Family Camping 2013

It's taken me a while to get this post done, sorry about that family!!  My archaic computer takes forever to upload photos and I needed a night with a large chunk of time.  I don't really have it tonight either, I have lots of things I should be doing for work, but I don't want to put it off any longer.  So, imagine, this is Monday, September 9 and here it goes!

Imagine the scene....20 people all crammed onto a camp site at Awenda Provincial Park.  Now imagine the scene again.... in the rain. That was Family Camping Trip 2013.  And yet, if you were to ask any of us, I'm pretty sure the answer would be the same, "It was fun!!!!"

Here is a photo journal of some of the highlights, with commentary of course!!!

Putting up a dining tent (in the rain of course!!)

Some people just aren't Happy Morning People like me!!!lol

My brother Bill does look a little wet however.... I guess that's his excuse!

I suppose Kristin is bordering on Happy!!!

 Grace and Grandpa sharing breakfast time together

Grace!  How many times do I have to tell you.... Don't play between parked cars!

Walking Baby down the road

Grace, always trying to be helpful...

Niece F. figured out a way to entertain a two year old on a rainy afternoon.  Thanks F!!!!  Grace loves having her fingernails painted

Walking the boardwalk during a brief recess from the rain.  It was a beautiful walk fully accessible with the stroller.  I recommend it to anyone visiting the park.

Grace, of course, had to make a quick stop to dance in the stream!

The boys and I thought this was a big rock.......

Until we spotted this one!  Now that's a big rock!!!

Baby K knows how to hike in style!!!!!!!  

Hiking and napping, a new combination for sure!

Just play where you want to play, even if it's at the bottom of the stairs...

Firefighter K!!!  Sadly, I don't think I can call him Baby K anymore!

Can you see the rain falling on our lovely campfire???!!!!

And.... let the games begin.......

Grace, multi-tasking!

Stealing Aunt Carolyn's tea

Grace just goofing off!

Who says boys can't do pink??! You go guy!!!

Grace making pancakes for the hungry crew!

Grace getting a free ride from Uncle Rich!

Grace telling Uncle Bill just how things are going to go down!

"Can I please play with your Fridge Jungle Grace?"  Grace isn't looking too sure


That poor raccoon!

Nephew A. sporting his Beiber hairstyle!

This is what it looks like when only some of my family goes on a hike.  Yes, only some. We look like a bus tour!!!

Hey, look, it's a Boy tree!!!!

Never go into the woods without a snack, right F!??!

Finally reached the Dunes

Nephew S. giving me his best pose.  He loves having his picture taken!!  Not!

Just a nice shot of a cute couple

Just in case you were wondering, yes I was actually there, I'm just always the one holding the camera!!

Feeding nephew C his cookie.  His hands were dirty, what's a guy gonna do??!!!

Grace and I on the rock just down from our campsite, so cool!

And finally on Sunday afternoon, the sun came out.  It was still a little cool, I certainly didn't brave the water, but the boys and Carolyn did and they had a blast!

S. enjoying the beach as much as he always does!  Apparently he doesn't like the sand!

Later however, I caught him having fun with Grace!

You're never too old to build a castle in the sand

Overall, a great weekend for family and fun.  Thanks so much to our parents for hosting and keeping it all running smoothly.  I can't wait to do it again, maybe with a little more sunshine and warmth!

Moondance

Happy Autumn Moon everyone!  
Like Van Morrison says.... "It's a marvelous night for a moondance, with the stars up above in your eyes..." 
It's a beautiful night to catch a few moonbeams!  Get outside and take a look if you can.  I did, I just had to bring a baby monitor with me!!LOL

Another Anniversary

Today marks seven years since my paperwork was logged in at the Chinese Centre for Adoption Affairs.  For six years, it sat on a pile or in a filing cabinet or maybe just on someone's desk for all I know, and for six years I dreamed of the little girl who has now taken over my life.  The pain of that wait will never completely vanish, it was far too uncertain and frustrating and exhausting, but it does diminish.  "The wait" as I used to call it was my whole life for six years.  I was bitter and sad and angry about it and at some points it started to seem like "the wait" was actually the event, I was simply this woman who was waiting to adopt from China.  Now that I have Grace home, the wait seems like a distant memory, an old scar, still visible when you check for it, but no longer hurts.  Hard to believe what one year as a mother to such a terrific girl like Grace can do to your mindset.  My heart breaks for those still waiting and the only advice I can give to them is that she was worth the wait!!!

Our First Forever Family Day

One year ago today I met the most beautiful girl in the world and she became my daughter.  I am amazed every day by the changes I see in her and my heart bursts with love for her. 

I've been sitting here for almost an hour, checking facebook, responding to emails, do some things for work.  I know I need to post today, it's a really special day for Grace and I.  I just don't know what to write.  The feelings are too strong, the emotions too overpowering, that I can't get it into the right words.  I suppose I should start by thanking God for bringing Grace into my life, and while I think it privately every day, I don't say it out loud often enough. You know us Catholics, strong faith but not so good at evangelising!!!!  So, for now, I will just post the facts and maybe over the next few days I will come up with a way to write about it eloquently. 

Today was my first day back at work and Grace's first full day at day care.  We've been visiting several times over the summer and it has gone well but today was the true test.  She would be expected to sleep there.  I dreaded the phone call I was expecting.  "Suzanne, what's up with this kid???  Why won't she sleep?"  But it never came.  Instead I received a text while I was in the middle of a meeting.  I raced across the room to grab my phone and from Grace's care provider it said, "Grace is doing great.  She ate her whole lunch and is now sleeping.  She couldn't have had a better morning!"  Tears of relief came into my eyes as I thanked God she was able to sleep in her new environment.  I so hope tomorrow goes just as well!

Here's Grace at our front door.  She looks so happy here.  You would never know that Brenda had to pry her off my leg in order for me to go to work!

Arriving at Brenda's door, still looking optimistic....  I can't bear to show you what happened next! 

More importantly however, was the fact that today is Grace and I's first anniversary as a family.  It was one year ago today that I stood in a hot crowded room at the Civil Affairs office in Nanjing, China, watching as an orphanage worker brought Grace through the doors.  It was not a Hallmark moment I can assure you.  It was hot and loud and confusing for both Grace and I as people were moving about, talking to me, handing me her little pink Barbie backpack full of everything she owned in the world.  But it was our moment, and just like a woman giving birth, it was loud and messy and confusing but it was beautiful and I will remember it forever.  Here we are in our first moments as a family.

The first moment we met!

"Who the heck are you???"

Still not sure about this new family

I told you it wasn't a Hallmark moment!!!!

Signing the papers to make the adoption official and final.  Grace being my little helper!

Day 2 and the first smiles.....

One of Grace's nannies signing her book

That first night back in the hotel room.  Look how tiny she is!

Sharing pizza, Sept 3 2012, sharing pizza, Sept 3, 2013

Today we honoured the day with dinner with my parents (take-out pizza, a treat!).  My parents brought Grace and I a beautiful Rose of Sharon tree.  After dinner, Grandpa dug the hole (yeah for Grandpa!!!!  I have many many rocks in my soil and it's a chore and a half to dig a hole!  I'm so glad he offered!!!!LOL) and Grace and I planted the tree.  As a gift, I gave Grace the book I had brought to China with me from home, Love You Like Crazy Cakes.  While in China I had the officials at the Civil Affairs office and her nannies from the orphanage sign the book.  I wrote a special message for her too.  I had also bought a fork and spoon set from the Beijing Zoo which I gave to her tonight as well.  As soon as Grandpa and Grandma went home it was bedtime for Grace.  She fell asleep in my arms and I held her for an extra long time tonight, thanking God and just loving her.

Grace, always the little helper!!!!!

Pulling rocks out of the hole

Grace, getting Grandma's vantage point from the top of the climber

Overall a busy, long day and I think I'm not far behind Grace in getting to bed tonight!



  

10 Things I Miss

Tuesday will mark one year since I first held my daughter in my arms.  That day was crazy.  It was hot and loud and busy at the Civil Affairs office in Nanjing.  I didn't feel overly well, still a bit jet-lagged and my body was adjusting to the new foods and climate, but what a day it was.  Holding a screaming, crying baby while trying to sign paperwork and at the same time listening to someone explain in broken English, all of Grace's information and schedules.  Most of the day was a blur.  Grace and I will celebrate our first Forever Family Day on Tuesday fairly simply as it is my first day back to work, probably just dinner and a nice dessert with my parents, however, as I get closer and closer to the anniversary of our first day together, I think about how my life has changed.  I've said it several times here before, I can no longer remember my life before Grace nor imagine my life without her, but that's a bit of a lie because I do remember my life before Grace.  It's a distant memory but there are many things I remember about being a single woman living on my own and I even miss some of those things.

Here are some of the things I miss from my life before Grace.

- drinking hot coffee
- cooking an actual meal
- eating an actual meal
- wearing make-up
- eating in front of the TV, even getting to watch TV
- wearing nice clothes, heck, wearing clean clothes
- talking on the phone to friends, strangers, enemies, telemarketers, whoever
- peeing alone
- not having to entertain someone on the other side of a shower curtain, all the while trying to hold the shower curtain closed with one foot while showering at breakneck speed
- having a whole bed to myself
- not having to stop 3 times on the way up or down the stairs, just because
- getting out the door in 10 minutes if I need to
- eating in nice restaurants with friends
- Barbequing my dinner -  it 's too dangerous as a single mom to a curious toddler

I miss every one of those things, sometimes I miss them a lot.  I had a really good life before Grace.  But believe me, I have an even better life after Grace.