The Cruise

After hitting Las Vegas and Sea World, it was finally time to board the ship.

Our kids are at such great ages to travel. It gets easier every year. I packed them each their own suitcase, and they each pulled their own. Here, Jessica was too tired to pull hers so Christian volunteered.I was a little worried about taking four kids on a cruise. It turns out I had nothing to worry about. We loved it. There was always something for everyone to do.

The other really great part was traveling with these fine folks. We went with Mike's brother Sean and his family.

In Ensenada we saw the Bufadora--a big blowhole where the waves force the water up into the rocks.

We also did some shopping. It was a little overwhelming--the salespeople were very aggressive. It was fun speaking Spanish and the kids loved finding Mexican treasures to bring home.

On the bus in Ensenada.

Andrew's favorite parts were bargaining in Mexico, playing ping pong and chess with Dad, Sean and Tyler, the kids club activities, and frozen yogurt that's available 24 hours a day.

Bev liked parasailing, the towel animals, kids club, the beach in Cabo and shopping.

Christian's favorite things: kids club activities, eating shrimp for dinner every night, parasailing and snorkeling in Cabo. (Mom's favorite part: he didn't go over this railing.)

There was a small pool and a slide on the Lido Deck.

Tyler and Christian.

Courtney and Jessica.

Mom and Jessica.

Andrew and Sean.

The brothers.

Katie, Courtney and Julie on the boat going to Cabo San Lucas.

The cousins in Cabo. I can't even describe how much the kids loved the ocean and the beach. I loved it too--I think Julie and I could have stayed in that water all day.

Mike negotiated with a guy on the beach to get us a good deal on parasailing. He went up with Chrisitan and took the camera with him.

Andrew and Courtney.

Mike and Christian.

Katie and Bev.

I went up with Jessica.

Sisters snuggling on the parasailing boat.

Mike and the boys were in one room and the girls and I were next door.

All ready for a day of fun.

Jessica's favorite things: kids club activities--especially the face painting, eating on the boat, sleeping on the boat, swimming on the boat, pancakes, eggs and shrimp.

Andrew bought a chess set in Cabo. He loved bargaining for it.

He and Tyler playing chess on the Lido Deck.The kids loved coming back to our rooms to find the towel animals that the steward had left. Christian with the turtle.

Christian got a mask and cape in Ensenada. I guess even superheros need sleep.

I had heard that cruises were just a big buffet on water. I was surprised at how good the food was. I loved that I didn't have to fix it. I loved that everyone could get what they wanted. I loved that we could get frozen yogurt cones whenever we wanted. Here we are at dinner one night.

Andrew and Jessica.

Christian and Courtney.

Tyler, Bev and Katie.

Sean and Julie.

It was one of the best vacations we have taken. The trip was to celebrate Tyler's graduation--I am so glad Sean and Julie let us tag along. We had a great time. The only problem is that I now have to get used to preparing food again.

Two Years Ago...

On September 14, 2006 we got a call from the adoption agency we were working with. They called to tell us about a little 21 month-old girl and asked us if we were interested in adopting her. We had started the paperwork one year earlier, so we were thrilled to finally get the call. Donna told me about her and then said she would send us a picture. I told her that of course we would love a picture, but I didn't need one to know she was ours. I called Mike and he agreed. As I sat waiting for the email with the picture it was like waiting for the line to appear on the pee stick. When the email came the song playing on my itunes just happened to be "Isn't She Lovely." It was even better than an ultrasound--we could see her face. This is that first picture.

Jessica now.

It was two years ago this week that Mike and I traveled to Liberia to bring her home. In many ways it feels like she has been with us forever. She is a bright little sunshine in our home. She is so funny and sweet and smart and loving. I can't imagine our family without her.

Adopting a toddler has come with it's own set of challenges. Communication difficulty, cultural differences, understanding her personality, bonding and attachment. I wasn't prepared for how much I would grieve missing her first two and a half years of life. I think about what she might have experienced, what might have happened to her. I feel reassurance that she had a birth family that loved her and did their best to care for her.

A friend asked me about our trip to Liberia. The only word I could come up with was "complicated." International adoption is complicated. Liberia with all of the political and social issues is complicated. Traveling there is complicated. Getting anything done there is complicated. Finding new underwear to purchase there is complicated. Trying to get out of the country is complicated. The only thing that wasn't complicated was picking Jessica up in my arms and taking care of her and loving her.

.

Two years has flown by. She has made so much progress. She has taught us so much. Two years ago this beautiful little blessing entered our lives and we are so so lucky.

Vacation Story, Part Two

I love traveling with this bunch.
Andrew and Bev wanted to see Las Vegas, so we made a stop there on our way to San Diego. I don't like Las Vegas--call me a boring party pooper. It's just not my thing. We stayed off the strip and did a few kid-friendly activities. This is at New York New York on the 4th of July.

M&M World was fun. The kids each got a small bag of M&Ms in their favorite colors (and at $13 a pound, they were small bags.)

Bev the thrill-seeker rode the Roller Coaster at New York New York.

Mike's friend Kelly entertained us when we got to San Diego. After the long ride in the car, the kids loved playing in the pool.

And now, presenting my favorite picture from the vacation.

At Sea World we bought some small fish for the kids to feed to the sea lions. They warned us that the birds would try to snatch them away from us. Just as Andrew went to throw it, a bird swooped in and stole it.

I forgot just how wet one gets at Sea World (white shirt--not my best idea.) We were soaked several times during the day--the dolphin show, Shamu show and the river raft ride.

I know for some it might seem like crazy talk, but I think I might like Sea World better than Disneyland. It was a fabulous day--amazing animals, fun rides, great shows, beautiful weather and happy, happy kids.

Road Trip

We have been on a most wonderful vacation. It ended yesterday, so we spent the day driving home. We left San Diego around 11:30 a.m. and got home at midnight.
This is what the dashboard looked like as we got to Las Vegas. 90 mph and out of gas.

Bev made this sign for us. We were all yearning for home, but the ride was actually very pleasant. The kids all did great--they are awesome travellers. Between the Nintendo, the Gameboys, the Ipods, movies, sudoku, books and coloring we were all pretty entertained

We had six suitcases, six backpacks, beach toys, a few carry-ons and a laundry bag. I don't think we could have fit one more thing in this van.

More on the vacation to come.

I Love Our Garden

What is this you ask. Why, this is a bowl of fresh herbs from our garden.
Having fresh herbs has opened up a whole new world for my cooking. I am in love with basil--really, really in love with it. The plants are all growing, but I am using them as fast as they grow.

Whenever I go out to pick some I announce to all, in my very best Martha Stewart voice, "I'm off to collect some fresh herbs (pronounced with a hard "h" sound) from my garden."

The Dry Heaves

This morning, like every other morning, Andrew was the first one up. His morning routine includes getting himself breakfast, practicing the piano and then, if he has time, catching a cartoon. He came to our room this morning to inform me that the milk he used for his cereal was "chunky."

"Um, what?"

Yeah, he said "chunky." I questioned if it was icy--if items are placed in a certain part of the fridge they will freeze. He said it wasn't ice--it had chunks. I went downstairs to investigate and found that indeed the milk was chunky. So then I asked him,

"So what did you have for breakfast?"

"The cereal."

"Dry right?"

"No, I used the milk, but it tasted gross so I just ate the cereal and then dumped out the left-over milk."

I then uttered the word. My "favorite" curse word. (It's the one that starts with an H and ends in double L's.) Andrew hates it when I say it. He is like my own Jimminy Cricket in the swearing department. I am trying not to do it anymore, but it slips out when I am shocked, angry, and apparently when I am grossed-out.

After disappointing my children with my lack of restraint, I took the opportunity to teach them the rule of "don't ever eat chunky milk." (Apparently I have to spell everything out for them.)

Then I went to dump out the rest of the milk. Cue dry heaves. I just kept picturing him gulping it down. I didn't realize how entertained my family would be watching me gag and heave.

Later on, we were in the car and Kiki pipes up, "Mom remember how you were gonna throw up--that was funny, will you make that sound again?"