Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving we drove up to my grandparents house in Gilford, NH. It is a long day for the kids, but they had fun. Here are some pics from our thankful day. Olivia blessed us prior to dinner on what she was thankful for. She went on and on and on, we had to stop her and say we got it, your very thankful. Hope everyone had a great day.

Sneak Peek at the Dance Recital...

Here is an inside scoop on this years dance recital costumes. Olivia will be dressed as Mulan, with her friends dressed as other Disney princesses. Lexi will be dressed in one of these other outfits.

More Memories....

For all you new moms, document, document, document. After six years, it is hard to recall some of the most precious moments in your life.

Six Years Later!

Today in 2002, just around this time (or so). I just gave up and walked out of my office, when the phone rang. I ran back in to answer and the voice on the other end, said congratulations you have a baby girl. Her name is Cen Rui and she is from the Heng Feng Institute in Jiangxi Province. Her birthday is 3/23/02. We will send you a picture and you will receive the information in Fedex tomorrow. Where should we send it? I said to work!

I couldn't believe it. There was finally a face to the little girl I dreamed so much about.

The next morning, I was so anxious to receive the fedex package. I was so afraid to see what she looked liked. I opened the envelope and took a peek at her picture for the very first time. All my co-workers and friends were around me, including mom.

Once opened, I shared the pictures with everyone. Everyone was so excited to finally see her as I spoke about for nearly two years. I studied every inch of the pictures. Her eyes, her little nose, her cheekbone structure and her eyebrows. I knew every inch of her as if she was sitting right in front of me. Right after work I went to CVS and made copies of her pictures and put them in frames all over my house, as if she was already with me.

We didn't get to travel until February 2003. That is a story for another day.

Once in China. On the bus ride from the airport, our coordinator said your babies are at the hotel and you will have them in about 20 mins. She rambled other stuff, I think about the paperwork and to get your bags in the room, etc. I looked at my mom, scared to death. Not quite sure if I had made the right decision. What was I going to do with a baby?

I was panicking. I remembering rummaging through my luggage for the gifts and then heading in the elevator to (I think the 4th floor). Once off the elevator, we headed down the corridor. I heard the babies for the first time. I continued on and when I peeked in the door, who did I see? Olivia!!! She was the first baby in the room.

She was happy, smiling, had a little tweety bird pocketbook and was just waiting to meet me.

Here are some pics of the first moments and some memorable moments of China.

Loving Our Teddy Bears

We had a great day today. There was no school, due to Parent/Teacher conferences. So, Nana, mom and the girls headed off to Build A Bear with our coupons. They were able to build bears for $10 (including the shirts). Olivia used her newspaper money to fund the event. Here are some really cute pics of Lexi loving her teddy and Olivia loving her doggy.

Also, got a free snapshot of Olivia with Santa. It pays for the malls to be understaffed. The photo lady was taking too long with the person ahead of us, so Santa said are you going to get a picture taken. I said yes, or I could just take a picture with my camera. He said sure go ahead. That saved us $25.00 on a picture with only one daughter. Yes, I said $25.00 for your picture with Santa at the mall!!! I couldn't believe it. And, the quick pic with my camera, saved Santa some time figuring out what else do I say to this little girl.

Olivia wished for a camera, a barbie doll and nintendo ds (2 out of 3 aren't bad, I hope). Lexi wished to get the heck out of there, before Santa glanced her way again.

Cherry Chocolate Chunk For Breakfast

Yes, we do have a lock on our refrigerator. But, when you walk away and forget to lock it, Lexi helps herself to some breakfast. Here is a pic of her enjoying Cherry, Chocolate, Chunk Ice Cream this morning. She also took her pajama bottoms off and put on her favorite fairy jeans.

Winnie

This week we found out that our guinea pig Winnie, who was named after the guinea pig in the Wonder Pets, actually should have been named "Linny". We have been watching this since it first aired and thought his name was Winnie. Here are some pics of Olivia treating Winnie to some yummy carrots!

Falling For Fall

Here some pics of the girls outside helping Papa with the leaves. Olivia lasted about 20 minutes. Lexi followed Papa and the lawnmower around the yard. I guess someone should have told Lexi her pants were falling off of her.

Splish, Splash, I Was Taking A Bath....

Splish, splash, Lexi's taking a bath all by herself. Sissy chose not to attend. So, here are a few pics of Lexi having a fun time splashing around the bath. Then, Olivia decided to get in on the fun and showed up to get a few pics of herself taken.

I've Been Tagged!

Okay, Tanya I will play along! I have been tagged, therefore I need to disclose 7 weird, unusual, or unknown facts about myself.

1. Dusty Eyebrows: I am constantly wiping my eyebrows. I feel that they get dusty. It is either my makeup drying off, or my eyebrows collecting dust from the air. Now that I no longer go to electrolysis, I have added in running my fingers along my eyebrows looking for the next hair to pluck.

2. Addicted to Fountain Soda: I am so in love with drinking pepsi or diet pepsi from a fountain machine. It is like I am addicted to the bubbles or something. If somebody goes to McDonald's, I say bring me a medium coke!

3. Cabinet Re-Organization: So my father likes to hang out in my house and re-arrange the cabinets the way he likes them. Every morning, I re-arrange them back.

4. OCD: I am not the most organized person by any means. But, if you were to come in to my house and pick up a pen to write a note and put the pen down in a difference place. It drives me crazy that you moved it.

5. Sing To My Girls: At night, me and my girls lay in bed and I sing to them. Either, a Beatles tune "Close Your Eyes..." or "You Are My Sunshine".

6. Fantasies: I still fantasize about being a rock star!! When I am in the car, you can find me listening to my 80's music really loud (Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, KISS and more)

7. Nails: I bite my nails and always have. I also need to keep my toe nails clipped pretty short, as soon as they grow I can't stand it. Oh! The same goes for my bangs. As soon as they hit my eyebrows I have to cut them.

So, that is my list. And, I am sure there are a lot more.

Now it is your turn!

1. Aleisa Dunn
2. Krystal Brown-Johnstone
3. Kolleen Bell
4. Susan Crogan (by email)

Little Miss Manners

So, I am sitting in the living room and Lexi is in the kitchen eating her soup. I could hear her slurping her soup all the way in the other room. I tried to take a video of it, not sure if the sound comes through. But, not only was she slurping her soup it was running down the her face and soaking her shirt.

Apple Crisp Anyone?

Yesterday me and the girls made up a batch of delicious apple crisp. Here are the girls taking turns using the apple corer/peeler to get the apples ready for baking.

Trick or Treat

So, just after dinner we set out for our night of Trick or Treat. Or, as Lexi puts it, Pleez Goodie!!Lexi made it about half way and then got a little scared so went home with Nana. Olivia and me trecked on. I felt like we walked for miles. At one house, the girls received a juice, a microwave popcorn and a Halloween fold up tote! I couldn't believe it. Lexi's favorite was her Go-Go Pops (Aka Diego lollipops). When Lexi got home she dumped her candy and dug through the pile looking for the Go-Go Pops. Nana didn't even have a clue what she was doing. Olivia munched on chips, pez treats, and the juice. Overall the girls had a blast and it was nice weather for trick or treating.

Olivia's Halloween Sing A Long

The parents were invited to school on Halloween to listen to all their little ghosts and goblins sing a few Halloween tunes. After the sing a long, I went back to the room to help out with the celebration. I was in charge of the decorating the cupcake table and handing out the witches brew!! The kids loved decorating their cupcakes and overall they were pretty quiet with their mouths full. Olivia and all her friends had a great time.