Happy Halloween

From Here....

My favorite pic of the night

This year was all about the candy!

The bugs with Bash Brother

And From Shepherd's Field in China...

Blossom

Fall Harvest Party

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Self Identification

Original post removed following cyber bullying attack.

From BullyingStatisics.org

You may not hear a lot about adult bullying, but it is a problem. Read this article to learn more about different types of adult bullies and get some ideas on how to deal with an adult bully. Adult bullying is a serious problem and may require legal action.

One would think that as people mature and progress through life, that they would stop behaviors of their youth. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sadly, adults can be bullies, just as children and teenagers can be bullies. While adults are more likely to use verbal bullying as opposed to physical bullying, the fact of the matter is that adult bullying exists. The goal of an adult bully is to gain power over another person, and make himself or herself the dominant adult. They try to humiliate victims, and “show them who is boss.”

There are several different types of adult bullies, and it helps to know how they operate:

1. Narcissistic Adult Bully: This type of adult bully is self-centered and does not share empathy with others. Additionally, there is little anxiety about consequences. He or she seems to feel good about him or herself, but in reality has a brittle narcissism that requires putting others down.
2. Impulsive Adult Bully: Adult bullies in this category are more spontaneous and plan their bullying out less. Even if consequences are likely, this adult bully has a hard time restraining his or her behavior. In some cases, this type of bullying may be unintentional, resulting in periods of stress, or when the bully is actually upset or concerned about something unconnected with the victim.
3. Physical Bully: While adult bullying rarely turns to physical confrontation, there are, nonetheless, bullies that use physicality. In some cases, the adult bully may not actually physically harm the victim, but may use the threat of harm, or physical domination through looming. Additionally, a physical bully may damage or steal a victim’s property, rather than physically confronting the victim.
4. Verbal Adult Bully: Words can be quite damaging. Adult bullies who use this type of tactic may start rumors about the victim, or use sarcastic or demeaning language to dominate or humiliate another person. This subtle type of bullying also has the advantage - to the bully - of being difficult to document. However, the emotional and psychological impacts of verbal bullying can be felt quite keenly and can result in reduced job performance and even depression.
5. Secondary Adult Bully: This is someone who does not initiate the bullying, but joins in so that he or she does not actually become a victim down the road. Secondary bullies may feel bad about what they are doing, but are more concerned about protecting themselves.

It is important to note, though, that there is little you can do about an adult bully, other than ignore and try to avoid, after reporting the abuse to a supervisor. This is because adult bullies are often in a set pattern. They are not interested in working things out and they are not interested in compromise. Rather, adult bullies are more interested in power and domination. They want to feel as though they are important and preferred, and they accomplish this by bringing others down. There is very little you can do to change an adult bully, beyond working within the confines of laws and company regulations that are set up. The good news is that, if you can document the bullying, there are legal and civil remedies for harassment, abuse and other forms of bullying. But you have to be able to document the case.

Adult bullies were often either bullies as children, or bullied as children. Understanding this about them may be able to help you cope with the behavior. But there is little you can do about it beyond doing your best to ignore the bully, report his or her behavior to the proper authorities, and document the instances of bullying so that you can take legal action down the road if necessary.

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sometimes I think i would be easier to parent...

a dumb kid.

Because there is a thin line between smart and smart ass.  At least there is in my house.

I was over on Top Mommy Blogs and I ran across this new review of my blog, written by my darling Middle Child son;

"this heartwarming story of a mom who threw a rock in the dark and found half of her family left me hanging on her every word."

Lovely. Dramatic. And oh so him.

Btw this is my darling Middle Child in character (one of many he plays) at the Hudson Haunted House.  

Check out this MetroMix Article about the Hudson Hauneted House-Pic #6 is my kid!

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Halloween Party... oh yeah and I'm Old

So I haven't been writing much because well as I said in the title I am old...which apparently means my eyesight is going to bite the dust.

The truth is over the past several weeks I've noticed myself squinting to read (and write) my favorite blogs (not to mention the financial reports at work that my CFO seems intent on printing in a microscopic font, ahem).

Anywho, I have an appointment with the eye doctor this morning.  I've always had BETTER than 20/20 vision but something tells me "readers" (and I don't you) are in my very near future (like10am today).  A sure sign of age eh?

So until I have my eyes back and can actually see what I write please enjoy a few pictures of the bugs at Friday night's Halloween Party and Haunted Hayride.

You will never guess what they went as....

They decided they were bug super hero's...bug power activate!

The Bee won for the "Cutest" costume

My Ladybug decided a vampire Ladybug was way cooler than a nice ladybug.

We made the most obnoxious candy covered caramel apples...and "forgot" to bring them home. Darn.

And here is where we get parents of the year, the Haunted Hayride.  We haven't even left and the bugs are terrified.  By the time we got back the Bee was in tears and the ladybug vowed never to EVER come back.  Baby Brother of course thought watching his sister almost pee their pants was the best part of the night!

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Christmas Shopping

Yes you heard me ...I said CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!

You know its getting close because the catalogs are starting to come in earnest.  One of my favorites is Uncommon Goods.  In fact this last catalog was so uncommonly good I think I could do all my shopping in one spot.

Some of the things hitting the jolly ole shopping list this year....


Belly Art for my favorite prego Jen...I mean how did I not have this when I was pregnant?

A Scratch Map for my oldest son who would like nothing more than to scratch off his seventh continent.

An Iphone slash bottle opener for my friend Susan who appreciates more than anyone I know both her iphone and a cold beer.

For my boss, this paperweight....he knows why.

For Emily and Francine and my other friends hoping to adopt from China in the next year.

For my Baby Boy to save all the stubs from the sporting events he and his dad attend together, the Ticket Stub Diary.  How cool is that?

Said What?  A book to record all the cute and funny and wonderful things the kids say. I may need more than one.

And for my dear ADD husband...the Phonekerchief.  Brilliant. Positively brilliant.




And if anyone wants to get me a gift I think this might work. The Mom and Child Tote bag with extra hang on handle for the mom who has more kids than hands. Ahhhh, yup that would be me.

By the way Uncommon Goods is not paying for this advertisement...but they should.

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20 Kids Who Need Families

The following children are all being cared for by the amazing people at Shepherd's Field Children's Village in China. This is where my Baby Butterfly lives. So in a way these are her foster brothers and sisters.

And each of them is waiting for their family to find them....Here's hoping they just did.

Please contact an adoption agency to working in the the China Special Needs Program or Tim Baker at Adoption@ChinaOrphans.org to inquire how you can adopt one of these beautiful children.

Luo Shuqi AKA Sharon was born on 11/16/2007. She has a heart condition.

Grayson has a family!

Fu Zhijiang AKA Vincent was born on 06-17-09 he has allergies with skin rashes

Ling Deting AKA Charissa was born on 8/23/2005. She had a spinal tumor (post surgery)

Jacob-Jai FOUND HIS FAMILY!!!!

Fu Yaqing AKA Bill born on 2/22/2009. He has an ear deformation.

Niu Kaien AKA Ethan born 12/28/2009 has a cleft lip/palate and deformed ear.



Blossom found her family!

Huai Xiaolong, AKA Josiah born 1/01/2006 has a small right ventricle, pulmonary atresia, & tricuspid atresia.

Ling Xuyang AKA Kennedy was born on 02/13/06. He has hydrocephalus

Guang Fujun AKA Xander born on 03/15/03 . Has autism.

Max

Guang Meitong, AKA Diane born on 8/09/08. She has a cleft lip& palate.

Wang Fengcai AKA Macy was born on 08/10/2009. She has a cleft lip/palate and a heart problem

Liu Rongying AKA Heather was born on 04/09/2007. She has a complex heart problem

Dang Feilong AKA Joseph was born on 05/08/1999. He has pulmonary atresia (first surgery Sept 2006) & Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome, voice problem

Zheng Hao'en AKA Robert was born on 12/06/2007.He has possible arthrogryposis, cong. Bone/joint deformity

Dang Shanbei AKA Moses was born on 05/20/00. Special need: dwarf, complex (inoperable) heart condition, deaf

Song Jiayuan AKA Noel. Born on 05/01/2003. She has CP.

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For the Kaz Adoptive Family with Everything

From the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book your very own, luxuriously appointed yurt.

Only $75,000 installed and complete with  chandelier and "a bevy of one-of-a-kind, down-filled pillows".

(I know what you are thinking...the pillows make it a bargain right?)

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RE Adoption Day

Officially in the State of Ohio.

More ceremony than anything but this marked the final correction of the Ladybug's birthday which is a relief and allows us now to finally get her a US passport. (Get ready for Paris mes enfants!)

We now have a Certificate of Adoption and an Ohio Birth Certificate. It's weird because we are listed as their birth parents which of course we are not but int terms of ease and convenience it will be nice to have. (We have REAL birth certificates and wont confuse the two.)  The OH BC serves an administrative purpose and honestly I don't want to have to have an adoption discussion every time we sign up up soccer.

So even though this wasn't the emotional adoption finalization for our family we used it as an excuse to get together and have some cake. No surprise there!

A few pics from the day...

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