Gang En Jie!!! (Happy Thanksgiving)

Picked Grace up from Kindergarten yesterday and this is what we found. What a lovely little hand painted turkey she makes! :)

Gang en Jie! (Happy Thanksgiving in Mandarin!)

Birthday Party at Chinese Class

Here are some cute pictures of Lucy at her Chinese class birthday party. Kang Laoshi (Teacher Kang); Lu Ji Chun (Lucy); Lu Mei Xin (Grace); Bao Ming Ming (Liza); and Buo Chuan (Andrew) all had a great time decorating Lucy's cake with fresh fruit and learning how to say "I want banana...apple...pear...orange" in Mandarin at the same time! I love the picture of Grace giving Lucy a BIG birthday smooch!

It's a Kung Fu Panda Party!

Hi Everyone: Next week, November 26th, my sweet baby Lucy turns four years old! It's hard to believe. To celebrate her special day, my beautiful friend, co-worker and fabulous pastry chef, made this absolutely amazing Kung Fu panda cake for Lucy! I was so blown away that it actually made me cry. Michelle, you are AMAZING!!!!! Won't Lucy be excited to actually get to eat Mao Mao's ears! :) Watch for pictures of Lucy happily munching Mao Mao coming soon!!

Disco Abbie!

On Sunday, we ate lunch courtesy of coupons from my Porcupine Grill Cycling Team. While we were eating, we realized they were playing really bad '80's disco music. We're talking Olivia Newton John! It made me laugh, because Abbie was dressed like an '80's disco diva! After lunch, we went to the mall to visit Santa at his new and really cool Norad Tracking Station. Grace had a melt down, Abbie drooled on Santa and Lucy refused to talk. The picture was awful, but I bought it because some day I can show the girls and tell them, "you were lucky Santa came to bring you presents in 2008!" Ha ha ha!! :) Have a great week everyone! P.s. Abbie is doing really great from her surgery. She speaks more clearly and does not seem to be in anymore pain. What a trooper!

Abbie's Second Cleft Palate Surgery was a Success!

Hi Everyone: On Monday, November 11th, at 11:00 AM (lucky numbers?), Abbie had her second cleft palate surgery. Dr. Morales was very happy with the outcome. Apparently, her hard palate prothsesis did it's job over the last year, and he was able to remove it entirely and complete the full soft and hard palate closure. Poor little pee wee is in pain, but continues to try to be her happy little Abbie self. She will be home for a couple of days until we can get the pain in control, and she will be on a soft diet for a month! Good thing she likes soft foods! On a funny note, she loves powdered donuts, but can only have squishy food for the first couple of days. Out of desperation to please Abbie, Dan broke four donuts down into the food processor, added some liquid and presto...instant liquified donut batter! Abbie LOVED it! It's all about creativity! While at the hospital, a little friend from the girl's daycare was also having a procedure done by Dr. Morales. It was nice to visit with his mom and have a friend for Abbie. At one point, he was pretty loopy on pain medication and I mentioned that Lucy talks about him all the time. He responded, "Awe, Lucy loves me!" This was so cute coming from a six year old! Barring no palate repairs required, Abbie's next surgery will be scheduled when she is six years old. At that time, they will extract bone marrow from her hip and great a bony gumline for her permanent teeth. Amazing stuff! Love you all! Tracie and Abbie xoxoxoxoxo

Spooky, Scary, Creepy and Paul Stanley from KISS???

Scenes From the "Great Pumpkin Patch"

Three Beautiful Years

It's been almost three years now since our beautiful little Lucy Mae Ji Chun came home to her family. I have this picture, taken by a friend a the very moment Lucy and her nanny got off the orphanage van and began their entrance into the Civil Affairs Office. This was a life changing moment, because within minutes, sweet little Lucy in her pink padded coat, officially became our daughter forever. I cannot imagine our lives without her. I love her beautiful, full face smiles, how she loves to sing to "The Killers" music, her dancing in Chinese class, her squishy nose, and her silly antics. Lucy, you are our daughter to the very core of our hearts and souls.

We love you!!! Wo ai ni!

YEE HAW!!!!!!

Had a fabulous time last weekend with the family at the Hee Haw Corn Maze in American Fork, Utah. We went on a hay ride for candy, rode pedal cars through the corn stalks, pet farm animals and Abbie was even picked as one of five children to try to chase down and catch a piglet for a prize. She may be tiny, but she is mighty! I thought for sure she would rustle one to the ground! Then we hooked up with my beloved Stewart Family for fun at Tracy Aviary, Liberty Park and a Chinese food dinner at South China House. Marry, I am still sorry for that lap full of ice water, courtesy of Lucy! (Love you! :)

OKTOBERFEST in Utah

It wouldn't be October in Utah without the first snowfall of the season. Unlike my beautiful friend Marry, I HATE snow with a passion!! It's cold, it's wet, it's miserable. I don't like driving in it, I don't like walking in it. I must have been a cat in my other life!! Hard to believe that Dan and I met in the high mountains of Colorado and used to ski together like wild people. Since moving to Utah, the "California Girl" in me has resurfaced with a vengeance. What I do love about October is the changing of the colors. We can see the mountains turn beautiful Autumn shades from our front window. It is awe inspiring and I wish it would last year around! We took the whole family to Porcupine Pub and Grill for Oktoberfest and had a nice brunch. Here are some pictures of my favorite subjects!

Operation Smile Utah Volunteer Dinner

Abbie and I recently had a wonderful time in Alpine, Utah, at the home of an Operation Smile supporter. The Watkins Family opened up their home and beautiful grounds to provide dinner, entertainment and a great time, for Utah's Operation Smile volunteer base. Don't worry, that's root beer Abbie is drinking! She made friends with the Osmond's too! :)

Chinese Class

Gracie and Lucy are having so much fun at Lao shi Kang's (Mindy's) Chinese class. They go every Saturday morning for two hours and are learning how to write their Chinese characters (especially funny, since they don't even know how to write the English Alphabet yet!); the story behind Chinese traditions and festivals; dance and song; language, and they even get to taste special home made Chinese food! Here are some cute pictures of the girls practicing their characters, dancing and just enjoying their class. We made the decision to wait until next session to start Abbie, but she is definitely benefiting from the learnings as well!

ZOIKS!

My boss, Ron, and his family recently went on a vacation to Thailand. Their son, Adam, took these fabulous pictures of elephants on the grounds of the hotel. They are GREAT!

Eating Empanadas in Ensenada!

Hi All! Had a great time on the Monarch of the Seas cruise and on the day excursion in Ensenada. Did some shopping in the open market and went to La Bufadora, a sea "blow hole." It was an absolutely beautiful day!! Carolyn, Michelle and I enjoyed 70's music trivia, a bean bag competition, towel folding demonstration, Bingo, and eating, eating, eating. Oh, and we can't forget the Men's Belly Flop Competition into the pool. Gross! Our room was so tiny we could barely turn around, but that's what made it fun! Cruise ships are wild and if you have never been on one, the people-watching factor makes it worth it! Fun time had by all!

MOM!

Hi All: I talked to my mom this morning and she sounds great! She has 20 staples in her back, and her friend who is a nurse, took off the bandages and said the 4" incision site looks good. It was great to talk to mom and hear the "chipperness" in her voice! Dad has been amazing and is taking good care of mom. What a great Pop I have! Love you both! xoxoxoxoxo

Michelle's Trip To Thailand

My friend Michelle (who I am going on the cruise with this weekend), recently went to Thailand and took the most amazing pictures! The wood carving is beautiful and I love the little girl on the boat with sunblock smeared all over her smiling face. The flower soap carvings are just too beautiful to actually use!