pictures and a favorite bedtime story............

ABC's, Dani, and chinese school...........

WOW!!!, how did we get to a three month mark of having dani in our lives? it's been a whirlwind, with lot's of lessons, getting used to having a lively five year old in the house. she is most amazing. yesterday, she and i were sitting in the kitchen, hanging out, and she said, "i love you". it was sort of mumbly, and my response was "what?", in which she said again, "i love you, i love you, i love you". i am without words to truly describe having this little girl in our lives. knowing she was born in china, and how does life work, that certain decisions and events are made, results in this special person now being our family?
john and dani are becoming...........well.........brother and sister. i had to stop them arguing in the high school today over my keys and who was the best person to open the car door. there are kind moments between them, as they play video games, or the protective attitude john has when we are out and about, and tonight, watching the presidential debate, with her tickling his head.
dani and alex, huge great BUDS!!! alex has been preoccupied with starting college this week, and dani has missed her, so this afternoon was a time to reconnect, going into the hopefully not so busy weekend.
dani is a mind sponge, and busy learning math, her abc's and actually doing some beginning reading. we had made the decision to do her studies at home, and this is going very well. her english keeps improving, and she wants to know about everything. her new word is "WHY"
chinese class tomorrow!!! and cross country for john. gotta go...............

chinese class

we have started dani in a chinese class taught in chinese on saturdays. she seems to like it, and i am glad to have some support for her chinese language. since she is in class, i also, have started the adult class offered at the same time. as i am sitting here tonight, i am aware that just about everything gone over in my class slipped in one ear and out the other. i am glad to be in class, however, and wonder how this adventure will go.................

is there an artist in the house...............?

dani loves to spend lot's of time writing in notebooks, or drawing. it is amazing that her attention span in these areas in extensive, and it is obvious her mind is busy at work. as we have started homeschooling dani, after deciding against putting her in kindergarten, she is happily learning numbers and letters at home. she loves her math the best, i think, and has been starting to learn some beginning phonics, and writing. she is very quick!
she has started chinese class on saturdays. she is being instructed in chinese, and we are wishing hard to support her chinese language. there is an adult class, also, at the same time, so i am going to be participating in that, and here we go on a new journey, seeing what can be accomplished keeping dani's chinese language.

oh happy day............the dentist visit..........

oh so happy to report that our dani has a beautiful cavity free smile, with lot's of room for big girl teeth when they come in!!!!!
dani was a charmer, and very good in the dentist chair. she sat patiently and quietly while her teeth were cleaned, and pictures taken. she was of course very inquisitive about all the dental equipment, and the computers that showed pictures of her teeth.
eye doc next on thursday..................

some of dani's favorite music favorites..........

dani has many favorites but these pictures have to do with some of her favorite music choices at this time. can you guess who these gentlemen are? dani's songs............"benny and the jets", and "fur elise"

Happy Birthday ALEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex, we love you, happy happy birthday, may you have the best one yet...........

-all life is an experiment. the more experiments you make the better....
--ralph waldo emerson----

dessert by jeff...............

as our family is exploring healthier food choices and experimenting with a new crockpot, here's what jeff came up for dessert. must have gone over ok, as it is long gone today..............

Grrr-Double Grrrr...........

dani found one of john's old halloween costumes, and proceeded to be dragon for the day. imagine one small dragon walking the hallways of our high school, flanked by one mom, and two teenagers. a bit of conspicuous family living, for those reading that have gone through the adoption process and had to take the conspicuous family training.
meanwhile, john has renewed interest in the above blue silk pocket that he played in when he was probably dani's age, when he and i lived the son-rise days. could it be because dani discovered the fun possibilities of playing with it?
john and dani's developing brother and little sister relationship continues to fascinate, intrigue, and makes me laugh. they are so funny together. dani loves to tease endlessly john, and as he is trying to figure this out, has assumed a protective and big brother attitude.