Winter continued...

Trees near our house

Really cool drifts on the roof at that barn

Heading south on Morton Rd south of Deren

Looking east on Meisenheimer from Morton

Orchards in Riverton Township

A snow bank that was as high as the mirror on Wayne's truck!!

Granny and Poppa's porch

The snowplowed path to the garage at Poppa's

A snowmobile trail we drove down in Oceana county, near Jefferson Rd

Snow on trees

More trees covered in snow

Ollie being a goof, he loves to roll in the snow!

So, I'm sure you're wondering why I took a picture of my van tire. Welllll...I couldn't figure out what was making all the racket while driving yesterday. Um, see all that snow and ice in the wheel well? It was rubbing on the tire and making the noise! DUH! Man, do I feel stupid! LOL!

Cabin Fever getting the best of the girls and Wayne

More goofballs

Julia eating an apple while standing on the furnace at Granny's house...hair blowin all around

Reason #509 Why I'd like to move to somewhere warmer

The camper isn't going anywhere for a while!

Pine tree out front with snow

North side of the house with a drift that is taller than me!

Anna running the snowblower!!

The driveway before Bruce plowed

A tree with snow covered branches

Looking towards the east from our house...those are apple trees in the foreground

The basketball hoop...

Wayne and Bruce in the freshly groomed driveway

The gas tank nearly buried!

Static

Our house is a little dry this time of year...can ya tell? :-)

Another ladybug...mouse?

This little lady landed at my house today! It's a LADYBUG MOUSE for my laptop! I found her at uncommongoods.com (thanks to Shelli in NC). I love it!

Random Status Messages is Back!

Ok...my other blog is back. Well, at least I posted to it. I need my vent for things that aren't so PC and family like. LOL! Muuuhahahaha!!! Here's the link:

http://www.randomstatusmessages.blogspot.com/

Facebook and Me

So...not sure how I really ended up with a Facebook page, but I did. I *had* a MySpace page, but took it down to due to an issue with an ex-boyfriend (which I fully disclosed to Wayne!). So, now I've got this wacky little page on Facebook. I have 86 friends. All of which I know personally...well, minus one..she's a friend of friend I haven't met but still cool none the less. Anyways...most of the people are from high school, family, or our adoption groups. I do have a few from church. I have it admit, it's pretty interesting. Like last night, a guy that I crushed on in high school sent me a message and we chatted for a while about our families, old friends and life. I had no idea where he even lived! Well, I take that back, I do run into his parents every once in a while, but...I love catching up with people. Since Pentwater/PHS is such a small community and school, you're with the same 30 or so people from Kindergarten thru graduation. It's not like we're all best buddies, but friendly. Makes the world seem a lot smaller.

Oh and Rob...I did dig out the yearbooks this morning. :-) At what point did I think that freshmen guys were cool?? Haha!

...because we are Ladybugs and The Red Thread...

I think we have an infestation of ladybugs or God is REALLY trying to tell us something. Of course, I'm not sure God works with ladybugs as messengers...but if you know me, I believe them to be a sign. :-)

My downstairs bathroom sink

Starting from the left: 1 drinking mug, one cup full of toothbrushes (more than 5), Julia's panda toothbrush holder and cup, Bath and Body works soap, Dial soap, contact solution, tweezers, mini toothbrush (it's hiding), Julia's suction cup toothbrush, Crest toothpaste, my contact lens case. I don't think I fit anymore stuff on this! Who wanted a pedestal sink anyways?

My Juju Chang and the Real Juju Chang

Nicknames are a part of being a Wagner. Wayne is also known as Wheat, I'm known (mainly to Wayne) as Melitta or Urissa, Cam will always be Cameroon or CT, Anna has AE or AnnaBananna. So, when Julia came along, I knew that she'd be something else to. Yelling Julia Renee YinGui is a mouth full!! So she got shorten to Ju. Then sometimes I'd yell out Juju. Then it hit. One time I called out Juju Chang! I'm sure that name may ring a bell for some. There is a real woman, named Juju Chang. She's works for ABC. No, she's not Chinese but Korean. Anyways, so funny story...I'm walking thru Walmart with Julia and she starts to wander away and I yell, "Hey Juju Chang, come on back this way". An older lady stops and says, "That child's name isn't really Juju Chang is it?" Ummm...not sure if I wanted to be a smartass or not, I told her no, it really wasn't but a nickname. She gave a crappy look and walked away. Ehhhh, Julia is Chinese, and had a Chinese name which very well could have been Chang. I mean, she was Lu Yin Gui...is that a prettier name? LOL! I don't know!! Anywho...that's the story of how Julia became the nickname of Chang. :-)

Recent pics...

Blue Jay eating a corn cob

Cardinal eating the same cob

Another view of the red head

Because you know I can't pass one without taking it's picture!

Chang

Sissy with 3D glasses

Cam and Anna playing Wii

A close up of me...forgive that bad hair...Wayne in background

Random things that annoy me today

1. Parents receive a referral for a sn's child from a particular province and want to know about that need and about the province. HELLO! If you've been waiting for years or at least many months have you not try to read up on China and it's provinces? I spent TONS of time reading about China. Back when we were waiting I could tell you what each province was known for and it's capital! About the needs...didn't that family have to fill out a medical needs checklist? Well, if I'm checking off needs that I'm ok with, I damned well have read a little on each one! Aye aye aye! Makes no sense to me!

2. Ice, snow, winter, cold feet (literally, not figuratively), wearing tons of clothes to keep warm

3. Smelly wet dogs

4. Taking down Christmas stuff...never seems like it was long enough...

5. Running out of French Vanilla creamer before my first cuppa Joe

6. Feeling tired before the day has even started

7. Wanting to get out to get to the store, but knowing the roads are still ice covered and slick

8. Wii remotes that aren't charged or outta batteries!!

9. The Proactive commercials.

10. Waiting for CCAA to send medicals for particular little boy.......

All this before 9:15am....it's going to be a GRRRREAT day! LOL!

Please check out this blog!

While checking out some of my Yahoo groups, I stumbled on a post about a 13 y/o girl who has the opportunity to go back to China and be a part of a reunion at her orphanage. Her mom Karen was someone I remember posting from the old WCC Yahoo group days and this is her daughter Kennedy. Please take a minute and check out Kennedy's blog and if you can, donate to her trip. I just can't get over what a trip of a life time this is going to be! Thanks so much!

http://yangzhoufundraising.blogspot.com/

The year in pictures...well, not all of them!

'08...was Oh-So.....

I saw my friend Jess comment about reflecting about 2008. My thoughts about the past year....
(In no particular order!)

1. Cameron decided to play football and did very well, we're so proud of him!
2. Anna loved soccer this year and that was a switch from not liking it at all.
3. I coached (head coached one, and assisted the other) 2 teams this spring soccer season and lived!
4. Cam and Anna both loved their baseball/t-ball seasons.
5. Julia started Kindergarten and wow, where did that time go?
6. Wayne got a promotion and a new title (I love joking about being the Executive Vice President of Operations wife!)
7. My whole family was healthy this year, no major illnesses.
8. We have gained some new friends and strengthened the bonds with some "old" ones too.
9. Wayne and I have greater appreciation of what the other does as far as our roles are parents, spouses, lovers, friends and providers.
10. Cameron and Anna are both doing well in school and seem to like it.
11. We spent a lot of time camping this summer with both our families. Experiences that we hope the the kids will continue with their own families some day.
12. One new friend made it possible for us to get photos back to China and to Julia's orphanage director and foster mom. That is something that I've been grateful for and can't begin to thank her enough.
13. My baby sister met someone very special to her and she's moving on in the next phase of her life. I miss her, the kids miss her but I know that it's good for her to get out and see new things.
14. Our friends the Danielson's are expecting their new kiddo soon...FROM CHINA! Wayne and I have been so blessed to have gotten to be a part of their journey and I can't wait to spoil that little guy (or girl!)
15. It's been 3 years since Julia came home, and well, you'd have never guessed she wasn't here from the start. Each day she brings light, joy and hope to our days. Her laugh and smile are infectious and I don't think I can love her any more than I do.
16. Anna has become quite the young lady and manages many parts of her hearing loss. She is aware of what she needs and how to ask for it. I know that God has a plan for Anna and she's more than willing to take that on!
17. Cameron reminds me a lot of me. He's emotional, caring, giving and loves proving people wrong. Cam is the type of kid that if he's got $5, he's going to blow it on something at iTunes or donating it to a charity. He's generous and he to has shown me this year the depth of his concern for others.
18. Wayne. He's the center of my world. Without him, life wouldn't be what it is. He works hard, gives everything he has to me and the kids and smiles about it. He drives me batty with his sense of humor and random singing, but it keeps me in check. I love him with everything that I have.
19. Well, I was hoping to end at 20...but I may end here. How was 2008 for me? My kids are growing up and needing me less in ways, but needing me still more in others. My role as caregiver, driver, cook, maid and all around slave keep me hopping. No I haven't won any awards for my house keeping, but I did win one for being an Exceptional Parent. Yes, I know that was for my volunteering in everything related to hearing loss, but...it made me think. Being parent has many facets and I will never be perfect, I won't even come close. I do however look at my parents and grandparents and take from them the experiences and knowledge that I am doing something right.
20. My hope for all you that read my blog, my friends, is that 2009 brings us all good luck, good fortune and everything you need to be the best for your families. I love you all!!

Julia and Realize

I was trying to find a song at iTunes and was listening to some other stuff when Colbie came on and Ju began to sing. Being the camera nut mom I am, I had the camera RIGHT next to me and shot this little video! Enjoy!

Is it really spring already?

Hey Tim...(and everyone else!), Remember those pictures I posted on Christmas Eve of all the snow and stuff? Welllll...after 12 or so hours of warm winds, rain and tons of FOG....this is what we have today. A mud mess! YUCK! I love spring, I mean, the REAL SPRING. The one that shows up in April or late March. The one where all the new life of greens growing is real. Not this late December crappola where all the pretty white snow has melted into this fog soup. Anyways...just thought you'd all like to see what it's like in Ludington today. :-) (Sorry for any dog poo that may have shown itself...Damn dogs don't scoop after they go!)

Christmas 2008

Snow for Tim

Oh yeah...

I got another Sony. Couldn't pull myself away from it. LOL! It's a Cyber Shot H10. It's got everything I really need and more. This is will be my 3rd Sony camera and I know how it works and liked my old two really well. I've got some things to learn about it, but...it's cool. :-)