Catching up.

I can not believe how fast June has gone by. Several things to update. Zoe had her first dental cleaning and NO cavities. pretty amazing considering she's been in a orphange and all the sweets they allow them.
The first week in June we attended the Dragonboat Festival at Riverside Park In rochester. I forced the teen boys to come,no one would help me with the "boat"for the float but once they saw how put together most of them were I am hoping to have help next year. it was great to see all the kids and having Zoe with us this year. They had a parade around and Zoe's boat won most colorful,its good to have glitter.I thouught they were giving awards to everyone but they only gave out 5. Really Zoe didnt have a clue so she would not have been upset. She refused to pose for pictures ,thats her in the middle looking up at the ceiling. She said there were too many cameras. all those parent clicking away. She let her dragon wear the medal. what a sweetie. when I say that to her she says back "you called me sweetie mommy" then"your my sweetie mommy" She is very cute except ... she was hightailing it across the park to the playground and I told her to stop she turned around and looked at me .. I swear i heard her hiss.. thats her trying to recreate the look.
It was a very hot day. we all had fun although Zoe would not talk or play with any of the kids

zoes guitar

Zoe singing and playing her new guitar on the very first day...I was quite impressed by her natural talent.. She is singing about a bathing suit and going to the beach...

Memorial Day Parade

Zoe's first parade... We attended the Memorial Day Parade ... it was Zoe's first. She seemed to like it, after we ate at dennys and then later went to get ice cream at Minnehans. Zoe's first cone... she said"mama we come tomarrow for more?"

cuter everyday

It seems to me this little girl gets cuter every day, i may be biased,but judge for yourself !!!
Zoe has wanted a bike every since she tried a neighbors out so Friday I found one at Aldi's( zoe knows so much , as I pulled into the parking lot she asked"we going to Aldi's? get food")I put the Dora one on the cart but when I was a few feet away she stopped me and said "deigo bike".She already has a Dora car that sister Shari gave her last month for her bday(Zoe's bday is June 15th but Shari could not wait). Here is a photo of Zoe and her car... we are pretty sure that Shari taught her these driving skills!! Lets hope Zoe doesn't end up driving on the golf course or into the bushes.


Yesterday we were at the house gutting the basement and we noticed all the twirly whirls(the seeds from the trees)spinning thru the air Zoe was trying to catch them.

We also went and visited the newest neighbor,Casey , a 6 month old chocolate lab, Zoe did not enjoy this as Casey licked her face and then jumped on her.She still has issues with Keena and her tail.We are hoping Keena and Casey can have some playdates.

tragedy and loss

link to story http://members.shaohannahshope.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6259

There has been so much tragedy and loss in the world recently, the earthquake in China and then this morning finding out about Maria, The 5 yo adopted daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman who passed away after an accident at the family's home. I know how closely I have come to losing my kids in freak accident and that but for the Grace of God they were spared. I can not imagine the grief Maria's family is feeling. I pray that God will lift them up again in spirit and belief..peace Bonnnie




"I'll lend to you for a little time,
A child of mine," God said,
"For you to love while she lives
And mourn for when she's dead."

"It may be six or seven years
Or twenty-two or three,
But will you till I call her back,
Take care of her for me?"

"She'll bring her charms to gladden you
And should her stay be brief,
You'll have these precious memories
To comfort you through grief."

"I cannot promise she will stay
Since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn."

"I've looked this world over,
In my search for teachers true.
In the crowds of this great land,
I have selected you."

"Now will you give her all your love
Not think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
To take her back again?"


It seems to me I heard them say,
"Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joys a child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run."

"We'll shelter her with tenderness,
We'll love her while we may,
And for the happiness we've known
Forever grateful stay."

"And should the angels call for her
Much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand."

© Edgar A. Guest

The rest of the family

Me and the kids ventured down to Ithaca the 2nd weekend in April,when all the snow of the week before had melted and temps were in the 60's.
Zoe was able to meet her guardians should anything happen to me, Aunt Michelle and Uncle Rick. She of course loved them.

Later Aunt Becky, uncle Brian and cousin Meghan came by to visit. we stayed 2 nights and had a great time catching up. They all agreed that Zoe was the perfect kid for our family. Aunt Barb and Jasmine and jonathain came by for a quick visit and the day greeted us with a snowstorm, luckily nothing stuck, but I am tired of the white stuff.Zoe loved all the cute gifts from the family but really thought it was cool to finally meet most of the family. Mainly Grandma is the last one to meet her.Zoe talks on the phone to her often. This year to save time since Grandma isnt coming up until July, we thought we would meet her at the airport have lunch and send her back to Florida just kidding. But her visits get shorter each year. we are starting to plan our florida vacation for the fall. Thats most of the news for now.
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5 month update

I can not believe how quickly the time with Zoe has passed when the time without her seemed to drag on forever. Zoe is doing amazingly in every aspect. Health wise she has had only an occasional cold. She had a scan of her kidney,liver,and bladder and they all were ok. She goes in june for her heart ultrasound,we are praying for good news on that front also.
Everyday I am thankful that this little girl is here. How wonderous the journey that brought us together.How is it that this beautiful child is from the other side of the world now calls me mama? It feels as if she has always been a part of the family but I am surprised to see her everyday. Zoe is a very happy, sweet ,friendly girl. I think she is so much nicer than she would have been if I had rec'd her as a baby. The timing was as it should have been. She brings such joy everyday in our lives. Zoe is speaking English at the same level as other kids her age. Her favorites TV shows are Nia ho KiaLan,Diego and Dora,wonder pets. She is starting to make friends with our dog Keena,taking her for "walks".
I had a nice Mother's day. Zoe wished me " a happy chinese mama new year"

Zoe's motor skills are growing by leaps and bounds. She loves riding her scooter

Big sister Kelli has been designing tshirts for an online contests and her Tshirt for the theme mothers day won first place. Its shows a mama dragon feeding her baby dragon a knight in shining armor. I don't remember feeding her one but times were tough hmmm .. that would explain why there was a lack of knights for me... oh well... Great job Kelli, we are as always so proud of you. Zoe is modeling Kellis prize winning design.. She is grumpy because " the sun is poking my eyes". Kelli's shirt sold over 2000 in the first 8 hrs. Pretty neat thinking folks all over will be wearing her artwork.. If you would like to get one for yourself they are $15 ,free shipping. Warning the womens sizes run small,the mens sizes are fine.Its called 'dragonly love'
http://shirt.woot.com/friends.aspx?k=5463

another month together

So much has happened in the past month... Zoe's blood test came back all good but she still has to go see the kidney specialist next month to find out why she has so much blood in her urine. desi has been to the drs every week he has appts at the head specialist and skin dr, dentist and eye.Tevin just has the dentist and eyes to do. Zoe is talking so well in English. She has such a cute way of saying yes to a question ,... she does a a little ummm... and then yes. She continues to torment her bros and vice versa. Finally those boyz are getting a taste of what they put their big sisters thru, when they were the terror twosome. Zoe has to be watched like a hawk. She did manage to find the scissors and trim her hair, barely noticeable except to me.. I asked her "Zoe did you cut your hair with the scissors?" " ummm... Yes" She also cut up some fabric that I had ready to put into a quilt.
I can not believe I went all the way to China to finally have my Italian girl. She loves pasta, and can really pack away the food. But she is very sweet and always feeds mama some but she is not so good with sharing food with anyone else. her favorite movie is HAPPY FEET and she loves penguins. Shari found her a walking talking mambo animal and zoe just adores it. She also likes going to the movie theater,eating out, and to walmart.
Some firsts:
we attending the FCC Chinese News year, Zoe finally has met an aunt and some cousins. My sister Brenda , who donated her FF miles for Zoe's ticket and who waited at the Detroit airport for us,we did not have enough time to find her, drove with her youngest 2 , thru a blizzard from Michigan to NY to be able to be the first aunty to meet Zoe. Love was definitely in the air. Hosni and Gabriella(7 and 5 this july)wanted to take her home with them, I think their mom was coaching them a Little!!! we had a great time visiting and Zoe went to her first museum . They gave her a beautiful chinese outfit that Brenda picked out in San Fran's Chinatown last summer.Zoe cried and cried , and wanted to trade me in, when they had to leave..

Zoe also discovered the bumblebee costume and wore it for 2 days straight. She also does a song and dance in chinese that is so cute. She is anxiously awaitying the arrival of her friend and foster mate LuQi(Dannica). Zoe practices talking to her in chinese often.
I need to again thank my big girls so much.Shari and Kelli share zoe sitting and it makes one less thing to worry about