Newman
07/15/10 11:02 PM
Newman, our cat, is very finicky. He has some
manx in him, and sometimes I wonder if he is
semi-wild because of it. He is socially
retarded, to say the least. He tends to view
us as his family, in the den...and himself as
the hunter who protects, and sometimes feeds
the den with entrails of a few rodents found
around the yard.
He is easily startled by unfamiliar noises, and quite frankly, would do very well for himself in the wild, or on a large farm. He has killed his fair share of mice, rats, baby birds and parent birds that might get in his way of eating the baby birds. We tried scaring him down from a nest once, and he just sat there, swatting at the parent birds as they swooped down at him, all the while staring us as if to say, “Get your own tasty eggs....THESE are MINE”.
No other cats mess with him in his yard, around his yard, or within a scratching post distance. Sometimes we don’t see him for a couple of days, then he shows up, burs tucked into his fur, and wants to come inside the house, long enough only to make sure we’re all still safe and in the den. It’s as if he takes count, cuddles with us each for a few minutes individually, rubs against us, sneaks some of the dog’s water, and then pulls at the blinds on the back door to go out again.
We weren’t really sure what his reactions would be when we would introduce Cadence to him a few years ago. But he loves being around her.
She sometimes will carry him by picking him up across his shoulders and upper arms, with his back legs stretched to the ground, and he lets her, and then sits next to her wanting more of the same. Now, mind you, this cat has long claws, and a fierce bite when he plays. He could easily draw blood on her. But, he never has.
In fact, just look at these pictures. If that’s not mutual love and understanding between the two of them, I don’t what is.
He is easily startled by unfamiliar noises, and quite frankly, would do very well for himself in the wild, or on a large farm. He has killed his fair share of mice, rats, baby birds and parent birds that might get in his way of eating the baby birds. We tried scaring him down from a nest once, and he just sat there, swatting at the parent birds as they swooped down at him, all the while staring us as if to say, “Get your own tasty eggs....THESE are MINE”.
No other cats mess with him in his yard, around his yard, or within a scratching post distance. Sometimes we don’t see him for a couple of days, then he shows up, burs tucked into his fur, and wants to come inside the house, long enough only to make sure we’re all still safe and in the den. It’s as if he takes count, cuddles with us each for a few minutes individually, rubs against us, sneaks some of the dog’s water, and then pulls at the blinds on the back door to go out again.
We weren’t really sure what his reactions would be when we would introduce Cadence to him a few years ago. But he loves being around her.
She sometimes will carry him by picking him up across his shoulders and upper arms, with his back legs stretched to the ground, and he lets her, and then sits next to her wanting more of the same. Now, mind you, this cat has long claws, and a fierce bite when he plays. He could easily draw blood on her. But, he never has.
In fact, just look at these pictures. If that’s not mutual love and understanding between the two of them, I don’t what is.
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Dear Tooth Fairy....
06/30/10 04:19 PM
There’s been a lot of drama around here
for the past couple of days. All centered
around that lovely lady, The Tooth Fairy.
We’d noticed her tooth was loose around a month ago. She’s worked that tooth quite a bit since then...Wriggling and wriggling it.
Two nights ago, it seemed so loose that we were afraid she would swallow it while she slept. So, Scott attempted to help her pull it out, with dental floss, to no avail. She hung on to that tooth for dear life. It was a part of her. It was HERS. We did not get the tooth that night, but we got lots of tears.
It didn’t come out that night, but not for lack of bravery.
However, last night, she pulled it out all by herself. We had promised her the world....well actually, we promised her that she could stay up as long as she wanted last night, and that she could sleep in our bed.....IF she pulled it out. By then, the tooth was only holding on by her will power, it seemed.
She came running into the living room and announced...”I DID IT! I LOST MY FIRST TOOTH!!!!”
She did it! We were all ready to put the tooth in the Tooth Fairh pouch, and under her pillow.
But what do you do when your daughter writes a letter to the Tooth Fairy, specifically asking to keep the tooth? That’s what she did.
So, we stayed up till she could barely keep her eyes open, and crawled into my lap asking to go to bed. She climbed into the middle of our bed, and tucked away her letter, along with the Tooth Fairy pouch, unsure if the Tooth Fairy would understand all she went through to get this thing out.
The Tooth Fairy understood. The Tooth Fairy left her a note too. She let Cady keep the tooth, and still gave her $3 for it...With one condition.
And now, all is well.
We’d noticed her tooth was loose around a month ago. She’s worked that tooth quite a bit since then...Wriggling and wriggling it.
Two nights ago, it seemed so loose that we were afraid she would swallow it while she slept. So, Scott attempted to help her pull it out, with dental floss, to no avail. She hung on to that tooth for dear life. It was a part of her. It was HERS. We did not get the tooth that night, but we got lots of tears.
It didn’t come out that night, but not for lack of bravery.
However, last night, she pulled it out all by herself. We had promised her the world....well actually, we promised her that she could stay up as long as she wanted last night, and that she could sleep in our bed.....IF she pulled it out. By then, the tooth was only holding on by her will power, it seemed.
She came running into the living room and announced...”I DID IT! I LOST MY FIRST TOOTH!!!!”
She did it! We were all ready to put the tooth in the Tooth Fairh pouch, and under her pillow.
But what do you do when your daughter writes a letter to the Tooth Fairy, specifically asking to keep the tooth? That’s what she did.
So, we stayed up till she could barely keep her eyes open, and crawled into my lap asking to go to bed. She climbed into the middle of our bed, and tucked away her letter, along with the Tooth Fairy pouch, unsure if the Tooth Fairy would understand all she went through to get this thing out.
The Tooth Fairy understood. The Tooth Fairy left her a note too. She let Cady keep the tooth, and still gave her $3 for it...With one condition.
And now, all is well.
Kindergarten grad
06/30/10 03:23 PM
Cady will soon be in 1st grade. Here are a
few pictures from her graduation day, in
Kindergarten, earlier this month.
I absolutely adore this pictures taken in our backyard before the graduation event.
An Angel Left Her Wings
© Tina M. Marascia
I have this little angel. For me she left her wings.
She has no idea how much happiness she truly brings.
She brightens up my days with her smiles and her laughs.
She helps me to remember all the blessings that I have.
Her face, it is so perfect, she's sweet and soft and pure.
Sometimes she can be willful and sometimes she is demure.
She tries her very hardest to please and do what's right.
She gives the greatest hugs from morning until night.
Every person that has known her sees this light within her soul
I know that in this whole great world, she has a special role.
She's helpful and considerate to everyone she knows
This light in her shines brighter as my angel grows.
When she sees someone is sad, it opens up her heart.
She wants to do all that she can; she wants to do her part.
She'll squeeze away the sorrow and make me forget about my pain.
She shows me where the sun is when we're hiding from the rain.
I know that God must love me, He showed me with His Grace
I knew just how completely when I saw my angel's face.
And in that very moment when she came into my world,
I knew that she was so much more than just my baby girl.
She would be my sunshine, with a sweetness that won't end.
And when she grows up one day she would be my closest friend.
She would be the reason I would always try my best.
For my little angel baby girl would be my greatest test.
When God entrusts to you an angel, who has left her wings for you.
Encircle her with love with everything you do.
Let her know God made her, and that He trusts you with her care.
Be sure to make time for special moments with her to share.
And when at night she finally says her prayers and goes to sleep
I Thank Him for my angel, and ask for him to always keep
A watchful eye and hand to protect her from this world.
Protect my little angel; protect my baby girl.
We love you, Baby Girl.
I absolutely adore this pictures taken in our backyard before the graduation event.
An Angel Left Her Wings
© Tina M. Marascia
I have this little angel. For me she left her wings.
She has no idea how much happiness she truly brings.
She brightens up my days with her smiles and her laughs.
She helps me to remember all the blessings that I have.
Her face, it is so perfect, she's sweet and soft and pure.
Sometimes she can be willful and sometimes she is demure.
She tries her very hardest to please and do what's right.
She gives the greatest hugs from morning until night.
Every person that has known her sees this light within her soul
I know that in this whole great world, she has a special role.
She's helpful and considerate to everyone she knows
This light in her shines brighter as my angel grows.
When she sees someone is sad, it opens up her heart.
She wants to do all that she can; she wants to do her part.
She'll squeeze away the sorrow and make me forget about my pain.
She shows me where the sun is when we're hiding from the rain.
I know that God must love me, He showed me with His Grace
I knew just how completely when I saw my angel's face.
And in that very moment when she came into my world,
I knew that she was so much more than just my baby girl.
She would be my sunshine, with a sweetness that won't end.
And when she grows up one day she would be my closest friend.
She would be the reason I would always try my best.
For my little angel baby girl would be my greatest test.
When God entrusts to you an angel, who has left her wings for you.
Encircle her with love with everything you do.
Let her know God made her, and that He trusts you with her care.
Be sure to make time for special moments with her to share.
And when at night she finally says her prayers and goes to sleep
I Thank Him for my angel, and ask for him to always keep
A watchful eye and hand to protect her from this world.
Protect my little angel; protect my baby girl.
We love you, Baby Girl.
They can hear us
05/24/10 09:03 PM
We've witnessed a miracle!
05/24/10 08:55 PM
Beauty in wild flowers
04/24/10 11:22 PM
Citizen of the Month
04/12/10 04:16 PM
Taking notice
04/10/10 11:04 PM
Citizen of the Month at school assembly went
very well. Got a few pictures that need to be
moved over to my computer. She wouldn't let
me take the form home. Instead she kept it in
her cubby all day, to cherish and bathe in
the moment.
Monday is the big re-adoption for California. I've resisted for quite a while. We were getting along just fine without the added cost and the added papers that tell us what we already know. It just seems so redundant. But after I started looking at it from the outside in...she needs this to advance further in the US. To make life more streamline for her, she needs a California Birth Certificate. She COULD get by with her Chinese papers, but what if the original Chinese papers currently in our possession get lost? We would have to request notarized copies from somewhere in China. What a pain. What if she gets delayed in getting very important papers completed when she's an adult...for travel, for work, for adopting her own child if she chooses to do so. Without a California birth certificate, things can slow down for her in getting things accomplished that she really might need or want to get accomplished in her life. And without re-adopting in California, she cannot receive a Ca birth certificate, and that is the real piece of paper we are needing. The Chinese Birth certificate looks different, than what you would expect here. No raised gold stamp, no official paper (other than any other official looking paper) and typed in Mandarin, then translated to English. It looks good enough, but can certainly appear to outsiders to be questionable official papers.
After much thought, I'm happy we're doing this. It will give us a reaffirmation of our commitment to her. It will give us closure as a family. It will give her another piece of her own journey that is HERS. It will give HER confirmation that the outside world agrees with our choice to be a family. It will show her that we cared enough now, about her future, to do this simple piece of side paper work that only confirms what has already been for 4 years....a family, but Getting a California Birth Certificate can make the difference in her life for almost everything important that comes up.
And oddly, I'm certain the tears will flow again as we sit there with the judge, announcing that we are even more proud today, more in love with her today, more willing to give it our all today, than we were three years ago, when we made that one sentence promise at the US Consulate in China, on adoption day.....In a big building all of the adopting families from all agencies shuffled thru the US Consulate, to the room where we gave them a few pieces of paper, and then, finally, in unison, we stood up, raised our right hands and solumnly swore, "I will never abandon this child" One little sentence that took us 2 hours to ready for, and only 2 seconds to say. But, Scott and I took those words very seriously that day. We absolutely believed that we would do all in our power to cherish her mind, body, and soul. She would be safe and loved and encouraged and appreciated.
On Monday, we will be celebrating the opportunity to promise these things again. I feel blessed.
Monday is the big re-adoption for California. I've resisted for quite a while. We were getting along just fine without the added cost and the added papers that tell us what we already know. It just seems so redundant. But after I started looking at it from the outside in...she needs this to advance further in the US. To make life more streamline for her, she needs a California Birth Certificate. She COULD get by with her Chinese papers, but what if the original Chinese papers currently in our possession get lost? We would have to request notarized copies from somewhere in China. What a pain. What if she gets delayed in getting very important papers completed when she's an adult...for travel, for work, for adopting her own child if she chooses to do so. Without a California birth certificate, things can slow down for her in getting things accomplished that she really might need or want to get accomplished in her life. And without re-adopting in California, she cannot receive a Ca birth certificate, and that is the real piece of paper we are needing. The Chinese Birth certificate looks different, than what you would expect here. No raised gold stamp, no official paper (other than any other official looking paper) and typed in Mandarin, then translated to English. It looks good enough, but can certainly appear to outsiders to be questionable official papers.
After much thought, I'm happy we're doing this. It will give us a reaffirmation of our commitment to her. It will give us closure as a family. It will give her another piece of her own journey that is HERS. It will give HER confirmation that the outside world agrees with our choice to be a family. It will show her that we cared enough now, about her future, to do this simple piece of side paper work that only confirms what has already been for 4 years....a family, but Getting a California Birth Certificate can make the difference in her life for almost everything important that comes up.
And oddly, I'm certain the tears will flow again as we sit there with the judge, announcing that we are even more proud today, more in love with her today, more willing to give it our all today, than we were three years ago, when we made that one sentence promise at the US Consulate in China, on adoption day.....In a big building all of the adopting families from all agencies shuffled thru the US Consulate, to the room where we gave them a few pieces of paper, and then, finally, in unison, we stood up, raised our right hands and solumnly swore, "I will never abandon this child" One little sentence that took us 2 hours to ready for, and only 2 seconds to say. But, Scott and I took those words very seriously that day. We absolutely believed that we would do all in our power to cherish her mind, body, and soul. She would be safe and loved and encouraged and appreciated.
On Monday, we will be celebrating the opportunity to promise these things again. I feel blessed.
Shhhh...It's a secret.
04/07/10 07:58 PM
We got a notice
from Cady's school yesterday that she's going
to be Citizen of the Month on Friday. She's
being recognized from her art teacher, for
the art work she's produced through the
school year.
The note that was sent home with her was stapled together, with the words inside;
"Shhhhh....It's a secret" followed by the details of the announcement.
I have to admit that I almost caved in and told her today, when we were in the car. I let her know that it will be a school assembly on Friday and that I'm planning on going to it. Then she said, "At school assembly, they recognize children that are good. I have not been recognized all year. I try to do good, but I have not completed my journal yet" Poor little thing! She was so disappointed. She has never said anything to us about not being recognized in the past. It's amazing how much filtered information they keep in.
The truth is, all the children who try to do their work, end up being recognized some time in the year. I kept the truth to myself and told her that she would probably be recognized at some point. When I asked her what she thinks she should be recognized for the most, she said "art" . And when we went to open house, her art teacher raved about her art work continually, but to be honest, I thought she was just being that way to make us feel good. I know she's good at art, and excells in interpretation. But, I wasn't so sure anyone else would know. Aparently, they do.
Friday is the big day for Citizen of the Month. I'll be sure to bring the camera. Shhhhhhhhh....
The note that was sent home with her was stapled together, with the words inside;
"Shhhhh....It's a secret" followed by the details of the announcement.
I have to admit that I almost caved in and told her today, when we were in the car. I let her know that it will be a school assembly on Friday and that I'm planning on going to it. Then she said, "At school assembly, they recognize children that are good. I have not been recognized all year. I try to do good, but I have not completed my journal yet" Poor little thing! She was so disappointed. She has never said anything to us about not being recognized in the past. It's amazing how much filtered information they keep in.
The truth is, all the children who try to do their work, end up being recognized some time in the year. I kept the truth to myself and told her that she would probably be recognized at some point. When I asked her what she thinks she should be recognized for the most, she said "art" . And when we went to open house, her art teacher raved about her art work continually, but to be honest, I thought she was just being that way to make us feel good. I know she's good at art, and excells in interpretation. But, I wasn't so sure anyone else would know. Aparently, they do.
Friday is the big day for Citizen of the Month. I'll be sure to bring the camera. Shhhhhhhhh....
The Cady Chase
Read Chapter 1: ChinaRead Chapter 2: Year 1
Pictures
Easter
Our Favorites
World thru the eyes of Grace
This is Reverb
Empress Fussy Pants
Always in my heart
Changes in Longitude
Seven Alexanders
Stop screaming, I'm driving!
Double Happiness!
The Dragonfly Diaries
Finding Miaya
Jeff's Place...
The Dettling Superblog
Journey to Gianna
Loving Lydia
Mager Madness
Katie and her big yellow dog
Pink Devora
The Smith Family's Adventures
The Taming of Tenley!
The Teague Family Adoption
Waiting for Lauren Elizabeth
Why do these kids...