Today we went to The Locks and I was able to catch a few shots of The Dolphins as they came up for air...Believe me.. Thats NOT an Easy thing to do... :)



Here The Pelicans are Diving for Fish as The Locks opened....

Sat in The Sunshine on My Balcony Today and did some Knitting while the Cruise Ships Went By !

Here is The Mickey Mouse Ship at The Port ( Disney Ship)

First Let Me Tell You That The Kids are ALL Home !!!! Yippee!!!!
Everyone is Busy Bonding and getting adjusted. Some of the Stories are really cute...Just one quick one...
Samatha calls Felix ..... "Brother and Felix" and Felix calls Sami.. "Little Sister and SamiNo".. :) ..We figure that April is always saying Sami NO.. So Felix calls her Samino... LOL Sounds like a Chinese name... So Cute!!! :)



OK.. THis is a Downsized Central Park Hoodie that I made up for My 6 year old Grandaughter Paige.. Now all Four of the Girls have CPHoodies..



I started a Shawl KAL... THis is Lehmus.. It is turning out very pretty... I am doing this inbetween other projects so don't expect to see it finished for a while :)
Multi Projects going on here again!!!

And Todays Update is.......
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This is a Group Photo of the China Children who were adopted in this Group.



Here are all the children and their Families from The Group...


This is My Daughter and Her Family :)


Time to go for a Walk !!!!

China Uptate

Here is an updated email from April.. It sounds like things are Better and They are now where it is WARM... :)
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John asked me to some up China in one word the other day. It took me all of one second to think, Chaotic. I think I made have said that in an earlier post. I guess part of it is just the way of life here. You talk fast, move fast " I mean your guide/rep does it for you" and think fast. Our reps always seem like they are arguing about something to the locals but we've decided that's just the way they communicate. BTW, there's someting wrong w/ my H key and I'm tired of going back to fix the missed H's. Anyway, another part of the chaos is that we have 12 other families in our group. So if one person is missing we wait, if one family is late we wait. We were ALL so happy to leave today and go down South to Guangzhou, Shaiman Island. One reason, it's WARM, another is we're that much closer to coming home. OK. So this AM we're all ready to go, everyones there, we load onto the bus. 20 min into te trip to the airport, dead stop on the road. People just get out of their cars here and walk around when this happen apparently. Hot, annoyed americans on a bus wanting to get on a plane, not good. Our rep is calling people to see what going on. She decided that there is a VIP here and they close down the roads both ways wen tis happens. She said president fromr other country maybe. Any who, she called the airport and told them to hold the plane for us, apparently you can do that here. So chaos in the airport of course, she has us all cut the line of people going through the check point all as she's yelling at everyone in the airport. It's pretty cool actually to get such treatment. We got pull here. We had a great plane ride Felix and Sami slept the whole 2 hours. Shaiman Island is beautiful and warm. We ate a ton at lunch bacause we hadn't eaten yet and it was 2pm, that happens often that you miss meals and have to just eat your snacks that your sick of. Lonae and I went shopping after lunch, had a tea ritual and the kids are sleeping. I love every family we're with, everyone is so great. Yesterday after we went to get our kids passports, the moms went over to a tea shop. I asked te guy how to do this block of tea and then he sits us down for a tea offering. it was such a cool experience. They put so much into serving a cup of tea. Any way, tomorrow we have a city tour, not anything to intense like in Beijing, the hard parts are over now. We'll be going to temples and church and shopping and then a group dinner. Here's a tid bit about Shaiman Island. BTW, as tough as it's been doing all the things we've had to do, I'd do it again in a heart beat. Don't be surprised if we're back in a couple of years!!! We are at the famous White Swan Hotel. Shamian Island, formerly known as Shameen Island, from its Cantonese pronunciation (Chinese: 沙面岛, pinyin: Shāmiàn dǎo) is a sandbank island in the Liwan District of Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, China. The island's name literally means "sandy surface" in Chinese.The territory was divided into two concessions given to France and the United Kingdom by the Qing Dynasty government in the 19th century. The island is a gazetted historical area that serves as a tranquil reminder of the colonial European period, with quiet pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and lined by historical buildings in various states of upkeep. The island is the location of several hotels, a youth hostel, restaurants and tourist shops selling curios and souvenirs. Since the early 2000s, Shamian Island has become well known for the many Western couples who reside there while seeking to adopt Chinese babies and young children, most of whom are orphaned and female. The White Swan Hotel is perhaps the best-known hotel in Guangzhou, having been in operation for many years, and is usually the hotel of choice for these couples. One reason for this popularity is that the hotel is adjacent to the United States consulate, making it convenient to file paperwork and handle bureaucratic matters. The consular section has since moved to the other side of the city (the whole consulate will move in 2012 as well), but the hotel is still the most popular destination for adopting couples. Beginning in 2007, the Chinese government slowed the rate of adoptions, and as a result the percentage of tourists to Shamian Island who are Westerners has decreased as well

Just so you know that I have been keeping my hands very busy... I went and started more projects this week.....


For My Friends Birthday I knitted up Seven Different Dishcloths..
A Clean one for Everyday of The Week !!!!
That is them all bundled up and tied to the Baloon !!!!!



These are Two Bulky Hats to go up To Buffalo... Better hurry and send them...



A Sweet Little Vest that I started for Felix.....
The yarn is much nicer than this photo... I'll make the final Picture better... :)


A Pretty Shawl that I started for " MYSELF" in Berroco Comfort!!!

Day Eight in China

This is yesterdays email from My Daughter....I hope the time passes quicker for them.. It must be so hard with two little ones in a hotel and its too cold outside to play or anything..
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It was a hectic day. We took a 2 hr. bus ride to the orphanage. It was the 5 families all from our orphanage the went today. Felix got sick on the initial ride to meet us the other day so they thought he gets car sick but he didn't get sick today. But Sami did so we're covered there. And Felix got sick on the floor of our hotel room last night from over eating. He's starting to realize today that he's going to get plenty food when ever he wants, slowing down a bit. Any who, we're all tired of eating pizza in the hotel, we're tired of eating noodles and Chinese food in general. Sami just wants berries and regular O's. I'd advise not to take a 19 month old child to China for 16 days, maybe a week ok. The kids are all playing so well, we have hallway play sessions and room to room play. We will be friends with these people for a long time I think. This is definitely a test of your tolerance to many things. There are many ups and downs. We all just want to go home. Maybe we'll feel a little better now that most of the touring and paperwork is done "for the most part." The schedules of things have been insane. It was really tough today bringing the kids back to where they came from. We had to go to do paperwork and to see what it's like. Some kids didn't want to go in and some didn't want to leave there nannies again "Felix." He snaped out of it pretty fast but daddy gets very sad for him when he cries about leaving his nannies. Any way. Night. Tomorrow's a new day

Sami- Felix and MaMa...
Boy.. It sure id COLD here in China ..... Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr


MaMa and Felix wearing the Asian Sweaters that I made.

Its been a Long Day for Dad and Felix.......

MaMa -DaDa and Felix :)

MaMa is Bundling Sami all up to go get her Brother...
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....... "This sure ain't San Diego" LOL















MaMa and Felix on Their Very First Day of Bonding :)
















Sami and Felix Playing Nicely at The Hotel in China...












April said that Felix was crying for a while missing his Nannies at the orphanage but then he calmed down. Sami is being so Good.. She is sharing and playing and patting her brother.. She was very concerned when he was crying.
This morning felix called Sami.." Sister..Little Sister" :) Awwwwwwww XXXXXOOOO Hugs and Kisses from Ya Ya ( Grandma) PoPo

CHINA

For everyone who has been following My Daughters adoption process and long wait for three years.. Here is The Update !!! :)
FINALLY They are in China to bring FuXi (Felix) HOME...
This is an email from their first day.. They will be there for two weeks...
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I wish I could put into words right now what my day was like. I'll start off with-Amazing. We woke at 2am because we all went to bed when we got to the hotel @ 18:00. Went down to bfast at 6am. Met all the other families from our agencies adopting as well before our tour at 9am. I can tear up at how amazing these people are. They are giving, humorous, strong, down to earth, I could go on. Some families are here to adopt there 3-7th child. From minor special needs, missing ear parts, albinism to heart conditions. We went to Tianamen square, Forbbiden City, "we walked this btw-2hrs, then went to chinese lunch "so good," then to the silk factory "John has a new found respect for silk making," then took a rickshaw through "common folk" town and home. Yes, we went into a chinese home. Sami was a trooper with no nap except for the hour she took before we went out in the AM. She fell asleep in John's arms on the rickshaw. So this house we went into, the man of the house was so cool. He was so greatful that we came, wanted us to ask questions...but it was not anything like you might imagine. He had crickets in his bed room. No, not to eat...they like to feel like they live in the country still. It's like a sound sleeper for babies. LOL. He had pet turtles too.....no, not to eat. Then finally back to the hotel at 17:00. Oh I forgot, we know what it's like to have a daughter as a celebrity. Sami was a big time hit. We had crowds of 20-30 people at a time taking pictures with her, of her, holding her. She would stop crowds and people would yell-oh, baby hi baby, pretty baby. Apparently it's good luck to have blonde hair and even good luck rubs off ih you touch a blonde and take a picture with them. Being the new year, everything that signifies good luck is 10 times more luck. I guess. Speaking of which. The fire works here go off all night until about 2am and the are like bombs. They aren't the wimpy M80's we have in the states, they are serious. It actually hasn't bothered Sami at all. She's sleeping right here and they are soooooo loud. And she had to have soy milk instead of reg milk. I couldn't find New Zealand or Austrailian milk in the market by the hotel. Then again, nothing is written in english soo..... I'll post pics tomorrow. So tired. Can't believe I wrote this much. Oh and my mom in law is such a trooper too. It was a lot of walking, stairs, crying Sami......I might have doubled this email to some of you on facebook, sorry to overload you.nite

Here's Samantha wearing the Silver Ruffle Sweater :)


Now.. Is This a Commercial for Pizza or Horizon Organic Milk ???? LOL

Oh... She sure is Happy eating her Pizza :)

This Week I made a Cable Sweater for Claire.. I used the cable idea from The Last Central Park Hoodie that I made for her Big Sis.
I also did a design on the top seam of the hoodie where I stitched it together. I did that by crocheting together..
Then I made some twirlys for the Top :)

Our Knitting Group which meets at Paneras every week is making an Afghan for the Manager of There.
She is very nice to us and we have been sitting there for Hours every Wednesday for a few years now. I'm sure she will love cozying up in it on cool evenings .
We are doing whatever squares we each choose from The Sampler Afghans Book. I have done two so far and enjoyed making them. It gives me a chance to try different patterns and it does not take long to do a 12 inch square. Hopefully it will not take too long to complete it.

Central Park Hoodie just finished for my Grandaughter.. Its a Small size but Grandma squeezed into it for the Photo Shoot !!!
I used Woolease for it and it comes out really nice in this Sweater. The one I did for her sister a while back was also on woolease in a deep green. This is a fun sweater to knit and I am thinking of making one a little bigger for Myself :) Hey.. Do Ya think I actually will make something for "Me"... Ha !!!

Just made thes cute little fingerless gloves for Samantha.. The pattern is in Ravelry.. I think its called "little suckers" because the thumb sticks out .. I use sock yarn and each one has different stripes... But My Daughter will like that.. They are bright and really cute.. I made them a little longer so they will cover more of her fingers. April wanted fingerless gloves but making those little fingers was a real pain and I think Sami will like these better.

Home Coming!!!!

Well...For all of you who have been following the progress and praying for Our China Child to arrive... It is Finally going to happen.
My Daughter, Hubby Samantha and Mother in Law will be flying to China in 3 weeks to bring Little Felix home!!!!! Hooray!!! Its been a long and stress 3 years for My Daughter and John. She originally had signed up for a baby Girl ( who was going to be named Penny )but it was taking sooooooooo long and the stress was catching up so she increased her chances by selecting..Boy or Girl up to 4 years old. So FuXi ( who is now Felix)... is about 2 to 2 and 1/2 years old.. He is a Happy and Smart little fellow... and at his young age he speaks some English and Chinese.Oh and did I say that he is Cute as a Button :)... My Daughter has been lucky to be in touch with his nanny at the orphanage and she has been in weekly contact with Felix on the Web Cam for the past few weeks. So now when they go there he will sort of know who they are. When he talks to April ( My Daughter) on the Web Cam.. He says " I Love You Ma Ma"..... Oh and that just brings tears to her eyes... But Happy ones !!!!!
So Yes... It truly is a Happy New Year and a Very Blessed One ....Thanks be To God!!!
Somehow I think that God will also find a way to Bring a "Penny" into our life in the future. I know there is plenty of Love for another Child.
Happy New Year To You All......

Made This Sweater for Felix...it might be a little big right now but he will grow into it :)

And here is a Hat for the DAD...... Now when the Family goes to China to bring Felix home , which should be in a few weeks)... Even Dad will be Dressed :)











This is a really pretty sweater but the photo didn't show it much.. The yarn is Vannas Glimmer in a silver sparkle...

Here is a Stocking for ....... Yup.. You Guessed it..."Felix" :)
My Daughters Dtocking that I made previously all have the Elf Toe Like this one :)