CAR CLEANNING

Notice the dust buster in hand??? Everything was going great until Blake started up with the "baby talk". Argh!!!! I can't stand it!!!! So I tell them both to knock it off. I don't care what Blake does at his house but they will not be doing it anywhere around me. Blake stopped but Mimi the defiant one thought I was joking until I told her that she was not going to Blake's house after lunch and that she was going to clean the car where she made a huge mess of crumbs and such. All three kids begged for me to change my mind. This was not the first time I have talked with the two of them on this behaviour that I so detest. So I stood my ground and brought Blake and Bailey home and Mimi is at her own home. We also warned Mimi that on our California trip that our friends the Luce's and Fratkin's are nice enough to let us stay with them for a couple of days while we are there. And if the girl does not mind her P's and Q's, she will be sleeping in mom and dad's room during our stay. Oooooo dad says that is worse a fate than death in itself.

BOUNCE IT UP AND MICKEY D'S

Today is Staff Developement day so the kids got the day off. However today I am working overtime. So although it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood I thought I would take the kids to the local bouncy place so they could burn off some energy. One of my friends wrote on facebook that I should take them to the park. That's fine and dandy but the problem is there is 3 of them and one of me. At least the bouncy is cool inside and it is a place where the the kids can't get away from me. Especially when one has someone like Mimi who is here, there, everywhere. Then it was on to Mc Donald's for lunch.

COMPARISON

Mimi at 19 months: Height 74.5 cm
Weight 8.5 kg

Mei Lin at 7 months: Height 66 cm
Weight 8 kg



I have a feeling that this next chili pepper will tower over Mimi. When I mention this to Mimi the girl says "that's ok cause I'm still the oldest and I'll still be the boss." Sigh............

AFTER MEET DINNER AT LA FOGATA'S

Usually after the meets, we all go have dinner together somewhere. Last night it was La Fogata's. The best part of the dinner was the friends and Margaritas. It was the big kids on one side of the table and the smaller kids on the other. As you can see Mimi, Elsie, and Lizzie are the younger ones. Although I did not realize it at the time as Mimi was not on the team yet, her and Lizzie were in the same kindergarten class. It is possible that they may be in the same class again next year as they are both signed up for the loop. Elsie is in the same school district but different school. The topic of discussion among ALL the kids last night was butts, toots and farts.

MIMI'S BOOTY

We've all heard of "Pirates Booty"....well this is Mimi's booty. At all competitions there are raffle baskets. These are the ways that the gyms make money for themselves. When her/their part of the competition was/is over, the kids of our gym are strongly encouraged to stay and cheer on their teammates. I love how this team promotes unity among the kids.

However the younger kids will be kids and they get soooooo bored. Truth be told, I dozed off several times myself what with taking the pain killers for my tooth extraction. Mimi was bored out of her mind so I told her that if she gives me a kiss and hug, she would get a surprise. It was the quickest kiss and hug known to man. Followed by a stuck out hand. I gave her $5.00 for 10 raffle tickets. As you can see, the girl won the basket she wanted.

WASHINGTON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Yesterday was the State Championship at the Renton Community Center/Carco Theater It was a two day event but Mimi only had to be there yesterday. Man! Was it exhausting! We were there from just a few minutes past 8 till around 7:30 at night.

The girl did great! Fortunate for her, dad and I are not one of these gung ho parents who get upset with every mistake she makes along the way. I see some of these parents at the practices and it is not a very pretty sight. I feel so bad for the kid sometimes. I'm just happy that she won something. On the other hand, I'm happy when she wins nothing sometimes cuz for a while she started to get a bit big for her britches. Dad is just happy that her scores are improving.

Therefore she rather suprised/shocked us with the two first places for her level yesterday. Mimi also is working her tumbling. She is getting better at it but still not good enough to compete in it. That's ok by me. When she started off learning the tumbling with Elsie and a few of the other girls, Mimi mostly goofed off during the practices. Now they have moved on up to a higher level and Mimi is bored sitting by herself at the competitions and watching them from the sidelines.So I just keep my mouth shut and let her learn by herself.

IT'S HERE!!!

We got our 3rd call and TA today!

Itinereary for Group #121/I-800 Team to adopt children from Chengde, Shijazhuang, Hebei Province, Wuhan, Hubei Province and Tonggu, Jiangxi Province

May 22-All group members from California and other States (MAIN GROUP) arrive at Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX beore 9:30 pm. Check in at China Southern Airlines counter and get the boarding pass and go to the gate. Depart Los Angeles for Guanzhou at 11:50 pm by China Southern Ailines. Flight No CZ-328 which is the non-stop and non-smoking Boeing 777 aircraft.

May 23- On board while crossing International Dateline and lose one day. (Families traveling early to Hong Kong or Beijing for sightseeing or andy other purpose should arrive in Guanzhou one night agead of the MAIN GROUP you will need to fax us your flight or train number with arrival time one week prior to leaving so that we can have China Team meet you in Guangzhou Airport or the Train Station and transfer you to the China Hotel (One room for an extra night is US$180.00 with two breakfasts. It can be paid with the 2nd Tour Package in China.

May 24- Main group arrive in Guangzhou, China on Tue at 6:30 am. Claim your luggages and go through Chinese Immigration and customs. you will see China Team with USAA sign and go by charter bus to the China Hotel. All meet at the lobby at 11:00 amd and go out to a famous restaurant for the Dim-Sum Welcome Brunch. You shall pay China Youth Travel Sercice for the 2nd Tour Package for your hotel & transportation or domestic airfares, etc. At the same time, for your convenience and sagety, you may give your donation and govenment fees tot he China Team to KEEP and pay for you. Then go for a city tour and return tot he hotel for rest and to adjust jetlag. Dinner on your own and rest early on the first day.

May 25-31- The whole group will be divided into 3 teams, Jianxhi Team (Putney family) will fly to Nanachang and stay at the Jin Feng Hotel for 6 nights and will receive children at the Civil Affairs Office. Hubei Team will fly to Wuhan and stay at the Best Western Mayflower Hotel for 5 nights and receive children at the Civil Affairs Office. Hebei Team will fly to Beijing for 3 nights and receive children at the Civil Affairs Office in the capitol city of Shijiazhuang of that Province US$5,480.00(equivalent RMB 35,000.00) donation and $150.00 care-taker & child announcement fee should be paid directly to the orphanage when you receive children and sign Harmony Agreement with the Orphanage Director.

All travel by bus to register and have interviews at each capital city's Civil Affairs Office of different provinces and apply for the Adoption Decree Book and take pictures of you with your child for this book US $430 shall be paid for this certificate and the pictures in Jianxhi (US $320 in Hubei and US $60 in Hebei, $US510 shall be paid to the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Beijing. Give one picture of ourself and one picture of your spouse to theis office (passport size "2x2"). Sign adoption agreement between you and the director of the orphanage.

All travel by bus to the government Notary Offices under the Department of Justice in different provinces to apply for the Notorial Documants (very important paper written in both English and Chinese and also certify your child's official birthdate and where & when she/he was found to be abandoned. Give one set of the document to the U.S. Consulate and you keep the other set). US $650 shall be paid to this office in Jiangxi for all the notorial documents (US $620 in Hubei and US $700 in Hebei).

All travel by bus to apply for your child's Chinese passport and exit permit at the Passport office under The Public Security Bureau (Police Station), US150 shall be paid.

Jiangxi Team will fly back to Guangzhou with children on May 31 after receipt of your child's passport and other adoptional documents and Hubei and Hebei Teams will frly early in the morning to Guanzhou to wait for the result in two days required by the US Consulate. All will stay together with the group at the China Hotel in Guangzhou.

June 1-3- For immigration purposes, all childen will got to the hospital authourized by the US Consulate for the child's medical check-up and go to a studio to have your child's picture taken for the US Immigration visa. The medical check-up & pictures cost US$90. If your child is over 2, she/he is required to do the TB test. Norman will help all families how to fill out immigration forms in one morning at the hotel conference room. He and China Team will organize and help you to get the right papers for the US Con solate in Guangzhou. Beginning Mar 01, 2011 you need to bring your child and personally appear at the US Consulate for a visa interview and personally appear at the US Consulate (families will take the oath, submit their documants and sign the DS-230 form Consular employees will verify the identities of theadoptive parents and children). You shall pay US$404 tot eh US Consulate for your child's immigrant visa. Starting June 1996, the US Consulate will not issue the visa on the same day, you will gave it in had on the next day between 4-5 pm).

Also, effective June 16, 2001, you DO NOT have to give copies of your 3 years' complete Federal Income Tax Returns & proof of current income and sign. Form I-864 UNLESS your spouse is not traveling with you to China.

While waiting for your child's Chinese passport int he 1st week and US visa appointment in the 2nd week, you will do some sightseeing and visit some tourist attractions such as Temple Park or Museum in the morning and may go for a cruise in the evening on the Pearl River if the wether allows in Guangzhou. Each team may visit one orphanage if it's not far & has the local Civil Affairs Permit (extra transportation fee is needed).A "Pizza Reunion Pary" will be aranged on one night by USAA.

June 3- Farewell lunch at 1:00pm. Check out hotel late at 4:00 pm. China Team will pick up your child's visa from the US Consulate for you. Leave Guangzhou for LAX at 9:00 pm by China Southern Airlines CZ327. China Team will see all of you off at the Guanzahou Airport or Train Station. Families leaving for home via Hong Kong or other cities and by other airlines should wait to have child's visa in hand or stay for extra night to leave the next day. (This group will have visa in hand from US consulate by 5:00pm on Friday June 3.)

June 3- Cross international dateline and gain one day. China Southern Flight CZ327 arrives at Tom Bradley Terminal LAX on the SAME day at 6:50 pm. Go tot he Immigration counter and give your child's visa to the USCIS officer who will put a stamp on your child's passport. Within 3 months you'll receive a US Citizenship Certificate from USCIS if both parents travel and complete the adoption in China. Farewell to each other. LAX is a Port of Entry, you need to claim your check-in-bags and go through US Customs regardless your final destination is at the other city of US.