Yay Yay's Vacation: part 2

I had a pretty hectic week back at work and I am looking forward to having tomorrow off-- to myself! I cannot even remember the last time I had a whole day for just me!

Here are pictures from the rest of our fun week with Yay Yay.

Friday: We took some time off without the girls and roamed around New Port for the day. We ducked into a fun ocean-side restraunt for lunch and managed to get a great table on the deck overlooking the marina.

It was another tasty treat-- Earl had a Swordfish BLT and I had lobster crepes.

MMmmmm! Yummy!

We even ran into Bill Murray!

Gabrielle spend the week with relatives and friends near Newport and we picked her up on our way home.

She bought the girls bubbles shaped like ice-cream cones.

They were a HUGE hit!

We all spent time chatting with Gabrielle and looking at some pictures from Wim's childhood that Grandma gave to Gabrielle.

Clara Rose spent time showing off her sand table skills.

The next day we all took Yay Yay to the beach.

I managed to take some interesting pictures of Gabrielle and Josie.

It's amazing what a little cropping and brightening can do!

Josie is in the background and Gabrielle is in the forground.

The day started out a little iffy-- lots of rain clods hovering around-- but this is New England and the clouds can blow out just as quickly as they blow in.

Wim Chillin, enjoying the day.

Yay Yay strutting his stuff.

All three grils hanging out on Gabrielle's beach towel.

Soaking in the sun.

Gabrielle and the girls digging a beach hole.

Yay Yay cracking jokes.

Yay Yay's last day with us, we spent the morning drinking coffee on the lawn while the girls ran around blowing bubbles.

Clara Rose is giving it all she's got!

Josie and Yay Yat think she is super funny.

In the afternoon we took the girls to the playground/spray park.

Clara Rose enjoyed a few more swings from her beloved Yay Yay.

Josie enjoys swinging herself.

The girls soon got too warm and hit the spray park to cool off.

I think the water was a little cooler than Josie thought it would be on such a hot day!

It didn't take long for her to adjust.

Clara Rose also had fun splashing and cooling off.

Before lone we were back at home, had eaten and it was time for bed.

The girls took turns showering Yay Yay with hugs and kisses.

"I love Yay Yay!"

"I'm going to miss you Clara Rose."

"No! You're not going anywhere Yay Yay!"

We all love to see Yay Yay when he comes to visit and we miss him when he leaves!

We LOVE YOU YAY YAY!

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.