Woot!

Number 5 is official!

Not allowed to post pictures until after our Embassy appointment which will be months from now.

Now the next waiting begins...could be a long time to get her home! Let's hope they expedite since she has been waiting a very long time...

But at least we have a face!

Ahhh...

I remember being at summer camp and waking up EARLY to walk up the hill to the Camp Director's house with my cabin to watch the nuptials of Charles and Di. Our family were big Royals fans--we read "Majesty" magazine when Diana came on the scene, and followed her (and her fashion!) religiously! I even dressed as Princess Di for Halloween (since I had the "Diana" haircut)! Hey--it's a Canuck thing!

Today however, when given the choice between the Royal Wedding and Tom and Jerry...my kids chose the latter! I will enjoy it later in one of the many recaps.

There is still that part of me that gets excited when a Royal Wedding happens. That we still have princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses, lords and ladies, is a thing of fairy tales.

Just tell me they sang "Jerusalem" so I can hear it later! It's not about the words, it's about the music...enjoy!

Jerusalem

Phew!

What a night!

Mimi sick.

Moved everyone to the basement around 12:30/1:00 due to tornado warnings--Jason never does that, so I knew he meant business!

Glad to report my B'Ham friends are safe and sound--we were VERY worried!

Now a beautiful, clear sunny day!

And Mimi is already slowly on the mend!

So...

George recovered nicely after only 36 hours. It was way too quiet here for that time! He's back to is normal, loud self!

However, we arrived home tonight from choir and Game Night and I hear, "Mama...I barfed." I am proud to say though, that Mimi runs for the toilet every time and there is never the gross, messy aftermath! She is sleeping right now with occasional vomiting. I am camping out with her tonight and expect another marathon cartoon day tomorrow. The one perk of being truly ill: non-educational TV!

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Anonymous: My post did not refer to you!! We will need all the support we can find if this referral becomes official. I was referring to a recurring condescending person who just does not get it.

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Happy to report that both my choirs (church and community) are sounding great! Church choir program on May 11th will be wonderful and the Tussahaw Young Singers are going to shine on June 12th--can't wait for both!

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And...what's up with this storm? I am not afraid of a storm, but Jason and I have dodged a couple of tornadoes when those around us were hit. Hope our luck holds...I am still not used to this Georgia spring weather--and it's been 18 years!

So...

Vinny: "Mommy, could you help me with my shoes? Please?"

Me: "Sure, Vinny."

Vinny: "I will give you a dollar..."

Oh, how they learn!

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George is on Day Two of heaving and fever. Poor guy. Mimi is at loose ends without her other half to hang with! Lucky so far no one else has it--let's keep it that way!!

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Almost have a referral! It is pending based on what the orphanage decides--they have final say--everyone at our agency thinks it will happen! Yay!

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Quick vent: I dislike beyond words people who are condescending. You know, I am not an entirely stupid person. Ahh...5 more weeks. "Nuff said!

Getting even closer!!!!!

Getting closer...

Watch out for a blog giveaway in May from this Atlanta-based store!

They have a promo code offer: Tweet01

The link is: http://cioprints.etsy.com/

Saw the male peacock today again with his feathers out. I explained that he was likely trying to attract the female. Thus ensued THIS conversation:

Mimi: "What happens when the girl peacock comes by him?"

Me: "She will fall in love with him."

Mimi: "Then what?"

Me: "They'll have little baby peacocks."

Mimi: "How will they do that?"

Me: "Well...by putting his feathers out."

(I thought that if I kept it short and simple, it would suffice.)

Mimi: "Do they get married? You know, not with a ring or a man standing in front of them...but like peacocks..."

Me: (phew!): "Yes, Mimi, I suppose in their own peacock way, they get married!"

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We have a pretty awesome week with Natan home for Spring Break--school on as usual for the older two, with no pressure because of the bus schedule! We have covered so much and it feels great! We have had nowhere to go which is also a first for us! No soccer, no baseball, no tennis, no choir...just hanging our and playing!

Spent three hours at the outdoor Burger King today (as a treat for Natan who NEVER gets to go, according to him!). And got me a QT on the way home which pretty much makes for a perfect day!!!!

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Met someone at BK today. At first, she reminded me of my friend, Mary Liz. I thought, "OK...maybe someone I could add to my phone list." However, after three hours of her talking, it became clear that she is just another self-centered, lunatic, nut case. She ended her inane conversation by telling me that they do not celebrate ANYTHING--not Christmas, not Halloween (???!!!), not birthdays...because of their religion. WHAT??!!

The other odd thing was that she rambled on about not letting her kids watch TV, play video games, or watch any PG-13 movies. But, her kids kept telling my kids they were going to "slap you in the face if you don't shut your mouth." OK.

And, she tells her own kids, "Shut your mouth before I kill you!"

What the hell kind of religion is she part of????

Freak Show.

I can't believe my freak-o-meter didn't go off earlier than the three agonizing hours, but there it is.

She is no Mary Liz...

Hair by Reggie!

First Game

The view five minutes from our house--all these years and this is the first time we've seen the feathers out! It was a cool moment!

OMG. Deep fried mac and cheese--the kids LOVED their "Mini Balls!"

Eating "Mini-Weiners" at our new fave spot: The Cheesecake Factory--a Montague first!

"Painting" with sidewalk chalk and water--garbage can art!

My Pink Dogwood--one of the few things that grows and I can't kill!

Hiking at our favorite park, Panola!

The red mark on the tree that was supposed to lead us to treasure...sadly, it did not!!!!

So...went to the Emory Voice Clinic on Friday. This doctor (who is from Nova Scotia!!)did the scope through my mouth rather than the nose. Very cool to see my vocal folds displayed on a huge screen! The first thing I noticed and then he pointed out: a very tiny bump on one, and an indent on the other. He calls this a "Fibroma Lesion" and said if not treated, it will become a nodule. Cause: vocal stress. And he said the stress would have been caused by something that had caused me stress which in turned put stress on my vocal folds and the muscles surrounding them. It makes sense: you injure yourself and then other areas overcompensate to try to correct the injury. There is no medicinal cure and surgery is not an option at this point. I have an appointment with a vocal coach/speech therapist in May who will be working with me to try to fix the problem. The doctor said there are three outcomes:

1) I never get better.

2) I get somewhat better and learn to use my semi-improved voice.

3) I get better!

I am opting for choice #3, even if it means I'm going to have work very hard to alter the way I use my voice. The kids think it is hilarious that I have to go to Speech "just like Natan!"

I now have a whistle for the kids. Instead of raising my voice to get their attention, I blow the whistle--they love it and it will help keep strain from my voice.

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Conversation about Sara's rooster pecking one of her chickens to death:

Mimi: "What will happen to the chicken?"

Me: "Uncle Dwayne will take care of her."

Mimi: (after a pause): "I don't think I'm liking how this story ends."

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George to one of his SS teachers yesterday when they were talking about wine:

"I can't have wine because of my heart."

The teacher wondered to him that it was also because he is ONLY 6 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!