Erin Needs...

Erin needs love and support
I am not making this up: This is the actual caption for this picture. I found it by doing a google images search with the words "Erin needs".

This is hilarious. There is a note now going around on Facebook where you go to google and enter your name plus the word "needs". It is worth trying it just to see what comes up in your search. If you need a good laugh try...it's better, and cheaper, than a psychic...
Very telling, I think....
Heres what you do:

Go to Google.com and do a search. Type in your first name and the word "needs" after it. Then copy the top ten things Google says you "need".

I promise I didn't make any of this up! I did filter a bit...

1. Erin needs a drink. (AMEN)

2. Erin needs a miracle. (again I say, AMEN).

3. Erin needs to wear shirts. (I don't get it...maybe shirts that don't have stains on them...or shirts that don't come from Target...hmmm...I have to think about this one.)

4. Erin needs a life. (Sad but true...)

5. Erin needs your prayers. (Ahhhh, how sweet is that...see #2).

6. Erin needs to visit the library. (After my BBC book note on Facebook, apparently I do.)

7. Erin needs advice. (see #3)

8. Erin needs a servant. (Ooooh, Mama like this one....)

9. Erin needs another miracle. (uhem...#5 people).

10. Erin needs a night off. (AMEN Goggle!)

Sadly, some of my needs are reflective of a 1 year old girl named Erin who is awaiting a liver transplant. This is all in fun, but please take a moment to hold #2, #5, and #9 close to your heart. love ya!

Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Ox!

We had such fun celebrating Chinese New Year. It has become a new tradition for all of us. This year we went to dinner at PF Chang's with the whole family. (We missed U. Pete, though). We decided to combine this celebration with all of the January/February birthdays as well. We were quite a group in the restaurant. The kids were so good and loved all of the Chinese food. They all received the traditional Lai See, lucky red envelopes filled with chocolate coins, lucky candy, chopsticks, and jade bracelets. We also had a celebration at Hanna's school. Her class read books, did crafts, and ate fortune cookies, rice, noodles and mandarin oranges. We also did a lion dance with them. I took some video but it didn't really turn out. I was too busy trying to direct the parade as well. I have to say it was pretty hilarious though. Gung Hay Fat Choy to everyone!!!

Talons Challenge

On January 25, Gary, my dad, and I did the Talons Challenge at Beaver Creek. It's a benefit for the Snowboard Outreach Society (SOS) who makes it possible for kids in Eagle County to learn to ski and snowboard who might not otherwise have the opportunity. But more than that, it is a type of Big Brother/Big Sister organization for these kids who benefit from having a role model.
We skiied 23,000 vertical feet on 13 black and double black diamond runs. Now some people might do this type of skiing all the time so it is no big deal. But I have spent the majority of my "ski time" on the green runs these past few years teaching Hailey and Hanna so I wasn't totally confident I still had it in me. The weather was pretty crappy...visibility was limited and the snow was really wet and heavy. We had a great time though. Lots of laughs at all of our tumbles. We certainly earned the beer at the end of it all. And kudos to my dad...I hope I can still ski like that when I 69...It was a great day!! Also, here's to Gary for doing the whole thing on a board...VW size moguls are hard to navigate for a knuckle-dragger...

Birthday Pics!

Hailey had a fun birthday. I met her at school for lunch with her friends and then returned in the afternoon for cupcake fun. After school we met Eme, Sutton and A. Becca at Starbuck's for a Hot Chocolate Party. It was sooo cold. Then it was off to Macaroni Grill for dinner. Hailey loves, loves, loves, buttered noodles with Parm cheese...so this was her pick. She soaked up all of the attention. Presents were opened back at home...she was shocked with her Wii...so was Daddy...but we had agreed that we would do big birthday parties every other year...so that means big birthday gifts. We love you Hailey. It was a very special day.

Happy Birthday Hailey Magen!

Hailey Magen is 7 years old today. My how time flies. People always told me it would go by so fast and I never believed them. But it seems like yesterday we were in our tiny apartment in New York City bumbling around with a new little girl in our lives. Hailey amazed us then, and still amazes us each and every day. Her smile, her laugh, her love for books and learning...she is a blessing beyond measure...our "Little Miss Magic". We love you Hailey! Have a wonderful day!

New Year...New Look!

Time for changes. My great blog, adoption, christian mom friend does awesome blog work. I would love to know how to do this stuff, but I don't have the time. I've hailed Leslie before and I can't sing her praises loud enough. Thanks so much! I love it!

Happy New Year!

Well, let's hope it is going to last longer than a week, because otherwise I am already in serious trouble.
Suffice it to say that my resolutions for this year must be fulfilled within the first six months of 2009...they involve the words...
High School
Twenty Year
Reunion...
I'll allow you to fill in the blanks of my very long list of what needs to happen between now and the end of June...
Happy 2009 to everyone...

Toy Packaging

Merry Christmas

Oh Holy Night

Mary Kissing the Face of God

And She Skis....

We had so much fun last weekend taking Hanna skiing for the first time. I have to say, I was a bit skeptical. For starters, our little South China Sea princess does not like to wear jackets, or mittens, and has a very difficult time with socks; especially when wearing them with boots. So, donning her ski 'suit' and magic boots off we went to the bunny hill. Regretfully, on day one, I forgot to bring the camera. Her face was absolutely priceless the first time she went sliding down the hill on her skis. She had the biggest grin followed but the sweetest giggles. On the first day it actually only took her about a half an hour to figure out the whole, "pizza stop". I couldn't believe it. We let her call the shots and after about an hour and half she said she was finished. No problem. We went again the next day. Again, there was some trepidation on Mommy's part since it was only 12 degrees. But, Daddy was all about the muscle memory since we won't be back until after Christmas. So bundled as much as could be without experiencing total sensory overload, away we went. She did so well. Aside from the fact that she would burst into tears whenever she fell down, she seemed to like it. She actually told us that she much prefers her skis in "french fries" rather than "pizza". Which translates to "I would rather go fast and have Mommy catch me than actually try to stop." The best part of the whole day was when we were on our way home and from the backseat we hear her say, "I go ski". "Yes sweet girl, you did go ski." "And Mommy/Daddy poud of me! I wuv to ski in the snowing!"
Oh my goodness...melts my heart!

Happy Holidays!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Ski Season is Here!

(Look closely at the pictures and, well, after some consultation with Daddy and Grampa, Hailey decided on "Straight Shot". The back bowls, although open, were only decidedly average.)
We had lots of fun up at the Mtn. House this weekend. On Saturday Hailey skied at Vail with Grandpa M. and Daddy. She hit the slopes like a superstar! You would never know she hasn't skied for the past 8 months. Saturday it was Beaver Creek for a Mommy/Daughter ski day. Then, she got a bonus day with Daddy on Monday at Vail. This was the first weekend of many as our ski season gets underway and our weekends to Eagle-Vail become routine. Lots of fun. Thanks Gramma and Grampa for everything!

Third Day's Merry Christmas

I love this song...it is my new favorite Christmas song. I heard it for the first time during the Holidays in 2006...when we were still waiting and wondering about who our little girl was. Shortly after, we got "the call" and saw our little Hanna's face for the first time. This video is Brad Avery's (Third Day) story, but it is really so many people's story...those who are waiting and those who are holding their little girls.
Merry Christmas and God Bless...

First Snow

Well, it is the end of November, and I guess with the holidays now upon us, the snow god's finally decided to have winter descend on Colorado. The weather has been so nice and mild this fall that I was beginning to think global warming had completely taken over and I was now living in a climate similar to the Central Coast of California. But, finally, I awoke this morning a beautiful blanket of white covering our backyard and the calm, quiet a fresh snow brings. Now I am ready for the holidays. Christmas decorations can be unpacked, the search for the perfect tree can begin, and wrapping paper, ribbons and bows can take over my downstairs guest room. And of course, with ski season already underway in the high country, today is the day I haul out all of the "gear" and see what fits and find out what's magically disappeared after 8 months in the basement. Oh, winter is here. My favorite time of year.

1,000 Hits

I just noticed that Ladybug Chronicles has had 1,000 hits. I think that is pretty cool...even though only about 10 people have contributed....it's still fun. I hope it continues. I love blogging. I'll change it up very soon. Leslie, at Sweet Berry Designs, you'll be hearing from me soon.

Happy Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month!

Some things that we have done as a family this month:

Wendy’s for dinner – Dave Thomas, the founder of both Wendy’s and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, was himself adopted as a young child. Proceeds from Wendy’s restaurants support the Dave Thomas Foundation to bring the thousands of children in foster care waiting for permanent families into the public eye.
• Read adoption books–Begin adoption talks by reading age appropriate books such as Todd Parr’s We Belong Together [Little, Brown & Company, 2007] and I Love You Like Crazy Cakes by Rose A. Lewis [Little, Brown Young Readers, 2000].
• Watch a movie with an adoption theme - We watched Meet the Robinsons and Kung Fu Panda. Look for movies that portray adoption in a positive way such as Tarzan (1999), Babe (1995), Snow Dogs (2002), Anne of Green Gables (1985), Stuart Little (1999) and Elf (2003).
• Lifebooks– Bring out the lifebooks and share each child’s adoption story. Add to the lifebook each year by including items such as newspaper clippings of personal achievements, meaningful poetry and special photos.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! We had a great time Trick or Treating on Old South Gaylord Street. Then more tricks and treats in Cherry Hills. Thanks, Krista, for hosting. The girls had so much fun. Hanna is still a bit distraught that I left her candy at her cousins house...it is in jepardy of being absconded....by two candy-crazed boys...yikes...

St. John 2008

We had an absolutely fabulous time on our trip to the Virgin Islands. It was wonderful to be back. I don't think anything ever changes down there. Honestly, the best part about the trip was the fact that we really didn't do much at all. The mornings were spent lounging and then packing up for the beach. We would spend a few hours there until the little girls started having meltdowns about sand on their hands, water in their faces, or whose turn it was with the fish floaty, which of course signaled nap time. We'd head back to the house, rest and read, then everyone was in the pool until the bugs came out, which meant it was time for dinner. No need for clocks...
We had a fun night at The Beach Bar. The girls played by the water and the grown ups had cocktails. One day was spent in the British Virgin Islands, on Jost Van Dyke. This island is too perfect for words. Main street is a sandy road lined with boats. Great White Bay and the Soggy Dollar Bar should be on everyone's must do list. There is not a better place, in my opinion, to spend the day in a hammock with a Painkiller (rum and other yummy stuff), a good book, and wonderful people. Of course, this time there wasn't much "hang time" since the little ones kept us busy, but no complaints. The night before we left we stayed on St. Thomas. There have been some changes there...lots of new buildings and a nice new marina.
We talked a lot about "what if" and if we would still be there had this or that not happened. We cherish the time that we lived down there and we know that at some very deep, heart level, it changed us for the better. It's certainly a different way of life. All in all though, I think we agree that is a bit too surreal to actually try to have a family down there. Of course, it is so expensive. A cantaloupe costs $6.00!
It is our refuge though. Our "Somewhere in the Sun".

A Home for Us Far Away....

If you're on Facebook you already know that "Erin is....ready for vacation". We are almost all packed and ready to fly to St. Thoms in the US Virgin Islands and then ferry over to St. John for a week in paradise. For Gary and I , it is a bit like returning home since we spent the first year as a married couple living and working on St. Thomas. We love, love, love, the Caribbean lifestyle. Someday, we hope to return semi-permanantly, which is why we get up and go to work everyday. We are so excited for Hanna to go to the beach. Even though her first home in China was by the sea, this will her first experience on the beach and by the water. We can't wait to "lime" around with the Damiano family and we are so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share this vacation at their beautiful family home. Enjoy the little "preview" of what we will see and do over the next week.

Please Pray!

As most of you know, I have a wonderful circle of friends via a yahoo group. We are a group of women who have never met, but I consider them some of my closest friends. We were all orginally connected through our adoption journeys, as a way to support each other throughout the processes. We have evolved into so much more. Some of us have been able to meet, others of us just talk on the phone. At this time, we have a friend in our circle who desperately needs prayers. Carole's 31/2 year old son was in a horrible accident involving a tractor this past weekend. He has already had several surgeries and is facing much more in the next few days. He and his brother Paul have only been home from Ethiopia with Carole, Marty, Mary (5) and Julia(21/2) for 6 weeks. You can check progress at their Caring Bridge site and leave them a word of encouragement on their guestbook. They live in Wisconsin and Samuel is being cared for at Milwaukee Children's Hospital. You can also read about this wonderful family and their journeys to China and Ethiopia to bring their children home at paul-samuelphillipson.blogspot.com. Thank you for lifting up this family during such a devastating time.

High Country Color

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence

This is exactly how we felt this weekend. We have so much here at home that we could do...laundry, for instance. Or a very serious shopping trip to Costco. But instead, Saturday morning, we quickly loaded the car with bicycles, water bottles, and micro-fleece and headed for the High Country. We meandered up to Conifer and then over Kenosha Pass. We had planned to stop there and let the girls run around on a short hike, but the place was packed with "peepers" (as the "leaf lookers" are so affectionately known in Vermont). So we drove on into Fairplay and then over Hoosier Pass into Breckenridge. We stopped for lunch, let the girls play, and then zipped on over Vail Pass to the Mountain House. Hailey and I went for a bike ride while Hanna napped (exhausted from all that driving, I guess). Then it was dinner and we all settled down to watch...SEC Football, of course. (Some things cannot be completely ignored.)
Today we got up and around and headed up to our favorite place in Eagle County, Piney Lake. The hills were just lit up with yellow, orange and the occasional red. We hiked along Piney Creek for over and hour, then had a picnic before taking out the canoe. It was too perfect for words. Gary took off to get in a run while the girls and I played, took pictures, and just relaxed.
Now we are home, the girls are sleeping, the laundry is waiting, and tomorrow it will back to our routine...but we are so happy we "took the time to sit still and watch the leaves turn".

Important Health Advice for Women

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about
yourself and your actions. Chardonnay can help ease you out of your shyness and
let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about
anything.

You will notice the benefits of Chardonnay almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to! live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living.

Chardonnay may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing
should not use Chardonnay. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, drymouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke.

WARNINGS:

* The consumption of Chardonnay may make you think you are whispering when you
are not.

* The consumption of Chardonnay may cause you to tell your friends over and
over again that you love them.

* The consumption of Chardonnay may cause you to think you can sing.

* The consumption of Chardonnay may make you think you can logically converse
without spitting.

* The consumption of Chardonnay may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.


Okay, okay, not my typical post...but, those of you who know me well will certainly appreciate this. It is certainly not characteristic of most of my posts about my sweet girls...but, I couldn't resist. I can think of few folks "out there" who can relate...
CHEERS!

New Big Girl Bed

Hanna has now graduated to her BIG GIRL BED. I think it has been more emotional for me than her. She has made the transition beautifully. I, on the other, am so sad to see the crib go. Another milestone...another step away from "baby". (Insert sigh...). On the bright side though, snuggles are much more accessible...