Erin Joy Family Forever Day

Ten years ago, I met a terrified toddler who didn't want anything to do with me. I had waited so long and yearned to hold her in my arms so those first months were difficult.  All the bonding effort was worth every minute. We have become very close and I love her to pieces! Erin Joy is such a sweetie and I am so blessed to be her mother. May 29, 2005 was the day our family became complete. I loved you then and I love you now, Erin!

Happy Family Forever Day!!

Two of the photos I stared at for a very long time while I worked hard to bring sweet Erin Joy home....

Ten years ago....our first family picture!

Our second family picture....she cried and cried for the first week...probably more than a week....I can't remember, but it was a pretty rough transition. We eventually bonded so all is well:)

A video with photos of Erin Joy and those who love her....

Erin's Poetry Night

Erin Joy and her fellow students each recited a poem. They also performed a couple of songs on the marimbas and drums. It's been a busy week for Erin Joy and I have enjoyed each of her performances.

 

Erin Joy's Beginning Orchestra and Early Roses

I am having so much fun learning to play the violin with Erin Joy and her beginning orchestra. I am actually going to buy myself a full size violin soon so I won't have to keep playing on a 3/4 size.

I gave roses to our orchestra director. I had to take a picture because I am so amazed that roses have bloomed so early. I am also amazed that this little rose bush is even alive because it is surrounded by weeds.

Erin Joy's Band

I think they did a wonderful job....especially for a beginning band.  Great job, Erin Joy and her band!

Band Performance

Rachel and her middle school band performed last night at "The Beat".....a night full of yummy food and great entertainment (choir, bands, dance). You can see the kids serving food and hear people at the table talking during their performance. Unfortunately, my camera was zoomed in on Rachel at the moment her band director was captured and killed by dancing pirates. He was carried off stage by students. It was cute.

Geocaching, protesting, dog bite, and heart monster

 We have discovered how fun geocaching is and found three geocaches so far. Here is our first cache found....

We left a travel bug in the cache and hope that he travels to many bodies of water because my caching username is "Stilly River" and I named my first travel bug "The Stilly River water bug." I placed the bug by the Stillaguamish River. The bug was picked up by a fellower geocacher, taken to many places of water, and then left at Lake Wenatchee. I hope he continues traveling and enjoys his water adventures!

While looking for a cache near a museum, I pulled a big metal gear over on my leg. I then went to an alley behind the museum and was bitten by a dog on the same leg! It was quite painful and swollen for awhile, but is starting to heal. I never did find the cache that day, but went back today while picketing and found it.

Here is one of our young friends who helped us find the geocache while protesting the decisions made by lawmakers. We are not happy with no increase in our salaries for the past 6 years, not fully funding programs, mandating our health insurance, and not decreasing class sizes. The voters in our state voted for smaller class sizes and more funding for teachers. A recent lawsuit against the state is mandating the state fully fund education and yet our legislators are finding ways to go against the lawsuit and go against voters' demands. It is very frustrating.

 It was fun to add our names to the sign and join the names of two other teachers from Bellevue and Bellingham.

 Rachel's post card to Olympia.....

 Erin Joy is my "heart monster" and leaves notes written on hearts around the house for me to discover. This one is especially touching because she really loves butter and if she loves me more than butter, she must really love me!

And our fourth geocache! We picked up a panda traveling bug! How fun! I would love to take the panda to China sometime, but don't anticipate going there soon, so he might travel as far as Idaho this summer. I'll have to get a panda travel bug before going to China.

Rachel Ice Skating

 Rachel did a great job ice skating today and tied for first place! Nice job, sweetie!