The Gingerbread House

Callahan loved making the Gingerbread house and eating the candy as she worked. Madison on the other hand did not enjoy sharing the frosting bag with her younger sister. The activity did not end quick enough for Mom and Dad!

My First Thanksgiving

I believe it was just "dinner" for Callie but it was special for Jerry and I. We are so thankful to have Callie join our family. She is an amazing child. She kept calling the turkey "chicken" all throughout the meal. I guess we don't eat turkey that much!
Both girls did not enjoy getting their hair done as you can see!

Finally Cooler Weather

We have dropped down into the 80's. We are so very happy for the cooler days. This means that our trampoline can go up. Things work differently here in Arizona as we get mostly hot weather. This was Callahan's first time on a trampoline and boy, did she love it. Madison loved the company too as last year she jumped on it mostly be herself. They have come up with cute games to play on it like tag and don't break the egg! The kids that just moved in across the street love it as well. We are becoming the "trampoline house" to play at.

Arizona National Adoption Day

We readopted Callahan in the US. We wanted to make her life as easy as possible for her in the future. We also legally changed her name from Thanh Thuy to Callahan Thuy (toy-e). The process was very simple. The girls had fun, as there were crafts and lots of activities afterwards. Both of them wore their beautiful outfits from Vietnam.

Our Trip to the Children's Museum

My First Halloween

We went to a fall festival at a church the Saturday before Halloween. She experienced lots of "firsts", face painting, jumpy house, cotton candy... then trick or treating the next Friday. She loved it all! After saying "trick of treat" she would say "come on" (which means thank you) or "sin jow" (hello). It was so good to hear as she has stopped speaking Vietnamese for a long time now.

Meeting Great Grandma "Mimi" from Maine

Mimi came to visit and brought fun presents!

My First USA Haircut !

Reading to Elmo

Callahan has discoverd Elmo and does she love him!!!

Meeting Aunt Jackie

Aunt Jackie came from California to meet Callahan. They had so much fun together. Madison and Callie decorated the table for Aunt Jackie's birthday. Callie has gotten to experience lots and lots of birthday parties since coming home and she LOVES them. Even the 4th. of July was "Happy Birthday USA!". Boy, did Callie miss Aunt Jackie when she fly home. This was the first person to enter her life and then leave. She sure does love talking to her on the phone.

Daddy Works Late

It seems like everyone in Arizona has Strep throat. Poor Jerry had to work late making sure everyone got their antibiotics (he is a PA). I put the girls down tonight and they knew they would not see Dad until morning. No big deal really, it's just one night. Right? Madison, the Daddy's girl, was fine with it but Callie on the other hand just did not understand. God bless this child. She loves her Daddy so much. She is having an extremely hard time with bedtime as it is, never mind not having Dad home tonight. I reassured her that Dad WAS coming home. She takes over ONE hour to fall asleep (with a parent in the room), sometimes longer. She is deathly scared at night. True fear. Fear of the (docile) cat and dog (who she loves during the day) fear of under her bed... she is so afraid to even to go the bathroom in the middle of the night that we have had to put pull-ups on her. She once used a plastic bin in their bedroom instead of walking to the bathroom. No thank you! One thing that I do think is making it somewhat tolerable is that the girls share a bedroom. Madison is right there with her. Most of the time Callie sleeps on the floor (again, scared of her bed), a few times I have been able to get her to sleep with Madison in her bed. One night she actually slept in her own bed. We thought we were home free. Well think again :) We have tried having her sleep with us but then we do not get good sleep especially Jerry. He ends up being up most of the night. Any and all suggestions are welcomed! She has talked to me about the orphanage at bedtime. I think it was a scary place for her. She always tells me "No more Tam Binh". I am hoping that as her understanding of English continues, I will be able to explain to her about being safe and not having to be afraid. Right now, the comprehension is just not there. I don't believe that she completely trusts that she won't be brought back to Tam Binh (the orphanage) and I guess why should she. Bless her little heart, she is the happiest child I have ever met). She finds laughter is normal day-to-day living. It's a nice reminder for me to lighten up. She was no doubt the perfect fit for our family. God does know what he is doing. When we started out in this journey, we wanted a baby girl from China. We ended up with an almost 5-year-old girl from Vietnam. I just amazes me how this worked out so perfectly. I would not have changed a thing. Everyone wants a baby. I have a five year old and it is the best!!! Callahan sees life so differently than the typical "USA" child. It is hard to describe but it is a blessing. Jerry and I hear ALL THE time how lucky SHE is. No way, she has brought so much joy to our family, it is unbelievable. Anyone considering an "older child", I know it can be scary but it is so wonderful! Anyways, Callie kept asking me "If Daddy was coming home?" So finally I told her that he was home (remember it takes a long time to get her settled in for the night) and then she gasped, threw her arms around my neck and said "Oh, thank you Momma, thank you!" Like I said God bless this sweet child. So very happy that Daddy came home to her. I weaken and let her go give him a kiss if she would come back and lay down with out fussing. More happiness and not much fussiness afterwards as long as Mommy would stay and Lele, the cat was out of the room!:)

Vietnam Quilts are in.

We ordered a few quilts while we were in Ho Chi Minh City. They are so beautiful. Vietnam-Quilts did an awesome job!!!

Callahan's First Teacher

She just loves Miss Aundrea!

Meeting cousin Mei Mei

Callahan met her cousins for the first time this summer. She fell in love with Mei Mei. They are less than a year apart and were so cute playing together.

First Day of School

On Monday, my girls started school. Madison began her journey of being a 2nd. grader. She is excited that she needs to bring a flash drive for computer class. Callahan had her official first day in the Marvelous Monet class. She liked school a lot.

Birthday pictures

The Birthday Girl!

It seemed like we were just home and it was time for Callahan's birthday. We wanted to keep it very low keyed as she was already adjusting to so much. Dinner and a few gifts and of course the cake. I went to the grocery store and looked at all the choices. It was there that I realized she didn't know any of the characters or princesses. Jerry and I knew the one thing that got her very excited. Pictures, especially seeing herself in pictures. This was huge to her. We then knew what kind of cake would work for her.

Fun at Home

Callahan Thuy has enjoyed painting, playing ball and riding in her car.

Tam Binh 2 video

Here is a video of Tam Binh 2 and an orphanage in the Vung Tao province.
web.mac.com/jpapin