Christmas Gifts for Children in an Orphanage

I know all of you are aware that Ken and I sponsor an eight year old orphan in the Regional Boarding School Orphanage in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan. The only children who receive gifts, even at Christmas, are those who have sponsors. Our Nina is in Family #9 and there are 17 members in her family. There are 5 sponsored children in Family #9. My immediate family is making donations to be used for Christmas gifts for as many
of the children in Nina's family as we can and would really appreciate help from our family. If anyone could find it in their heart to make a money donation, Ken and I will do all the shopping. I have been provided with a list of names, the children's ages and sex, which will make it easy to buy gifts to put a smile on these unfortunate children's faces.

My immediate family, for obvious reasons, has a very soft spot in our hearts for children who will probably live all their childhood years in an orphanage. If you wish to send a donation we would need to receive it by November 7th in order to have time to shop and get everything wrapped and mailed out. It takes 5 to 6 weeks for packages to arrive in country.

Any donations should be mailed to:
Barbara Hines
16 Bentley Drive
Troy, NY 12182

Please remember how very fortunate we all are and help provide a Christmas gift for a child who has virtually nothing of his/her own.

Thank you,
The Hines Family

New Layouts on Kara's Blog

Hi all. I have done a few new layouts on Kara's (really a blog for all my grandchildren) blog. Please just click on the link on the right side of this blog to see them. I feel like I am starting to learn more about making them and I love it! Please leave me a comment of what you think.

California Here They Come!

Please click on layout to enlarge.

Pumpkin Patch

Kaitlyn had her first school trip yesterday to the pumkin patch. The kids went through a corn maze collecting corn, soybeans, and sunflowers to feed the animals. Kaitlyn really enjoyed feeding them all even though Carrick kept trying to tell her that they would, in his words, "BITE, ARM".

Enjoy,
Shawn, Jen, Kaitlyn and Carrick

Modeling Contract???

Here are some professional shots of Cameron...

The studio asked us if we mind if they blow him up and use him as a sample on their studio walls....i was hoping for an athlete but i guess could settle for a male model...haha

Apple Picking...

Here are some pics of Cameron's first Apple Picking trip.

It was a great day and exciting to have a family outing with our new family.

Hope everyone is well and Cameron looks ofrward to meeting everyone...

Dave, Mandy and Cameron

Ryan's Day At The Circus Sept 2008

Ryan had a very enjoyable day at the Circus. We got there early so that we could try on all the costume's . He just loved that part. We ate our usual junk. Cotton Candy and Popcorn. He loved every bit of it. I think the most enjoyable part for Tim and I was when we were driving home and he kept asking Papa if he would help him
set up a circus in his home. When we got home he immediately set forth to making a 3 Ring Circus and inacted all the events that we saw. It was hysterical. From the costume to asking for audience participation. What and imagination that boy has. We just loved spending the day with him and being able to make a very special memory not all for Ryan but for Tim and I. I guess
that what life's all about. How do you put a price tag on memories it PRICELESS.
Thanks again Ryan for giving Mama and Papa a day to remember.