tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76340272204119169862012-01-27T15:32:35.564-08:00Random Stuff that Z thinks about and shares with you -- dear, dear internet.Snoopynoreply@blogger.comBlogger91100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634027220411916986.post-90162339903544511392012-01-27T15:31:00.000-08:002012-01-27T15:32:35.581-08:00Our little boy in China's birthday is today! He is turning 3!<br /><br />Happy Birthday, sweetie :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7634027220411916986-9016233990354451139?l=quietnest.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Snoopynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634027220411916986.post-2177469814301512642012-01-24T23:53:00.000-08:002012-01-24T23:58:41.290-08:00So yeah. When we first started exploring Chinese adoption, I was sent a list. This list is called the "shared list", and it is the orphans waiting in China who have "special needs". It was an excel file with almost 2000 little ones on it. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2000</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waiting children in China.<br /><br />147 million around the world.<br /></span><br />Missing limbs, down's syndrome, heart problems, hepatitis, and on and on down the list of little ones needing a family. Each line of the file had a brief description of the medical need, boy or girl. Sometimes their need was "old". Old like 7 or 8. Goodness.<br /><br />It seriously blew my mind. I had no idea.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7634027220411916986-217746981430151264?l=quietnest.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Snoopynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634027220411916986.post-59234279003837712232012-01-23T18:51:00.000-08:002012-01-23T18:52:06.367-08:00It's the Year of the Dragon! Here's to a clean slate and a great new year!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7634027220411916986-5923427900383771223?l=quietnest.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Snoopynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634027220411916986.post-59188106558061076552012-01-19T00:49:00.000-08:002012-01-19T00:53:18.827-08:00So...these super awesome other adoptive parents in Shanghai who were there recently happened to have some pictures with our little guy in them too!! Plus video!!! I am super super excited about this!! The internet is amazing :) He was sitting back like he owned the place, calmly sucking on a lollipop!! So cute!<br /><br />In other news -- I have gotten Liam to say "China" and "Ni hao" (hello in Chinese). Of course he says it in a roaring like voice, and often says "Me-how" like he's a cat. But, you know it's close... Mia is working on her sign language :)<br /><br />Now Mommy and Daddy just need to learn Chinese and sign language. Woo hoo!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7634027220411916986-5918810655806107655?l=quietnest.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Snoopynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634027220411916986.post-14723988505320992112012-01-17T20:24:00.000-08:002012-01-17T20:34:56.246-08:00I can't stop watching our little guy's video we got from the orphanage. It is only 15 seconds long, but it's the best 15 seconds ever! He's playing with this little girl and smiling and giggling and melting my heart! I never thought I'd adopt. I think it's great, I just thought that was something other people did; other people who were more organized, or smarter, or richer, or <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span>.<br /><br />Then one day, Lewis was like, "We should adopt." And, I'm like, "What?" <br /><br />Then, I can't explain it -- I just had this really warm feeling in my heart, this peaceful, yet overwhelming warm joy just cover me -- after he said that, I just <span style="font-style: italic;">knew</span> he was right -- yes, we should adopt.<br /><br />I never for one second thought I'd be on this path, but I am excited and honored and thankful for it. :)<br /><br />The more I learn about orphans and foster kids, the more my heart melts. <br /><br />Every child deserves a family.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7634027220411916986-1472398850532099211?l=quietnest.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Snoopynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634027220411916986.post-32242150750356671612012-01-13T17:22:00.000-08:002012-01-16T10:40:35.107-08:00So wow, yeah we have started the international adoption process. We are so excited to try and adopt a little boy about Liam's age from China. We are honored to hopefully be the parents of another son, waiting for us in Shanghai! <br /><br />Anyway, the process takes about a year or so to complete. In the meantime, your prayers are welcome.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7634027220411916986-3224215075035667161?l=quietnest.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Snoopynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634027220411916986.post-22946901537674951502011-12-29T18:20:00.000-08:002011-12-29T18:23:56.103-08:00Watched two episodes of Wild China this week with the kiddos. Very beautiful documentary on wildlife in China. We've also been trying to learn some sign language. Everyone seems to love "no".<br /><br />Liam is wearing Mia's pink bicycle helmet, yelling "Racecar!"<br /><br />Mia is making a scavenger hunt in the house, and I'm happy that it's not snowing, 50 degrees :)<br /><br />Can't wait to see my Dad on Saturday!<br /><br />Happy New Year to all!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7634027220411916986-2294690153767495150?l=quietnest.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Snoopynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634027220411916986.post-91079520688981006802011-01-28T18:52:00.001-08:002011-01-28T18:55:08.787-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c_iMnIahf_s/TUOBNr6aGVI/AAAAAAAAAmY/WfmDSRlE4Rk/s1600/DSC09703.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 362px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c_iMnIahf_s/TUOBNr6aGVI/AAAAAAAAAmY/WfmDSRlE4Rk/s200/DSC09703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567435636486052178" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7634027220411916986-9107952068898100680?l=quietnest.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Snoopynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7634027220411916986.post-82872892877902445062008-06-05T18:22:00.000-07:002008-12-08T20:17:13.924-08:00My Mom's favorite cookie recipe is for Pecan Snowballs. Mia and I made some for her for Mother's Day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c_iMnIahf_s/SEiRoHB-05I/AAAAAAAAABk/O0inDzTgYaI/s1600-h/mia-mixing.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c_iMnIahf_s/SEiRoHB-05I/AAAAAAAAABk/O0inDzTgYaI/s320/mia-mixing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208573087322133394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c_iMnIahf_s/SEiRvMnOYBI/AAAAAAAAABs/ea_nL-vGd7k/s1600-h/snowballs.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c_iMnIahf_s/SEiRvMnOYBI/AAAAAAAAABs/ea_nL-vGd7k/s320/snowballs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208573209079603218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pecan Snowballs</span><br /><br />1 cup butter flavor shortening<br />3/4 cup powdered sugar<br />2 tablespoons milk or water<br />1.5 teaspoons vanilla<br />1 3/4 cups all purpose flour<br />1 cup oats (quick or old-fashioned, uncooked)<br />1/2 cup finely chopped pecans<br />1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)<br />powdered sugar<br /><br />Heat oven to 325. Beat first four ingredients until creamy (shortening, sugar, milk, vanilla). Add combined flour, oats, pecans and salt, mix well. Shape rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 15 to 18 minutes, or until bottoms are light golden. Roll in powdered sugar while warm. Cool completely on wire rack. Reroll in powdered sugar. About 4 dozen.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7634027220411916986-8287289287790244506?l=quietnest.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Snoopynoreply@blogger.com4