Avery's Birthday Party

Micaela got an invitation from her friend Avery whose adopted parents went to Changsha, China with Micaela's parents. Micaela and Avery were from different orphanages. Micaela, Nancy and I went to Avery's birthday party. It was so hot outside, but Micaela had a great time with Avery. She is about three weeks older than Avery.

Here is an invitation for Avery's birthday.

The kids were excited to get candies from Elmo Pinta.

Avery was very kind to give candy to Micaela.

"Let me help you picking candy up for you."

Ok, give me your bag and let me show you how to pick candy up.

"What? I'm teaching Micaela how to grab candy because she is my best friend."

Micaela, you get another bag! Ok, I'm taking this bag myself.

Micaela collected a lot of candies when the kids left for Avery's opening presents.

Avery signs "Thank you"

Avery saying "that's so nice of Micaela to give me a cool birthday card!"

"Hey Micaela, I wanted to hug you for our best Chinese friends."

Avery hugged her grandfather for her new stuffed animal.

Am I a cool girl with my new cap from my grandfather?
Ok, I think I'm the best one!

Look at Micaela's hands and feet when she gets off the slide.

Micaela had a blast time when her mom slided with her.

From left to right, Micaela's mom, Micaela, Avery and her mother, Karri.
Karri's mother is behind.

On first row, Avery's daddy, Karri, Avery, Avery's grandmother, uncle. On the top row, aunt, grandfather, and two cousins.

"Wow, Avery gave me Elmo balloon." When we arrived the party, Micaela says "Elmo" when she sees Elmo every time. Avery's grandfather gave me the balloons for Micaela. She loves Elmo balloon.

Avery, thanks for inviting us for your birthday party and Elmo balloon! Hurray, I play with that balloon.

Start Job Search!!!

Hey, I just start doing some more job search this week since I feel a little more energy and feel great myself. I had to catch up with relaxing and I was exhausted from stress out and anxiety. I tried to do things, but my body didn't let me so I had to rest. My resume is ready to send out. Yesterday, I sent out my resumes to people (friends and former co-workers) who I know. Some of them reply back and give me some websites for job search. Today, I went to job fair and dropped some resumes off. Next week, I have an appointment with Vocational Rehabilitation and hope they could help me a little more better this time. When I look at openings or responses in the emails, most of them require phones and I'm frustrated, but I have to keep looking and it will come up one day. Since I feel better, I move forward and keep staying positive so I should be fine, hopefully. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts.

Jill

Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium opened on November 23rd, 2005 as the World’s Largest Aquarium. With 8 million gallons of fresh and marine water, and more than 100,000 animals representing 500 species from around the globe.

It's a great aquarium to explore. My family have season passes. This trip is my 3rd time.

While walking through an acrylic tunnel, my dad smiled at Micaela saying "Wow, look at fish, whale shark and the sting rays!"

Whale shark

Max loves to stand in front of a gigantic acrylic viewing window.

Micaela also likes to view.

Max and I went to Deepo's Undesea 3D Wondershow. He really likes it.

That's me and Deepo!

Wow! Look at beluga whales.

I think this picture what I look for is the best one. At my past trips, California sea lions were in the water and I tried to shoot pictures.

Max loves African black-footed penguins. He is really good at making sounds of penguins and sea lions. I will try to load the video movie of his sound of penguins.

Jellyfish

Another huge acrylic viewing window.

Micaela kept walking back and forth from my dad to an acrylic viewing window. She had a great time.

Max got his new stuffed pengiuns and acted like pengiuns. He wants to go back to see pengiuns with his stuffed pengiuns.

Micaela's 2nd Birthday

Yea, that's Micaela and me.

Singing "Happy Birthday to Micaela" and Micaela doesn't know what we are singing to her.

Micaela starts smiling while we sing her name.

Max helped blowing the candles for his sister.

Yea!

Micaela gestures, "where are the candles?" in sign.

I want more candle!

Help me blow the candles, please!

Dad tries to teach her how to blow the candles.

Micaela gestures "ice cream" in sign that means ice cream is so cold! Yummy!

Oh, chocolate cake is so good!

Ice Cream!!!

Look at my presents!

I got "the Wiggles" video music tape!!

Cool digital camera!

Look at my new glasses and camera!

Micaela is always excited to have all of the "girly" things. She carries purses all the time. Loves dresses. Wears different shoes. Make ups! I love to watch her "girly" actions.

What a best Cinderella TV and DVD present I get!

Yea, I'm Micaela's silly brother.

Pictures will come soon

I will load several pictures in a few days. Of course, Micaela had a great birthday party last Saturday and we went to Georgia Aquarium yesterday. I had a bad headache for almost a week due to lack of sleep, weather, and adjusting my schedule after I'm laid off. Last night, I slept for 12 hours after aquarium and got better today. I finished one of gardens with flowers and pine straw today, Whew! A lot of work!!! I need a break from working outside on my yard for a while until we have enough rain.

Baby Birds!

A few weeks ago, I saw a bird on her nest at my house. What kind of bird??

Today, I saw two baby birds and took some pictures of them. Their mother didn't come and fly over me. I guess they know I'm an animal lover, ;-)

Action Max and Precious Micaela

This is a referral picture from last year my parents received. When I first saw it, I thought Micaela was the one of most beautiful Chinese girl I've ever seen. I'm very fond of her.

A picture of Micaela and me at GA Aquarium last March. I can't imagine what to do without her. She is so blessed to me and changed my life that I will be ready to adopt a Chinese girl if I can't have a baby due to my age and I'm married to someone special who is the right mate for me. The feelings of having a baby brother, Max and adopting Micaela are the same when they come to my life. Of course, Max is the best brother in the world I've ever had. Micaela will be 2 years old and have a birthday party this Saturday. I'm so thankful that Max and Micaela are the ones of the closer kids in my family I ever have and they are the important part of my life.

Max won his new firetruck toy at his school for art shows and auction after our aquarium trip since he wanted it so badly when Nancy signed it up and Max also wrote his name on it. Real cute!!!!