Happy Birthday, USMC!

Happy Birthday to my father, Colonel G.E. Lindgren, USMC Retired, and to all of the other Marines and Marine Families.

Click on the link below to view an amazing tribute to those who sacrifice their own lives to keep us safe and free.

~ Semper Fi ~

https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/holiday/usmc2009/default.asp?isc=gdr1162e

Mary

Halloween Fun - Better Late Than Never!

This year found us celebrating Halloween (does one really celebrate Halloween?) all weekend long since it actually fell on a Saturday. Neil began by making Halloween Ghost cookies with the littles.

Friday night found us at our wonderful next-door neighbors, Noel & Jackie, for their Halloween Party blowout! We had such a wonderful time!

Noel & Jackie's pet monkey

The Love Guru (aka Neil) & Batgirl (aka Livie)

Cinderella (aka Noel & Jackie's adorable daughter, Mia)

Bob Marley (aka our neighbor, Filipe

Our neighbor, Jackie (Geisha), with another guest who was a cross-dresser of sorts (he cracked me up...right down to his exposed thong seen via the back!)

Our neighbor, Noel (Chinese Man) with The Littles

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The following day we got ready and headed over to our best friends and my sister-in-laws neighborhood to trick-or-treat since we live in a more rural community where the homes are spread out and there are very few streetlights.

Sleeping Beauty (aka Sophie)

Trick-or-Treat!

The Crypt Keeper (our adorable son, Chris...I'm such a proud mom! LOL)

Batgirl scores some candy

Not just any werewolf, but my husband, Neil! Neil found great delight in hiding in the bushes and behind parked cars and then randomly jumping out and scaring strangers. He eventually struck out without us to scare poor unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.

Tired after pulling in a lot of loot candy

Mary

Free Love's Journey 2 Book!

In 2004, Love Without Boundaries Foundation published the book "Love's Journey: A Collage of the China Adoption Experience." Parents from around the world submitted photos, essays, and poems about what their adoption experiences meant to them.

"Love's Journey 2: The Red Thread" is our second volume in this series and has over 250 color pages in a beautiful coffee table style, hardbound book. This new volume uses the imagery of "the red thread," a popular belief in the adoption community, to show how our lives become entwined with our children's, as adoption weaves a beautiful tapestry of love and family. The moving photos and essays in this volume, again submitted by parents from around the world, talk about discovering the thread that connects us with our adoptive children, weaving the fabric as our children become integrated into our families, and cherishing the intricate tapestry that evolves.

LWB is giving its supporters an opportunity to receive a book for no charge, except for shipping, simply by telling others about our organization. To receive your book, please be sure to follow these instructions carefully:

1. Post to your blog, Facebook, or other social media page regarding Love Without Boundaries (www.lovewithoutboundaries.com).
2. Make your payment of $5 for media mail shipping at: https://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/donate.cfm
3. In the Notes section, be sure to indicate "LJ2 Shipping" AND include the link to your blog, Facebook, or other social media page so we can see your post.
4. If you would prefer to purchase a book or would like to receive additional books, please visit the link in step 2 above and make your payment for $15 per book ($10 for the book, plus $5 for media mail shipping). In the Notes section, indicate "LJ2 Book and Shipping"
5. U.S. shipping only. Please contact us at info@lwbmail.com for a quote on international shipping or with any questions.

Thank you for helping spread the word about LWB and our efforts on behalf of orphaned and impoverished children in China.

Mary

Autumn Moon Festival-秋天中秋节

This year was the 5th year our FCC South Florida (South Florida - Families with Chinese Children) group celebrated Autumn Moon Festival with dinner at Miss Yip Chinese Cafe on South Beach in Miami Beach. Dinner was yummy and the company was excellent! Unfortunately, Neil and Chris were not with us this year, as Chris was playing in his first Miramar Optimist Football game since having injured his ankle several weeks ago. Although we missed "our boys" terribly, we were THRILLED to learn that Chris' team FINALLY won a game! Woot-woot-woot! Naturally, I chalk it up to the fact that Chris was injured in the first game, and this is his first game back. Look at what a contribution my amazing athelete makes to his team (yes, I am biased and yes, I feel this is acceptable since I am a PROUD MOM!!!)!!!!!

Our note that was attached to a balloon that was later released on Miami Beach

Me and "my girls"

Heading to the beach following dinner

I hope all of our friends - both those from Asia as well as our friends with children adopted from Asia - had a wonderful Autumn Moon Festival Celebration/秋天中秋节!

Mary

Pearly Whites!

The first photo shows the effects of baby-bottle mouth. While Livie's was relatively mild (in large part since we adopted her when she was 18 months old), it was present for sure. She had numerous cavities and decay, the most obvious being that in between her two top front teeth. She was very aware of this, and would always try to floss it away (I sure wish it worked that way! LOL). Although we had been to one pediatric dentist to begin her treatment, the experience was a nightmare and ended with the wicked crazy woman dentist actually drilling on Livie without having given her any pain/numbing medicine.
After that horrid experience it took a couple of YEARS - yes, years - before I was able to sweat talk Livie into going back to the dentist. This time around we went to a pediatric dentist based on the recommendation of a friend. Our new dentist turned out to be FABULOUS, and did an amazing job on Livie's teeth. Livie still has one more appointment to go to in order to get her entire mouth completely healthy, but we are already so happy to see her new and lovely smile!

Mary

First Day of School

Chris (who refused to look at the camera!) - 5th Grade

Olivia (Kindergarten), Lindsay (10th Grade) & Sophie

Getting ready to go inside for her first day as a Kindergartner (poor kid is squinting due to the sunlight!)!

Livie takes her seat in her new classroom.

The first morning went off without a hitch. This year we have 3 kids at three different school in two different towns (Sophie is at home with me this year). This makes getting everyone to their assigned schools on time very difficult, so for this year Neil is pitching in to help and he is taking Chris to school every morning, while I take Lindsay and Livie to their schools.
After school begins the task of my picking up all three kids, a feat that literally takes me 1 1/2 every day! It is crazy, but we are hanging in there. While picking up the kids Sophie has used this time to take a nap (hey, whatever works! LOL), which allows me to listen to FOX without anyone whining for me to turn it to Disney Radio or 20 on 20 (this is at least the case until Livie gets in the car, and then my talk radio time is officially over!).
We feel very blessed with our children's teachers this year, and I have high hopes for each of the kids to have a wonderful year!

Mary

Our QB - At Least For A Little While

Although Chris has played flag football for several years now, this year marked the first time he played tackle football. To say I was nervous would be an understatement! But, he LOVES football. Eat. Sleep. Dream. FOOTBALL!
Chris' position was Quarter Back, and I was amazed how this same kid who, 5 minutes after taking a spelling test would forget how to spell 75% of the week's spelling words, could commit to memory numerous plays and how to execute said plays.
Unbelievable.
And so the first game came.
We were excited (ok, so I was more panicked than anything else, but I suppose that excitement was in somewhere in my vat of emotions).

Chris' personal cheering section

First series and thanks to Chris' amazing talent at QB (yes, I know I am biased!), his team scores a touchdown. And then they go on to the extra point......

......which after a DOGPILE did not work out so well for Chris.

And so my baby tough warrior is down on the field.

After the trip to the Pediatric Emergency Room he came home with his leg wrapped and we put him in an ice-water circulating pack. The following Monday involved a trip to the Pediatric Orthopedic where is was confirmed that Chris had a break at the growth plate in his ankle.
Three weeks were spent in a cast and although he got his cast off last Monday, he is still very tender and walking with a limp. Neil is taking him to the Physical Therapist on Monday, and hopefully we can have him up and around sans the limp very soon.

Mary