blizzard of 2009

so yesterday we got some snow.

ok- that's an understatement.

we got A LOT of snow.

we lost count after 17 inches.

yesterday- I spent more time getting him dressed to go out in it- than he was actually out in it! today was a bit more of a success. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that the snow wasn't coming down in gale, blinding force on him.



Verdicts on the Snow:
xixi= LOVED it!
Zach- well= the verdict was out until today when he realized how many snowballs he could make.






it's not going anywhere anytime soon- so it looks like we'll be out there again tomorrow!

deck the halls...

been having fun around here getting ready for Christmas...







On Thursday we went to the Pizza Mall and visited Santa on thursday with our China friends from Baltimore- we did this last year too- cute pics! were hoping for a cute pic of the kiddos in their matching outfits...Zach took one look at the bearded old man and flipped out! we put him in the middle of XiXi and her 4 friends for one of the pics- pretty hilarious! They also have an amazing train display there every year! Zach was totally digging that!







XiXi's friends adore Zach- it's like he has 7 older lady friends who are at his beck and call! He just takes it all in stride!

Behold the Cookies and SNOW!!!

yesterday was one of those epic days...

I had about 15 McDaniel women over the bake and decorate Christmas cookies. I've been doing this almost every year I've been on staff- I've learned a few shortcuts over the years (like not rolling out and baking the cookies ahead of time, don't clean the house until AFTER everyone leaves b.c it'll get trashed with flour anyways!)

we had a blast- XiXi especially. she threw more than her fair share of flour at people, she caked it on the arms of one person, make designs with it on the backs of several shirts, and made a lot of "snow"! She also managed to talk one person into dressing up as Mary- complete withe baby Jesus in her tummy! too funny!







yesterday was also the first snow of the year- it was super fun getting zach out into the snow- I think the verdict is still out for him! XiXi loved crunching in it!

Random Snapshots

Ok- so this is the most random post...a good picture of my crazy, random life right now.

) I started back to work this week- THANKFULLY- my job is REALLY flexible time wise- and with Zach being home I'm going from 20 hours/week to 10 hours/week for the time being. I LOVE my job- I work withe some of the greatest college students on the entire planet. Tonite is our last worship gathering of the semester and it always PUMPS me up! We will have 3 students sharing how Jesus has changed them- those stories NEVER get old. Here's the flyer for the event- we've been posting it as our FB profiles and all across campus. Good stuff!


2) URBANA is 25 days days away! I can't believe it! We have 23 McDaniel students attending. I'll be there doing prayer. I'm super pumped and super I don't know what about leaving the kids home for 5 days. Ah- the joys of my job!



3) I have my Christmas cards already- along with the stamps, return address labels, and our mini highlights sheet (who has time to read 2 pages of our life this year- really!). Last nite I went to my friend Jodie's house for a Christmas Card Party- got 73 of the 160 cards addressed- still not assembled. My goal is to get them out by Christmas!

4) Monday I walked into the living room to find XiXi putting one of my 5 pound free weights on Zach's legs. When I asked her why- she told me it was to keep him from moving too close to the TV.

Yesterday I saw XiXi laying on top of Zach in the living room. When I asked her why- she told me she didn't want him moving too close to the TV and obstructing her view.

Gotta give the girl points for creativity!

5) I'm having 20+ McDaniel women over on Saturday to make and decorate cookies. Taking wagers on how much flour will be thrown this year. At least they are super sweet and clean up after themselves! tee hee hee!

that's it for now!

Three Weeks and Two Days later...

Sorry it has taken me so long to post. The last few weeks feel like a blur. This post is a bit long...hang in there!

We arrived home at 2:00 AM on November 8th- after traveling/flying for over 30 hours. Everyone adjusted well to EST except for me- it took me 10 days to get over the time zone change.

Zach is adjusting well. He loves exploring the house and the neighborhood. He loves playing with all of his new cars and trucks and legos. He loves trying to ride XiXi's big wheel. He loves chasing XiXi around. He loves scribbling on his art pad. He loves to laugh and smile.

the verdict is still out on the dog! he is slowly warming up to our furry canine friend- Xavier! :-)

XiXi is also adjusting to being a big sister and having to share the love and attention with someone else after being the sole recipient for the last 4.5 years. She has grown up so much since we flew out of Reagan on October 20. Much more confident, independent and nurturing. It was so much fun seeing China through her eyes. She just LOVED her time there! She talks about it all the time!

I'm adjusting to being a mom of two. We are so grateful to our wonderful friends at our amazing church who brought us meals the first few weeks we were back. We continue to be amazed at the ways God provides for us and these meals were such a tangible measure of that!

We were able to go to South Carolina for a quick trip for Thanksgiving. It was great seeing my parents my sisters, brother-in-law, and niece. Zach and Helen totally hit it off. I loved watching them play together!

At one point during- Helen came up to Zach and took a toy from him and he just looked at her and yelled, "MEI MEI!" (little sister) and started laughing. Mei Mei it is for Helen!

It was also fun to see Zach follow Ayi Jennie around again. His face just lit up when he saw her.

He loved getting to know his Lao Lao and Pop Pop- he would just smile and laugh everytime he saw them!

According to the doctors- Zach is in great health! 50% height and weight- on target for gross and find motor skills.

We had our first visit to the Hopkins Cleft Clinic last week. They are very optimistic about the palate repair and said they can do a great lip revision in the future as well. We are waiting to get scheduled for his palate surgery- it will probably be sometime in late January/early February.

So- yeah- we have a lot of be thankful to God for...a smooth and safe trip to and from China, Zach is adjusting well to our family (especially to MaMa after not wanting much to do with me in China!), our family is adjusting well to Zach.



Matching Christmas outfits courtesy of Lao Lao!





Belly Laughing on the Floor



What a difference 5 weeks makes!



Zach was not thrilled with XiXi's cuddling!


XiXi sure loves her DiDi!


Zach and his tractor! (this was Ross' when he was a kid!)



Cousins hanging out in their matching Oscar the Grouch shirts (in honor of Uncle Bo!)


Zach and Helen hitting it off!

Meet Zach and follow us on our journey!

Hey!
yes- it's been almost a year since I posted!

so- most of you blog readers know that we are going to China to adopt a little brother for XiXi! We are so pumped and can't wait!

we're just created a new blog documenting our journey and would love to have you follow us on our amazing journey to China to get Zach!

if you'd like to follow us- you can click here

Madame Butterfly

So-
Halloween came and went. XiXi wanted to be an azure butterfly and she wanted me to be a butterfly too!

I was on a quest- make a butterfly costume.

Saw a video clip on Martha Stewart.com

it looked SOOOO easy and doable.

Martha Stewart lies.

I spent days trying to figure out how to make the wire work with the panty hose. no luck. the best I could do was make the wings look like dragonflies. maybe. that would be a stretch.

the wings on Martha's video are fake. at least I think so!

anyway- glitter pant, gems, and lots of pretties later (all added by XiXi) we had a costume.

Assessorized with the help of matching black velvet dresses found on Ebay, 2 head bands, 4 pom-poms, and 4 pipe cleaner.

Ross completed the look by being an entymologist (which he made XiXi learn so she could sound smart!).

we were off on the quest for candy!

the wings didn't look THAT bad!

especially in light of the fake ones on martha's site!

REFRESH 2008

So tomorrow-Sunday is REFRESH 2008- InterVarsity's Fall Conference for students in the Baltimore/Western Maryland area.

I'm super pumped about what God will do this weekend.

We have a RECORD 198 students attending! We are maxing out the camp! This is the largest turnout we've ever had- the highest attendance before this being 145.

Our speaker is Michael Koh- a pastor at a church in Pasadena, CA. He is an incredible speaker- he has such incredible spiritual insights and is so in-tune with the Holy Spirit. He spoke at our conference in 2005 and I have never seen so many students respond as powerfully as they did that weekend. Lots of students received prayer and major healing and several students made decisions to follow Jesus that weekend. Powerful stuff!

So- I'm expecting God to do great things this weekend. He is doing a mighty work in this generation of students in our area.

So- if you're the praying type- PLEASE PRAY for this weekend!

we have 47 McDaniel students attending (record number!) including several seekers!

also- please pray for me- I woke up yesterday with my 4th cold this fall (ugh!)! and I'm the MC this weekend (I know- shy little old me- what were they thinking?) and leading a seminar on "Power Packed Prayer- intercessory prayer for your campus".

I will pretty busy and wired all weekend and I need God to strengthen me- otherwise the gig is up with me!

Thanks Guys!
God is GOOD!!!

one more picture

so- for my 4 friends who chimed in with their ideas of where XiXi was sleeping- it was in the linen closet at the end of our hallway-

and yes- it wasn't until I posted the picture that I realized it was once wired- which makes me think the "linen closet on steroids" as my friend, Tami, calls it- was not always a linen closet on steroids.

this last sleeping picture was taken in February- she made a bed in a box.

today she made a bed of pillows on the living room floor and we "took a nap"

oh to be 4.

encore

since I have have at least 5 people following my blog- here is an encore sleeping picture- taken last fall-

can anyone guess where xixi was sleeping?

unusual spot

so- last week xixi was being really quiet in the living room. I started to get nervous- as a good mother should. What could she possibly be getting into?

I went into the family room and couldn't find her- wasn't on either of the sofas asleep, or behind them, or in any of her usual napping spots.

fear and panic levels increased. where is she and what is she doing?

then I thought- look up.

there she was- balanced perfectly on the top of the sofa- sound asleep.

a very unusual spot to take a nap. but hey- whatever works!

ps- yes- for the 3 of you who actually read my blog- this is my 2nd post in less than a week. please try not to panic or die of shock over this!

Double Entendre

Yes- I'm back- don't all of you drop dead of a heart attack over the SHOCK of seeing something next after a 10 week hiatus!

So- here are a few highlights of the last 10 weeks of my life
1) I became an aunt on August 12. Helen Katherine Crader made her debut into the world at 10:52pm weighing in at 7 pounds 2 ounces.
2) I've managed to be sick about 4.5 of the last 11 weeks- yuck!
3) I finally joined the IPod revolution and got an IPod nano for the my birthday (can you guess the color?) complete with the Nike running/walking feature so I can track my pace when I walk with my friend, Amy, who is the bomb diggity of a power walker!
3.5) I turned 39 on September 15- counting down the last days of my 4th decade of life. When did I get so old?
4) I spoke 3 times in 4 weeks at our Wednesday Nite Fellowship Meetings on campus- I was in the SWEET SPOT! LOVED IT!
5) XiXi started ballet and tap and actually likes it (YAY!)
6) Went on an amazing women's retreat last weekend with my church, played all 4 worship sets, had a blast with my roomies and small group and am now super energized!

So- for those of you who are still reading...here's the double entendre of the week....
Conversation in the car on the way home from school:
X: Mom, I really love Jesus and God.
J: That's great! Why do you love Jesus?
X: Cuz I do- I love everyone- Jesus helps me do that.
J: What does Jesus do in your heart?
X: He cleans my heart and puts all of my dirt on him. Then he cleans himself.
J: Can you clean yourself ?(trying to get a bit theological/faith vs works based at this point with her)
X: NO- WE NEED TO TAKE BATHS TO GET CLEAN.

enjoy! hopefully my next post won't be in 10 weeks.

Picture guides:
1) Helen Crader at 3 weeks
2) My freshman Bible Study surprised me with a pink cupcake party during our time weekly time together! They are so great!
3) XiXi - the aspriring jewelry designer (can you guess what her earrings are made out of?)

my wordle

http://wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/87437/julie_blauwkamp
here is my lovely wordle.

I don't know exactly what a wordle is- is it like a girdle- only with words instead of cellulite?


okay- so I must confess that I did not spend countless hours perusing the internet for the latest, coolest thing to post on my blog.

i copied this from my friend Jen's blog.

she gets the kudos for the mindless, countless hours of searching to find this cool program.

and while I'm on the subject of my dear friend, Jen, if you haven't seen her blog- you should. it totally rocks and inspires me onto great things like this! :)

SQUASH the SQUASH!

We've been growing yellow squash in our garden- YUMMY! here's a great recipe for a super yummy, southern-style, squash casserole-

try it and give me your feedback! enjoy! :)
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SQUASH CASSEROLE- southern style :)

2 lb squash
1 cup chopped onion (I use vidalia)
4-5 slices of bacon- cooked and crumbled
1.5 cups of sharp cheddar cheese- shredded
2 eggs
1 1/4 -1 1/2 cups of breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp butter

preheat oven to 350

slice squash into thin slices- place in dutch oven- cover with water- brink to boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Drain water

meanwhile- saute onions in butter until tender. Add 3/4 cup of bread crumbs, cheese, eggs, bacon, salt, pepper and squash- mix well

pour into casserole dish or 9x 13 pan

cover with remaining bread crumbs

bake for 45 minutes- until brown and bubbling

enjoy! :)

face painting fun

Last week, I watched my friend Amy's two daughter- Rachel and Chloe- for 2 days while she was helping out at Reality Week.

We had a super fun time together. XiXi especially enjoyed having two more girls around with whom to get into all sorts of mischevious fun!

one of the fun things we did was face painting. XiXi and Chloe were a bit more enthusiastic about the whole ordeal than Rachel was. This was one of the first times I'd tried face painting- good practice!

Here's a sampling...

w