Big City Weekend Part 1........

We started off on Friday coming into the city to "surprise" Daddy at work.  It just so happened that we ended up coming into the city every day of the weekend for something fun.

On Saturday we came in and went to Ping Tom park.  We took the Chicago Water Taxi and had dinner in China town before heading back home.  It was a lot of fun and something that we had been wanting to do for awhile now.

The vinyl slide made Lizzy's hair stand on end.

Here comes the water taxi.

Doesn't the crew all looked thrilled!?!

That's better

Mommy and Lizzy waving to passing boats

People travel for miles and miles from across the country and other countries to see what is in our own back yard.

Love that little smile.

Daddy and daughter how sweet.

All this fresh air must mean it's time to nap.

Daddy and daughter!

Mommy and daughters.

And back from where we began.

Thank you, Secret Pal!

Thank you for thinking of Jie Jie, too! You are the first to give me a gift for her.

K

SP Exchange Update - Important!!

Dear March Mulberries SP Exchange Participants --

Due to the limited response the SP gift exchange as we know it will end on 12/31/10. Three (3) people have indicated that they'd like to continue. Amy will reassign those three at the end of the year and provide them with contact information so they can keep exchanging amongst themselves. As of 12/31/10 Amy and I will no longer be involved with the gift exchange.

Please ensure your final gift is mailed by 12/15/10. As previously stated, themes were assigned through the end of the year and that list can be found on the group website. It is also important that everyone reveal their identities with the December gift.

We hope everyone has enjoyed the exchange and the gifts sent/received. We wish you all the best with the continued wait. Here's hoping it goes by faster and faster & we'll all see our children's faces soon.

Thank you -- Amy & Kelly :-)

SP Exchange - To Continue or Not - Response Needed

Dear SP Exchange Participants:

We are approaching the 3-year mark in both the wait and the SP gift exchange. Themes have been assigned through December of this year and I was wondering if everyone wants to keep going or if we should call it quits at the end of the year? I know we all agreed to participate until NSN referrals were issued, but with wait times stretching out longer than any of us anticipated it could be a very looooong time before that happens.

Please e-mail either Amy or myself with your preference. If the majority of the group wants to continue we will, but if the opposite is true the exchange will end in December and pals revealed.

I would appreciate it if everyone would respond by Friday, April 16th. Results will be tallied and either Amy or I will send an e-mail to the group with a decision. I will also post on this blog so all of our bases are covered. Our e-mail addresses are listed below.

Kelly: klienke @ comcast.net (remove spaces)
Amy: akdb @ sbcglobal.net (remove spaces)

Thank you in advance for your response!

-- Kelly & Amy :-)

Lienke Family Thank You!

THANK YOU!!!

I would like to send a belated thank you to our wonderful Secret Pal for the "February" gifts. We received two Ni Hao, Kai-Lan books, a step-by-step Chinese & Asian cookbook, and red envelope to celebrate CNY with a lucky coin inside.

The gifts are very much appreciated and will be used often. Under the Stars is one of my favorites because it's a play-a-sound book with buttons that allow you to hear seven words/phrases in English and Mandarin. Very cool! We love Kai-Lan and can't wait until the day comes when we can introduce her and her friends to our little girl.

Thanks SP - you rock!!

Thanks for everything!

Wow! That big box was definitely worth the wait. Thanks for everything! I can't decide what i like the best but I think it's the Christmas ornaments, Gracie loves the Santa hats, Lila is really into jewelry right now so she's wearing all the Kitty stuff at once, Gerry is just amazed at how much stuff you buy us!

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy New Year!

Love,

Chrissy, Gerry, Grace, and Lila

Goodies Galore!

Special thanks to our SP for the double goodies - August & October! Last week there was a box waiting on the front step when we got home from work. I just knew it had to be our SP!!! It had so many great gifts inside and we finally received our first pair of squeaky shoes!!! We hope you are doing well, SP, and we look for to our next surprise. Thank you so much!!!

Blessings,

Alan & Jodi

Thanks!

We got a surprise package from China Sprout from our Secret Pal, thank you! The book is a very sweet and special story. Lila loves to listen to the story and also to flip through the pages to look at the pictures. The lanterns are very pretty and I can't wait to see them on our Christmas tree glowing softly next to the lights.

Thanks and have a Happy Halloween!

Chrissy, Gerry, Grace, and Lila

Thank you, S.P.

I especially love the panda barettes! Thank you for everything!

Thank you !

"We love you Secret Pal!"

Hi, sorry I haven't thanked you guys for a couple gifts...we've been busy. China was fabulous, I can't wait until you guys go! The time there goes so quickly and before you know it you're on your way home as a complete family.


I loved the outfits you sent, Grace wore the dress for school pictures with a big red bow. I can't wait until Lila grows into hers. She's still in 18 months size so the 24 will be perfect for next spring! I love the stickers too! I'm glad to get them early so I can use them while I scrapbook all the mementos from China. ;-)


I almost forgot to tell you, the girls decided to decorate the toybox with ALL the princess stickers you sent. It's too cute!!


Thanks so much, you guys are the best!

Chrissy

Lienke Family Thank You Again :-)

Hi SP --

I just wanted to thank you very, very, very much for the WONDERFUL August gift package. One present was better than the next and I was in heaven over both the "hair pretties" and "Bento boxes/accessories". An expanded thank you/description was posted on our blog if you'd like to check it out . Thank you very much for everything, it is much appreciated!!!

Kelly & Todd Lienke
(LID 3/21/07)

Lienke Family Thank You!!

Dear SP --

Thank very much for the wonderful gift of clothing. I swear you are single handedly stocking our daughter's closet all by yourself. I actually had to go out and buy hangers. How fun, my first set of baby hangers - woo hoo :-) The variety of outfits including short sets, a sweet little dress, pair of jammies, and outfits for spring or fall were great. One outfit was cuter than the next. I'd also like to thank you for the package of hair pretties, which was wonderful b/c as we all know, no outfit is complete without this essential accessory. Thank you very much for your generosity. I hope you are settling into your new house and loving every minute of it!

Kelly & Todd Lienke

LID 3/21/07

Thank you, Secret Pal!

I love everything, especially the cabbage rose dress. The apple keychain was a nice touch, thank you for everything. Congratulations on your referral, too!

Lienke Family Thank You!

Hi SP --

Thank you so much for the wonderful box of gifts. I must apologize for posting a very late thank you - we've been remodeling our house and every waking moment since Easter has been filled with painting, new trim, new doors, laying floor, drywall, etc... Needless to say it's a lot of work, but will be well worth it in the end. At any rate, I just want to thank you for the wonderful assortment of plates, bibs, silverware, diaper sacks, and of course super wonderful hair pretties. The gifts are much appreciated and will be used quite often when the time comes. Hopefully by the next round of gifts I'll be able to locate the camera amongst all the mess in our house and post a picture.

Thank you again --

Todd & Kelly Lienke
LID 3/21/07

Still the best!

I'm speechless, I don't know how you fit that much stuff into that box... You are so generous & thoughtful. We are extremely thankful & lucky to have you!

Chrissy & Gerry & Grace & Lila

I'm in Love, Secret Pal!

Dear Secret Pal,

I love everything, and yes, I did eat some of the cookies already as they will not keep. Your choice of dishes made me melt!!! I LOVE them. I cannot wait for Apple to use them. I like the handmade bibs, too. Thank you for taking the time and care on them. I greatly appreciate it.

K

Thank You Secret Pal

Thank you so much for the wonderful gifts. Do not worry about being late, I am sorry you have had a hectic winter. I know busy schedules can really throw you off and you have no idea where the time went.

We appreciate your generosity the ladybug dinner set is so cute I bought this for someone and I love it. The Big Bird to China is so fitting can't wait for all of us to watch it together. Also can't wait to get to China. Thank you also for the highchair cover and the music CD. Hope you have a terrific spring.

The McNally Family

BIG THANK YOU HUGS!!!

After all my complaining about not having a gift, I've been greatly humbled. Our SP was tied up with life, namely a new job. Hmm...life beyond March Mulberries?!? It does exist!!! Congrats SP on your new job and we pray you have many blessings and great success.

Now, on to the thank you. Our SP didn't let us down. She actually included gifts from February & April. We received a cute little outfit (pink & brown with hearts on it - too cute!), a set of 5 pink and white bibs (one with a cute mommy and baby poodle - totally adorable!!!), a 5 piece ladybug children's dinnerware set, a Chalkmat (it's a placemat and a chalkboard - ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!), an Imagine & Play Musical Pets activity game, and a Lots to Love Baby Steps doll named Playful Patti. She is dressed for the beach and she's a beautiful little Asian girl. Her facial features are so lifelike despite her tiny size. Patti is the first doll we've received and she'll be treasured for a long time to come.


So with deep appreciation, we thank you, SP. We are sorry we doubted you. We'll learn to be more patient. Again, blessings with your new job and tons more for this long wait.

Deeply thankful,
Alan & Jodi Fredrickson

Lienke Family Thank You!

Hi SP --

Thank you very much for the gift of cd's, cute little Chinese toy, and wonderful hair pretties. Your gifts are much appreciated, and with all the other gifts you've sent, we can't wait to share them with our daughter. No worries on your gift being late, I'm just glad it arrived safely and it wasn't lost in the mail :-) No pictures this time around. I'm battling a nasty cold and can hardly function. You'd think after a week of being sick I'd start to feel better. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. At any rate, thank you again very much for the presents.

-- Kelly & Todd Lienke

PS - When I'm feeling better I'll post another thank you on our blog.

Secret Pal where are you!?!?

It's the middle of March and we haven't received our gift yet.  Amy, if you're out there, we've emailed you but haven't heard anything back yet.  I really enjoy doing the SP exchange but may pull out if this continues.  This is our 3rd SP and not the first time that we've gone without a gift.  I hope not to bring anyone down but it's rather discouraging to see everyone getting such great gifts and us sitting empty-handed.  I hope to hear from someone soon so this can be resolved.

-The Fredricksons