Sunday, September 28, 2008

Happy Birthday, Aunt Rhonda!


Happy Birthday Aunt Rhonda! We love you!




Saturday, September 27, 2008

BFF




Sunday, September 21, 2008

Extreme Makeover - Bedroom Edition

Thanks to a $200 giftcard I received as an award at work, and a terrific sale at Macy's yesterday, I am working on making over our master bedroom. Since we moved into this house 6 1/2 years ago, our master bedroom has never really been decorated. The window treatments came with the house and room has always been very neutral and boring! Not anymore! It's not complete yet, but here's a peak at before and some aftershots. The bedding set also has "euro shams" but we don't have the pillows to fill them yet. Also, I am going to do something else with the wall art. Will post again when the room is finished, probably sometime in October.

I am now inspired and I plan to do our living room and bathroom in the coming months as well.






Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Prayers Please!

Please pray for my cousin Kevin's wife Sarah. (I guess that makes her my cousin-in-law?) Anyway, Kevin and Sarah had a beautiful baby girl on 8-8-08... a miracle baby, really, because Sarah has been battling ovarian cancer since 2005. Until about 4 months ago, Sarah 'thought' she was in remission. This turned out to be far from the truth. The nasty cancer returned. From what I understand, Sarah has been receiving chemo since June. Unfortunately, recent tests have indicated some setbacks. I don't know the details, so I'd rather not assume. Please pray for Sarah, Kevin and Baby Natalie. Please pray that God can heal this young family. Thanks.

Sincerely,
The Cormans

Happy Birthday, Uncle Chris!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Chris! We love you!



Friday, September 12, 2008

First Ever Field Trip!

Camille's Pre-K class took their first field trip of the year today. The class went to Johnson's Farm to pick apples. Last night Camille said "Tomorrow I am going on a big yellow school bus with my friend's and my teacher. I am going to sit next to Anthony on the bus. We are going to pick apples, Mommy, just me and my friends and my teacher... and not you. " Well then! I guess that's that.
So when I picked Camille up from school I asked her about the trip. She told me it was great. The kids went on a hayride, picked apples and fed the farm animals. Camille said that she especially loved feeding the sheep.
No photos since I was not allowed to go on the trip. I'm so glad my big, independent four-year-old had such a special time!

Monday, September 08, 2008

Violin & Cello Concert



Camille is "all about the violin". That is what she will tell you. She talks about it all the time and regularly plays the air violin. It all began when saw Joshua Bell play the violin on an episode of Sesame Street. From that moment on she was hooked. We talk about violins, watch clips of violinists (especially kids) on Youtube and anyone playing the violin or the fiddle on the Lawrence Welk Show (still a favorite) gets extra applause at our house.

Tonight, the local Italian club hosted a violin and cello duet. Mike and I took Camille to see it. She was absolutely thrilled and glued to the concert. Each time the duet started a piece, she cupped her hands to her cheeks and squealed, "Mommy, this one is my favorite!" She danced, she conducted, she played her air violin. But the most amazing part came during the last song when she said, "Mommy, when I close my eyes I can feel the notes swirling around my head." This from a child who just turned 4 years old. Pretty deep.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Chinese School

I have a confession... sometimes I forget Camille is Chinese. When I look at Camille, I see a little girl... MY little girl. But when I see Camille in a group, I am reminded that she is something more than just my little girl. She is our little girl who also happens to be Chinese. Mike and I are Caucasian. I am mix of Scottish and Irish (from my father) and German (from my mother). Mike is a mix of Irish (from his mother) and European Jewish (from his father and hence our last name). We know a little about our heritage and culture, which is mostly American. Mike took Irish dance as a kid. We both have learned a lot about Jewish heritage from Mike's father. But we are not Chinese. We know very little about Chinese culture and, though Mike is learning Mandarin, neither of us feels we can teach Camille about her birthright. Camille is an American. She gave up Chinese citizenship for American citzenship, not by her choice, but because of us. We adopted her, but I still think we owe her that birthright. To learn Chinese culture and language to the best of her ability as a Chinese-American. It was not an easy decision for us. It is a decision that I think every parent of a child adopted internationally faces. Jewish children attend Hebrew school... Greek children go to Greek school... and so it goes, Chinese children in South Jersey attend the Chinese School of South Jersey . We have decided to enroll Camille in the "B" track, for children whose parents do not speak Chinese at home.

The first day was very intense. Ms. Huang, Camille's teacher, has been teaching at the Chinese School for 11 years. She is very good and I think Camille will learn a lot, but because the classes are only held once a week, for 3 hours, I think it's going to be a challange for everyone. There are about 16 students in the Kindergarten B class. All are either Chinese or 1/2 Chinese. They range in age from 4 - 6 years.

Camille with her kindergarten teacher, Ms. Huang


The kindergarten class take a snack break in the cafeteria.

Some new friends from Chinese School

The children made a frog craft.

Go Eagles!



Those of you who know us, know that we are Phanatical, Philadelphia Eagles Phans! Those who know Camille know it was tough for Mommy to get these shots, since our girly-girl does not like to wear pants! (Yes, I did bribe her to take these pictures...)

GO EAGLES!


TOUCHDOWN!
An oldie (from 2005), but one of my all-time favorites! Doesn't Camille look tough?


Friday, September 05, 2008

First Homework... Complete!

Camille's first pre-k homework assignment was to work with her family to create a coat of arms. In the top section, we were to put our family name. In the middle-left, a picture of a favorite family food, in the middle-right, a picture of a favorite family activity and the bottom, a family portrait. Here's the result... Camille is very proud... as she should be.


Wednesday, September 03, 2008

World's Cutest Photo...

A couple of weeks ago, Camille spent the day with my good friend Donna and her 4 girls. She took this photo of all 5 girls holding hands to form a star. Clockwise from the top are Camille (in blue), Nadia, Stella, Tess and Ellie.


Tuesday, September 02, 2008