A DAY AT THE ZOO

Today we went to the Akron Zoo with three other families with Guatemalan girls.  Of course, Lynn with Grace, Aimee with  Mayna and Leslie with Abby.  I always enjoy seeing the difference in personalities when I watch children play in a group.  I'm sure it's just the teacher in me!  Grace and Mayna were very independent, while Abby and Dawson sat back and took everything in.  It was a beautiful day to spend with four beautiful children!  We just loved it!

Just hanging out in my stroller eating a puff!  

Grace and Dawson headed over to take a look at the sheep.

Dawson wanted to go on the train with Mayna but after she got on, she discovered I wasn't coming too....here's what happened when I left.  She ended up not even riding the train today!  

All four girls up in the fort.  It was impossible to get them to all look up at once!  

The girls loved playing inside the playhouses at 

 zoo.  As you can see, everyone is very busy! 

  

May 28th, 2009

We stopped by, just for a quick visit, to see our friends Grace and Lynn.  The girls loved playing in Grace's new house and Lynn and I loved that the girls were occupied for a few minutes with each other so we could chat.  The girls get along well except for a few times when they both wanted the front porch bench.  I must admit, Dawson was more adamant about sitting on the bench then Grace.  She has a mind of her own and knows what she wants!  I'm in trouble!  I wonder who Dawson is calling?  I'm thinking it's Tommy because he gives her whatever she wants!  

May 24th, 2009

 In the last post, I failed to tell you how we got to Indy.  I really didn't want to go over the three day weekend.  My plans were to just relax and get a few things done.  As usual, I lost!  I used every excuse not to go including the one "Dawson won't get a good nap."  Well, that didn't work.  Tommy said he had the answer to the naps.  SOOOOO  he let me know he rented a 35 ft. RV for the weekend!  We have never stepped foot in it let alone driven one!  What an experience this trip has been.  About the nap...she hasn't taken one yet since the RV has been taken over by fourteen 12 year old girls between all soccer games.  Intentions were good! 

 

May 23rd 2009

We are in Indianapolis for a soccer tournament this weekend.  We have 4 games to play over the weekend and will get back home Sunday night.  As we were watching the game, I noticed Dawson had gotten in my bag and pulled out my camera.  Within a few minutes, she had turned it on and was taking some self portraits.  I wonder if her future will involve photography!  Enjoy her first photo shoot of  herself!

May 20th, 2009

GARDENING 

I decided to small garden tonight since we will be out of town over the weekend.  No, I don't like dirt but, my mom does!  I don't mind taking care of it once the plants are planted so, we put Grammy and Papa to work.  They did all the "dirty work" while Dawson and I looked on. We can handle the watering and up keep from this point forward!  It was such a beautiful night to be outside and to plant a garden.  Dawson tried to help prepare the dirt with the broom and tried to pick the leaves off the herbs.  She really likes to help do EVERYTHING these days!

May 18th, 2009

A Day at the Zoo.....

Went to the Columbus Zoo this weekend to see the new baby elephant named "Beko."  He was born the end of March weighing in at 350 lbs.  He has gained 125 more lbs. since then! Wow!  It was a half hour wait just to see this baby!  It was a very cool experience!  We also ran across a baby monkey.  Dawson loved the monkeys because they were so active!  I can't wait to go back this summer.  I only took a few pictures because Dawson was grumpy and when I felt her, she had a fever.  It was a two hour drive home with her screaming!  Yikes!  

May 16th, 2009

A DAY AT THE PARK.......

Today we went to a park called "Preston's Hope" near Cleveland to meet some new friends. Although it started to rain, we had a lot of fun exploring and just getting to know our new friend Mayna.   Dawson was extremely shy around Mayna, who was running around and having a good time.  She was really just sitting back and trying to take everything in.  I didn't realize how shy Dawson really was until I saw her today.  I think it's just a stage.  I love meeting new people with other children from Guatemala and sharing stories.  Each and every child I have ever met from Guatemala is AMAZING!  Thanks Aimee and Lynn for meeting up with us.  We look forward to going to the park again on a SUNNY DAY!  

Going down the slide.

Jumping climbing on everything!

Mayna and Grace having fun on the tire swing (Dawson wouldn't join them..I tried!)

Just hanging out!

Climbing the wall...Dawson loves to climb!

Looking down over a walkway.

Everyone climbing together

May 13th, 2009

Happy Gotcha Day Dawson!  Well, Pizza in the Park didn't work due to the Ohio rain so the gathering became Pizza in the House.  A very casual get together with my parents and a few friends.  We ate and celebrated for a few hours and opened a few gifts (which I said no gifts but, no one EVER listens to me!)  She did get her first barbie like doll....Cinderella.  Look at her face!  She loved it!  Oh no...what am I in for now!  

Some water table toys.  We just have a few cups, so these will come in handy!

I think she likes Cinderella!

May 12th 2009

Tomorrow is officially what is known as "Gotcha Day"  The Day I met Dawson and she became mine forever!  Exactly a 

year ago, I landed in Guatemala, headed to the Marriott, unpacked and a few hours later, Dawson came through the 

doors with her foster family.  I could write a book about the whole trip but, it would take me forever.  So instead, I 

looked back at all my old pictures and put a slide show together.  I tried to include the moment we met her all the way 

to the moment she came home.  I also put in a few beautiful pictures from Guatemala.  Not only is Dawson beautiful, 

but her birth country is too!  What a difference a year can make in everyone's life!  I am posting this tonight because 

tomorrow we will be having "Pizza in the Park" with a few family and friends to officially celebrate "Gotcha Day."  I 

couldn't think of a better place to celebrate!  

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

May 11th, 2009

Mother's Day Part TWO

My mom decided to take Dawson outside to help plant.  Grammy planted and Dawson put the empty pots on her head.  I just happened to be close by with the camera and couldn't resist the photo op!  

May 10th, 2009

Happy Mother's Day! We left early this morning to head to Grammy and Papa's lake house for breakfast. We had homemade omelets, eggs, bacon, sausage, cake and much more. Everything was delicious! Dawson had not been to the lake house since last summer so she really wasn't sure where she was when she walked in the door. It took her a few minutes to warm up and check things out!  She wondered around inside and out and now she feels right at home!!!!  It was a beautiful day so I took some time to take some fun pictures!  

My Mother's Day card from Dawson!

(Thanks Aunt Kathy for sending the card)

Dawson personally autographed my card...all over it!

Grammy's Mother's Day cake

Eating breakfast...yum, yum, yum.

Peeking through the fence.

Jumping off the deck step...what we do off everything now!  JUMP! JUMP!

Taking cousin Alex for a walk around the house. 

May 8th, 2009

Out to dinner again but, this time Chinese. Dawson ordered her usual...chicken lo mein. As you can see, we had lots of fun at dinner. She's getting much better at eating the noodles! Of course not graceful but, cute!

May 7th, 2009

Happy Cinco de Mayo a few days late! I spent the evening cooking an authentic Mexican dinner for a few friends. It was delicious and tons of fun. A great excuse for a small party and wonderful Mexican food! (if I must say so myself). I did cheat a little as I stopped by our local Mexican restaurant to pick up some authentic chips and salsa. We are frequent visitors there, so they immediately passed over a lei that said Corona Light to Dawson along with a chocolate mint. What a way to celebrate. My intentions were to take lots of pictures but, since I was the cook, I never got to it. The only picture I took was leaving the Mexican restaurant, with my cell phone! Maybe next time!

We headed to the park this morning just to have some good old fun! We ran, we jumped and we climbed and climbed and climbed. Dawson has been a climber since the day I brought her home. She was all over anything that even resembled a ladder. It was a beautiful day to be outside so we really took advantage of it! What fun we had!!!!