It was such a gorgeous day today, we decided to fly kites this afternoon. Emmie's grandparents are in town for her birthday. Below are a few pictures.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
HaPpY BiRtHdAy PaRt OnE!!!!
Today we had Emmie's birthday party for her friends at school, her soccer team and our FCC friends. Emmie wanted a bowling party with a Hannah Montana theme. It went as smooth as possible given we haven't had a bowling party before. She had a great turn out. We had 11 friends and two friends who couldn't make it due to a broken timing belt on their car and the flu. Below are some pictures.
Schoolmates bowling
These are Emmies soccer team friends. We start soccer practice this Thursday. Emmie, Bre and Kaya are the returning team members and we have three new members we have yet to meet. By the way, we have cool new blue uniforms this spring! We are excited about that.
These are Emmie's FCC friends. Little Ms Jackie had the flu and couldn't make it. We hope she is feeling better. There is nothing worse than the flu. Well, I guess there is but who wants the flu.
Here is Emmie with her ball. I must tell you that my little bowling pro bowled her first strike ever at her party. What a great time to get her first strike! This is how excited she was when she got her strike. Oddly enough, she didn't like it after she figured out she didn't get a second throw of the ball. Below is the best picture I could get of the screen showing her strike.
Towards the end of the party Ms E was getting a bit thirsty and tired of waiting so long between her turn and the others in her bowling group. She had a bit of a moment. Unfortunately, it was during the cake and blowing out her candles. I had to get a head count of drinks and because I was focused on something else, she fell apart. Fortunately, we had several families who stepped up and helped me get the party to a conclusion. My thanks go out to all of them. Here are the rest of the pictures of Emmie with her cake (her friends all helped blow out the candles) and opening her presents.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Two organizations need your help
Below are two charity organizations that need assistance. They are Half the Sky and Love Without Boundries.
Half the Sky is in critical need due to the weather conditions in China. If you have not heard (many have not) China is experiencing major weather issues right now. The public transportation has been crippled in many areas. This is not just local bus routes but includes buses, trains and airports. Here is an update from Half the Sky:
Welfare institutions in south and central China are having the hardest time dealing with the weather disaster. This part of the country is simply not equipped to deal with extreme cold or heavy snow and ice. Themost common critical problems are power outages, lack of safe drinking and cooking water, lack of fuel, diapers and public transportation. In many places where buses have stopped running, our Half the Sky nannies have been walking hours (in one case, 4 hours) along icy roads to get to the children. As conditions worsen, our nannies and teachers are remaining at the institutions day and night. They have given up the idea of going home to their own families for the holidays (Chinese New Year, the biggest holiday in China). They need quilts. They need warm clothing. They need coal, water, disposable diapers and food. Here are the reports I have thus far, while in-flight. I will send more soon. Where you don't see a report, either all is well or I don't yet have information. I will tell you when we've heard from everyone.We've also given all the directors an emergency number to call when/if the situation changes.
Hunan Province -Chenzhou has had no electricity or water for six days. They are relying on coal for heat and cooking. The supermarkets and banks are closed. Staff is using personal money for baby food, diapers, coal and water. Costs are rising due to shortages. They have a natural well which, thankfully, is not frozen. Even the older children are helping to fetch water. They have perhaps six days of food remaining. The local government is overwhelmed by the disaster and is unable to help much. Shaoyang has seen heavy snow every day for 20 days. There is sufficient water and, for the moment, there is power, so the children are warm. However, 5 of 6 power poles have been downed by weather. Only one stands and the institution fears it will fall as well, leaving them without electricity. Much of the rest of the city is already dark. Children and caregivers continue to work and play together. High school students are cramming for exams and trying to ignore the cold. Everyone prays that the power pole will continue to stand. Yueyang also has no electricity. The one functioning power generator is being used in the children's dormitory. They are relying on coal heat but the price has tripled in recent days. They are running out of food and have applied to the local Bureau of Civil Affairs for funds to buy more. Our HTS nannies have been walking for hours to get to work, often slipping on the ice, "even though they try to be cautious." Xiangtan has had snow for the past 10 days. The main water pipe is "broken again." There is no water for cooking right now but they do have electricity, coal and blankets. They are still able to buy food but prices have gone way up. Not all of the HTS nannies can get to work every day. They are keeping the programs going as well as they can and make sure that at least five nurturing nannies are there with the babies every day, along with the institution's caregivers.
Jiangsu Province - Changzhou has seen some heavy snows but the director reports that the children are fine. The director says that he's doing his best to ensure that the children do not suffer. Public transportation is crippled by the snow and HTS nannies and teachers are waiting for hours to catch a bus for home or even walking home in the snowy dark.Nanjing reports no problems at all despite the heavy snows. I tried to fly into Nanjing yesterday but it was not possible.
Anhui Province - Chuzhou has both water and power. Only public transportation has failed. HTS nannies and teachers are walking to work. They are leaving home extra early to be there for the children.
Guangxi Province -Guilin has two broken HTS heater/air conditioners in the Infant Nurture rooms and they've asked us to replace. The rooms are very, very cold. They ask for more soft matting for the floors and also snow boots for our HTS nannies who've been slipping and falling in the ice and snow as they come to work. They are so ill-equipped to handle severe weather.
Jiangxi Province -Fuzhou lost power for a few days but now it is back to normal. The snow stopped a couple of days ago but now is falling again. The directors and HTS staff have gathered all the children into one big room to keep them warm. They've bought New Years clothes for the children and will have a party no matter how bad the weather. This year, however, the foster parents will stay home to keep the children safe. The institution has enough food and water. They want us to focus on those in more serious trouble and ask us please not to worry. Jiujiang says they've never faced such bitter weather. They desperately need disposable diapers. Washable diapers cannot be dried. They need warm clothes, shoes, gloves hats quilts and warm mats for the floors. They need medicine for infant coughs and colds.
Hubei Province -Wuhan suffers heavy snows but they still have power. Heaters are working but there is no water for bathing. The local community has offered to take children in for the Chinese New Year and the institution feels this may be the best decision to keep them safe. Huangshi reports that the freeze is so severe that all heater/air conditioners have stopped functioning. They need quilts and warm clothes for the children. They need disposable diapers. Several HTS nannies have fallen on the ice on their way to work and they need medicine to treat cuts and bruises. Gathering these reports together makes me think about how careful we have always been at Half the Sky to maintain our focus on nurture and education programs. Ours is not a medical or relief organization. There are many wonderful groups who do that work. Probably the primary reason we've been able to accomplish so much and reach so many children is because we've maintained our focus on our core mission -- providing nurturing care for children who've lost their families. But a moment like this really cannot be ignored. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in the US taught us that no matter how wealthy a country might be, its vulnerable citizens (old, poor, ill, and orphaned children) are the ones who suffer most when disaster strikes. Even as China seems to be entering the first world, a disaster like this is quite simply crippling. We know that orphaned children will be among those who suffer the damage most. I say this because I think we should break one of Half the Sky's rules and, if there are sufficient funds raised in the Little Mouse Emergency Fund, we should offer relief (water, food, diapers, quilts, clothing) to any orphanage where children need help. Let's see how this goes. If people are as generous as I think they might be, we will work with the provincial Bureaus of Civil Affairs in every hard-hit community, and offer assistance to all welfare institutions where there is need. Please lend a hand, however you can. You can donate to the Little Mouse Emergency Fund by calling us in the US at +1-510-525-3377 or in Asia at+852- 2520-5266 or by visiting us at www.halfthesky.org. Once there, you can click on "Donate Now" http://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Categories?category=Direct+Contributions or go to http://www.halfthesky.org/help/docs/usdonation-orderform.pdf to download a form to mail or fax. Donations are tax-deductible in US, Canada and Hong Kong. Please forward this message and tell your friends and family.I will be back with an update very, very soon. Thank you!
Jenny Bowen Executive Director Half the Sky Foundation www.halfthesky.org Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance theprospects for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infant nurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and establish loving permanent family care and guidance for children with disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future.Want to receive our free Half the Sky newsletter, full of stories andphotos, via regular mail? Just go to our website www.halfthesky.org and click on "Join our Mailing List."
As for Love Without Boundries: Facebook has been having a charity organization challenge TODAY is the last day for the challenge. Everyone who is able needs to consider donating through Facebook. Anyone ages 13 and up can make a donation. The idea was that the organization that collects the most UNIQUE donors who donate $10.00 or more during a 50 day challenge will recieve a $50,000 donation from Facebook. Love Without Boundries has been actively pursuing this challenge. They are currently in first place but the margin is minimal. The second place charity is the Free Tibet organization which is a college student organization planning to protest the Olympics in Beijing this summer. Love Without Boundries is an awesome organization with no political motives. They simply help orphans in China's orphanages who need medical help to live. If you have not done so already please consider visiting http://apps.facebook.com/causes/view_cause/51591 and make a miniumum donation of $10.00. If you have more than one email account consider making a donation through each email account. If you have teenagers who have an email account make a donation through their email account as well. This is for real and we have to give in the final push to help Love Without Boundries win this contest.
Half the Sky is in critical need due to the weather conditions in China. If you have not heard (many have not) China is experiencing major weather issues right now. The public transportation has been crippled in many areas. This is not just local bus routes but includes buses, trains and airports. Here is an update from Half the Sky:
Welfare institutions in south and central China are having the hardest time dealing with the weather disaster. This part of the country is simply not equipped to deal with extreme cold or heavy snow and ice. Themost common critical problems are power outages, lack of safe drinking and cooking water, lack of fuel, diapers and public transportation. In many places where buses have stopped running, our Half the Sky nannies have been walking hours (in one case, 4 hours) along icy roads to get to the children. As conditions worsen, our nannies and teachers are remaining at the institutions day and night. They have given up the idea of going home to their own families for the holidays (Chinese New Year, the biggest holiday in China). They need quilts. They need warm clothing. They need coal, water, disposable diapers and food. Here are the reports I have thus far, while in-flight. I will send more soon. Where you don't see a report, either all is well or I don't yet have information. I will tell you when we've heard from everyone.We've also given all the directors an emergency number to call when/if the situation changes.
Hunan Province -Chenzhou has had no electricity or water for six days. They are relying on coal for heat and cooking. The supermarkets and banks are closed. Staff is using personal money for baby food, diapers, coal and water. Costs are rising due to shortages. They have a natural well which, thankfully, is not frozen. Even the older children are helping to fetch water. They have perhaps six days of food remaining. The local government is overwhelmed by the disaster and is unable to help much. Shaoyang has seen heavy snow every day for 20 days. There is sufficient water and, for the moment, there is power, so the children are warm. However, 5 of 6 power poles have been downed by weather. Only one stands and the institution fears it will fall as well, leaving them without electricity. Much of the rest of the city is already dark. Children and caregivers continue to work and play together. High school students are cramming for exams and trying to ignore the cold. Everyone prays that the power pole will continue to stand. Yueyang also has no electricity. The one functioning power generator is being used in the children's dormitory. They are relying on coal heat but the price has tripled in recent days. They are running out of food and have applied to the local Bureau of Civil Affairs for funds to buy more. Our HTS nannies have been walking for hours to get to work, often slipping on the ice, "even though they try to be cautious." Xiangtan has had snow for the past 10 days. The main water pipe is "broken again." There is no water for cooking right now but they do have electricity, coal and blankets. They are still able to buy food but prices have gone way up. Not all of the HTS nannies can get to work every day. They are keeping the programs going as well as they can and make sure that at least five nurturing nannies are there with the babies every day, along with the institution's caregivers.
Jiangsu Province - Changzhou has seen some heavy snows but the director reports that the children are fine. The director says that he's doing his best to ensure that the children do not suffer. Public transportation is crippled by the snow and HTS nannies and teachers are waiting for hours to catch a bus for home or even walking home in the snowy dark.Nanjing reports no problems at all despite the heavy snows. I tried to fly into Nanjing yesterday but it was not possible.
Anhui Province - Chuzhou has both water and power. Only public transportation has failed. HTS nannies and teachers are walking to work. They are leaving home extra early to be there for the children.
Guangxi Province -Guilin has two broken HTS heater/air conditioners in the Infant Nurture rooms and they've asked us to replace. The rooms are very, very cold. They ask for more soft matting for the floors and also snow boots for our HTS nannies who've been slipping and falling in the ice and snow as they come to work. They are so ill-equipped to handle severe weather.
Jiangxi Province -Fuzhou lost power for a few days but now it is back to normal. The snow stopped a couple of days ago but now is falling again. The directors and HTS staff have gathered all the children into one big room to keep them warm. They've bought New Years clothes for the children and will have a party no matter how bad the weather. This year, however, the foster parents will stay home to keep the children safe. The institution has enough food and water. They want us to focus on those in more serious trouble and ask us please not to worry. Jiujiang says they've never faced such bitter weather. They desperately need disposable diapers. Washable diapers cannot be dried. They need warm clothes, shoes, gloves hats quilts and warm mats for the floors. They need medicine for infant coughs and colds.
Hubei Province -Wuhan suffers heavy snows but they still have power. Heaters are working but there is no water for bathing. The local community has offered to take children in for the Chinese New Year and the institution feels this may be the best decision to keep them safe. Huangshi reports that the freeze is so severe that all heater/air conditioners have stopped functioning. They need quilts and warm clothes for the children. They need disposable diapers. Several HTS nannies have fallen on the ice on their way to work and they need medicine to treat cuts and bruises. Gathering these reports together makes me think about how careful we have always been at Half the Sky to maintain our focus on nurture and education programs. Ours is not a medical or relief organization. There are many wonderful groups who do that work. Probably the primary reason we've been able to accomplish so much and reach so many children is because we've maintained our focus on our core mission -- providing nurturing care for children who've lost their families. But a moment like this really cannot be ignored. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in the US taught us that no matter how wealthy a country might be, its vulnerable citizens (old, poor, ill, and orphaned children) are the ones who suffer most when disaster strikes. Even as China seems to be entering the first world, a disaster like this is quite simply crippling. We know that orphaned children will be among those who suffer the damage most. I say this because I think we should break one of Half the Sky's rules and, if there are sufficient funds raised in the Little Mouse Emergency Fund, we should offer relief (water, food, diapers, quilts, clothing) to any orphanage where children need help. Let's see how this goes. If people are as generous as I think they might be, we will work with the provincial Bureaus of Civil Affairs in every hard-hit community, and offer assistance to all welfare institutions where there is need. Please lend a hand, however you can. You can donate to the Little Mouse Emergency Fund by calling us in the US at +1-510-525-3377 or in Asia at+852- 2520-5266 or by visiting us at www.halfthesky.org. Once there, you can click on "Donate Now" http://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Categories?category=Direct+Contributions or go to http://www.halfthesky.org/help/docs/usdonation-orderform.pdf to download a form to mail or fax. Donations are tax-deductible in US, Canada and Hong Kong. Please forward this message and tell your friends and family.I will be back with an update very, very soon. Thank you!
Jenny Bowen Executive Director Half the Sky Foundation www.halfthesky.org Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance theprospects for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infant nurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and establish loving permanent family care and guidance for children with disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future.Want to receive our free Half the Sky newsletter, full of stories andphotos, via regular mail? Just go to our website www.halfthesky.org and click on "Join our Mailing List."
As for Love Without Boundries: Facebook has been having a charity organization challenge TODAY is the last day for the challenge. Everyone who is able needs to consider donating through Facebook. Anyone ages 13 and up can make a donation. The idea was that the organization that collects the most UNIQUE donors who donate $10.00 or more during a 50 day challenge will recieve a $50,000 donation from Facebook. Love Without Boundries has been actively pursuing this challenge. They are currently in first place but the margin is minimal. The second place charity is the Free Tibet organization which is a college student organization planning to protest the Olympics in Beijing this summer. Love Without Boundries is an awesome organization with no political motives. They simply help orphans in China's orphanages who need medical help to live. If you have not done so already please consider visiting http://apps.facebook.com/causes/view_cause/51591 and make a miniumum donation of $10.00. If you have more than one email account consider making a donation through each email account. If you have teenagers who have an email account make a donation through their email account as well. This is for real and we have to give in the final push to help Love Without Boundries win this contest.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Do you know what HSM stands for?
If you do you probably live with one of the obsessed children or teenagers who love all things High School Musical. I often get strange looks from people because I let Emmie watch so much TV and DVD's. However, Emmie does not sit on the sofa like a couch potato. Here is how Emmie watches High School Musical, Jump in, Hannah Montana and any other show that has singing and dancing on it. She is the most interactive TV watcher I have ever met. As you look at the pictures think "What time is it? Summer time! It's our vacation! What time is it? Summer time! Schools Out! Scream and Shout!"
Monday, January 7, 2008
Pleeeeassssse Eat!!!
So what do you do when you have a 4.5 year old who by all rights should be hungry but refuses to eat? How about suggesting she make her own sandwich? Emmie had a small cup of fruit for breakfast this day and a single bite of pancake. At 1:30 she was so busy playing she didn't want to stop for lunch. Knowing she was about to hit the wall and get grouchy due to hunger I came up with a plan. I suggested she make her own sandwich and suddenly she was hung. After she made her sandwich she finished her entire lunch which is something she seldom does. Here is my little Chef in training creating her sandwich master piece.
First you put on the peanut butter....
then more peanut butter...
add some jelly...
and spread it around...
put the top on...
First you put on the peanut butter....
add some jelly...
and spread it around...
put the top on...
and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Our White Christmas
I have been told that there were raging snow storms in the mid west the Saturday before Christmas. We too had a White Christmas but of a different variety. Below are some pictures of our trip home. 
Pretending to boogie board! The girl needs one for her birthday I think.
Here are a couple pictures from Christmas day.
The coveted Polly Pocket Race to the Mall. Emmie REEEEEALLY wanted a car race track but she was very clear she wanted one for a girl and not a "boys race track". I got her this Polly Pocket one despite the reviews I had read on it. I figured we could return it if it was as bad as the reviews made it sound. Once we got home, I put it together for her. She LOVES it. The thing came with two toy cars and I got her 7 additional cars for the track. It has a lever that allows the cars to make a loop around the mall or to exit the mall. She puts it so the cars have to keep making a loop over and over and puts all nine cars on it and it is rush hour traffic! LOL She has a lot of fun with it.
The Marble Run was the other gift Emmie really wanted. After she opened her gifts from me before we left on vacation I asked her if she was happy with her gifts. Her response was "Yes, but I didn't get my Marble Run." I assured her that she had a few more chances. She was still getting gifts from Santa, Memaw, Aunt Colleen and Aunt Crazy. She was okay then. Aunt Crazy was the gift giver.
This is a picture of me, my sisters and Mom. Mom is in Red, Colleen is in Blue, Val (AKA Aunt Crazy) is in Burgundy and I am in Green.
A Christmas visit with a friend
The past couple weeks have been just plain crazy! We headed to FL for Christmas with lour family. We departed after half day at work and drove as far as St Augustine. We have friends that live there and it is just about the half way point driving from our house to my parents. It's always great to see friends even if it is only for an over night stay. Emmie loves Mary Ellen and her daughter Christie and has a great time when we stop by for a day or two. Unfortunately I disn't get the camera out this trip so I am posting this picture of Emmie and Mary Ellen from last April.
We left St Augustine and made another stop along the way. We stopped and visited with my friend David and his parents. It's was a bit of a nervous meeting. I have been writing and talking to David for three years. I was finally going to be able to meet him for the first time. I "met" David through his sister (my friend) Carol. I am very grateful to her for this introduction. Carol if you ever read this, Thanks!
Here are some pictures of our visit.
This is me and David taken very late at night which explains the exhaustion on my face (and in my hair). David had a refreshing dip in the pool with Emmie prior to these pictures so he looks fresh as a masculine daisy!
Here is Emmie in the pool with her goggles which seem to always stay on her forehead.
David and Emmie having a great time in the pool.
Emmie convinced David to sport a blonde wig. Here are the two of them in their wigs. David will kill me for posting this. LOL
Then she put me in a wig and had David wear the curlie brown wig.
The next day we went to see David's bee business and what he does. We got a tour of his warehouse and equipment and then went to the middle of an orange grove to see some hives. On the way, we stopped so Emmie couple pick a couple oranges.
Here is David opening one of his bee hives. I must confess I have learned more about the bee keeping business than I thought in such a short amount of time. Here he has the hives stacked in preparation of splitting the hives. Back at his house he had 130 fertilized queens in tiny boxes waiting to have hives of thier own. He brought the flats (I am not sure that is really the right term) to the window of the truck so we could see them up close and personal. He showed us the queen bee in the hive. I can never find the queen in the pictures until Emmie shows me which one is the queen. She can spot the queen easily. Perhaps one day she will be queen bee of her own bee business.
We stopped on our way back home to have lunch and take a little drive around his home town. It was a great visit to say the least.
We left St Augustine and made another stop along the way. We stopped and visited with my friend David and his parents. It's was a bit of a nervous meeting. I have been writing and talking to David for three years. I was finally going to be able to meet him for the first time. I "met" David through his sister (my friend) Carol. I am very grateful to her for this introduction. Carol if you ever read this, Thanks!
Here are some pictures of our visit.
This is me and David taken very late at night which explains the exhaustion on my face (and in my hair). David had a refreshing dip in the pool with Emmie prior to these pictures so he looks fresh as a masculine daisy!
Here is Emmie in the pool with her goggles which seem to always stay on her forehead.
David and Emmie having a great time in the pool.
Emmie convinced David to sport a blonde wig. Here are the two of them in their wigs. David will kill me for posting this. LOL
Then she put me in a wig and had David wear the curlie brown wig.
The next day we went to see David's bee business and what he does. We got a tour of his warehouse and equipment and then went to the middle of an orange grove to see some hives. On the way, we stopped so Emmie couple pick a couple oranges.
Here is David opening one of his bee hives. I must confess I have learned more about the bee keeping business than I thought in such a short amount of time. Here he has the hives stacked in preparation of splitting the hives. Back at his house he had 130 fertilized queens in tiny boxes waiting to have hives of thier own. He brought the flats (I am not sure that is really the right term) to the window of the truck so we could see them up close and personal. He showed us the queen bee in the hive. I can never find the queen in the pictures until Emmie shows me which one is the queen. She can spot the queen easily. Perhaps one day she will be queen bee of her own bee business.
We stopped on our way back home to have lunch and take a little drive around his home town. It was a great visit to say the least.
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