Brilliant Blogger (or Slacker in my Case) Award

Both Gen (Our Fantastic Journey) and Jamie (My Heart is in Kyrgyzstan) gave me an award for Blog Excellence. I am ashamed to admit I haven't even finished my post from our last week in Kyrgyzstan but I will gracefully take the award anyway just so that I can procrastinate some more. Now I can work on this post instead of the catch up one that I have been meaning to finish.

With this award, I am supposed to answer these questions and nominate 7 more people of their Blog Excellence. Here goes...

A. Attached or single? Attached

B. Best friend? my husband, Bill

C. Cake or pie? Cake (I think, but it is a close call)

D. Day of choice? Saturday

E. Essential item? Dylan's snack bag

F. Favorite color? Black. It goes with everything

G. Gummy bears or worms? Chocolate covered gummy bears

H. Hometown? Born in the Philippines, raised in Los Angeles, established homestead in the San Francisco Bay Area

I. Indulgence? Blueberries (tons and tons of it when in season)

J. January or July? Both, January is ski season, July is rafting season

K. Kids? 1

L. Life isn’t complete without? Family and fine dining

M. Marriage date? November 29, 2003

N. Number of brothers & sisters? 2 sisters and 1 brother

O. Oranges or apples? Neither

P. Phobias? Bicycles

Q. Quotes? Do unto others what they would like done unto them.

R. Reasons to smile? Dylan, sunshine, beautiful weather, hugs from people I love

S. Season of choice? Winter

T. Tag seven peeps!

1. Suzanne (Straight Down the Mountain) http://straightdownthemountain.blogspot.com/


2. Kim (Bringing Home Lilyana) http://ourkyrgyzprincess.blogspot.com/


3. Shea (Tapsalteerie Farm) http://tapsalteerie.blog-city.com/


4. Lisa B (Fly Away Home) http://www.ladybug-baby.blogspot.com/


5. Clare (Welcome Leila) http://meetcamila.blogspot.com/


6. Tina (Hearts Wide Open - Adopting from Kyrgyzstan) http://imtina.wordpress.com/


7. John Wright (actofkindness Missions 1:27) http://www.actofkindness.blogspot.com/

U. Unknown fact about me? That fact shall remain unknown

V. Vegetable? Greens

W. Worst habits? Mindless Eating

X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound

Y. Your favorite food? Sashimi

Z. Zodiac sign? Pisces

Lastly, here is a photo of Dylan in his Cubs outfit that he wore to Grandpa's memorial service in Illinois last week. Grandpa was a huge Cubs fan so Auntie Kelly and Auntie Kay spent some time shopping for the little guy before we got there. He now has this outfit, a jersey, T-shirt and shorts ensemble and a windbreaker, all with Cubs logos on them. Nope, neither Kelly or Mary Kay got carried away whatsoever.

Good Times and Sad Times

I have been meaning to finish my catch up post from our pick up trip. It's just that things keep happening that divert my attention. Last weekend was my baby sister's bachelorette bash in Las Vegas. I was really torn about leaving Dylan for 2 days, but only a catastrophe would make me miss her send off into marriedville. Plus Dad is fully competent to handle the little guy.

I had a great time being part of her entourage. It isn't necessarily my scene, but it was fun to get out and just be in the moment with the girls. I would write more details but you know the saying - "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas" - so mum is the word. Here is a photo of us before our Friday night out. Use your imagination.


On a sad note, Bill's father passed away on Sunday so I booked an earlier flight and headed home a few hours early. Dylan and I are heading to Illinois tomorrow to join Bill and the rest of the family for Grandpa Bob's memorial service. I am very sad that Dylan never got to meet him. I think he would have found Grandpa interesting to say the least, and I would like to think that Grandpa would have fallen in love with Dylan the way everyone in the family has. I don't have an appropriate photo for this sad occassion, so I would like to leave you with a video of Dylan that I would like to think would have made Grandpa smile.

River Guide in the Making

...and with new teeth to boost. Yes, Dylan's 2 bottom teeth are finally breaking through. We felt it with our fingers yesterday but today, they are actually visible. And I thought he'd never get teeth.

Dylan received a gift from our friends Allison and Lindzy even before he came home. It's his very own PFD (personal floatation devise or life jacket). We went to the ETC (Environmental Travelling Companions) office yesterday to pick it up as well as hang out with the staff for a bit. Of course, we were inspired to try on the PFD and it resulted in a full-on river guide dress up attempt. Here is our munchkin with his new PFD and a guide stick.

He has also learned a couple of new rules about rafting. In our standard Safety Talks, we always tell people not to let go of the t-grips of their paddles because of what or who these could hit. Dylan is demonstrating what could happen. Alternatively, he is also exercising the other rule, which is, "if you lick it, it is yours". So Dylan now has an ETC paddle.

Day at the Beach

We were planning on going to Yosemite to go camping with Auntie Kay this weekend. However, we weren't sure if the fires there that are currently burning will make the air terrible for a baby to breath. So, at the last minute, we all thought better of it and decided not to go.

Instead we figured it would be a good weekend to try out his cute swim diapers. We headed out to Alameda's Crown Beach and met up with Suzanne and Steven who rode their bikes there.

This is getting redundant, but as usual, Dylan had a good time sitting in the water with Bill and playing in his sunshade. He even took his afternoon nap in the comfort of the sunshade and breeze.

B.A.K.E. on July 27

Me, BAKE? Oh no, not that kind. B.A.K.E. as in Bay Area Kyrgyz Entourage. We are (for now) a small group of families who reside in the greater San Francisco Bay Area who have adopted or are in the process of adopting a child from Kyrgyzstan. We had our first gathering at Suzanne's house last Sunday.

It was a blast to meet everyone. I finally met people who until now, are email and blog buddies. I also met a bunch of cool people with whom I haven't been in contact previously. Our group seems great and it will be so much fun next year when a bunch more kids come home to their families.

Suzanne served Lugman and Shashleek and a bunch of us brought other stuff to share. And speaking of baking, I bought (instead of baked) a red velvet cake from the bakery down the street that I have been meaning to try. It is called the Sweet Potato Pie Company. Let's just say I will be bringing red velvet cake to many other occassions to come.

As usual, Dylan had a good time. So many smiling faces and so much attention. By 6 p.m., he was ready to go to sleep. Mommy wasn't quite ready to pack it up just yet, so we borrowed Matilda's (as in sweet Matilda who will be coming home soon to Suzanne) crib and he passed out cold. When Dylan and Matilda get older, Suzanne and I can tell them that Dylan broke in Matilda's crib before she even came home. Seeing Dylan in a full size crib made me realize it was time to move my big boy to one. Until now, he has been in a porta crib and he is really getting too long to stay in there much longer, but I digress...

So as with many first time events with Dylan, we had a wonderful time.