Our Little Ladybug: July 2007

Big Seven

Today our LID is seven months old!

Arthur

ARTHUR and friends welcome a new character - a baby sister for Binky Barnes - this fall when the Emmy-Award winning series tackles adoption from a child's perspective.

On Friday, September 7th (check local listings) the series starring Marc Brown's beloved animated aardvark captures a family's experience with adoption in a special 2-part episode.In 'Big Brother Binky', Arthur's friend Binky's family adopts a baby girl from China and Binky learns not only the importance of being a big brother but that families come in all different shapes in sizes. Binky manages the joys, and sometimes difficulties, of understanding his new sister with humor and imagination and becomes the proudest big brother in Elwood City.

Expanding upon the series' well-established commitment to addressing topics that children of all backgrounds can relate to, this episode undertakes a topic that affects millions of people every day in all parts of the world. By exploring the adoption process from Binky's anticipation of the baby's arrival, to the ups and downs of getting to know one another, and finally to the joy of welcoming the baby into Binky's heart and home, ARTHUR opens the doors for discussion around adoption among parents, children, and educators.

According to ARTHUR creator Marc Brown, "What the series does best is reflect the lives of kids in an authentic and fun way that resonates with both viewers and their parents. Because adoption is so important to so many families, we thought it was a great opportunity for ARTHUR to explore this subject."Executive Producer Pierre Valette adds, "We put a lot of work into this episode -- including extensive research and interviews with many adoptive families. To tell this story thoroughly and well, we decided to devote both 11 minute animated stories in the episode to it --something that we rarely do. We hope that the millions of families touched by adoption in this country, and around the world, will find familiarity and accuracy in our portrayal of the experience of these characters."

Shopping Again!

Thanks to the very kind Jessica who shared the link with me, I have just ordered this for Jade's room. It's only $8 and it looks so cute!

Special Gifts

While in Bermuda, we bought a shirt for Jade as well as a book called Ghunda's Bermuda Holiday. It is a true story. In 1954, a ship was carrying Ghunda, a three year old elephant, from India to the US to join a circus. The ship was forced to stop in Bermuda to replace a damaged propeller. The owner, worried about the delay, arranged to fly Ghunda to New York on Pan American Airlines. The elephant was led to the plane but refused to board. What transpired was a comic scene as six men pushed and shoved the bellowing, stubborn animal while passengers complained and local crowds cheered. Ghunda was refusing to leave Bermuda!

My sister also recently took a trip to Wyoming to be in a friend's wedding. She stayed for a week and went to Yellowstone as well. She used to live there but moved back to PA last year. Like the great auntie that she already is, she brought some very fun things back for Jade!

We also had the print framed that we bought at FCC's Chinese Culture Day. This was the one that the artist, Grace Lin, signed for Jade. It looks very pretty in her room above her dresser.

Summer Fun

Well, even though I don't go back to work until after Labor Day, it is starting to feel like the summer is ending. I have to stop feeling that way!

I guess maybe it feels like that because all of the exciting parts of the summer are over. Our cruise to Bermuda has come and gone. Last Thursday, we went to see the Police in concert in Philadelphia. We stayed overnight and made a little trip out of it. Then on Saturday we took a trip to the Thousand Islands (where we toured Singer Castle).

The rest of summer will be filled with cleaning, organizing, and getting ready for the new school year. Maybe that is why I feel so blah!

Our Bermuda Cruise

It's hard to believe that our cruise is over already! We had a great time in Bermuda. We had three days in port in Bermuda and we made the most of them!

Day 1- St. George's

We walked around St. George's (where we were docked) and saw the sights. It is a beautiful, quaint World Heritage site. My favorite place there was probably the Unfinished Church.

We also got to see Gombey dancers at the street market festival!

Day 2- Royal Naval Dockyards, Hamilton & Fort St. Catherine

We went to the other tip of the island and visited the Dockyards (shopping) and then Hamilton (more shopping).