Kate and Don just got engaged

My sister, Kate, and her now fiance, Don, just got engaged. Don proposed while they were on vacation in San Fransisco. They will be getting married over Memorial Day weekend. We are so excited!!! I will be Matron-of-Honor and Alex will be one of the ring bearers. Gerrick will be the other ring bearer.

Still Waiting

Referrals were just received for those families whose dossiers were logged in on February 28, 2006. Referrals were very slow this past year, but China had quite a year with the Olympics, earthquake, tainted milk (melamine), etc. We are hopeful that the worst is behind them and we will be getting our referral for Malia in two years.

2008 Olympics

"One World, One Dream", magnificent Opening Ceremony, the Bird’s Nest, more than 30 world records and 50 Olympic records broken, about 4.7 billion TV viewers worldwide – a new record for the Olympics...

Earthquake

Key Words: 8.0-magnitude, Sichuan Province May 12, more than 69,000 people dead, 374,000 injured, 18,000 missing and millions homeless, 31,000 aftershocks reported since then...

Snow Storm

The worst snowstorm in 50 years hit China in January, 129 people dead, widespread power failure, transportation chaos, crop damage, $21 billion in economic losses...

Tainted Milk

Sanlu milk powder was found contaminated with melamine in September, 22 diary companies were reported to have produced tainted dairy products, 6 babies dead, 294,000 suffering from urinary problems, 8,311.7 tons of unqualified milk products were withdrawn from market...

Shenzhou VII

Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang conducted a space walk on September 27, China's first extravehicular activity in space, the third country to conduct a spacewalk after Russia and the US...

30th anniversary of Reform and Opening Up

The Reform and Opening Up in China started in December 1978, the theory brought forward by Deng Xiaoping, China is now the world's 4th largest economy...

Piano lesson

Alex is taking piano lessons at school. His GG (Frances) has been a piano teacher all of her life. She's giving Alex some piano instructions in the picture.

Christmas Tree Farm with Kate/Don/Gerrick & Dianne/Marc/Alex

We went to Elgin last weekend to help Kate & Don find a Christmas tree. They had hay rides, horses and pigs. During the hay ride, Alex told everyone how much fun he was having. After picking out the perfect tree, we went to a local bbq joint for lunch and had ice cream for dessert. Yummm.


Hay ride

Dianne & Alex pet a nice horse.

Marc and Don secure the Christmas tree to Kate's car.


Gerrick gave Alex some pointers on eating ice cream and hamming it up for the camera.

Wurstfest

We enjoyed another fun day at Wurstfest last week. Wurstfest is Oktoberfest, Texas Style! Alex loved the kiddie rides and we all partook of the German music and food.

Alex takes charge of his own sport stroller.

Uncle Nick, Aunt Kate and Don enjoy some beer and sausage while listening to the German band.


Wurstfest music is everywhere.


Wurstfest grounds


The Wurst Halle

Where in the world is Uncle Gavin?

Gavin in Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the State of Pernambuco, around 354 km offshore from the Brazilian coast.

The islands of this archipelago are the visible parts of a range of submerged mountains. Consisting of 21 islands, islets and rocks of volcanic origin, the main island has an area of 18 km², being 10 km long and 3.5 km at its maximum width. The base of this enormous volcanic formation is 756 m below the surface. The main island, from which the group gets its name, makes up 91% of the total area; the islands of Rata, Sela Gineta, Cabeluda and São Jose, together with the islets of Leão and Viúva make up the rest.

The climate is tropical, with two well defined seasons: the rainy season from January to August, and the dry season for the rest of the year. The island was mostly forested until the 19th century, when it was cleared to prevent prisoners from building rafts.

The main attraction is the maritime flora and fauna; one can spot sea tortoises, dolphins, albatrosses, among many others.

Spiderman and Batman

Alex and his friend, Shabbir, went trick-or-treating at their school the day before Halloween. They had a great time. Alex didn't want to take off his mask for the picture. =)
Alex also went trick-or-treating on Halloween with Brook, Matthew, and Holden. Here's a picture of Alex and Holden (both were Spiderman).


Aunt Kate and Don came over with pumpkins to make Jack-o-Lanterns.

Allyson was a witch and Brooke was a pirate.

Matthew was Buzz Lightyear.

Here's a few pictures Roxanne and Nick (Malia's future Godparents) took of the television during the "ESPN College Gameday" broadcast on the UT campus this morning. As you can see, both Roxanne and her sign were on national television! Malia - we hope you will be a Longhorn fan too!! Hook 'em Horns!

Spiderman for Halloween

Alex chose a Spiderman costume for Halloween this year. We did have to stop and admire the Ariel costume (The Little Mermaid) because Alex has a mad crush on her. :)

New friends on the block

We joined a yahoo group for families waiting to adopt from China called FCCAustinWait. Here is the description of the group:

This group is for families waiting to adopt from China in and around the Austin, Texas area. If you are looking into adoption, paperchasing, DTC, or have recently returned from China we welcome you to join us! We will also have monthly "pot luck" dinners to get to know each other and share in this incredible journey!

Please join us as we wait...and wait...and wait...for referrals!

Through this group, we met another couple waiting to adopt from China, Kelly and Chris. Hi guys!! They are in the paper chase right now and happen to live only 4 houses down the block from us! We are already swapping adoption books and general books about China. What a small world.

Cheers!

Natural Bridge Wildlife Park, New Braunfels

Marc took Alex to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Park in New Braunfels on his "Daddy Day."

Croc shoe accessories

Momma and Dada: Alex, put your shoes on so Gem'a can get a picture of your Disney Crocs accessories from Hunny.
Alex: Hahahahahahahha NO SHOES HA HAHAHAHAHHA (kicking shoes off).

Gattitown

Alex's favorite restaurant is Gattitown. Here we are on the roller coaster ride where your seat shakes, leans, and sways, and you watch a roller coaster video. What's not to like? Can you tell it's making Marc ill?

Your Mom's 40th Birthday

Malia, your mom & dad just got back from mom's 40th birthday gift...........a carribean cruise! Brother Alex stayed with grandmother Gema for the week and had a ball in College Station. See how relaxed we look? Won't it be fun when all four of us get to take a trip?

Allyson's 39th birthday

It was a girls night out for Allyson's 39th birthday. Here we all are at Master Pancake theater for a showing of Independence Day. It was a hoot!

Alex's first bicycle

Alex got his first bicycle on July 4th and now rides it every chance he gets. Tomorrow he's going to bike to school.

Mom and Aunt Rocka

I visited Roxanne and Nick in Hutto and took this picture with my cell phone while Roxanne and I were out picking up dinner. Yeehaw!

Bun Run

Here are some pictures for the Kid 1k Bun Run and the 5k Bun Run this summer. Allyson, Mary, Shellie and I ran in the 5k and the kids, Brooke, Matthew, Holden and Alex raced in the Kid Bun Run and had a great time.

Aunt Kate's Dinner Party

Kate had a dinner party and all the kids were invited too. Kate and her boyfriend, Don, grilled steak and fish, and we played Texas Hold 'em while the kids played GeoTrax. Allyson, Mike, Brooke, and Matthew joined us too.

Some home pictures

Here are some pictures my brother, Nick (Uncle Nick to Alex and Malia), took when he visited recently. Isn't Alex getting big?

Sophie's mom's blog

Here's a wonderful blog site. This couple just returned from China with their new daughter, Sophie. They used to live in Austin but just recently relocated to Portland and are members of a group we joined for families waiting to adopt from China.

Look at how much baby girl Sophie is smiling!
http://843daysand6154milestosophie.blogspot.com/

On another note, we are going to Frances's (Marc's grandmother) 90th birthday party in McGregor this weekend. We'll post pictures after the party.

Zilker Zephyr

Does this train go to China? I need my baby sister already. Sheeeesh.

I didn't type in the correct Log-in-Date for those families that just got referrals in the previous post.

On March 3, 2008, referrals were received for families whose dossiers were logged in on January 4, 2006.

While we wait...

Referrals were just received for those with Log in Dates in December of 2006. Getting a referral means that a baby has been matched for you and you are sent a picture and will make plans to go get her in around 6 weeks.

Here are a couple of pictures we took with our cell phone while we were in Vegas last week. One I took while relaxing at one of the pools at Excalibur, the other one Marc took while he was running along the strip.

Alex went too as well as Marc's parents, Linda and Paul. We will post more pictures later.

Red Thread

The reference to the red thread or the invisible red thread comes up often in Chinese adoption. Here is the meaning:

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break. ~An Ancient Chinese belief