Weekend fun & Baby Birds

Typical weekend + Mother's Day

She is very serious about her puzzels. Once she gets started on puzzels she wants to do ALL of the puzzels that she has.

Our pond has a lot of tadpoles in it. Glen showed her how to scoop them up with the pool net.

Then they put them into the container.

Now I have a big glass vase full of tadpoles as the center piece for the table. WooHoo!

There is always a fresh piece of artwork in progress on the front pourch.

Norah checking out the remaining tadpoles.

Glen and Norah sliding. Well Glen sliding Norah supervising.

Our wekend also involved a walk in the park, where various objects had to be observed and then carried around and thrown at the fence.

Attempting to feed the ducks. When we got here there were two ducks hungry for some bread but Norah was quite loud so they changed their minds and swam away after only a little bread.

At the other pond the ducks and geese were just not interested in our bread. I guess they were too well feed that day to care. Or maybe the geese were French Canadian geese and wanted coissant instead.

Our ferns have once again been blessed with a birds nest. There are 5 small, speckeled eggs in the nest. We are waiting to see which ones will hatch.

Norah wanted to carry around her baby AND play so we made her a sling out of a dish towel.

Brandon did a little Mother's Day art on the front pourch and wrote me a really nice letter that directed me to the artwork at the end. Norah made a cute little teapot at day care for Mother's Day that has found its home on the fridge (a true place of honor to have your work hang on the fridge). We spent part of Mother's Day at my Mom and Dad's house where my brother and his girlfriend made brunch for everyone and we got to visit. Then Brandon made dinner that night at our house for me and the rest of the family. It was a really good day and we didn't have to wait in line at any resturants, which is always a plus.

Sweet-Sweet air, Annie and Sweet-Sweet Daughter

We had lots of workmen at our house last Friday installing a air conditioner that will require me being on call till I'm dead to pay for. At least they were nice enough to put down drop cloths.

The new air conditioner is HUGE compared to our 1970 model that caught on fire.

Glen got out the hammock this last week when it was not coming a deluge. Norah loved it. They got in and swung, swang, swingded to their hearts content. It has rained buckets everyday since then.
We were also fortunate enough to get to see Annie this last weekend. We went up by her school to go to Toad Suck Days (don't get to grossed out there isn't any actual mouth to toad contact). Since the weather was practicing for a second coming of Noah himself Toad Suck days was well...suckin'. Instead we all went to lunch and then to Wal Mart to get Annie some supplies.
Norah took to Annie like a duck to water (hah! weather refernce). Annie loves kids and Norah loves Annie. Annie will be going home to China for the summer. I know that she is excited and I can only imagine how excited her family is to have her home for a while. She has such a wonderful family, I don't know how she stands being so far away from all of them. We forgot our camera when we went to see her, which is a shame because she just gets more and more beautiful each time we see her.

This is what Norah does at the end of the day when we are all exhausted (except Norah) and ready to wind down the day and get dinner ready. She climbs in her stroller and demands to go to the park.

Of course when you look like Norah you usually get what you want, unless its pouring down rain. I am sick of the rain, can you tell.

Lori

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Norah's 4th birthday was May 1st. We invited family over and had a great time. Besides all the presents Norah's favorite thing was the balloons. Glen bought a kit that has it's own helium tank with it, so that Norah could watch all of the balloons being blown up.

Daddy's big helper.

The pig was ready to party too.

The balloons were a BIG hit. Just look at the excitement on that face.

How many balloons does it take to carry off a 4 year old?

We tied some of the balloons to the mailbox. Norah thought that was just the neatest thing ever and had to check it out with Dad. She then had to stare out of the window every 30 seconds and do the sign for balloons to everyone.

There is sugar and spice in there, trust me. This is just her attitude slipping out.

My brother's awesome girlfriend made (that's right people, MADE) this blanket for Norah. He better snag her quick because she is a catch. (and now of course can do no wrong in our eyes).

Norah doesn't like to hold bugs but she sure does like to look at them, so this little creature house was PERFECT.

My Mom and Dad got Norah a great lego table and doll. Both of which she has played with non-stop. My brother found her a cool highchair that attaches to the table, perfect for putting babies OR Stitch dressed up as a bunny into.

My family has been so supportive and just open to loving Norah without any preconceived conditions attached. It really is a beautiful thing. Oh, and my Dad is totally hooked! She has him wrapped so far around her little finger, she says jump he says how high and should I bring you some candy back on the way down?

During all this fun and excitment we can't help but feel for Norah's birth parents. They cared for this little girl for 15 months before they had to abandon her in order for her to get the medical attention that she needed. It had to be heartbreaking for them and the time around her birthday must be especially sad for them. We ask that you pray for peace for her "other" family. We have put out the word through alot of different sources (which will not be mentioned here) in hopes that it will trickle down to them some how that she is safe, loved and is receiving the attention she needs.

Lori