Natalie could not wait to get in to school. She was SO excited to be back in preschool.
"Take all the stupid pictures you want, but I'm going in!"
Natalie's new classroom
Yesterday, Natalie got her new glasses. We were afraid of how she was going to react when they put the glasses on her. Would she want to keep them on? The tech was wonderful with Natalie. She made a big deal about showing Natalie how to put on and take off her new glasses and how to clean them. Natalie loved all the attention and being treated like a 'big girl'. When we were leaving the office, Natalie kept saying "Daddy, look at that! I can see!" It almost broke my heart to see her so happy. She loves her glasses. They were the last thing she took off last night and the first thing she asked for this morning. Personally, I think she looks adorable in her new glasses.
Yesterday, Natalie, Jon, Jon's mom, his grandmother and I went to see his aunt, Peg. She is with her college class on an archeological dig at the Fort St. Joseph. They found a Jesuit settlement there and have been excavating there. It is amazing to see all the artifacts they found. Glass beads galore, deer bones, one person uncovered a crucifix. Natalie had a blast looking for rocks. She wanted to join Aunt Peg in the big hole to dig. It was a gorgeous day and the sights were fascinating.
AUNT PEG EXPLAINING HOW THEY EXCAVATE A SITE.JPG)
AUNT PEG'S DIG SITE.JPG)
NATALIE TAKING A BREAK-IT'S A TIRING JOB BEING CUTE.JPG)
JANA AND HER MOM LISTENING TO A LECTURE ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT.JPG)
Natalie and I went shopping with Grandma and being the sucker that she is......Grandma and Natalie HAD to build a stuffed animal. Actually, we had a fun time. Natalie picked a 'Polka Dot' Doggie (aka dalmation) and Grandma picked a white kitty. At first Natalie wasn't too sure about the stuffing machine. But once she got used to the noise, she was fine. For her, the dressing part was the most fun. I think we have a fashion diva in the making. 
It was a beautiful day, what a better way to enjoy it than to go to the MSU Horticultural Gardens. Jon's mom Jana, Natalie, Jon and I had so much fun looking at all the beautiful flowers. They have a rose garden there that is breath-taking! 
Natalie had a lot of fun running around in the children's garden, with all the climbing structures. When this little gate was turned, the frog in the background would spray water from his mouth. Daddy and Natalie thought it was funny when they showed it to Mommy. Needless to say, they had her stand right in the line of fire. Ha-ha-ha!
A fountain is at one end of the rose garden and, since it was getting quite warm, Natalie and Daddy found themselves taking a little dip. 
After the water fun, we walked to the Dairy store, for some fresh ice cream. MSU is still an agricultural college, where they have many animals. From their cow farm, they use the milk for fresh dairy products that they sell at the Dairy store. You can get many different flavors of cheese and a wide variety of ice creams. It was delicious!!!!!
We live in rabid Red Wing territory! All you see is RED everywhere. Well, besides the maize & blue, and green & white. But right now it's WINGS, WINGS, WINGS.
Except at our house.........JPG)
GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have been having a very active Spring. Natalie finished her 1st year of preschool, she turned 4, she began dance classes, I returned to college, Jon is preparing for his 24 hour race and family life is as crazy as always.
For Natalie's birthday, we all went to the local paint-your-own pottery place. Natalie LOVED it. Though her kitty is sort of modern-abstract preschooler, she loves it. Afterward, she didn't want to leave and asks us to go back all the time. I think we have an artist in our midst.
Once we got Natalie pried out of the pottery place, we went back to Grandma's and had cake and ice cream. Oh yeah, and balloons!!!! Natalie played dress-up, she was a princess....go figure!
Our Little Diva
At first, Natalie wasn't too enthused about taking dance lessons, but once she got there and saw the instructors practicing tap dancing, she was right onboard. We think that this will be very good for her. It will channel some of her energy and help her with self-control. She's not a very good listener right now, but having to sit quietly and watch the instructors should help that. During the first lesson, she was bouncing all over the place while they were demonstrating a little dance the kids were supposed to do. When it came time for the kids to show what they had learned, Natalie performed the dance almost flawlessly. Amazingly, even though she wasn't paying attention, or so we thought, she picked the moves up and was able to repeat them.
Today Natalie's class at preschool hosted a Mother's Day Tea for all the moms and grandmoms. It was So CUTE!!!!! The kids lined up and sang a "Thank You, Mom!" song, too sweet! Then they sat us down and served us frosted flower cookies and pink lemonade. Natalie couldn't resist using the sprinkles on the cookie to scrape off my frosting and eat it. Hey, I got the soggy cookie, so it all worked out fine. ;-) She was SO PROUD that Grandma came, too. THIS IS WHAT KIDS ARE ALL ABOUT!!!! Paperwork, hassles, l-o-n-g wait for referral............for this........PRICELESS!!!!!
Natalie is under the word "WORD".
Life been busy, busy busy. With Easter, school, the yard, Mom-2-Mom sales, and getting a new batch of baby chicks - I've been lacking in the posting area. So let me catch you up to speed.
Natalie's Spring Preschool Picture
Bouncing with her baby
Can you tell it's an elephant?
Jon is still going strong in school. He got his Associate Degree and is half way through to his Bachelors. Woo-Hoo! And I have been bitten by the school bug, too! I am going back to college to get my bachelors in Preschool Child Development. I got my transcripts from when I went to college back in the stone age. It seems that I have 47 credit hours. Hopefully most will transfer. What I would like to do is be able to write homestudies and post-placement reports. Our social worker told me that all you need is a bachelor's degree to be qualified, so hopefully I can remember how this school thing goes. So far it is nothing like I did before! Registration, financial aid, etc. it's a whole new world when everything is done by computer!
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I had to add this! After playing on the computer, I went back in the living room and this is what I found........
Shades of China, only this time she isn't going anywhere!!!!! We're keeping her!!!!!
Natalie's first experience with the Easter Bunny was just one week after arriving home from China. I say that she was still in culture shock, because she let us place her on the Bunny's lap without the slightest protest. In the following two years, if you so much as approached the Bunny, or Santa for that matter, she would get terrified and scramble to get away! But, this year, at the ripe old age of 3 ¾ Natalie hopped right up on his lap like an old pro. She was hamming it up for the camera, and kept peeking in his basket at the treats!
Three years ago tomorrow, you were placed in my arms. I have never known such JOY! You are the light of my life, the song in my soul, the color in my bleak world. Thank you LORD for giving me your most precious gift!
Daddy introduced his little girl to one of his vices........DS. She loves to watch Daddy play! Then, when he gets to a 'flag' or 'coin', he lets her win them.
BUT, when Daddy is not home....Natalie can be found with the demon game in hand playing a rousing game of Mario Brothers herself. Shhhhhhh, Don't tell Daddy but Natalie got to levels that he doesn't even know about. LOL
I didn't think that it was too bad (it did keep her occupied) but it has turned into an obsession with her. So, in order to prevent a later 'intervention', the little black game has disappeared into the great abyss AKA the cupboard.
This morning as I lay next to Natalie, watching her sleep, I was overcome with joy and sadness. Here is my beautiful daughter sleeping peacefully, snuggled in soft blankets. A sweet smile crosses her lips as I caress her cheek. She is so precious to me that, at times like this, it truly takes my breath away. Then my thoughts turn to her first mother, the dear woman that gave us her ultimate gift of Love. What did she feel as she looked at our daughter as she slept. Was she filled with such joy, also. Or was she filled with unbearable sadness of having to let go. I can not imagine her pain. All I can pray is that she has peace in her heart for her little girl that has come to be the entire world to Jon and I. I wish that I could tell her that HongHu is happy, loved and healthy. And that I will always have a very special place in my heart for her.
I came out of the office and found Natalie trying to ride in her play grocery cart. She doesn't fit too well any more.
Here's Natalie after getting busted in the cart. Is that a 'Who me?" look, or what!
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This past Wednesday, while Jon was at the dentist, Natalie and I killed some time at Mickey D's play area. Here are a couple of cute shots. She is fearless, Natalie climbed all the way to the top of the tower, near the ceiling and climbed down without a 2nd thought. I'd have needed a whole fire dept to get me down.
Here are some pictures that we took at a CNY celebration. We went to our favorite restaurant, The Golden Wok. Every CNY they have Lion dancers come in. We really enjoy this (and the Dim Sum) though Natalie was bothered by the loud cymbals.
