Returning to the scene of the Crime

This past weekend we left Paige with Scott's parents and enjoyed a weekend on Mackinac Island to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We were married there 10 years ago and we have returned every 5 years since. Macinac Island is a relaxing place where there are no cars, only bikes and horse drawn carriages. The pace of the Island is slow and inviting.

Approaching the Island by Ferry - the Fort is on the hill.

The Island House - where we had our reception and where we stayed
Outside the church 1999

Outside Mission Church 2009

Self driven buggy tour. Rocky was an excellent drive.

Paige's Preschool graduation

Yesterday Paige graduated from preschool, sniff sniff. They wore little caps and gowns and had a short ceremony. This kids walked in, stood before the parents, said the pledge of allegiance and sang a song. Then their teacher, Ms. Correen, called them each up to get their diplomas. Paige got a special award for knowing all 36 sight words. The teacher had prepared binders of the kids work and a time capsule not to be opened until 2022 when they graduate from high school. Paige has already asked numerous times if she could open it and what was in it. Finally, the teacher gave them a envelope with things to work on over the summer. Paige had hers open and reading one of the books to Grandma 5 minutes after we left school. She'll probably have the work done by mid next week :) Below are a few of the pictures from the day. You can see the complete album of photos at:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=m7znk8n.9750f6rj&x=0&y=uoxbd8&localeid=en_US&cm_mmc=site_email-_-site_share-_-core-_-view_photos_album

Wee Discover Class of 2009

Paige getting her diploma

She was so proud of herself. She told everyone we saw that day that she had graduated from preschool.Family photo
The cap and certificate

Happy Mother's Day

This year I experienced my first Mother's Day Tea at Paige's school. Last year I was in New York with my mom helping her deal with the loss of her mother, my grandmother. This year Paige told me ahead of time that I had to be there this year. I promised I would be. Paige helped my pick out the clothes choosing the silk blouse my sister had sent my for my birthday. Paige made me paper flowers and a plaque and she served my and my mother-in-law cookies and fruit for tea. She cleaned up after we were done as well. It was so sweet.

Paige's friend Patrick

It used to be Kim's friend Patrick, then he was my friend Patrick, and now he is wrapped firmly around the finger of Paige. He sent her a box of goodies that arrived today. The jumping and screaming was over the top, so were the contents of the box. Thank you Patrick for the blue bunny (currently making friends with the white Bunny Auntie Kim sent last year), and the Hannah Montana fest consisting of the wig, dress, guitar, and make up. Attached are the results of the package. As you'll see we had a good time.

Amy

Bowling

Some of Paige's cousins had last week off from school, so on Thursday we went up to visit and go bowling. It was Paige's first time "real" bowling. She asked me if it was like Wii bowling. I told her the ball would be heavy and it would be slower than Wii bowling. She seemed to take it all in. She watch a couple of her cousin go first. Then it was her turn.

Selecting just the right ball.

Setting up the shot.

Watching and waiting for the ball to slowly make it way down the lane and knock over a few pins.

With Wii bowling she bowls about 160. Real bowling was much harder, she bowled a high of 46. Despite the low score Paige had a good time and wants to go again. I however got in trouble for taking the pictures. I messed up a little old ladies game. I apologized and stopped taking pictures, but after their game she shoved her score card in my face. She was insistent her poor score was because of the flash from my camera. We were at least 8 lanes away so we all think she was just looking for an excuse.

Update and random things

Paige and I have been sick for the past week and a half so we've been staying home and laying around. I hope next week will be better as Paige goes back to school on Monday. So much for enjoying mid-winter break. Despite being sick, we did try to do our part to stimulate the economy last weekend. We retired Our Chevy Malibu at 139,000 miles and replaced it with a used 2008 Ford Focus. It is a unique Kiwi Green color.
Under the random things category, we are looking at 3 different schools to send Paige to for kindergarten. Perhaps it is mommy being over protective, but I don't think she is ready for all day Kindergarten. Our school district does not offer part time kindergarten so we are looking at the Schools of Choice program which lets us apply to other local schools that offer part time programs. If accepted (it's lottery based) we can send Paige there tuition free, we just have to provide transportation daily. We attended a parents night at one of the schools already and hope to schedule a time at each school to visit a kindergarten class when it is in session. We won't know where she is going to go until mid to late April.

The next random thing is a picture of the flyer Paige's preschool/daycare center sent out as a mass mailing. She appears in the lower left hand corner.
Finally, I felt better today so I finished a project I started this summer, I completed the quilt hanger and hung up the quilt that came to me after my grandmother passed away last spring. It now hangs in our bedroom.

Pinkalicious

Paige loves books. Many of her favorite books, and her treasured High Five magazine, come from my mom. In honor of two of Paige's favorite books, Crumbs Bakeshop in a Box by Mia Bauer and Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann, we made pink cupcakes with pink frosting. We used the recipe from the Crumbs book and it was very tasty. In honor of Pinkalicious (and Crumbs too) the cupcakes were pink with pink frosting. No one turned pink from too much pink consumption like in Pinkalicious. We had a great time baking and eating our treat.

Making the cupcakes.

Making the frosting. Frosting the cupcakes.

The finished products. Makes you hungry doesn't it.

Enjoying the fruits, I mean cupcakes, of our labor.

Xin Nian Kuai Le - Happy Chinese New Year

Saturday we celebrated Chinese New Year with 100 plus adoptive families. We enjoyed a buffet lunch, live traditional Chinese music, a shadow puppet show, and faux firecrackers (100 plus kids jumping on bubble wrap). We had a wonderful time catching up with friends and celebrating Paige's unique culture.

Yesterday, New Years Eve, I spent cleaning house to sweep out (or vacuum up) the old and start the year clean. Today we took Paige's teachers oranges to wish them prosperity in the new year. We also put together red envelopes of chocolate coins to give to her class mates. Traditionally the parents and grandparents give children money in red envelopes on New Years Day. This money is meant to be saved for the future.

I hope all is well with you and you are happy and healthy. Below are pictures of Saturday's celebration.

Amy

All dressed up. Mom even let her have some lipstick.

Thanks to Auntie Kim for the dress.

Ready to party!

Traditional erhu and flute musicDragon parade. Paige just watches this part. She does not like the dragon.
The best part, jumping on the bubble wrap to pop the bubbles.
It really does sound like firecrackers

Ice Skating

It's been very cold here for the past few days. Temperatures have been in the low teens or less during the day. Yesterday morning the car read -9 as I was taking Paige to school. Given the cold we've been choosing to stay inside where it is warm. OnThursday we were inside, but at a ice skating rink. It was Paige's first time on skates and she did great! She had a few falls, but figured out how to get back up first with some help from mom then on her own. We stuck to the edges so Paige could hold onto the boards and my hand. She even ventured off just holding the boards. We made it 5 times around the rink in the 45 minutes we skated. We stopped each time we came to the team box and she would send me out to skate by myself so she could watch. Below are some pictures of our adventure.

Today Scott and Paige are off on a date. I have some work to do while they are away and a few errands as well.

Take care,

Amy

First time on the ice.

Penalty to Paige Harris. 5 minutes for cuteness.

I'm starting to get the hang of this.

Look at me go!

Just a little fall.

Harris Family Christmas

See the post below this one first.

Here are the pictures from the Harris Family Christmas.

Paige in front of the mound of presents. 8 grand kids equals lots of gifts.

The stockings hung with care. The blank one on the right is for Mei Mei.

The grand kids.

The chaos of opening presents with 8 kids and 8 adults.Paige modeling the dress up clothes and wig she got.

Happy Holidays!

We hope you had a wonderful Holiday Season! We had a wonderful Christmas morning where Paige tore through the paper on the gifts. Santa fulfilled almost all her wishes including the Hannah Montana guitar, a Leapster2, and a makeup doll. Her only request not filled was a remote controlled airplane. We told her perhaps Santa felt she should be a little older for that toy. After breakfast and some playtime we headed to Scott's family for more presents and dinner. After dinner we played with all the kids new toys. Scott and I had to wait until today to get our new toy. We got a new Dell computer. It looks great and everything but the Internet is working so I'm writing this post from the old computer. I guess we will be spending some time with Comcast and/or Dell support tomorrow.

Paige has been enjoying her new toys. The easy bake oven has proved to be a bit of a challenge. Everything that she has tried to make has burned. First it was the cake she and the babysitter tried to make, then the cookies she and Scott tried to make. It seems the cooking times given in the directions need to be cut in half. The Leapster2 has made a few car trips and the make up doll has had several session for both her face and hair. The guitar also gets played and she sings along with it. The guitar was a popular toy today when we had some friends over.

The other day Paige was putting on a bracelet she got from Santa and she saw it said "Made in China" on it. She asked Scott and I "How come so much of the stuff Santa brought says made in China?" She's 4, she cannot start questioning Santa yet!!!!!!! We told her Santa has workshops all over and that sometimes he has to buy some things he cannot make. The answer seemed to satisfy her for now.

Now since you really want the pictures, there a some in this post and the next one down. Enjoy!

Amy

Paige in front of the Christmas tree.
Reaction to opening the guitar she really wanted.Rocking out with the guitar in the High School Musical Cheerleader outfit
Playing with the Leapster.
Applying eye shadow to the doll.