Christmas 2007

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. We had a great one! Here are some pics from the last week.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Holidays Are Upon Us

This picture was taken at a restaurant after church a week ago. Jordan wanted matching dresses for her and Ellie and they turned out really cute. It seems that as the holidays approach - there is a desire for dresses that haven't been worn before (by Jordan). But once she wears it she then decides that is the dress for all festivities that week. Thus, this dress was worn to Church and to the Nutcracker (and almost to the Holiday Wonders show) this week. Ellie stayed home for the holiday shows because they kept us out until 10pm! Luckily, the Holiday Wonders show was promoted by Jordan's school - it is a group of performances by Chinese artists, so there was some understanding that the kids would be tired on the last day of school. Jordan liked the Nutcracker but stated that the performance of the Nutcracker at her school was even better (I really wish I'd seen it but tickets sold out - but it was seen by over 2,000 people - pretty cool I think).

Gymnastics

Look - I can fly! (or at least dismount into a well of foam blocks)

Jordan has just finished her first semester of gymnastics. We are not going to a big center and the goal is not to become a competitive gymnast (primarily because this mommy does not want to deal with the injuries and the time commitment that it would take "if" Jordan were to demonstrate talent). We're there for the fun and the fact that it keeps Jordan physically active - something her mommy needs to think about more! So every Saturday we've gone to the gymnastics center at our local Y along with about 39 other children and practiced the rudimentaries of gymnastics. Jordan likes the floor and the running prep for vault work the best. Here are some pictures of her in class (we got to go out on the floor and take pics the last day of class).

Jordan is very comfortable on the mid beam but for some reason the high balance beam shakes her confidence. I'm sure that will change as she becomes more and more at ease.

Ellie's Family Day!

It was one year ago today that the picture above was taken. It was the day that I adopted Ellie and she legally became part of our family. Usually we celebrate Family Day on the day that I first held each of my girls - the day before adoption day. And normally, I would have posted something yesterday. But yesterday I was down for the count with a stomach bug and barely able to get out of bed. So we postponed our celebration until today.

Ellie's class had their Christmas party today and we all clapped and celebrated Ellie's adoption as well. She is in a class of 8 children and by the end of this month, 5 will have moved on. Four of them are moving up to the younger 2's room and the other is leaving the center because his grandparents are visiting from China for a nice, long visit and wanted to care for him.

Ellie, Jordan and I had dinner tonight at the Outback (Ellie's choice from the 3 restaurants I suggested) and came home and read "Juniejones" - Ellie's word for any Junie B Jones book we might be reading - and I Love You Like Crazycakes.

We ended the evening by trying on the outfit in which I had received her. I got this idea from some of our travel mates including Malia's family. Here she is:

Hey mommy - I think this cute outfit still fits!!!

So here is to a happy adoption day for my dear, sweet Ellie! You have completed my family and I love you so very, very much!

No Santa For Ellie

Off we went to visit Santa Claus on Monday - because Mommy was off work so I could take the girls before dinner time. With Jordan, I was obsessed with getting that first picture of Jordan with Santa. Did I care if she cried? Nope - just get me that picture because I had been envisioning that perfect Christmas for so long. (That perfect Christmas included both Jordan and I having the flu on Christmas day).
Ellie did NOT want to see Santa. She held on for dear life to me the whole time we were in line and then she started shaking and crying when we walked over to Santa. So I held her and told Santa that she wanted a book (that's what she has been telling me she was going to ask Santa for) and then we stepped aside and let Jordan sit on Santa's lap and have her picture made. I never like the mall photos and prefer to take mine as well. But with Ellie in hysterics - that wasn't going to happen this year. I don't have a scanner so I can't post up the photo of Jordan with Santa yet.
Right after we went, Santa left his chair to check on his reindeer. Ellie was happy as a clam to hop down and stand in front of the Christmas tree at Santa's mall digs. As long as the man in red was nowhere in sight - she was thrilled.

Tonight we have our final post placement report!!!! My house is crazy - and feels more squished than usual now that we have a giant tree taking up 1/3 of my living room. The girls' room is a disaster area - so I'm hoping that we stay in the living area (hee hee).

Also - I'll post more later on this but I did a quick lifebook for Ellie for Christmas. Unlike Jordan's handmade scrapbook - I decided to create Ellie's book using Snapfish and did a custom book. I got it about a week ago but didn't really look at it until last night. I LOVE it!!! It is just the perfect size for her and it really turned out well. She loves looking at Jordan's book - now she'll have her very own story. It is probably my favorite Christmas present of the year. So for anyone looking to do a lifebook who doesn't want the hassel fo a real scrapbook type one and who doesn't have digital software yet - may I suggest one like this. I think you'll be pleased.

Sorry for the absence.....

Jordan (right) and her bestest friend Caroline - it's like they were never apart

Things have been a bit overwhelming this past month which is why I haven't posted in pretty much forever. Apologies to those of you who have been checking in only to see no new posts from me.

My grandmother passed away right around the time of my last post. I had taken Jordan down to a Jane Brown conference and was driving back home (my dad was in town for Halloween and stayed to watch Ellie while we were gone). It was less than half an hour probably from the time we got back to my house before my mother called with the news. I felt so terrible that she was alone when it happened. My dad was amazing though and had his car packed and was on the road within 10 minutes of the call.

The only thing that was good about the whole thing was that it was not unexpected. My grandmother had been living with my parents for the last 10 years and in the last few months she had shown a significant decline and entered into hospice assistance. I have been preparing Jordan for this for awhile - so that went much, much better than it may have.

So - long story short - I've had the funeral - held here - so that meant getting the house ready for relatives to come by. I had planned a trip to Pittsburgh to visit my best friend for her daughter's birthday. You can see the picture of Jordan with her buddy, Caroline, when we were up there. It was like we never left Pittsburgh (we moved away 3.5 years ago). I'm always amazed when Caroline and Jordan see each other after long separations - because it is as if they had just seen each other the day before. This time it had been over a year since they last saw each other. Caroline and Jordan went to Libby Lu for Caroline's 6th birthday. Thankfully - the girls chose to get made up as princesses. If they had wanted to be rock stars or Hannah Montana I think I would have just cried. Then we were back down here for Thanksgiving. And I am proud to say we have a tree up and decorated - and a house that is a disaster. It must be time for the holidays!!!

Uh oh - Princess Fashionistas - Move over Paris Hilton (okay the dog/cat in the purse was a little much for this mommy - but the girls LOVED it)

I'm big enough to decorate this year! Hooray!!!!

A Year After Referral

Yesterday marked one year from the first time I had laid eyes on my second daughter's face. She looked so solemn in all her referral pictures - who knew that there was such a spicy personality hiding under there!

Halloween 2007

Our house had a witch and a frog....

The two were joined by a dog....

All through the night, they trick-or-treated with delight....

Until the witch flew away into the night.

Ellie and her pumpkin

I love this picture of Ellie. I just had to put it on the blog.

The Haircut

We finally went to cut Ellie's hair. I've been meaning to do it but I also have hesitated - I didn't want to give up her curls and it had just gotten long enough to put into pigtails. But we were both off on Monday, so I thought I'd take her over to the children's salon and do it before I changed my mind. Her hair really did need trimming - she had the mullet going on and even in a toddler it isn't the best look. I told them that I did not want bangs and the stylist agreed. The hardest part was watching them take off 2 inches from the back of her head.

She even let her blow dry! I guess it helps when Toy Story is playing in front of the chair!

Here is Ellie before and after her first haircut.

Going to the Pumpkin Patch

We ignored the fact that the weather was in the 90's this weekend and headed off to a farm to find us some pumpkins! The picture above is of Ellie (on the right) and her friend Ally. The girls got to go see some animals (goats, sheep, pigs and ponies) and feed them, get their faces painted (Ellie was doing a pig theme as she chose to have a pig on her face too - maybe she knows this is the Year of the Pig). Jordan chose to have candy corn painted on her cheek.

Afterward, we hopped on board the trailer for the "hayride" to the pumpkin patch where the girls could pick out their pumpkins. Jordan immediately found the largest one she could carry and hopped back on board the trailer. Ellie was much more selective and tried out several pumpkins before finding one she liked. This included her throwing a few pumpkins back down on the ground (oops).

After the pupkin selection, we all went back to the main section of the farm to pay for the pumpkins (all 16.5 pounds of them) as well as buy some drinks. The first round was bottle water but then Jordan saw someone with lemonade (they had sold out when I went to find her some). She ended up with a citrus (sprite-like) soda. And then I found Diet Cheerwine in a real glass bottle. For those of you not from the south - Cheerwine tastes a little like Dr. Pepper. I don't drink it often but it hit the spot. And then we went off to the play area where the girls rode around on John Deere mini-tractors, climbed on a pirate ship and then played in the corn box. Corn box???? Yes - they had filled up a sandbox area (around 20' x 20') with corn. It was great - you didn't have to worry about corn getting in your hair or in your shoes (or diapers) - and with the canvas tent around it - it was cool and a way to get out of the blaring sun).
Jordan (as you can see) loved to get buried in the corn. I hadn't seen her grin so big in a very long time. She also liked diving into the corn and then "swimming" over to me. Ellie spent most of the time with a shovel and pail - loading up the bucket with corn.

Jordan had a great time playing with her friend, Grace, as well. Since school has started, they have not seen each other much. Grace also has recently become a big sister - so it is nice that the two of them can get together every once in awhile and compare notes.

Back from afar....

Has it really been almost 3 WEEKS since I last posted an update????!!!! Oh my gosh - that is way, way too long. Now I have so much to talk about. First of all - Jordan is loving kindergarten. My favorite thing right now is the fact that her main teacher, Chen Lao shi, uses her Chinese name in class. Her English teacher uses her English name. I have always wanted Jordan to feel comfortable with both names and I do use her Chinese name intermittently around the house. But now it is being used by her teacher and classmates. I feel like her past is now truly being incorporated into her current life. She asked me if she could bring her lifebook to school because she was born in China and the class might like to learn about that. I was glad she was so interested but I am wary of letting her take it to school in its complete form. I think we'll be making a copy of the pages that are more general in nature and exclude some of the private information that she may later regret being so open about. Plus a copy can be destroyed or ripped and it won't be so devastating. What do y'all think? [Now I feel like I need to get Ellie's done sooner rather than later!]

The pictures above are from our weekend in the mountains at our first retreat. We had a great time - although I came back realizing how out of shape I was after walking up and down the hill from our room to the children's center. My calves were killing me! I forgot to bring a stroller so I was carrying Ellie a lot of the time. Jordan had a great time staying up late to watch a movie in her pajamas with the other girls and eating s'mores with honest to goodness fire-roasted marshmallows.

This past weekend we had our first gymnastics classes. Jordan is in a beginning class with what looks like 50 other kids. I'm amazed that they can keep all the kids in line but they do. They are broken up and rotate around from area to area (just like a real gymnastics meet). Right now she's basically learning balance, and some strengthening moves. Ellie is in a class that is much more "Mommy and Me" which I am unsure about. I think she's too young and I don't know why I am paying to have her run over large tumbling blocks - (oh yes I do know why - because Jordan begged me to sign her up). Let's just say that Ellie may or may not be finishing out the class. I will try to take pictures of Jordan at some point to post up here. She really enjoyed her first class.

Last night Jordan had her first choir practice at church. As I'm musically challenged - I thought it would be a good idea to at least give her the chance to learn from someone a little more gifted than myself (pretty much anyone who can carry a tune). She at first was unsure about going because she thought she was going to have to stand on a stage and sing in front of parents. Once she realized it was just her and a bunch of kids getting to sing fun songs in a room for an hour - she was fine. Ellie and I went outside and played on the playground equipment while Jordan was singing. Above is a pic of Ellie having fun on one of the slides. Her hair has gotten long enough to make actual pigtails - she has become a true toddler!!!

Relaxing over the long weekend

Disney had these beach loungers on sale for $7 a piece - and I couldn't resist. The girls realize that the summer is winding down but loved relaxing on these the day they came. They should be just right next summer when we head to the beach.

Those phone calls you dread...a bad, bad mommy

My cell phone has been on vibrate since going to Church last Sunday. Foolish me forgot to switch it back to ring. And of course - Jordan's school was very anxious to get in touch with me (I'm a very, very guilty feeling bad, bad mommy).

Apparently the bus information I had been given didn't match the bus information the school had for her (and neither did the address they had for her to get off the bus). So Jordan ended up at the wrong after school program and her mommy (that would be me) was a mess!!! At one point in the spring (as in May) Jordan was scheduled to go to an afterschool program run by the YMCA. Then I was told by another parent that they were moving but no one knew where to (great...) So I moved her to another program at an elementary school closer to our house. At about the same time - the plan was for the YMCA's program to be held at a building right beside the elementary school (they share the same plot of land and the buildings are actually hooked up together). And then the YMCA moved their program again (this is all during the summer, mind you) to another rec center downtown. I "think" that when the YMCA moved their program - they changed the address for all the children scheduled to depart the bus at that address (which would have included Jordan). In fact, Jordan was the only child in the elementary school program and not the YMCA program.

That is the only way I can think that the information I received from the school system showed a bus# with the correct departure address and the school's data now shows a different address.

Any how - now the school system is telling me it may take 2 weeks until a bus can be found to drop her off at the elementary school. TWO WEEKS. As a single mom - that is forever.
My parents who have been here to take care of Jordan this week until school starts have offered to stay - and I might (most likely will) have to take them up on their offer. I'll go to the school office on Tuesday to try and figure it all out. (Sigh).

By the way - Jordan had a great day at school!!! Luckily she knew someone at the after school program she was dropped off at - so that helped.

She's a Kindergartener Now!!!

Here she is! The newest kindergartener! After reading Donna's blog about Emma's first day I was prepared to bawl my eyes out. But both Jordan and I came through with flying colors. I have to give a lot of credit to her new school. This past spring, right after we found out Jordan made it into the Mandarin immersion program, they had a Beginner's Day where we were able to visit the school, the 2 kindergarten classrooms, visit the cafeteria and practice going through the line with a tray, etc... The even had a fashion show to show the children what clothing is appropriate and what is not (they have a navy, khaki, white uniform policy). Then throughout the summer there were 3 picnics at a local park that allowed all the kindergarten children to meet each other and for parents to talk to the "experienced" rising first grade parents. Then we had open house and Jordan was able to meet her teacher and check out her class room. So when we walked in today, she was perfectly at ease.

Here she is with her teacher, Chen Laoshi (for those who do not speak Chinese - Laoshi is the term for teacher). They have been staggering in the entry of the kindergarteners so the teachers get to really know the children. So there were only 3-4 children in Jordan's class today (normally there are 18). Starting next week all the children will be there together.

After dropping her off and taking the obligatory pictures - I hung around in the courtyard at the Sip N' Sob - a place for new parents to congregate and have a little coffee. And then back to work. I did not cry (nor did Jordan) although it is bittersweet. But I can tell Jordan is going to have a great year!

Weekend Fun

We spent last weekend visiting the grandparents and checking out the local botanical gardens. The girls had a great time and we had our first big test of staying out late, late, late. We went out to dinner but didn't get seated until after 8:30pm (Ellie normally is in bed by 7:30pm). The girls were amazingly well behaved (they had eaten earlier before we headed out and I'm sure that helped). We also went to one of my favorite shoe stores to purchase shoes for the girls. Jordan has wide feet so it is more difficult getting shoes for her. I wanted a simple pair of sneakers with no lights (okay - I really wanted the adorable clogs and mary janes and loafers but couldn't afford them). I did get Ellison a great pair of Jumping Jack shoes for school. I wish our city had a great local shoe store but I haven't found one yet so we head for shoes when we are visiting.

Smiles, apples, and the great hair debate

Jordan left for school last Friday in her new sundress that was a size too big but which she really wanted to wear due to it being a belated b-day present from her buddy Vivian (the owner of one of our fave Asian restaurants). She also wanted to wear her hair in what we call the "Hanna Andersson look" because it is similar to the little knotted pigtails that you see in that catalog. She looked so cute - I had to take her picture.

Did I mention Ellie is catching up in the teeth department? She now has 3 of her 4 1st year molars. And she loves apples! Here she is partaking of a nice juicy red apple at her sister's daycare. She takes little bites so I let her munch on one all the way home.

Ellie is doing well adjusting to her new classroom. She still isn't giving the new teachers hugs (although her now former teachers get plenty of hugs as she walks past their room) but she's not crying when I leave and is happy when I come pick her up. They are teaching her to drink without a sippy cup and she's slowly figuring it out. I am starting to practice with her on some evenings as well.

I'm trying to decide when to get Ellie's hair cut for the first time. It grows forward so it is always in her eyes unless I put it up. Do I let her have bangs or not - that is the question. Her forehead isn't too high so she would look good without bangs and I know from my experience with Jordan that they can be a real pain to grow out. But it would make life easier. I also don't want to cut out her curls. Her hair still curls a bit and I have grown to love it so much and would hate to see it disappear. Maybe it wouldn't - but do I take that chance now or not? Sigh...

Growing up...sort of....

The picture above is of Jordan yesterday - giving me her "silly eyes". She has made a similar face since she was a baby and it is one of the things that I think she does to charm anyone she meets. Her nannies in China had described her as charming - and she can charm the socks off of you --- if she wants to. I put this picture out here to remind myself that she hasn't grown up too much yet. We spent the weekend purchasing school uniform pieces. She had so much fun trying them on and dancing around. And as I watched her, I realized that --yes -- she was growing up as she is nearing kindergarten. Her sister was a little jealous and in an attempt to pacify her - we put a size 5 jumper on her little body (over her clothes) and she had a blast running around in that.

Speaking of growing up....here is Ellie this morning on the way to school. She's wearing a 24 month outfit!!!!! What the heck??!! She's not quite 18 months yet and she can fit into some 24 month clothing. I got two comments at different times Saturday from other parents commenting on how tall she is. Now that is not a comment I'm used to hearing after having Jordan barely squeak in at the 5% mark on height charts. I can't wait to see how tall she is in a couple of weeks at her checkup.

I See Mommy!!!!

I took this picture yesterday when I went to pick up Ellie at daycare. I like it because it shows her moving around (hence the blur) and a smile! On Monday she starts transitioning to her next classroom (18-24 month olds) which I think she'll like because they are always playing outside.

Harry Potter - NO SPOILERS

I finished Harry Potter's last adventure last night at 11pm. I am satisfied.

Harry Potter was initially considered a children's book. I think I am safe to state that the series has gone well past children's books and should be considered literature. I have read many, many books throughout my life. I love reading. When I find an author that I like, I tend to read everything I can get my hands on. Since Jordan came into my life, reading has had to take more of a back seat. I was just starting to have time to pick up a book again when Ellie joined our family.

Over our week at the beach , I took the time to re-read books 5 and 6 in the Harry Potter series. That's how you can tell a great book - when you want to re-read the books over and over and find joy in them well past the first read. J.K. Rowling does that with HP. J.R.R. Tolkein did it with his Ring Trilogy. Gabriel García Márquez gave me a book like that with One Hundred Years of Solitude.

I started reading Harry Potter books back in the summer of 1999 as talk of the release of Book 3 came about. I immediately was taken with the books because they were so well written. As each book was nearing release I would go back and start reading all the ones before it, anticipation building with each one.

We've all known from the start that the plan was for 7 books. And so it was with both anticipation and a pang of sadness that I waited for this last one. As the last week before the book was to be released came - I had to start avoiding internet sites, TV and newspapers. I was determined not to accidentally read or hear something that would lessen the excitement of this book. I had pre-ordered it at Amazon but realized with the free Super Saver shipping that it may not arrive this past weekend. At first, I was okay with that. And then I wasn't. This was my last chance to go to a Harry Potter book release party. Even though I have two young girls - I was seriously thinking of grabbing them and going. But Jordan got a 24 hour bug and was running a fever Friday and I had to put her first. She was feeling better Saturday morning so off I went with the girls to have breakfast out -- after I stopped by the local bookstore and picked up a copy of Deathly Hallows (it was the second to the last copy that was not already earmarked for someone. The lady behind me took the last). The bookstore's employees were wearing wizard and witch hats and there were doughnuts - I got to experience a little celebration after all. I began the book as soon as the girls went down for naps in the afternoon and got through 100 pages before they woke up. As they went to bed that night I picked up the book again and read, and read, and read. I felt like a kid again - engrossed in a book and wanting to not put it down until I was finished. But I also realize that I'm not 12 anymore - and I need my sleep. So at 1am I put the book down by my bed and didn't pick it back up until 6:45am. I read as Ellie and Jordan played, read through lunch, read through Ellie's nap. At 3pm I made the decision to hold off - I was nearing the end and I wanted to read the last 100+ pages with no disturbances. So off to the library - hoping that my girls would find books that interested them and that one day they would love reading as much as I. And after the girls were in bed - I finished the book - savoring the last few chapters.

I will read the books again - most likely reading them before each of the last 2 movies. Jordan will be 7 in 2 years and I think I will begin reading them to her (or allowing her to read them herself) around that time. And then Ellie will be old enough and we will begin them again.

The copy I ordered came in the mail on Saturday. It sits in its box unopened. I'm thinking of saving it for several years and when it is time for Jordan to read that book - we will open it together - on a July 21st some year in the future.