Ramsell Family Happenings

Once Again, Time Slips in Blogland....

2011-04-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Oh, I see many visitors from around the world......remember to say Hi!! (hint hint!)
Well, I knew when I started this blog I would get behind on posting, and now thanks to FB.....well, I know many of you are there, as well.

Since the new year we've been fairly busy with school activities, and fundraisers, we had Carnaval! That was so much fun..(I'll add pics shortly)..and....we had the BIG 6TH Birthday Rock Star Party Bash at the gymnastics center in Feb!!! Luckily the theme changed from SpongeBob to Rock Star, thanks to a visit to Party City! Super fun party and Mommy took some time off to volunteer at school on her acutal b-day as well take her to paint her own pottery. (Thanks to a gift card I won at the last school fundraiser...see a theme here??? ugh.) I also dusted off the sewing machine and MADE LM a dress for her birthday! It's on the far left had side of the sofa in her "loot" photo! Not too bad for all these years of not sewing, I might say!

We have been sick most of March but are all on the mend now! My mom had to be taken to the ER, but all is well! Most of LM's class was out all month! I am sure one of those kindergartner's is responisble for my ails!! he he! Oh, perhaps mine!!!

We had fun at the Russian Festival in Feb, also. We enjoy going every year and this year went with our friends Karina and Alice. Karina is from Kaz, but they enjoyed the dancing and food, too! Who wouldn't?? Yummy!!!

Keeping this short and with pics......

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like....

2010-12-06T10:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas in full swing at the Ramsell household! We spent the enitre weekend decorating inside and out! Can someone please expalin why something ALWAYS doesn't work right....a few lights, an extension cord, last year we had a problem with the tree stand...EVERY year there seems to be some small issue! Guess it's just part of of the holidays now! But geez, I'd like for just one year, to put everything up without a problem...is that too much to ask Santa? LOL!!

AND, we picked up the tree Saturday, so here is this year's On Top of the Car Tree Photo........plus a goofy one....You can see how much she's grown if you look at the tree photo at the top of the page, that was just two years ago! Plus, she climbed on top of the car all by herself! (ugh!)

Last week, Delaney's Spanish Immersion Class sang at our town's tree lighting. They sang a few Christmas songs in Spanish and while some of the kids got a little stage fright and cried, Little Missy got up there and sang every word to every song smiling the entire time! I was a proud SIP Mama!!! And as proud Mama was in the front taking pictures, Delaney was enjoying that a large crowd had formed behind me to watch the kids sing! "Everyone in Vacaville was watching ME sing, Mom!"
Well, yes, it did seem like everyone was there...he he!

Long Time No Post!!!

2010-11-23T16:02:00.000-08:00

Okay ~ I am SOOO sorry my fellow bloggers and followers!! I admit, Facebook has recieved my attention these last several months!! FB is quicker and I can update it from my Android phone! (new this summer!!) (that's another post! LOL!)

This is my attempt to once again stay updated on the blog! So, for a quick review...
BUSY SUMMER! Delaney finished up spring soccer, had a big dance recital, cooking class, science camp, tennis lessons, vacation bible school...AND her very first trip to Disneyland! We spent a week down in LA, three days at the Happiest Place on Earth, where nothing went fast enough or high for my daredeveil of a five year old!

She disovered pin-trading and started out day one with one pin and ended day three with eight (???) We spent one day at California Adventure with my wonderful girlfriend from college, Lisa, and her family, husband Wayne, and son, Cory.

Cory is a month older than Delaney and they love each other so much! We also had dinner one night with them at the Rain Forest Cafe, it's too bad we live so far from them. It was a really great trip! Zippity Do Da! We spent a day at the beach jumping in the waves and collecting shells! Still not sure what LM loved more, Disneyland or staying at the hotel (it has a pool y'know!)

Well, the REAL news, as Little Missy will tell you, "I started school!" Kindergarten began on August 18th...on which said day, she was up and dressed and had tied her shoes on her own for the very first time at....6:30 AM!!! Her kindergarten starts at 11:30 AM!!! HA!

Most said, "Oh, that will last about a week."...well, as of Nov 19th...we are still getting up early and getting dressed and ready, occasionaly making lunch.......I am never going to get to sleep in EVER again! She finishes her homework in a day, (she has a week), and LOVES being a Spanish Immersion Program! So much so, that she feels the need to correct my Spanish, (never mind I've been speaking it all my life!)

As we start off the holiday season, here's wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and hoping we can all be reminded of all the blessing in our lives, I know I am blessed with a lovely little Spanish speaking kindergartner! Hasta luego!

Sweet Random Moments Caught on Camera!

2010-06-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorites memories are the times I catch Delaney enjoying the moment! Here are snapshots that just seem to capture the mood! I love these sweet random moments......

Precision is the key to polishing toenails. (and I appreciate her using the bubble wrap to protect my carpeting...)

Sharing a story with our visting Flat Stanley from Tennessee...

Enjoying playing school and reading....(I love how she set up her own little desk with her laptop!)

Nice technique with the tongue....(we painted pottery for Grandma for Mother's Day)

Happinees IS coloring Easter Eggs!

Perfectly placing the Giant Chess pieces at Nut Tree...

And my fav...Waiting alone on stage to perform...(she was looking at the rides she was promised she could ride after her Fiesta Days show.)

The Spy Who Stayed Up Until Midnight...

2010-05-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

The other night we ended up taking my mom to the ER, she's is okay, thank goodness. Dehydrated from having stomach thing.....so Delaney stayed over at the neighbor's while I went back to the hospital. Our neighbors said she could spend the night, but just when we got back from the hospital, our neighbors called to say Delaney wanted to come home. It was 11:30 pm, and I know she was worried about her grandma, so I went across the street to get her. She got to see my mom and I let her sleep with me. Then she was hungry....so now it's almost midnight.....
(make sure you have read the previous post...)
I say, "Baby, as soon as you are done with your snack we are going to sleep, it's almost midnight." This look of excitement comes over my little spy's face as it lights up.....
"MAYBE I WILL SEE THE RED DUCK!!!!!!"

The Spy Who Knew A Lot

2010-05-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

(Post preface: Delaney and I play "Spy" a lot. And as you know, all good spies have secret codes for different reasons. One need for a secret code is to be able to identify yourself to other spies and vice versa. We have created several spy codes for all the various reasons a spy might need a code....) (I also need to preface that I always tell her Mommy knows Everything...which she believes whole-heartedly, I think...)

We were driving in the car the other day and Little Missy says, "Mom, I know you know Everything, but I know a lot, too.)

Me: "Oh, you do? What do you know?"
LM: "I know cheese on salad tastes good. I know oranges have belly buttons. And, I know The Red Duck Flies at Midnight." (Spy Code)

Yes, my five year old Spy knows quite a bit.....I think...

Our Truth

2010-04-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

Pretend It’s April 15th……I am late with the Call To Action by JCICS.

Our Truth
No one who knows us or knows of us doubts that Delaney and I (and my mom) are a family.
No one doubts we were meant to be together.
No know one doubts how much I LIVE to be her Mommy and how my mom and her have such a special relationship.

Many do not know how hard it was to become a Mom. Failed relationships, failed female reproductive parts, failed domestic adoption….mountains of paperwork, LOOONG flights to Siberia, the waiting, standing before a Russian judge to convince her I was worthy of parenting a child from Russia…

A day does not go by that I thank Russia for giving me the child I always dreamed of, or think of the woman who gave her life. My daughter is every single thing I thought my daughter would be. She is happy, she is healthy, she is smart, and she loves me, she sings as she picks up her toys, she is beauitful, she crawls into bed with me at 5am every morning. ALL children love their parents, even when they cannot express it. And while Delaney spent the first 18 months of her life in a tiny orphanage in Siberia, she is well adjusted and loves that she is Russian and when she sees a picture of St. Basil’s she screams, “That’s My Russia!”

We are lucky and blessed. Delaney was lucky to be well cared for and nurtured by her caretakers before it was my turn. I prepared for the child to be mine, however, to come to me with difficulties from a life she did not choose. I knew that it was entirely possible I would spend time helping her heal, teaching her what it meant to have a family and a Mommy. This is the reality for many who come home and for the parents who take on that responsibility. I actually was not prepared for how advanced she was and is…yesterday she explained to me what a washer is, and not what you clean your clothes in! The washer that is related to nuts and bolts and screws! She excels in gymnastics, takes dance and is playing soccer. She loves swimming and wants to learn the violin and how to speak Spanish.

And for as much as I gush about our life, about how much joy she brings me and about how much she makes me laugh, the truth is parenting is hard, period. Add in adoption, add in post-institutionalized issues, add in adjustment issues, and it’s even harder. I work full-time. I have a long commute. I am a single parent.

When I get home she wants to play, and she wants to go for a walk and she wants dinner…..when she is overly tired she melts down about the silliest of things, and when her feelings are hurt she is sad. When she gets a shot she looks at me as if I have the ability to make the pain stop…oh, that’s so hard! I feel guilty when I put her in a timeout even though she broke a rule, I feel guilty when I yell at her because I am overly tired and she doesn’t understand why I yelled, I don’t understand why I yelled……I make pancakes with chocolate chips and let her jump in rain puddles. We make a heart shaped cake on our Family Day and write “I love you” on it. I drive her to dance class on Wednesdays, soccer on Saturday mornings when I want to sleep in. She broke my computer’s disk drive by leaning on it. When she was 22 months she pulled a corral beaded anklet off my leg I had custom made in Hawaii. We sing the Sponge Bob song really loud in the car and race to the front door when we get out of the car. I let her *drive* the car down the street….we both love Sheryl Crowe, and Dora. She loves our Family Night movies….I taught her all the words to Horse With No Name when she was three…we both love cheese. We have watched Bolt 178 times (maybe). Once she woke up with 105 fever and thought she was seeing bugs eveywhere, I was terrified. Once she came downstairs to go out to play wearing her lifevest, I was rolling on the floor laughing. Last year at school the kids wrote why they loved their Mommies for Mother's Day..."becasue she is the best Mom who came to get me." I was in tears.

The truth is, this is our wonderful, beautiful, sometimes frustrating, never boring life and
I AM THE PROUD PARENT OF AN AMAZING CHILD BORN IN RUSSIA!

First Sleep Over!!!

2010-03-11T20:47:00.000-08:00

My baby spent the night across the street last night!

My mom had to be at the dentist very early this morning (she watches Delaney during the day) and when I asked my neighbor if she could watch Delaney this morning, she suggested Delaney sleep over with her daughter. Delaney has been asking to have someone sleep over or sleep over at someone's house for well over a year! She was so excited! She and the little girl are good friends and A has stayed over at our house out of necessity twice, but I dont' think Delaney considered it a true sleep over since it was when my neighbor had her baby boy.

She had dance then we got home and gathered her things. "Mom.... backpack, check, sleeping bag, check, hair brush, check, pillow, check, fruit snacks, check...." I walked her across the street and she barely gave me a kiss g-bye! Geez, make your Mother feel good, why dont' you?

My neighbor said she put them to bed at 8 pm and they stayed awake talking until 10 pm! Soooo cute, guess they were heard talking about school, ice skating, SpongeBob and playing the Wii. This is all too fast, all this growing up!!!!!!!!!!!! MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (on the other hand, I had a quiet dinner, a glass of wine and watched American Idol in peace!)
A few words before departing....

Can you do this?????

2010-02-27T21:46:00.000-08:00

Finally....she's been trying, REALLY trying, for well over a year....not one by any other went unnoticed, not only that someone could do it, but more specifically that SHE could NOT! "When will I be able to do it, Mommy? How do you do it? Why can't I make any noise?".....that is...until.....NOW!!!!!! (turn up the volume...) ( you will also have to turn down the playlist volume at the bottom of the page...)

INTRODUCING......Miss Delaney, who can now SNAP !!!!!

She snaps at the dinner table, in the car, walking from the car, she has shown her teacher, her friends, a woman carrying a baby in ther parking lot, the cleark at Costco...all who have willingly indulged her....most importantly, SHE is very impressed with herself !!!! Not sure what is better, the constant effort or the constant snapping....at least the snapping is pretty quiet..........

Someone is FIVE Now!!!

2010-02-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

It's unbelievable....it just happened, she went and turned five on me!!
I freaked out a little bit, she is growing up so fast! She's gone right through a size 5, and size 11 shoe! Geez!

Delaney came home in Aug 06 at 18 months, I can't even imagine life before she came home, I never knew being a Mom was trully so wonderful.
I am blessed with a healthy, smart, witty, active, attached and beautiful little girl who randomly throws "I love yous" at me, is affectinate, kind and caring...oh, yes, and FIVE!!! She waffles between having good days and bad, but so do I! he he! Mostly she is a complete joy who never ceases to amaze me.
Here are some pics from her week-long celebration! We had a family/adult friends party at the house last weekend, which had a Hello Kitty theme, even though there were more boy cousins there! Mommy got her the two-wheeled scooter she'd been DYING to have, and she has thanked me every day since, saying, "It's perfect, Mommy! "I can't believe I have a two-wheeled scooter now!" Then on her actually b-day, she went to Chevys with my mom and a friend and loved that they sang Happy Birthday to her there and she got a hat! This past Saturday she got to have a party with her little friends at Build a Bear and it was great! First of all, 10 kids, and they were all SOOO good, it was like a Steppford movie! Second, it was totally fun! Delaney kept saying it was her best birthday ever! he he! I made little headbands for each kid with the Build a Bears on them and their names in glitter glue.

We went down to Red Robin afterwards and the kids got ice creams sundaes, cupcakes with Bears on them and juice and we opened gifts.

She is so excited to start "pindergarten" in the fall, Mommy is not! I want my baby back! But I am so proud of the person she becoming, and so thankful for getting to be her Mommy!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-08T17:08:00.000-08:00

OMG ~ 2010 !!! Really, it's 2010 !!!!
Hope you are all looking forward to a good year for yourselves and the world! Let's pray things look up for us all !!

We spent New Year's Eve at Holiday in the Park at Discovery Kingdom! It was fun, we went with our neighbors, so I got to ride on some coasters this time! I often have to skip becasue there is either no one ot watch the kids or no one to ride with me, and we all know it's WAY more fun to scream bloody murder with friends!

Delaney played and won her first "amusement" park game...that's what she is holding, her little friend was not happy about that, had the roles been reserved, Little Missy would not have been happy! Lesson learned: 4 year olds do not know how to lose.

But a hug from Frosty made it all better!!! She hugged him when she was two here, also...she has always loves snowmen becasue they have hats!

Happy New Year, did I tell you it was 2010 ?!?!?!?

2009's Top of the Car with the Tree Pic

2009-12-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago when we brought home the tree.....I do not know how many more years I can lift her up on top of the car....but taking the pic has been our little tradition since she's been home....
>
And here's Delaney's new tradition, the PINK Russian Tree! I thought I would get her very own small tree so we could put all the Russian ornaments we have on it and it would be "her" Russian tree, and, of course, being 4, she picked out this VERY pink tree! he he!! Not sure if a pink tree is very Russian, but it's cute and she's very pleased with it!
Merry Christmas!!

Still wearing The Robe.....

2009-12-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

Nope,the novelty hasn't worn off yet.....
Wanna take bets she graduates from high school wearing it?

A conversation about Pineapples and Palm Tress...

2009-12-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

Not really a Christmassy-thing…but a Delaney funny nonetheless.
While driving Little Missy to school the other SNOWY, cold day, it went something like this…

“Mommy, what do pineapples grow in to?”

“They don’t grow into anything except pineapples.”

“Well, what are those tress called that look like the tops of pineapples?”

“Palm tress? Yes, honey you are right, the tops of pineapples do look like palm trees.”

“So pineapples just stay pineapples, they don’t grow into palm trees?"

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Well, it’s kinda funny how they look the same and they both grow in Hawaii but pineapples don’t grow into palm trees?”

“Why is that funny?”

“They have to turn into something!”

“No, baby, pineapples are pineapples and palm trees are palm trees.”

“Palm trees don’t grow into anything either?”

“No.”

“Well, how come some are short and some are tall?”

“There are different kinds of palm trees.”

“If there are different kinds, why don’t they turn into anything or why don’t pineapples turn into palm trees?”

“That’s not how God made them, he made palm tress and he made pineapples.”

“But he made them both grow in Hawaii.”

“Yes, he did, that’s why Hawaii is so beautiful.”

“We’d better go to Hawaii right away and straighten this all out!!!!”

“We’d better, huh?

“Yes, I think God would want it that way.”

Delaney again: “Oh, and mom, can we get some pineapples today?”

Aloha…..

Photos of Christmases Past

2009-12-01T00:25:00.000-08:00

Just to kick off the Holiday Season, new blog look and a few pics of Christmases past...Delaney Style!!!

A New Robe!

2009-11-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

This weekend I purused the Sunday morning ads and (no surprise here) I found some things on sale and we decided to head out shopping! Of course, you can't just go into Target or Macy's and ONLY look at the ONE thing you saw in the advertisement!

My mom and I did find our ad items, but we also checked out the other departments and my mom ended up buying this adorable robe for Delaney. "I've never had a robe before!" (well, she had a swim cover-up we called a robe, but she's right, first robe!)

Who would have thought she would love it SOOO much! That child has not taken that *adorbale* robe off for three days!! She almost went to school in it! Last night she fell asleep in it and when I carried her up to bed and took it off.....well, let's just say that little 4 year old unleashed the devil on me!! he he!!

It IS very soft and cozy and pink...and did I say *adorable*? I'm thinking not so much anymore......

The Very Scary Witch!

2009-10-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

Little Missy has chosen to be a witch for Halloween...a "SCARY" witch. It was a tough decision that came down to a skeleton, a cheerleader or scary witch. She is now working on her Scary Witch Laugh....

Look Ma! No More Training Wheels!!

2009-10-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Well, she still needs a bit of practice! But Little Missy has been asking me to take off her training wheels for about a month now...and she actually did it!

Short little spurts but she did it! I had her ride into the grass, so I am sure another week of practicing she will have it down!

Just like she said she could swim without her floatie, she can ride her bike without training wheels. Geez, this child going to give this Ma a heart attack someday!!

Food On Our Plates

2009-10-08T13:56:00.001-07:00

Everyday when I leave for work, Little Missy asks me to stay home, but she hugs and kisses me and goes outside and watches me drive away from the sidewalk while holding up the "I love you" sign and blowing me kisses as I round the corner. It is our little ritual we do everyday and we both love it! he he!

As I was dressing this morning, she was laying on my bed, eating cereal from the box.. and she was smiling, almost laughing. When I inquired about the source of her early morning happiness, she said, "I am glad you are going to work!" "What?" My child that begs me to stay home for 100 days and is estatic when I take time off and is sad on Mondays.....and calls me at work to say, "I miss you," and walks around carrying my picture when I am gone? Mommy must know more....

When I asked why this sudden change of heart, she said, "Because you going to work gives us money to put food on our plates. And, Mom, I like to eat!"

Thus the learned wisdom of a four-year-old!
(Here she is with our Family Day pajama party "Feast" in August.)

The Official Soccer Picture!

2009-09-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here is Little Missy's "official" soccer picture. Mrs. Beckham! I asked her Saturday after soccer if she felt like David Beckham.....she played even better than before, and is very fast! She smiled and said, "like the girl in the movie?" And I said "Yes," then she said, "The girl with brown skin or the girl with skin like me?"

I swear every conversation with that child takes an unexpected turn, not right or left, even, just an unexpected turn......you'd think I would know by now...he he!

Up next, her dance performance pics from this weekend, also. Wouldn't you know, Always-Camera-Ready-Mommy had a dead battery in both the video camera and the still camera! Luckily, another Mom said she will share her pics with me and took some of Delaney on stage! Thank goodness for other Always-Camera-Ready-Mommies!! I think my friend, Ray, said once, Watch out for a Mom with a camera!!!

Bend It Like Beckham!!

2009-09-14T15:47:00.000-07:00

Little Missy has been sooooo EXCITED to start soccer and the day finally arrived Saturday! We woke up to the VERY strange sound in California of thunder and gray skies. Then it made a good attempt at rain which, luckily never amounted to much. When I told her it might rain, "But it's my first day of soccer, doesn't God want me to play soccer today?"

Well, turned out He did...he he!!
We may just be fostering a little Beckham out there?? (btw, she LOVES that movie, too!)

Summer's End...

2009-09-10T11:55:00.001-07:00

August was a busy month and we are glad to have it behind us! We had a garage sale with our neighbors, TONS of work and time and we only made about $200!! But, we straightened out the garage, got rid of a LOT of stuff AND painted the garage floor! Something I've been wanting to do for long time! Still not quite sorted through ALL the cr*p, but almost!

This month also marked my dad's 70th birthday! He had a little eye surgery before his birthday, so we had a quiet celebration with some family members at the house. Delaney learned how to play Texas Hold "Em from her cousins......boys will be boys! he he!
Little Missy had some more swim lessons, another session where she passed with flying colors...since getting our pool this summer, she had also decided she did not need her floatie any more! This was before her lessons! That was crazy, she taught herself to swim! Mom's fearful of this child having NO fear! Geez!
We had a really nice time with Alice and Karina at the State Fair, dropped a wad of cash there! Delaney's first fair, she rode on the huge ferris wheel, milked a cow, and rode a pony! We have such a nice State Fair here, we always enjoy it. She asked about seeing bears everywhere at the fairgrounds. I reminded her that the bear was on the California state flag and she asked, "What does that have to do with the fair?" When I told her that this was the California State Fair, she exclaimed, "Oh, I actually heard about that on TV!" Guess I need to explain more to her when we do something!

Getting ready for school to start, her pre-school has a work day where all the parents come clean up the playground and classroom before school starts. Last year I painted three picnic tables and this year I washed the windows and painted the rocking horses! I will be glad not have to do that next year when she starts kindergarten!

August 8th was our third Family Day! I can't believe it's been three years since I have had the honor of being this beautiful child's Mommy! Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for putting us together. She is my light and everyday I get unsolicited, "I love you's". What could be better? We celebrated by going to play mini-golf and having a pajama party! FUN!!

Lokoing forward to school and all her other structured activities starting! Soccer starts soon and she's excited about that! So am I, last week I bought her shin guards and she wore them all night and even slept in them! My little nut!!!
Okay, no complaints, my friends you are updated!! he he!!

Road Trip!!

2009-08-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

We just got back from 10 days on the road to Southern California and had a blast! We went to Lego Land, the beach a few times, a children's museum, Seaport Village, a harbor boat ride, swimming and visited with friends! Delaney was SOOOOO good, I told her I was very impressed! This was the longest car ride she's done, but she likes riding in the car, she so did great.

I surprised her with staying at a hotel for a couple days and she kept saying, "Thank you for doing this Mommy, thank you so much!" over and over again the night we checked in! She was so happy about the hotel. The previous week she decided she did not need her floatie in the pool, and she didn't! That little Miss has taught herself to swim! At the hotel pool, everyone kept asking how old she was, because she was swimming underwater and jumping in, etc.

We had fun on the way back stopping in LA to visit freinds and then also stopping to see some friends near Yosemite who live at the lake. We swam in the lake at night and went on their boat.

Delaney taught herself how to body surf at the beach and even tackled a little snorkeling! It was a very nice time for having a scaled back vacation!
Here's a little slide show from our trip, we are missing a few pics *some* friends are suppose be sending soon! (hint hint Lisa and Sherry!)

Delaney said she wished she lived down there, but the day after we got home, she said, "It's good to be home, isn't it Mom?" And while we had a great time...it was good to be home!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Father's Day and Car Sickness

2009-06-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Well, Father's Day brought up a few questions about Little Missy not having a Daddy...luckily all she's really said is, "I wish I had a Daddy!" She hasn't asked why and I can mostly make her happy with saying she has Grandpa!

At first she wanted to give the gift she made at school for Father's Day to me...YES! I am Mommy AND Daddy most days!! he he! I already spent a lot of time around the house doing things a Dad would do, fixing fallen curtain rods, taking out the trash, (I'd marry just about anybody for this!!), painting...I have an 18 volt drill...I am FIX-It Mommy! I own a variety of srewdrivers to fix the variety of toys that have an infinite number of sized screws....geez, drives me nuts...of yes, jars of nuts and bolts and nails and screws....he he!! I digress....

We made our way to Grandpa's this weekend to celebrate Father's Day with him. As Delaney told my neighbor yesterday, "We went to Mom's Dad's house!" I have no idea why she said it that way! "You mean your Grandpa's?" my neighbor said, "Yup, my Grandpa, my Mom's Dad." Guess she's just putting it into perspective!
Here she is on the way up, watching Beauty and the Beast. I just thought it was very funny her sitting back there all wired up and content eating crackers.

We had fun at Dad's, went out for Chinese food on Saturday night and she could not wait to give him the picture and frame she made at school...(yes, I gave it up for my Dad!!) So she gave it to him Saturday. It was a magnet, so it is being rpoudly displayed on Grandpa's fridge! I love the look on Grandpa's face in this picture, his was thanking her for the gift! His gifts on Sunday were on 8x10 of the Spring photo and a Leatherman tool.

They always go for "Woods" walks, and in the winter it's a snow walk. I remembering taking a picture about two weeks after coming home in Aug 2006 of them walking and took the other one this Sunday! Can you believe how much she has grown in three years? A couple weekends ago I was shocked I had to buy her size 11 shoes! Size 10 was too big just a couple months ago! She has always had big "boatfeet"!

Little Missy has always bee very healthy, thank goodness! A few colds, and only once has she ever thrown up! Well, now twice! Let's just say, winding mountain roads, looking down at the DVD player and a large blue Icee did not a good combo make! She told me she was dizzy, thent old me her tummy hurts, then mentioned it again, and it finally dawned on me why....I looked back at her white face and knew what was next...so I grabbed the DVD player from her and gave her a bag, just in time! Whew, electronics and car saved! We stopped just a few mintures from Dad's and she managed to make it there fine...a piece of bread and Sierr aMist and she was just fine! We are headed on a long road trip next month, so I need to remember she can't watch a movie when the roads get hilly or winding. I'ts funny, because she has in iron clad tummy! Like I said this was only the second time in three years she's thrown up....I know how lucky I am! (and in more ways than just that!)

What A Day! First ER Trip!

2009-05-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

Considering how active my little girl is and how much she loves to jump and climb and run and skip...well, you get the idea......it really is a wonder this didn't come sooner! We almost went to the ER in March of 08 during the "My room is full of fish-I'm stuck-Seeing bugs all over Mommy's face and bed-and everywhere-incident" with the very high 106 fever....
So at almost 4 1/2, we visited the ER, of course, on the Friday night of a three-day weekend! Not just any weekend, in our town, Memorial Day Weekend is also Fiesta Days....lots of events, a parade and things going on also!
The day actually had been very nice! I took it off to take Little Missy and her friend to Discovery Kingdom, the Six Flags Park in the next town. The girls were great, we rode all the rides, fed the giraffes, ate coton candy, watched the dolphin show, got wet on the raft ride...no one got hurt...then I brought the girls back home for some play time and some dinner while we waited for E's Mom. So first, they played in the bacyard, barefoot. Then their was screaming and crying, it was E, she had fallen off the scooter and scraped her knee, and broken off a good portion of one of her toes nails! Just a little blood on the toe, but she skinned a pretty big area of her knee. She was crying, then I as I was cleaning her wounds, I was telling her it was going ot be okay, she kept crying, then I said it would all be better because we had Hello Kitty Band-Aids. "I LOVE HELLO KITTY" she screamed, still crying. Some Neosporin, TWO Hello Kitty Band-Aids on her knee, an Elmo Band-Aid on the toe, (you never know which Toddler TV Character will be the miracle Character of the day, so you must have a few choices, today we picked up some Scooby-Doo Band-Aids...), and all was well.
E's Mom arrives and we sit and chat for a while and the kids were playing upstairs...all is well, I have a glass of wine, E's Mom had something to drink, the kids are fed.....BAM! BANG! I didn't really do anything at first, then I didn't hear anything...so I thought I would go check...I look up the stairs, and E is at the top and I can hear Delaney crying, I asked Delaney to come out, E's is just standing there, I ask E to tell Delaney to come out, E is just standing there...so I head up, and I hear Delaney REALLY crying, and there is my Mom (who had been taking a shower) with blood all over her top with Delaney at the sink and a wet wash cloth on her head! "What happened?" Well, no one knows for sure, but I guess they were opening and closing doors and E's pushed a door open when Delaney was behind it. Delaney says she was going to show E how to do a cartwheel....well, my poor Mom still needed to get done from getting out of the shower, so I took over and kept the cloth on her head while trying to look at the cut, give a hug, check the cut, keep the cloth on, wipe the tears...
While I was trying to see how big the cut was, Delaney was crying, but not really all that badly, but through her tears she looks at me and says, "Did I crack my head open?" OMG, that was FUUUNNYY!! Oh crap, Mommy, DO NOT LAUGH!! So I hugged her again and told her no, it just a little cut.

I brought her downstairs to the kitchen where the light is better and sat on the counter. E's Mom and I tried to figure out of it needed stitches and she called her Nurse-Mom who also told us which of the two ER's we had to choose from was best to go to.....she aksed how long it was, how much bleeding, did she loose consciousness, etc. and said go get it checked out....

By now, she is fine, it hurts and it hurts to do some things and I think it started throbbing....we find Snuggle Bunny and soem books and off we go....on the way she kept asking about why she woudl have to get stitches and I explained, to a 4 year old who just "cracked her head open", how the skin on your head is thinner and it can't heal without the help of something to hold it together....now, she becomes fascinated by this and we talk about it and every now and then she lets out an "Ow.."
She even let me take some pictures, and also explained to me that E should have looked before opening the door....
I can't believe how brave she was! She only cried when it happened and then when they put the Dermabond on and it stung a little. Turns out the cut wasn't that deep and was borderline needing stiches or staples, and then only one or two. The doctor asked me what I wanted to do and I said if it doesn't need it, just use the glue...

They entire staff there fawned all over her and the next she spent all d ay talking about how nice the doctor was, "I didn't know the Emergency Room doctor and nurse would be so nice!" They gave her crackers and juice and stickers and put on cartoons.....oh, and the cut feels just fine, thank you!!

E's Mom came and sat with us, even though we were there for almost three hours! Then I took Little Missy to McDonald's, also Mommy had not eaten...and we went home and went to bed.....
Okay, not SOOOOO bad, all in all....just the tale of our first trip to ER!!!
Sure hope it's a while before we have to do that again!!! She really was a trooper, it was amazing, my poor baby was being so brave!!!
Oh, I almost forgot to add....least Little Missy NOT be outdone...the entire time in the ER was heard..."My owie is biggeer than E's owie!!!" At 4, EVERYTHING is a competition!

EARLIER IN THE DAY.........
Well, we did have fun that day! Pre-injuries, here are some pics from our trip to Discovery Kingdom!!

Spring Photos!

2009-05-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends!! I know, I am a bad, bad blogger! But I am here now....enjoy these pics from..of all places....Wal Mart !!!

My Princess Is Four!

2009-02-04T22:10:00.000-08:00

Monday, my beautiful Siberian Princess turned 4 years old! She had
a lovely Princess Tea Party on Saturday and we made bracelets, had tea
cup races, ate cut out sandwiches, played stick the heart on the
necklace and whacked the pinata!

I just can't believe how grown up she is becoming... she loves school,
is doing great in her gymnastics class and dance classs, loves soccer
and tells me at least ten times a day she loves me!
We had a 7 week old and a 90 and 93 year old at the party! She was
excited, but my little princess's favorite present was her soccer
nets! Even though she got a ton of girly pink princess stuff! She loved
every tiny detail
(I posted a few party pics ~if you want to see them all head to the photo gallery link on the left!)

She told me thank you for the "pretty party!" Mommy (and Grandma) were VERY tired
from getting everything together though! Yikes!!!

Unbelieveable ~ The Best Thing EVER!!!

2009-01-04T22:26:00.000-08:00

The other day, Delaney wanted to color and do art....it was morning and I wanted to have some coffee and veg, so I let her loose at her little table with crayons, markers and glitter pens. A little while later she asked me how to spell Mommy....well she recognizes the word when she see its, so I told her, "You know how...."
She said, is it M-o-o-o...something else...and I just casually said yes....
a few minutes later she came over to me with this......I have not even been really been working with her on writing because she's not that interested right now....she perfers to do it verbally instead of writing and knows letters and sounds BUT....
HOLY CRAP!!! A couple months ago she was just scribbling....the other thing on the page is a sunflower, she told me, because I like them!!
Talk about a Mommy Moment!!!! I am off to buy a frame......Have I ever mentioned I TRULLY LOVE THIS CHILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????

Happy Christmas to You!

2009-01-01T15:23:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends! Sorry to not post for a while, hope all had a wonderful Holiday, which ever ones you celebrate! We had a lovely Christmas from the get-go!
Here's a look at our busy Christmas Season! Blessing to you all!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Re-Adoption finally Complete!

2008-10-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

Well, after two years home, I finally did Delaney's re-adoption! My adversion to paperwork after the adoption process was the hold-up....plus, I need deadlines or else...he he!
The judge was so nice (Delaney nicknamed him "Judgie") and gave Delaney a teddy bear and a balloon and let her sign her name on the part where the form would have an older child sign and then when he said he declared approval of the adoption, Delaney exclaimed, "You get to be my Mommy all the days?!!?" with great excitement!

So, later when I asked her if she understood what the judge had said, she said we were together forever! Then I mentioned, he also said you had to listen to Mommy and be good for me....her eyes opened wide and she said, "I didn't hear him say that part!!!"

We celebrated with breakfast at IHOP and then headed over to a little amusement park we have that for little kids. When I asked her if she had a good day she said yes and, "I'm so happy we are together all the days and forever!" I am so lucky to have this child !!

Wanna Hear A Joke?

2008-09-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

This evening Delaney told me her first "joke".....we were playing her Memory game and she said, "Wanna hear a joke?" So, of course, Mommy said yes....

Three year old Delaney: "How does a birdie poke a violin?"

Mom: "I don't know, Baby, how?"

With all the exuberence of a late night talk show host:
"With a HOT DOG, of course!!!!"

Okay, the joke isn't really a joke, and it really isn't funny at all, but it was correctly formatted and delivered!! So she's not ready for Jay Leno, but it was pretty funny and she was very proud of herself!

She proceeded to tell me jokes involving hot dogs and animals and snow all night!
I suspect there will be a lot more wherever those came from!!!

First Day of Official 3 Year old Pre-K

2008-09-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

The big day was yesterday...Here are what decent pictures I could take, lately she will not stay still for any photo or video. I know what you are going through, Jen!

Delaney's first "official" day of pre-school. She went to the same school last year in a sort of "pre" pre-school program in a different class...and went to the same classroom with the same teachers for the summer fun program and we have been there three times in the last week for a work day, interviews and orientaion.....so isn't ALL new to her...

but it is her official first day of offcial pre-school and she was excited and picked an outfit and got new shoes and a new cross necklace.......when I asked her what they did, she said, "Oh, nothing. Well, we just sang, and that's all we did." I said, you sang for three and half hours? Finally last night she told me what they did. Ugh! Getting any info out of her lately is also grueling. She will make a good spy or FBI agent some day!

Family Day #2

2008-08-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Delaney and I and Grandma celebrated Family Day #2 Saturday, Aug 9th, the official day a judge in Russia declared us a family being August 8th! Poor baby was sick this past week, so we changed our plans from the water park to the little rides at Nut Tree, closer to home, as well.

After presents, making our famous heart shaped cake, riding the rides at Nut Tree, and dinner at Olive Garden, Little Missy could not go any furhter, and pooped out on the sofa quite early!

We finished the cake the next day, and she had a blast playing with her gifts! She especially loved her new camera and Candy Land game! I found this really cool "kids" camera and she went outside and took pictures of everything, her swing, the flowers...etc.

I can't believe these past two years...it is trully awsome and amazing to be this wonderful child's Mommy, we both cannot be any luckier! Today she said she was so happy because she had a nice Family Day and that her heart was a happy heart because she loves her family! Can you belive it!!!??? I love this kid more I ever imagined!!!

Here are various pics from the day, plus one two years ago, just after I changed her to take her from the BH! She sure has grown!! Yikes!!!

A Smokey Mountain Vacation

2008-08-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

Delaney and I just got back from our vacation to Tennessee and the Smokey Mountains! We had a great time visiting with our Russian Families and two other adoptive families I know, also Russia and Kaz.

We stayed with our friend near Nashville for a few days before heading to meet the other families in Gatlinburg. The kids got to swim, go to the Rain Forest Cafe, make a Build a Bear, and then we visited my friend and her little girl from Kaz for a cook-out (as you folks on the east coast say!).

When we got to the Smokeys, we had fun at the resort swimming and visting and going to Dollywood, where nothing went high enough or fast enough for Delaney, who was one of the youngest of the six kids! She'd be on a ride and ask if this thing went any faster!

We picniced in the mountains and got wet in the streams. And....finally...I got Delaney to pee in the woods! he he! She would not ever do it before, but we finally got her to do it one day, more out of nescessity on a hike, so that pic of her next to the stream is where she peed in the woods for the first time! Who would have thought that was an exciting part of the trip? he he!

We got back to Jane's and the girls had a tea party at a cottage restaurant and then we visited with another family who's kids are from the same BH. I tell you these kids together just pick up where they left off each year! I think they sense that connection and just know it's there...fighting and all! he he!

I didn't realize how beautiful it is there! Very lush and green. Butterflies everywhere! In Gatlinburg we rode the Sky Lift to the top of the mountain for a wonderful view! Delaney discovered Sweet Tea! Apparently, I don't make it as well as Jane! "It's doesn't taste the same ,Mom!"

And, I do beleive my three year old is flashing some kind of gang sign in that photo in the tub.....????????

The Circus

2008-08-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

Hi friends! Sorry I have not posted in such along time, it's been a super busy summer and we were on vacation or two weeks ~ post to come ~ and we had colds...well, you know how it goes! It's so hard to get computer time at home and posting on the blogs at work is blocked....dang it! he he!!

I will catch up with posts from earlier this year, but for now ~

We went to the circus this weekend! I hadn't been in forever and it was Delaney's first. Grandma came, because I know she really likes it, too! A friend of Delaney's she takes dance and gymnastics with invited us to join them and we had a blast!

So what does a three year old like best about the circus??!?!

~ The farting clowns!!! Well, they were pretty funny!

She said....

2008-06-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

She said it would be her favorite thing at the bar-b-que and it was! Little Missy rode that zip line close to 30 times! She likened herself to Deigo...for those of you who have Diego fans in your house! he he! She is such a daredevil at times! Albeit, a small back yard zip line... it was still a good six feet or more off the ground!

Here's a little video of her first time down....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-575266113908131953&hl=en

Some Delaney-Isms.....

2008-04-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

At just-turned three and even before, Little Missy has sure come up with some interesting sayings.......thought it would be fun to share them......

*Upon me making a different decision than previously stated: "Mom, you just changed up your mind!"

*When she's had something in her hand for a while: "I've been holding this for a long-time-ago."

*Once I cut her finger while clipping her nails, it bled pretty badly, she cried, and then even harder when she saw the bleeding, "Moooommyy....IT"S BLUE!" ( my blue-blooded Russian!)

*When she wants you to give her something you have to eat: "We're family, we HAVE to share!"

*Upon needing more information about a situation, TV show, or something she sees, "What's this all about?"

*She has never been able to say banana. She understood the Russian word for it when she first came home, "Banan". But it has been, "nana", "by-too" (?), some other things, and now, "bee-anna".

*To stall: "I'll be done any minute now."

*I have had the first "Whatever" just before turning three. I asked her if that's what she said, so now she says, "Did you say whatever?"

*When I want to dress her up and do hair when we go some place nice: "Okay, do whatever you want!"

*There are times I just cannot allow something that's not safe....."But, Mom, how can I use my imagination if you keep telling me no?"

*When she wants touse something of yours: "Can I bother this?" (borrow)

*Did that guy fall in the water, "or something" ? is often added to the end of her sentences.

*This is my favorite: "Blanklet" (blanket)

There are more from my mouthy child....we will save some for later!!!

Baby Kazahkstan Comes Home!

2008-03-15T23:58:00.000-07:00

The VERY best Christmas present arrived home on Dec 23rd! My wonderful friend, Alice, got the most precious gift of all...her little Karina from Kazahkstan! After a pretty long and very tough adoption process, 2 trips to Kaz and a couple of failed flights home, Baby Karina was home in time for the Holiday!

She will be one in March and we went to visit just one week after they arrived home! I always tell people that one of the really nice by-products for adopting is all the great people you meet along the way! And Alice is no exception! Delaney loves her, she and her boyfreind, Nick, love Delaney and we love them and Karina! Delaney calls Nick "Man". (as in Alice's man)

Karina loves trying to follow Delaney around and is a complete sweetheart! We could not have had a better Christmas without her getting home safely! It just warms my heart everytime I know of another little one finding a forever family!

While Alice was in Kaz, we carefully followed her blog and Delaney calls Karina, Baby Kazahkstan! It's so cute, and they are cute together! ( until Little Missy had to part with some of her hand-me-downs for the baby!)

A DVD From Santa

2008-03-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

My friend, Bob, who is a voice over talent, and whom I have used for years, helps out Santa by making personalized videos at Christmas time for children. He was gracious enough to make one for Delaney and I taped her (with my digital still camera) receiving her package. There are two parts, carefully watch her on the second one, it is priceless!!
Here they are: or if you can't view them, you can link to them:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8267311385821241330
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6147637201487374592

Grandpa Makes it Snow Again!

2008-03-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

A few days after Christmas we went up to see Grandpa. Being California, we just can't count on snow even at the higher elevations. Dad said there was no snow. I told Delaney on the way up there, Grandpa won't have any snow and we will drive up the mountain to play in it.

Well, what do you know? Just below grandpa's house I see snow on the ground. I see fresh flakes on the trees.....we turn up Dad's road and it is white. When we got to the house, there's Grandpa standing on the deck as snow flakes drift from the sky! We got of the car and Delaney says...."You did it again Pamp-pa!" Yep, Grandpa can make it snow! He has gone and made it snow like clockwork every Dec 26th of Delaney's life! Grandpa's can make it snow when it is really, really important that it needs to!

Last year, (that's my niece and Little Missy in 2006), my niece was besides herself to wake up to a good six inches of the white magic. Grandpa took credit, of course. That's a good job for him!

Okay! Long Time, No Posts!

2008-03-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Sorry I have been lazy about updating, but you knew this would happen with me!! he he! The New Year has been SUPER busy, but good! So here's a few updates!

Christmas 2007: Was wonderful !!! We spent Christmas Eve as always at Grandma Bobbie's and had a really nice time! Delaney made reindeer food to sprinkle on the lawn and was so excited for Santa to come! I had her sleep with me Christmas Eve so Santa could exchange the crib for the Big Girl bed he was bringing. On Christmas morning when we woke up, after a month of asking if she could open presents and when was Santa coming.....she somehow forgot it was Christmas! WHAT? I asked her who came last night, because I wanted to take her into her room straight away....she said she didn't know. Then she told me Baby Jesus came last night night! Aw!! I am doing something right, Baby Jesus came before Santa! (of course 30 minutes later she was asking, "Are there any more presents for ME?!) She kept syaing how pretty her big girl bed was and was trully amazed at how Santa swtiched the beds while she was asleep!

We came downstairs to find that Santa had left, of course, a pink scooter and a big new kitchen! We opened presents forever and enjoyed family and friends over later that day, with yummy ham and fixings!!!! When Auntie Ne and her gang came over, the doorbell rang and Little Missy said, "It's Baby Jesus!"

She must have taken every single one of our 15 or so guests upstairs to see her Big Girl bed at least twice! And she kept telling me how much she loved her new kitchen. But most of all, she kept wanting to know when Baby Jesus was coming!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

2007-12-31T14:08:00.000-08:00

It's always exciting as the anticipation builds up for Santa's arrival! What's more exciting is watching your child as she is amazed at everything holiday related. She liked Christmas last year and remembers we had apples on the tree and liked snowmen because they have hats. But this just turns me into mush as I watch her try to learn every word to every song...and she knows them, too! And as she asks me to drive around so we can go look at lights. "I love looking at Christmas lights, Mommy!"

We went up to Dixon to cut down a tree and enjoyed riding the "sleigh" (a tractor) and the ATV train. As we were coming home, Delaney asked, "Are we going to put up the tree up now?" And she would barely let me take our "Traditional" picture of her on top of the car with the tree so we could put up, and I quote a two-year-old...."The Best Christmas Tree EVER!"

She was so good about the presents, never even tried to open them, but I told her we couldn't until Santa came and we wore our Christmas pajamas. But, every day, a few times a day, she keeps asking...I think just to check!!

We went to a party and my friend had a snow machine and boy was that a hit! Christmas is so very different and wonderful through your child's eyes! She saw Santa at the town square where there small groups perfroming and the kids dance and sang and Delaney did not want to leave. And what was really cute was that after she got of Santa's lap, she told me, "I only said two things, Mommy!" Like somehow she knew she should not read off her entire list to him. (And she has a list....he he!!)

Good Morning America!

2007-12-31T13:48:00.000-08:00

Did you see us? We were on GMA Weekend on Nov. 4th! A crew came to the house the day before Halloween and was here all day for our two minutes of fame on national TV! AND, my DVR went out, so I lost the recording and can't get the producer to send me copy! UGH! If anyone recorded it and can send me a copy, Delaney loves seeing herself, "in a timeout!" It was fun and the segment was about Grandparents Vs. Parents and how parents my generation are raising kids differently than our parents raised us. My mom on GMA, said...."I spanked...and they listened!" he he! But, the story was done really well and just showed how the opinions are different these days.

Here are some pics of mom getting interviewed, I was too, and then us watching the show when it aired! Thanks to family friend, Linda K., who called from Idaho to say we were on! They didn't tell us when it was going to be on! If can ever get a copy, I'll post it and share the link!

A Delayed Update!!

2007-12-31T13:31:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends....sorry I haven't been on top of updates! As you all have been busy these last couple months, so have we!! So here's some quick pictures for you!

Delaney had a fun Halloween with her friends, Valerie and Natalie. They loved trick or treating and even Valerie said it wasn't scarry!!

Mom had a birthday in November and we had a nice and quiet Thanksgiving. We went out to brunch for her birthday with some friends and met Aunt Ruthie one day for lunch after Thanksgiving. She was visting in the South Bay and on her way home to Redding. First time for her to see Delaney and they had fun visting!

8 Random Things About me......

2007-11-13T13:40:00.000-08:00

Oh no!!! I've been tagged by Jeana...So, here are the rules of the 8 Random Things tag game:
1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog. (I think the hardest part of this will be coming up with 8 other people to tag! I am not such an active blogger....)

Okay--so 8 random things...about me...

1) I love mustard on my onion rings.
2) My favorite old movie is "It Happened One Night" with Clark Gable.
3) My favorite newer movie is "Shakespeare in Love".
4) I do not like cake.
5) I would love to sleep in again! (just once...ugh!)
6) In high school, my uniform skirt was always the shortest.
7) I almost always drive a little over the speed limit....sometimes alot.
8) It really bothers me when people do not use "ly" on the end of a word they should. For exmaple...."Dont' take it personal." IS WRONG!!! "Don't take it personally." Is correct. I sometimes wonder how people made it out of college...okay, I don't always use grammer properly, either. (but that was a correct exmaple!)

Okay, eight people to tag? Yikes! Stephanie, Beverly, Len, Alice when she returns from Kaz, Joy, Melody, Amy (when her back surgery is over....)

Pumpkin Patch Time....Are We There yet?

2007-10-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a fun and busy October! Birthday parties, hay rides, even Christmas shopping!!

Little Missy has planned to ask Santa for a pink scooter, which he dropped off already and put together! But we've visited a couple different pumpkin patches and Delaney is all ready to go trick or treating with her friends, Lauren and Valerie, as a pretty butterfly princess!

So we were actually off to Valerie's birthday party, when we are not just two minutes away from home and Delaney casually pops out, "There yet, Mom?" I first wasn't sure if that was what she had said. "There yet, Mom?" She just comes up with these sayings out of the blue! I can see if she had an older sibling who said that and she copied them.......now when we are out she has also started to ask, "Where are we going next?" When I tell her home.....she says she doesn't want to go home. Well, I guess her Halloween costume is perfect for the little social butterfly! he he! My fault, for always being in the go, I guess!

We are working on no drinks after dinner so she can get her big girl bed....it's time for her to be out of her crib and I am trying to work on keeping her dry at night, but that will probably be a while in coming, but she's buying it! Every night when I put her to bed she asks, "Why I don't got a drink?" And now she just likes the "routine".......Me: "You know why?" D: "Why, Mom?" Me: "You know...." D: "SO I CAN GET MY BIG GIRL BED!!!" D: "Santa make me what color one? A black one?" (Santa already dropped off the big girl big, too, it's white.) Me: "Santa doesn't make blacks ones." D: "Why not, Mommy?" Me: "He only makes white ones for the girls and brown ones for the boys?" D: "I am going to get a whiiiiiiittttte one? Like my crib? Yea, big girl bed!" D: "Sing Cheeseburger, Mommy......"

Her moon obession has lessened, but we still need to go loo at it and my mom told her she could fly there in a spaceship when she gets grows up, so she like to pretend she has a spaceship. She still asks why AND why not? Oh...and the poo-poo goes to Costco. She determined this once when she asked me where it goes when she flushes, but answered it herself! I have a lot of work ahead of me!!

First Day of Pre-School !! All is well...not Mommy!

2007-10-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

Delaney started the 2-day a week, 4 hours a day program at the Presbyterian Church today. Last week we went for an orientation and she loved it! She was so excited today and carefully chose an outfit (from choices I gave her) and loved her new lunch box that she picked out this weekend. She did want the SpiderMan lunch box, though, but I was able to talk her out of it. Here are some pics and the link to a little bit of video I took.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5470492008148125354

She did great....Mommy did not! I hung around for a while, went out to the car to cry and came back to check on her only to find her happily playing! When she got home, my mom called me at work to let her talk to me on the phone....."I played and ran and drew circles, a blue one and green one, and read a book ...and went on the big, big slide like this...." it was so cute!
Although, I am proud of myself ~ I had a meeting with a client afterwards and had to drive right back by the school on my way back to the office and although I was tempted..I did not stop! My mom said that Delaney was happy to see her when she picked her up and then asked where I was! Thank goodness!! he he!

Well, we're working on it.....

2007-09-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

The other day we were going to go play outside for a while and had been in our p.j.'s still. I told Delaney to go get some shorts and shoes to wear. I wanted to see what she would come downstairs with....
Remember, we live in California and it's still 80 degress in September! She rode her bike, played in her sand box, she did take the ski hat off, but you never know when you just might need your life vest!!!
Two year olds can be great entertainment!!

The Moon, Why, and Can I go at the Mall?

2007-09-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

So here's the latest update.....The MOON: Delaney told me the other night the moon has candy in it and she wanted to open it up and get the candy. I decided to play with her and told her the moon was made of cheese and she said, "I like cheese! The moon has candy and cheese, let's go get it Mama!" We went to get our hair done and all the way home she was looking for the moon, I said we would look at it when we got home....nope, it's still too light to see it! ARRGGHHH!

"Where's the moon, Mommy, is it coming out?"Later she went poo-poo on the potty so I told her we could go look at the moon, so we went outside and it was full and low in the sky, so she wants to touch it! Me ~ We can't touch it, baby, it's too far away....."Let's go touch it in the new car, Mama!" (we have a new car! which is a whole other story about her and the CD changer!) We said good night to the moon and as we were going upstairs, she says she wants cheese...................................ARRGGHHH! again!

WHY: Little Missy now asks "WHY" in her sleep! Last night she wanted to take her little Matroyshka doll that rattles to bed. (loud as heck on the monitor!) When I went to bed and checked on her, I took the rattle out of her bed, along with a plastic Polly Pocket, and a little car, so she wouldn't roll on it while she sleeps. Half asleep she says, "M-toy-sha, Mom" I said, "You can't sleep with it, baby." A soft "Why?" comes out of her usually loud voice.
"So you won't get an owie while you sleep."
Another soft, "Why, Mommy?" "M-toy-sha go nite-nite on da shelf?"
"Yes, baby"
"Why, Mommy? She got time-out? Why?"
"Go to sleep, baby!"
"Mommy go nite nite?" Her voice is still very soft and she is obviously falling back asleep....
"Yes, Mommy's going nite-nite, g'night, I love you." As I leave the room......
"Why, Mom, doing? Go nite-nite, shut da lights off at the water park? Why......"
I keep walking.........it's quiet!

POTTY: Delaney's doing great with potty training! No accidents, sometimes misses placing herself over the toilet and will even go in public restrooms.....in EVERY public restroom, I mean we have seen the inside of every bathroom within a 20 mile radius! I think she's either planning an escape route or is going re-design them all! Well, she had to go the other day and we had been to the mall.....she told me she had to go poo-poo.....but wanted to go at the MALL!!

I think I am doomed!!! The pic: What happens when you let a 2 year dress themselves!

Developmental Milestones...Why oh why?

2007-09-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

The time has come where we have reached very significant developmental milestones with 2.5 old Delaney……

1) She was potty trained successfully last week! LOVES her new panties and when Mommy does the PEE-PEE and POO-POO dance! Only a couple small accidents! Even went at Grandpa’s house yesterday and stayed dry on the 2 hour drive there!

2) She has become obsessed with where the Moon goes during the day! Mommy’s answer, “The moon goes to sleep during the day,” only sparks the next milestone…..

3) THE DREADED…….”WHY?” Just in the last couple weeks and gaining speed she has been asking “why?” to everything!! She had been asking “Where, who…,” so I knew “Why?” was around the corner! Not a single answer suffices! I have been through this with my nieces and nephews….but how much more crazy does it drive you 24/7? I have tried so hard to answer and be patient and consider it learning and have tried to re-pharse her questions…..every now and then I get an “Oh.” But OMG!!! When will it stop? He he!! Just trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel…..well, I know there’s something else waiting down there……she will be three soon! YIKES!!!!

Delaney's First Adoption Day/Top Ten "Mom" List

2007-08-13T22:30:00.000-07:00

One year ago (Aug 8th) a judge in Kemerovo, in a downstairs courtroom with a “jail cell” in it, officially made me the Happiest Mommy in the world!! I cannot believe it has been a year…it still all seems surreal….from the time they brought this beautiful child with two tiny pig tails sticking out of the top of her head in to me, to last night, when she licked me on the leg and said, “Mommy’s yummy! I like Mommy…LUUUV you Mommy!” And I never thought I’d travel to Siberia twice in my life!

Someone at work asked me what I like best about being a mom, and I said EVERYTHING! I have never been so tired and so happy. What really makes me feel the best in my heart is knowing how happy she is! We celebrated our first Adoption Day/Family Day by making a heart shaped cake and opening up some presents. While I was videotaping her opening up her cards I asked her where her family is and she immediately pointed to me, then my mom then herself and said, “MommyDelaneyGrandma family…” “…and Pamp-pa and Auntie!” (she calls my dad’s girlfriend Auntie). I always want to cry when she says she wants to go home and we drive up to the house and she says, “Delaney’s house, right there!” Last night we were looking at the photo book I left with her on trip one and she looked at the picture of the house and said, “My house, that’s my home!”

We also went to a water park that’s just for small kids and she loved it! When we came home, I gave her turtle sand box and she spent the rest of the day making “sandcastles!” Although I have yet to actually see one, they are mostly just mounds of sand…he he!
She just acts like she has always been here, always in charge! He he! She was walking around telling me Happy Adoption Day, and my boss called it the “Mama-versary”. Well, you’ve all heard a lot of stories about Little Missy, so I came up with a top ten list: “What I have learned my first year as a Mommy!” Here are some pics of our little celebration, I took pictures at the water park with a waterproof and will put them on my blog when I develop them. She was so disappointed she could not go on the bigger slides, that little 2 year old daredevil !! The picture in the pink dress is from trip one, the picture in the jeans outfit is from Gotcha Day, she loves that outfit and always says, "that's cute!" and she loved her light up sneakers, too! Gotcha Day was also the day my baby discovered shoe-shopping! I have been paying for that all year....that child loves shoes! I bought the green dress on a trip to Scotland when I was 5 months into the dossier, those portraits were in March. I thank God every single day for how lucky I am to be this wonderful person's Mommy! (and wonder, "what have I done?" when she tries to put lipstick on the cat!)

Top Ten Things I Have Learn as a Mom ~ Year One
10. Anything you SAY can and will be repeated!
9. Babyproofing? HA!!!!
8. Any toy or object can and will be used as something other than it's original purpose!
7. Cats don't like to drink from a sippy cup.
6. Anything you DO can and will be repeated!
5. Two year olds like to lock doors.
4. Every word to every Wiggles song, every word to every Ralph song, the entire Sound of Music score, the entire score to Mary Poppins, every note to the Jeopardy theme, and all the words to Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World".
3. Broccoli has excellent trajectory.
2. A bath can bide you enough time to make a phone call or have a glass of wine!
1. No matter how it is said, whined, shouted, screamed, yelled, whimpered, whispered....."Mommy" is the sweetest word in the world!!!!!

St. Louis and Michigan Trip

2007-07-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

What a fun family vacation Delaney and I had to St. Louis and Michigan this month! We travelled to St. Louis to attend a reunion picnic given by Children’s Hope, the adoption agency I used to bring to Delaney home. There were children from all over the world from all parts of the US. Delaney was so excited to get on the airplane and when we took off she put her hands up in the air! When we landed in St. Louis, she was yelling, “I’m here, Mommy, St. Louis, I’m here!” I had been talking to her about the trip for some time now, so she was so happy to finally get there!

We meet up with the three families we tavelled with to Russia, as well as some other families whose children are from Baby House #2 in Novokuznetsk. It was wonderful to see all the kids and how well they are doing and how happy and healthy they are! I just wanted to hug and hold them all so tight!

St. Louis is a really nice town! We spent a couple days with the Earls ~ Jeff, Jane, Joseph and Svetlana and visited the CHI office, the zoo, and Grant’s Farm (where the famous Clydesdales live!) The kids loved swimming in the pool at the hotel and Delaney discovered the “Hot~Tub Tub!” A lot of attractions in St. Louis are free, so that was nice! It was fun spending time with our friends from Tennessee that we haven’t seen since coming home last August! At the hotel, we visited with the Blalocks from Flordia, the Marshalls, also from Tenn., and the Kubes from Illinois. Delaney saw several other children who were adopted last year that she had been with in Russia: Alina, Tatyana and Lauren!

A long time family friend, Pam, flew down to meet us from Chicago and Delaney loved “Ham!” Pam went to the picnic with us and we visited the arch and walked along the river one evening. The picnic was fun, and we saw even more families from our on-line groups. The kids got to play in packing peanuts, do arts and crafts and get their faces painted. We all had fun visiting and seeing the kids and catching up!

After St. Louis, Delaney and I flew to upper Michigan to visit Aunt Gail and Uncle Earl and their gang! We flew into Green Bay, Wisconsin and visited Lambeau Field, which was really fun. My uncle has Delaney running around saying, “Go Packers!” The other day I told her to say “Go Niners!” and she said no! Well, Little Missy could just do no wrong with my aunt and uncle and had a blast on their small farm riding tractors, playing in the sand, having water fights with her cousins….we went to swim in Lake Michigan and had a bon fire while the kids roasted marshmallows. They day we were going home I asked her if she was ready to fly home and see grandma and she said, “No, another house!” Guess she enjoys being a world traveller like her Mommy!

Delaney keeps asking about EVERYBODY she saw in St. Louis and Michigan and wants to know where they are now and where they live! I can’t believe she is remembering all those names and faces. She looks at the pictures and can tell you who it is and where they live now! Well, I am hoping this is just one of many trips we can share together, as we plan to get together with our friends in the future so the kids can all see each other as they grow up. I now need to go “de-program” my child so she doesn’t get beat up here in San Francisco by screaming, “Go Packers!”

You can see all the trip photos by clicking on the photo gallery link to the left!

Delaney ~ American Citizen!

2007-07-06T21:04:00.000-07:00

Delaney's first 4th of July was kind of quiet. We had a few friends over for a bar-b-que and Little Missy got to swim in her pool while Mommy sat in a chair with a drink and with her feet in it! I had planned to take a picture of her holding up her Certificate of Citizenship and all day long she keep saying to me, "American Citizen! Have it!" And I would tell her she did have it but she likes her certificate because it has her picture on it! he he!

Well, I never took her picture because by about 1 pm she had guacamole, cranberry juice and salsa all over her new dress I bought her that said, "American Sweetheart" on it! But we made star sugar cookies and put white frosting with red and blue sprinkles on them. She had fun with that! It was well over 100 on the holiday so our bbq headed inside! But we had yummy ribs, Mom's famous potato salad, corn and shrimp wrapped in bacon. We didn't make it to fireworks, she's still so little to stay up that late and Mommy had to work at 7 the next morning! Maybe we will try to find some this weekend, I think Marine World has some thru Sunday. But she knew it was a fun day and enjoyed herself and is still enjoying the cookies!! Here's a few picks I snapped of her!

Animals and Rides at Discovery Kingdom

2007-06-30T13:34:00.000-07:00

Over Memorial Day weekend we headed over to Marine World, which is only 20 minutes from us. I knew Delaney would love it and, of course, Mommy was right. It's called Discovery Kingdom this year, but everyone in the area still refers to it as Marine World. Nothing went high enough or fast enough for Little Missy! And she is barely tall enough to go on the rides we did get to ride and I had to go with her! I got my mom a season pass so they can go whenever they want over the summer, and they have been a few times now. Guess some of the folks have let Delaney just barely hit the height line, her favorite ride now is the frog jump. She kept telling the elephant to go faster, too! We are still working on her sitting like a "big girl" at the shows, but I'm sure it will come as she gets older. She likes the sharks and dolphins, but her favorite animals are the tigers and lions and giraffes! She keeps wanting to touch them! She watched Mommy ride the "big roll" (roller coaster) and said, "yea, Mommy no fall!" I was also glad I didn't fall!! he he!

Just For Fun ~ Headshots!

2007-06-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

My goofy little girl, loves to put things on her head. The other day, she wore a purse on her head all evening and held on to it so tight for fear of it falling off. When I tried to get her to put her hands up in the air for a picture, she would only put up one, the other holding on to the purse on her head. I would say, "Put the other had out," and she would switch her hands! It was so funny. So I thought I'd find all the pictures I have of her with things on her head.....a bucket, her potty, hats, a pair of pants, her Baby Einstein DVD box......what a flipping nut!! She also, for whatever reason a 2 year old has, likes to put on her hat and gloves, tells me to sit at the end of the upstairs hallway, goes into her room by her bed...then runs to me and jumps into my arms! This is only done while wearing the hat and gloves, however. Well, at least she found a use for them, she would not keep her gloves on in the snow!

This is only one of the reasons I am so blissfully happy to get to be this silly, wonderful, happy child's Mommy! There are some days I don't always feel that way....she is 2 after all !! he he!

My First Mother's Day!

2007-06-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

Although I had met and petitioned to adopt Delaney last year, we were not together on Mother's Day! This year, we were and it was so sweet! Delaney and Grandma gave me presents in bed and Delaney kept saying, "open it, open it, Mommy!" From Delaney was a lovely heart pendant with three diamonds that said "Mom". From my mom was a beautiful colored stone bracelet with gold. Delaney and I bought my mom a bike. Delaney kept saying all week, "Grandma's bike, garage!" But Grandma never caught on! They have been having a blast going on bike rides during the day and Delaney sits in the back singing and snacking. How did I end up putting together the bike trailer on MY first Mother's Day? We took video instead of pics of them riding the bike, just in case Mom fell over!! he he!

We had champagne in the evening and Delaney had Sprite in a martini glass! We went out to brunch and little Missy discovered the Chocolate Fountain! She thought she'd gone to heaven!

My Little Fish!

2007-06-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

We have been to the beach a few times and Delaney's has loved it! Not afraid of the water at all, would swim to China if I let her! So it didn't surprise me when we took swim lessons in April that she was a little fish! She blew bubbles, dove under to get the rings, jumped off the side! She still asks to go to swimming lessons! I will probably put her in another session, but she has gymnastics and music right now! A long cry from the first time I tried to give her a bath in Russia! She keeps saying she wants to be a swimmer or a tennis player. But she has also said she wants to play football and soccer, too! Oh, and dont' forget ice skating! She does keep coming back to swimming, though. We took this picture when she was crying during her first bath! I am such a mean Mommy! Her first trip to the beach was all smiles, though!

One Year Ago...(okay, one year and one month)

2007-05-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

April 10th was the one year anniversary of meeting the wonderful Miss Delaney! I took the day off and we rode the ferry to Pier 39 and had lunch, rode the caurosel (she calls it the "Up and Down", and had ice cream. Delaney loved the ferry ride and now whenever she sees it, yells, "Mommie, boat, fun!"

Here's an excerpt from my journal of our first day together in Russia:

"Today I met my baby! .....We arrived in Novokuzetsk after the overnight flight from Moscow and went to the hotel. Before we met the kids I was given an information sheet with her information on it. Until then I didn’t even know her age, name, nothing. Our rep here in Russia told me she was beautiful and had dark hair and green eyes and that she was healthy. I looked at the sheet with her name, age and medical information, and read it again and started crying in the middle of the hotel lobby! I knew then she was mine and hadn’t even seen her! I went up to our room and was crying with that sheet in my hand and my mom thought something was wrong! As I was crying I tried to tell my mom her name and that she was 14 months old and that Natalia had said she had dark hair and green eyes. Later that day we went to see her, I was just kind of numb when they brought her in to me. My mom stated to cry and a little boy with one of the families we were with said, “Oh Cyndi, she’s cute!”. I just looked at her and tried to talk to her and make her smile and get her to interact with me. I didn’t cry at that time or anything, there she was, it was very surreal, after a year of starting this process, she was standing right in front of me and I seemed to now not even feel anything, guess it was shock! I asked her doctor if she would cry if I pick her up and she gestured to me to go ahead, so I did and then they said let’s go to the play room. Delaney (Yulia then) didn’t cry or anything, she just looked around and looked at us and went along. Once we were in the playroom and I started giving her the toys and treats we brought she was playful, loving and funny. It didn't take but a few moments for her to figure out there were toys and treats in the bag and she got excited every time we reached into it!....I can't believe this trully beautiful child is going to be mine....okay I am crying now...."

The Ramsell Blog Begins!

2007-05-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hi All !! Okay, I know it's a little behind, but the blog is begun and I'll do my best to keep it updated. Busy single mom is hoping to keep you all up to date! But it's a start..... Delaney had a really fun Easter and just loved looking for eggs! 36 eggs just for her and she wanted to look for more!