Some Halloween Pictures - updated 11/5 again

Event Listing Test

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=t8bilGQbkUPKvmxkO51ckKw&single=true&gid=0&output=html

Country Sun Farms

What: Get together for some fall fun outdoors
When: Saturday, October 17th; 10:30am
Who: Everyone
Where: Country Sun Farms, 651-439-4156
More info: http://www.countrysunfarm.com/visit.html

Bring some cash as there's a corn maze, hay ride and snack for purchase. A pocketful of quarters is a good idea too, as there are candy machines full of corn for the animals.

Mom's Night Out and Fun Books

Please join us for Mom's Night Out and some fun books!
You are invited to an Usborne Book Party on Monday, October 12th at 7:00 p.m. Feel free to bring a friend or Dad if he really wants to go too!

If you are not familiar with the books, feel free to come and check them out and just visit! I just got the First hundred words in Chinese for our daughter and it is lots of fun! They have great books for kids of all ages.

You can find us just south of Apple Valley off Cedar Ave. If you need directions, feel free to leave a comment and we'll get back to you.

Please RSVP so we are sure to have plenty of snacks and drinks! Just let me know if you have any questions.

Long Wait For Home Movie Screening

Movie Screening: Long Wait for Home
Join CHSFS and Families with Children from China as we view Changfu Chang’s newest documentary about international adoption. This touching portrayal of birthparents in China explores the complexities of Chinese politics, economics, family life and culture. Dr. Chang himself will be there to share some difficult editorial decisions and show a few extra clips that were taken out of the film. This event is for adults only. Limited childcare spots available for children ages two and older.
September 26, 3–5PM; $7/person

Click here to register: http://www.childrenshomeadopt.org/Long_Wait_for_Home.html

Sunday May 24th - Grandview Park, Hudson, WI

Last minute announcement!
Join your fellow MN Red Threaders at Grandview Community Park (map) in Hudson, WI this Sunday, May 24th at 4:30pm for a potluck-style dinner. The weather should be good, so bring a dish/beverage to share and hang out with us. Here's a chance to meet someone new from the group, put a face to the name, show off your baby pics! Tell stories, let the kids play outside. It'll be very low-key and you can stay as long as you like. If you can make it show up. If not, we hope to see at something in the future! Here are some details about the park:

GRANDVIEW COMMUNITY PARK (located on Carmichael Rd. north of Vine Street and across from the St. Croix County Government Center): Grandview Park serves the City in two functions. It is an athletic complex with four regulation softball fields, two of which are lighted. The fields are used for adult and youth softball. Grandview Park also serves as a neighborhood park and offers a playground area with play structure; a picnic shelter; and benches and picnic tables. Rest rooms and concessions are available during evening adult softball play or during rentals. For reservations call: (715)386-4774.

Let me know if you have any questions.


View Larger Map

Why Americans Are Adopting Fewer Kids from China

This recent article in TIME attempts to explain. One reason, of course, are the new laws restricting international adoptions:

But the new laws are only part of the reason that fewer Chinese children are being adopted by families in the U.S. While the Chinese government does not release domestic adoption figures, U.S.-based adoption agencies say more Chinese children are being adopted in China. "You have this cultural shift along with the economic shift, where more and more people cannot only afford to adopt a child, but culturally it's more accepted," says Cory Barron, foundation director at Children's Hope International. Historically, adoption was neither socially acceptable nor a viable economic option for many families in China. But orphanages were getting crowded, prompting the government to open up to international adoptions in 1992. Josh Zhong, founder and director of Chinese Children Adoption International in Colorado, remembers what it was like in China just 10 years ago. "You would see hundreds of thousands of children," he says. "Orphanages begging you to come in, saying, 'Please help us. These children need to go home.' " A slow shift in gender perception may also be playing a role. While girls still make up 95% of children at orphanages, Zhong says that, too, has shifted. "People's attitude toward having girls is changing dramatically," Zhong says. "I have friends [in China] who have girls, and they are just so excited."

Read the full article here.

Meet the Author - Mei Ling

Join the FCC & CHSFS and meet Mei-Ling Hopgood and hear her discuss her new book, Lucky Girl.
Mei-Ling will discuss her story, show a short slide show of her family, question and answer session and book signing. Hear first hand what it was like to grow up as an Asian adoptee in America and her surprise reunion. An uplifting story of one woman’s journey that both an adoptee and adopted parents will enjoy.
Lucky Girl is about one woman's surprise reunion and relationship with the complicated Chinese family that gave her up for adoption when she was a baby. Spanning cultures and continents, Mei-Ling Hopgood's memoir brings home a tale of joy and regret, hilarity, deep sadness, and great discovery, as she untangles the unlikely strands that formed her destiny. To see a trailer on the book go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzuqKAGkz6g

Register now at http://www.FCCMIDWEST.COM

Event info:
Saturday May 9th from 3-5pm
$5 per person/$8 per couple/ $10 per family.
(Refreshments provided).location:
CHSFS: 1605 Eustis St, St Paul, MN 55108


View Larger Map

Date Change - March 29th - FCC Easter Egg Hunt - 3pm-5pm

FCC Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Sunday March 29th(changed from April 5th) from 3 to 5 pm. Location hasn’t been decided but we do have a Bloomington School on hold so we do have a place if nothing else works out.

Stay tuned for more info!

Craft day in Roseville

Feb 15, Sunday, from 1-5 or so.
Come for sewing, cropping, knitting, chatting, whatever you like! If you can make it, let us know so that there will be enough tables and supplies.

Northwestern Chinese New Year Celebration - Jan 24th

Short notice, but it's free!

http://www.nwhealth.edu/community/connect/events.html#CNY

When: Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009; Noon - 2:30 p.m.
Who: All audiences
Where: On campus
Cost: FREE! No registration required.

Join us as we celebrate the Year of the Ox at our annual Chinese New Year Celebration. The Celebration will include free food samples, activities, a fashion display, vendors and demonstrations.

12:30 p.m. - Martial Arts demonstration by Golden Leopard Kung Fu
1 p.m. - Traditional Chinese Lion Dance
1:30 p.m. - Chinese Youth Dancers from the CAAM Chinese Dance Theater
2 p.m. - Chinese songs performed by Chunlei Choir from Minhua Central School

No reservations required. For more information about the event call (952) 888-4777, ext. 169.

Red Thread Charities Fundraising Event

FCC CNY: Last Day for Discount

Today is the last day to register for the "early bird" price for the FCC Chinese New Year event at the Fair School in Crystal on 2/8/09 (12:30-5).

Early Registration Closes TODAY!
Don't miss the fun! Welcome the Year of the Ox at a family-friendly celebration that offers activities for every member of the family.
This year's event will have dance performances by CAAM, martial arts performances, Circus Mandahai and a carnival. The carnival has games and activities for toddlers to teens. Every child gets to play TEN GAMES and ALL PRIZES are INCLUDED in the registration fee.
Everyone will receive complimentary cookies and clementines. There will be food provided by Sawatdee available for purchase.
Other event elements include a Marketplace, Silent Auction, Lion Parade, Firewords and FUN!
Register by Friday before prices increase! Today is also the last day to order an CNY t-shirt.

Chinese Dance Class - Week One

Some recaps and photos from week one of Chinese Dance are up:
Olivia
Charlotte

I think it's going to turn out to be really cool. There's counting in Chinese, all sorts of movements and tumbling for them to look forward to.
Class is going to last until May and there may by a recital!? How fun! Look for updates between now and May.

----------------
Now playing: U2 - Acrobat
via FoxyTunes