Halloween is Almost Here

We went to the Zoo Boo at the Memphis Zoo this past weekend. It was really fun. We went on a hay ride and on the haunted train ride. The girls were dressed in their costumes. Buttercup is a zombie rocker this year. She didn't wear her make-up to the zoo. Snapdragon is NiHao Kialan. Tomorrow night....we carve pumpkins!

New Zoo Exhibit

Snapdragon and I spent the day at the zoo today until we had to pick Buttercup up from school. I subbed two days this week. (Not bad because this was only a 4 day week for the Catholic schools.)

We explored the new zoo exhibit, Teton Trek, for a member's preview day. It is a beautiful exhibit. It is modeled after the lodge in Yellowstone Park and it even has a model of Old Faithful. The grizzly bear cubs were adorable to watch. It was hard to get close photos of them. Snapdragon loved watching one of the cubs swim in the river. The river is stocked with fish for the bears to catch and eat. The timber wolves were very active today. I was able to get a video clip of them playing.

Buttercup has a busy weekend ahead filled with learning choreography at the dance studio, a volleyball tournament on Saturday and she is fitting in her first slumber party at a friend's house since the move.

Autumn Moon Festival

We celebrated the Chinese Harvest Moon Festival this weekend as a family. The Moon Festival is similar to our Thanksgiving. In China, it is a day for giving thanks for family. It is celebrated by having a meal with family and gazing at the full moon. The children usually are given paper lanterns.

Buttercup and I found a great Chinese market in midtown and had fun adventures shopping there. It brought back many memories from China. They had tanks full of creatures you could take home for dinner. We loaded our basket with items to cook our own Chinese feast at home and we even bought traditional Chinese mooncakes. The mooncakes are round to symolize the moon and the love of family that is like a circle and never ends. They are molded with symbols for prosperity and family on the top.

Our meal was wonderful, but it was a little spicy. I didn't read the label for the stir fry sauce very well! We enjoyed everything except for the mooncakes. I bought cakes made with lotus seed paste which are supposed to be the best. We didn't care for them too much. We decided that next year we would stick with American Moonpies. We had those for dessert last year because I couldn't get traditional mooncakes.

After dinner, the girls had a great time looking for glow sticks that were hidden all over the house. This is our version of paper lanterns. In a few weeks, we are going to a Moon Festival celebration with the Families with Children from China group here in Memphis.

Fall Fun

The girls have been having fun getting ready for fall and Halloween. They made a Halloween Haunted House together a couple of weekends ago and last weekend we went to a local pumpkin patch and made scarecrows. It actually feels like fall here! A big change from desert living. We miss the sun a little though. It rained two weeks agos non-stop, but last week was beautiful. It's raining again this week.

Simple Days

A few Saturdays ago I caught Snapdragon lining up her babies for "circle time". She was reading them a story and singing songs with them. It was too cute. I sat at the top of the steps watching until she discovered me and then she started posing for the camera.

Buttercup has decided to be a big help and has actually already mowed the lawn twice for Lou. She does a great job. This past Monday she came home and did the front yard without even checking with Lou. She told me Dad would want her to do it because it was finally not raining.

Speaking of no rain, it rained for almost a week straight and I think we are going to get more today. Monday it was clear, so I took Snapdragon to the zoo for a little while. She loves to visit the pandas and watch the sea lion show. Of course, we have to ride the train and the carousel on every visit.

I have been getting quite a few sub jobs. I subbed yesterday and I will be at Buttercup's school for three days next week. I have decided to stick with the Catholic schools for now because between the five schools I personally visited to deliver my resume, they are keeping me busy enough and I would like to teach in a Catholic school again. Subbing just two days a week is enough for me. It allows me to meet more people, work on getting an "in" somewhere to get a full time teaching job again and get my teaching fix. I love to teach! I miss having my own classroom, but subbing is fun. I get to teach, but I don't have to do all the planning and grading!

Orphanage Video

I found this video on YouTube. It is not from our trip, but it is another wonderful adoption story. This is Snapdragon's orphanage. The guide, Grace, was also our guide and the nanny in the video was one of Snapdragon's nannies. The first row of beds (next to the wall) that is shown was where Snapdragon slept. It was exciting to see this again and brought back many great memories. We pray that all the babies have found loving homes or will soon find them.

Another First

Snapdragon went to her first day of preschool in Tennessee. She loved it! She talked about making her craft, eating her snack and even praying before eating lunch. She was disappointed that it was too wet to play outside today. I love the photos I took of the girls before school. Snapdragon is very excited for school and Buttercup (typical 6th grader) looks "thrilled" to be going to school! LOL

Snapdragon's backpack has a change of clothes, some pull-ups and her folder....very light. Buttercup's has 2 binders, 4 books and 3 folders...very heavy. No wonder the enthusiasm of school disappears as time marches on!

While Snapdragon was at school, I made the rounds to 4 other parochial schools and introduced myself and turned in resumes. I am already on the approved sub list with the diocese. The trip today turned out to be a smart move because I have 2 sub jobs lined up next week and a possible long term sub position in the wings. I'll be back in saddle (or classroom) before I know it! Our God is an awesome God!