Holiday card

We went to the intracoastal park to try to get some photos for the Holiday Card. Out of all the pictures we took this is my fav. This is perfect Alex and Bebo! Blossom is 4-ever in our hearts. Alex tells everyone I have 2 dogs-Blossom is in Heaven and in my Heart!

Santa Paws 2011

Castor made his annual appearance as Santa Paws at Pet Smart. We got Alex, Bebo, Baby Amelie, Annie and mom Kristen in the pic. Ame's Daddy David, the 3 D's, and Myself didn't make it into the group photo. It's hard enough to get one kid or 1 pup looking th right way....Oh well there's always next year!

Alex Turned 5 years old

Alex is now 5! His birthday weekend consisted of his party Friday at CEC with friends, family train ride on his Birthday and visit with Santa and ended with going to see Christmas lights and SNOW!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our most UN-traditional Thanksgiving was spent at Lion Country Safari. Great time! Not busy, no lines and Animals! Alex looked in on his turkey-still thawing in the fridge-when we got home. Needless to say 5am Friday was up roasting the Turkey for his traditional meal.

Highlights

It has been a while for the posts. So here's the higlights:

Alex started VPK!

And Soccer...

Hanging with the Gang at DLR's and Ms. Kim & Brea's! Got to meet our newest boy Charlie!

Annual Blessing of the Pets-tough one, we miss Blossom terribly.

And up to date with Halloween. Gal Pal Gigi at the Monster Mash.

Blossom

Blossom lost her fight with cancer Monday 9-26-11. We love her and miss her terribly.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close with someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they miss someone very special to them, one who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the veloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so lonmg gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

author Unkown...

Gal Pal Gigi's 5th Birthday

Always fun at the 3D's and especially fun to celebrate Gigi's 5th!

Food, Fun, Pool, Pinata, Cupcakes and all the friends!

Summer gone...

I just looked and hadn't posted since the end of school and don't know where the time went.

Alex went to school camp. Basically camp at his preschool but since he changed classe rooms it became school camp.

We had multiple visits to Tampa to Shriners Childrens Hospital and he was fitted with his prostetic "helper hand". He wears it at home and we practice with playing with helper hand. He has yet to venture out with it on. Anyone who asks him about it-well he just tells them they have to come to his house to see it.

We took a trip to Ohio to see Aunt Soup and her family. Unkle Ron, KT, Josie, Antnee and buddy Leah.
And he met my cousins-Cousin Ray and Ellie.

His buddies Erin and Ella came by to see him when they were in town. He hadn't seen them in about 6 months sooo they were the "New Girls".

yellow belt

Well after the pre-school year with Karate Man once a week, Alex got his yellow belt. Needless to say since we went to the 'graduation" Alex did not do what he was supposed to be doing. We were assured by Sensei Franco that he did "great" the rest of the time....

ok no spell check

Phineas not the way I spelled it.

Disney Hollywood Studio

Super Fun at Disney Jr. Saw Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Handy Manny, and Little Einsteins. All his favorite Programs. But the Cars exhibit was closed as it's being revamped in anticpation for the new movie out this month. No Finneous and Ferb-not open yet-big let down. But by now he was ready to go home! Guess we'll just have to go back another time!

Disney Hotel

Hanging at the Hotel.

Animal Kingdom

Where's Tarzan?

Mama, Baba, Blue. Big Lou tried to keep Alex!

Of Course He wants to Brush the Sheep!

That's my guys!

One Year Home, Gotcha day May 19

It is hard to believe it has been one year since we went to China and returned home with Shi FuXing. The year flew by. Alex has blossomed and we think back over the past year how he has changed. I can only imagine how difficult it was for him but he always has such a great attitude for his young age. We are truly blessed. He is a the love of our life. We went back to Disney to celebrate our Gotcha Day Anniversary. We had the 4 park pass and only used Magic Kingdom. We went to Epcot the first night since it was open late. He got to see all his Characters again and loved Nemo. Riding the Monorail was the overall hit.

Buddy Brea's Birthday

Great Fun At Monkey Joe's celebrating Gal Pal Brea's Party. It was great to catch up with friends that we haven't seen in quite some time and meet new ones! A little tough to keep track of Alex he kept disappearing in the bounce houses. Thanks to Baba for going in to keep track of him among all the other kids.

School Buddies at Jacobs B'day Party at Water Park

Survival at Chuck E Cheese-Lily's birthday Party

Jammin' 4 yr. olds to Miley Cyrus-party in the USA!

Unkle Tony 80th Birthday

April 2011

April was Busy month for the "R" family.
It all started with Unkle Tony turning 80 and that party, Alex had 3 Birthday parties, We had a small get together with our friends, an anniversay/book release party and Easter!

Aunt Soup

We were very lucky to have my lifelong friend "Sue" come to visit when she was in FL for a meeting. Alex did not want Aunt Soup to go to work and couldn't understand she went home. He figures that if she went home she was coming back to his home. We need to plan that trip to OH to see Aunt Soup again soon.....

Disney

We took Alex to Disney World last month to Meet Mickey and Minnie. We weren't too sure how it was going to play out but overall he did OK for his first trip with all the sights and sounds and activities. Some things he loved like Mickey and some he didn't-fireworks over the castle. "Go Home"! Castor Even rode Dumbo with him-Great Fun! The race cars were the best!

Gung Hay Fat Choy

We rang in the year of the Rabbit at the 3-D's. Alex had a great time with his Gal pals. He wasn't crazy about the fireworks but I think Mr. Ron had fun. The Dragon was a hit-thanks buddy Maddie. It was great fun to celebrate with all our friends!

NY Eve 2010

We spent the last few hours of 2010 with McKinley and her family. We look forward to 2011 and spending more time with them.

Alex really likes sparkles. Next year we'll need to get him some bling!

Happy New Year!

Meyers Girls

Alex got to spend some time with She-She's Grand daughters at the park when they were in town! Always fun to see them and play with Ella and Erin!

Visit from CT friends

We got to spend a few hours with our friends we met in Guangzhou China (and haven't seen since then) while they were in town visiting family. Rivas family: Sara, Jorge, Stevey, Mikey and Lily.

Christmas Morning 2010

What a super day! Santa was sooo good to Alex! We got to "opey" all the presents-then we had to "opey" all the packages-then found out that Santa left a JEEP!

Thanks to all our friends and family for their generosity!

1st USA birthday party-4years old

Our friend literallly took hundreds of pictures. One of these days we'll get them on....

Alex 4th birthday

We remembered China MaMa's (birth & foster) on Alex's special day.

Delray Tree

Delray Tree

Took a time out of the holiday festivities to go to Delray to the Tree and Carousel. Didn't Ice Skate even though it was pretty chilly that night!