oh.... i so need this

Have you people seen these before? I had no idea they existed until tipped off by a friend. Check it out. This would solve 99% of my dinner time dilemmas with the boy. It would make the cookie baking process much easier. He would finally be able to reach the kitchen sink without me hoisting him onto my hip. It would mean that he could actually help with things as opposed to constantly being told "be carfeful", "no sir, that's not for Beckett" and "no touch". I want him to be comfortable in the kitchen and have the confidence and ability to help with food preparation. I want him to love having his hands in flour as much as I do. Do you need one too? Check out Kiddin Around, Williams Sonoma or My Step Stool.

If any of you already have one I'd love to hear you thoughts. As for me, I'm off to convince the husband that Bex and I need one.

Not that I need his permission. It's just that since it would have a largeish footprint in the smallish kitchen it seems prudent to make sure that all parties are on board. Right-o.

a wee bit o' hope

What would you say if I told you that there might be some forward momentum on VN adoption reform?

What would you say if I told you that YOU could help?

Here's the deal. JCICS is spearheading a massive initiative that just might get the proper attention and force the right folks to take notice. In a nutshell, JCICS is urging the U.S. and Vietnam to sign a new MOA before September 1, 2008 allowing ethical adoptions to continue while in the meantime working to resolve suspected abuse. Nobody wants unethical adoptions to take place, but the path to eradicating corruption doesn't have to mean a stop to humanitarian aide for orphanages.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS- HOW YOU CAN HELP!!!!!

1.Read this - A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam

2. Send an email no later than May 30th to advocate@jcics.org saying you are in support of this campaign! Your email will be included in a petition to Congress!

3. On June 2nd, 3rd, or 4th please contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators and ask them to support A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam.

• Call both of your U.S. Senators and your representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• You can find your Senators’ phone numbers and email address at www.senate.gov
• You can find your Representatives’ phone numbers and email address at www.house.gov
• Include the following in your calls and emails: ”I/we urge the Senator/Congressperson to join the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Co-Chairs and sign their letter to Secretary Condoleezza Rice in support of the recommendations found in Joint Council’s A Child’s Right Campaign for Vietnam.” If they have not heard about the Campaign, ask them to contact the Congressional Coalition for Adoption Institute at 202-544-8500 or Joint Council on International Children’s Services at 703-535-8045.

4. Send an email to everyone you called. The e-mail is important, but the phone call should be placed first!

5. Ask your friends and family to help the cause by following in your footsteps and taking action themselves.

This is the letter I'm sending to my representatives.

A three day weekend is coming up. Take a few minutes to compose a quick note, and mark your calendar to call your reps on June 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. It won't take long, and your spare time could make a huge difference in the lives of many of Vietnam's children and America's families.