Grandma comes to visit

It is a wonderful feeling to see how much this little girls loves her grandparents. The phone rang this morning and it was my mom. She had some food and was wondering if she could bring it over to share lunch. What she had fixed went great with what I had. It was early morning and Tara woke with me talking on the phone, she wanted to know who it was and smiled when I said Grandma. And although I am still waiting for a hug Grandma readily gets them. Grandma also brought pears from her tree. It was everything Tara could do not to eat them. They are still green :)

I was trying to pull a fast one. My little one is very smart. I still need to collect a stool and urine specimen. I shut the water off on the toilet, flushed it and told everyone else to not use that bathroom. I have checked it frequently and no deposits. I think she also is using another bathroom. Hymmmm?? It wouldn't surprise me to know she is squatting outside. (we live in the country)

Tia woke this morning to the dogs fighting. We have an old rat terrier and a new one. Okay now we have a coon dog that just went into heat for the first time and the two rat terriers went after each other for rights to the coon dog. What a zoo! The old one isn't doing so well and the young one was put on a chain.

It is the last day of the Olympics. The closing ceremony was nicely done. Tara sang the anthem along with China :)

This girl can eat

OMG. We have worked our way through the day from one food to another. Breakfast started with cantelope, she wanted canned corn (but didn't care for the taste), onto ramen noodles, then a dessert for breakfast of cookies. A fruit rollup for a mid morning snack then lunch at 11:30 of beef pot pie. I had stuff to make salsa and Tara helped cut up the tomatoes and peppers. I was surprised she didn't eat the tomatoes, but instead stir fried peppers onions with an egg and warmed up some rice for a mid afternoon snack with more cookies. She wants to take a shower at 5 and put her jams on. I told her we are going to town for supper and ice cream. She tells me she is ready to go now, but dad is still choring. We like to go in later because we have the place to ourselves usually.

This morning we did laundry, I showed her everything I do. She helped me hangup the clothes and fold them. We cut up veggies for salsa after lunch and this afternoon was quiet so I took time to read emails. Tara started in she was bored and wanted to go somewhere. Not sure what it is about afternoons, but she gets moody. We did call Canada today and New York called us.

When Tara is bored or missing home she starts her sad song "Kasey Kelsey" These are the 15 yr old daughters of our best friends. Since phone communication is at a minimum, she doesn't want to call and talk to them. But I did call Murt their mom and that seemed to help. Tara doesn't quite have a grasp on days yet, so trying to tell her she has to wait 5or6 days to see them is tuff. We go through alot of tomorrows.

One Last Goodbye to Summer

Well maybe not the last, but school starts tomorrow. Tara ask if she could go swimming after supper, so she ran to get her suit and I hopped on the lawnmower.

Monday night was open house at school where the kids take their things and fill their lockers and desks in their new classrooms. I believe this helps the kids to feel a little more at ease on that first day. We found Tia's locker first and homeroom. She wasn't too excited to find it was in the gym. They have cubby's to store stuff, I can imagine it wouldn't be my first choice to keep my belongings in the gym. On the other hand it has to be most people's favorite class. Onto 4th grade, we had a call from Mrs Benedict that she would be Tara's teacher. She taught elder brother Tim and Tia, so we are excited. She introduced herself to Tara during tumbling and Tara recognized her when she peeked in her new classroom and Tara smiled. I think that was a thumbs up! She has a locker for her bookbag and another for her coat :) We said hello to each of the teachers and set up a meeting for Tuesday afternoon. Tia thought we spent way too much time, but I wanted Tara to feel comfortable with her new surroundings. She didn't get to see the music or art room, but Tia did show her the play ground.

I almost forgot the good part. Tara likes her sleep! We did a dry run...the girls had to go to bed early to get up early. Sunday I woke Tara up and she rolled out fairly quickly and ask about Tia, I said let's go wake her up. She went with me. Tia didn't want to roll out, so Tara went back to bed for another hour. Tia woke Tara up Monday morning. She jumped up got dressed and was ready to go in about 5 minutes. I think maybe a little disappointed to find out it wasn't this morning. Tuesday she did fine getting up and was excited when I said we were visiting the school again. We met alot of teachers. Tara will have three 4th grade teachers, as well as, music, art, pe and guidance. We also met the special ed teachers and the nurse. They all got to see Tara in action on the dry erase board and Tia taught her a card game (that was taught to her by Tara's teacher). Tara then showed how fast she caught onto it by showing the teachers. I showed the translator we have and said I would get a good supply of batteries for. I also need to pick up a English/Chinese dictionary. The principal Mr Fenster was able to share with us a test that will be given to Tara to help evaluate her level of knowledge. We aren't sure if it is at the right level, but it will give us a starting point. Most kids at this age have learned cursive writing, so that will be something I will work with Tara on if she will let me. wish me LOL!

The house is quiet...I think there are a couple of little girls here just a little bit excited for tomorrow. I hope it lasts...

Iowa State Fair

It's been a long week. We had a co-worker, manager of our branch office went on vacation and had his appendicitis burst. His week vacation turned into two. Someone from our office goes to the branch office to cover. It wasn't me, but it leaves one less person to help in our office. The phones have been non stop, which leaves little time to get the work done on my desk.

While we were on vacation I received an email from an adoptive parent. They have a child that knows Tara. They live in Canada and there is a two hour time difference. She wanted to know if her daughter (Xiao Yang now Li)could call and talk to Tara. I didn't get to be home, but I hear they talked for more than an hour. I hope someday she will tell us what all they talked about. Gene enjoyed the exchange of how the girls are alot alike. I hope we will be able to keep the girls in touch with each other.

I have been asked every day if we get to see Kasey, Kelsey. I explain that Kasey and Kelsey work at Adventureland, we have to wait. I was going to try to make connections this weekend, but had to many other things that needed done.

We didn't get left from home until after 9. Our first stop was Herold Trailer Sales in Indianola. We need a bigger camper and are looking for beds for each of us. They don't have what we need, but had fun looking at the different floor plans. Tara needed shoes for phys ed, the shoes are left at school. We stopped and got them first. My work gave Tara and Tia gift cards and we took time before the fair to go shopping. We ran through the sports department first. Nothing grabbed their eye. Onto the toys, it took a few minutes of looking and Tara found The Diamond Castle, Learning Laptop by Barbie. It looks like it will be a good learning tool, letters, vocabulary, shapes, colors, numbers, counting, logic, memory and music. Now mom needs to read the instructions to teach Tara everything it can do. Ugh.

Okay, onto the State Fair! We parked at the Capitol and rode the bus. Hy-Vee this year gave the employees tickets for entrance, a few rides and food. We worked our way through the fair with our tickets starting with corn dogs and ice cream. We checked out the ADI booth in the varied industries building and saw Doug McCauley with Central Iowa Builders giving a sales pitch. Tried to find the Iowa State booth, there were so many people we gave up. I'm a little nervous not wanting to take my eyes off my children. We rode the Ye Old Mill ride, it does not stop for mount and dismount. I pulled the camera out for a picture and realized it didn't have a memory card, so I carried the camera all over the fair for nothing. There would have been several good shots. I thought Tara would jump in beside me and she jumped in back. It is a dark ride in a boat. Okay more nerves. Next to the Big Slide. They loved it. Onto the Sky Ride...oops one way, now where. We stopped by the horse barn. No one seemed to interested, we did a few more rides and split a funnel cake. Next the snake house. Only two tickets, so I think I'll send the girls in without me. They enjoyed it and I enjoyed the rest. Tara wanted french fries and I wanted a strawberry smoothie. I was disappointed with mine, not sure about Tara. She did bring her leftovers home for her favorite dog Spike. Everyone is exhausted and we head back for the bus. It was after 6 when we got home and we enjoyed the evening discussing our day.

Gene, Tia and Tara went to church this morning. Tara's first time. Grandma enjoyed having her there. Believe it or not I am still not over my bronchitis. At 10 I started one of my coughing spells that lasted for an hour. I am getting better, but annoy alot of people. It is a beautiful day today and I have got my laundry done, washed and dried on the clothes line.

Tablerock Lake Vacation

Tia had her clothes packed on Monday. We didn't leave until Saturday. Tara knew something was up, but wasn't sure what vacation was. She took my hand led me to her dresser and started pulling clothes out. We took more than we needed, but we will know for next year.

Gene had oats that needed combined, Jeff had to work Saturday and Sunday and Curt didn't fly in until Monday. Ugh!

We were suppose to check into our cabin on Saturday. So the girls and I drove to Lake Thunderhead, a two hour drive to Missouri and met our friends Mike and Murt. We rode to Tablerock with them and their daughters. We had a good trip, Tara slept most of the way. We stopped at Wal-mart and grabbed some groceries before heading onto the cabin. We left Lake Thunderhead at 7:30 and arrived at Tablerock at 4:30. I forgot to mention it was in the 90's and the airconditioner decided to not work. Yikes! The girls carried a whole two things to the cabin, one of which had their swimsuits and headed to the pool. Kase and Kels slept with Tia and Tara the first couple of nights since our guys weren't there.

It was stink'n hot and we spent alot of time in the water. That wasn't even very refreshing, the water was also stink'n hot. Tara thought it was fun to play with dead fish floating. Ick!

We were told that not all boats could drive under the Kimberling City bridge earlier this year. The rope swing had a mark by it that showed it was down about 9 feet from April 08. It was really high! The ledge we usually walk on was under water and the swing was only 4 ft off the water.

Joe and Jame got up each morning at 5:30 and went fishing arriving back around 10. My sister likes fish and had a cow each time they released their catch. None of which met the keeping requirements. They took Tia one afternoon. They were impressed at her concentration and she caught the last fish. Too bad it was only about 5" long.

Breakfast each morning was at my sister's cabin. She was ready and brought drop cords and electric skillets to cook on the picnic table. With the exception of one day it was bacon, eggs and toast. Thursday we had sausage gravy and biscuits.

We learned last year with Tia that sun screen is very important, but how do you make a 10 year old that doesn't fully understand English understand. Well we had world war 3... I wasn't letting her go swimming until she put it on and she hit, kicked and yelled. We scared everyone in our group away from our cabin...It wasn't pretty. We did this for an hour of which the sun was finally going down and I gave up. Tara wouldn't use the translator to explain. She was being just plain stuborn. I had bruises. The other kids later translated to her that she needed to be nice to her mom. After supper she came to me and asked for sun screen. Hymmm. I took her to the window showed her "no sun" and said she could go swimming. After that it wasn't so bad. I did feel alot of the time I was getting the cold shoulder. As much as she wants us for her family she is still keeping us at a distance. I will be so happy when the wall comes down.

Gene and the boys didn't make it down until Monday bedtime. By Tuesday Gene had figured out he needed to put a primer on the jet ski to keep gas in the lines. Wednesday the Kawasaki dealer told him to bring it in, but it wasn't done until Thursday. It worked and needed to be done two years ago. It should save on batteries and starters. Yeah!

Tara hops right on the tubes and isn't scared at all. She did take a good fly through the air and was done, but was laughing.

Murt was able to get Tara to wear her bikini that was a gift from Denise. We didn't have the heart to tell her her bottoms were wrong side out.

We visited Diane and Larry on Friday. They own a motel/restaraunt by the State Park Marina. They had some good stories and a picture where water was going over the dam. This was the first time that all 10 gates were open and it did cause some flooding in old Branson. Curt and Jeff have learned you don't take a jet ski for a 3 hour tour. Kenzie learned you wear shorts on a jet ski.

I hate to say this but it has been more than a month since we got home and I still have the sinus crudd. My coughing is driving everyone nuts. As much as I don't want to I will probably be going to the dr again this week.

Tara told me her favorite part of vacation was the food. We do eat very well. We do pot luck and share our dishes. We also ate supper Thursday night at Captain Hook's. After the meal you get picture props to have a little fun with.

Curt was flying on a voucher (he tried to buy a plane ticket for his brother to come home for Grandpa's funeral) They let him fly here on it from Pennsylvania, but Kansas City wouldn't let him use it to fly home. He was suppose to leave Sunday morning and ended up buying another ticket and leaving at 4 Saturday afternoon. Hope it worked out okay. We enjoyed having him with us. We were a group of 32, from Iowa, Delaware, California, Virginia, Arizona and Montana.

Our car was at Thunderhead and so Tara and I rode home with Mike and Murt. Tia rode with Gene. When we arrived at Thunderhead Joe and Jame were asking Tara about her pets. She was naming them all and started to get excited she hopped in the car and said let's go. We were on our way home at 5:30, I talked to Gene and he said swing by Rathbun and check to see how high the water was. We did and our road to our campsite we will stay for Labor day was closed. After going to the bathroom we started for home. Tara started to get additated. I thought maybe she was hungry and we were a good 45 minutes from fast food. She started to cry and I drove faster. At Russell she tried to get out of the car. OMG! When we got to Chariton (fast food) she yelled NO - Home. My baby was homesick and wanted to go home. If I let off the foot peddle she yelled more. Needless to say it was a long trip that wore me out. You never seen a bigger smile when she saw home :)