Please stand by...we are experincing technical difficulties

We have been experiencing technical difficulties the past few months but I am glad to say we are back on line. Hopefully, for a good long time. First off our one and a half year old hard drive went kaput. Luckily we were able to backup everything up although there are a few things I have not been able to unback-up. Then (I did not know this was possible) our cable internet was fluctuating from on to off. After switching out the modem 2 times I finally called customer service (whole other story of frustration) and they said our problem was because we had TOO MUCH POWER coming from the line. They came out and tweeked it and vuaalaaa we had uninterupted internet. And finally, our internal wireless internet card kicked the bucket, I have remidied that problem today. Now I have no excuse not to keep up my blog except for laziness.

Madeline's Protest

We were getting ready for an appointment this morning when I noticed Madeline, all of 4 ½ years old, moving her guitar and keyboard into her sister’s room (not yet adopted from China but we are anxiously waiting). Madeline is very eager to be a big sister and is frustrated that the adoption has been taking so long. In fact, on a side note, she is already planning and praying for the adoption of her brother. Well I was busy getting both of us ready and asked her what she was doing, without really listening for a response. When she came into the bathroom to brush her teeth I said to her so you are having a party in your sister’s room? And she said, “no, I’m having a protest.” Thinking she had the word wrong I again said, you mean a party? And again she said, “no I’m having a protest that china is taking so long!” I then asked her if she knew what protest meant and she quickly and with confidence replied, “it is when you are mad and you want people to listen to you”

Under Dog and Under Cat

While in Florida celebrating Christmas, Madeline renewed her fast-paced, non-stop relationship with her 4 year-old cousin, Reese. We arrived late in the evening but that did not stop them from hitting the ground running and playing, playing, and playing. It seemed the only time they took a break from playing was to sleep. At one time Reese and Madeline were actively running around (with 2 year old cousin Teagan closely in tow) and Reese came darting out of the back room exclaiming "I'm Under Dog!" Madeline was following right behind and exclaiming, "I'm Under Cat!". Madeline and Reese being Power Ranger Overdrive Since I have a girl, I do not really understand what that means...Christmas Eve morning rolled around and the kids were overly excited about Santa coming that night so I got on the Internet and pulled up a time zone map to show them where it was night time and where Santa was, but they did not really understand what I was trying to do. So Kelly got onto either Google Earth or the Norad website and tracked Santa's movements. They were able to Santa's sleigh and reindeer and what country he was in. They tracked Santa all day and night and kept Kelly busy for hours on end on the Internet.

Reese and Madeline putting out the cookies and milk...

Christmas morning arrive EARLY at 5:30am when Madeline woke up. Fortunately, we got to hear Santa finishing putting out all the gifts and eating his cookies, actually, I think it was the cat rummaging through the presents, but Madeline believed it was Santa. We kept Madeline quiet for about an hour until the rest of the clan woke up and that was a difficult task. The present opening did not last long but the fun lasted a long time.

Blah Blah Back Sheep

this morning I woke up to Madeline singing...

Blah Blah back sheep have you any wool
Yes sir, Yes sir three bags fool
One for my master.
One for my lame,
One for the guinea pig who live down the lame,
Blah blah back sheep have you any wool
Yes sir yes sir 3 bags fool

Santa At Last

This year Madeline finally decided to talk with Santa. Although she kept her distance, every time Santa would lean in to talk to her she would lean away. She drew him a picture of a snowman and Santa and asked for "headphones that keep your ears warm, a turtle, and for her sister to get here very soon." Last year she saw a man in Hobby Lobby that had a short white beard and white hair but he was ina blue sweat suit so naturally she went up to him and told "santa" what she wanted. The man was very nice to play along. And magically enough she got what she asked for...cowboy boots.