We Went to the DIXIE CLASSIC FAIR

We went to Nammy and Pop Pop's house and it was fun.  Nammy always has wonderful snacks and delectable treats that she has baked.  We decorated Pop Pop's scare crow and then went to the Dixie Classic Fair.  Loads of fun! 

Thomas the Train Outing in Bryson City, NC

...and here we go again off to another "Day out with Thomas". We didn't tell Luke and Maran what we were doing but told them we had to go to bed early...and I won't let you know how that worked out for us.

Off we went at 8:45 in the morning to Bryson City. By far this is not a ghastly hour but when you have well over a three hour drive with two toddler of which one who gets deathly car sick you just have to prepare for it all. Dressed in their new Thomas outfits we hit Brueggers and then hit the highway. It is/was a nerve wracking drive. I felt like every three to seven minutes we were asking Maran if she was OK. Of course in our journeys we now have to plan for numerous car sick stops and we take the route that has the LEAST amount of 'Stop and Go'. So Route 66 basically has been replaced by I 85. It's no big deal but the 'waiting in anticipation for it to happen' is the worst. Last time it occurred I was able to tell. Not sure if it was my ONE AND ONLY PERFECT MOMMY MOMENT but the color in the face, the expression and all told the FULL STORY. We were able to get the bag (compliments of US AIRWAYS) front in center just in time.

We decided not to tell them until we got really close. Of course Luke had already pretty much figured it out. When Daddy handed him his new "THOMAS DAY OUT" hat it just confirmed what he already knew and had confirmed from the grimace on my face. Then Daddy gave them their lanyard's that allowed them to hang their ticket around their necks. The complimentary Thomas whistles never made it out of the bag and left the car and went straight to the recycle bin. Call me bad mommy and gasp in horror but how many whistles do you really need? Allow me to help you on this one..... WE DIDN'T NEED ANY MORE AT ALL". So there you have it and truth be known we never needed the first one that my sister felt so inclined to give to Luke a few years back.

Maran had ridden the POLAR EXPRESS at Christmas but had never ridden Thomas. She jumped up and down and put her hand over her mouth in awe of him. We had our pictures taken, went to all the stands to get the much needed stamps for the so called 'FREE GIFT' and sweat like there was no tomorrow. Finally it was our turn. We got on, we rode, we sang all the Thomas songs of which everyone stared at us as we even know the 'less popular tunes'. Luke and Maran immediately befriended the railroad attendant and collected their "Junior Conductor" certificate.

We walked around the quaint little town and checked out a Bed and Breakfast which will be perfect during the holidays for our Night time Polar Express ride. (We take Nammy and Pop Pop with us this time).

We ate lunch (late) at the Mexican restaurant and finally hit the road back to Charlotte. The train pulled back into the Charlotte station around 8 pm with two very tired conductors.

The surprise worked out well and we even got our "REPLACEMENT THOMAS FAMILY PHOTO".... it's about time. (To be posted on Main blog).

Keep on Chuggin'.......

Waiting for our ride on Thomas. 

Choo Choo! (Day out With Thomas July 31, 2011)

First Day of School

Luke and Maran were very excited about the first day of school.  Getting them up two hours earlier than what they were used to was not as hard as we thought.  Of course we started them going to bed early about a week before so it wasn't horrific. It was worse for mommy.  I was really nervous about the drive and not knowing how long it would take although we mostly go against the traffic flow.  I wondered if they (mostly Luke) would throw a fit when I drove up and they had to get out of the car.  The drop off was easy.   The hardest part was the 16 minute wait in the parking lot.  We had a great talk and once again I told them what I did every morning of Mother's Morning Out..."Be a good friend and a good listener".  Then we did our knuckle buster, lock it and blow it up handshake and our 'TEAM GIESER' cheer.   

After drop off I pulled around the corner of the school and thought 'wow that went well' and then I immediately decided that I didn't know how I felt about it.  I kept driving though.  I then figured it was a good morning to have some breakfast (not a breakfast fan am I) so I did.  After getting to the office I kept wondering how they were doing.  Our information packet said that we could call and see how they were doing and it was all I could do to not call. 

The teacher said to be in carpool line at 2:20.  I left the office and was in line at 2:07.  (Timing definitely had to be worked out).  I waited for what felt like an hour for them to come out. They came bouncing out and were so happy.  After loading the car they were both talking over each other and couldn't get it all out quick enough.  Luke showed me his stamp that he received and asked if he could eat his sucker.  I said yes.  I asked Marant if she wanted to eat hers and she said she didn't get one and Luke quickly said that she was 'bad'.  Turns out Maran didn't get a sticker either.  If I would have guessed the one who would have come home with 'no treats' it definitely would have not been Maran empty handed.  Luke is a very outgoing gregarious fella who often ends up in the wrong place and enjoys being the 'fun one in the group'.  (Not sure where this comes from.......).  The story continues to grow on what exactly happened and if any of the portions of it were true then I am pretty sure I would have heard from the teacher.  Who knows what did or did not happen but one thing is for sure the 'over pleasing' child in the group was the one who came home empty handed.  I kind of talk it up as Luke having a good day of  'not getting caught'.  He is not a bad little boy by any means he just likes to be somewhat of a prankster. Such a charming quality for a 4 year old. 

Here 's to hoping that the fun of Pre-K continues.  If it is anything like Day1 then this will be a very good year!

First Day of School for Luke and Maran in Pre-K ...the uniform will come later. 

The First Steps (POSTED LATE..SORRY MOMMY DAZE)

If I could only explain how incredibly BEAUTIFUL and gracious her first steps were sans cast it would be like the perfect moment in the BLIND SIDE when you just knew that you loved that movie or like when you realize that you can't listen to FOOTLOOSE and not have your foot taping (whether you want to admit it or not). 

I don't know that I ever thought that I would see her walk without that little foot turning all the way in.  I don't know that I pictured her in full view running track and not falling because I have always pictured her with a smile on her face and being happy. The legs "nimble" as lil' David calls them were not the focal point.   I have envisioned how I think she will look when she gets older and each vision has been such a lovely little lady cheerful and ready to please.  Although the steps were painful for her she tried not to admit it.  How precious she is.  With Luke cheering her on and Tefie (Maran's BCB Best Cousin Buddy) holding her arms her weak little legs carried her the few steps she needed to make and right into my arms.  What a huge grin she had on her face.

Today she is practicing her walking so that she will do really well when she has dinner tonight with her favorite Nammy and PopPop.  She puts lotion on her legs as often as we will let her because they do still slightly itch and of course the skin is still quite dry and rough.  This will be gone in a few days.

As we prepare for our family vacation we are so grateful that so far the surgery has gone absolutely as perfect as it could have.  Blessed with a wonderful surgeon (Kudos to her for being voted one of the TOP 100 Doctors) we could not have asked for anything better. Now we take it day by day and let the leg strengthen itself and go from there.  The imperfection in her legs will not slow her down in the future as it did not in the past.  What a gracious way to deal with something that has been dealt to you.  Amazing how we can all learn from a toddler!

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(Written June 23, 2011)

Luke's Gotcha Day.... Four Years Later!!!

Four years ago today our son was placed in David's arms in Guatemala City, Guatemala. So many STRONG memories come with today. The fact that our "IMMEDIATE" family began on this day and that my sister has been living with full blown MS for four years. (She had a HORRIBLE BOUT with MS when we were in Guatemala... add to that the fact that David was VERY SICK with the flu and it was a real eventful time). Our precious child has grown into such a little man. We received a VERY timid and shy little boy who was so serious about everything. He cried when his caretaker left him with us. Now he cries if we leave him (not all the time but still quite often). What a journey we have had. What a joy it has been to watch him grow into the outgoing gregarious toddler his is. He has brought us many many moments of joy and much laughter. He has consoled us when we needed it and has given to us countless hugs and kisses that could literally mend the world. All that in what WAS a little 12 pound 10 month old whom we named LOUIS GRAYSON GIESER and lovingly refer to as "LUKE"... our precious son. Happy Gotcha Day!!

Our Daughter's FOURTH BIRTHDAY!

What a great day yesterday was.  (July 3rd)  We celebrated Maran's Fourth Birthday and it was a blast.  We started out the morning with breakfast at Maran's favorite breakfast joint EDDIE'S PLACE (She gets that from me). Mommy and Maran then went to the Spa to have manicures and pedicures. After that we met the family at MELLOW MUSHROOM (aka Pizza Planet) for pizza, pretzels, meatballs and other yummies!  We ate birthday cake that Nammy had especially made for the occasion.  

After some gifts and video watching of the little Sassafras we calmed down and had a wild and crazy bath where more water was in the bathroom and not the bathtub.  What fun it was.  Maran and Mommy then put together puzzles and played dress up with new Princess costumes.  It was a blast. 

Numerous times throughout the day I couldn't help but to think of Maran's birth mother.  Does she remember this day?  Does she wonder how her daughter is?   I wondered if Maran's personality is that of her mom's or her dads and think it is amazing how she fits so well into our family.  There is no way we could love this child any more than what we do and it doesn't feel like she didn't come from us..... which is the way it should be.  We feel the same about Luke.  I watched her giggle, laugh and smile all day.  Incredible that she didn't know English eight months ago and now she is telling people to be cautious and how much she loves them.  Our blessings keep growing each and every day as our children grow from toddlers into young kids.  We couldn't be happier and believe that Maran feels the same way.  She still adores daddy with every ounce of energy her little body has and Daddy shows no shortage of doting over her.  Mom is left to the disciplinary actions which is fine.  Thankfully we don't have many of them with her or Luke for that matter.  We are thankful that her birth mother placed her under the bridge where she was quickly found.  We are thankful for the road worker who found her and cared for her for the short while he had her before turning her over to the police.  We are thankful for our Adoption Agency, China, Family, Friends and all who love our daughter as much as we do.  (The love is equally shown for Luke too .... and how could it not be... he is so stinkin' cute).   Maran is such a girlie girl and a lover of fine things like dresses, jewelry and spa treatments (Everything I was the opposite of as a young child).  It has been joyful, to say the least, with her being in our lives.  It is a true honor for us to be her parents.  

 At the Spa ...lounging

A girl MUST let her toes and fingers dry completely!

My favorite people... Cousin Dylan, Brother Luke and Cousin Tefie (I want my hair to be blonde and pretty Like Tefie's)

First Dessert of the Day from Mellow Mushroom

Lemon Cake that Nammy had made for me from Ms. Pumpkin's Bakery in Winston Salem, NC

Four BIG candles to blow out!

Balloons are also a party favorite!

A costume that I got from my mommy's friend Mary B that I just had to wear.  I also got Rapunzel's costume and hair piece.  I love playing dress up!

Spending her SPECIAL DAY with Nammy, PopPop, Aunt Peggy, Uncle Byron, Cousin Tefie, Cousin Dylan, Luke and Mommy and Daddy was perfect.

The REAL birthday party with kids will be in a few weeks.  We were waiting to see how her foot is healing and it is coming along quite well.... next blog post will give detals of foot and our wonderful vacation! 

To many more birthdays!