What Size Am I????

In the past two weeks two pairs of my favorite capri's have had the butt rip out. Yes, in the early 90's I would have still wore these, but for crying out loud I am somebody's mom. No one should be subjected to that much of my butt hanging out.

I love capri's they are cool like shorts, but since I Do NOT TAN ( I guess I should say that I can not tan) I dislike wearing shorts. I am very self conscience about my legs being a white pasty blue

So today I called my "sis" L. (She is not my sister, but that is what we joke) She works at Maurices and they had a sale. Lately I have not found ANYTHING in that store that I can wear, but I had a coupon and high hopes. My beloved capris that ripped were from there and in that brand of pants I wear a 3/4. I went ready to try on clothes with Yin and Yuri hanging all over her. I really love shopping when she is there because she will say those pants look BAD or that shirt makes you look pregnant. I know that she is honest. I tried on 6 pair of pants and found only 1 that would fit and that I like. Who brought gouchos back? They do not look good on me!

I then went to the local Goodies. I tried on 14 pair of capris and bought 4. They were on clearance for 9.95 each so that wasn't too bad. However, my pants range in size from 1 to 9. How can that be possible. They are all juniors. How can I possibly be a size 1 in one pair and a 9 in others. This really PISSES me off. All the pressure they put on people to be thin thin thin and then no two pair of pants are the same size. Am I too thin? Am I too fat? Am I somewhere in between?

Can some please help me find a stylist. I don't want to look 17 but I am not ready to look 60. Nothing against either age. I just want to look stylish and be comfortable at the same time without all my bits and nuggets hanging out and without be covered from my head to my toes with no ankles showing.

Ragged we should meet for shopping if for nothing other than to give bad looks to the women who can pull off the stylish and comfortable look we both crave!

Home Again

Well we had a very successful trip to NeNe's and Papa's. The kids were great in the car on the way down. On the way back Yin and Yuri both, got sick in the car. I used to get car sick all the time. I sure hope that this is not the start of something. He seems to get sick each and everytime we go to KY. As soon as we get on the back roads he starts to complain of a painful belly. He doesn't seem to have many problems anywhere else, but most of the roads here are good, wide, and flat.

Over the weekend we went to visit Mei Mei's mommy and daddy as they were camping at the local park. That evening we went to "movies on the square". The town we live in has bought a projector and screen and they are showing FREE movies on Saturday nights. This past weekend was Hoodwinked. It was animated little Red Riding hood movie. Not to bad all in all Yin started to get antsy so we brought her home early.

My brother Choi leaves for Iraq tomorrow. He will be home for good in November and then he has to go back for another year or so in either May 2007 or 2008. I am not sure.

As of last week we were planning to drive to Disney. However, when I logged on to Yahoo. Southwest had cheap flights. Our flights were $69 each way to Florida. We calculated that the Tahoo would use approximately 133 gallons of gas there and back. At $3.00 per gallon ($400.00), an extra hotel stay ($80- $100), and food there ($50- $100) and back the flights soon became reasonable. We will probably spend a little more with the flights, but we will be there in 2 hours. I think that the extra cost will probably save our marriage and my kids lives. HEE HEE. They are both better in the car than in the past, but 12-14 hours one way! EECCKK!

This week I am going to nail down the final dining plans. I will make a listing and the approximate cost. Remember our dining is FREE FREE FREE! This is going to be such a savings and we have three character meals scheduled. You can never have enough Characters can you??? They would run a family of four about $100- $120 per meal. I have purchased a few small Disney items that I am going to pack and give to the kids when we get to the parks. Hopefully, this will cause them to not WANT as many items. YEAH RIGHT! Have you met our kids?!?

Yuri has been reading the Disney books with me and is trying to "decide" all the rides he wants to go on. Since I cannot ride very many rides I will probably get stuck with Yin in "Its a Small World". Just kill me now!

Traveling Alone with Kids

Tomorrow I am leaving with Yin and Yuri to visit Rudy's parents in KY. At Nene's church they are having bible school and Yuri wouldlike to go. He thinks that he could go and stay until Thursday, but EEECCKKK. I am not so sure.

So I have decided that the kids and I will go. Yin and Yuri will love it. I am sure that Ill have a great time too. As soon as we said KY, Yin's allergies kicked in. Must be a Korean thing as soon as the weather turned off hotter than Hadies her nose kicked in gear yesterday.

Pray for safe travels and sanity for us all. If you see local woman drives off bridge... that won't be me I am terrified of bridges. However, if you see abandoned mom left in parking lot that is becuase Yuri at the bright age of 7 commendered the vehicle and left me :)

Yin is Finally YIN!

I am not going to go in the crazy aspects of adopting a child from another county, but one of the main problems is the Social Security Administration.

IN 2000 President Clinton passed a bill that made most children adopted from other countries automatically citizen's. Yin and Yuri both meet the "automatic" requirements, but for some reason the SSA refuses to recognize this and they make you have proof of citizenship. This can be done two ways a HUGE application thru Immigration or a passort neither are cheap and both require a ton of paperwork. UGH!

When Yin came into our county she entered under her birth name. Of course we wanted to her to share our name so here comes the mess. In order to claim her on our taxes she has to have a social security number. I went to the SSA office with child in tow. "Your child MUST be present to get a social security card." After an hour of waiting the "nice" lady at the window informed me that she had to get her card under her birth name. UGH! Even thought I waited for the Court order and new Illinois Birth Certificate.

So a few weeks ago started doing so research on just getting a card with a name change on it. Surprise, Surprise! You can get a name change without all the extra bull....

I took all my documents to their office this Am. The very first thing the lady asked was if my child was a citizen. "Yes, she is but your office does not recognize the law passed in 2000." I said. "She is not a citizen." replies the office lady. THIS REALLY PISSES ME OFF!!! I calmly reply that "I have done research and she can have her name changed and remain a permanent resident Alien under your guidlines." She looks at me for a minute and confirms that I am right!

So today Yin is offically Yin. She will no longer have to use her birthname to get an insurance policy, a job, or retire! Welcome to America Yin! The land of the left hand doesn't work with the right! The land where laws are passed and other government offices do not abide! This is really a great place to live...

I know, I know it could be much worse. It is just very frustrating to try and follow rules that make no sense at all.

Laundry, Books, & Movies

Today I had a full day of doing laundry. It seems that this is a chore that is never complete especially with two small kids. I have to admit I love the smell of fabric softener... Mmm Mmm good!

Yuri has been going to bible school the last two nights. It has a traveling theme where they all made little backpacks and passports. So far he has visited Mexico and Brazil. He is really excited about going. It is the first time he has gone that I have not stayed with him the entire time. It has been a great growing experince for us both!

Last night I finished reading Singletini by Amanda Trimble. It was a SUPER read! Ragged you would love this book. It is very Jen Lancaster ish. Anyway. Amanda is the younger brother of one of the guys that Rudy works with. So it was great to read a local author!

Today as I was doing mountains of laundry, I watched a foreign film called Twins. It was about to girls in Germany pre war times that were separted due to the death of their parents. One child grew up in Holland and the other in German. They had no contact as the "new" parents didn't want them to know each other. The war comes and each lady grows up seeing a side. It was very good and your feel so bad for them both that they cannot understand each other. They eventually find each other, but happy times are not to be had. It is a foreign film so there are subtitles which I love, but it makes it hard to do much else. Of course, I can fold towels in my sleep.

Tonight more bible school and Rudy is going to a paranormal class. Yeah it sounds like a fun night at casa Brando.

Bike Riding & Card Playing

This past weekend we had a blast camping with Mei Mei's mommy and daddy. Rudy had two other co workers and their families there also so we were able to meet and see their kids. It was really nice. One of the families had a little boy about 18 months old. Yin really like to look him over, when they were getting ready to leave the daddy said give Yin a hug. We walked over to me and gave me a super big hug and kiss! Everyone got a good laugh out of this except Yin.

We spent a good amount of time biking. I think that my total was over 20 miles, but Yuri, Mei Mei's daddy and Rudy had the most. Yuri was on his bike from the second he was up until bedtime. I can't believe that last year at this time he still rode with training wheels.

I learned a new card game and by the end of the evening everyone was mad because I won both games. Beginners luck I guess. I am glad to have spent the weekend with our favorite pals. We are all eagerly awaiting Mei Mei's arrival. Then Yin and Yuri will have a new pal from China to play with.

A great time was had by all now we are home and I am trying to catch up on house chores.

Kicking & Screaming

Today Yuri, Yin and I went to the local Goodwill. I love to shop here. They have a VERY good selection of books and most of their things are nice. They are very organized and keep the store really clean. Yin and Yuri were playing with the toys while I was looking at the books. When it was time to go I told the kids that they could each get one item.

Yuri picked a little truck for $.79 and Yin had a little ABC game. I picked her up and asked if she wanted the item. She began to scream and yell. "PLAY! PLAY!" I clamly told her that we were going to take the item home did she want to do that... Well from there it just got worse. She continued to scream as if I were murdering her and I put her and Yuri's items back and we began to leave. I clamly took her to the car and placed her in her seat. All this time she was still screaming at the top of her lungs.


Finally I got her buckled in and one of the Goodwill ladies was returning from lunch. I told her that I was not kidnapping some child that was my own monster in there yelling. She just laughed. ( I am in there alot, so they knew that they were muy kids)

I am not really sure the proper way to handle a temper tanturm. Should I let her lay on the floor and just have it out? I really hate to spank I mean she was already crying what good would spanking do? I tried to remain clam and talk to her in a calm voice, but still...

To this day Yuri has NEVER had a tanturm. UGH!!! This must have come from Rudy's family. (Usually know is when I blame the birth parents Hee HEE!)

I can safely say one thing. My parents would have whipped my A$$! Any advice? No I cannot use a muzzle on the kid either.

Calgon take me AWAY!!!!

Babysitter

Well boys and girls mark this day on your calendar. It has finally happened. I was at the local Video Rental aka Movie Gallery and while we were checking out. The lady asked... "Oh! She's so cute are you babysitting?"... "Babysitting?" I stammered... "No, this is my daughter."

This was a weird experience for me I have heard and been asked many things my favorite being a small boy of 2 or 3 at Wal-Mart asking his daddy " What's wrong with her eyes?" Then his dad swiftly kicking him in the hind end! Not hard mind you, but still.

People say the craziest things!

Camping Fun?

We are going camping this weekend with our good friends Mei Mei's Mommy and Daddy. We usually have a pretty good time. Mei Mei's daddy works with Rudy and Mei Mei's mommy and I have become very good freinds over the past 5 years or so...

We are going to a park that is about 1 hour north of here. This is a really nice park. It has two style's of camp grounds located in the park a very rustic setting and then a very field child friendly setting. We will probably park in the field side. This is near the shower house which can relly be a blessing (especially if you know Rudy) Hee Hee!!!

I really love to go camping, but there are things that I hate. I hate buying the food and trying to figure out what we are going to eat. Lord forbid Yuri doesn't have any gogart! I really hate packing the camper with clothes, food, supplies, blankets, pillows, bathroom products, and all the like. I stress out each time for at least 3 hours after arrival trying to figure out what I forgot. Yin really needs her diapers! I hate the clean up. I am a neat freek so sue me. I like the camper to be neat. So at least once sometimes twice a day you can find me on my knees mopping the floor in the camper. I really dislike campfire smoke. Okay I said it. I know that it is crazy for a person to go camping who hates the smoke, but I do!

I am sure that the people that go with me will have the same kind of complaints. They have to hear me moan and groan for a week before we go.

Then when I get home I have a mountain of wash to do. I remember going camping with my parents as a child. I couldn't understand why my mom did not want to go ever single weekend. What a nightmare 3 kids must have been for her. In addition to three kids and my dad, who lets face it, is the worst, she had a least five horses to pack food, water, koolaid ( in case they wouldn't drink the water), and all the equipment for them plus spare equipment in case something broke. It seems to me that she packed for a week straight. Got gripped at for all the things not there and then unpacked for a week straight.

God Bless you Mommy! You made our camping trips GREAT!

Dinner Decisions

Today I made our dinner reservations for when we go to Disney. Since we are going during Disney's slowest times. We got free meals. This dinner feature would have cost us $450.00, but during part of August and September it is FREE FREE FREE. We sat down a few weeks ago to make some kinda plans for where we would like to eat. It was really hard to decide . We need places that 1. the kids would like 2. that would allow two wild kids 3. that would still have time slots left 4. that we wouldn't have to get to fancy to eat at 5. that just had good food!

One of the places I heard was good is called the California Grill located at the top of the Contempory Resort, but it was a shirt and tie kinda place that would use 2 of our dinner tickets. I really didn't want to use two suppers to eat here so instead we are eating at...

Sunday - Crystal Palace -this is a buffet - lupper Magic Kingdom
Monday - 50's Diner Cafe - early supper - MGM
Tuesday- San Angel - supper- located in Mexico at Epcot
Wednesday- Donald's Restorontosaur - Character breakfast- Animal Kingdom
Thursday - Sci Fi Cafe- supper - MGM

We still have 5 counter service meals and 1 free meal at Planet Hollywood. I am not sure that we will be able to get much done other than eat. We also have five snacks each. I am gonna get one of those Disney Planners to help with the rest.

We are about $60.00 short of the money we want to have saved. So we should easily have enough by September. They asked if we had anything special going on while we were there. On the 18th we will celebrate or 13th wedding anniversary, so maybe we will get a free bottle of shampoo!

We have been saving points on our Hilton Honors program each time Rudy travels thru work her puts these points on his card and then we get free hotel nights. We should have enoug for two night and possible three by the time September gets here. This will allow us to take our time when traveling down to Florida.

So if anyone has any dining or travel suggestions let us know. We will be filling up with gas so as not to run out and have to coast into the stations!