Happy Thursday & Happy Birthday to Mimi Bear!!

Hi everyone!! Hope your week has been a good one. It has been a blur here...with trying to keep up with Bear Cub and getting my work stuff done. Phew! I know I'll settle into a routine, but right now, it's a bit tough! I still only have 19 kids in my course...I can't even imagine what it will be like when the BIG group comes in! EEEK! I like this small, manageable number right now!

Bear Cub is doing ok with all of this...he has a VERY hard time understanding why I might need quiet during a phone call, so we need a little practice with that. Today has been nice because he has napped and I've been able to do A LOT during that time. I will survive! :)

Today is a very special day...MY Mama's birthday! Happy, happy birthday to Mimi Bear! She brings everyone such joy and I LOVE spending time with her. She's fun, understanding, and always so uplifting. I can't wait to take her out tomorrow for her birthday lunch...and give her a big 'ol hug! I love you, Mama!! Happy Birthday!

Pictures coming soon...I promise! :) Have a great Friday!

I survived!! :)

Some good morning love from Zoe

Almost launch time!

Team work!

Hello, everybody!! I hope you had a fantastic week!

My week of training went really, really well. I am so excited about my new job! I'm not sure if I told you too much about it, so here it goes! I'm working for our state's virtual school, which is the largest public virtual school in the country. There are 1200 employees, and...get this...200+ thousand students! WOW! I am teaching a course called H.O.P.E., which stands for Health Opportunities through Physical Education. Last year, I took the certification exams in both Health and P.E....specifically in hopes of getting THIS job. :) And a big thanks goes out to my sister-in-law, who also teaches H.O.P.E., for helping me through the application process! I think her referral really helped get my foot in the door.

My first 3 days of training were overwhelming...learning about the main computer programs that I'll be using. I still have TONS to learn, but I feel confident enough to get through the basics as I continue to learn. I really enjoyed the training and the other teachers in it with me. I commuted for the first 2 days, and then stayed over near the training mid-week. It was nice to not have the commute, because after 8-9 hours in training each day, I was pooped! On Thursday, we were all assigned our first 10 students and began making our welcome calls to get them started in the course. I was pretty nervous about this part, but once I got going with it, it all fell into place. My students are all high school aged, which is so different from my previous second graders. So far the students I've talked to have sounded very friendly and ready to get going, so I hope they really will! My job is to keep them on pace and on target to finish the course in a timely manner. As well as helping through the work too, of course!

Monday I will wake up and find MORE students in my class roster. I have no idea how many there will be. It could be 15 or it could 100...just depending on how many kids have been waiting to get a teacher assigned to them. So, this week is going to be busy, busy for me as I adjust to all of this and take care of Bear Cub. I have a sitter coming these first few mornings so I can have some quiet time to work. And Daddy Bear is ready to help out in the evenings too -- I love that husband of mine! :)

Bear Cub had a great week with Mimi! She came to our house for the first couple of days, then took BC back her house when I was also away. They went on MANY bug hunts, did some crafts, went to the library and had lots of good swim time in her pool. I know that BC had a really fun time with her...he keeps talking about all the things they did together. :) Thank you, thank you to Mimi Bear for ALL of her help! She was a lifesaver this week! :)

Here are a few pictures from last week. We took BC out to a field to launch his "rocket" that he had gotten for his birthday. It worked! We all really enjoyed it...wished it would've lasted longer!

Have a great week ahead & don't be surprised if I'm a bad blogger in the next couple of weeks as I'll be on my OTHER computer a lot, trying to get my class organized and keep my head above water. :)

"Lord of the East"

Sporting his new shirt! We've tried to find something Russian or adoption-related for each of his Adoption Days. Last year, he got a kids book about the Russian ABCs. This year, we couldn't resist this shirt with Vladivostok on it. We always get excited for him whenever we read or hear anything about Russia. We really want him to be proud of where he came from...because we are! :)

What a boy!

All smiles with Zoe...she looked so cute resting under out table last night!

Posing by the huge fish tank at Rain Forest Cafe. He loved it! I so wish we could've had a table next to one of the tanks, but oh well. We had fun watching the animals move every so often and listening to the "thunderstorm" that happens inside the restaurant ever 20 minutes.

Here's the look on his face the first time the lights dimmed, thunder boomed, and lightning flashed inside. :)

Check out the Lego dragon in the water!

What kind of face is this?!?

Good morning! We're up early...Bear Cub is so excited to go out and launch is totally awesome rocket that Daddy chose for his birthday. This thing is hard-core...it has an engine and everything! AND...it has the potential to go up to 600 feet! WOW! I'm kind of excited to watch this, too!

Here are some pictures from yesterday's trip to the Rain Forest Cafe and a few cute ones from home, too. You'll see Bear Cub in his new t-shirt that we got him for Adoption Day...it says Vladivostok...."Lord of the East." Love it! It's amazing the things you can find online. Although Bear Cub asked me yesterday, "Why does this say Lord of the East? I want it to say Bugs of the East!" Ah...that is just the way that mind of his works. BUGS and only bugs! :) Have a happy day. I probably won't post again this week, as I'll be up to my eyeballs with learning all kinds things for work. I'm excited...and a little nervous too! :)

Bear Cub is back in action!

Hi all! Hope you're having a great weekend! As of Friday, BC is back up and running. He's gotten his appetite back (Ha! If you can call it that!) and he's back to his energetic ways. What a relief!! We celebrated his Adoption Day today by going to The Rainforest Cafe and it was great. :) I'll try to get some pictures up tomorrow! I'm busy looking over all the information for my new job and mentally getting ready for Monday. AND...tomorrow I must go out and spruce up my wardrobe a bit for this week's training. I don't think my typical shorts, tank top, and flip-flops will fly!

I'll post again soon...just wanted to tell you that our Bear Cub is back in action! :)

Couch-bound...

Hello! Well, Bear Cub and I are going to have another couch-bound day today, I believe. This poor boy of mine is still under the weather. He's actually content to just lie still on the couch...for hours on end...which is so totally NOT normal for him! I took him to the doctor yesterday, and he does have strep throat. Having him take liquid medicine is not an easy task, but with Daddy's help, we managed to get most of his dose in him last night. The real issue seems to be his upset tummy, but despite this, he still is drinking water. He hasn't had much to eat in the past few days, so now I'm not sure if the gurgles I hear from his stomach are hunger or just his bug. Oh my. I can't wait for him to get feeling well again! It is SO pitiful to see this normally energetic boy being so quiet and still. Hopefully he'll perk up some today... I don't know how much more TV either of us can stand! Ha!

Well, I got "the call" about going full time with the virtual school! Woo-hoo! I am very excited, but now I start my training on Monday, instead of next Thursday. I'm ready, as long as I can get Bear Cub healthy...and me stay healthy too. Let the new adventure begin!

Have a great day! Oooh...he just requested oatmeal...off I go!! :)

Oh, Happy Adoption Day!!

Wow...here it is...another VERY important and special day in our family...July 13...Bear Cub's ADOPTION DAY! Three years ago, we officially became the proud parents of our little man. My tiny baby boy, at 1 year and 4 days old, was only about 15 pounds, could barely sit up on his own, and had a cautious, reserved spirit about him. He was curious...but again, so cautious. We had to work hard for a smile and work even more so to get a courtesy chuckle out him. He was beautiful - so sweet, innocent, and STRONG for having lived a long 12 months basically meeting his own emotional needs. So not fair for a baby to have to do that, but I know those months in the baby hospital are what gave him his strength and determination in life. We each have our own history which shapes our lives. It's how we all become who we are and I will say, that I am very proud of who my son is!

July 13, 2007, was a day filled with SO many wonderful emotions. Nervousness about our court appointment, giddiness with the feeling that we'd made it to that point, and extreme happiness knowing that Bear Cub was going to be ours forever. I don't know what it feels like to have a newborn baby placed up on my chest after delivery, but I DO know how it feels to have my child placed into my arms and feel his soft skin on mine. I have to think it's the same feeling of awe and joy, no matter how that baby comes into your life. It was a magical moment for us...and to walk out of the baby hospital, with him in my arms...I think I could've skipped all the way back to the hotel! :) What special memories...forever etched in my mind.

It honestly seems like a lifetime ago. Bear Cub has grown and changed SO much in three years, as I know any baby would. He had a lot of catching up to do though and we still continue to work through some issues that I know stem from his early days of not having a Mommy and Daddy there to love him constantly. But he is SMART, funny, well-spoken, and has firecracker kind of spirit that can be oh-so frustrating, yet oh-so engaging at the same time! :) It feels like he's been with us forever, so sometimes I have to stop and remind myself that he is adopted...and I think, "How can that be??" He seems so...us...that it's nearly impossible to think we didn't create him ourselves. Oh my...he's our boy and I could never put into words what we feel for him. Just love and more love!! :)

We're not doing anything too exciting TODAY, as he's recovering from yesterday's bout of fever, but we do have exciting plans for the weekend in order to celebrate this special family day of ours. He has been DYING to go to The Rainforest Cafe...you know...it's all frog themed, which is a dream come true for him! So, we'll be taking him there for lunch...and I'm sure a little frog souvenir shopping...in honor to celebrate him AND July 13. Oh, what a happy day!! :)

Happy Adoption Day, Bear Cub!! Mommy & Daddy love you forever and always! Thank heaven you are ours!!

Birthday party day

Zoe was kept upstairs during the party, but once she was outside, she headed right into the bounce house! Funny dog!!

Daddy jumps for joy that BC is FOUR

Pretty girl Little Miss (remember her as a baby??) having fun playing BC's new game called "Cootie"

Mimi Bear loved every second of snuggling Little Miss' brother. He snoozed like this for a LONG time! :)

The kids on the hunt for the spilled candy!

The kids were so funny with how cautiously they "whacked" the pinata. We finally had Uncle Fred get in there and get the candy on the move! :)

Make a wish, birthday boy!

Lunchtime with friends...although BC didn't eat a thing! It's lucky I got this shot of him sitting still!

Bear Cub hanging out with baby cousin A

Slip-n-slide fun!

Bouncing babes

Uncle T with cousin A...isn't she cute in her sun hat?!?! :)

Saturday's "Poison Dart Frog" party was a success! The weather was beautiful...although HOT! The kids didn't mind at all...they were in and out of the bounce house and kiddie pools. They were all over the place! We had about 7 kids here and a couple of cutie babies too. We ordered pizza and had the frog cupcakes for dessert. It was tiring day, but worth every second...I love knowing that we celebrated Bear Cub up BIG and that he had a fun party! The kids loved the frog pinata and really liked the Clue/Scavenger Hunt we did to find their goody bags. They actually did BEST with the structured activities like those!

It was a great weekend - filled with lots of happy memories. :) Although I will say that I'm glad that birthdays only come around once a year! Ha!

Our birthday boy!

Good morning, birthday boy!!

It's party time!

Lovin' those gifts!

Getting ready to open one of his gifts from my best friend & her family. Zoe looks on...

Whoa! Awesome praying mantis glasses! Here he is, in praying mantis position...

On our way for the day...insect glasses on, bug "catcher" on his lap...yes, that is some of my plastic ware...

Helping make his cat...Oreo.

Checking out the birds...looking more like a big kid these days!

He ASKED me to take a picture of him on this...too funny!

All smiles checking out some interesting critter...

Hmmm...interesting sign, don'tcha think?

He loved feeding the goats.

Fountain fun at the zoo! It was SO hot...I was tempted to jump in too!

Checking out his rocket balloons...

So fun!

Ribbit! Frog cupcakes for my frog scientist! :)

Bear Cub had a great birthday -- a great birthday WEEKEND, really! :) On Friday, he woke up to find his door decorated and the downstairs with balloons and best of all, a stack of presents on the table. We headed to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast and to my disbelief...he ate an entire donut and FOUR donut holes! This is a LOT for him! Maybe a sign of a new appetite with his old age? I sure hope so! After Dunkin, it was on to the mall to Build-a-Bear. Just that morning a coupon came to my email for a free build. I couldn't pass it up! He chose a cat and had fun making it -- although it wasn't AS cool as it was the first time he did in the Fall. So by this point, it was about 10:30 and we were on our way to the zoo...the original plan for the day. BC konked out in the car on the way...early for him! After a quick snooze, we headed in to the zoo and had a fantastic day together! I LOVE to take him to the zoo because he is so interested and inquisitive about all of the animals and exhibits. His love of nature and animals is pretty amazing. The big exhibit that we were anxious to see were the Geckos. I guess it's a traveling one, so our zoo is about to lose it. BC loves lizards so this was a great thing for him to see!

Once home, we let Bear Cub open his presents from us and he was SO excited to do that! The boy LOVES presents! :) He later went to the pool with Daddy, while I stayed back and baked the frog cupcakes for his party. OH! And then, that evening, his bounce house arrived! We had a blast jumping until it was time for bed. Needless to say, after his BUSY and FUN birthday, he fell asleep immediately. Me too! :)

Enjoy the pictures from Friday! I'll post about his party next...that was a success and lots of fun for the kids. Another busy day though!

I am SO thankful for July 9...and the fact that our precious boy was brought into this world on that day. I wish I could have held him and loved on him in person on that day, four years ago. But I like to hope and think that I had a moment of happiness wash over me when he was born. And I sure hope that he felt loved by us, all the way around the world...on that very special day.

I've loved him from the beginning...and I will love that birthday boy of mine forever! :)

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAR CUB!!!

Phew! What a fun and busy day we've had here! Well, Bear Cub is officially FOUR now! WOW!! I couldn't turn my computer off for the night without posting a quick note about his fantastic birthday. He had a happy and fun-filled day and we are all tired out from it! And the best part of all?? We still have his birthday party tomorrow to look forward to! I promise I'll post pictures later this weekend - we'll have lots to share, I'm sure!

Until then, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my bright, vivacious, ENERGETIC, handsome, fun, and dramatic boy!

Bear Cub...WE LOVE YOU!!! :)

More pics from last week! :)

From our beach trip...before heading into the downtown area to eat the first night. We had sooooo much fun! It was the most relaxing 2 days we've had in a long time. What a way to celebrate our 10 years of marriage. :)

Lovin' life on the beach...it was never really, really sunny, but that was nice because it made our beach time much more comfortable! We both read a lot and just relaxed. Yes, that is a bucket near me...no sand castles were built, but we did find BC some great shells. Even on our getaway, we couldn't help but think of our lil man! :)

Hunk-a-hunk-a burnin' love! :) Here's my man, looking all dapper and handsome as he relaxed under our awesome sun shade that we bought this year. It's so nice to have a place to escape the bright sun when it's out! Way to save on sunburns too!

The beach view from our room's balcony. The beach was SO quiet and peaceful...of course, we were there during the work week, but I have a feeling that it's just a mellow kind of beach at any time. It was gorgeous! We saw LOTS of dolphins and enjoyed some pretty rough surf (for a Gulf beach, anyway!) when we swam. Fun, fun!

Bear Cub and Mama...with my birthday cake that they surprised me with. YUM!! :)

Busch Gardens FUN

Despite all of our rain this weekend, we did head out with our fairly new Busch Gardens passes and got in a few good hours of fun before the rain was just too much. It's a great park, with a lot to see and do...and best of all, it's only about 40 minutes from home! :) We may even go back again this week...if we can dry up some from all of our rain!

BC and Daddy, getting up close and personal with a Bengal Tiger. Pretty cool observation area that you can climb up into...all glassed in, so no fear!

Thumping his chest like a gorilla...he said he could hear the thumping as we were trying to find our way.

Checking out the jeep (He LOVES Jeeps) for the safari ride. Unfortunately, he was still too short to ride the ride. :( Maybe soon. OR...we'll just put lifts in his shoes!

One with the hippo??