Getting Ready for Bed

Making cookies for Santa.

Me Too! Make cookies for Santa.

Dancing in our Jammies.

The Sprinkling of the reindeer food....

and the reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas".

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Christmas Eve 2008

The Pirate and The Mermaid opened presents from the family tonight. We had our usual pizza and drinks. The Mermaid kept saying "all for me???" over and over. Very cute!!!
The Pirate loved all his gifts. The family picked out great gifts for them. I wish I had got a shot of the gift Aunt Staci got The Pirate. But we were too busy holding him up and laughing while he was on his Heelys. I think he is gonna need a butt pad!

I just picked some shots from the present opening tonight. The kids say "thank you!'. They have a lot of coloring, watching, playing and falling to do for the next week or so!

Couldn't Wait...

to get home from lunch to open his new Lite Brite and make some art. He made a picture of an ice cream cone. It is actualy warm enough outside to eat it...84 degrees on Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve Lunch

Eating Yummy Subs at The Superstars House...

The Mermaid and Princess Eating, Too!

Getting Ready to Exchange Gifts

The Boys Get Matching Photos for their Rooms...LOVE it!!!

The Mermaid opening her cabbage Patch Doll...she plays soccer.

We loved all our gifts. Thank you for having us for lunch. Merry Christmas!

Festivus

The Festivus Pole

Crummy Festivus gifts...SOCKS!!!!!

The Feats of Strength...KIDS WIN!!!!!

The Airing of Grievances

For all you Seinfeld fans...you know what I am talking about. If not, here is a link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus

HAPPY FESTIVUS TO ALL!!!!!

On Vacation and Sick in Bed

They BOTH take after their Mommy....They love art!

Why is there a "tree" in the house and you put "what" on it? Why?????

Playing Santa Santa and Rudolph

We got our letters from Santa! Lights are on!

I have been sick in bed. Yuck! I think I had the flu....not sure exactly what I had but I was in bed or on the couch all weekend. It happens every year because things get crazy at school. With two kids now in school...it's REALLY crazy! Christmas programs, chorus programs, Christmas/Holiday Card Contests (one of my art students won!...go Sofia!!!!), make holiday treats for the staff, etc. I guess I was Pooped!!!!! The kids spent last week making gifts for their teachers, decorating the tree as far UP as they could go, getting their letters from Santa and playing Santa and Rudolph. Daddy managed to finish the lights after he fell off the roof...he is OK. The ladder and the flood light in the planter are not!

We have not been to see Santa...it is on the list. If I could find that list....somewhere?????

We Love Santa!!!

The Group Shot

Or, should I say except for The Princess. Poor Kid. The Superstar, The Princess, The Pirate and Now, The Mermaid went to see Santa at our local mall. We do this every year. Our visit is later than normal, due to all of us being sick and passing it around. We love to share!!!!!

The boys did great as usual...they wore matching green shirts! The girls were another story...they sure did look pretty in their red dresses (thanks Karen!) and their pretty hair bows (thanks Superstar's Mommy) Not sure how The Mermaid was going to react to him. She LOVED him and couldn't take her eyes off him. The Princess...well, we had high hopes. We will have to wait till next year. I think Santa was happy to see us scoot out of there!

Prayers for Zach

Our neighbor, Zach has been in the hospital since Tuesday of this week. He is having a tough time feeling better. Please say a prayer for him and his family.

Baby News

Daddy's best friend, Don and his wife had a baby girl today. They named her Samantha. She weighed over 8 pounds. Alexander has a new baby sister!

Congratulations!!!!

6 Months Ago Today....

Our first meeting with The Mermaid and the Nannies from her SWI in Chengde.

We were in the Hebei Grand Century Hotel in the Conference room on the 26th floor meeting The Mermaid for the first time. She sure has changed since that first meeting. She has grown taller, gained weight, her hair has gotten longer and she is speaking English as if it was her first language. She still has so much more to learn and we will keep working on those things that she still has not gotten used to like getting a bath each night, getting her hair washed, taking a nap at school and the list goes on. She is three and still adjusting. Some days are better than others...I do tend to post all the good days. She is a cutie and a stinker too!!!!!

We wouldn't have it any other way.....

Elf Videos

I showed the elf video I created to the kids and they just laughed and laughed! The Pirate insisted that we all be in it. The Mermaid has some new dance moves and The Pirate loves that he does a cartwheel! So below....is the new video with us all.

Giggles all around!!!!

Yeehaw!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Holiday Fun. Florida Style!

Since we live in Florida, it can be tough to get in the holiday spirit. It was 83 degrees and rained 2 inches the other day...snow is just not in the forecast. The city has their holiday tree lighting every year. We decided to take the kids. The chorus from their school sang, we got free cotton candy and cookies and the kids got to try sledding for ther first time. Check out The Mermaid. The Pirate is standing on the stairs waiting his turn. Their eyeballs were as BIG as snowballs. Funny stuff!

Here comes The Pirate!

More Fun....

Brother and Sister!

The Pirate and The Superstar fighting over who goes down the slide first.

The Princess looking cute...as usual!

I loved this picture until I noticed the TONGUES!!!!

Poor Teddy trying to take a picture...what were they looking at????

When it Rains ...it POURS!!!!!!

We had our second visit from our Social Worker this evening. All was going well...how is her attachment, how is she sleeping, eating, does she like having a brother???? Yadda, yadda, yadda....
So, The Pirate is getting antsy because it is dinner time. He climbs onto the chair behind me and is hanging off the chair WHEN....The Mermaid comes up and tickles his feet. WHAM!!!! Right in the nose goes his foot! No big deal, right? She didn't scream, cry or complain. She walks away and turns around and BLOOD!!!!! Coming right out her nose....of all times to do this! I clean her up....she is still not screaming or crying. Problem is, it won't stop bleeding!!!! 15 minutes later...it stops. Thank God! I have to say, he got her good. It looks better now and it has stopped gushing.
Well, I can only imagine what the Social Worker thinks????? I hope she does not write this up in her report to the CCAA for our 6 month check. Of all days....why????

Moosical!

Lining up for practice.

Look who came with her class to watch.

My little elf!

The first graders at The Pirates school put on their Christmas program...Mossical. It is about a moose that wants to pull Santa's sleigh. The Pirate was an Elf and the Superstar was a Toy Soldier. I was able to sneak in today during school and catch their dress rehersal...so, there are pictures from the day and tonight. They did a great job. We loved it!!!!!!!

More Moosical!!!!!

The Pirate, their teacher, Mrs. Kaz and The Superstar.

Two CORNDOGS!!!!!

The Elves.

The Elves in action.

The Mermaid LOVED the program. Like the bows? Thanks Becky!!!!!!