Happy 7th Birthday Olivia

On March 23, Olivia turned 7 years old. Boy how time flies. We celebrated her birthday this year at the bowling alley. All her friends from school attended, even auntie from Florida. We had a great birthday dinner at Kitty's (after one year)Nana and Grampy came as well. Here are some great pics.

Olivia's New Bike

Olivia wanted a new bike for her birthday since she has been riding the toddler size with training wheels. Luckily, right after Christmas we were in Walmart and saw a great bike on clearance for $20.00. I bought it for her and said you can't have it until your birthday. Anyways, it was winter so she wouldn't be able to ride it. There was just one other stipulation. When she was ready to ride it, she couldn't use any training wheels.

Finally right before her birthday we had some great weather and we got the new bike out. Just a few pushes and balancing lessons and she was on her way.

She crashed into the garage a few times and said get the camera I could be on tv and win a million dollars! And yes, she is in her pajamas.

Remembering Lexi's Announcement Call

On March 6, 2007, I received the call that I had a second daughter. I was working in my at home office, the phone rang and it was the call. I had another daughter and her birthday was 5/24/06. Same birthday as mom's. I had about 5 minutes to call mom at work and let her know before I had to run out for a showing. I was so excited that the phone call finally came, it was an extremely long wait, I started the process on 3/23/04 and now was the mom of two.

Here is one of the first pictures I received of Lexi. To recall our memories, you can go back and read our blog of the wait and travelling to China. http://journeytobabylexi.blogspot.com

Quoted In The Concord Journal

Cookies for a good cause: Girl Scouts deliver for overseas troops
By Kristen Kiel/Correspondent
Wed Mar 04, 2009, 04:44 PM EST

Concord - “Look at all these girls! They’re early!” said 66th Air Base Wing Commander Col. David Orr as he enthusiastically surveyed a crowd of about 1,000 Girl Scouts who had arrived to deliver more than 15,000 boxes of cookies at Hanscom Air Force Base last Saturday.

Braving a chilly morning, about 1,000 bright-eyed, cheery Girl Scouts from eastern Massachusetts, including troops from Lincoln, Concord, Bedford and Lexington, dropped off Girl Scout cookies as part of Cookies for a Cause.

More than 15,000 boxes of cookies, along with 2,000 pounds of coffee provided by Dunkin’ Donuts, will be sent in care packages to American military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Girl Scouts began this year’s cookie sale Jan. 5, selling cookies to be donated to troops overseas.

“I received cookies while I was in Iraq,” said Orr, as he crouched down and spoke to a group of Girl Scouts. “I can’t even tell you how much it made my day to receive them. It really did remind me of home.”

Of the thousands of boxes donated, 320 came from the efforts of Concord Girl Scouts. The girls sold the cookies at booths set up at local stores including Crosby’s Marketplace. Three of the 11 girls in Brownie Troop 72688 represented Concord on Saturday.

“The girls had a really good time,” said Kathryn Tedeschi, Troop 72688 leader.

Eastern Massachusetts began participation in the Cookies for a Cause program three years ago with 1,000 boxes of donated cookies from a small group of Girl Scouts. In three years, the program has grown to include 45,000 Girl Scouts from 178 towns and cities.

Last year, Girl Scouts sent 12,000 boxes of cookies to troops overseas.

“Everyone who receives cookies really appreciates them,” said Ruth Bramson, the chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. “The men and women stationed overseas especially love receiving the cookies.”

In addition to donating the cookies, the Girl Scouts spoke with airmen who served overseas and wrote cards that will be sent with the care packages.

When asked what her favorite part was, Julia Adrian, a Brownie from Troop 74858 of Medfield, said, “making the cards.”

“They can’t see their families while overseas, so it’s a nice way to show them people care about their work and are thinking about them,” she said.

“I really enjoyed bringing the cookies,” said Olivia Bullock, 7, a Brownie from Reading Troop 1279. “The cookies remind the soldiers of home.”
Troop leader Samantha Bullock agreed.

“The soldiers work to keep us safe, so donating the cookies is a great way to show them we care and appreciate their hard work,” she said.

During the closing presentation, Orr thanked the girls for their hard work and generous donations.

“I wish everybody was here to see what I’m seeing right now,” Orr said. “I also wish I could show you the faces of the servicemen when they receive the cookies. They may be tough people, but all their faces are cheery when they see the cookies.”


Courtesy of The Concord Journal, via wickedlocal.com

Cookies For A Cause

On Saturday, the girl scout troop brought all their donated cookies to Hanscom Air Force Base. Here is a cute picture of the girls and a few soldiers. Also, this picture made the headlines of the Reading Chronicle.

Happy Gotcha Day Olivia!

Six years ago today, I was flying half way around the world, scared to death about becoming a mom. There was a happy, smiling little girl waiting for me, not knowing that her life was about to change either.

We flew into Guangzhou, where we met up with the Stolts and got a quick shower in a hotel before flying out to Nanchang.

Once arriving in Nanchang, it was a quick 20 minute bus ride to the hotel, where Helen told us that the babies were waiting for us.

Olivia was the first baby right inside the door. She was happy and smiling. She had a little tweety bird pocket book that she carried. I had to wait patiently until they called my name to go up and get her. Olivia came to me very happy and never looked back. We brought her back to the hotel room where we stared at her in amazement and played with her.

Here are a few pics of my special moment. Seeing her for the first time, holding her for the first time and her on Valentine's day with her favorite duck.

Sick House

Yes the flu has hit this house. Olivia was sick and missed a whole week of school. Now, myself and Lexi are on day 3 of the illness and dad is starting it. It has been the high fevers that really beats you down. Only one person left still feeling healthy, she will be sick too, no doubt.