Back to School(?)

Wow...so that's the summer?? We've done our back-to-school shopping and Anyssa is ready to enter the first grade. First grade...wow...how time flies. After 1 and a half years as a kindergartener, she's ready to take the plunge. A full day of school. This summer was kind of crazy (when are they not?) and it's hard to think that it's almost over. Sure, the calendar says that summer continues until September but when you've got kids, summer is dictated by school. What's funny is that when I was a kid, school NEVER started this early! I mean, c'mon...she was out in MAY!! The world has gone wacky!!

Ye Ye (grandpa) is out of the hospital and home (albeit with a cast on his leg) and Uncle Bob is back IN the hospital (with a large bandage on his hand.) Anyssa has been a one-girl support system doing her best to raise smiles and feeling wherever she can. When she climbs on top of Uncle Bob while he's in a hospital bed, it's hard to not smile...even if you've just had major hand surgery.

Anyway, after an afternoon of jumping at the Jump Zone, she's howering and is getting ready for dinner. The word is that I'm grilling so I'd better get the grill ready...I just heard the shower turn off.

See you soon...school pictures will be posted soon!

Amazing connection

Yesterday, I was tooling around the net and decided to do some research about the Social Welfare Institue where Anyssa used to live. I was examining the Google results when something jumped out at me...a post was apparently made on a someone's blog referencing a little girl that had been adopted from the same orphange as Anyssa at the SAME TIME. Needless to say, I was blown away. I quickly did a little research and tracked down the author of the post and immediately sent the family an e-mail telling them who I was and why I was writing. I got a response within an hour. We have been chatting back and forth and I'm sending them some pictures. I've gotten some pictures of their little girl from their blog. The initial response to the pictures from Anyssa was indifference...I'm not sure she fully comprehends what I'm telling her. If Anyssa KNEW the other little girl...heck, this was almost 2 years ago and let's just say that there have been a couple of changes in Anyssa's life since then. The other family says that there duaghter remebers "Ji Yuan" but only pictures will tell if she really knew or remembers Anyssa at all.

What a mind blowing experience. Whether the girls ever truly remember each other or even really KNEW each other, the fact remains that they lived together under the same roof together for a good portion of their lives.

Anyssa was in ELL summer school and today (Friday) is the first day she is truly off for the summer. First grade is just around the corner. With luck, she will get Mrs. Knizek as a teacher again. She has made such remarkable strides in her speech, reading and writing that she should do just fine in school this year. I can't whether she likes it or not but she seems to be doing well in math. Just like her daddy!

Laura, Anyssa and I are all off on vacation next week. It's going to be a stay-cation this month with so much to do around the house. Getting caught up seems to be a never ending chore around here...God help us if we ever DO actually get caught up! Laura and I are planning a surprise this fall. I'd like to tell you what it is but you'll all have to be surprised too. I will tell you all when we let Anyssa know in a few months. OK?

OK, here is your selection of pictures for this post. Hope you enjoy them! If you all can convince Laura to start posting, maybe the posts wouldn't trickle out at the rate of 2 a year!!

Our little chopper pilot...at the Cavalcade of Planes at the Clow Airport just down from the house.

Guess who's turning 7?



Daisy Scouts...1 more year as a Daisy then she'll be a Brownie



A fantastic shot of Anyssa by our good friends and photgraphers, the Randalls.

2012

Looking back, it's been quite awhile since we've (I've) posted anything. I'll be completely honest...it's difficult to simply write about everyday stuff that seems so, well, boring. Laura and I have been talking for awhile now about the blog and the importance of documenting what we can because it's becoming obvious that if we don't start making a record of some of this stuff, it will lost to time. I remember when I was growing up that my mom used to carry her Kodak 126 Instamatic camera (with flash-cubes!) in her purse and she would snap pictures of what we thought was the stupidest stuff. Now, years later, I look at some of those "stupid" photos and I'm glad we have them. That's how it is becoming with Anyssa. If we don't keep records of the stupid everyday stuff, it will be gone.

That being said, Laura has asked me to show her how to sign in and start posting. We need to keep this going...together.

I am out of town in Kansas as I write this...once I'm home, we'll start getting caught up. Pictures coming! Please don't give up on us.