Fish, Fish, Fish!!!

On Friday and Saturday, Randy and I had a conference to attend. Wanting to keep things on as much of a regular schedule as possible for the girls, their normal teachers were here on Friday and one of them on Saturday. We then had a nanny to also help her out with the girls. I wish I could say all went smoothly, but it didn't and that's another story! Anyway, it was really good for Randy and I to get out for a change. Wanting to give the girls as much stability as possible, it was basically the first time we'd done that, for more than an hour or two that is, since beginning the Forever Home. It was good to just have some time together alone and we plan to continue to incorporate more of that into our schedules on an ongoing basis, at least a few hours here and there, especially now that the girls have all been around for awhile now.

Anyway, Shawna came up with a fun craft project for all the girls to do. They made these cute fish and all the girls had fun doing them. Totally her idea and plan! I found out about after I returned home and figured it was one of their teachers who planned and did it. They then took pictures with my camera knowing mom would want to capture these special moments in a picture. I can't tell you what wonderful helpers Shawna and Elise are with the Forever Home girls! They really love them and help often in many ways. Yes, we all surely know, it is a chore sometimes, but anyone that grew up with several brothers and sisters, (including ourselves) can tell you that life would be boring without them and they wouldn't have it any other way!! Although not all times are easy around our house, nonetheless, we are oh soooo blessed and thankful for one another and what joy each member of the family brings to our lives.

Tomorrow the Forever Home girls will celebrate Thanksgiving at New Day Foster Home. We're making the stuffing and gravy, others are bringing different things. Then on Friday, the Forever Home will have it's family Thanksgiving dinner together. It will be the first time for several of them. Okay, I already know what we'll hear come out of Serena's mouth. She often comes into the kitchen to see what we're cooking and if there's no rice, she says "What, no rice?" I know all Chinese love their rice, we do too. Although we're foreigners, we do eat Chinese more times than not, but there are times when we get hungry for Western food too. Serena loves her rice!! It's not normal though, I have to tell you she not only likes rice, SHE LOVES IT!!! Often times I have to tell her she MUST eat other things with it or she will JUST eat rice! So, yes, she will disappointed on Friday that rice is not on the menu! BUT...she will be able to experience a typical Western Thanksgiving meal! It's funny, when we have something new that Serena hasn't ever seen before, her first reaction is to simply look over it and pass it by. We then say, no you need to at least try a little bit. Then more often then not, her face will light up and then says "Hao chi mama!" and wants more. It's good for her to experience new things and foods, for all of the girls and us as adults as well. Which reminds me, did you all go out and try something new and/or weird after the purple potato post? Nonetheless, we go through the same routine every time!! Yes, you need to try it and then she's surprised it's really good food! If we'd never made her at least try them, she'd really be missing out as some of her new favorite foods are now Western! Jenna, on the other hand, will have little trouble adjusting to Western food as she seems to enjoy most all Western foods!