Thanksgiving Traditions at Parnham South

While poor little Jia was demonstrating her skills with the "slap chop" she once again got "turkeyed." I don't think it's fair that she always gets it. Perhaps next year someone older will find it in their bed !!!!!!!!!

Today was Black Friday and my usual shopper woudn't wake up. So Drew was a good sport and woke up at 5:00 to go with me. My friend Lisa said that was only so he could keep an eye on the damages.

Many thanks to the Aunties and Uncles for Katie and Anna's beautiful birthday gifts...real keepsakes.

On to Christmas...

SWEET SIXTEEN

zzzzzzzzz.......

SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR!

Excerpt from an article about China and it's "One Child" policy in the December issue of Marie Claire magazine:

"As punishment, the authorities refused to recognize the younger boy, who is mildly disabled, thereby denying him access to state health care and education."

We thank God and everyone who helped bring our little Jia to us.

Barbie Goes to China!

If you click this picture you will be able to see this bigger.
Anyway, this article is about a Barbie that you can only get in one place and that is is the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China. This is the very luxurious hotel that families adopting China stay. Guangzhou is where the only U.S.Embassy in China is located.

In the White Swan they give each child an American Barbie with
a Chinese Baby. This is the only place you can get them.
The last sentence says you may be able to get them on Ebay.

Problem is: they sell for $350 on Ebay!

Fashion detail: Although this is too small for Jia
please notice the intricate embroidery. It is stunning and cost
about $10 American with matching pants!

This is a piece of jade with my Chinese Zodiac sign (the ox)

HALLOWEEN NIGHT

KATIE IS OUR PUMPKIN ARTIST

PUMPKINS THAT KATIE HELPED JIA MAKE

YUCKY

ANNA-GETTING READY TO SCARE ALL THE KIDS

VERY EXCITED!

NURSE KATIE HELPING DR. JIA SUIT UP FOR SURGERY

THE DR. IS IN

WHEN JIA GROWS UP SHE WANTS TO BE A DR. WHO WORKS IN A TOY STORE

HALLOWEEN SISTERS

READY FOR THE NIGHT TO BEGIN

THE HAUL

I THINK THE PICTURES SAY IT ALL. JIA AND KATIE WENT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ANNA GOT DRESSED UP AND HANDED OUT CANDY. DREW FELL ASLEEP AND I WAITED TO SEE THE GOODIES.

PUMPKIN PATCH & FLORIDA SNOW

DON'T EVER TAKE AUTUMN FOR GRANTED.
I WAS EXCITED TO FIND THESE LEAFS ON OUR TRIP
TO STETSON LAST WEEKEND

UH,OH LOOKS LIKE THE BEGINNING OF A FAMILY RIVALRY

THE GREATEST SISTERS IN THE WORLD!

MY BABY GIRLS & ME

DREW AND HIS GIRLS

SLIM PICKINGS THE DAY BEFORE HALLOWEEN

HMMMM...WHATS A MAMA GATOR TO DO?

THE LITTLE PUMPKINS WERE IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION

JIA PICKING OUT SOME MINI PUMPKINS

?

KATIE ON HER WAY TO DAN MARINO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
TO VOLUNTEER AT SICK CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN PARTY

FLORIDA SNOWBALLS

IT LOOKS LIKE DREW IS TRYING TO GIVE ANNA A BLACK EYE

HOW'S IT GOING, EH?

ANNA GETS HER REVENGE

LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON HERE! THIS MORNING ANNA HAD ANOTHER GAME (LOST). WHEN SHE GOT HOME THE WHOLE FAMILY WENT TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH. THERE WASN'T MUCH LEFT. I THINK I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE THAT PUMPKINS DON'T LAST LONG IN THE FLORIDA HUMIDITY. ANYWAY WE GOT SOME CUTE PICS. NOTICE THE WHOLE FAMILY IS "GATOR-FIED" EXCEPT FOR KATIE WHO HAS HER STETSON TEE ON.

AFTER THE PUMPKIN PATCH WE STOPPED BY THE BACK OF THE ICE RINK FOR A FLORIDA SNOWBALL FIGHT. (ZAMBONI "SNOW") NOTICE DREW'S FACE. YOU CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF CANADA BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE THE CANADA OUT OF THE BOY...(TEMP. HIGH 80'S)

THERE IS ALSO A PICTURE HERE OF KATIE DRESSED UP IN HER MOTHER NATURE COSTUME. KATIE WENT TO THE DAN MARINO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL YESTERDAY TO HELP THE KIDS IN THE HOSPITAL CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN. SHE IS SUCH A CARING AND SELFLESS YOUNG LADY.

WELL, PUMPKIN CARVING TONIGHT, TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY FOR JIA! MORE PICS TO COME.