6FI4HzPdoRJeFAIpbiEyjoYKXfEXAmnBaOOBe6i8F6YG9OTxDdqqhdgeDBAIPBT1C82TU8rPfup7VwaXLccpbdR2c_UWXfAG3PZVctXXhJ7k2sJDrKPMMh03Lw0/s400/IMG_6193.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Molly learned how to open presents, and started to really enjoy it </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uerwhDRoFZx_Uq7A1p2MombOY01pkEYJalbNjf5YAOHSarEiey5qZc4VhQVA96giL7312vtCRznYTDrS-MimTFn5v6NKyMfMad2zH5JihpDr_To_62BZZe06EPYDExu3KYsHqqxKbHE/s1600/IMG_6213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uerwhDRoFZx_Uq7A1p2MombOY01pkEYJalbNjf5YAOHSarEiey5qZc4VhQVA96giL7312vtCRznYTDrS-MimTFn5v6NKyMfMad2zH5JihpDr_To_62BZZe06EPYDExu3KYsHqqxKbHE/s400/IMG_6213.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look at all the presents surrounding her! While the rest of us draw names and get one present each, EVERYBODY bought Molly something. We were opening presents for a long time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFpwzi1bxHJ0wW3eppoGSxejpz2BOZsXkarDesIrYPkUNwkFFSj2EbGpbj7rnHfcZZ0TsEI0-3kJ2f6cZMtFSFYGqtNXnUoUQL7s6paZ8dU-0VBwafP90HT1aPiwkw_pafL_0lPPcz78/s1600/IMG_6222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFpwzi1bxHJ0wW3eppoGSxejpz2BOZsXkarDesIrYPkUNwkFFSj2EbGpbj7rnHfcZZ0TsEI0-3kJ2f6cZMtFSFYGqtNXnUoUQL7s6paZ8dU-0VBwafP90HT1aPiwkw_pafL_0lPPcz78/s400/IMG_6222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then there were more! My father hand-built a toy box for Molly, and inside was a 1/8 size violin for her. It made me cry...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOACk4Pnm7SEXypgAxRePRYpb5U-xNsjFgsuASPH6A1voBJEGS6_mqZcT7BXSW3YeBVhNz01BEtLjVdZ-r6_1V6Tn19bZmdCylQ65V2CCd8KnwISP_yzdH3pRa0-27fAgGiuqI-LcINg/s1600/IMG_6225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOACk4Pnm7SEXypgAxRePRYpb5U-xNsjFgsuASPH6A1voBJEGS6_mqZcT7BXSW3YeBVhNz01BEtLjVdZ-r6_1V6Tn19bZmdCylQ65V2CCd8KnwISP_yzdH3pRa0-27fAgGiuqI-LcINg/s400/IMG_6225.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P1_41yxwNlvEQx6YFS8DxRRBbiiCeZ6TW-BOgBjCefaAMLlctaIvTYhxTq9n7xmipkuIdPceowRSlRhGYqKeeKBS2rFvh_ROPPuPNd0WfPi7_Ga6b_sSL5voXtra1XAFGcKz3hPhaiU/s1600/IMG_6226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P1_41yxwNlvEQx6YFS8DxRRBbiiCeZ6TW-BOgBjCefaAMLlctaIvTYhxTq9n7xmipkuIdPceowRSlRhGYqKeeKBS2rFvh_ROPPuPNd0WfPi7_Ga6b_sSL5voXtra1XAFGcKz3hPhaiU/s400/IMG_6226.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plus, she also got a white baby grand piano, just her size</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAZTlO7RZ96fMed8aZxLvbSl02J7yTsrvdxGtGTYSYvN5hOgRUyREE_Il5yr7v2baP4zKznjIpYsvYTih2M4ryGNsMi2CD-N88-musSO5VV-IBTfvHKcV43sZz-3lamzscQWWYAay6PA/s1600/IMG_6234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAZTlO7RZ96fMed8aZxLvbSl02J7yTsrvdxGtGTYSYvN5hOgRUyREE_Il5yr7v2baP4zKznjIpYsvYTih2M4ryGNsMi2CD-N88-musSO5VV-IBTfvHKcV43sZz-3lamzscQWWYAay6PA/s400/IMG_6234.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The aftermath of gift opening</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7-up2z22-V-K62MOZVic9JiomEPxUgBPy8DTXOEsI6__uNS4dQzKZeGS8yb0NC9vxEPez_aTrvJufJtW7jg5tXu6CUjaHN1DawjGufvHcjI3_YqAzSSGLgZkGYHh1e_4lRYc9ev-VRs/s1600/IMG_6243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7-up2z22-V-K62MOZVic9JiomEPxUgBPy8DTXOEsI6__uNS4dQzKZeGS8yb0NC9vxEPez_aTrvJufJtW7jg5tXu6CUjaHN1DawjGufvHcjI3_YqAzSSGLgZkGYHh1e_4lRYc9ev-VRs/s400/IMG_6243.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bowling with Dora the Explorer. I think the guys enjoyed it more than Molly?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day, it was business as usual for most of the family. My sister went back to work, but when she came home at the end of the day, she sat down on the kitchen floor with Molly and had a picnic dinner of leftovers from the fridge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwa82AECqfL5SfnbbTd0l7fUvrQ3Jodi49FSm2yDgFYkIJqw_14L7_obmm3gw9cYqC_U3Ox_g8xOdaYlUP8BmgIrMWluDA_jNGTmcjul1kumLBdvhtXS4E7PnF_11YtGcHCkGbNEFq-w/s1600/IMG_6252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwa82AECqfL5SfnbbTd0l7fUvrQ3Jodi49FSm2yDgFYkIJqw_14L7_obmm3gw9cYqC_U3Ox_g8xOdaYlUP8BmgIrMWluDA_jNGTmcjul1kumLBdvhtXS4E7PnF_11YtGcHCkGbNEFq-w/s400/IMG_6252.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z9LOc6e_-r6S65YZnGZqBkCtsnUzFlqxFNwr83S_MEiX4tFBJ_1rKBNCWQ415NmeA53HpWSWQwdwcatxVRLpX14Qjahgpbg-hHKYoeBzLdVYkQMKrkBis3eOLTfQgEqNGUJwbnas9uM/s1600/IMG_6260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z9LOc6e_-r6S65YZnGZqBkCtsnUzFlqxFNwr83S_MEiX4tFBJ_1rKBNCWQ415NmeA53HpWSWQwdwcatxVRLpX14Qjahgpbg-hHKYoeBzLdVYkQMKrkBis3eOLTfQgEqNGUJwbnas9uM/s400/IMG_6260.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then they played a few Christmas carols on the piano</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh0lEm5ckUHHqcIQged3kCdAAuvpj0s_UZMMFkS70uYRCUHBhAmNttL1dY3jEu4ROhC4Oc7bAMYNJoIwxh8k2EIJB2R1nvGZierq9W6OOTI3LyUlq2Idzhimpol3pDcBDawcMj5NdDr4/s1600/IMG_6261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh0lEm5ckUHHqcIQged3kCdAAuvpj0s_UZMMFkS70uYRCUHBhAmNttL1dY3jEu4ROhC4Oc7bAMYNJoIwxh8k2EIJB2R1nvGZierq9W6OOTI3LyUlq2Idzhimpol3pDcBDawcMj5NdDr4/s400/IMG_6261.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And Molly let Grandpa feed her a bottle before bedtime.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was wonderful for Molly to have the time to get to know her family better. We had 5 whole days to visit and celebrate. Then we flew home to prepare for another first Christmas in our own home.</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-10069207561954220772011-01-05T13:11:00.000-08:002011-01-05T23:24:09.418-08:00Susan's Colorful Birthday (Dec 15)<div style="text-align: justify;">Susan chose to celebrate her birthday with dinner at Van Dusen Gardens, which I thought was a wonderful choice of restaurants. Not only was the food good, the setting was spectacular! The gardens host a Festival of Lights at Christmastime, and we could see the gardens from the restaurant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjfm5TWMSsid0r-rULaacIJ0HCQ7sCMOwd57DT9dWuaNCsU3rbRmtQh3ZoamNuaptc6AxRuXnjn2W6UbuFc74jBgNZWpUMQgTJtir2fav0eDeMD3SRi7XtIVTK3_nW-qM4IIwzGK18r0/s1600/IMG_6154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjfm5TWMSsid0r-rULaacIJ0HCQ7sCMOwd57DT9dWuaNCsU3rbRmtQh3ZoamNuaptc6AxRuXnjn2W6UbuFc74jBgNZWpUMQgTJtir2fav0eDeMD3SRi7XtIVTK3_nW-qM4IIwzGK18r0/s400/IMG_6154.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We had a lovely meal with Susan and Quan, myself and Molly, and another friend of Susan's, then sang Happy Birthday while Susan blew out the candles on her dessert.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6faxIBL2vyyKsB7Ja81QieUHYSeLA9pOPmTevtwllVcjvjNU0aqCZnZOUWirIrlRZjDT5p5q-T0z_8GmU3XrlQFapzJIVA9aYg2_QrfnTMb5a7UsQHPeorolKOL4qTtfRCkDhC5g1hM/s1600/IMG_6157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6faxIBL2vyyKsB7Ja81QieUHYSeLA9pOPmTevtwllVcjvjNU0aqCZnZOUWirIrlRZjDT5p5q-T0z_8GmU3XrlQFapzJIVA9aYg2_QrfnTMb5a7UsQHPeorolKOL4qTtfRCkDhC5g1hM/s400/IMG_6157.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Afterwards, we bundled up the kids to take them through the garden to see the lights. It was a cold rainy Vancouver evening, but we weren't going to let that stop us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOGBjOPvI01FYLjhd1fBRoa5g4hiDR39XtLWo-43dTiIoiwgIlNR_TJXJqUrRfdp6DY27tfVSaG1AxIqWwQMzhcxciim-B1tV8JPjbj2uDEhErXswzDTvi5rHYxWwxC5WvyIC4BvUnvo/s1600/IMG_6164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOGBjOPvI01FYLjhd1fBRoa5g4hiDR39XtLWo-43dTiIoiwgIlNR_TJXJqUrRfdp6DY27tfVSaG1AxIqWwQMzhcxciim-B1tV8JPjbj2uDEhErXswzDTvi5rHYxWwxC5WvyIC4BvUnvo/s400/IMG_6164.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We pushed the kids in their strollers through the grounds, and oohed and ahhed at the amazing sights. At one point, we were watching the 'dancing lights' and both kids needed a bottle. So Susan and I juggled bottles and bottle tops, sharing flasks of both hot and cold water, plus formula powder, in the dark and in the rain, and successfully managed to produce two warm bottles of milk for our kids, without dropping anything into the mud! We were quite proud of ourselves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL12mi8kC0pi22FUEvx946tsTuX90lHalBr3vdnRqNJcNYenUAsQU0lXI95pynyBfRAZ7H4VappiA9KTkPQW_zqcI3N5cX-rB3joU6Jh0rJFR7SA_AAxlF5VPlh-cqT3o9ST5IeV0aSc/s1600/IMG_6171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL12mi8kC0pi22FUEvx946tsTuX90lHalBr3vdnRqNJcNYenUAsQU0lXI95pynyBfRAZ7H4VappiA9KTkPQW_zqcI3N5cX-rB3joU6Jh0rJFR7SA_AAxlF5VPlh-cqT3o9ST5IeV0aSc/s400/IMG_6171.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDOACgKNL1p68UEdCN2fJ8XNC6dK5JSuecK07yOfG4UbOtlHI79YR7L64O744fTIxqmNhOdDkoecW6mjAJwRoq4s-xjUuAf97_YtzpW1e_1Fz6O-rv_ls17223UqVvtdMFOYNPSvF1DA/s1600/IMG_6162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDOACgKNL1p68UEdCN2fJ8XNC6dK5JSuecK07yOfG4UbOtlHI79YR7L64O744fTIxqmNhOdDkoecW6mjAJwRoq4s-xjUuAf97_YtzpW1e_1Fz6O-rv_ls17223UqVvtdMFOYNPSvF1DA/s400/IMG_6162.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Molly liked this part the best. She pointed and said 'Snowman!' at everything.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We had a short visit because Susan and I got cold and wet, but I hope it's the start of a Christmas tradition we will continue with throughout the coming years. I'm sure the kids will enjoy it more as they get older too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-43026182705947333202010-12-15T15:23:00.000-08:002010-12-15T15:23:31.169-08:00The Rest of the Weekend<div style="text-align: justify;">We held the Christmas party for the Fab Five on the first day Lesia and Mylan arrived. It's always a special occasion when they come over to visit, so there was much more to come!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the morning we met with Nathan and Nhan for breakfast at a restaurant near the ocean. It was a beautiful sunny morning, so we took the kids to the beach for a little while to enjoy the weather. Here are a few pictures of our adorable children:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYomclAGD3zClZbUbFz0uaItZuTxzWp3XWJ3mCuTTzsvap2XweHjY6MWKupqT8Gh3wlxeHvS8af4TUJGDK_8WzG_PYGZK4HFhJbIsG_-kAQjvmRnBUU6BTls6f4VJGJqErewrHtxLdwt0/s1600/IMG_6070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYomclAGD3zClZbUbFz0uaItZuTxzWp3XWJ3mCuTTzsvap2XweHjY6MWKupqT8Gh3wlxeHvS8af4TUJGDK_8WzG_PYGZK4HFhJbIsG_-kAQjvmRnBUU6BTls6f4VJGJqErewrHtxLdwt0/s400/IMG_6070.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxtKjiTP-kzVVhPcOwArysWHosGN2qC1x-o44ifaIjLNnYXnz52QL1MLbRcVaxVF9ni1pVsHUKmGQCSklKfIrmpvYSnC4MMY5PAIND6RKJhMNXBn_fXz_lCgz3g-ZuqAwWG1y56E2uR8/s1600/IMG_6074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxtKjiTP-kzVVhPcOwArysWHosGN2qC1x-o44ifaIjLNnYXnz52QL1MLbRcVaxVF9ni1pVsHUKmGQCSklKfIrmpvYSnC4MMY5PAIND6RKJhMNXBn_fXz_lCgz3g-ZuqAwWG1y56E2uR8/s400/IMG_6074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXZYAdkxb-0OH7-EAUt8_J8Zfbk6yQAlMXnIswalorAvLnXQ4Hzly8tnAS9xA-Rl5n2Lzm0ap4xnenfX3j5yLg9MB-biD35RwzyCr8JVofTrifQxc4i5TmRTRGPXyIwcxDYM-9a-0kgA/s1600/IMG_6080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXZYAdkxb-0OH7-EAUt8_J8Zfbk6yQAlMXnIswalorAvLnXQ4Hzly8tnAS9xA-Rl5n2Lzm0ap4xnenfX3j5yLg9MB-biD35RwzyCr8JVofTrifQxc4i5TmRTRGPXyIwcxDYM-9a-0kgA/s400/IMG_6080.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After naptime, we got all dressed up again, and went to another Christmas party! This time a bigger party for families who have adopted Vietnamese children. This party drew together families from far and wide, families who adopted in past years, and families who adopted more recently. It was quite wonderful to see all the kiddies enjoying themselves. There was some great entertainment, and of course, Santa! Santa had a gift for each of the children, but we also brought a gift that we gave to Santa - a package that will be taken to Vietnam and given to children living in an orphanage. The evening was lots of fun, and I appreciate all the planning that the organizers did.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYlMTPjLFyrlT_Mq5Oc5P0oLxExJyfEQZlNhMRkibnfCf3qSHXsMheWUNwia4ayWKg8sqa2b0zXtXy-_Nwov4ifNKiXEwSE2t5pweWOTb7GSnDbwDB2MFHMz2UJYNFNQg7je204HhyphenhyphenGI/s1600/IMG_6084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYlMTPjLFyrlT_Mq5Oc5P0oLxExJyfEQZlNhMRkibnfCf3qSHXsMheWUNwia4ayWKg8sqa2b0zXtXy-_Nwov4ifNKiXEwSE2t5pweWOTb7GSnDbwDB2MFHMz2UJYNFNQg7je204HhyphenhyphenGI/s400/IMG_6084.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The next morning, the same group of us went back to the same restaurant, but this time Merel was able to join us as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoreSlgMYf4Bpg-n0d0XiuPASdEA8MzaA1LI-5NJmnMVDc3ySEdOV1dtwHRX0G5td6de8lz_rcWMTUCITR8ricCOlfAGQnc40SNGoufXiY00_r5c3NgEVq8hQQZo5pqPsGQ8mYpdLYDs/s1600/IMG_6086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoreSlgMYf4Bpg-n0d0XiuPASdEA8MzaA1LI-5NJmnMVDc3ySEdOV1dtwHRX0G5td6de8lz_rcWMTUCITR8ricCOlfAGQnc40SNGoufXiY00_r5c3NgEVq8hQQZo5pqPsGQ8mYpdLYDs/s400/IMG_6086.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We took the kids to a playgroup at a community centre on Granville Island, and had a blast! There were so many great toys to play with, and the kids had free reign in the room. It was so fun to watch them play:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37_C3Ls9VtAzsUhKXTtosCYmLGzyrb_nfQATt2JcXQMiW1xICVk83gQytwqzRuVWGT1e7RbVEwnceO95QIFUvk_n9pxYOf-KIaXJFm9wEJSk9aj-jYPT5N9qUHHrn6SU-Kb02fMsbV-U/s1600/IMG_6096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37_C3Ls9VtAzsUhKXTtosCYmLGzyrb_nfQATt2JcXQMiW1xICVk83gQytwqzRuVWGT1e7RbVEwnceO95QIFUvk_n9pxYOf-KIaXJFm9wEJSk9aj-jYPT5N9qUHHrn6SU-Kb02fMsbV-U/s400/IMG_6096.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCDOp3wTg7ruVCCR0aC4yoGG27xN0BmclBDSpGDxasvgdrW86uFP-YKLTmd9tL6NfJ10hWyoY2zgYr-BrIS5vEtfTCVq3UCK3T_r9AqrIsnTYZU2xOQZtmCukCBdszmTsM1tyiUgpjOQ/s1600/IMG_6111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCDOp3wTg7ruVCCR0aC4yoGG27xN0BmclBDSpGDxasvgdrW86uFP-YKLTmd9tL6NfJ10hWyoY2zgYr-BrIS5vEtfTCVq3UCK3T_r9AqrIsnTYZU2xOQZtmCukCBdszmTsM1tyiUgpjOQ/s400/IMG_6111.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIOatguvUcUV8U79yCW6SK3c0RYLnRnENK9WPvltejOV5qs9TsV8CxmpDI4efZ0HrcFvslfl4PsNmZOqk0g8RBMmGnFOZRl3QtM3EsPAwFwyHvkLHaA2Cmq3DuoaoIPMX3SRETfU-C54/s1600/IMG_6120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIOatguvUcUV8U79yCW6SK3c0RYLnRnENK9WPvltejOV5qs9TsV8CxmpDI4efZ0HrcFvslfl4PsNmZOqk0g8RBMmGnFOZRl3QtM3EsPAwFwyHvkLHaA2Cmq3DuoaoIPMX3SRETfU-C54/s400/IMG_6120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRr_vCEhnWNWiKDdiF9B8Fjvt1TpWtFastZVpUB3-7yMa2U_KNTsNHuieRdHdYa7bIRv8XchECaLZFprHn5VGkAoE_w8ssX5mGpG1W_c2sRgqxrOw__lSyE9wya_tttYO33ImwxIoHV0/s1600/IMG_6112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRr_vCEhnWNWiKDdiF9B8Fjvt1TpWtFastZVpUB3-7yMa2U_KNTsNHuieRdHdYa7bIRv8XchECaLZFprHn5VGkAoE_w8ssX5mGpG1W_c2sRgqxrOw__lSyE9wya_tttYO33ImwxIoHV0/s400/IMG_6112.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQkNbkPLGzrVuh2-rQyo7FFUdxJyUNk94dLjixLpy1igAR5EwA9CZoaahyCe4TbqMl6TTplIABmbJM8CFYwkZ30FhR6g36up4pYpl0lbwk_qWO8B9hsBfIhDX3jVTxsC_58J3W6a9DHU/s1600/IMG_6098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQkNbkPLGzrVuh2-rQyo7FFUdxJyUNk94dLjixLpy1igAR5EwA9CZoaahyCe4TbqMl6TTplIABmbJM8CFYwkZ30FhR6g36up4pYpl0lbwk_qWO8B9hsBfIhDX3jVTxsC_58J3W6a9DHU/s400/IMG_6098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Finally, a quick trip to Ikea on the way to the ferry, and we had to say goodbye to our dear friends again. We hope to see them again soon!Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-5222107707687902602010-12-13T21:47:00.000-08:002010-12-13T21:47:45.081-08:00The Fab Five Christmas Party<div style="text-align: justify;">Lesia and Mylan came over from Victoria for the weekend, so we all got together to celebrate Christmas. Lesia and I hosted the gathering at my place, so I got the tree up and the house decorated on December 1st! Rita and Ninh and Uncle Ron all came over to help decorate. Rita brought greens and poinsettias, and Ron ended up decorating the tree when I was putting Molly down to sleep later in the evening. What a beautiful job he did! My 'Charlie Brown' tree is trimmed, garlanded and dusted with pipe-cleaner snow.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ol2hNSzENQR04BUv10yYjGqjudjiOXe9mJ8jcSJ7gcATpd8Hx4BZUEvfOx3sQ9ViUPmxPx_1ho56dR5ruZONLuuk9SbK6WhAfJtsO8P9hGp65TexcETgPyOKp4d1neOrbH4Z2nzHtqI/s1600/P1000375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ol2hNSzENQR04BUv10yYjGqjudjiOXe9mJ8jcSJ7gcATpd8Hx4BZUEvfOx3sQ9ViUPmxPx_1ho56dR5ruZONLuuk9SbK6WhAfJtsO8P9hGp65TexcETgPyOKp4d1neOrbH4Z2nzHtqI/s400/P1000375.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMlNHjJ1uAb1I1fMR6h9RUnXvt1jG5z4qj8MwnfUpdNHR_b7MQp6_ZTbSh0_urTMEkPldUDOTB9tcOm6SJwfUjmgFurE9vfoAB4C07MjrZnJkqZe28zUSrz80pPMuVFVxRhXPkeLabDo/s1600/IMG_6149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMlNHjJ1uAb1I1fMR6h9RUnXvt1jG5z4qj8MwnfUpdNHR_b7MQp6_ZTbSh0_urTMEkPldUDOTB9tcOm6SJwfUjmgFurE9vfoAB4C07MjrZnJkqZe28zUSrz80pPMuVFVxRhXPkeLabDo/s400/IMG_6149.JPG" width="341" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Molly was amazed at what she saw the next morning - I snuck out of bed early to plug in the lights before she could see it. I taught her to only touch the tree and the decorations, not to pull anything off. So now she stands in front of it saying 'touch, touch', and touching the bulbs and lights with one finger. It's so sweet to watch her.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then a few days later, our guests arrived, and the party began! We had a potluck dinner, eggnog, and lots of different desserts to fill up on. Suddenly, there was a 'Ho ho ho!' and Santa had arrived! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTaYDq1rKOo5pNe9gLPK3Hu_6nI5WGzvNdUVW4EeX_kjDevpM58AjDZrhedvRL5megczx08sg2wVjzSHPVITjURDJsMHaIQcAzAX2VigVgdGbe89s5Y6CzpcSXn6hVQFkSiem5lowaaQ/s1600/P1000339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTaYDq1rKOo5pNe9gLPK3Hu_6nI5WGzvNdUVW4EeX_kjDevpM58AjDZrhedvRL5megczx08sg2wVjzSHPVITjURDJsMHaIQcAzAX2VigVgdGbe89s5Y6CzpcSXn6hVQFkSiem5lowaaQ/s400/P1000339.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNByRpMbQa27XWqewkQUTms4dOH-M_f1DxtINKX2Y_DeZct2i0kyFbpXoyb4Nf3ur8gBzk7cgkFun_YzALdkcCZdgfsdequqA6JVea3n9Sk04oH4Hw9XdAe2d_1TW1FVwCOMc_OpPOX0w/s1600/P1000362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNByRpMbQa27XWqewkQUTms4dOH-M_f1DxtINKX2Y_DeZct2i0kyFbpXoyb4Nf3ur8gBzk7cgkFun_YzALdkcCZdgfsdequqA6JVea3n9Sk04oH4Hw9XdAe2d_1TW1FVwCOMc_OpPOX0w/s400/P1000362.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">He scared the kids, but had presents to give them from his sack. Molly broke the ice by sitting on his lap for pictures, but we cheated a little bit. We peeked behind Santa's beard to find that it was Uncle Ron who was dressed up, so she was happy to sit with him. I don't think Ninh ever got over it though - he wasn't happy until Santa left.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeFqFAMh5_I7vuUoP9tWFvyqpf-V_aDuDAosdyj-3LldKmnRzgegVeBgpV-JWoAlGsbAGL9lfDPYvKVFl633heG8rrYNND_lCdx5ETsQ-gQCXacOlYK3JXxRHiAOn3aNww-lU1dAgsRE/s1600/P1000366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeFqFAMh5_I7vuUoP9tWFvyqpf-V_aDuDAosdyj-3LldKmnRzgegVeBgpV-JWoAlGsbAGL9lfDPYvKVFl633heG8rrYNND_lCdx5ETsQ-gQCXacOlYK3JXxRHiAOn3aNww-lU1dAgsRE/s400/P1000366.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd35x5PlAMDAZeCTVjwxNCNYG29S2H6G-zsl7WMX5_4_gYEjrlpfFm-Zaj7Pa_5ua5qqN8v2CwP0jVQMKdH6KljkurNp-ZQ888YmNMDi0lFIS18RB9Kka1U5_EdDOTstGD60FZgzflETA/s1600/P1000370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd35x5PlAMDAZeCTVjwxNCNYG29S2H6G-zsl7WMX5_4_gYEjrlpfFm-Zaj7Pa_5ua5qqN8v2CwP0jVQMKdH6KljkurNp-ZQ888YmNMDi0lFIS18RB9Kka1U5_EdDOTstGD60FZgzflETA/s400/P1000370.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Christmas cheer and chaos reigned for the rest of the evening, but I think everyone had a really good time. A huge thanks to everyone for bringing food, dressing up, and decorating, but most of all, thanks for being there and creating lovely Christmas memories to treasure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKcWL7PMq7oQfKdDAW2BNDttJ0Bx-5Lz2GMkbifnoYg9Iuu6r3lZn21WMEAf3embdZJZdML1gqWvrvslenQbzZEje3LNDbxnm8t0rifpSBa1t-403mug6X9IMer0sZd8piJ5I8s-lzAM/s1600/IMG_6064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKcWL7PMq7oQfKdDAW2BNDttJ0Bx-5Lz2GMkbifnoYg9Iuu6r3lZn21WMEAf3embdZJZdML1gqWvrvslenQbzZEje3LNDbxnm8t0rifpSBa1t-403mug6X9IMer0sZd8piJ5I8s-lzAM/s400/IMG_6064.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Merry Christmas!</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-73810686344882865402010-12-08T14:56:00.000-08:002010-12-08T15:22:42.791-08:00Another Special Offer from Robeez<div style="text-align: justify;">Robeez has just launched a great new sale, offering Eric Carle Boys' and Girls' gift sets (shoes + a miniature The Very Hungry Caterpillar book) for only $19.99 and shipping is free. You can have them gift wrap and ship the gift sets directly to your recipients, and your Christmas shopping is done! Click on the text links on my sidebar to get started.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Be sure to change the currency to Canadian dollars before purchasing. Click on the link in the top right hand corner of the website page when you enter the site.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you for supporting the "Get Molly a Baby Brother Fund".</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-5869371200040741632010-12-02T14:55:00.000-08:002010-12-02T14:55:46.948-08:00Christmas Shopping at Robeez<div style="text-align: justify;">Robeez has just offered a 20% off promotion for purchases over $50, plus free shipping! It's available only on December 3rd, 4th and 5th. Use the coupon code ROBEEZGIFT when purchasing from the link in my sidebar to get the discounts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Keep in mind, too, that for a small charge, Robeez will gift wrap and deliver your gifts on your behalf, which makes Christmas shopping so much easier. Is anyone else doing a lot more shopping online since they adopted a child? I have done lots this year, as I don't have as much time to run around the city to shop anymore.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are lots of new shoes, winter boots, socks, and always a selection of sale items. Have fun shopping, and thanks for supporting the "Get Molly a baby brother fund!"</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-4583380796693319352010-11-20T22:47:00.000-08:002010-11-21T15:38:45.498-08:00Snow, snow, snow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrykwszBrsnSLRLYyDPihfrCq1euCU2IMMcOZjzNIefoWwt7t7VM6K-zFL6wUN7LwcDI-tj3wXd5a8fVzmHTyg7tBcnKtz4jyF-eqPlYdnoVA5XP0t6hlO8MZBSIrnHl6aMcVUnZVc6U/s1600/IMG_5972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrykwszBrsnSLRLYyDPihfrCq1euCU2IMMcOZjzNIefoWwt7t7VM6K-zFL6wUN7LwcDI-tj3wXd5a8fVzmHTyg7tBcnKtz4jyF-eqPlYdnoVA5XP0t6hlO8MZBSIrnHl6aMcVUnZVc6U/s400/IMG_5972.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We woke up to the first snowfall of the season today! I took Molly straight to the windows today to show her the snow on the ground - she looked and talked and pointed for quite a while. It was the first time she has ever seen snow! Then we rushed through breakfast, because Nhan and Uncle Nathan were coming over to play outside with us.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MXshj_Tu5RIi4PO22swurypYYrHyH67_iG-aL6UHHvRBOFW8AZeM0uTN4kvsdtGAOTfCFOtm9UIcZTo3k8HAj7CbdNo1LPFNqhpldYKUZ7FS0Z69HMUsdvTE07rBuu_RJG5gSphBGD4/s1600/IMG_5971a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MXshj_Tu5RIi4PO22swurypYYrHyH67_iG-aL6UHHvRBOFW8AZeM0uTN4kvsdtGAOTfCFOtm9UIcZTo3k8HAj7CbdNo1LPFNqhpldYKUZ7FS0Z69HMUsdvTE07rBuu_RJG5gSphBGD4/s400/IMG_5971a.JPG" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy8fn0F_Su923ajzgP7q8hZLt43Cbmd6qGjqWLHudxmiApymInRLkLnIwhqWx0MrMGNKGS8e4mp4Caf0jtDepQ9UayPO6b7oDIr_77EWozDjMBBUhyphenhyphenRpdQBr_HqJOAl4bj9d3A0o9WWM/s1600/IMG_5968a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy8fn0F_Su923ajzgP7q8hZLt43Cbmd6qGjqWLHudxmiApymInRLkLnIwhqWx0MrMGNKGS8e4mp4Caf0jtDepQ9UayPO6b7oDIr_77EWozDjMBBUhyphenhyphenRpdQBr_HqJOAl4bj9d3A0o9WWM/s400/IMG_5968a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Nathan and I walked the kids to our local park, and played in the snow for a while. But the kids just weren't as excited about a field of snow as we thought they might be. So we took them over to the playground instead. They swung on the swings, went down the BIG tunnel slide, and had a much better time than in the field. When they turned into popsicles, we took them back home.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sWA5lPcjOUMlT1xOCoiicORBvxAf4uP8ergtQAWaFF7vDbsFV3sjzDmJ0UGHv9D4mm5eNAQxGaDqHCAou37znC_nttie_JOjeAeeetjoo78UqkRdLCW1XKLtXhxdigdBmCynJRYU82A/s1600/IMG_5976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sWA5lPcjOUMlT1xOCoiicORBvxAf4uP8ergtQAWaFF7vDbsFV3sjzDmJ0UGHv9D4mm5eNAQxGaDqHCAou37znC_nttie_JOjeAeeetjoo78UqkRdLCW1XKLtXhxdigdBmCynJRYU82A/s400/IMG_5976.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSl5c5afbxVdRxNTv06htcTnrJY9SGH3el-G-OCPeGk0SC0Krkg1lcMNrHKBiHMqOQMj4I0kjlW0B5ulfGWUMr2N0pVUMCVKlUevaR3SB2hB2WjW3vBY89GxMnNMI6nz3BbS0bSP0Xnc/s1600/IMG_5988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSl5c5afbxVdRxNTv06htcTnrJY9SGH3el-G-OCPeGk0SC0Krkg1lcMNrHKBiHMqOQMj4I0kjlW0B5ulfGWUMr2N0pVUMCVKlUevaR3SB2hB2WjW3vBY89GxMnNMI6nz3BbS0bSP0Xnc/s400/IMG_5988.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWe-eZhavDH4x6Yr_9grXd5ASNZsX7mIMryXUf9Ub2ZfqQc52BzAgOioTqijKNAGmw8k-A-45c6N9HFd0BxGLAzhc1RMsIo4bKqmfIVK7CIs_n89gMouYkQ7IKShYCMKIo2zbIF2u21I/s1600/IMG_5990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWe-eZhavDH4x6Yr_9grXd5ASNZsX7mIMryXUf9Ub2ZfqQc52BzAgOioTqijKNAGmw8k-A-45c6N9HFd0BxGLAzhc1RMsIo4bKqmfIVK7CIs_n89gMouYkQ7IKShYCMKIo2zbIF2u21I/s400/IMG_5990.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">After eating lunch on Nathan's lap, we put them both down for naps. Nhan actually fell asleep in Molly's room! So they ended up staying all day. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuqCzaCxj3DpmJXYj-6SADry8JGOUqUNMn5WlPvyqMhRw0o5mJ7Qa5IH0BjGe_ixdSOGeJzLOFSh_or9IPspb6xKGJ7tibVocWB1nq8RQfWbsV2J24ZzIwdEAMYtVn1vso6ZoTT9X1Xc/s1600/IMG_6011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuqCzaCxj3DpmJXYj-6SADry8JGOUqUNMn5WlPvyqMhRw0o5mJ7Qa5IH0BjGe_ixdSOGeJzLOFSh_or9IPspb6xKGJ7tibVocWB1nq8RQfWbsV2J24ZzIwdEAMYtVn1vso6ZoTT9X1Xc/s400/IMG_6011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We visited while Molly and Nhan played together, then took the kids out for dinner at a local restaurant before they said goodbye. It was a great day!</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400939234395449334.post-41147827485999782462010-11-18T23:35:00.000-08:002010-11-18T23:38:08.591-08:00Welcome to Usborne Books<div style="text-align: justify;">I have recently been introduced to the wonderful world of Usborne Books. It is a book publisher from the UK that exclusively publishes books for children of all ages. I am very impressed with the books for kids as young as Molly. There are counting books that go from one to five, instead of 10, a book of a baby's first toys, showing pictures of toys that Molly can relate to. The books are really well illustrated, and very well thought out. They have a formal reading program that is widely used in schools. Some of their books have interactive features, and some have sound. There are sticker books, art books, puzzle books, classics and seasonal books! Something for everyone.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The books are sold by home party, so I held one in my home, and signed up as a consultant. I can now sell the books myself for a commission. I cannot do home parties as a single mother, but I will attempt to sell books through my blog in lieu of home parties. The commissions I earn will go towards the "<strong>Get Molly a Baby Brother Fund</strong>".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, for my first try, I will hold a blog party. If any of you out there are interested in purchasing books for your children or for Christmas gifts, please look at the catalog online:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.usbornebooksathome.ca/usborne_books/browse.asp?cat=1&css=1">http://www.usbornebooksathome.ca/usborne_books/browse.asp?cat=1&css=1</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The French version of the catalog is:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.usbornebooksathome.ca/usborne_books/browse.asp?cat=2&css=1">http://www.usbornebooksathome.ca/usborne_books/browse.asp?cat=2&css=1</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Send me an email or comment with your choices or any questions you may have, and I'll have your books delivered in about 3 weeks (or less!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Please be aware that the online catalog is frequently updated, but the occasional book may have run out of stock or had a recent price adjustment. Also, shipping will be charged on your order and appropriate taxes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Molly and I thank you in advance for supporting our next adoption!</div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15076442763348386916noreply@blogger.com0