Briana Day Anniversary

Yesterday, Doug, Bri and I celebrated the anniversary of when the three of us became a forever family. In the morning, Briana and I watched her travel video together (we let Daddy sleep in) and then I gave her two gifts. The first was from my parents to Briana. They found this adorable doll that plays Chinese music. Bri absolutely loved it...

This is what it sounds like...

The second gift was a book that I made for Briana on Shutterfly. I put together a short picture book including all of her closest friends that were born in China - just like her. She starts Kindergarten this week, and I am sure she will be in a minority - because she is Chinese and because she is adopted. If she ever starts to feel uncomfortable because she "feels different" (which I always pray doesn't happen of course), I want her to be able to pull out this book and look at her friends that share a similar bond with her. I devoted two pages to each of her closest friends and also added a few pages of pictures of all the fun they have had together. I didn't take a picture of every page in the book, but here are a few pages so you will get an idea...

And we ended our Family Day with a quiet dinner at Melting Pot because Briana kept saying she really wanted to go to the restaurant where she could cook her own food.

Mmmm, Shirley Temple...

Briana and Mommy...

Briana and Daddy...

After two hours, we finally got to the good part and Bri was thrilled. She earned every bite of the chocolate fondue! A perfect end to a perfect day...

This little girl has brought so much happiness to Doug's and my life. These have been the most amazing four years.

Four Years Ago Today - Briana Day Anniversary

Four years ago today at 4PM in the afternoon Chongqing time (4AM EST), we were handed a beautiful baby girl. Briana (Jiang Ai Juan) has enriched our lives more than we could have ever imagined. She is truly our inspiration and miracle.

(For anyone that hasn't seen our travel video to China, feel free to visit our travel video website.)

This is also the 5th anniversary of my blog. I seriously cannot believe that I have been blogging 5 years. Hopefully Miss B, Doug and I are still entertaining you 5 years and 984 posts later!

Winnie The Pooh Movie Day

Monday, Bri and I went to the movies with Gramma for the first time! Bri wanted to wear her Winnie the Pooh shirt and even had on a Winnie the Pooh band-aid. In honor of our special day, Gramma showed up with a surprise - a stuffed Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. Bri was thrilled!

First, we grabbed some lunch at Panera which was so yummy...

Now I have a quick story. We decided to see "Winnie the Pooh" at a theater right by my house that started at around 1:30. We got to the theater around 1, and the theater was pretty empty. We walked up to the counter and were immediately told the movie was sold out. I was stunned. I had looked at the website that morning and there was nothing about a sold out movie. I said to the guy, "Are you kidding?" He said there was a party that came in and they sold out the theater. So, we said "We'll do the 3:15 instead then." He said, "Oh, that one is 'yellowed out' on my screen, so I can't sell you tickets to that one either. I can maybe do 5:20PM." What????? I was getting hot. I mean - we were not seeing Harry Potter. And it was 1PM - on a Monday. In an empty movie theater. I just kept asking him how that was possible. He went to go ask someone what was going on, but he came back alone and had no answers. Then he looks at me and says, "Um, do ya want to see 'Zookeeper' instead?" I almost jumped over the counter to choke him. I thought to myself, "Do you freakin' see my kid standing here in a Winnie the Pooh shirt, with big sad eyes and holding a huge WTP stuffed animal, you moron?" I sternly told him "No" and that we were going to another theater. So we left. I quickly called Doug to see if it was playing anywhere else. He saw that about an hour later, it was playing at another theater about 20 minutes away. So, I booked it on over to the other theater. There were only about 3 other families there and the movie was adorable. Day saved. (I still think the guy was lying to me about the theater being sold out. Something was going on there.)

So here are pictures at the theater that we ended up at ...

That guy behind the counter better remember that you don't mess with a determined mama that doesn't want to disappoint her kid. He is lucky I didn't hurt him. ;)

Despite the hiccup of the day, we really had a wonderful morning/afternoon. Bri even did a little shopping with Gramma - and ended up with a cute dress!

Bri's Sleepover (While We Were At The Reunion)

Before I get into Briana's time with Gramma and Papa (while Doug and I were enjoying the reunion), I want to thank you for the interest you all had in my reunion commentary. That post is now in my top 10 most popular blog posts. You all do really enjoy reading about my insecurities. Snort...

As you know, while I was fretting about the reunion, Briana was with Gramma and Papa. Gramma and Papa decided to take Briana to the science museum for the afternoon and then back to their house for a sleepover. While I was stressing that afternoon, I was really wishing I was with them. But once I started enjoying the reunion, I was glad that I didn't join them at the science museum for like the 400th time. It was only my parents second time going, but for me, I have lost count at the amount of times I have gone with Briana. Bri could seriously live in that place. She had a fantastic time of course. Probably more fun than if I had been with her. ;D

 

Somehow she convinced Gramma and Papa to buy her a miner's hat that matched her outfit. I am sure it wasn't that difficult and she was very proud of herself...

Once she arrived at their house, she wore it most of the evening...

Thumbs up to Gramma's spaghetti. Spaghetti tastes so much better at her house...

Reading at bedtime...

Waking in the morning...

Making breakfast...

 Waiting for Mommy and Daddy to pick her up...

Seriously, my mom sent me even more pictures than this. She literally gives me a play by play of all the events. It is amazing! So, if you wonder where I get my picture taking craziness from, you know now. LOL!

It is nice dropping Bri off at their house and never having to worry about her. She has such a good time, she doesn't want to go home!

Conquering My Fear - My 20th HS Reunion

Well, this is it. The post about the 20th high school reunion...

You might all remember the post I wrote back in November about my uneasy feelings regarding my upcoming high school reunion. It ended up being one of the 10 most popular posts on my blog and I was really quite surprised. Either people can relate to those uneasy high school feelings or you all just like reading about my massive insecurities. ;D

I wrote in that post that I was unsure if I even I wanted to go to my reunion. I had spoken with my good high school friend J about possibly going together to the reunion again - like we had done for the 10 year. But unfortunately, my good friend J had an opportunity to abandon me take a romantic vacation with her hubby to Vegas on reunion weekend instead (something I really cannot blame her for). So, that left me with no female wing man. I was very lucky that Doug was going to be with me and that he graduated from the same class, but guys don't get as worked up about all this stuff like girls do. I had hoped if I felt a bit nervous about doing this that I would have the support of another female.

About a month before the reunion, I decided that I wanted to go and face my fears. (Honestly, Doug went along with it because I really wanted to go. I don't think he would have been devastated if he missed it.) So, Doug and I both signed up and paid our fees. I went out and bought a new pair of shoes. Got my hair styled. Pulled out the Spanx. Did all the normal the preparation stuff. Kept trying to remind myself that I wasn't going to look 18 again but that I looked pretty good for my age - I guess. I was feeling pretty good about things until a week before the reunion. Then I started to stress. When my friend Suzanne came over to swim the day before the reunion, I was talking to her about my "buyer's remorse." I told her that I was really starting to not want to go. She and I laughed when I mentioned there would be an open bar at the reunion and that maybe after a few drinks, I might be feeling a whole lot better about things. I knew if I told Doug about my reservations, he would kick my @$$. But the day of the reunion, I did let it slip that I was having concerns. Let's just say he wasn't happy. (See - this is why I needed a female wing man.) We made a decision to have dinner before the reunion and get to the reunion casually late (it started at 7PM and we got there around 7:45PM) to ease some of my stress. And we made a pact that if the reunion sucked, then we would leave early and catch a movie.

My parents picked Briana up early on that Saturday morning (July 16), and took her out for a day of fun and a sleepover at their house that night (pictures to come in a future post). That gave me time to primp and stress. After getting all ready, Doug and I headed out to dinner and it was really delicious. We then drove to the venue, we had our game plan and we were ready to enter the reunion.

What I forgot to mention earlier was that the reunion was being held at the same hotel where Doug and I had our wedding reception back in 1997. Doug and I walked into the hotel and followed the signs to the reunion. Not only was the reunion at the same hotel, it was in the same exact room. It was really crazy.

Doug and I got our pins with our lovely high school photos on them and held hands as we entered the room. Just like we did on our wedding day (minus the pins). And just like when we entered that room on our wedding day, we were greeted with smiles. We even got a big "Doug and Lisa are here!" shout by an old friend of ours. Now we didn't get applause like we did on our wedding day (which would have been lovely), but we were happy with the smiles. ;D

The minute we entered the room we started giving and receiving hugs and talking with old friends. I honestly talked so much first hour, I wasn't even able to get to the bar. Luckily, Doug stopped and went over to get me a glass of wine. The one thing that I found fascinating was how many people walked over to me and called me "Briana's Mom." I think my kid might be more popular with my high school classmates that I am - heh. I was shocked and quite humbled by people that came up to me and said they read my blog. And because of F@cebook, I was able to talk to people about their lives and families like I have been in touch with them for years. I even found that I was talking with people that I really didn't talk with much in high school, but I knew about their "goings on" because of F@cebook. And there were a few people that I talked to that night that I wished I had hung out with more in high school. I also want to add that a number of women I talked to that night admitted that they had been nervous going into the reunion too. I was in good company and realized I wasn't completely crazy.

Of course, there were a lot of people at the reunion that I didn't speak with. There were probably around 100 classmates there total, most with spouses/significant others. That's a lot of people. There was no way you could talk to everyone. I will say that I was able to talk to (or at least say hello) and laugh with everyone that I really, really hoped to catch up with in that room.

The evening was such a pleasant surprise. The small committee of classmates that put the reunion together really did an amazing job. By the time I looked at my watch, we had already been there almost two hours. There was no need to leave and see a movie. Doug and I even danced one slow dance that night on the same dance floor we danced on at our wedding reception. We were there a little over three hours when my feet started to ache. I knew it was time to go home. And I was kind of sad. Everyone says "Oh, let's not wait 10 or 20 years to see each other again. Let's get together sooner." But deep down, with everyone's busy lives, that probably won't happen. But who knows - maybe I will see a few of these people in person again soon. I hope to anyway. At least I know where to find them.

The thing I walked away with that night was that I wasn't as inadequate or insignificant in high school as I had been remembering in my mind. And I believe FB and my blog made the night much easier. People knew who I was when I walked in the door and they honestly seemed happy to see me (and Doug). I was honestly happy seeing them again too.

I faced my fear. I had a good time. Will I go to my 30? I will cross that bridge when I get to it. And for any of my high school friends reading this post - "GO JACKETS!"

Between Doug and me, we seriously only took like seven pictures the whole night and I am kicking myself for not taking more. There was a class photo taken that night that I haven't received yet and I will post later. Here are a few pics from the night...

It is good sometimes to face your fears. Now I can always say "I did it."

Final Day Of Camp

Here is Miss B ready for her last day of camp. She got a bit huffy in the parking lot of the preschool this morning because she wanted to talk to her friends ML and Imerie about the new lunchbox she got for kindergarten but they were a bit preoccupied with getting into the building for camp. So, Bri decided to throw her current Scooby Doo lunchbox on the ground in frustration. Right in front of me. NICE. She got a bit of a talking to from me (about how she can't always be the center of the universe - not in those exact words of course) and after a few tears, we managed to get into the classroom for the last day of camp.

Despite the flawed morning, Briana ended up having a good day. I felt quite sad as I pulled into the parking lot of the preschool to pick her up for the last time. On Bri's last day of school in May, in the back of my mind I knew Bri was going to camp in July. I was sad Bri was leaving her teachers, but I knew we would be back at the school in a couple of months. But now camp is over. Bri will probably attend the camp again next summer (actually, the camp isn't just for preschoolers, the camp is for school-aged kids too; the kids are split up according to age groups), but we won't be returning for a whole year. I am so sad to not be a part of this wonderful school anymore. They have been so good to Briana. I have felt so safe and satisfied having her there. Right now, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by the bigger and more grown up school Bri will be attending in about a week and a half.

All good things must come to an end I guess. But I don't have to like it.    

Preschool Camp

This week, Briana and her friends Mary Lin and Imerie (Imerie hadn't arrived yet when I snapped the above picture this morning) are attending camp at the girls' preschool. So far, they have had sports day and cooking day, and today is science day. The next two days will be art and music days. I am so glad Bri is getting to spend one more week at her preschool before she starts her new school.

She starts Kindergarten two weeks from today. I still can't believe it.

Swimming With Matthew

Friends Matthew and Suzanne came over Friday morning to enjoy our neighborhood swimming pool. Temperatures last week here in GA were oppressively hot. Well, except for the day they decided to join us at the pool. A "cool front" came through that day, so there were overcast skies and a bit of a breeze in the air. I'm thinking the temp didn't even hit 80 degrees. But, we persevered. The water was quite warm, so we stayed for a good hour and a half, but then the kids started to shiver and we knew it was time to head indoors. We headed over to my house and the kids played in Briana's play room for quite a long time. The kids loved hanging out together and I had a nice time catching up with Suzanne.