Pictionary

Each holiday has to include games. A favorite (for Linette and I at least) is Pictionary. Of course the most fun is when we are on the same team. This picture is a classic example of how enthusiastic everyone else is to play the game with us. We seem to upset the other players when we can figure out the picture with just a line or two drawn.

Santa's little helpers....

Love matching pj's at Christmas time. Love that they still think it's cute to match. (I imagine that may last another year or two)
The first night they wore them there was a bit of discussion amongst the older members of my family, a bit of reminiscing. Recalling the years they also wore matching pj's. I guess some circles repeat in the most unexpected way.

Christmas stockings

When we were putting up decorations on Friday I gave the girls their Christmas stockings and asked them to hang them up. I guess they took the word stocking literally since later that night this is what I found, both girls "trying" to put on their stockings.

Hannah shoes

*edited to add, there is no longer a picture for this post, apparently I filed it in a very good place and now I can't find it.
Found these while shopping on Saturday. She was over the moon excited when she saw them. She immediately wanted to wear them. Later that night she was searching for her shoes, when I asked what she was looking for she said my "Hannah shoes" for those not informed Hannah would be Hannah Montana the latest Disney tv star. The girls in my house love the tv show, who am I kidding everyone loves watching it from Rosie to Beckie. The little girls know her music inside and out, causing Cassandra to pause the other night when they were singing all the words to one of her songs and Cassandra didn't have a clue. So back to the shoes, no they are not shoes sold under the Hannah license (as so many other stars have done) they are simply a pair of shoes I found that I knew Yahaira would love, she decided they looked like Hannah shoes and has now pronounced them as such going so far as to falling asleep with them on. Big sister Beckie loves that Yahaira is already showing a love for shoes, just one more thing in common they share.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The trees are up (thanks to my kids) Friday was the day we spent the morning decorating. Linette, Brandon and Gracie helped out. My sister can look at a space and create I can look at the same space and just cringe. This year was Anthony's first time putting the angel on top of the tree, all things considering it seemed like the right time to add the three into that tradition. The Christmas tree box has the name of the one who put the angel up dating back to 1989 (the year we moved into our home) Love that tradition, and I pause to think it will be but a blink and Anthony will be placing that angel with no help from Cassandra, sigh I remember when Cassandra needed someone's shoulders....really just a blink ago.

Brandon and Rosie

She is his shadow. Brandon has been staying with us these past few weeks and Rosie has simply adopted him. She follows him everywhere. He can get her to take a nap (in my book he should never leave) Together they crack me up.

Thanksgiving

being thankful

my life is filled with things to be thankful for. Far too numerous to attempt to list on this day that we set aside to remember all that we have to be thankful for. I won't bore you with an endless list of all those things but I will touch on a few highlights from this past year.
So for this Thanksgiving in the year 2007 I am thankful for laughter, for quiet moments, my health. I am thankful for friends who are simply the best, for the encouraging word when I didn't have one, for the ones who shared their strength when I couldn't imagine how I was going to take one more step forward, and for those who stayed positive when all I wanted to do was dwell in a pity party, and always I am thankful for my family. It is what makes this life so amazing.
these three would fill volumes in my thankful book. 3 years ago (yes it has been three years) when I took that phone call and said yes I never imagined the road we would travel. That road has been bumpy, at times downright treacherous, mixed in has been unimaginable joy. We have been challenged and rewarded. We have laughed and cried. We have experienced things that in the scheme of my life I never imagined I would experience, court proceedings, trials, and mediation. I have walked with fear daily that they might leave. I have known always there was no guarantee they would be mine for always. We chose to love them and treasure every moment we were given, and prayed always that we would be the ones who watched them continue to grow. That at some point they would truly be our children. Adoption is a simple word for an extremely complex process. That process has been woven into my life in the most unimaginable way. We have for some time been at a standstill, for every new hearing or trial, it simply seemed we stayed stuck on pause living in a limbo of sorts. Two days ago that changed. Two days ago we received word that we will be the ones adopting those three amazing little people you see above. Two days ago my list of thankful moments increased to overflowing.
These 6 are truly my life's greatest blessings. I am most thankful that I am their mom, that I am the one who has been privileged to watch them grow, to discover, to be a blessing to others around them.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

rosie's

current method of napping. I think she believe's if she can't see me than I certainly won't know she isn't sleeping.
sigh, naptime is nothing short of an adventure each day.

Gracie's going away party...

Last Sunday Graice and her friends gathered together at the Super 8 pool for a going away party. Naturally the energy level was off the charts everyone was so excited to be swimming. Later was time for some gifts, everyone had contributed pics and colorings for a scrapbook for Gracie. She also received a charm bracelet and each little friend had chosen a charm that represented them and gave it to her what an amazing idea and what a wonderful keepsake to take with her, as a reminder of the people who love her.

water is the best...

wondering if these little people aren't part fish.
they simply love the water.

Pool party

just a few more. I'll stop posting cute pictures of my kids in the pool now. ...really I will.
They are cute tho aren't they?

Cassandra's birthday

Friday night Cassandra and I traveled to St. Paul to see the Celtic Woman concert. I had purchased the tickets as a surprise for her birthday, and yes she was certainly surprised. It was an amazing concert, their voices are simply breathtaking...at times I had goosebumps from the music. We had pretty awesome seats. So fun to see this performance, so fun to share it with Cassandra. (so relieved her music of choice doesn't lean towards heavy metal, I'm afraid I would have had to pay someone to attend that concert :)

Alonso's birthday party

On the 13th he turned 5. This is the second birthday we have celebrated with him. It was all about spiderman this year! What a different little guy this time around, he was excited for his birthday, thrilled with the party, the picture above pretty much sums it up. How amazing to see such a big grin on his face.

Happy Birthday Cassandra!

(a day late, sigh this is the story of this child's life)
Yesterday she turned 19, yikes! Really I don't feel like a mom to a 19 year old (three times over as someone so kindly pointed out to me yesterday) She is amazing, strong, and determined. She has taught me so much over the years. I am proud to be her mom, and privileged to have watched her grow over these years, she is an inspiration. I did not forget her birthday yesterday actually I took her out to dinner last night at Olive Garden, where the staff sang Happy Birthday to her. I just forgot to post a message here. :)
So Happy Birthday Cassandra,you are truly amazing, and I love being your mom.

a style show...

for Kelly.
You've been hearing all about the outfits I've been finding for the girls. So I thought it was time to post some pictures for you. At least now you can actually "see" what I am attempting to describe. Here are their capes and the only one Rosie would agree to model.
In the following posts are some of Yahaira's new outfits for the winter season. Ok so this should calm your requests Kelly for a little bit, enjoy.

this one...

is amazing...here is the top and jeans,
the ruffles along the bottom are adorable
of course your hair accessories need to match :)
here is the complete outfit...love the colors and the style.
So much detail, so glad I didn't have to sew it.

this nativity set...

is absolutely adorable in person. I can't believe the detail. On the back side of her pant legs are more appliqued sheep along with a cow and a camel totally cute!