Arizona Olympics

We got our Olympic flag pretty quickly, as you can see here.  The idea is to have it on display during our series, unless of course the Olympic Committee comes after us for one reason or another!  They're a bit notorious in this regard, which is why we're avoiding direct references to the words "Olympics" or having the rings in our logos anywhere.  But it should be okay here hopefully!  Take a look at some of Madison's Olympic-themed handiwork of late:

She was particularly proud of the fact that she got the rings in the right place on this one.  Here below is another picture we received from school, a photo of our own little Olympic champion:

You go, girl!  She's earned a gold medal in the "cute" category.  She's faced a lot of stiff competition, but got a world record in cuteness just by showing up!

Today Daddy picked up Madison from school, with just one more day to go at Challenged Child.  On the way home, we stopped by the new Racetrac for some Arizona Ice Tea!

Let me just go ahead and say that I've probably been drinking this tea for longer than you.  Twenty years ago, I thought the bottles were so cool, I started actually collecting them.  The designs and the artwork have always been unique - in fact, it's been mentioned before on this blog.  In any event, today Daddy was a proud parent, because Madison has now sampled her first Arizona Ice Tea - and she likes it!  I'm not keeping the bottle or anything, of course.  But it was one of those Daddy-Madison moments that we got to share together, both sipping away at a sweet tea.  In Madison's own words, "Mmmm!  Delicious!"

Today's theme at school was Hawaii.  It was another excuse to have a wet day, which is always good.  But Mommy dressed Madison in her hula skirt and packed a few Hawaiian items as well.  At school, Madison learned a bit about Hawaii, but had fun with crafts and making a volcano.  When she got home, she was so inspired by Hawaii that she had herself the ultimate Lilo & Stitch marathon.  We had four movies all lined up, and I think she may have watched all of them over the course of the rest of the day.

The reason we headed to the great indoors is this:  it's too hot outside.  Daddy was working, of course.  But outside, the temperature is soaring.  In fact, it's heading to dangerous territory.  This Saturday, some meteorologists are calling for temperatures to be as much as 108 degrees.  That's before the heat index!  That is absolutely insane.  Ironically, the last time I've experienced a temperature that hot outside, it was in China.  I use the word ironically because Saturday is a big day for us:  it's Gotcha Day!

It's this time of year that our thoughts go over to China, and the remarkable journey we took already four years ago.  How time races by!  Four years ago, everyone there was getting ready for the Olympics - and here we are again doing just the same.  Four years ago, we were getting ready to meet Madison - and here we are again, this time more blessed than ever before.