Thanksgiving 2011

I called my mom around the beginning of September and let her know that I really wanted to go to the beach for Thanksgiving.  I normally host Thanksgiving at my house, so I thought she and I should discuss it before I set me plans.  We love the beach in the fall, and with the struggles that two of my kids have in school, I just really wanted to get away.  I love the Cape because I can load up the entire family, pets and all and head out and truly relax, because well, there is nothing else to do.  Mom said she had been thinking about the same thing, and would love to go with us.  She then called my brother who said he would also like to join us, so I was excited.  I would have my whole family under one roof for Thanksgiving.

We were able to catch a few family pictures with all of us together.  It was great to be able to spend time with my niece and nephew.  I'm sure they don't really know who I am, so it was nice to be able to spend time with them.  Getting to know them was a real joy for me too.  I hate that we don't see each other more.

Hunter loves the beach.  He is always up to something.  He had fun in the bay finding all kinds of interesting critters.  He even brought home a shell with a crab still in that about scared me to death.  He and Paul left the beach early so they could get back for the Auburn vs. Alabama game.  

And these two, look at the tans they got in the middle of November.  It is crazy how dark they get so quick.

Where Do I Live Again?

Last time I checked, I lived smack dab in the middle of the city.  However, all the creatures of the country must know that I am a country girl at heart, and they are showing up regularly.  And unfortunately for some of them, they just aren't welcome here.  We have a small urban chicken coop in the back yard.  It is great for teaching the kids responsibility, and about food production.  However, since they have arrived, we have seen some wildlife we didn't anticipate.  My opossum friends keep coming around, so I humanely trap them and move them to a large wooded park where they are safer and can find more food.  This is the first of three that we have trapped.  This is the smallest one.  We give them all names and send them on their way.

This fellow on the other hand, doesn't quite need to be in the middle of the city.  Let's just say I was a little more than shocked to discover this one (I didn't kill it, it got hit by a car.)  Now we have a new threat which doesn't just want the chickens, it also wants my dogs.  We now have a nice sized pack of coyotes.  I haven't caught a picture of them yet, but they are letting their increasing presence be known.  I went out around 5 a.m. with the dogs.  I turned my back on Pippa for just a second to watch Annie, and one started across the street towards Pippa.  I screamed and waved my arms and got to Pippa first to scoop her up, but it terrified me. I got Annie and Rags in as quick as possible.  They are making me nervous as they are getting increasingly aggressive in the city since their isn't as much food here for them.  They have been attacking dogs on leashes, so I'm not a happy city dweller right now.

Introducing...Annie

I have been happy with having two dogs.  Very happy in fact.  But after losing Lulu, and bringing Pippa into the home we still had a very sad Rags.  While Pippa has done wonders for me, and she has helped me to still be sane she has not enjoyed Rags company, and I have felt bad for him.  We pet sit Willa sometimes, and he always perks up when she comes in the door.  He is so happy....but the last time Willa's family came to the door to collect her, his face fell.  It broke my heart.  He truly needed a friend.  I started looking for a friend for him, and thought I found the perfect one.  However, due to a strange turn of events, I was not able to adopt that dog, so my search continued.  There was one particular dog that I watched for a few weeks that was in Wedowee, AL.  I called and talked with the shelter staff about her, and after learning her story, I felt like she needed a chance.  I took Rags up to meet her, and they played so hard together.  They slammed into walls and had so much fun.  I could tell she would bond well with me, because she was extremely bonded to the kennel worker.  So, I brought her home on a trial basis....see, Annie had come from a sad situation.  She was owned by a man and his wife.  They had around 70 dogs, but for them, there was something special about Annie.  She got to live inside with them, and it was obvious she was well loved.  The wife died of cancer, and the man tried his hardest to take care of all the animals.  They were all fat, happy, fixed, and loved.  However, he was overwhelmed.  The county decided to step in and relieve him of the burden the animals had caused.  So off Annie went to a shelter to wait for someone to come.  Sure enough, a family did come for her.  They took her home, and left her outside.  They allowed children to take sticks and poke them at her.  After weeks of abuse, Annie had enough of it, and started cornering the children anytime she saw them.  She snarled and barked and let them know she didn't want to be abused.  So that family packed her up and took her back to the shelter.  So, there she sat again waiting.  Rags and I were her next hope of a home.  However, I knew that we had four children at home that Annie may not like considering what she had gone through in her previous home.  Annie settled right into our home and was so excited to see my bed.  She snuggled up right in the middle of it, and looked so content.  That of course was until I brought the four kiddos home from school.  She lost it.  There were times when I really wondered if it would all work out, but now she understands that my children at least will never hurt her.  They bribed her with treats and tons of affection, and now she loves each and every one of them.  Rags is happy again.  She is the most bonded dog I have ever had.  Paul and I often say that if we lived on the streets, you wouldn't have to worry, because Annie would be right there by our side.  She is a loyal little one, she is a quick learner and doing great with training.  She is proving herself to be our smartest dog ever.  She is 6 years old, weighs 24 pounds, and looks a lot like our favorite boy, Rags.

Halloween Has Gone to the Dogs

 For Halloween this year, we decided to go all out for the dogs, and that the kids would just wear things we already had around the house.  So, after some research, we decided that Pippa would be a Chia pet.  She made an adorable Chia pet, and we were quite confident she would do well in the costume contests. She entered two, and came in third in both of them.

 Then there was the famous Rags.  Hunter wanted to be Waldo again for Halloween because we already had the stuff, so I decided that maybe Rags could be Waldo's dog Woof.  I found a sweater at the local thrift store, and after about thirty minutes of cutting and sewing, we had a costume.

 We even used shrinky dinks to make a tag for the collar just like Woof has on in the Waldo books.

Rags took first place in our local contest, and second in the larger one in Columbus.  He looked amazing and played the character really well.  Everyone that saw him smiled and said he was the coolest costume they had seen.  The kids all had a great time with the dog costumes that they are already planning next years costumes.  The competitive side of me can really get into this.

Amidy and Little Z-All in one day!

While in Birmingham for the reunion, we decided to try and catch up with some of our favorite college students of the past.  We called both Amy and Lindsey (Amidy and Little Z, as nicknamed by the kids) when we left the reunion hoping to be able to catch up with at lease one of them while we were in town. Amy was studying for her social worker boards (which she passed) and Lindsey was sleeping since she is a night shift nurse.  So we didn't know how things would play out.  But we had a few errands to run, and while running our errands, Amy found us and we got to hang our for awhile.  She got to meet Hope, and we got to meet her fiance, Brandon.  I had already met and interviewed him online, so I already felt like I knew him, and I had already given Amy our approval.  In person he was just as great, and I am so thankful that Amy has found such a wonderful man to be a part of her life.

While out with Amy, Lindsey called, and hunted us down in the mall parking lot.  We were able to talk her into staying and eating with us at the Cheesecake Factory.  She ate breakfast while we ate dinner.

My the end of dinner, I had three girls that didn't want to let Little Z go.  I don't blame them though, the good byes are always hard.  I just feel blessed that we got to see both of them and hug their necks....now if only March would come, we will be able to hug Amy's neck again at her wedding.

Lifeline Reunion

For us, Lifeline is family.  Not only did they help us bring our latest two into the family, they have become our family.  So, when we have an opportunity to be with them, we are there.  It is so sweet to go to the reunion each year and fellowship with other families who have also answered God's call for adoption.  This year we were especially excited to meet a new Lifeline family.  They are the Bamberg's, and they are adopting Hope's friend from her orphanage.  I had the privilege of talking to them and asking Hope questions about their princess, and watching as God confirmed for them, that she was to be their child.  Hope took to their children quickly and declared to me that their Lilly was going to love her new family.

She also decided that Lilly would have a great new dad.  She tested him out for Lilly, and wore him out.  Luckily Hope didn't scare him away, she actually excited him even more to go and get his girl.

The girls also got to visit with Lily, our guide in China.  She has become a friend over the years, and is such a blessing to adoptive families.  I adore her, and how hard she works for the kids.  The other lady in the picture was part of the Chinese delegation that came.  She works for the CCWAA.

Chinese Festival

 Our local art museum, held their annual birthday celebration.  This year it was China related, so we jumped at the chance to go.  The kids learned how to do traditional Chinese calligraphy.

Hunter really got into this, and was the only one who attempted to do the Chinese characters.  His sisters roots are someone seeping in.

 Hope cracked me up, because when she finished she looked at me with all sincerity, and said, "Look, I wrote Hope just like in Chinese!"  And of course my response was, "Well of course you did baby, and it looks just perfect.  I'm so proud."  And at those words of confirmation, she beamed....Have I mentioned that I love her?

Noelle got into the pottery making.  She made a penguin, which had nothing to do with Chinese culture, but it had everything to do with her interests.  She is so serious.

We finished out our day by having tea with the Chinese emperor, and listening to him tell us about what life is like in China.  Hope looked at him when he finished and said, "That is not the same China I am from."  I guess the China he described is very different from the China an orphan knows.  It makes me anxious to take her back one day and introduce her to her homeland in a different light.  The land that I have fallen so in love with.