Jamail Family Blog

Alex's shark cupcakes

2009-05-15T21:16:00.003-06:00

One of the excuses I have for not blogging reliable is that Brad now has the real family camera. A nice expensive, fancy, big camera. I used to be the party organizer and the photographer, don't get me wrong, I am really happy to share some of the responsibility. The downside is, I don't have the photo's on my camera so I don't have them on my computer.

Well to get on topic.... Alex Turned 6!!! We went to build a bear workshop at the Mall with a few friends and of course I had to make something really cool for his birthday. My mom gave me an amazing cupcake cookbook for Christmas and I found these in the book..... cool huh???

By the time we pulled into the mall parking lot not one of them was still intact. I have proven yet again, I should have payed more attention in Physics class. I cut the twinkes too long, all of the skark heads fell off. They say you will never use that stuff in the real world. Sorry Mr. Payton!

Something exicting is happeing at the Jamail house!!!

2009-05-15T21:10:00.002-06:00

After waiting 11 years (actually, my whole entire life!!!) We have finally started building a pool! Can you just feel the excitement. I have suffered through my last Texas summer and now will beat the heat waist deep in my own backyard oasis. Anyone willing to brave the inferno and the giant mosquito's is welcome to join us at Chez Jamail, that is where we will be all summer!!!

Doesn't that water just make you want to jump on in?????

Our Soccer Stars

2009-01-27T17:18:00.001-06:00

Another season of Soccer

We spent another 8 Saturday mornings at the YMCA in the late fall. Both of the boys played soccer this year. I am still not sure if it was a success. Ethan decided Soccer wasn't for him and has moved on to Basketball. He said there was too much running in soccer. I am anxious to see what he thinks about all of the running in Basketball. We are still waiting for him to find the sport he has some passion about. With Alex we are trying to find a sport he has ANY interest in. I don't think the consider digging a sport in the real sense of the word, but he did want to sign up for soccer again in the spring so we will see how it goes. Her are some highlights from the season. Actually these are the real first photo's from Brads new camera.

This is Alex telling his friend how close his ball came to scoring a goal. Too Cute!!

I would like to say Alex stopped to help his friend up but in reality half the team just throws themselves down on the ground for fun. Now that is what 5 year old soccer is all about.

Can you see the look of fear in there eyes as Alex goes up against the line????

This is Ethan and his great coach. This guy could actually play soccer. Ethan had a great year, but i just don't think this is his sport. We will see.

Here is a look at the spectators. Brads folks came up with there "babies" Tiki and Maui. Alex and Gwynn had little interested in watching the game after the dogs showed up.

Murder Mystery Dinner

2009-01-16T20:18:00.007-06:00

Happy Birthday Me!!!

Ok, so it was a couple of months ago and it wasn't any really important birthday but for fun we threw murder mystery dinner. It was the Lethal Luau. Bellow you are looking at King Wiki-Wiki and a dancer named Lailanni. Most of our friends jumped on the band wagon and really got into there parts. My favorite was Les Baggs , played by Rob Gibson, formerly known as Beau Joles (from the pasta and pistols dinner circa 1999). But the super Model "Nadia Seymore" was hot in her red wig. I am just so thankful to have such great friends that will participate in my wild ideas!!!

Here is Nadia and Date....

Gerta and Arand. Not sure what part Arand was playing but he was awfully funny!!!

Les Baggs

Rip Tide

aka the "killer". Dick...I guessed it was him because he spent so long reading his character book. Great job!!!

The golf pro.... Her name escapes me but is was played by Alison

Here is Merel and Ursela, supporting characters. Ursela had lost her voice so she had to give up a speaking roll and her husband Matt refused to play "Holly Day" the wife of the deceased Millionaire. Personally I thought Matt could have pulled it off...

I know I have left out a few but enough already you are probably thinking!!!

2009-01-16T17:23:00.006-06:00

Lost Halloween Pictures

Now I remember, Brad got a new camera. We started Soccer and the pictures from my little point and shoot just weren't cutting it. So Brad went out and got himself a early Christmas present. (we had quite a few of those this year) For once I was not solely responsible for capturing all of the memories of our family. What a relief! And now Brad has a new Hobby. I couldn't be happier. I know he will get much more into this than I ever would. And it is electronic, and he can use it at a sporting event. What more would any man want??? So here are a few photo's from our first night out with the camera.

Always, always, always a dirty face. How does he do it??

Adorable, on the outside, tee hee....

Can you see whats lurking behind those jet black eyes??

Love you Co Co Pop!

Here is part of my Glenda the Good Which costume

If you are very very good you can see the whole thing later.

Our sweet Little princess. It just doesn't get better than this. Brad's parents drove up to spend the evening with the kids. That is my mother in law Charlene with one of her adorable weenie dogs. Either Tiki or Maui it is so hard to tell them apart. The kids just love it when they are around.

So this is what eating too much candy looks like.... Alex is an incredibly fast moving target. Most of his pictures are either blurry or of the back of his head. He was dressed as a Shark. The costume has a great hat. It is a shark head Alex's little face peeks out from it's menacing and toothy mouth. Of course, no pictures worth sharing of that. Maybe one of these days I will get him to put it back on.

The perfect Harry Potter. He wanted to wear the lightning bolt scar on his forehead for days after. I even caught him washing everything but his forehead in hopes to make it last longer.

Action shots of the sack race.

Texas Renaissance Fesitval

2009-01-16T16:42:00.004-06:00

Texas Renaissance Festival

October

Hey, it's only OK for ME to call my kids "Unwashed Weasels"

And we have eczema, we can't bath every day....

A few years ago we were here at the festival and Ethan and his buddy Chase went on these trampolines. They had a blast and that was the one thing they kept talking about doing again.

So.. we made a bee-line for the ride. Everything was great.............

Until Ethan snapped about 30 feet up in the air. Boy, you should have seen the look on his face. I think he turned green. He was so scared but didn't want to show it. He was making the funnies faces. For example...the picture below.

I give him credit, he never complained or anything but you could tell he wanted to pee his pants.

Alex and Emma playing king of the Log. Guess who won???

You got it Emma knocked Alex off the log at least 3 times. Maybe he was just being a gentleman, yeah that's it.

Here is the Motley Crew of kids we drug around all day. It really is fun for everyone, and with enough beer stands to keep the dads happy.

After paying a small fortune to get the kids faces painted the incredible artist threw the big girls in for free. This is my friend Ursula, Irish if you couldn't tell from the shamrock.

Pumpkin Carving 08

2009-01-16T16:25:00.002-06:00

Clearly for anyone who does the family laundry, pumpkin carving is a shirtless sport. Well, I keep mine on, but no one else in the family is allowed. For some reason this is where I put down my camera and didn't take another picture of the kids for the whole holiday. Shamefull I know. Now I have to beg the neighbors for some pictures of my kids in costumes.

Gotta Love Mall Santa's!!!

2009-01-01T18:13:00.001-06:00

Another year, another trip to the Mall Santa. All of the kids loved it and the crowds were small. We left the mall and headed to the car and a serious Christmas miracle happened. It snowed on us. Not the kind that sticks and you can make snow balls out of. The amazing swirling tiny flakes that you can catch on your tong and spin around in with wonder. Perfect day!!!

Pumpkin Patch 08

2008-10-29T07:28:00.002-06:00

Doesn't he look just like Sharpay????

We went to 7 acre Woods to pick out our extreemly overpriced pumpkins this year. It was a lot of fun. They have a petting zoo, a huge hay stack to jump in, a zip line and of course Pumpkins.

That smile will just melt you. Ok maybe only in person, but he is darn cute!

Gwynn had to be able to carry her pumpkin in order to buy it. Keeps cost down.

It was a fun family day!

Our Trip To Oregon

2008-09-09T09:26:00.001-06:00

Back to School

2008-09-09T09:15:00.002-06:00

Is it possable that I haven't posted since December?????

Well, after being inspired by a few bloger friends I figured it is time to update the grandparents with a few photo's since December.

Above is the first day of school. Alex started Kindergarten and Ethan is in 2nd grade. We are currently in the third week of school. Just long enough for the new to have worn off for Alex. He was so nervous to start, he just about had an anxiety attack the last few weeks of summer. The first day of school he was so emotional. As soon as he had that first day under his belt he was a new guy all together. Sweet Relief!!! Now wish us luck on learning our first sight words.

Ethan is just cruising along in 2nd grade. He is still excited about all of his new homework and reading. I think he is happier that I have stopped making him journal every day this summer. Last night he got to make all of his spelling words out of play dough. I really don't remember doing anything that fun in school. Gwynn got in on the action and by dinner time my kitchen table was a total wreck with playdough.

Gwynn started Preschool last week. Like any typical 3rd child, I forgot my camera. I think I was so excited to have a few hours to myself after a super long summer. Maybe my focus wasn't all on Gwynn. sorry. I promise to take the camera tomorrow and get a few shots of Gwynn in her natural environment.

Leggo Land

2008-02-14T17:33:00.001-06:00

Can it really be February already???

2008-02-14T16:28:00.003-06:00

I just can't believe how time has flown lately!!!

I haven't updated this blog in ages. So here you go Dad, and Michelle here are a few somewhat recient photo's of the kids. It starts with Ethan who lost his second tooth. Actually I went to school and pulled it out for him. The nurse at school will give the kids a treasure box to put the tooth in and adds them to a chart outside her office. That tooth was just hanging on by a thread and driving us nuts, so I had to do it, an it just had to be at school. I know that I am old, but I do remember what it was like to be a first grader.

Here is Ethan kicking butt in his Tae Kwon Do class. If you can beleive it, we have be going for a year and a half and Ethan is a green belt. He still loves it. They just started a sparing class so for his birthday we got him the sparing gear. A foam helmet along with gloves and boots so he can beat on his best friend Chase.

We spent Christmas this year at my Grandparents house in Hemet California. Doesn't Gwynn look thrilled to get a had and scarf. I bet she is thinking. " I live in Texas, what do I need this junk for???"
Here is a shot of the boys in there Christmas pj's. I just couldn't resist getting them new Stripy Suites
Sleeping like angles on Christmas Eve.

The rest of the Halloween Photo's

2007-12-20T08:58:00.000-06:00

Bunco Girls

2007-11-03T09:23:00.000-06:00

Recognize anyone in that photo? My neighborhood just goes crazy for Halloween and our bunco group does too. This is our little clan that had to improvise some costumes to be let into the October bunco party. (the host is a little hare core.) We had a blast, if you couldn't tell. Hee hee. Halloween went off without a hitch and more photo's will follow. I just thought you might enjoy this one.

Wow how the time flies!!!

2007-10-18T06:07:00.000-06:00

Kung Fu Fighters!

Alex and Emma, she can't decide if she is going to marry Ethan or Alex. Isn't she a cutie.

Ethan won two medals at his mini tournament. One of them for paterns and one for board breaking.

A day at the zoo. Looks like a few wild ones got out of there cages.

It has been a while since I last updated everyone. Life at the Jamail house is busy, but normal. Ethan is doing great in first grade. He is reading like a champ and really looks forward to going to school every day. Alex and Gwynn are both going to preschool three times a week. It gives me a little break. Enough to go grocery shopping in peace and get some embroidery done. They are really having a great time at school as well. Gwynn's teacher tells me that her favorite subject is LUNCH!! Big surprise. And Alex plays on the computer at school as much as his teacher will let him. Everything is smooth sailing right now.

We are getting ready for Halloween. Again we are going with a Star Wars theme. Ethan will be Jango Fet, Alex is Darth Vader and Gwynn will be Princess Leia. Even if I have to duck tape those buns to her head she will be Princess Leia!!! The pastor at our church is starting a betting pool to see who will win this battle. I dare anyone to bet against me. Tee hee.

That is about all for now. Have a great day!!

Destin Vacation

2007-08-16T07:30:00.000-06:00

Our Summer is finally coming to a close. We packed the car, strapped a bunch of stuff to the top, and drove 11 hours to the most amazing beach on the Gulf Coast.... Destin Florida. Everyone around here talks about how beautiful the water is and how amazing the white sand beaches are (the sand actually squeaks when you walk on it). Well, now I know why, and I can't stop going on about it either. Why did we wait so long to go???? Why did we only stay a week??? When can we go back??? It was the perfect vacation for our family!!!!

We lazed around the house every morning, ate lunch and finally got out of our pj's and headed to the beach. We buried Ethan neck deep in the sand about one hundred times. Alex only liked it up to his chest, and Gwynn would always throw sand at there heads just as soon and there arms were immobilized (sneaky little thing). Alex and Gwynn were pretty content playing on the shore but Ethan wanted to be out in the water, I mean WAY OUT in the water. Brad had an obsession with finding shells. Every time I turned around he was missing. Swimming out with a net, coming back with some strange sea creature. Ethan just wanted to be by his dads side the whole time. We found sand dollars, dead and alive, tiny little clams, tons of hermit crabs, even a baby horse shoe crab. There were a few things we couldn't identify. The one down side to our trip was all of the jelly fish in the water. You really couldn't see them so we got stung a lot. Which wasn't as bad as one would think, but definitely unpleasant. I offered to pee on Ethan to make it feel better but he decided to tough it out, hee hee. (Mortified about the idea of his mother dropping trow in public, I think) What a brave boy.

We even drove down to Panama City Beach and visited St. Andrews State Park. (My Dad would be so proud). From there you can take a ferry across to Shell Island. This island is just a little undeveloped Sand Bar that gets tons of amazing and big shells on it. It is less protected than the beaches of Destin, so more shells. Unfortunately nobody tells you that these shells only appear after a summer storm and there hadn't been a storm for over a month. Ethan kept calling it Sand Island and I would have to agree. They did have a great time riding the bus over to the docks and getting on a boat. Good family day.

We cooked at home for almost every meal and did visit a few tourist traps, but all in all it was the perfect beach vacation. The most challenging part was the drive home. Gwynn was a total pill and pretty lucky we didn't leave her at a rest stop in Alabama!!! We were afraid people would think we kidnapped her because she was screaming so loud at the gas stations. We have also discovered that Gwynn has great eye sight. On the way out she didn't miss one McDonalds sign. Every time we would pass one she would yell "YEAH, Donalds". They obviously need to give there marketing director a raise!!!

One of the highlights of the trip was lunch in Slydell LA. I called up a friend that I had met on the Internet. Margie, who lives in Mississippi drove down to meet us for lunch. Margie and I became friends on a waiting families web group and had never met in person but have know each other for about two years. Her Daughter Lilli is from a bordering province in China. Lilli is something else. Total adorable and full of laughs. We really enjoyed meeting them both and look forward to them coming to our part of Texas.

The shear ecstasy of eating some'mores. Don't we all feel that way!!!

Brad is taking a break from his shelling expeditions

This is called time out at the beach.

Lunch date with Margie and Lilli, Oh yea, Brad, Ethan, Alex and Margie's other daughter Savanah were there too. By the way, Savanah is just as adorable as Lilli, but older so you can't make as big a deal out of it, hee hee.

A few pictures from Crystal

2007-07-23T12:03:00.000-06:00

A few weekends ago one of my oldest friends came out for the weekend with her family and her camera. She got some great photo's of Gwynn, but because of a nasty stomach bug that struck the boys on Friday night, we only got a few good ones of Ethan and Alex. I stole these off Crystal's blog (hope you don't mind). Crystal just started a photography buisness in the Atlanta area and she does amazing work . Here is a link to her web site if anyone is interested...
http://ccjamesphotography.com/ tell her Andrea sent you!!!

South Padre Island

2007-07-21T08:43:00.000-06:00

Fun at the beach!!!
The weekend of father’s day we packed up and headed south, I mean way south.

Our first stop was in Rockport to spend the weekend with Brad’s folks and there new travel trailer at Goose Island State Park. We played in the kiddy pool and shot water guns at each other and played lots of card games. We ended up taking the kids down to the docks with fishing polls and crab nets. Alex was the lucky fisherman; he caught a stripped Red Fish carcass by the tail and was really mad when we threw it back in. After one night of camping we must have looked really pathetic and hungry. While we were fishing at the docks two different boats pulled up and gave us a big bucket of crab and two big beautiful red fish. Boy did we have a feast that night.

From there we hopped back into the car and drove to South Padre Island. One of Brad’s customers offered up a wonderful condo for a few days. We took Gwynn to the beach for the first time and let me tell you… she hated it!!! For the first hour and a half she cried and tried to keep her feet out of the sand as much as she could. Brad and I tried to ignore her as much as we could and eventually she came around. She had a ball digging in the sand and getting her feet buried. Brad got the boys boogie boards and took them out to the big waves. Alex was most interested in hunting for sea shells. It is a perfect vacation with kids. For us it was just a warm up for our week in Destin Florida.

See what I am learning this summer

2007-06-14T06:29:00.000-06:00

No Flash Cards, no workbooks. We are working on all of the essential stuff around here this summer. Like how to cross your eyes and roll your tong into a taco. You know, the really really important stuff. Next week we are starting our unit on how to toot with your armpit. Gosh, don't you just love summer!!!!

2007-06-12T16:39:00.000-06:00

O M G !!!!!!

Who are those girls???

I found this laying around my computer desk and thought I would let you all in on a little laugh. No, we weren't getting ready for the Ms. Long Beach pageant, but almost. This was a masquerade ball for our Sorority. Now that was one seriously fun night!!! Love ya MJ and Roz!!!!!!!!!!!

New Photo's

2007-06-06T18:22:00.000-06:00

I just had to post some new pictures that our babysitter Mattie took of the kids while Brad and I had a date night. Don't they look adorable!!! They spent the afternoon on the slip and slide in the back yard and topped off the evening with a bubble bath. What a night!!!

2007-04-12T08:45:00.000-06:00

Poor Ethan took one look at his Easter basket and promptly ran into the bathroom to throw up. Not the best Easter for him. We did end up at my Mother in Law's house and Ethan was such a trooper. He mustered up enough strength to dye eggs and go on the Easter Egg hunt. All with a smile and a green tint to his face. Last year Alex and Gwynn were sick for Easter, so I guess it was just Ethan's turn.
Wow, now that is a big sucker. It didn't last long before it was found stuck to the carpet, but it was fun while it lasted.
Alex was having a rough morning. He kept getting in trouble for steeling eggs and candy out of his siblings baskets. He has settled into the roll of middle child PERFECTLY!!!!!

Happy Birthday Alex

2007-04-12T08:30:00.000-06:00

Here we are celebrating Alex's 4th birthday at "The House of Mouse" that is code for Chuck e Cheese. One of my friends couldn't come to the party, since moving to Texas from California she told her kids they didn't have a Chucki e Cheese in Texas. We couldn't spoil it for her, hee hee. Alex had a great time and it was supper low stress for me. Well that is untill I had to pay the bill, OUCH!!! All in all it was a great party and just what Alex wanted. I think next year is his turn for the blow out Pirate party!!

Yes, if you were wondering, I made that hideous orange dinosaur cake. It was red velvet inside and had enough food colloring in it to kill a small child. Alex loved it and that's what is important.

Don't we look thrilled to be there? Brad spent most of his time beating the other dads at Pin Ball. I thought he was going to loose it when his ball got stuck durring a record breaking game and he had to unplug the machine to reset it. I think he has been stopping off after work to practice.

April 2007 a long awaited update

2007-04-11T19:06:00.000-06:00

Here is our little yellow belt. Last week Ethan completed his test to become a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do. We are just so proud of him. He only has a few weeks of Kindergarten left and he is already looking ahead to his Seventh birthday (Jan 2008) . He is just growing up so fast.
Say Cheese!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't resist putting this Chinese dress on to show my mom how incredible cute Gwynn is. My mom came out to visit last week. It is getting so hard to take Gwynn's picture. She won't sit still long enough to snap a picture and she already wants to look at the screen on the back.
This is our Soccer star. His is playing on a team of 4 year olds and they call themselves "The Incredibles". Alex seems to really like playing but his favorite part is the snack afterwards. Big surprise huh?

2007-02-15T13:18:00.000-06:00

Here is our motley Crew on Valentines day. Completely sugared out and ready for bed. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get three kids to even look at the camera at the same time. Now with the invention of digital cameras everyone MUST look at how the picture turned out before we try to take another one. Even Gwynn gets in on the action, grunting and pointing until I show her the back of the camera. Absolutely forget about getting another smile out of them until they have all see it. Well, I guess you can tell who is in charge around here.

We have had another Co Co sighting, actually we have seen her a lot lately. Terrible two's here we come!!!

This picture is what happens when we put Gwynn in time out. The boys have to check out what she is doing. She starts pouting and either jumps around or lays down and soon we have this going on. I am not sure if anyone is being punished at this point, with the exception of me.

Forever Family Day!!!

2007-02-07T08:08:00.000-06:00

Forever Family Day!!!!!!!!!

Today is the first anniversary of our Gottcha day. One year ago Gwynn was placed in my arms with a tiny sticker on her sholder that had her name on it so she wouldn't get confused with the other girs. She just looked at us and back at her nannie, but never cried. It was one of the most amazing days of my life. I just can't believe that it has already been a year. Somedays is seems like we have had her for her whole life and some days it seems like we were in China yesterday. Wow, what a ride!!

We love you Gwynnie!!!

2007-01-24T20:04:00.000-06:00

This is all it takes to completely shut down the entire city of Houston and get a day off of school.

Can you see them? Tiny little icicles and a super thin coat of ice on our deck. Last Wednesday we actually had what the rest of the country calls a snow day. It was great, but to wet to get outside. We went to McDonald's for lunch expecting the place to be loaded to the gills with all the kids out of school. We couldn't believe it when we found the parking lot empty and the play land quiet. Come on Texans, you can do better than that!!!

Meet CoCo, this is Gwynn's alter ego. She has finally hit her terrible Two's, with a vengeance!!!! She is stomping around here demanding things and trying to boss her brothers and me around. It is hard not to laugh at her when she is doing it because she is just so darn cute!!! Can you see that look on her face, that girl knows how to cut her eyes at you!!! By the way, Brad did her hair in the crazy ponytails and she loved it!! That night when it was time to get ready for bed she cried, I mean really cried when I took them out. Oh, one more thing, she said two new words yesterday....Bow and Shoes. God I love her!!!!

Doesn't he look cute? Well only when he is standing still! For Christmas Gwynn got both a shopping cart and a stroller, unfortunately she never gets to play with either of them. Alex always has them loaded up with his Dino's and runs up and down our extremely long hallway with them. I was surprised when he stood still long enough to snap a shot of his baby doll. The other great thing about his new favorite pass time is the noise hard plastic wheel es make on hard stone tile. My Motrin is running out, help!!!

Last but not least.....Happy Birthday Ethan.........

Ethan turned 6 this weekend and we partied all weekend. It started on Thursday with cupcakes at school. Friday we took him out to his favorite hibachi restaurant. Saturday we had 6 of his friends at the movie theater and Sunday was our family dinner. Boy that was a crazy weekend. Ethan go roller blades and was scooting up and down the hallway as well. He also got a really cool ride on toy called the flying turtle. He just can't stop telling people that he is now six and is totally looking forward to being seven. He wonders how tall he will be in a year and how many teeth he will have lost. It is just too darn cute. He has the sweetest smile.

2007-01-06T16:38:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas!!!

Wow, what a stash of toys. Don't be alarmed, Ethan was taking all the kids toys and piling them up. Still was a great Christmas for all.
And I was worried about getting a tom-boy. NO WAY!!! she has the necklace, ring, bracelet and Cell phone. Gosh I just love her!!!
All Alex wanted for Christmas was a T-rex. Even after pushing the envalope on what is naught and nice, Santa did bring him the T-Rex he asked for. He hasn't let go of it since.

Brad got an X-Box 360 and we haven't seen him since, hee hee. And I got a navagation system for my car. All in all, it was the best Christmas yet. We really had a sence that our family was complete. Really Complete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We hope you all have a blessed New Year!!!

Our Love,

The Jamails

2006-12-24T16:37:00.000-06:00

Me and Alex on a Field trip to the local Christmas Bush, Oh I mean Tree farm. Boy was it cold that day!!!
A coulple of days later when it was 80 degrees, we got Gwynn out on the hand me down bike. How cute is she!!!
Don't they look like such good helpers decorating the tree. We are lucky they haven't knocked it down.
And last is one of the pictures that didn't make the cut for the Christmas card. If you were wondering, we didn't move. We are actually sitting on the front steps of my In Laws new house.

Here are just a few pictures from the last month. We are looking forward to a most amazing Christmas and an even more blessed New Year.

The Jamail Family

2006-11-15T07:11:00.000-06:00

More proof that I have the most amazing husband!!!

The Egyptian exhibit at the Met

A view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the South Sea Port
The Great Lawn in Central Park.

For the fifth anniversary of my 29th birthday my husband took me to New York. No kids, no diapers, no baby monitors and a whole lot of fun!!!

We flew out on Thursday night and spent four wonderful days exploring New York city. It was Brad's first trip and I enjoyed showing him a few places I had become familiar with while living in Queens. We saw two Broadway musicals, Chicago and Mamma Mia, and literal ate our way from battery park to the upper east side. We went to ground Zero and visited the back rooms of China town, hee hee. Our hotel was right next door to Madam Trouseau's wax museum, but we couldn't seem to fit it into our busy schedule. We did seem to fit a trip to Tiffany's in, immagine that, but little other shopping. I can't wait to see where he takes me next year!!

2006-11-07T08:31:00.000-06:00

Happy Halloween

I hope your holiday was as fun as ours. We had a block party, a costume birthday party and then the actual Halloween night of fun. Our costumes payed for themselves this year. Alex dressed like the Hulk and would show his muscles when asked and Ethan dress up as Peter the night from Narnia. Of course our Gwynnie went as Tinker bell in a costume I slaved over for the last few months. It wasn't totally finished by the 31st, oh well, still looked cute.

This year Alex decided to be scared of just about everything Halloween. He would put his little hand up to his mouth and start chanting "too scary, too scary". We had to walk him with his eyes closed past anything the lesast bit questionable. I think he almost had a heart attack at wallmart when a halloween decoration started talking to him. Hopefully he gets over this by next year, I really missed decorating the house with all of our fun and scary decorations.

Ethan is doing great in school. He is reading like a champ and taking Tai Kwon Do lessons two days a week. He loves riding the bus and is in a wonderful science program two afternoons a week. The bad news is, at 5 1/2 he is having his adnoids removed for the third, yes I said third, time and tubes put in his ears. The doctor said we are his first patients to have adnoids grow back twice and that Ethan should have grown out of this by now. So I told him that all my children are extraordinary, hee hee.

Gwynn has officially hit the terrible two's. Everyone askes me if she is adjusting well, don't have to worry about that girl, she is over the adjustment. She is doing great, and letting me know exactly what she likes and doesn't like. She has started talking some, and is doing great with her sign language. You really can tell the difference between boys and girls. No offence boys. She is just as cute as they come and is a great helper around the house. We are really enjoying her!!!

I hope you all have a great thanksgiving.

2006-09-06T11:59:00.000-06:00

My first Hair cut!!!

This is the before picture

After

She sure knows how to mug for the camera!!

She wasn't too sure of what was going on.

If it is at all possible for Gwynn to get any cuter, than she has. After her first hair cut she is adorable. We just evened up the back and cut bangs. Of course the hair dresser cut the bags just as I was uttering, no bangs please. Isn't it always what happens. But she looks too cute with her new doo. I am so happy to finally have a little girl!!!

2006-09-05T07:17:00.000-06:00

First Day of School

Riding the bus for the first time
I couldn't help myself, you know that I am a scrapbooker at heart. Couldn't pass this photo-op up.hee hee

Here is Ethan sitting at his desk on the first day of school.

It is official, I have a big kid now. Ethan started Kindergarten on September 17th. He is so excited every day to get up and go. We even got him an alarm clock to start his day. Good thing we did because he usually wakes mom up to help him get ready. He has to catch the bus at 7:15, yuck!!!

After the first day of school when asked what the best part of his day was, he said "riding the bus". So I changed tactics and asked, "ok, at school, what was your favorite thing?" He replies "Recess". What a stinker, huh? After much prompting, I got a little information out of him. The third best thing about school was when Ethan read out loud to the class. Boy, talk about swelling with pride, I think my bra size jumped up a few. We are just so excited and proud of our big guy!!

Poor Alex is having some issues with his big brother going off to school with out him. Alex keeps asking where his bus is. I tell him when he turns 5 he will get to ride the bus too. That is when he looks at me strait in the face and says "Me five too". Now, there is no arguing with that one. I really think he believes it. We have tried to go with the pretend bus, or that mommy drives his bus, but none of that works. Right now we are just letting him stay up later so he is still sleeping when I have to walk Ethan down to the bus stop. We will see how long this drama goes on.

All in all, school has been great. It is quite a challenge juggling the three kids with totally different schedules. I am hoping that one of these days I will get the hang of it. Right now I am considering painting my truck yellow and getting a class C license, I sure feel like a bus driver!!!

2006-08-23T18:47:00.001-06:00

The Long awaited update to the Jamail Family Blog.

I have been having some serious technical difficulties trying to upload pictures to this blog. I had all but given up. Just for fun, I tried again tonight, and hey, it worked. Yippee!!

Below you will find pictures of our 4 week vacation to California. Two weeks of that was spent camping at Eagle Lake. The kids had a blast, as usual., swimming in the lake, taking boat rides, catching frogs and getting VERY VERY dirty!!! All if you can complain about how hot this summer was, but I have you beat, it was 117 degrees one of the days we were in Redding California. Talk about out of the frying pan and in to the fire!!! If you were wondering, we potty trained Alex while on vacation. Wherever he went, the potty went, much to my grandmothers delight, hee hee. We also took a drive through Lassen Volcanic park and played in the snow. The boys thought it was the coolest thing that they got to play on a Valcano.

I hope you enjoy the photo's and I will try harder to keep this thing updated.

2006-08-23T18:07:00.000-06:00

Sledding down a volcano!!!
Gwennie and her friend Naia Partlow. Does it get any cuter than thoes two?
There must have been hundred of frogs out on the shores of Eagle lake. The boys would just bend down and grab them by the dozens.

Here is the cutest pig tails EVER!!!

We had a camp fire every night, Ethan would help light it. Gwynnie only stayed awake long enough to see a couple of the camp fires. Hey if you don't get to eat the some-mores, what it the point, right?

2006-05-21T09:05:00.000-06:00

The Cutest Kids!!

Ok, so I may be a little biased, just a little, but didn't our photo shoot come out great. A few weeks ago I sent Brad on a Birthday Extravaganza and I took the kids up to Dallas to visit Shelly. She hooked me up with a gift certificate and her family photographer and these were some of the best pictures we have ever taken. Brad and Shelly's husband Matt went on a total guy spree. The played golf 3 times, poker, and went on a guided fishing trip in Rockport. It will be hard to beat that birthday, so I probably wont even try, hee hee.

Shelly and I spent the weekend running around after our 5 kids. It was exhausting!! We ate most of our meals at chick-fil-a, anything to keep the kids happy and occupied. Grace had a blast with the boys and they were tuckered out every night from all the play. Let me tell you, it will be a while before we do that again!!!

Preschool just got out on Friday, and the thermomiter is topping out around 92 degrees. It sure feels like summer around here. We have about 6 weeks to fill before we head out to California for our anual camping trip at Eagle Lake. I just can't wait to get there!!! The idea of taking three kids alone on a plane is a little frightening. Brad will join us for the last week and a half we are there and fly back with us. We used frequent flyer miles to book his ticket, and that stinker is in first class. I have informed him that we will be switching seats on the way home!!! Or ELSE!!

I hope you all have a great summer!!!

2006-05-04T07:03:00.000-06:00

Happy birthday Gwynn

Our baby girl turned one on Easter Sunday!!! It was a crazy weekend and all of us but Ethan were sick. The poor birthday girl even threw up her birthday cake, and don't worry, we got that on film. It was pitiful!!! Hopefully birthday #2 will be better.

We all seem to be settling in to the new family. We were really concerned that Alex and Ethan would have some adjusting to do, but that just hasn't been the case. This couldn't have been more perfect for our family. Brad and I have decided this is it, we are DONE!!!! The Jamails are a family of five, can you believe that?

2006-03-25T20:11:00.000-06:00

finale... More Pictures

I know that it has been a while since my last post. It hasn't been from a lack of trying. But this three kid thing is throwing me for a loop. I know, I know, you all are saying that I did this to myself, and I should have seen it coming. And I totally did, but it is different when you are living it. I wouldn't change it for the world. We are having a great time.

Gwynn is really coming around. She has a ready smile and a sweet laugh. Although she is all seriousness when you get out the camera. (You can tell from the top picture that she is in attack mode whenever the camera is in range) She is has really loosened up. My friend Virginia came over this week to take some pictures of Gwynn for her announcements and I had to laugh at what a workout Virginia got just trying to keep Gwynn in the camera lens. Ethan can really make her laugh and she is tolerating Alex at this point. We have made some breakthroughs. The other day I came out of the bathroom to find Gwynn on her back and Alex sitting on her belly bouncing up and down. I just about had a heart attach until I heard the deep belly laugh coming out of Gwynn. I did make Alex get off her, but at least they are finding common ground.

Gwynn is a great napper and has found her love of food. It just amazes Brad and I that the girl who couldn't tolerate a cheerio 6 weeks ago now will eat just about anything. Peas, pasta, pretzels, Olives and just about any table food we are eating. And the sheer amount of food she can stuff in her little belly is astounding. Now I know how her booty got so big, hee hee.

I am really enjoying picking out her clothes every morning. And as crazy as it may sound, when she messes up her outfit I get giddy just thinking I get to change her into something else. Of course we have bows to coordinate with everything and that always changes with the outfit. I bought a ton of squeaky shoes while in China. I really thought I had covered all the basis until I realized I need a size 18 in black (Chinese size) so if any of my friends currently in China are listening, could you pick me up a pair?

We took the whole family fishing tonight and had a blast. Gwynn loved just sitting in her stroller watching the action. Ethan has learned how to bait his own hook, cast, and even take the fish off the hook when he catches one. Alex has a little less patience, but loves to run around and torture the ducks. We have definitely become more into whole family activities since we brought Gwynn home. We are even considering getting a tent trailer, with an AC unit. I do have some standards. If I can't camp somewhere that is cold at night, at least I can make it cold.

That is about it for now. I have a few kids to put to bed and laundry to do, dishes, the list just goes on and on!!!

2006-02-27T16:48:00.000-06:00

WE MADE IT HOME!!!

Believe it or not we made it home in one piece. Thank God those customs guys didn't stop us, I think we may have been just a little bit over our allowed amount to bring back into the country.

It has been just over a week since we got Gwynnie home and we are finale back to normal. Well, normal for the Jamails. Ethan is at Nana's house and Alex has the flu. Doesn't that sound just about right? I should have known something was up when my Pediatrician kept saying our daughter from China HAD to be healthier than my home grown kids. hee hee.

The flight home was half great. Gwynn was a total trooper, she didn't cry for more than a few minutes when she was really hungry or trying to fall asleep. Brad was the perfect attentive daddy. It was me who had the problems. About 10 hours into our 20 hour trek home I started feeling nauseous, and spent the next 10 hours staring into a barf bag or shoving flight attendants and passenger's out of line for the lav's. Its was terrible. We had such a wonderful trip, but I just fell apart the last two days. When I did shove a flight attendant on my mad dash to the bathroom, she waited outside the lavatory. She just had to ask me if I was pregnant, knowing we had just adopted a baby girl. Well, I thought to myself, if this is going to get me any special favors or more sympathy I would go along with it. It worked, I had the flight attendants running interference for me and helping me find empty bathrooms when the "need " arose.

Brad kept telling me he thought we should stay over in New Jersey until I felt better. I just wanted to get home. We had a wonderful airport employee meet us in Customs and immigration with a wheel chair. She was great. I held Gwynn on my lap while Brad lugged around all of our carry on luggage and stroller. This wonder woman pushed me and the cart with our checked baggage. She took us to the front of every line and got us to our connecting flight with a ton of time to spare. I told Brad it was kind of surreal, being wheeled around with Gwynn like they wheeled me out of the hospital with the boys. Funny thing was I had felt much better after giving birth than I did after a 14 1/2 hour flight.

We finale got home at 9 pm. When we pulled into the driveway we could see the boys pressing there faces to the front window waiting for us. They were soooo excited. Alex couldn't stop kissing things, my leg, Gwynn, the wall, even his brother. Ethan was all smiles and questions, they have really fallen in love with there sister. She just fits right into the family.

Gwynn is adjusting to us very well. She is still a very serious little girl, but she knows how to loosen up. She will be sitting in the middle of the floor being totally quiet and all of a sudden out of no where she just burst out laughing, good belly laughs. Grandma was a big help the week she stayed. She took most of the night time duty and played with the boys during the day. We sure hated to see her go, and I am sure she hated to leave. My dad threatened her with divorce if she didn't come home, yea right dad, you couldn't live without her, hee hee. So now it is just the 5 of us. Anyone want to come visit???????

I am going to try to keep the blog updated with pictures and funny stories about the family. Keep checking, you never know what I might get us all into, ha!!

2006-02-21T04:28:00.000-06:00

Hong Kong here we come!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, do you recongnize that beautiful castle in the background? Not one day out of Main Land China and we are really trying to Americanize our daughter. Honk Kong Disney, watch out.

Actually there is a deeper story to it, so let's get you up to speed. We left Guangzhou in a flurry on Friday morning. We ran out the night before and bought a second extra suitcase to pack all the gifts and crap we bought (hey, your folks going in March, be thankful the shops will have enough time to restock before you get there) Of course this was officially just for weight distribution so we don't get charged again, yea right. But we had to have all of our checked luggage ready to go and sitting outside our door by 9 pm the night before. I think we did a pretty good job and expect everything to make it back in one piece. We head to the airport at 5:45 a.m. and check in for Gwynnies first flight. Everything is great and we make it to Hong Kong in no time.

Here we check into the Regal Airport Hotel. Only having one day in Hong Kong we decided to make it easier on ourselves and stay at the airport, where transportation to the city is easy to find. So the bellman brings up all bazillion of our bags to our room and when I dig in my bag to find my money belt, it isn't where I thought it would be. I take his name and promise to bring a tip down later. Well.... About an hour later and after we have throughly searched every bag in the room about 10 times we conclude that the money belt is gone. Brad and I take inventory and come up with 25 American dollars and a few hundred Yuan. Uh oh..... I call the hotel back in Guangzhou and believe it or not, the money belt was found in our room and turned in. Let me tell you, I felt like a total jerk. In my usual fashion, I am ok with it until I have to call our friends the Kesters and ask for there help in getting it back. Kevin answers his hotel phone and, poor guy, has to listen to me blubber to him. Sorry man. I was just having a moment. But that still leaves us with next to no money and a whole day in Hong Kong, not the cheapest city to hang out in.

After carefully deliberation and in an attempt to raise my spirits we decide what the heck, lets go to Disney. It had just opened two weeks before and we knew they would take credit cards. We had enough money to get us to and from the park and a few snacks while we were there. We went downstairs in the hotel and caught the scariest cab ride in our lives. Poor Gwynn was just holding on to us for dear life as this crazy cab driver went about 70 miles an hour down the freeway. No car seat, not seatbelts and Brad noticed that you couldn't even open the doors from the inside. SCARY!!!!!!!!!!! But we made it and it was great!!!

Gwynn loved the parade and Brad convinced me to take her on the tea cups. Don't' worry, I spent the whole time not making it spin. She got so much attention by everybody in the park. Even some to the performers in the parade came up to her as they went by. She is just too darn cute. The park was small with very few attractions but it was beautiful and very clean. The castle seemed smaller because of the mountains behind it but they put on a spectacular fire works show over and around the castle right before the park closed.

What a great day!!!!

2006-02-15T17:58:00.000-06:00

This is our last full day in Guangzhou....

Our trip is definitely winding down and all of us are ready to go home. Hotel living is great, but I am ready for my soft bed that actually has more than just a fitted sheet and a down comforter. The good thing is we have been so tired here that the bed never stopped me from sleeping, but others were not so lucky.

The above pictures were from a few days ago. We went to what is know as the 6 Banyan Temple. It is a beautiful Budist temple just tucked into a crowded and busy street. You wouldn't know the beauty inside from the curb. The carvings and budist statues were amazing, and many locals came with incense and offerings while we were there. The last photo is when we got a blessing for Gwynn by a budist monk. Brad said that he stood as far back as possible just incase the lightning struck, hee hee. I thought it was a wonderful experience and wouldn't have missed it.

Brad got the opportunity to climb the pagoda and take pictures from the top. There was no way to carry a baby up, so I was left to watch Gwynn and the stuff. When Brad came down he was hunched over and totally red in the face. I guess it was really hot and very difficult to climb down. He said I was an easy climb up but that he had to almost squat down to get through the door ways on the way down.

Gwynn has been an amazing gal. She is still very reserved when we are out in public but is all smiles and coo's when we get her back to the hotel. Yesterday I had to take a special trip to the American Consulate with our guide Michelle. I had spelled Gwynn's Chinese name wrong on one of the papers (really, I can't spell in English so what do they expect) so I had to stand in front of the consular and sign something saying I am not totally incompetent, hee hee. On the trip I got to talk to our guide a lot about China and her life. She told me that Gwynn was her favorite out of our group, I am sure she says that to everybody but, she said that she has a very classically Chinese disposition and is the standard for beauty in China. Of course I am just gushing over this and I think that Michelle just doubled her tip, but I do totally agree with her. Not only does Gwynn look Chinese but I think she will always carry more that that with her, no matter how American she gets. She is an absolutely stunning baby. I just can't wait for you all to meet her.

Ok, I keep hearing that her stats never came through so here we go again. She is 17.3 pounds, maybe more since we got her. She totally has a buda belly and her butt just keeps on going, adorable. She fits perfectly into GYMBOREE 6-12 month clothes, hint hint. She is already bow trained, and loves shoes. Good thing because I bought just about every color and size of squeaky shoes while I was here (don't worry, you can remove the squeak) She is 69 1/2 cm long and her head is 16 1/5 inches around. Otherwise know as totally perfect. Her runny nose and cough has almost gone away completely, and the rash she developed on her face is just a few little bumps now.

2006-02-14T20:14:00.000-06:00

Ok, I wont keep you in suspense any more..........

Caroly Kester, Jennifer Taylor and I went to a "sauna" and got massages yesterday. We left the men at the hotel with the girls and went to check out this place Jennifer had heard of from someone. I was a little leary but the prices were great, 208 rmb for a one hour massage, that is the equivalent of about $35 US dollars. Nobody there spoke English, except one of the guys that gave us a 30 minute foot massage for $5. So, it was an interesting game of charades. We were escorted to a locker room and instructed to shower and put on these lovely blue outfits along with some disposable underwear, high fashion I must say. The attendant stayed in the room with us the whole time we were undressing and of course we were laughing our butts off. We then were taken to a big room with about 100 soft chairs and given a foot massage that we didn't ask for. After they were done the one who spoke English asked if we wanted a girl or a boy to do the Body Massage. We promptly said a very ugly girl, hee hee. We were again escorted to a group massage room and three VERY PRETTY GIRLS were waiting for us. They had hot pink terry cloth dressed on that didn't cover there butts, and they were very attractive. They didn't speak a lick of English and I am sure they were talking about us just as much as we were talking about them. At this point our suspicions were confirmed that any of us could have a "happy ending" if we had the money. Boy did those girls know how to give a good massage, worth every yuen!!! We all decided that they boys were not allowed to come back here, but that we might try to squeeze a few more foot massages into our schedule before we leave.

Sorry boys, I didn't get any pictures of the ladies, but they weren't too happy about the camera in there, hee hee.

2006-02-13T03:33:00.000-06:00

Quing Ping Market

Yesterday we ventured out and took a walk "off island". We had to walk past the Quing Ping Spice market to get back to the shopping mall are we had been one of the first days her in Guangzhou. It was incredible. They sold bags and bags of totally unidentifiable spices and dried almost everything. We saw dried sea horses, tons of mushrooms and even a few ladies who didn't want there picture taken selling what looked like tiger paws. I was just soaking it all up. The farther down the street you got the market changes into an area where they sold fish out of clear plastic boxes with aerators and every plant and fish food there was. Then we saw birds, bunnies, guinepigs and cats. Finally we got to the puppy dogs. There was the cutest Sharpei puppy with about a million wrinkles.

Life here in China is so different it would be hard for me to try to describe it. Every building that isn't brand new is desperately in need of paint and there is laundry hanging from every window. Our guide Michel told us that the newest house hold appliance is a washing machine that you hook up to your kitchen sink. I am appreciating the easy life more and more.

Sorry for the quick post and we were having some technical difficulties yesterday and couldn't get on the blog. I will try to get some more pictures from the 6 banyan temple that we went to today. But alas, my Chinese massage is calling, so I must go.

2006-02-12T06:15:00.000-06:00

Orphanage visit today

Today was a very emotional day for me. We loaded up in a van and drove the three hours south west to get to Yang Jiang city. We pulled to the side of the road where we met up with the high heal wearing, scooter driving director of our orphanage. We had seen her at both the gotcha day and also the day after when we finalized our adoption at the civil affairs office. It was totally different seeing her in the city. When I say city, I mean it. It was a big town. Everybody was on scooters and there were a ton of tall buildings. Not at all what I expected. You could see where there were very wealthy neighborhoods and where it was downtrodden in the neighborhood where the orphanage was.

We followed the director to the Social Welfare Institute, called this because it is also a home for the elderly, not just children. We were told before we left that we wouldn’t be let into the building. We were able to walk past the building into the back. There was a set of stairs that was over hung with bougainvillea. We ended up in a big stone patio area. It had a basketball court and a cement gazebo type structure. When we walked up the stairs we could hear babies crying and see some of the older residence sitting just inside the gate. When we got to the patio, we could see a few nannies and babies from the bared windows on the forth floor. A woman I met on the yahoo group for our orphanage had asked me to get pictures for her of her daughter she is waiting to pick up. I asked the director if we could see her and a nanny brought her out. The nanny held Gywnn while we held her baby and took pictures. I ended up taking Gwynn back from the nanny and she left, only to find out that she was Gwynn’s care taker. I didn’t even get to say thank you to her, but I did get some photos of her when she was holding the other baby.

After about 15 minutes it was time to see the finding spots for all of the girls. Most of the babies were found just steps from the door of the orphanage and one was even found at the steps of the orphanage just two doors down the street. Gwynn’s finding spot was a little further away. We walked down the side road that the orphanage was on and had to cross the very busy main road that ran through town. My life flashed befor my eyes as we played the ultimate game of Frogger!!!! Horns were blasting, scooters were racing by. At one point I was stuck in the middle of the street squeezing my eyes closed praying just to see myself on the other side of the road.. They pointed out a white pole in the middle of the street right outside a beauty shop. I totally lost it. I couldn’t help myself and the director had to look away so she wouldn’t cry. I have tears welling up in my eyes just writing about it.

Some people say that they throw there babies away her in China, but it is so much more complicated than that. Gwynn’s mom wrapped her in a towel, in the early hours of the morning put her three day old baby where she knew that she would be found. I can only imagine the tears I shed today were nothing like the ones she has cried for her baby!!!

We went to the last finding place of my friend Carolyn’s baby. They had told her that her daughter was found in the Martyr’s cemetery. She was quite relieved to see that it was more of a shrine, not actually were they burry people. And they have a market in the cemetery.

We made huge scene while we were walking around. In a gate of a house two little girls came running out to see us and seemed almost scared out of there wits. Most people looked at us with confusion, and some didn’t look all that happy to see us Americans with there babies. Most they just looked at us, slacked jawed and curious. One man on a scooter actually stopped while driving by to hold Gwynn’s hand and smile at her. I don’t think many westerners come to there town.

We were treated to lunch by the Orphanage director and had a wonderful real Chinese meal. I got to sit next to the director and ask her questions through our guide. She told me Gwynn was a HUGE baby when she was brought in, almost 9 pounds at 3 days old. Also that she was very sweet and always a good baby. She knew the little things about every girl and it was obvious that she loved them all, and they were very well taken care of. She said that there were 40 babies at the orphanage and 30 nannies. Most girls had there own caretaker. It is no wonder that all these girls are so healthy and right on track developmentally. I can’t explain to you how lucky we are.

We wrapped up the day with the three hour bus ride home, along with a stop at a local store so the bus driver could buy a knife. The area is known for producing quality knives. Given the opportunity to shop, we all jumped off the bus and ran in. I grabbed what I hope to be good sewing scissors; we will see when I get home. (Don’t worry mom, I got a pair for you)

We left at 9 am this morning and returned at 6:30 pm. We are starving and I am emotionally drained. Our take out just arrived and I am ready for this day to be over. It was an amazing experience. Not at all what I thought it would be. I wouldn’t change a minute of this day, and I hope to remember them all.

2006-02-11T02:07:00.000-06:00

Well, She's Perfect!!!!!

I didn't need need a medical exam to tell me that. And actually they only speak Chinese so I have no idea what they said, hee hee. I do know that Gwynn is pounds, with all her clothes on. Is 69 cm long and her head is " around. The medical exam day is totally chaotic!!! Everyone crowed into a medical clinic and you have to get three examinations done. So there are no lines and no order you just run around and try to squeeze yourself into see the different doctors in a huge crowd in a very small space. Totally Crazy!!!!!! We had a piece of paperwork we carried around and the doctors wrote down thre exams on it. This doctor told our guide that he had to have Brad sign it because he didn't think I was old enough to be a mother. Hee hee. He obviously saw the gray hair on Brad because he didn't have any problem believing Brad was old enough. See even in China I get carded. Eventually we got our of there and Gwynn was no worse for the wear. We are one step closer to taking our baby home.

tomorrow we take a three hour bus ride to Yang Jiang City to see the orphanage Gwynn spent the last 9 months in. We have been told that it is new and not open all the way to the public. Each group that gets to go gets a little farther in. I am planning on storming the gates, just kidding, I wouldn't want to end up in a Chinese prison, Alex is really missing me.

My mom logged onto the Blog yesterday to show Ethan and he said, Oh yea, I saw that at school. So here is a big thank to all the ladies at Timber Ridge. You have been so good to our family, I know the boys are in great hands while we are away.

Gwynn took a three hour nap this afternoon and now is trying to post to the blog herself. I have forgotten how fast these little hands can move. Oh, and by the way, I am wearing my pearls with my jeans and t shirt, hee hee. Just can't help it.

2006-02-10T18:15:00.000-06:00

We did it, we got that smile.

Finally last night we got Gwynn’s shell to crack just ever so slightly. She has been looking at us like we are from outer space and last night after dinner we got her to smile. We have been seeing little grins for a while but this was really a smile. Brad was holding her and they were pretending to “get me” and finally we got a REAL four tooth, disappearing eyes, true grin. When we got back to the hotel I even got her to laugh. I had her on the bed and was play biting her tummy and chest and she loved it. Every day you seen one of the babies getting there personality and the shell shock look leaving there eyes. Some it just took a day and some still have it firmly in place. We are really working on it and I think today will be the day that we finally get to see the real Gwynn. I sure hope so!!!!!!!

Update on the pearl market. Lets just say Brad is very glad that we didn’t take anymore money because I cleaned us out, hee hee. Our guide took us to a six story shopping mall that was just full of rows and rows of stores no bigger than our hotel room (let me tell you right now, NOT BIG!!!!!) hundreds of shops selling beads and pearls. We passed at least 50 pearl shopps before we stopped. It was absolutely a feeding frenzy. Women shopping for pearls and the men getting these glazed looks on their eyes trying to convert the price from Yuan into USD. Personally I think most gave up. You choose a strand of pearls from a bunch of ten or twenty, and then choose a clasp. Right there the women in the shop string them and either single or double knot them for you while you wait. It was totally insane, so much so, that I forgo to take any pictures. And for those of you who know me, I scrapbook and not taking pictures is almost a mortal sin. No worries, don’t tell Brad but us girls are planning a secret trip back. I ended up getting Gwynn as set of white and a set of black fresh water pearls, oh yea, don’t tell her that either so it can be a surprise when I give it to her, hee hee. And I got myself a triple strand of black cultured pearls. I was wondering if it would be too tacky to wear them with my jeans and t-shirt today? But look out Brad we hit the Jade market next week!!!

Brad has found himself some beer drinking buddies, Kevin Kester and Chuck Presswood. They go have happy hour, which is any hour they can drink beer, in the late afternoons and then we meet up with the wives and have dinner. There isn’t really a lot going on around here. We do have a lot of time to kill while we wait between appointment days. Everybody says you are really ready to go way before they let you leave. So those of you planning your adoption trip, add days to the front not the back, you will be just dying!!!

Did I tell you how cheap food is here? We went out to a Tai restaurant and both of us ate for about $8. Two nights ago we went to the Japanese restaurant in the hotel and it was not cheep, probably $50 and we split a meal. The best part of that was the dinner guest we had. Near the end of the meal, we had a roach run across the hibachi. In America that would be enough for everyone to get there meal free and huge apologies, total embarrassment. One of the waitresses just ran over and scooped it up and that was that. I guess when you eat water beetles, what’s the fuss, huh?

Today we have the baby medical exam and visa photos. That will take about 2 hours and we have the rest of the day free. I see more beer in Brads future. Gwynn and I will probably do more shopping. You feel like you are really shopping and you get home and realize you have spent maybe 20 american dollars, just insane!

I am taking orders, so e mail me if you want anything specific.

2006-02-09T22:28:00.000-06:00

extreme Baby Makeover

How cute is she in the morning? I had to take a few pictures of that crazy hair. She sweats buckets at night and when she is drinking her bottle (the bottles are near boiling hot) after rolling around on the bed with daddy, her hair freaks out. But after a little sponge bath, doesn't she look like an angel!!! You can tell by the look on her face that she isn't a morning person, just like her mommy.

2006-02-09T15:36:00.000-06:00

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping

Here are some photo's of our shopping trip yesterday. This crazy guy with the chicken was playing some kind of Chinese clarinet type instrument. I got some video of it. He had some kind of boiled peanuts or something that he was selling.

We arrived here in China at the end of the spring festival, or the Chinese New Year Festival, I don't know if they normally have all these lanterns hung, but it was beautiful. I can't wait to get back there and shop outside of that crazy department store.

The last picture is the open square in the front of the market street. There were two McDonald's right across the square from each other.

On another note, we have a funny feeling that we keep seeing the same Chinese people around where ever we go. We have one family that the husband is in Airforce and they totally think they are being followed. I am sure Brad the mechanic isn't quite the security risk that the pilot is. I know for a fact that I saw the same women at the Forbidden city that was sitting in front of my on the plane ride from Beijing to Guangzhou. Ok, I know that I haven't been getting much sleep, I am up every morning by about 4 a.m., but I don't think I have gone totally nuts, yet. We will keep investigating and let you know, hee hee.

Wish me luck at the pearl market today. Or should I say wish Brad luck that I get out of there with any money left, ha ha ha.

2006-02-09T06:11:00.000-06:00

Day Three With Gwynn

We bought this incredibly yellow stroller yesterday. I am not exactly sure if she likes it or not. She is still sooooooooo serious. Her little shell is cracking, but not a lot. We are still waiting for a good belly laugh. That could take a while.

Today we went to a local shopping mall. Our guide loaded us up on a bus and drove us about 10 blocks to a department store. You had to pick out an item, get a sales lady to write you up a ticket, take the ticket to the cashier and then go back and pick up your item. You had to do this with every single item. I had so many tickets at one point, I couldn't remember what I had bought. It was a surprise when we got back to the hotel and looked throughout the loot. Everything here is sooooo cheap. I bought some Chinese outfits for Gwynn today, the price they quoted was so good, I didn't have the heart to haggle. I got two outfits and matching shoes for $12. I love China, hee hee.

tomorrow we go out in the afternoon to the Chin Family Temple and stop at the pearl market on the way home. I am excited to get out in the city and see more of what it is really like here. We are out her on shaman Island and so far removed from ordinary life. You should have seen the mob scene we created at the mall. The people were 10 deep trying to get a look at the big nose Americans with the Chinese babies. It was great!!!

We had a real American lunch, Pizza hut. For some reason, our guide thought it would be nice to order pizza for everyone. Well, it was pretty bad. I will stick with the Tai and Japanise restaraunts near the hotel. Oh yea, and we sent our laundry out to get done, two big bags for under 10 dollars. Did I say I love China?

2006-02-08T02:43:00.000-06:00

Gwynn has the cutest tougue in the entire world.

It is really long and pointy. She sticks it out when she is happy. We have seen it a lot today. Every hour has made small changes in her, she is becoming less serious and a lot more comfortable with us. I can only imagine what a crazy woman she will be by the time we get her home. We got instructions from the orphanage director to feed her formula with rice cereal four times a day and NOT to feed her any solid food. We tried to give her cheerio’s and bananas and I swear it seemed like she has never had solid food in her mouth.

We bought her the first pair of Squeaky shoes and I am so tempted to buy Kristine Chu a pair just because she told me not to, hee hee. We go out to a big shopping mall tomorrow and I know we will be doing some serious shopping!!!

Oh yea, I almost forgot. We are official today. This morning we went to the Civil Affairs Office again and filled out the paper work. We promised never to abandon or abuse her and that we were happy with her, so now in the eyes of China she is ours!!!! What a great feeling.

2006-02-07T15:33:00.000-06:00

The first picture shows you how cold and snowy it was the day we toured Beijing. I was so happy to see Starbucks, I asked the guide if they could just bring my baby to me there.

The second picture is of the south gate of the Forbidden City. It is where Chairman Maio's picture is hung and is right off Tien an Mien Square.

The last picture is about half way up this section of the Great Wall. The stairs were so steep, about half way up I could feel my heart pounding in my kneecaps.

2006-02-07T07:59:00.000-06:00

Gottcha Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am still in shock, but it is true, we have Gwynn, and she is BEAUTIFULL!!!!! We went to the civil affairs office this afternoon in Guangzhou and she was placed in our arms forever at 3 p.m. None of the babies in our group cried at all, and she hasn't shed a tear yet. She is a very sweet and serious baby. She sucks her two middle fingers and makes the cutest babbling noises. We are totally in LOVE!!! Not to mention totall exhausted. She is sleeping soundly, and of course SNORING, she wouldn't be a Jamail if she didnt. It takes so long to upload pictures, I am going to cut my post short so I can add a few and get to bed. She seems to have a cold, and a very wet cough, we are keeping an eye on it and praying that it doesn't get any worse. Let me tell you, she defiantely does not like Robitussing CF, and I just dont' have the heart to hold her down and stuff it in her mouth. Maybe tomorow.

2006-02-07T07:52:00.000-06:00

We are Hero’s.

Legend says that if you climb the great wall, you are a hero. Thank goodness it doesn’t say you have to climb the whole thing, hee hee.

Yesterday we took our whirlwind tour of Beijing. Someone said it would snow a little overnight and be clear yesterday. Well, they were a little off. It snowed on us almost all day long. We walked thought Tien an Mein Square thought the south gate into the city. We saw the Moslem that Chairman Maio is laying in state, but were unable to see him. We did stand under the big picture of him that you see in all China video. The Forbidden City was Gorgeous!!! The floors were mostly marble and very slippery; people were falling down left and right. It was snowing so hard that we were too busy looking at where we were stepping to really see the city. My favorite part (next to Starbucks) was the royal garden. I could just imagine it during the spring. They had incredible rock formations and beautiful carved art work on display. I had heard that you see very few little girls when you are out in China, but we found that not to be true. The little girls were everywhere and I just couldn’t stop staring. I want my baby!!!

After they dragged me out of Starbucks, kicking and screaming, we got on a bus and went to tour a Cloisonné (sp) factory and have a traditional Chinese meal. Witch, by the way was delicious. I have to tell you now, a couple here with us went to a Chinese restaurant and ordered a dish that was supposed to be chicken nuggets of some kind. It ended up being fried baby chicks. I am so glad that I brought the peanut butter!!!!!

After lunch we loaded up on the bus again and went to the Great Wall. It was the closest section to the city and VERY steep. The great wall was amazing. They began construction on the wall during the rein of the first emperor. It was constructed to stop the Mongolians from attacking China. The emperor would send out officials to make young men work at the wall and so many died. They said for every kilometer built two men died and were buried under it. The Wall took 2,000 years to complete. Our guide told us that the Chinese people do not like the great wall, but want to visit and climb it to honor all the men who died building it. The section we visited was a portion that was refurbished and the stone blocks had been replaced with concrete. The steps were uneven, ranging from a few inches tall to a few feet tall. Some of the steps were two to three inches warn away from use. The view from the top was breathtaking. I almost bought an “I climbed the Great Wall” T-shirt and now regret that I didn’t.

After all of that you would think that we slept well, not so. We were so excited about Gottcha day we barely slept at all. Again we were up at 4 a.m. Today is going to be a long one. But the one we have been waiting for, for a year. Wish us luck for a peaceful gottcha!!!

2006-02-05T16:16:00.000-06:00

WE MADE IT!!!!

this is our first post from CHINA!!!!! After the longest sleepless flight ever, we arrived into Beijing at 3 p.m. yesterday. We actually flew over the North Poll, wich I thought would win big brownie points with Ethan, and when we called him this morning he could hardly care. (Christmas so soon forgotten) We arrived at the airport and were met by Great Wall guides. They loaded us on a bus for the Plaza Hotel. It was an excrutiating 45 minute drive, a fight to keep my eyes open the whole time. We drove on one of Beijing many Ring Roads (think 610 loop) so we didn't see much. Lots of high rise buildings and a ton of construction for the Beijing Olympics 2008. When we got here I immediately fell into a comatose state that lasted 12 hours (thanks to the happy pills my dr perscribed, hee hee) Brad went on a little walk with another couple in our group to a convienence store. The guides specifically recommended that American tourists should not cross the road on there first day here, but Brad threw caution to the wind and nearly got ran over.

We are headed out to tour the Forbidden City in a balmy 25 degree day. They said it was going to snow last night. God help me that my thin Texan blood with hold up today!!! I hope the Starbucks in the Forbidden City is on the tour, if not we will have a mutney on our hands. After that we will have our first "official" Chinese meal and go to the great Wall. Brad can't wait to start eating real Chinese food and I am probably going to be dropping a few more pounds on this trip.

I am still in shock that we will have our Gwynnie in our arms tomorow afternoon. It has always seemed so far away. We will post again tonight when we get back, and before I take another sleeping pill, I promse.

p.s. yesterday I forgot to mention the great men behind the Grandma's. My dad, Hi is so generously loaning us my mom for three weeks. My father in law, Roy has agreed to live with the insanity also known as my kids for a week. THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!!! We love you all!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-01-29T16:38:00.000-06:00

This is it!!!!!

We leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow to go get our sweet girl. I have no idea what I am supposed to be feeling right now but let me tell you, it is just about everything at once. One of my good friends, Cynetha, keeps saying "you are bringing back another human being". I am so excited at the thought of finale being able to hold Gwynn, but the thought of actually having three kids makes me sick to my stomach. I am worried about the trip and worried about how Gwynn will react to us. We still haven't hashed out who gets her first on gotcha day.(that should make some interesting video, us fighting while some nanny tries to had the baby over, hee hee) And I pray that my father in law can figure out how to work the video camera tomorrow morning when he drops us off a the airport at 4:30 am. I don't know if I will know how to work anything at 4:30 am.

I have to tell you that I am so lucky and so blessed to have my family. Ethan can be the sweetest kid on the whole planet. Yesterday when I asked him what he wanted me to bring him back from China he replied "just my baby sister". It totally brought tears to my eye. There is no way we could be going away for two weeks if it wasn't for my Mother in Law, Charlene and my mom Anne who are so devoted to my kids. They are splitting their grandma duties and staying with the kids, each for about half of the time . And this is a big shout out to The Best Husband In The Whole World!!! Thank you Brad for taking me on this journey!!!

I am not sure what else to say, other than please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We look forward to posting as much as we can from China!!!

2006-01-27T11:43:00.000-06:00

HELP!!!!! I am losing my MIND!!

It is official, I am freaking out!!! We are leaving in 8 days and I haven't even started to pack. I am totally scatterbrained and can barely sleep. You know that point in every pregnancy that you want the child out of your body but you start to realize it is really going to hurt in order to get it out. Well, I have discovered that you reach that same point in international adoption. And for those of you whom have heard me say "I feel like I am going on Vacation for two weeks" Well, you can stop laughing because that warm fuzzy feeling is GONE!!!!

But seriously, I have had a to do list 10 miles long and have been working away at it every day. It is significantly smaller and Brad is actually taking over some of the things I really don't want to do. I have all the medication anyone could possibly need in a foreign country. ( Brad is not going to experience a moments heartburn with all the crap I am hauling over there. ) But with the weather in Guangzhou being between 60 and 78 degrees I am a little confused on the packing.

We received our itinerary yesterday. Included on it are, a visit to the Orphanage, Chen Family's Temple, Yun Tai Gardens, of course the Great Wall, Tien An Men Square and the Forbidden City. It all seems to be coming together nicely. Now if I could just make myself pack we would be all set.

By the way, any ideas on What a 10 month old does? hee hee.

2006-01-20T13:48:00.000-06:00

Can you Pick her out, I can!!!

Last week we were blessed with a new picture of Gwynneth. A family that adopted the cute girl sucking on Charlie Brown's, head sent these to us. The Cambel family sent a care package to there daughter that had a camera in it. When I posted pictures of Gwynn on a yahoo group site they sent these to me saying "We have a picture of you daughter". No question in my mind. Have you spotted her yet? She is the DIVA second from the Right, white shirt, red pants.

We were told that there are over 100 little girls Gwynn's age in the Social Welfare Instite(SWI). This SWI opened for internation adoption in December and also is a home for the elderly. We are definately keeping our fingers crossed that we will be allowed to visit and see what it was like for Gwynn's first 10 months. Someone reported that Civil Unrest in Guangdong kept the last adoption group from visiting.

Keep you fingers crossed for us, we leave two weeks from tomorow and expect to have Gwynn in our arms forever on Feb 7th. This is going to be the best Valentines day!!!

2006-01-02T08:25:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year

We survived another holiday season, and what a great one it was. I was so unmotivated to do Christmas this year, if I hadn't hosted the December Bunco group I am afraid I would have never put up my tree. But I did and as the days rolled on I did get caught up in the spirit. This year is just a different, having a daughter that is not with us this Christmas changes the way you feel about everything.

The boys were absolutely adorable!! Ethan tried to read every gift tag and would say a big Thank You before he opened every present. I even heard him exclaim how wonderful Santa was on a few occasions that morning. Alex wanted to play with the first gift he opened and wasn't making a dent on his stack of gifts. I had to hand them to him and he would look up at me with those sweet eyes and say "AGAIN" . He obviously doesn't take after me, hee hee. Alex is really talking more and repeating almost everything ( I guess I will have to curb what is left of my drunken sailor mouth) and Ethan learned to ride his bike without training wheels on Christmas day.

Grandma and Grandpa Martin came out for a week and we celebrated Christmas eve with the entire Jamail/Martin clan. Uncle Rob brought his guitar and sang what has become our disfunctional family anthem called "The Family" it just wouldn't seem like Christmas without a little pickin and grinin.

Our latest Adoption update puts us in Beijing on Feb 5th with a gotcha day (that is the day Gwynneth will be in our arms forever) on Feb 7th. We are still waiting on Travel approval and an appointment with the American Consulate in China to firm up our dates. Just the thought of getting ready for this trip is stressing me out, there is so much to do. But I promise that when the kids get back to school I will hit it with full force and be my usual prepared self.

I think that bring us about up to speed. I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and that your New Year is full of happiness and many blessings, I know ours will be!!

2005-12-11T09:20:00.000-06:00

2005-12-10T18:38:00.000-06:00

For those of you wondering, I am posting a map of China and of The Guangdong Province so you all can see where our little angel lives. We will be spending most of our time in Guangzhou, wich is where the U.S. consulate is located, and more than likely staying in the luxury of the famous White Swan Hotel. More on all that later.

2005-12-10T09:13:00.000-06:00

I am still on cloud nine

Ok , so there wasn't much sleeping around our house last night, and it wasn't all due to the excitement in the air (we are almost ready to give Alex back, hee hee). But lets face it, we haven't had such a wonderful day in a long time. The waiting was excrutiating at times, but absolutely worth it when you get to see your little girl for the first time. I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with her hair. My mom says it is official, she is printed out and posted on the Fridge. We think she looks very healthy and like a bright little girl. So Gwynne you are a Martin-Jamail now. Our dreams have come true.

2005-12-09T17:02:00.000-06:00

Well.... we are over the moon!!!

We would like to introduce you to our new daughter Gwynneth Helen, formerly know as Jiang Cheng Juan . She is currently at the Yangjiang Jiangchen Social welfare institute in the Guangdong Provence. We expect to go to China in February to pick her up. She is 8 months old, has a quick smile, likes music and to laugh out loud. I know there was something witty and funny I was going to post with this happy news but I am too far gone and so totally in Love to remember anything!!! Isn't she beautiful!!!

Our feet are here, but our hearts are in China.

2005-12-06T21:20:00.000-06:00

The Stork has been sighted.................

Well, this is it. Our adoption agency sent out an e mail today stating that our referral is on its way from China to there offices in Austin Texas. Sometime by Friday we should get "the call" where we will find out where in China she lives and how old she is, and finally get to see her sweet face!!! Although we really thought we would be bringing her home for Christmas, this is definitely the next best thing. We started this whole process officially January of 2005 so this has been the longest pregnancy I have ever had. And probably the most exciting, frustrating, stressfully and time consuming one yet! We are finally going to get our girl.

I know that Friday is going to be a crazy day, so check back at the Blog. I will post the picture just as soon as we get it. Thaks for sticking with us!!

A.

2005-11-14T09:50:00.000-06:00

A Milestone in Parenthood .....

There is a point in your life as a parent that you question some of the things you expose your children to, and the other day we hit a milestone. Brad went out of town on his first business trip and I was alone with the kids for 4 days. We kept a tight schedule. After school we would have a play date, come home, eat dinner, bath and strait to bed. I decided it was much easier to bath the kids from inside the bath tub, and home alone you take all the easy stuff you can. So I would strip down and jump in every night. No problem. On the last night Brad was gone, Alex and I were sitting in the bubble bath waiting for Ethan to join us. He walked into the bathroom and looked at me very contemplatively. When I asked him what was on his mind he asked me.......
"Mommy, why are your boobies so LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG?"(sorry about the disturbing visual). And there you have it, The Last Time I will be naked in front of my kid!!!!!

There will be no photographs accompanying this particular post, hee hee.

2005-11-07T08:25:00.000-06:00

So I have totally gone overboard ...

I know that I have gone over the top with this nursery, everybody is telling me so. But for goodness sakes, when you dont have to buy any maternity clothes you sure feel like you have a little extra money, hee hee. Now I am feeling just a little guilty that the boys rooms aren't quite so done up. I still think they are cute, and on my list to do next. I hope you like the pictures. There are still a few finishing touches left, if you can believe that.

2005-11-02T22:22:00.000-06:00

Here are a few pic's from our Halloween. We downloaded the theme song from Star Wars and when Ethan would knock on a door we would start the music. DA DA DADA DA DA DADA DA DA, well you get it, hee hee. We were quite the hit!! I have to figure what we can be next year that has theme music. Ethan even looks like Anakin Skywalker and Alex shuffeles around like Yoda, it was perfect.

2005-11-02T07:30:00.000-06:00

2005-11-01T18:56:00.000-06:00

Hey guys, just trying to figure out how all this Blogger stuff works.

Brad set up this blog so we could share our journey into parenthood again, the unconventinal way, with you all following us to China and back. We just suffered a little set back last week. For some reason China decidedto start a little slow down. Any given month they will give our Adoption agency 60 to 160 referals, but for unknown reasons, the last two months have been 15 and 40 refferals. This puts us hopefull that we will recieve our refferal the end of November or first week in December. Because of Chinese New Year falling in January this year, I am prediciting that we will not travel to China untill February. Oh well, they say good things come to thoes who wait. I just don't know how much longer I can wait. At least when you are pregnant you have a definate date that you will bring that baby home by. The up side to the adoption thing is No Stretchmarks but all the love!!! I guess that isn't really Brad's motto but I am sticking with it.

Last weekend we went to the pumpkin patch and the kids were adorable, I will now attempt to upload our first pictures. Please keep your fingers crossed,