Month: July 2009

  • Oh wow. What a WONDERFUL article!

    When Don and I adopted Dmitry it really made the doctrine of "adoption" come alive;  here's an article by Russell Moore, who also adopted from Russia and his thoughts on it:  The Brotherhood of Sons

  • Have I ever mentioned how much I love my house?

    And where I live?

    Actually, I'm pretty sure I have but now would be a suitable time to reiterate it, as yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of our moving in here.

    Thirty years.  In one house.

    Not common these days, is it?

    Oh, Don and I used to occasionally bat around the notion of moving but nothing ever came of it between the high prices of houses (compared to what we owed) and the unusually convenient location.  Plus the ability to see the fireworks from our front porch.  That was surprisingly important to us, once it got going (and it's been going on for years now).

    Of course I wish my Donald were here with me for this auspicious occasion, but one can't have everything, can one?  I still rejoice in three decades in my house, which has seen several children and more cats that I can count raised in it.  It may be comparatively small, but a lot of living has taken place in it. 

  • Yesterday afternoon and early evening was spent with Da Gurlz.

    Brianna and Bethany and I started out downtown, to see the newest "Ice Age" movie.  It must be nice to be that young, for the entertainment began when we parked on the 5th floor of the parking garage:

    They ooh'ed and ahhh'ed over the view for a bit, then finally agreed to go down the elevator to get to the theater.  They liked the movie (and are anxious to see "Aliens in the Attic", which starts later in the month) but I, for one, was grateful it wasn't in 3D, considering the gross bits involving mucus and such.  Disgusting enough as it was...certainly I wouldn't want to see it in glorious, life-like 3D. 

    After the movie we headed for Ridgmar mall where Brianna was bound and determined to have her ears re-pierced (they'd been done before but she failed to wear earrings enough afterward so the holes closed).  Jessica had said it was okay with her, and though I'd just as soon not, there are few objects so immovable from their determined path as a nine year old girl wanting her ears pierced.  

    So guess who wound up at Claire's immediately upon arriving at the mall?

    Naturally when it came time to Do The Deed, Brianna turned chicken and required a lot of encouragement (which came out as "Look, you don't want to do this, fine...let's go" on my part):


    Eventually she at least permitted the woman to mark where the holes would be:

    Clearly the employees have experience dealing with those who turn tail, for two of them arraigned themselves on either side of Brianna, having her hold Bethany's hands, and shot the earrings in at the same time.  Success!

    Once it was over she was enchanted with her star-shaped crystal earrings.  Tell you what, this is such a crazy age!  In a couple of hours the girls both prowled through Claire's, selecting various accessories....

    Is it a Look?

    ....to stuffing bunnies at Build-a-Bear:

    Talk about a mixture of little girls and teenagers!

    Their Gran thinks they're adorable, of course. 

  • Am @ the downtown AMC

    Am @ the downtown AMC with Brianna and Bethany, waiting for Ice Age 3 to start. Not 3D here, unfortunately.

  • Yesterday was Brianna's 9th birthday!

    And Jessica pulled out all the stops to throw her a magnificent party, by golly.  It was a carnival theme and held in her back yard, with carnival games, face painting, hair coloring, water balloons (that's when I left), Red Rover, grilled burgers and hot dogs...all manner of goodies!  Jonathan said he overheard one child earnestly tell another it was the best birthday party he'd ever been to.

    Here's Benjamin with the card trick guy:

    An exciting photo of the backs of a couple of my sons, plus my eldest granddaughter, Kirsten, on the right:

    Bryson was being his usual grumpy-bear self....at least until he visited the hair-spray stand:

     

    Nothing like green hair to put a smile on one's face, it seems.  His sister, Bethany, also chose green, though Brianna stayed with princessy pink:

    Here the two of them later on, with Charles in the back:

    I've no idea who this was but got a kick out of his obvious fondness for balloons; it doesn't show well here but he was wearing them around his waist:

    Charles and others at the grilling station:

    Dmitry in close proximity (unintentional, I'm sure) to Brianna and Bethany, with a boy adorned with either shaving cream or whipped cream.

    Jessica rounds the kids up for a rousing game of Red Rover:

    And there goes Brianna!

    As I said, after this the water balloons were coming out so I prudently chose to head on home.  It was a terrific party, though, and Jessica's hard work over many days paid off.