Is this week over YET?????

Has it only been a week since I posted? This has been a long week, I'm sorry did I say Long!!!!! On the one hand time is just flying by, Jan is already over, it was just Christmas. But then there are those times that just drag by.

Let see, we went into the week with our lease at the new office not being signed yet, to it finally getting signed, us getting packed and completely moved out and into a new office by Friday. There were a couple of long days in there, and I'm fixing to start some more work when I finish this post. I have yet to finish my December bank statements and January's will be ready this week. URRRRRHHHHHH if I could just get caught up!

So lets see, Grace is working on getting sick, she has a cough and a runny nose.

Here is a picture of Grace and Ashlee Gail. We went to breakfast last week for my birthday.

We took Grace for a tour of the school we hope that she will attend. Its Cathedral Academy. We submitted our application and are waiting to hear when she will be tested and then we have to wait to see if they are going to accept her. Getting into Kindergarten shouldn't be so hard. I have a feeling they want to put her in K4, not because she is not a bright child, because she is, but because she is still learning the ins and outs of our language.

Its a nice school, I'll keep you posted. I've already started getting her clothes for the school year, I hope she is in a six by then!

Here she is the day of the tour.

My mom bought her this jacket for Christmas, she has only worn it once, I sure hope it still fits next year.

She finally finished all of her shots and is finished until she is 11 except for the flu shot each year, and I think she can get the mist for that.

PaulPaul was out of school for three days so he kept Grace for 2 of them. Grace is a homebody and likes to stay home. He was able to get her to come down the slide by herself. Yea, PaulPaul!

But wait, what is my baby girl wearing!!!! Can it be, yes he has put his camouflage jacket from when he was little on her. And if it wasn't enough that she had it on, they went all over town in it!!!!!!

Our office (I'll take some pics this week) is a remodeled house and I love it, its about 15 minutes closer to home, so YEA!!!!!!!! I was spending an hour one way in the car, so that in itself is awesome. But the house has hardwood floors throughout. It does have a complete kitchen and a screened porch. My office is bigger than what I had and I now have a real desk once again. When I returned to work in August my boss had promised me a new desk, (my old one is being used by Lyndsey and the old admin that we hired to replace me went out and bought herself a desk that well is entirely too small for an admin to work at.) When I went back money was tight, so I didn't get one, as we were planning the move, my boss asked if wanted his desk and chair, I hope he didn't expect me to say NO, because hello, I did. Well they are both (and his monitor - it was bigger and my vision is not so great) are nicely settled into my new home (as I call it). So all is well there and we are up and running. Grace however does not have her own room now, so she is back and forth from my room to the kitchen. I really need to start looking for a daycare, but honestly that just freaks me out. I don't recall having so much of an issue when the boys were younger, was it because I was so young or because they always stayed with family either way, I'm not sure. Tom (my boss) says she can stay there but I know its the right thing for her.

My oldest son Brandon who moved out months ago, has now gotten an apartment with Lyndsey and another friend. They moved in yesterday, I haven't seen it yet, so I need to do that.

The Superbowl is tomorrow, I always vote for the team with the cutest Quarter Back, yes you heard me right!!!!! So I'm not sure yet who that is. Chris, Erin and the boys are coming over.

I couldn't resist showing you all this picture. I was at the computer when I looked up and saw this, we had not been home long from dance class.

I'm planning to take her to the skating rink soon, I loved to skate as a child. I learned when I was about her age, and would go every weekend. It has to be good exercise and I really need that! So its a win win situation.

For all of you adoptive moms out there, I know you cant see it in the pics and I don't know if I've posted before. But Grace gets these bumps, looking at them you would think bug bites. We've been going to the doctor since she she came home. We finally took her to a dermatologist and they did a biopsy, we are still waiting to hear from them, but in the mean time I was wondering if any of your kids from China have had any similar bumps.

Calling all crusiers or if you'd like to be:

Now here is Royal Caribbeans Newest Ship coming out this year. As you can see on my sidebar, I'm planning my next vacation. This year we have a graduation and next year we have a wedding so we're (by we're, I mean ME) looking at June 2011 (right around Graces 7th birthday - she loved that Christopher's birthday was at Disney, and said she wanted to wake up there for her birthday, well sweetie Disney is not really a vacation for mommy so this will have to do) so anyway, any of my blogging buddies out there want to join us, let me know, I'd love to have you join us, and this ship is big enough you would have plenty of room to do what ever. (by whatever I mean you wouldnt be stuck with us) the more the merrier

Isnt she a beauty!!!!!!!!!!

Well I've rambled long enough, work to be done, I hope you all have a very nice week!

Peggy

Hunters Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Hunter Boy

Happy Birthday Hunter Boy!!!!

Thursday was Hunter Boys birthday. So we intruded upon Chris and Erin so that I could give him his gift. I try to get that one on one with Hunter b/c since birth he has disliked me, ok maybe not dislike me, well yes that is the word. So I guess I'm not above buying his affection. Not sure its working.

Grace got one of these for Christmas and Hunter loved it, I told Paul then we would have to get Hunter one.

How can all three boys be so darn cute. This youngest one just takes my breath away. Look at that smile! And those eyes!!!!!

Coffee in Bed

I believe her daddy has her spoiled! She had slept in her bed the night before, Paul Ray goes up and gets her and puts her in our bed while we get ready for work and she watches TV. She asked for her "chocolate coffee". (Hot Choc with marshmallow). The pic was just too cute not to share.

As you can see Grace is asleep in her bed in her room. Last night was the first night. We put her to bed at 9, we got on the floor and stayed until 11:45.

She stayed there until 4 when she woke up, wide awake. She called for me, I'm not sure if she couldn't undo the gate or if she didn't try. Either way, she was up. She watched TV for the next 2 hours while I tried to sleep. I couldn't sleep for some reason last night. I watched TV until at least 2 before dozing off. It was strange having her in another room.

I'm sure it will get easier as time goes! It seems like she just came home, I feel like I've missed so much with her.

She gets to stay home with her brother tomorrow, Friday and Monday, no school till Tuesday! I wont know what to do at work without her.

Hope everyone is having a great week so far. And is it me or is January flying by at a very high rate of speed.

Peggy

Tea with Daddy and a new look for PaulPaul

I never thought I'd see Paul Ray having tea, but sure enough, here's the proof.

Gracie couldn't have gotten a better daddy! She is such a Daddy's Girl.

Since Grace got her room painted last week, PaulPaul got his done this week. This is the color of our half bath down stairs. I love it, turned out well. I told Paul he should do ours this color. He said he was done.

A Week In Reveiw

Well where do we start . . . . . .

Tuesday, Grace and I had our hair cut. It was her first since coming home. We just trimmed it actually. Evened it up some. It looks much better. She was so excited.

Sorry, I forgot to get one when she was done but in my defense her daddy did come to get her so she wouldn't have to wait on me. It was so funny, he was in and out. He was very uncomfortable, Annette (my hairdresser since around 2000) said most men are that way.

She loved having her hair done. She wouldn't let me put bows in it for the rest of the week. Even for dance class the next day. She would say, I don't want to mess up my new Hair Cut!


GRACE GETS MAIL
Now weekly Grace comes to me and wants to send someone a picture that she has drawn. She knows you have to have an envelope and a stamp.

So on Wednesday when we got home, she had gotten a card in the mail. This child was beyond excited. I think more so than Christmas. She was in awe. (you can notice her hair too)

A Letter For Me, She says!

She is being very careful not to tear it!

So Granny, thank you so much! You made her day! The prized possession is now tucked away with her special things.

Work:

Well we are moving our office and hiring a payroll service. It was a somewhat hectic week, but things are going ok. We will be moving to a location that is closer to home and it will also help narrow down the schools we are looking at for Grace. We'll be in it by 02/01. Its on Dixon right off of Remount.

This also means it is time to start looking at options for Grace. It is time that she start going to a daycare. I have to to be honest, the thought of someone else taking care of her scares me. We are thinking about talking to the schools we're interested in and seeing if we could not put her in K4 right now, mid year. She is a very bright little girl and eager to learn. I'm at a total loss of what to do. I want to do what is best for Grace, but what is that. I think we've narrowed it to two schools by the way.

We also had our work party last night. It was a nice turnout and I think everyone had a great time. Grace got to spend the day with her brother. That morning I was scheduled at 9 for my massage. OH it was heaven. 90 minutes of being rubbed was so nice. She actually did a exfoliating salt rub first followed by a steam shower. I felt so clean afterwards. Then another massage.

The guys are upstairs painting PaulPauls room right now. I have some work that needs to be done.

Hope everyone had a wonderful week.

Peggy

A few pictures of the kids from last night. They were chasing each other around the room.

Hiding under the fort, on a mission.

Just a quick post, I may not have much time over the next week. The thought of the amount of work just scares me. Being sick on top of the holidays has caused a "pileup" if you will!

I did work most of today while the guys painted Gracies room. They left after talking with Helen this morning to go to Lowe's for paint. The hubby didnt want me to go, he knew I would take forever in picking out a shade of pink. I asked for a pale pink. Grace has been so excited, all week long she has talked about her "old" room (not sure why she says that). While she was taking a bath tonight, she even asked if her "mommy, daddy, sunsun and jojo" could come and see her room, referring to her China family.

Grace has a cherry bed and nightstand. If you remember Brandon was living at home when Grace came home, so we made a corner in our room for her. Well Grace was given some nice pcs of furniture, they are white, along with the whole bed setting (for a full size bed) and curtains (in purple). It was my thought (MY thought!!!) that she would have a mixed up room for awhile (a year or so) then we could paint the room a light shade of purple. Now the hubby wants to hang the curtains NOW instead of just hanging the blinds that we bought a long time ago. He is not big on matching, not big at all. We'll see how it turns out in the end. We still need to do something with the floor, the carpet needs to be replaced, I'd like to put wood down, we need some things for the wall and she should be set. I need to move her clothes up there. She is very excited, I told her I need to get a gate for the top of the stairs (which she calls a bridge) before she sleeps up there. I'm afraid she may get up to come to us and fall down the stairs, they are steep. Hunter boy took a tumble yesterday.

Here are some pictures of her room so far: What do you think?

I like the pink much better than I thought I would when it was going up. It still needs some work, but at least she has a room now. Only if we can get her out of our bed. We left all of her toys in the dining room, oops the play room. So her time will be spend downstairs.

Have a great week,

Peggy

This was suppose to be a day of work (job work) but I cant concentrate to save my life.

We have our living room back, we left her table there.

We moved Pauls roll top desk back to our bedroom and put her kitchen where it was.

I've watched the (what has become the Annual) tree burning ceremony. I wish I had my camera to show you a pic, I thought of it after the smoke went down. It always amazes me how fast that thing lights up, and I do keep water in it. I can see how when a tree catches on fire in a home, I can understand the destruction it will cause. We are very careful, I never go to sleep with the lights on. Fire always scares me.

I love keeping up with and reading all my blogging friends blogs, and even those I'm not "friends" with, guess that makes me a lurker, I just read on those and don't comment. I'm always amazed at some who have the perfect home, they look like they should be in a magazine. I WAS NOT blessed with any type of decorating skills at all. Our home is and has always been very simple, come in kick your feet up type. And now its been reduced to the princess tea set attached to something via the jump rope. I love it, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I just downloaded the rest of the Christmas pics from that evening. Thought I'd share.

This was Grace as the family arrived for Supper that evening

Look at that sweet face.

I think this one is going to be one handsome young man, I image him being the all star high school football player. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
We drew names this year. I got Hunter (who opened it before I knew it) and Noah. I think Noah like the paper.
Grace got a doll, coloring book and crayons.
As much as I love Christmas, I'm glad to finally have it over. Ready to settle into a somewhat normal routine. I've got to find a balance. It takes me an hour to get home in the evening from work, so if I stay till 5 it's 6 by the time I get home, never mind finding time to cook and get Grace ready for bed. Like I said, I gotta find some routine.

My baby boy will finish school (insert prayer here) this year.

Gracie will start school, that should be interesting. But before school comes around, I need to find her a daycare over the next couple of months. I hope she adjusts ok to that.

Well as we all start back to regular work schedules this week, I hope yours go smoothly, I'm afraid to think of the next two and half weeks.

Peggy