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...

Top this, Rachel Ray...

Chef June ( proud owner of a "The Queen does not Cook" apron) prepares and plates a gourmet appetizer of seared lemon ginger curry & white wine sea scallops over mixed field greens.

The china is Villeroy & Boch's New Wave pattern. My old taste in music is now my new favorite china pattern. It is china with no pattern.

After 4 long months, my friends have their travel date !

a mini letter to Ava:

Dear petite mademoiselle Ava,

Your wonderful Mommy and Daddy are so excited that they will soon fly halfway round the world to hug you and bring you home!

When your Mommy called me today to tell me they got the news of their travel dates, I just got chills and happy nervous (almost like 10 months ago when we got our call about our travel date)!

Yahooooo! Mary and everyone else cannot wait to meet you! I told Mary , in between Wiggles videos today, that you were going to be here soon! She said, yeh, apple, elmo, ball, aww done , pop-pop and nein (or was that nine). Not sure, but she will teach you all the words she knows!

Love,
June, Bruce and Mary

She had no nap...

No nap in the stroller, a short nap on the ride to the park, but zonked out in 3.8 minutes en route to chez June & Bruce (now known as Chez Mary, Castello de Mary, Mary's Crib... etc etc).

Mary travels across Pennsylvania to a mega amusement park

Potty Training may be in Mary's immediate future!

I introduced this potty bench to Miss M. the day after I found her in her crib in the a.m., sitting contentedly with her menagerie, with her diaper sitting at attention just to her right on the crib mattress. Fortunately, there was no poo involved!

More previews of summer fun!

Aunt Monique and Sebastian met us at the fair, which was held at a local Greek Orthodox Church center. All in all, Mary seemed very intrigued by all the rides and goings on. And the moussaka and the spanicopita were too die for! Yum Yum phyllo dough!

Mary's first train ride

At a church fair, carnival, whatever, Mary experienced her first amusement park ride, a caterpiller train. Daddy rode on the train with her while I photographed the tearful face ! The reaction was not as bad as when she 'met' Santa Claus, but she was a bit distressed at first!

Deck House

The Rules of a Toddler!

The Rules of a Toddler!

Mary must have gotten a copy of these rules either from her Nanny in YiYang, or from her baby yahoo group. She does seem to be at the keyboard a lot lately ! LOL.

If it is on, I must turn it off.

If it is off, I must turn it on.>

If it is folded, I must unfold it.>

If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled.

If it a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared.

If it is high, it must be reached.

If it is shelved, it must be removed.

If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed.

If it has leaves, they must be picked.

If it is plugged, it must be unplugged. If it is not trash, it must be thrown away.

If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected, and thrown on the floor.

If it is closed, it must be opened.> If it does not open, it must be screamed at.

If it has drawers, they must be rifled.

If it is a pencil, it must write on the refrigerator, monitor, or table.

If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied.

If it is empty, it will be more interesting full.

If it is a pile of dirt, it must be laid upon.

If it is stroller, it must under no circumstances be ridden in without protest. It must be pushed by me instead.

If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon.

If Mommy's hands are full, I must be carried.

If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone.

If it is paper, it must be torn.

If it has buttons, they must be pressed.

If the volume is low, it must go high.

If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.

If it is a drawer, it must be pulled upon.

If it is a toothbrush, it must be inserted into my mouth.

If it has a faucet, it must be turned on at full force.

If it is a phone, I must talk to it.

If it is a bug, it must be swallowed. If it doesn't stay on my spoon, it must be dropped on the floor.

If it is not food, it must be tasted.

If it IS food, it must not be tasted.

If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water.

If it is a car seat, it must be protested with arched back.

If it is Mommy, it must be hugged.

'Ridin' in the Big Red Car

We happened upon a red car for Mary in a local kiddie consignment shoppe. It kept her amused the entire time I was hunting for shorts for her. This place is great and some stuff still has the original store tags on, i.e. never worn!