No pictures again. Can't figure out how to get the pictures from the back-up hard drive to this computer. I could just ask my husband, but that would make sense.

Anyway, off to the beach again this weekend. Blair has to work, but he really didn't seem upset that we were leaving for the weekend. In fact, he suggested we stay for 2 nights. Someone wants a few evenings to himself, me thinks.
The girls and can be found at the beach!

Speaking of the girls, Brennyn's constant stranger touching, talking, etc. doesn't seem to be getting better. I know this screams out attachment issue, and it may very well be. However, to me it seems to be that she just has not caught up socially. It's like she doesn't understand that people can be strangers. Obviously she was never taught not to talk to strangers, in fact she would have been encouraged to speak/touch people visiting the orphanage. Also, her orphanage had so many nannies/etc.(it was a very large orphanage, kind of a "showcase" where many people would visit/tour. She would have been used to seeing new people all the time, I imagine.
Again, she is also a very, very curious child. She is the type of kid who would stick something in the electrical socket to see what it was (this may or may not have almost happened). She loves to grab at jewellery, belts, etc., whether she knows the person wearing said item, or not.
It also doesn't help that people think she is the same age as Avery, they can't believe she only just turned 3.

My girls are growing up. Brennyn is little miss independent.
The other day I ran to answer the phone. I was on it for 2 minutes, hung up and realized that Brennyn wasn't in the room. Avery figured she was upstairs, I looked out the back (we have a fenced in yard, no worries there), nothing. Suddenly a very naked Brennyn comes running out of the bathroom "mommy, I did it". Yes, she went the bathroom, took off her clothes, sat on the toilet, went pee and wiped her own bum. She was so proud of herself, and so were we. I was more in shock. When that girl wants to do something, she does it! Now if I could only get Avery to go pee by herself, sigh (she wants me to wipe her bum all the time, even though she is very capable of doing it herself).

Speaking of Avery, she insists on reading stories every night to Brennyn. She also helps Brennyn (whether Brennyn really needs help or not) all the time, and really seems to be loving spending time with her sister. In fact, she told me she doesn't really need to play with friends because has Brennyn.
Of course, I did overhear her say "Brennyn why don't you go outside and play in traffic" yesterday.

Good bye hard drive

Our computer has died a slow death. It wasn't a surprise, the poor thing had been acting a little temperamental for months now. Yet, each day we pushed that button and that magical light would glow. My husband kept taking it to the repair shop, where they insisted nothing was wrong (it would always start for them), and sure when he would bring it home it did start. The next time we would try and turn it on, nothing. Yet, if we kept trying it would start eventually, until yesterday. Thank goodness he bought the little back up thingy (I am so technological, they should hire me at future shop).
Anyway, all the blogs I had bookmarked are gone for now, my IPOD music gone. At least all our pictures are saved in the backup.

Secretly, I think my husband is pleased. He has run out to buy a new hard drive as I type this. Not pleased to spend the money (because that is in short supply around these parts since someone isn't working a paying gig these days), but delighted to buy some new toy.
Oh well, what can you do? It's only money right, right??

Back to reality, I think

Beach time is over for another week. Summer passes so quickly. We had a full week of playing in the sand and surf, going for a nature hike, attending the first annual Orangeville ribfest, having faces painted (the kids, not me), and watching Dr. Who season finales (me, not the kids).
Yes, my husband got me hooked on Dr. Who. I won't give into the Star Trek, not my cup of tea, but Dr. Who had me in the first 2 minutes of the first episode (the new ones, not the oldie goldies).

Brennyn went on her very first ride, with Nana. I was a tad nervous, thinking she would try and climb out (it was a variation of the swing ride) but Brennyn proved me wrong. She LOVED it. Her face lit up as soon as the ride started moving and she did not stop smiling. Like my husband said, this girl is a bit of a daredevil. She will try anything, but if she doesn't like it she will let you know!
Avery has turned into the big sister this week. She insists on "reading" Brennyn bedtime stories at night and helping her brush her teeth. Kind of makes my heart swell a little. It would probably swell more if I didn't hear her bossing her around and trying to give Brennyn time outs, but you take what you can get!

Not much posting going on around here. Too busy having fun in the hot, hot sun. That and the trailer doesn't seem to have internet access, or a TV ,or phone. Just the way we like it, except if it's raining and the kids are going stir crazy (thank goodness for movies and a laptop to play them on).
We're heading back to the beach for a few days next week. This time with the girls. Blair and I had a few days all alone at the trailer, but it just felt so strange to be there without the girls. It was nice to go on a 2 hour beach walk though.
We also lucked in to a restaurant (cute little Irish pub in town) having a Tuesday $2.50 special. I've never seen Blair so excited. Wings, salads, fries, any food that is bad for you and all for the low price of $2.50. I think he may have teared up a little. I really wish I had my camera that evening, he was down right giddy.
Guess where we may be taking the girls for dinner next Tuesday. We dine in style around here!

No more time to write, have to get ready for the beach!

pondering

This post is not child related, nope it's all about me. Warning, I may babble again.

I am still pondering my decision to search for birth family. I mean my own birth family. I've done the old google search and there is just too much useless info out there. I'd have to sit at the good old computer for hours to possibly find nothing.
I did actually find someone on facebook who had the same name as my birth mother and was from the same town. It took me a week, but I finally got up the courage to send a quick message. However, it wasn't the right person (I had a feeling it wasn't, this person was too young looking in her profile pic.)
I guess receiving a message back ignited some dormant feelings. I feel this need to search now. Yet, I don't think I want to meet this person/people. I think it's more the curiosity to know where you come from, it's all about the genetics. I want to know if I really am of German heritage. Do I have bio siblings?
It's strange, because even though I feel the desire to do this, I don't think of this person as a relative. It's hard to explain. I guess I feel like I have my relatives (and I have a lot of them). I never felt like I wasn't part of my family. I know other adoptees do feel this way, like they don't fit in. My family is my family. Yes, I struggle/struggled when people ask what my background is (oh, and for some reason just saying Canadian doesn't seem to cut it). When I say my parent's are of English/Scottish heritage people say "you don't look English".
Of course, these days the attention is off me. Everyone is more interested in my girls. This is a question Brennyn is going to get for the rest of her life though. With Avery, people know immediately she is Chinese. Brennyn, they ask all sorts of questions and the odd person even says "really, she is from China".
Anyway, see I warned about the babbling.
I guess I am going to search, somehow. I just don't know how to go about it yet. Believe it or not, it was much easier to locate my daughter's birth family in China, but that involved a lot of luck.

I do it!

Brennyn's speech has taken off. It's amazing to me how fast children can learn a language. In our case, having an older sister to copy has made a big difference.

Brennyn's favourite thing to say right now is: I DO IT. She says it about once every 5 minutes or so. I love it. She is becoming such an independent 3 year old, even getting into her carseat all by herself.

She also loves to say "corner Avery". For some reason Brennyn loves it when Avery is sent for time out. She doesn't love it as much when she has time out. Yes, had to start the time outs for Brennyn, some may not agree with it (never said I was super nanny, hmm what's the opposite of super nanny). Her time outs are very infrequent and usually involve hitting Avery or the dog. I will say that I find it difficult to put her in time out for giving her sister a wallop, because Avery is in her face pushing every last button. That's my Avery, what can I say. She's an expert button pusher at the age of 4.

Let's see what else does Brennyn say lately:
"ohhh, a bird in sky"
"oh thank-you mommy" (I love it, you'd have to hear her say it to understand, so cute)
"good dinner mom bum" (thanks goes to Avery and Blair for that one).
"where mommy" "oh, there you are"
"treehouse on now" (again, thanks to Miss Avery)
"I wannnnt it" "me, me, me" "mine, mine, mine" (Avery and Brennyn)
"NOOOOOOO"

Brennyn still says hello to everyone. Sure, people think it's so cute, but it's something we have to work on. She is very attached to her mommy, always looking around for me, hugging me, etc. However, she still displays some of the characteristic behaviours of having lived in an orphanage for 2 years. One of which is attention getting. I believe that, while she is a very outgoing child, Brennyn says hello to people because she gets more attention. She was in a CWI that had many, many visitors. Families would visit the orphanage, officials, etc. (it was a very large CWI) and often bring treats for the kids. I would imagine that the more outgoing and friendly you were, the more treats/contact/attention you could be given.

Ahhh summertime

Been spending lots of time at the beach/trailer. A few impromptu visits already. How can a person resist when the temperature is reaching 34 degrees and it's only the first week of July?? Also, some cheap person (cough, cough, the one decision I will never live down) insisted on not purchasing air conditioning 7 years ago when we bought the house.
Unfortunately, this is the heat wave week and we are stuck at home. We've been hanging out at the local splash pad and having a blast!
Blair starts his second wave of vacation tomorrow. Back at the trailer next week for a few nights(umm, without the children, shh don't tell anyone).

I'm not sure who was more excited about the birthday, Avery or Brennyn. Avery was awake at 6:30 (after a late night too) ready "it's party time mom". She assisted in all the present opening "because I'm the big sister", and tried out all the gifts.

There was a slight cake disaster in the morning, but after an emergency trip to Shoppers Drug Mart for cake mix it was all good (holiday in Canada, so no grocery stores were open). I will say this, just because you watch ace of cakes, an expert cake baker this does not make. Also, for future reference to myself, make the cake the day before! My darling husband did mention something along the lines of "it's just family, who cares what the cake looks like"? I just wanted Brennyn to have the best first birthday at home! The second cake turned out just fine in the end! I'm so calm under pressure, the girls may have learned a new word yesterday (although I do believe they have already heard their daddy utter the same word while watching soccer).