A New Job

So the other day Zoe & I were riding in the car. And this is how the conversation rolled:

Zoe - "Mom, I've been thinking."

Me - "What about?"

Zoe - "Well, I think I still wanna work at H**ters when I grow up. But instead of being a doctor, I think I wanna be a teacher."

Me - "Oh, Zoe, that's awesome. You know that I would be very proud of you if you ended up being a teacher. Just like Me."

Zoe - (smiles)

Me - "So, why do you think you wanna be a teacher?"

Zoe - "Well, because I think it'd be really cool to eat in the teachers' lounge!!!!!"

(I didn't have the heart to tell her the teachers' lounge isn't all its cracked up to be!)

It's True....

Our baby is a first grader!!!! It's just so hard to believe. She's growing up way too fast. Too fast in fact that this morning after arriving at school, she just kind of looked at me, gave me a smile, & off she went. No kiss, no hug, nothing...just a little grin & a short wave. Makes me kinda sad. But on the other hand, so happy knowing she loves school & couldn't wait to get started this morning. (I'm sure I'll be just like that tomorrow when it's my first day back at school - NOT!!!)

Zoe with her heavy backpack all ready for the first day!

Missing in Action

(Warning: This is a long post with a lot of pictures!)

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. We just arrived home from a much needed week's vacation on Lake Erie in Ohio. Even though the week flew by, we had a great time. Here's the run down of our week:

Saturday, July 31st: We left Saturday morning around 5 AM & arrived at our condo on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio about 4 PM. That evening we walked around downtown Sandusky, ate dinner, made a quick trip to a "mom & pop" grocery store, & basically hung out at the condo.

Sunday, August 1st: Slept in, checked out the city, had a late lunch at a local restaurant, & then explored the lake front.

Monday, August 2nd: We headed to Kelley's Island & Put-in-Bay Island to explore. We had a great time renting golf carts & driving all over the islands. There were many beautiful houses on the lake & lots of friendly people. We visited the Butterfly House & the Cave in Put-in-Bay. Zoe enjoyed taking the ferries to each island. (I know, you're probably asking where the pictures are. I accidentally left the camera back at the condo. When I realized it, it was too late!)

Tuesday, August 3rd: Cedar Point - A Roller Coaster Lover's Dream. It was a little cloudy & rainy when we first got there, but it eventually cleared up to make for a great day.

Zoe on the Carousel.

Lovin' on Sn**py!

Dad & Zoe waiting for the Scrambler to start.

After getting her hair wrapped.

Petting the goat.

A beautiful unicorn face painting.

Paul waiting for take-off on the Dragster Roller Coaster. It takes off at 250 miles per hour just like a dragster race car. (It was so much fun watching everyone's faces when it took off!)

That's Paul coming over the top of the ride.

Wednesday, August 4th: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Paul had been waiting for this day for quite some time. Knowing that Zoe would not last as long as Paul would want to stay (hours & hours), I planned for Zoe & I to eventually make our way to the Cleveland Zoo.

Big guitars that select artists had designed & signed.

This was hanging in the lobby. Zoe wanted a picture of it since Gwen is her middle name!

(After about an hour & a half, Zoe had had enough & we headed to the zoo.)

There were painted dinosaurs all over the zoo. Zoe loved getting her picture with them.

Porcupine in the Rainforest exhibit.

The zoo's current display is - "The Scoop on Poop". It was quite entertaining.

Another face paining - a Monarch Butterfly. (Many people kept saying she made such a cute tiger. Zoe got a big chuckle out of that.)

Riding the camel.

And with her new friend Kendall.

A Koala baby with its mama.

Another dinosaur.

On the zoo's tram.

The Scoop on Poop exhibit sign.

We headed back to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame about 15 minutes before the zoo closed. Shortly after our arrival, kids from the School of Rock House Band in Kansas City, MO performed a live concert of classic rock. It was awesome. Those kids could sing. In fact, there were many times that people would walk in the Hall of Fame doors & instantly look around trying to find the original artist, only to be surprised it was a group of young kids.

Thursday, August 5th: Niagara Falls. On a whim, we decided to drive the 3 1/2 hours to Niagara Falls. We figured we were this close, we might as well take advantage of it. Let me tell you, the falls did not disappoint. They were absolutely gorgeous & we had a wonderful time (except for the almost running out of gas - thanks to my husband - that's a another story in itself).

Waiting to board the Maid of the Mist ferry boat.

Zoe was getting wet & loving it!

Friday, August 6th: Marblehead Light House. We had seen this light house from the ferry boat when we toured the islands. With nothing to do on our last day, we decided to drive to Marblehead. We had a wonderful lunch at Avery's diner & then headed to Marblehead Light House State Park.

Zoe & I climbed the 72 step up to the top & then the 72 steps back down.

Zoe jumping on the rocks!

Striking a pose...

And then ending with a jump!

Overall, we had a wonderful vacation. It just wasn't long enough! Everyone says it's always nice to be home. I guess, but now Zoe & I have to get ready for school which starts in a week. YUK! Summer has flown by!

Tears of Joy

Yesterday as I watched Zoe do her round-off back-handspring at gymnastics for the first time ever (& by herself I might add!), tears started streaming down my face. They weren't tears of anger or sadness, but tears of joy. I suddenly had flashbacks to that little girl that we met a little over 5 years ago that was scared & wondering why everything she had ever known was being taken from her. Yesterday's event made me realize just how far Zoe has come.

Since then I keep looking at her & trying to imagine her life without adoption: living in an orphanage, longing to be part of a family while watching so many of the other children at the orphanage join their forever families. And then I think to myself, isn't that what all orphans worldwide want - a forever family? A forever family that will show them love, comfort, kindness, respect, etc.

But isn't that what I was longing for? A child to be part of me, to show me love - an unconditional love that only a mother knows? I never could have imagined how my world was going to change when meeting Zoe! And because of it, I thank God everyday for giving me the opportunity to be her mother. There's no better feeling in the world - tears & all!

Lemonade for Eli: {Sunday Snapshot}

Recently friends of ours received approval from China to adopt a little boy they plan on naming Eli.

With travel looking sooner than what they had originally planned, the family is brainstorming ideas of ways to have the funds they need to bring Eli home. So, with that being said....Zoe heard Paul & I discussing their situation. She came up with the idea of having a lemonade stand with all of the proceeds going to Eli's soon-to-be forever family to help get him home. Needless to say, her idea was very successful.

Zoe held her Lemonade for Eli stand in front of the funeral home on Thursday of this past week. (She talked about having it in front of our house, but her dad explained to her that she wouldn't have many buyers since our road is not busy. Instead, he talked her into having it in front of the funeral home which sits on a major highway.) Zoe made all of the signs & was quite the seller - waving to all the cars driving past encouraging them to stop.

The grand total for 2 1/2 hours of work - $72.50!

(When our friends get their adoption site up & running, I will pass it along!)

What a Week!

Last week was so busy, but yet, so much fun. We had company in & out all week. The busyness started last Sunday & ended Saturday!

Sunday: Zoe & I went to Paul's grandma's & aunt's about an hour away. Enjoyed visiting & eating lunch with them. We stopped at a "mom & pop" ice cream stand on the way home for a dreamsicle cone. (The BEST vanilla & orange sherbert twist cones!)

Monday: One of my co-workers, her two daughters, & a friend came over to swim. Zoe loved hanging out with Morgan & Madison.

Tuesday: Gymnastics!

Wednesday: My sister Heather (Yes, I have a sister named Heather. No, we are not like George Foreman & every girl in the family is named Heather. It just so happened that my sister Heather & I are the same age - she is the oldest by a couple of months - but our parents did not marry until we were both adults!), & her two daughters, Megan & Gracie, spent the day with us. We had a blast. We swam & just basically hung out.

Gracie posing in the pool!

Zoe & Gracie were doing gymnastics!

Helping Uncle Paul clean the fish bowl.

Look at that hair! This was after her nap.

Rockin' out on Zoe's guitar.

Thursday: Paul's nephew Austen & his cousin Camille, both from Baton Rouge, arrived about 2 in the morning. Once they were up & at it for the day, the two of them plus Zoe & I enjoyed a very hot day (about 110' with the heat index) at S*x Fl*gs. We all had a blast. There was not a big crowd so we were able to stay on the rides without having to get off for a second & third time. Before arriving home, I met my sister Tracy & picked up my nephew Blake & his friend Aaron. They spent the night with us also.

Friday: Austen & Camille headed to the grandparents' house to spend the rest of the weekend. Zoe, Blake, Aaron, & I went to gymnastics & then joined one of Zoe's friends & her family (Gracie, Rylan, & Cortney) at a family pizza join. There were lots of games, go-carts, bumper cars, bowling, etc. We had a blast.

Zoe playing Skeet Ball.

Gracie & Zoe bowling with attitudes!

Just a pretty smile!

Zoe riding in a roller coaster simulator!

We arrived home to my sister Tracy, her husband Brent, & their oldest son Zack. They spent the night after a full day of baseball games. Zoe spent the night with her friend Gracie.

Saturday: All the relatives left today. Paul worked & I swam in the backyard with some friends.

It was an eventful week. As I look back on it, I am reminded how lucky we are to have such wonderful friends & family. Even though we are busy busy, we love it!