Fourth of July
Since our plans to go to Boston fell through, I decided to take the family to Old Sturbridge Village for an 1830's Independence Day celebration. We had a blast! Mike met up with us late afternoon because he had to do a funeral but the kids and I set off early and spent the day at OSV. Jasn and Jess played games like Les Graces (throw a wooden hoop to each other using wooden sticks), Coits (like horseshoes but with circles), and Shuttlecock. Jess loved the animals and the parade.

Around 3:30, we went to the hotel to meet Mike. We stayed at the Scottish Inn. It was very basic and clean (for $53, that's all we expected). We went back to the OSV for the evening festivities. Jason did a sackrace and we listened to the band play. Jess did a cute jig to the music but as soon as I picked up my camera, she'd stop. The fireworks were awesome! Jess absolutely loved them; the look on her face was priceless. Jason said he definitely wants to go back next year.

On Sunday we went back to OSV. We toured a couple of houses and Mike joined Jason in a game of Les Graces and Shuttlecock. Jason and Jess both played tug of war and baseball. Jess got trampled in the tug of war. They tried fishing with bits of bread. Jason caught a fish which got thrown back. On the trolley ride Jason and Jess were picking at each other (what else is new?). I moved Jess to the other side of me which would have been the end of it except that the woman next to me shook her finger in Jess's face and told her to be quiet. Who the hell are you to talk like that to my kid!? Especially when I'm already taking care of the issue! I moved Jess back to the other side next to Jason. The woman yelled at her husband later on the ride so I guess her rudeness isn't reserved for strangers.

Fishing at Mill Pond

Reading the Declaration of Indendence

Right before the fireworks started

Cloud watching

Making the noonday meal

Ready for the riverboat ride

Parade

Playing Les Graces

Newport, RI
We took the kids to Newport last weekend. We started on the Cliffwalk. Mike and Jess stayed with us to Narragansett then Jason and I went on to Marine by ourselves. When we got to Marine, we decided it was too hot to go the next 2 miles since there were no cutoffs inbetween. That night Jason and I did the ghost tour around downtown Newport - lot of fun!! The next day, Mike and Jason went to the arcade while I took Jess to see the Green Animals. As often as I've been to Newport, I've never seen them (I have seen all the mansions though). I decided to become a member of the preservation society so now I can get into the mansions for free. I want to go this fall on my own and then again at Christmas with the kids to see Santa. What I save on these tours will more then make up for my membership fee. I also got a free ticket for behind the scenes and rooftop tour which I want to go on at the Elms. The Breakers has new rooms open to the public. Lots to see.




Jess with the bears at the Green Animals. She couldn't decide if the big one was a mommy or daddy.

Hanging out in a tree at the Green Animals.

Jason and our wonderful tourguide, Autumn.

Here's part 2 of all about me:

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies - nope, I sold Campfire Girls Candy
62. Gone whale watching - on the beach in HI
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone - nothing major, just toes
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee"

I saw this on Giorgia Danette's blog and thought it sounded fun. For some reason I couldn't get the whole thing on one post so I had to split it into 2. Rules are you bold whatever you've done.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain-Or was it a really big hill?
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty-Not the torch.
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run-hmm
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris"

Book Banning

As a teacher and a parent, I do not believe in book banning. Jason told me the other day that books 2 and 4 of the Twilight series have been banned at his school. This bothered me a lot. I believe that only a parent should be able to tell their child not to read something unless it comes in a brown paper wrapper or is criminal (how to build a pipebomb, etc). After talking to several people, I now think that the books are banned in his classroom but not by the school. One parent told me her daughter's teacher (different teacher, same grade as Jason) sent a note home saying the children could read the book in her room but that she thought parents may want to check the book out first before allowing their children to read it. Vampire romance is definitely not a genre I'm really into but I am reading the first book now and I will read the rest of the series so that I can give an informed opinion about it. One of my friends doesn't believe it's appropriate for kids up to high school to read and wants to know what I think after I read it. She said some of it is violent. Considering I've given Jason permission to read The Shining, I don't think she and I will see eye to eye on what's appropriate. Basically, if it doesn't come in a brown paper wrapper or from a store with blacked out windows or details how to do criminal acts, I'm okay with him reading it. This allows him the ability to talk to me about what he reads rather than hide it. If a book does get his attention that I feel is inappropriate, I will deal with it - ME, NOT the school.

Good thoughts, prayers, lit candles welcome


My mom's in the hospital again. She's living with my sister now and woke up with chest pains the other day. Tricia brought her to the hospital. We feared a heart issue but turns out it's not. Still not good news though - her hiatal hernia which she's had for years has twisted. Doctor said that she really needs surgery. My mom and I are alot alike - we are both strongheaded, opinionated, and certain that we are right - made for some stressful times growing up. She wants to go home and think about the surgery; after hearing from Patricia what the doctor said, I want her to have the surgery right now. It seems the doctor feels that while she has a moderate chance of surviving the surgery, her chance of surviving without the surgery is much less. Please pray, light a candle, cross your fingers, think good thoughts or whatever it is you do in time of need.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

We celebrated Mother's Day yesterday by going out to dinner with my mom, my brother, sister, niece, nephew, DH and the kids. It was nice to have us all together which doesn't happen often with my brother living in CA. Today I took the kids to church and now DH is taking them bike riding. I think I'm going to go get something to eat at Simply Divine if they're open and read my book. DH is making burgers for tonight and I'm making a chocolate pudding pie - yum!!!!

Playing Catch-up

It's been busy so I've fallen WAY behind in my blog. Here's a quick photo recap of what's going on in the Land of the Sullivans.

Jess came down with hives. No clue where they came from. Poor baby.

Our pond on my way to bringing Jason to karate.


March snowstorm

Jess being cool. One of my paras gave her the sweater.

Kids at Capron Park Zoo.


Jason at fencing. He loves it. I told him that since we're so busy this summer with Calumet, swimming lessons and our trip to California, I'd let him sign up for the late spring session when this session ends.

We went to New Tokyo for our annivesary. It's a Japanese hibachi restaurant. The food was awesome and the entertainment very good.

Jason tried the soup. He didn't like it but that wasn't a surprise.

Jess tried the soup. She liked it; again, no surprise.

The local shopping area has a community room where you can take free pictures with your camera. Jason was less than thrilled about getting his picture taken but he wanted the candy the bunny was giving out. Jess asked if she could go back again the next day because she loves the bunny - what a change from last year!!

We went back the following Saturday and Jess hopped right onto his lap.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!!!

Two years ago yesterday, a little girl was placed in my arms halfway across the world. Life hasn't been the same since*S* I was looking at baby pictures of her and it's hard to remember how little she was. I cannot believe how much she has grown. She's running, climbing, into everything (typical 3 year old*S*). She loves the Wiggles, Dora, Ni Hao Kai Lan, and Elmo. She likes to sing and dance. She knows her name is Jessica Kangchan Sullivan and she knows she came from China. She recognizes Keira from our travel group when we go onto looking at blogs (sometimes calls her "Keira with a K" to differentiate from "baby Ciara", one of my friend's daughter). While she isn't as clingy as she was, she is definitely a mama's girl. Lately, her favorite hairstyle is 2 braids (never thought her hair would get long enough for that!). Her favorite word is "Why?" She has questions about everything. She can't wait to go to California and talks about seeing Uncle Nicky there. This year, she loved Santa Claus (terrified the year before) and Halloween. She loves Jason who she refers to as "My Jason". She loves to pretend to talk on the phone and is frequently pretending to call Jason's friends Seamus or Colin, both who are very nice to her.

July 2008

The Little Angel 12/08


Searching for treasure on the map 1/09

Feeding baby Ciara 2/09

Look how our baby has grown!

Our first glimps of our new little girl. She's 8 months old in this picture.Gotcha Day 2007 - a few minutes after she was first placed in my arms

Gotcha Day Anniversary 2008

Gotcha Day Anniversary 2009

Hug Your Kids
Since we got started in the international adoption process a little over 4 years ago, I've been following people's blogs and websites who are also in the process, finished the process or thinking about the process. I also subscribe to umpteen Yahoo groups related to adoption and of course religiously keep up with what's happening in the Rumor Queendom. I'm nosey; when we drive by people's houses and the shades are up, I look in (much to Mike's chagrin). When blogs are open to the public and they're interesting to me, I read them. And yes, if you have a really loud cellphone conversation right next to me in line at the grocery store, I will listen (I will try not to add my two cents though). When you start to follow someone's blog or site, you get to feel like you know them even if you've never met them in real life or talked to them outside of leaving comments. A little while ago I learned about a little girl adopted from China with Jason's birthday who had a Caring Bridge site and I started reading and following it. Caring Bridge is a service that provides free websites for people who are critically ill so they can keep their friends and family updated. The little girl had leukemia and today she got her wings. I cannot imagine the pain her parents are feeling right now. Time to go hug my kids.

Year of the Ox

We went to a party in Braintree for Chinese New Year this year. It was fun - the food was good, we watched some children put on cute dances and the martial arts demos were very good. There were more crafts last year. Jason was disappointed we didn't win any of the raffles. I was a little disappointed the masseuse wasn't there that was there last year. The massage I got last year hurt when she did it but my back felt awesome afterward! Jess wore the Chinese outfit Chuck, Sandi, and the girls gave her for her birthday. She was going to wear the red shoes Jen gave her but they are a little too big right now so she wore the sparkling silver ones. She got lots of rave reviews on them. She calls them her sparkly shoes. We went out the first day of CNY for Chinese food at our local restaurant. It was very good as usual.

New Years Eve Snowstorm

Here are the kids during the NYE snowstorm. I came out to take pics and then went back in where it was warm. Mike nearly totaled my camera by aiming the snowblower at me as I was taking it out. We got about another 10 inches or so and it was much windier than the last storm and much, much colder. I'd be happy to be done with snow for the winter but Jason's hoping for lots more although he doesn't want any snow days because that means school goes longer (I don't want any either for the same reason).

Happy New Year!!

Hard to believe it's 2009 already! I was surfing the net and came across Project 365 by Becky Higgins. It's a scrapbooking kit where you take a picture every day. I loved the idea but the colors and designs in the kit weren't really me so once Mike gets home, I'm going to take my Michael's gift certificate and get myself what I need to do this on my own. I already took today's picture. The pictures are supposed to be something to represent the day. I took the kids to the Hearth and Kettle for breakfast and snapped a pic of them together. Jason doubts that I'll keep up with a pic every day but I think I can do it!

The Day After Christmas
















On our way home from the hotel, we stopped at Lynn's house. It was her daughter, Ciara's, first Christmas and we wanted to drop off our gifts to her. Jess kept asking to hold Ciara so I had Jason help and was able to get a pic of the 3 of them. Aren't they cute together?

Paula

Merry Christmas!!

Today was Jess's second Christmas home but the first one she really understood. We got up at 7 and went downstairs to open presents. Santa was very, very good to the kids! Jess was so cute. After each present, she'd ask if she could open the next. I think one of her favorite things is her new toy cellphone. She was very excited to get a new Wiggles cd as her old one was skipping a lot. Jason loves his new Mario Kart Wii game; he and Mike are playing now. In a few hours we'll be off to Mike's parents and then to his aunt's for a party. We're visiting a friend of mine after that; it's her daughter's first Christmas. Tonight we'll be staying at a hotel. Jason's excited about going swimming. Santa was very good to me as well. I got gift certificates to a scrapbooking crop that some of my friends are going to; I can't wait!!




Before everyone got to the presents




































Mommy's little helper










































Jason's always wanted to learn how to juggle











































Next year's Christmas card?

New Favorite Christmas Song

I was on Rumor Queen (what else is new?!?) and found a post about an awesome Christmas song. It made me remember how we were waiting two years ago and so thankful that our little girl is home with us for her second Christmas now. The song is Merry Christmas by Third Day. The guy who wrote it adopted a little girl from China and his family pics are in the video. What a beautiful family he has!

Fun in the snow and the Christmas pageant

Friday we got out of school at 1 because of the blizzard they were expecting. The snow started coming down at 3 and by the end we got about 12 inches. The kids loved playing in it. Thankfully it was soft and fluffy so the only place that was hard to shovel was at the end of the driveway where the plow had packed it down. Friday night we lost power at 9 and it came back on the following morning at 8. I was just happy that it didn't stay off like in western MA. It snowed through Saturday. Mike had to work and the kids and I decorated the tree. Sunday we had our Christmas pageant at church. Jess went back and forth over whether she wanted to be in it. She wanted to during Sunday's practice but when it was time for the actual pageant she didn't want to do it. Luckily I got some cute shots during practice of my little angel. Jason was a reader and did a great job being front and center.

"Helping" me shovel

Jess's first snow angel

Jess's ornament from last year - Elmo