A Smokey Mountain Vacation

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

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....

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.....

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!

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

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!

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!