Vacation with Ye Ye: Part 1

I am having a great week off from work! My Uncle is out for his annual visit and we are having a grand time. Here are some pictures from the first part of the week.

Monday: Clara Rose received a loner behind the ear hearing aid for her left ear. She was all smiles! This will provide her with normal hearing levels in her left ear. You cannot really see this hearing aid-- the one you can see is the bone conduction hearing aid for her right ear.

After the Audiologist and a nap, we went for a walk to a nearby park and the girls had a blast running around with Yay Yay.

Ride'm Cow Girl!

Clara Rose and Josie dressed for school the next day. Clara Rose's first day of school fully equipped to hear and Josie dressed for a fun water day party.

Yay yay and I hit the RI coast for some nice views.

We also had a yummy seafood lunch at an Oyster Bar . . .

and a spectacular view from our table.

Late afternoon the girls had fun playing with Yay Yay.

Clara Rose is quite smitten with him and giggles and talks to him quite a bit-- mostly asking (demanding) tickle tickles.

I enjoyed watching everyone have a good time.

Yay Yay bought a party cake and the girls ate it right up!

Wednesday: Yay Yay and I took the girls to their favorite playground where we met some of thier friends for a playdate.

Two of their friends playing.

The girls swinging with another one of their friends.

An attempt to get a group picture.

It was a pretty hot day at the playground. After a picnic lunch and a nice long nap, we had fun swimming in the pool.

More to come . . . .

God Bless Clara Rose

With one big hiccup, Clara Rose's Family Dedication and Baptism went without a hitch! Both girls were amazingly quiet and good for the entire church service. Clara Rose cried twice, just before she was Baptised when I took her hearing aid off and when the Vicar poured water on her head.

The hiccup, Uncle Earl-- Ye Ye to the girls (Mandarin for Grandpa) was not able to make the actual church ceremony because his flight was cancelled. We were all very sad he was unable to make the actual event, but we know he was with us in spirit and he is here now bringing lot of fun and joy to our family.

For those not aware, the Episcopal Church (and likely other religons) have a special liturgy for welcoming an adopted child to a family. Our church performed this ceremony for our family before we proceeded with the Baptism. This same type of service was also performed when we adopted Josie.

Some of the pictures are not great due to poor lighting in the church and we don't have the greatest camera-- we tend to lose or break them frequently yadda yadda.

Here are the pictures:

The best pose I could get before we left the house. Clara Rose loves her Baptism dress-- we bought it and the silk shoes while we were in China.

Our family before the congregation for the Family ceremony to welcome a child through adoption.

The Baptism

At the front of the church again where Clara Rose was anointed with oil.

Our family outside the church doors after the service.

After the church service, we invited all our family and friends to our home for a Red Egg and Ginger party.

This party is a tradition in some parts of China for babies, usually when they are 30-days old.

Red is the color of life and good fortune and eggs are a symbol for fertility and wholeness. Ginger is a prized spice beleived to be good for mothers who recently gave birth to restore the balance of their yin and yang.

We had lots of other tasty treats for our guests as well.

It was quite warm in the church and everyone, especially the kids were happy to jump in the pool and cool off. Wim, being one of the biggest kids (at heart) found himself pool side with Clara Rose and one of her friends, Clair.

Many of the adults sought a shady refuge under a tree near the swing set.

Clara Rose in the middle swinging with her friends, Clair to the left and Carly to the right.

The party was breaking-up and little Josie Dong Dong had passed out in her crib-- well past her naptime (Clara Rose went sans nap) when Uncle Earl called that his plane had landed. I rushed to the airport and swept him up for our home.

Soon, Josie was up and Clara Rose was curious-- just us three girls and their Yay Yay (as Clara Rose and Josie call him).  We were very happy that he arrived safe and sound.

Yay Yay opening his gift that we brought him from Tianjin-- it is a clay sculpture of a dragon that serves as an ashtray.  Yay Yay likes it very much.

Josie Dong Dong thinks Yay Yay is a super silly goose with his jokes and tickles.

Clara Rose getting to know him and making sure he knows how to use his phone.

It is going to be a GREAT week with Yay Yay!

Little Glimpses

Hi All. 

We're pretty busy getting ready for Clara Rose's Family Dedication and Baptism and the beloved Ye Ye is flying in tonight.. I'll post some picts from the big event when I can.

Here are a few picts from the past week.

Chillin on our mattress in the living-room-- yeah, it is HOT here and Wim and I have been sleeping in the living room closer to the air conditioner.

Enjoying some popciciles and . . .

laughing at Daddy outside the windown who was just getting home from work.

Josie modeling her spiffy vest that she made at school.

Josie was gracious to let Clara Rose have a turn modeling her wares.

Playing on the swing-set in the morning before it gets too hot.

Clara Rose made the shirt she is wearing in day care.

She is VERY proud of her shirt.

Lego fun when the sun got too bright.

The Helping Hand

**Caution**

This is about a sensitive topic—preventing child molestation and sexual abuse.

I discovered this on a blog— here is the link for anyone interested in reading more about what this mother faced: http://momsworstnightmare.blogspot.com

I want everyone to know—

Our family is using this strategy with all of our children.

How can we attempt to prevent sexual abuse of children. Read on.... Convicted abusers were surveyed, and they by and large said this approach WOULD have prevented them from abusing the children they abused.


Sit down as a family. Have the child draw the outline of their hand on a piece of paper. Then, on each finger write the name of one trusted adult. Let them choose the people, with a bit of guidance from parents/guardians. This the their own personal "Helping Hand." Put a phone number with each name, if the child is old enough to know how to make a phone call.


Tell the child that if anything happens that breaks the "Nobody is allowed..." rule (see earlier post), they should immediately tell TWO of the people on their helping hand. If nothing happens to stop the offenses, they should tell another and another until something happens.


Then, and THIS is the part that does the trick, tell EVERYONE you know that you have done this, and that you have a plan in place. Tell the 5 adults that they are on the child's helping hand.


Perpetrators say that if they had known that such a plan was in place for their victims, they would not have abused at least that victim.


You might ask: How could they possibly know that there is a plan in place?


Answer: Because YOU JUST TOLD THEM. You announced the plan to all your family and friends, etc. Again, and this is no lie, 90-95% of all sexual abuse of children comes from family or people with CLOSE family ties. Tell EVERYONE about the plan. Announce it. Decorate the helping hands and post them on the wall so people will ask you about them. It's so simple.

Splish Splash Cousin Nate's B-Day Bash!

We had a fun time this past weekend-- with the most fun be had at Cousin Nate's 5th Birthday!

Feeding frenzy at the snack table.

Shortly after snacking it up, everyone was running for the pool.

The girls had so much fun! Josie enjoyed driving this water car around the pool.

The Birthday Boy!

Happy 5th Birthday Nate!

Josie, Gabrielle, and Xavier goofing off while keeping cool.

 

Clara Rose enjoyed lots of quality time with her Nai Nai.

Before we new it, Uncle Bob showed all the kids how to really have fun in the pool!

Yeah! That's the way you do it!

Josie was quick to join in the jumping fun-- jumping onto her beloved noodle.

Cousin Ethan got really rambunctious with his jumps--

 twisting and twirling in the air.

Clara Rose thought everyone was too silly for words.

More shots of Ethan.

Sisterly love.

The Birthday Boy getting in on some of the jumping action.

Xavier doing a flip.

Josie-- starting to get caught up in the jumping excitement . . .

Houston, we have take off-- look at all that air between her and the pool!

Oh boy! Look at that little girl fly!

Notice there is NO noodle! One of the main reasons we are doing swim classes-- this kid is giving me a heart attack with her swimming stunts!

Keep in mine, she is but 3 1/2 years old.

Moving in for the close up-- can you see the big smile?

After mommy pulled her heart back into her chest-- it was time for cake. Boy, was I glad to haul little Josie Dong Dong in from the pool.

Notice Clara Rose, very content to be held by her Nai Nai.

Nate blowing out his candles while his little sis and cousins anxiously wait for their piece of yummie-ness.

Mmmmm! Yummy!

Nate devouring his yummy birthday cake.

Little Sis Emily made sure she got her fair share.

"HEY! Where is my piece of cake? That looks really Yummy!"

Uncle Steve and Xavier hanging out on the swing.

All the kids chowing down on cake.

Josie and Ethan 'helping' Nate with his presents.

Nate was very happy with all his loots-- his favorites were all cars.

Pure boy-- a very Cute one!

Clara Rose-- still hanging out with Nai Nai.