And were back...

So we have been SO busy this past week and I have been dying to post but there has been one MAJOR problem. My camera was DEAD! I thought it was the battery and got on the internet and ordered two which lead to our credit card number being stolen(I will get back to that later!) The batteries came in and my camera still would not turn on. There were MANY tears shed by me because I take about 1000 pictures a month! Then we found out there were two batteries in my camera(you would never have found it without the interent!) We tried that and still it was not turning on. I cried some more and then Rusty said we could go out and buy a new camera! Then I got my hopes up and started looking at new models. I decided to flip on my camera one more time and low and behold the thing turned on! I was happy but a little sad after looking at all the new cameras out there. So now we are back in business. I got to use my camera last monday and then it died so I had to use my little back up camera. The only problem with that one is that I don't have an adapter to download the pics, but don't worry it is on order and I will download them soon.
So we have to go way back to St. Patrick's Day and play catch up!
On St. Patrick's day Jaden became my little gardener and helped me repot my african violets!

Then we went inside and threw our own St. Paddy's day parade since we were missing the big one in Mississippi!

We spent the afternoon letting Jaden chase down her daddy's airplanes. This was a sure fire way to get her to go to bed early!

And because the plane chasing did not wear her out at all we spent the night making smores outside with the fire-pit!

On Monday we had a playdate with all of our new neighbors and friends! The kids had a blast and so do us mommies!

We also found out what happens when you play with boys!!!

But it was nothing that a Dora band aid couldn't fix. And right about here is where my camera died!
The rest of the week was a ton of fun and trips the the YMCA to swim. Once my adapter is here I will load those pics!
Today when my camera came back on we had some fun painting!

And now onto our story about the credit card. We think that someone got our number from my online camera battery order and made themselves a credit card. Luckily I just happened to go onto our checking account and see that someone had gone to Marshall's and TJMAXX and spent about $100 at each place. I was pretty sure Rusty didn't do it and we I called him he confirmed my suspicions! So I called the bank and found out that they had also filled up on some gas and had tried to use the card at a Wal-Mart for $423 but they were asked for ID and of course they didn't have it. So now they are investigating it and we should be getting our money back soon. And I would like to send a big shout out to the Wal-mart in Lancaster PA who actually checked for an ID! You guys rock!!!

Move over Beiber...

Jaden is in love with Justin Beiber. I don't know why or how it happened but if you ask her what she thinks of Justin she will say he is hot! But I think Beiber may have competition now! Ryan!
Our neighborhood is a very new one and we were one of the first homes back in our part. We bought this house thinking it would be a great place to raise kids and she would have tons of friends. Well for the past 4 years we have watched and waited as they have built new homes and new neighbors move in. We decided that they must have put our neighborhood in a retirement magazine because we were being surrounded by older couples. Of course our neighbors are not all retired(but ALOT are)! Don't get me wrong we love our neighbors but we really wanted Jaden to have some friends around here. And then something amazing happened! Three houses were built and when the people moved in they had KIDS!!! And to make it even better the kids are all 4 and under!!! It started with Andrew, who came to her birthday party and later he was joined by his new brother Matthew. Then our neighbors had their sweet baby girl. And finally Ryan and Emma joined our little crew. Because of this crazy nice weather we have had lately the kids have been getting to know one another and of course the mommies are too. We decided to take the kids to the zoo yesterday(along with everyone else in Ohio).
So Jaden got to spend the day with Emma and Ryan. They had a blast! For some reason Jaden kept calling him Andrew but that didn't seem to phase Ryan one bit. Before we knew it I looked down and saw this...

WTH! Is that my daughter holding a boy's hand? Yes! And it just kept happening!

It was pretty funny! They held hands the whole time we were walking!

When they were not holding hands there was a little tickle fest going on...

The sweetest part of the whole day was in the playground. You see Jaden is like her mommy and does not like heights. So when she climbed up on the playset she was to scared to cross the bridge. But sweet Ryan held her hand and helped her and told her she was almost to the other side! Once she crossed the first bridge it was on! She and Ryan ran all over that thing. She even went to the tip top, which made this mommy cringe!

Once we were home and she was telling Rusty about her day she told him she really loved her Ryan! So I guess Justin Beiber has been replaced!
And she is already excited because we have another playdate set up! Hopefully she is well by then because she has a fierce cough and her nose is like a faucet!

A future singing star...

Jaden LOVES to sing! She seranades me just about everyday. And her favorite song is the ABC song! I have heard it a million times. When she calls my parents she always has to sing it to them. And please do not dare mess up her song because then she will start over and do the whole thing again!
Today we went to the Firefly cafe which has pretty much become our Tuesday hangout. On Tuesday it is singing day. I have tried to coax Jaden up to the mike every week and she pretty much just hangs in the back of the room on the slide. Today I noticed that she was getting closer to the front. She even walked up front while her buddies were singing!

I kept asking her to sing but she wouldn't do it. Then I came up with a great idea! I got Audrey to make a song request, you know the ABC song! I knew my girl would feel the need to sing. After a little coaxing she did it! She was singing into that mike in front of everyone! Of course until that little punk boy came and took the mike! But don't worry she got it back and she finished her tune like I knew she could! I am thinking maybe she can do the Voice in a few years!

After her big singing debut we headed to meet daddy for lunch!

And we ended our day with a trip to get Jaden's passport pictures done! And yes I took a picture of Jaden getting her picture made! It was a must!

And now it's time for a public service announcement...

Ok I know that Jaden is going to hate me a few years from now when she looks back and sees that I posted this but it just has to be put out there! Thanks to another blogger mom I found this out so now I am passing it own to all those who have adopted children from China.
First before we get to the pictures I will say that I had always hears that people of Asian decent had different ear wax than did the rest of the population. I never thought it was true, just old wives tales you know. But I now know it is so true!
My friend posted on her blog about a Chinese ear pick. I had seen them before and thought about ordering them, not for Jaden but for myself. I will tell a little secret about myself. I like to scratch the inside of my ears! There ya go, so it was going to be for me.
So I ordered these lovely little picks and decided to just see what I got out of Jaden's ear by using them. Holy crap! Here it is...

Yes all that came out of my wonderful daughter's ears! The daughter who when I asked the doctor, I was told she had clean ears. She has never had an earache that I know of. And it is different then our ear wax. It is more flaky! Jaden actually stayed still and let me do it and just said it tickled!
So you should all run, not walk to the computer and go to Amazon and order these bad boys! Just put in Chinese ear pick. I ordered 12 for $5 but I also ordered a lighted one for $2.60 and I LOVE it! You can all thank me later!
And now to get that wonderful picture of Jaden's ear wax out of your head here is a cuter picture!