Mary makes cupcakes, or just eats the batter...

We mad these gooey fudge center streusel cupcakes the other day. The step stool seemed to work well. I have thought about getting the "Learning Tower", but then she would have access to all the drawers, knife block, too close for comfort. I already moved all the knives out of the drawer to higher ground long ago.

Mary's Menagerie

This is just the collection that is housed in the living room toy chest. There are more 'critters' downstairs and still more (just one mesh container full) in Miss Thing's bedroom.

Playdate got rained out, what to do? Take the girls to the Mall !

Mary and Claudia ham it up at the mall, and hold hands when they stroll the halls !

We got so many "Awwww how cute" looks and comments !

We had brief conversations with two adoptive families who happened to be at the mall!
Very nice, even the Mom who rushed over and exclaimed "oh, they are adopted! Here's mine, all grown up!And she motioned to her lovely KA (Korean American daughter). And this lovely maybe 20 something year old came over smiling, happy and not at all embarassed that her gregarious Mom had run over to us to comment! It was so quick and good natured in tone that we were laughing, not bothered in the least ! And that woman's daughter was just great !! Good sign for those who worry about how their daughters will adjust and accept the fact of their having been adopted. After all, it was just one day in their lives! : )

Mary is still napping! wow!

This allowed me some precious time to update the blog. prob won't have time to add a slide show.

Seen and heard, August 2007

More goings on in the life of Mary.
word development wise, we have heard 'pease', a variation of thank you, cook, fro fries (this is not new, but oft repeated), wall, walk, more, etc etc.

We drove past a Wendy's on the way home, after dark, and Mary, who should have fallen asleep in her car seat by then, called out "fro fries" repeatedly. She recognized the structure and signage of the building, which is pretty cool. She also knows when we near our house, or one of her grandparents' houses, from a few streets away.

Mary with her (formerly my) Fiorucci handbag

Fiorucci is an Italy-based young fashion label founded by Elio Fiorucci. The label's heyday was the 1970s. In the early 1960s, Fiorucci was a small shoe shop in Milan owned and run by present Fiorucci tycoon Elio's father. The elegant Milanese with money used to have their clothes and shoes made to order.

This handbag was a gift, not sure where my friend found it. I thought the New York Fiorucci store had long since closed!

Mary and her Mommy meet Ava for the first time

At long last, Ava is home ! So adorable, we are going to visit Ava and her Mommy tomorrow, can't wait !

Our Hunan reunion party

This past Saturday, one of the families with whom we traveled to Hunan, China, hosted a reunion party for the girls (and their parents were invited too : )!

It was wonderful to see everyone in a more relaxed atmosphere than when we were
traveling. Visiting China was great, but there is no place like home! Especially since we are almost a year home with our precious daughters! All the girls are thriving and doing very well developmentally! A few families had scheduling conflicts and could not make the party, and we missed seeing them, but will send photos.

Some things, like a shopping day at Nordstrom, are destiny!

My First Summer Vacation by Mary Rose

This girl loves the beach, no fear!

Tomorrow will be Mary's first glimpse of the ocean

this link is to a low budget video about cape may. the narrator has such a philly accent, but the photos of the victorian houses are cool.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFnanz6-qmo



Ok, it will only be the Atlantic Ocean, but she will most certainly enjoy it!


Anyway, photos...

Bao Xishun, of Inner Mongolia, has an agent

If Bao has an agent, I should get an agent!

Because of his fame, Inner Mongolia decided to turn the wedding into a branding event.

"He has a very good image among us in Inner Mongolia," said Bao's agent, Xin Xing. "We plan to use his name as a brand to develop tourism. We want to better help and serve our hometown."
Everything from the alcohol drunk at the wedding to the shoes Bao wore were sponsored by a different company.

So Hollyweird !




Love the ceremonial 'dress', very cool colors and style!

they are almost there, one more plane ride

Come Full Circle: We are almost there, one more plane ride

I understand the concept of cooking and cleaning, just not as it applies to me!

Mom gave me the dish towel she is holding. I think I ought to frame it and hang it on the kitchen wall!

Monique created this photo a la AW, with some photo software she has. Mary actually sat still and didn't turn her head or blink!

Scene from a Chinese Restaurant and more photos of Uncle Al & Aunt Mil

The Lotus Inn, location of our wedding rehearsal dinner. This place is our "Cheers". Food is not bad at all, yummy in fact, and everyone there just loves Mary. One waiter was truly touched by her story, and when he said she is a very lucky girl, he spoke from his heart. Of course I said we are the lucky ones, but I understand his sentiment.

A waitress there actually grew up in Guangzhou, and said she had not been back since leaving China for the US. Her mom had told her how built up and commercial the city has become, since she saw it last. Interesting.

World Blog: Chinese passion for America's past time

the last section of this article is subtitled "Team sports a good thing single child China".

It's an interesting read.

Mary finally meets her Great Aunt and Uncle!

Uncle Al and Aunt Mildred came to town after visiting Washington DC. After about 15 minutes of clinging to me, almost pinning me to the floor, she began to exhibit her bubbly personna again.

Uncle Al was feeding Mary vanilla ice cream, and we all think she consumed more than he did.

How Machiavellian Are You?

This and many other relevant, insane and downright ludicrous quizzes are on http://www.blogthings.com/

check out this local dive bar ) I have never been in it, but the proprietors recently gave it this stunning new paint job!

And Mary in a rare moment

when she is not in motion...