For those of you who live or have lived in Norwood, this is funny!

http://www.wror.com/upload/file/NorwoodSong.mp3

I lived there for 26 years, so I got a kick out of this.

Gorgeous out today.

It was so nice to be out and about today. The snow is melting and that is an awesome thing.

We had a birthday party to go to today for Annya who turned 3. I met Kayt, Annya and Connor at a church play date. Annya and Connor are both adopted from Russia. Kayt and her husband are from Ireland. Kayt is wonderful and always makes sure we are included in various things. We had an awesome time. They had a puppet show for the kids and it was fabulous. I am not a "puppet" person, but this guy was truly fantastic! After the puppet show, we had some lunch and cake and just hung out with everyone.

After the party, I called Sarah to see how she was doing. She is doing as well as can be expected. I believe that losing a parent is one of the most painful things someone can experience. You sometimes just don't know how deeply you love someone or depend on someone until they are gone. I still have questions that I want to ask my Mother and Father. Sarah says that the same thing is happening to her. She wants to ask her Mom where she stashed a book she was reading. It's so odd not to be able to make a call or go in the other room and ask. There should be a white phone that goes directly to heaven, so we are not stuck for answers.

I guess I should upload a few photos and make my way to bed.

Mama Out!!!!

Some outside shots of Ping.







Party shots.

Peter Cottontail and Mr. McGregor.

Watering can, scarecrow and Peter.

Doodlebug.

Virginia Ham singing "I Will Survive."

Cake.

Ping with favor basket.

Holding her new bunny.

Where are your eyes baby.

Mama and Ping.

What an attitude!!!!!

Happy Home Day!!!!!

One year ago today our baby landed on American soil with us. It is unbelievable to me that it's been a year. It has truly been a wonderful journey and I continue to look forward to spending our lives together.

We didn't do anything specifically to celebrate today. Ping had school and I went swimming. After I picked her up from school, we headed to Milford for lunch with Ayi Mindy and Ciara. We got there early, so we hung out and colored. After having lunch we headed to Casa Lordan and let the girls play for the afternoon. They had so much fun. Ciara has a ton of Princess clothes, so Ping stripped within minutes of being in the house. She and Ciara had tea in Ciara's big Barbie house. It was really cool.

Around 4:00 pm, Ciara's brother Connor got off the bus. He is 8 now. I feel like he was a baby 10 minutes ago. How did I turn into that "old" person???? So distressing. Anyway, I talked with Connor for a few, got Ping to change and we headed out the door. Drove home during rush hour traffic, but we really didn't have any issues. Ping passed out within minutes of our journey home. I knew she played hard.

The rest of the night was spent on the phone, on the computer or in front of the TV making some bracelets for friends.

It's late and we have a very busy weekend, so I best be heading to bed.

I hope you have a splendid weekend.

Mama Out!!!!!!

Ping putting away the toy she was using.

Ciara riding her bike. Ayi Mindy putting out the cones so the girls know they can't go any further.

Ciara taking the scooter for a ride.

Barbie tent fun.

Ping looking out.

The girls looking out together.

Another two days in the life of Ping!

Yesterday was rather boring. School and swimming and then home for the afternoon. I did a lot of cleaning around the house. We had a 4:00 pm appointment with a social worker from the State of Massachusetts. She was here to do a Safety Standards test. The house passed. I was relieved. You have to have outlet plugs in, non-slip pads for the tubs, knives, medications and chemicals locked up, locks on doors, fire detectors and Carbon Monoxide detectors. They are very thorough about safety. She then sat with us and asked for a boatload of information. She got a kick out of Ping. It was the first time she had met her. Needless to say, Ping was off the freaking walls. The one time you want your child to be sweet and innocent! Ping was spitting from the top of the stairs down to the hallway. She has NEVER done this before. She was also sucking in air and made this loud noise. She was laughing like a crazy lady. Do you think she had any interest in watching a movie or coloring????? What a sweetie, no?

Bill made dinner and put Ping to bed. I sat down on the chair and closed my eyes. I kept waking up, but couldn't move. I was so tired. I have no idea why. Finally at 1:15 am, I dragged my lazy butt up the stairs. Then of course I was wide awake, so I didn't sleep all night. I believe that is why today I woke up with a killer headache!!!!!

Today we had errands to do. After I picked Ping up from school we went to the bank, the Town Offices and Walmart. After I put our stuff away, I used my saline nasal bottle and tried to clean out my sinuses. I still had a headache. I finally broke down and took my headache medication. Unfortunately, that makes me very drowsy and it upsets my stomach. I already had a funny stomach today, so I didn't want to add the medication to the problem. As predicted, it bothered me. I had to make a couple of important phone calls today. During the first one, Ping was watching a new video. However, she got bored and decided to come in my office and slam the door. She would then open and slam again. I gave her a dirty look, she giggled and continued to do it. I finally got her to stop, but then she crawled under my desk. She wasn't in the way back where the power to the computer is, she was closer to my feet. She bumped something though and it shut down the computer. I was so angry. I was on an important call and it's one of those calls where you can't let them hear you beat your child, you know? Relax, I am kidding for the most part! Seriously though, you can only say "excuse me, Ping, can you please stop that" so many times!!!! So I got off the phone, got her set up with a new program and explained that I needed to make an important call and I needed her to behave. So she was good for the second call. Mind you I then had to majorly fiddle with the computer. Not something I enjoy or even am good at!

Finally I figured it out the computer, but by then I really had to sit with Ping. She likes me to sit with her for a little while and look out the window for Daddy. Well we both missed Daddy coming home. We were passed out. I looked up and Bill was taking a photo of us. A very unflattering photo. He was disappointed I woke up. It's hard to convince someone what a busy day you have had cleaning and doing errands when you are sitting there passed out! Oh well, what can I say? Ping never sleeps and for some reason, she fell asleep. I finally had to wake her up. If she does pass out, she won't sleep at night. That starts a vicious cycle. They say that once they reach the age of 3, they don't need a nap. She doesn't, but occasionally she is tired. Today must have been one of those days.

We got her dressed and headed out for an appointment with our accountant. We owe taxes this year. It's upsetting, but there is nothing we can do about it. After we left there, Bill insisted we eat dinner at a restaurant across the street. I had no desire as I have been fighting this stomach thing all day. However, he was walking across the street and not listening to me. We ate two very cheap sandwiches. Ping had soup. We then came home. Those two are in bed now. I am hoping Bill comes back down to get the laundry going. It's quite a mess. I have to make a bracelet for someone and do a few other things. I am off to do that now.

Hope you are well!

Mama Out!!!!!

See why I don't like sleeping with her? This is what I found the other night. She never lays the correct way, her legs are everywhere and her pillow is her kitty! Not usually though. Too cute.

Ping and Snazzy Kitty.

Passed out Ping and me.

Our dryer is fixed.

I had an appointment at the house today from 12-4 pm. Our dryer has had no heat, so I called someone last week and they came today. I expected a middle aged, maybe 50 ish man to come and fix it. A thin, very thin woman came to the door. Not that a woman can't fix a dryer, but it's not what I expected. We have come a long way baby! Every time you say you have a doctors appointment, don't people still say "What's his name?" A lot of people assume the doctor is a man. Bill called while she was here and said "Don't forget to tell him that we already replaced the brain to it once." I had said a few times that "she was here." He wasn't getting it. He finally heard me say "SHE."

So basically we were chained to the house for the day with the exception of swimming and school. Bill got a haircut after work and ran to the grocery store. We sat waiting for him in the chair as we usually do. Ping loves to watch him drive in the driveway. Ping kept trying to put her head down which is somewhat unusual. She was really tired, so I told her to lean her head on me. By the time Daddy came home, she was passed out and had been for a little while. We woke her though. If we didn't, she would run around all night long and never get any rest. Right now she is in the tub and she is heading to bed. I hear footsteps. She is coming to give me some kisses and hugs before retiring. Got to go!

Mama Out!!!

Schools out for summer!!!! Yeah, right!

Well due to the intense snowstorm we have had today, school was closed. I left the computer on the news channel so Bill could check it before heading off to work. There I am in a very intense dream and he puts his hand on my back and says "school is canceled." I jumped out of my skin. I was dreaming that I was packing up my old house. It was a fairly emotional dream. I did fall right back to sleep. Unfortunately, I didn't hear my two alarms. I did because I shut them off, but I don't recall them going off. When the phone rang at 9 am, I woke up startled. I jumped from the bed to get the phone all while scanning the bed for Ping. She wasn't there!!!!! Of course she was not, it was past the time she sleeps. While I was talking to Bill the little lady appeared. Her entire face had chocolate ice cream on it. She had gotten into her flower ice cream. Immediately I started asking questions. "Did you touch the kitty food?" I got back "No Mama and I didn't touch your desk." I have to say it was hysterical. Even Bill heard her say it. Of course I was like "you sure?????" She was emphatically shaking her head no back and forth.

I jumped in the shower and quickly got dressed. When I got downstairs I immediately scanned for damage. She did very well. She overfed the cats dry food. I don't think she thinks that dry counts. Only the wet stuff must count as being into the cat food. She fingerpainted her chocolate ice cream all over my coffee table. A little windex for that and it was clean. I had Ping wipe up the wet spots from hitting the cat's water fountain and I had her pick up the food on the floor with a dust pan and brush. She was only two sweeps in when she declared that she was very tired. So I said "Cinderella, get a move on it!" She is tired? What a complete bullshitter she is!

She wanted to watch her two Barbie cds. She loves them. She was great while watching them. After that it was utter chaos. She was off the walls. She wouldn't stop being a monkey hopping all over the house and jumping on me. I was thrilled when Bill walked in the door, but he went out to snow blow the driveway. So my reprieve wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I told Bill when he came in that she was all over me like a cheap suit and it was irritating. She pulls hair, puts an elbow in an inner thigh, steps on ankles, pulls your clothes, etc. Not that I don't love her to pieces, but some days I just don't want to be a freaking jungle gym. She was like this all day yesterday and by tonight, I was done. So I told Bill about this and he kiddingly is like "well what do you want, she is 3.5 years old?" Not more than two minutes later, she drags him to the couch and tells him that they need to play together. So she steps on him, trips over him, crushes his ankles, etc. At this point I am sitting in the chair and laughing hysterically. I love watching him go "Ouch, Ping that hurts, don't step on my ankles. PINGGGGGG, you are killing me here, you just stepped on my neck." Man, I couldn't have done any better with a voodoo doll. I loved every moment of his pain. The I told him that 30 minutes is nothing compared to 8 or 9 hours!!!!! So he proceeded to tell me that she doesn't step on me and elbow me like she does to him. Oh yeah, it's her sweet twin and it's barely a nudge when it happens. Come on now!!!!! She does this to me all day long. I am sure I have multiple bruises at this point! Clearly, Bill is out of touch. So this was basically our night.

Shortly after playtime, Ping had dinner and went to bed. I watched "P.S. I Love You" and cried like a baby. It was funny, but so heartbreaking too. Now I am off to bed as it's 1:00 am.

Mama Out!!!!

Car is done and working great!!!

Tonight we went to pick up the Cadillac. Uncle Joe has done all that needs to be done. Bill said it's running great. We went out to dinner as it was late and nobody had eaten. Ping is now in bed as is Bill.

Thanks Uncle Joe!!!!