Contest Page

Every week we should be posting more qwestions on this page. When you put your answer go to comments and do all the things to do.We reveal the answers on Saturday and post them on Sunday. When you do your answer you put the number of the qwestion your answering. Then you put your answer. For an example 1 a. All the answers will be numbered orlettered.


(Note you can use the site for answers)



1. What year did Marielle come home?
A 2006 B 2005



2. Witch is are address?
1128 sparkling ave. or 1160 acoustic st.

Merry Christmas

New camera is charing pictures coming soon, depends if on call or working.

CHRISTMAS PICTURES

McKenna is in her uniform for University Childrens Choral and well the one with Marielle shows her crying. Up to the actual point of sitting on Santa lap she was excited and wondering when can we see him and dancing around. So we took the picture with me standing by her.

We are in the new house

Well we are officially in the new house. Pictures will have to wait until after a certain date later this month. Mommy can't wait.

The other house is rented and hopefully this will work out. Girls and Daddy LOVE the new house. Mommy is more sentimental and LOVES the new house but really miss the old one to. Lots of memories since that is where many happy times occurred. Heck Daddy says mommy is the biggest pac rat cause since the old house did not sell we still own it. LOL Mommy gets teary because Cinderella wall gets painted over. But Daddy says he will do something here. But we took pictures and when grandpa sends them to us we will have to post them here.

THe girls saw Santa and guess who was excited up to the point of actually sitting on his lap. But we had them take the picture anyway. She wants elmo and cinderlla vanity for christmas.



The girls are excited to start new their new class at church. School stays the same for big sister.

We hope to have lots of family visitors between Christmas and NEW YEARS. (hint hint)

A BIG THANK YOU TO GRANDPA and GRANDMA Rowley for help with the move we could not have done it without them.

Big news in the house a little one is almost potty trained. YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

McKenna started basketball practices, hopefully she has fun this year. This year is the first year they separate the boys and girls when making teams. She also was given the honor of being Junior Chef this month, they made chocolate covered preztels. She is doing well in school. We are counting down the days until next friday when we are out for Christmas break.

Mommy is working hard to get the house in order. We still have boxes to go through but more and more gets done every day.

Update on House

We had the walk through today. It looks awesome.

ALso signed today, it went smoothly.


So sometime in the next few days we get the official keys to the house.

We are all excited and then the moving will begin.

THE HOUSE IS DONE(except for appliances)

Well we went and peaked in the house. THe grout is in and drying and all it needs is us and the appliances. We tried to take pictures but the glare/screens made them not turn out. So we will have to take some on walk through day.

As for the moving, I am lazy and not a good packer. SO we are going to go room by room, take what we want and JUNK the rest. Yes, you read tht right JUNK the rest. Any workable things we don't like will go to good will. Then will do major cleaning to the old house the 9-12th and it will be ready for renters of the 15th.

THe girls are really excited.

NOW for the sticker shock of heating the air conditioning and things are going smoothly.

We sign on TUESDAY unless we hear something before then.

We did get a dining room table set which was on sale (YES WE PAID CASH) for it. It will be delivered in January. YES JANURARY but it will be coming. That gives us time to get a rug for Christmas.

OH Santa IS bringing me a new camera YEAH. Can't wait for christmas then I can add pictures of the girls again to the blog. Until walk through day. Have a great weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone has a great thanksgiving. This year we are thankful for our family. We are also thankful that even in the midst of the economy we are able to get a new home. We should have some new pictures soon, although if MOMMY"S camera still worked you would see them more often.

We are thankful also to live in America. We are thankful for God's blessing on our family and our country. We are thankful for those who are serving so we can stay free and also pray for their families. We continue to pray thats hearts will be softened so that our men and women serving in the military can finally come home.

The girls are excited to put up Christmas usually we put in the tree the day after THanksgiving but this year so close to the house closing we have to wait a few weeks to put it up.

The Packing Begins

Well we go on, so for now it is a go. We went through the house and the cabinets are in. WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The light fixtures and the switches also are in.

If all goes well we sign on the 27th.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Hope everyone has fun trick or treating. We are off to the church's Trunk or Treat night. Since my digital camera is broken you will all have to wait to see the girls in their costumes. Once we get film developed and uploaded to the computer I will post the pictures.

Other news McKenna and I will be participating in the Niketown 3 mile run(actually I will be walking) so we will have to take pictures from race day also.


In regards to the house they are pouring the cement for sidewalks and driveways and when ours is done we will post a picture.

Heres the Picture of the Houses on the Block

Well the closing date is November 27, 2007. We will see if the final hurdle will be enough. We have done all we can but in this day of mortgages we will see what happens. So until someone puts the breaks on we will continue to plan. We do have

It looks so beautiful. We will probably get the driveway soon. This week they are supposed to finish painting the ceilings and baseboards and start the cabinets this week. We are so excited.

The girls can't wait and are even doing school projects about the new house for a mapping project.

We won't have Thanksgiving in the new house but the girls are excited for Christmas. Hopefully family can come down to the house this year.

Work continues to go well and busy.

So the packing begins and in about a month we will be in the new house.

WE HAVE A CLOSING DATE !!!!!!!

We went over to the house today and to give updates and we got the news that our closing will be NOVEMBER 27,2007. We will try and get pictures of the inside, they painted the inside today. We will try and get pictures since we had a camera stop working. We are excited.

Update on House

Here is the latest picture of the house. Paint on the outside. Texturing on the walls has begun on the inside.

Sometime next month we will be moving.

Things are still looking good for closing.

October 15, 2005

Well they have started the stucco on the house and it is drying. Now they are working also on the inside and the drywall is up and the inside will begin. Due date for house to be done after Thanksgiving and before Christmas.

The girls are coming home YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited.

McKenna is having activity days recognition night and has to start back to school.

So far things are still a go, so we keep on moving along and hope things will go our way until the end.

update

Kids are having fun with grandpa.
Plugging away at work for mommy.

No news on house, nothng new on outside, inside drywall/sheet rock or whatever it si called is going up should be done this week and then the inside starts.

SUNNY DAY

Only in the Southwest is it in the 60's and your daughter wears her winter parka to school. LOL But it is chilly I guess after 110 plus degrees in the summer. 60's feels cold.


Today on the house they are starting to put up the drywall/sheet rock. Pretty soon the stucco will go on.

They had said first week in November I still think it will be the week AFTER thanksgiving.

ART IN THE PARK

Today we went to ART IN THE PARK. We purchased a few prints. I am going to have to save some money for next year. The artwork I wanted was $5000. YES, so we left in there. I will be saving and maybe next year we can purchase it. I have a perfect spot for it in the new house.

Not much on the outside of the house to report. The roof tiles are there and ready to be applied. The stucco will go on soon. On the inside the insulation is up and they will be putting up sheet rock soon. Prediction end of November ( I still think December).

We did find renters YEAH !!!!!!! Not the route we wanted to go but grateful for them. Houses still go up for sale and sale in our neighborhood so we will try again soon.

McKenna had her first CHORALE PERFORMANCE and did absolutely awesome.

We had unexpected visit from Jasons parents and it was really good to see them. My dad and sister are coming tomorrow and that was a suprise but they can see the house and McKenna can sing for her grandpa tomorrow.

We ran out of pull ups and had to finish off DIAPERS. Wrong choice it si back to pull ups for Marielle as she tries to go with those. I think we will have to eventually go cold turkey.

New for me I am checking into going back to school and getting either a Masters in Health Administration/MBA or Family Nurse Practitioner--this is not something I would start until Fall 2008 or later. Just looking hard at options and deciding which way to go and what would work best for our family.

ART IN THE PARK

This is some art from ART IN THE PARK, here in town. THese are made out of nails and go for just under $50,000.

Looking back

Two years ago today we were just getting on a bus to take us to the adventure of our newest family member. The same scared feelings as we had just before we had McKenna. The past two years have been wonderful. We love her so much. My desk top computer is down and I cannot access the pictures so I cannot display that day but if you go to nannyland.blogspot.com you will see pictures a year ago of us meeting her in a collage. Here she is today brightening our lives. Right now she is potty training and is learning her alphabet, she only recognizes "O" but she knows that letters make an alphabet and her favorite color is ORANGE. This picture is of her in her beautiful, beautiful dress as she refers to it.

Happy Birthday McKenna

She got her dream gift, a bowling ball.

Update on US

Things went well with work.

McKenna is loving school and has started the first sciene class. She is doing well and trying hard this year.

Marielle is starting to assert her independance as all kids her age do and she is trying to potty train.

They are saying the house will be done in November. We will see I am still thinking December.

I am learning to use the video/still camera so more pictures of the kids will be here.

We can't wait to move.

New House Picture

Another week goes by and things are going well

McKenna and Marielle are doing well. Having fun at school. Not much to tell but a birthday coming up and FAMILY DAY coming up.

House has windows, so far it is a go.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.... Thanks to all those who have served and who will yet serve. Thanks to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. May GOD hold them in his hands.

May God bless GENE COTRELL AND HIS MEN as they embark on their tour of duty in Iraq.


God BLESS AMERICA.

Monday Maddness

What do you do when you get put on call from work and your babysitter has forgotten and there is no one there when you get called in.. This is my dilemma today.

Luckily so far no call from work has come, I called them and they know the situation and hopefully things will calm down and I won't get called in. UGGGGGGGGGGG.

I guess it is time to actually find a day care instead of a friend to watch her. It actually is only one day a week. Most day cares want a weekly fee and I dont' want her in daycare except the one day a week we need her , the other day daddy is home. I know some people reading this will think I should stay home but when you need money for a third and final adoption that is just not an option. I feel so strongly there is one more little guy out there for us and so we will just go on and hope that mommy does not get called to come in or daddy or mommy will have a little helper today.

Weekly Update

Today was a good week.

McKenna had a great time at school. Open house the teacher says she really likes her and she listens and does well. She also received 100 percent on her spelling test.

Marielle keeps me on my toes and finds joy and smiles in everything in her life. She loves to dance and twirl around and wants to learn "nastics" actually this is gymnastics.


House is coming along, we know have a roof. So far things are looking good that all will go smoothly with the loan process. We will see what happens as it gets closer to the actual closing. Yes, we know anything can happens in this lovely housing market.

First Day of School Pictures FINALLY

Update on House

Here are two pictures from today.

Updates

McKennas first week of school was awesome and she loves it so far. She had some great friends that are in her class again this year. Look for pictures from first day of school soon. She has a great teacher. In the UCC Choral she has been put in the high soprano section for now. She is having fun and I hope she continues to enjoy this.

We took some pictures of the progress of the house and I will post them later. So far we are good to go loan wise, so hopefully this continues to go smoothly.

Marielle has decided the princess bed is not what she wants and she wants ELMO, which is a good think since MOMMY went to the store and checked out both beds and did not like them seeing them in person. So for new beds we are back to square one and most likely using what we have. Mommy also found a set for teh dining room and living room, ones we can afford and NOT have to put on credit. We are also on track to be debt free other than car or house but the end of 2009. YEAH ! Every bill we pay off gets better and better and it gets easier and easier to live a CASH only lifetstyle. Other than house and car of course.

We found out our cousin will soon join many many of our service men in Iraq and so prayers prayers prayers that all will be safe and a solution will soon happen. One that doesnt' leave our men and women in harms way but also one which provides the security that those in Iraq who want freedom deserve. My hope is that as we pick a new President for our country that people will look past parties and really look into the heart of the candidates and choose the one that truly is there to put America and its safety first, one that through good times and bad will stand tall and firm. Not a soap box here but I have not decided who that candidate is for me yet. God blessess me and my family and and may God continue to bless America.

First Day of School

Well McKenna had a great first day of school. We have a picture but it is on moms cell phone and she cannot figure out how to transfer it. Yes, younger sister accidentently broke the camera. So we will have photos eventually. She really likes her teacher but will have a sub for a month, her teacher had a baby. They both seem really nice and if the sub stays for the year then she still has a great teacher.

Marielle missess big sister and wants to go to school to but she is still to young and mommy usually does not put kids in preschool until the year before Kindergarten. So she has a few years to wait as soon as she is potty trained she can start gymnastics though.

House continues on and looks good, I went and walked around the backyard and it is going to be great and we have a great view from our deck that won't ever be obstructed. So we will get pictures of that someday also. House is supposed to be done by Christmas so we will see how things go.

August 25, 2007 Pictures of the House

August 21, 2007 Framing of the New House

What happened to the BLOG????

I have no clue what happened to all the pictures, signed on today and they are gone.

Drove by the new place and they are framing today so will update pictures when we have them.

Last Week Before School Starts

Well we received really good news at Marielle's doctors appointment last week. The murmur is "innocent" and should resolve on its own. There is nothing structurally wrong with her heart.

We are winding down our summer. We LOVE nine month school here, McKenna is thriving in the new school. We are not looking forward to the bus as it comes about 15 minutes early and 15 minutes later. The bus stop is at a new place so I am hoping that the same kids are on it this year as she has some really good friends. I will take her the first day of school as usual, her in the Clark County school system you have to drop off kids in their school line and CANNOT go into the class, so I always wonder why she wants me to take her and pick her up but I do it. But the second day she has to do the bus as they have to get the count down.

We had another walk through but the house has not sold. We still have three or four families wanting to rent and I can here the phew in their voice when no one offers. Our new house should have the framing start this week sometime, so we will be updating the site soon.

This week will will have fun times full of swimming and bowling. By the way bowling ball and chemistry sets are what someone is asking for her birthday. She wants a shuffle and Nintendo stuff for the big toy day of the year. Little one wants DIEGO and Princess things. As with all kids the night before a new thing will pop up and a mad dash to sold out will occur. LOL. Not really but one year a few years back a mad dash for BUZZ Lightyear was met with closed and SOLD OUT.

Updated Pictures

The first picture is the cement slab which was poured today so the weekend it will be drying.

The second pictures is showing the backyard. It will probably look small to most people but for this area we will have a nice area. For family it is a little bit deeper than our current yard but probably feel shorter from the sides.

Update on House

They poured the foundation today. Haven't been able to get pictures today because everything was blocked off.

Pictures of the New Beds the girls want

Guess which one each likes



Answer to be posted in the next few days, if you would like to guess leave in the comments

MD Appointment

Marielle was cleared by the cardiologist. YEAH !!!!!!!

Progress on our new House

More Pictures

More Pictures

New Pictures of the Girls

School Letter

Well we have the official letter for school and McKenna is excited. Boy oh boy do school supplies add up. UGGGGGGGGGGGGG. Just spent waaayyy to much money at Walmart even. But she is set for the year. Had to dip into Daddys money so he is not to happy. I guess I may be returning stuff. Or mommy will be taking cans of soup her next few work days.


WE have one excited little girl to go to school.



She is excited to go to the science life lab to see the snake.

New House Started

Here is a picture of the new house.

REFLECTIONS

Well two years ago at this time we had just received our referral for our little one from CHINA. Little did we know that we would be the last of the six month referral groups in a long long time. That China would change requirements and so plans for another adoption would have to be revamped.

Jump ahead our little hurricane is here and makes her presence known.

Mommy has just been sick but is better. I think it is a July 29th thing all the time for mommy to get sick.

On the homefront our new house is now officially under construcion YEAH. I need to download picasa again to upload photos and when I do everyone can see the progress that is being made.

We have had my nephews here for the past few weeks and have LOVED having them here especially M who has not been bored.

We had planned to go back to Ohio for the annual shopping trip BUT life got in the way again and little M has to go to doctor to have her heart checked out. Her regualr doctor heard something and so off we go.

School will be starting soon and the daily pictures and fashion show will once again be loved by GRANDMAS.

Other than that I have just got to get into being a regular blogger.

A Family of M's

This title comes from my girls names and when we adopt again he or she will be an M.

NEW BLOG

Well I first started blogging when we were adopting our little one from China. Now I am switching over to tell all about the day to day life of my girls. The old blog will still be there and i will figure out to attach the link but everything new will be here.