Sigh.....Another Snow Day......

Today we had another snow day. Thankfully we weren't the only county this time but we still just had the less than an inch we had last week. We did not go out and play today as both girls are battling a small cold and I didn't want it to go into a full force cold. So instead of going outside we stayed in and baked a cake! They had fun and so I. The picture above is today's snow......

A Snow Day? For THIS????

This is how our road looked this morning and for this we had a snow day. I couldn't believe it when I saw that our county schools were closed -- and they were the only county around that was closed. Olivia enjoyed her day off from "school". Here are a few pics from the morning as the snow was gone when we got home from an errand we had to run.

Say it isn't so

Please tell me where my baby went to. Sophia has decided that she does not want to nap. This is her second day of not taking one and she has done really well. She has gone to bed earlier than her sister that has to have a nap -- everyday. What is it that makes babies not want or need a nap? Don't they know that it isn't just for them, it's for their mommies too? It is now 20 minutes after I put Sophia to bed and she has been asleep for 19 of those 20 minutes. Sniff, sniff my baby is growing up on me......

The new 'do

Well, I took Olivia and Sophia to get haircuts last week. Olivia's hair when it's long gets stringy and looks very unkempt. She looks better with shorter hair but Daddy doesn't quite like it short but since he doesn't fix their hair he has no say in what I have done with it. LOL Here is Olivia's new 'do.....

Sophia and the dentist

****I know I am due more on Christmas and I will do that soon I promise but I had to write about this while it was still fresh on my mind.

Sophia is such a big girl! She had an appointment today to get a cavity filled. It was a small one and on the side. Our dentist has a rule (and please don't tell me how wrong it is) that you are allowed back with you child but if your child is 3 or over and they start crying and screaming, you (the parent) will be asked to leave so the can finish. David and I talked before Olivia had her 4 fillings done in Dec 2006 and we thought it would be better on everyone if she went back alone because we felt like she would do better if we went there than if we (or me) went back and then had to leave. Olivia (3.75 at the time) did amazing and was able to get all 4 done at the same time. Well, we decided that it would be better on Sophia if we did the same thing with her. I talked to her and told her what was going to happen and that she need to be a big girl and if there were no tears she would get a special treat. She was so good that the dentist was speechless when I went back. She said she was wonderful and that I was blessed to have such an amazing girl. I must confess that I agree with her! I should have taken a picture of her with her dentist. I am truly lucky that both my girls like the dentist because I HATED going as a kid.

A Christmas tradition.....

Last year the tradition was started to make and decorate Christmas cookies at Grandma and Grandpa's house and this year was no different. The girls love it plus they get to spend time with their grandparents. It is hard to tell who had more fun the girls or Daddy and Grandpa. After doing the cookies they went downstairs to help decorate the Christmas tree. Here are some pictures of the activities......

Happy Birthday Sophia!!

Well I can hardly believe that my baby is now 3 years old. It seems like just yesterday we were in China to get her. She has grown so much in the last year. She:

• is talking up a storm (thanks to her wonderful speech therapist)
• is counting to 10 in English and Chinese
• is saying her ABC's
• is into playing with dolls
• has become a girlie girl
• is so funny and lights up a room with her laughter
• is completely potty trained
• weighs 34 pounds and is 38" tall
• loves her mommy, daddy and sister so much
• her favorite color is green

She had a party where she got the new dollhouse she has been eyeing at Tar*get. She loves it and plays for hours!

Christmas Program

The girls had their school Christmas program the other day and did so well. Sophia's class did Jingle Bells and Mary Had a Baby. Olivia's class did Angels We Have Heard On High (my favorite and she was an angel) and Happy Birthday Jesus. I have video from my camera of Olivia's last song. Here are a few pics...

Christmas pictures

Well, I took the pictures for the Christmas card and got some awesome pictures. I can't wait to see how the card turns out -- I ordered it yesterday. Here are a few pics from that day.....

4 Years Ago

We saw our lovely Olivia's face for the first time. It was so surreal to finally see the face of the child that was to become our daughter. I could not believe it when I got the call. I had been e-mailing with a fellow travel mate that I guess our calls weren't coming that day -- most of our DTC group had gotten their calls 2 days before. I had no sooner typed the words "I know it's all in God's timing but try telling that to my heart." when the receptionist told me that Suzanne was on the phone and I realized that it was "the call". I quickly typed the sentence "I'm on the call right now get ready" to Susan. I took the call and found out that we were referred an 8.5 month old Long Fu Yu, currently residing in the Suichuan County WI in the JiangXi Province. She was a little peanut (and still is) weighing only 12 pounds. I told Suzanne that I would be at the agency in a few hours to see her precious pictures and to get the rest of the referral information. I looked for David and couldn't find him -- of all times not to answer his cell phone! I couldn't find my (then) best friend as she was going to drive me to the agency and take pictures of me getting the referral. I finally found David at the gym and said "Hey Daddy!" I talked him into riding with us to the agency with a stop in Frankfort. Seeing her picture for the first time was such a thrill. Just looking at her I knew she was the one for us.

Olivia is a rambunctious child. She can get into more and make more messes in the shortest amount of time. She is a head-strong, stubborn child. She is not a real graceful child -- she falls and trips over anything and everything. She is also a loving child. She loves fiercely. She talks ALL. THE. TIME. She loves gymnastics and is on the developmental team.

2 Years Ago Today......

We went to the Civil Affairs Officein Nanchang, JiangXi province to adopt our youngest daughter Sophia. We were the first family called and were so excited. Olivia was so excited about becoming a big sister that she ran across the hall to where the babies were so she could see Sophia. Of course I had to go get her -- plus I got to see an early glimpse of our daughter. :-) Sophia came right to me and David. She never cried -- it was almost as if she had been prepped for this day. We took her back to the hotel, gave her a bottle and gave her a good looking over before going back to finalize the adoption.

I can't tell you how full Sophia has made our lives over the last 2 years. She is no longer a baby and is becoming a little girl. She is funny, has tons of personality, loves gymnastics, dolls (I can't wait to see her with the doll house she's getting for her birthday), school and playing outside. She is such a loving child too. She will just sit in your lap and cuddle with you but when she gets what she wants (some lovin') she is done with you. Her speech has just exploded and she talks ALL. THE. TIME. so much like her big sister that it drives me CRAZY sometimes! She is completely potty trained. She went through a short phase where she peed in the bed at night but I think that is done -- for now.

For Sophia's Family Day, we spent the day together. We went out for lunch, grilled out at supper time and went to Dairy Queen for dessert. She had a ball eating her Blizzard.

Olivia -- the gymnast

Olivia had her first gymnastics performance day. It was to show what she has learned in gymnastics to family and friends. She really loves taking gymnastics. She has really come a long way in 2 years. She used to really dislike the balance beam and the trapeze when she first started but now loves both! Here is a short video of her on the balance beam.

Pumpkin Patch and Pony Rides

We went to the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago and to say the girls had a blast would be an understatement! They had their first ever pony rides! The loved it. After the pony rides, we went on a hayride to pick pumpkins. They got lots of pumpkins but unfortunately we never got around to carving them. Here are a few pics from the day!

Daddy and his girls

We had our church fall festival last Sunday and the girls went trunk or treating. Olivia was a gingerbread girl and Sophia was a baker. I am still a little undecided on whether or not I want to take them trick or treating tomorrow night since we don't live in a subdivision and would have to drive for them to go. We have been invited by some friends to go with them but I don't know. Decisions, decisions.

I have a ton more to update on -- Olivia's gymnastics program, going to the Pumpkin Patch, pony riding, Olivia's first field trip.......Whew! Until next time!

FCC Moon Festival

I and my dear friend T planned our local FCC Moon Festival. We had heard that most of the older kids didn't want to attend most FCC functions because it seemed that we catered to the younger kids which once we thought about it was true. So we thought and came up with some things that included both older and younger kids. There was a scavenger hunt, a hayride to the pumpkin patch, a corn maze and face painting. We also had a lantern parade. Since the Moon Festival is about family and thanksgiving, we decided to do something to honor our "Chinese" Families. We had red balloons and the children wrote a note to their birthparents. The notes were then tied to the balloons and released just before the lantern parade. Sophia did not quite like the idea of her balloon being gone but once we gave her a new one she was fine. We had a great time but are glad the planning and preparation is finished -- until next year that is.

Well, I am having some trouble uploading the pictures I want to but I will try again later! Update: I was able to add 2 before I got the error message. Also, I don't have many really good pictures since hubby was taking them instead of me......

Woo hoo!!! We are......

......a diaper free house ~~ both day AND night!!!! Sophia has been waking up dry most nights and even waking up in the middle of the night to go potty. So, when we ran out of her size diapers, we decided that instead of buying more we would just bite the bullet and make the switch and go panties all the time!! After 2 days, she is still dry and can hold it forever!! I hope the momentum keeps going! We are so proud of our girl.

A House Divided.....

GO BIG BLUE!!!!! Last weekend was the annual UK-UofL football game. In previous years, it has been played as the first game for each school however this year UK wanted to play it as the 3rd game. Well, as luck would have it that proved to be a wonderful choice as the Wildcats scored a touchdown with 28 seconds left in the 4th quater to win the game 40 -34!!! Louisville did well with a new coach this year but the cats came out on top! WOO HOO!!! I love those CATS!!!!