Eggrolls and Chopsticks

Home, forever.

2012-02-10T15:26:00.004-05:00

This morning, at a very early hour, the girls and I headed out of the house and off to the airport to greet the newest American Citizen arriving from China.

Baby Emma and her family arrived home this morning from China and we wanted to be there to welcome them.

She is gorgeous and tiny, and sweet. Her big brown eyes were full of wonder as she looked around at all of her admirers and she was very happy to stay close to Mama.

When taking photos of such an auspicious occasion, don' t use your phone.

The welcoming committee
Here she comes
Yay, a family of 5

We only stayed for a few minutes as the girls had to go to school.

Welcome home.

this made me giggle. Amidst all the hubbub and hullabaloo Lily and Adam found a few seconds to catch up on life. It was so cute to see them in their own little world oblivious to everything.

Favourite things

2012-02-09T19:25:00.002-05:00

Lily has a favourite pair of pajamas. They are like an old friend to her and she won't give them up

I think they are a bit to small.
This is what they look like on her 5 year old sister. A tad tiny.

This is why! My Mum bought them for her on one of the very few shopping trips we had with her. Lily is very sentimental.

She just told me she is going to wear them until she pops the buttons right off the front.

Another worthy cause

2012-02-08T21:48:00.003-05:00

If you like jewelry keep reading.

Shortly before Christmas I came across this site, it's called the Starfish Project, not to be confused with the Starfish Home. I absolutely loved what I saw and that was before I read about the project itself. I bookmarked the page and promptly forgot about it until the other day.

"The Starfish Project was established in 2006 to empower exploited women in Asia. The Project developed a socially responsible jewelry business in order to provide women with alternative employment and a range of holistic care opportunities. In 2011, the project has grown to support approximately 35 women in 2 different cities, primarily through the jewelry company where women have taken on new levels of responsibility and leadership, and are able to provide for their families through meaningful employment. The Starfish Project also provides opportunities for women to heal and grow through counseling, vocational training, language acquisition, family education benefits and health care access, as well as providing housing in our women's shelter. The Starfish Project is committed to restoring hope for each woman that enters its doors."

I am trying to figure out who's birthday is coming up soon and which piece to buy for them.

I don't mean for all my charities to be centred around Asia, it just happens that way. It must have something to with part of my heart still being there.

Click this link to go straight there The Starfish Project.

Not what I wanted to hear

2012-02-07T20:57:00.003-05:00

Sometime during Christmas break Lily made a comment that she couldn't read the clock on the stove from the kitchen table when she WAS wearing her glasses. I'm sure I said something stupid like, are you sure, because I was so shocked. She had only had her glasses for 8 months. I immediately made an appointment for the beginning of the year with a new Doctor who came highly recommended.

Her appointment went well. The Doctor had a great staff and was obviously very knowledgeable. His exam was the most thorough I have seen done on a child. The bottom line is this: Lily eyes have deteriorated although he wasn't concerned about how much in a short span of time. They will continue to deteriorate over the next few years as she has progressive myopia but then, thankfully, they will stabilise.

This Doc offers Ortho K which you can read about here and he highly recommends it for Lily. This method has been about for 20+ years. In basic laymen terms you wear special corneal moulding, hard contact lenses at night when you sleep and then in the morning you take them out. Due to the re-shaping that happened during your sleep you have no need for your corrective lenses during the day. It sounds great no? My big question is this: if it is so easy and painless and has been around for 20+ years and is approved by the FDA, why don't more doctors offer it and more people use it?

If you know anything about it please share it with me.

Today, my little girl, the light of my life picked up her new glasses. They are tri-focals. I know hard to believe that at age nine she is wearing tri-focals. Thankfully they are still very thin, as she is nine and vanity is at a premium and they are no-line. She is so happy to be able to see again. I hope these will last longer than 8 months.

What a girl wants

2012-02-06T21:26:00.006-05:00

When we asked Rosie what she wanted for her birthday she said she wanted to go to that restaurant, the one where they cook the food at your table. We were actually asking her what she wanted for a gift but since she mentioned it we thought we would take her there. That restaurant of which she speaks, is a Japanese steakhouse. Jacob and I both detest the place but the girls love it for the entertainment.

So we headed to the Sam*urai for dinner and she loved it. Sadly we got a table with some really dull people but it didn't stop us from having fun we just toned it down a bit. The chef was quite happy to have some kids to entertain and spent the evening doing a show just for them. Rosie and Lily both asked him to do there favourite tricks and he obliged. I think the other people were quite fed up with having to wait so long for their dinner.

The birthday girlHer learning chopsticks ready to go.

I turned around and saw this: Rosies hat had slipped down completely covering her head and face. It was hilarious. A half hearted photo. Lily is watching the chef at the next table over.
The birthday girl, with her hat placed back on her head and tightly secured and Me
The onion volcano, once he added the vinegar I couldn't even see it to take a photo of it there was so much steam (smoke)

Our fun loving chef

mickey mouse...a huge source of entertainment for the girlies
Rosie's special dessert
a horrid photo of the my loves. (the lighting was really weird and I have yet to read my camera manual)

Rosie even wore a skirt for the occasion, I really should have taken a better photo of it. She is still in love with tutu's so I am not giving up hope.

Oh good grief

2012-02-05T20:34:00.002-05:00

Yesterday when we were outside playing, a little neighbour girl, the same age as Lily, asked her mum if she could join in. The mum said yes and spent the next 10 minutes saying, be careful Bella, maybe you should change your shoes, don't go so fast, she has never been on a pogo stick she needs to be more careful. On and on she went until I decided to take my girls inside because Bella was not about to get hurt and my girls somehow get blamed for it.

It's a good thing that neighbour lady wasn't outside today because she probably would have called the Dept of Children and F*milies.

This was a spontaneous move on their part and had I known they were about to do I might have suggested long trousers and long sleeve shirts, just in case. They laughed their little faces off. They didn't crash or even get one scrape. They weren't playing with fire or laying down on railway tracks. They were using the trickster bars on Lil's bike and Rosie trusted her enough to give it a go. I'm proud of their sense of adventure and their joie de vivre. There will be scraps and scratches. I did worse than this, heck my big sister even made me walk on the roof of a barn and I fell through. Our big brother did a few things to her too. It's life.

I am a firm believer that the whole idea of life is not to get to the finish line in a perfectly preserved body. A few battle scars here and there show character, show that your life was interesting and fun. That being said when I see my girls do stuff like this, I cringe, I am their mother after all.

We're not

2012-02-04T21:16:00.003-05:00

As some of you are digging out from all the snow, that would be my family in the UK, we are not. Today was a blissfully gorgeous day that demanded we be outside. Both girls helped me wash my car this morning and then wash anything else that they could find. Our plants are squeaky clean now.

Both girls wanted to go out for a bike ride so we went to get their bikes and one ended up with a pogo stick and the other her bike?? Then the other got her scooter and at no time were both kids on bikes. It was a strange ride indeed.

4 no more

2012-02-03T21:33:00.015-05:00

Rosie woke us up quite early this morning and wanted to know if she was 5 yet. When she found at that she was there was just no stopping her. Right before she went to sleep last night she asked me if I had bought her a present yet and if I hadn't when was I going to do it? I told her I thought we would go out in the morning and get something. She thought that was a terrible idea as she would know what she was getting. I told her I was sorry.

Hah! This morning when she came downstairs she was greeted by this:

There are 2 helium balloons floating above the picture and she was beyond thrilled. Then she stopped and thought and said, you left us home alone and went shopping? No little bean, I bought this a few days ago and hid it all away so that we could surprise you this morning. Such a funny girl.

She wasted no time tearing into her prizes.

For breakfast she had pancakes with a musical candle on. She was basking in the birthday glory.

After breakfast we headed out for what would turn out to be a very busy day.

The first thing we noticed was just how big the garden pests had grown.
This snail is big enough to ride

After defending the world from over sized bugs Rosie tried her hand at being a firefighter
And a city of Miami Moterman
They were really unsuitable professions for her so she tried to be a vet
and put her sister in a cage
Later we were attacked by pirates and they put Lily in the stockade
But all was well cos Rosie took over the ship and sailed them to safety
but then she realised she was a pirate as well and declared Mutiny
Lily found friendship in a pirate, ahoy matey.
Once she had her sea legs she switched vessels and went out for some fishing
Rosie stayed on land for her fishing expedition
Once the boats were docked we headed to Publix for a few groceries

Rosie likes her milk fresh
After a good lunch and a trip to the dairy they took a couple of boats out for a spin
they docked at a very odd island whose inhabitants are the strangest looking mutants I have ever seen

They decided to keep the native mutants happy with a shadow puppet show

Once we were free of the island and it's odd inhabitants we headed for the Teddy Bear Museum.

The museum was in an exotic location and they stopped for a while to learn to play the steel drums.

With their musical bones warmed up they went on to the recording studio
Rosie sang kareoke but what she didn't know is once we were outside the room and hit "the" button we could hear her. She was singing Dancing Queen ~ hilarious.
we finished the afternoon with them doing some arts and crafts. They made lion puppets

Tonight we were meant to be having a birthday dinner but Daddio is under the weather so it was postponed. In this house you never postpone dessert.

Wow Rosie, that's a lot of fire.
No worries you can blow them out.

Happy 5th birthday Rosie. So glad it turned out to be such an adventure.

Last day with a four year old

2012-02-02T20:53:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow our baby girl turns 5.

I really can't believe that she is 5. She is just still so tiny and little that she can easily pass as 3 but I can't deny it, this is her last day of being 4.

Rosie has truly grown so much mentally this year. She has found a little confidence. Not a huge amount but enough to make her brave and willing to try new situations. I marvelled at her a couple of weeks ago as she boldly marched on to her stage at school to receive an award without me gently pushing her on. At swimming she will walk to the end of the bleachers and sit with her friend Camille, just the 2 of them, I don't have to go. These are big steps for her. She is still quite shy and when she talks to people she would march rather look at her feet than them but we are working on it.

She is incredibly loving and sweet but has a sassy streak that can knock your socks off. She loves Lily beyond measure and holds her in high esteem. If Lily can do it she can to especially if Lily is right there with her. Family is of utmost importance to her and just this evening in a sobbing little voice she told me that she doesn't ever want to get married and have to live in a different house.

She also got very sad this morning when I gleefully pointed out to her that it was her last day of being 4. She started to cry and told me she would miss 4 because she liked it alot. Kidlet does not like change of.any.kind.

Rosie you have a heart of gold. Sometimes I don't know how you squeeze a heart so big into your little tiny body. We love you so much, up to the moon and back.

Tonight I can't help but think of her birthparents. I just hope that they know, somehow, that the little tiny girl with the heart condition that they left at a hospital in Maonan is loved, safe and full of life. I want them to know that we will be forever grateful to them for allowing us to be her parents.

The musician

2012-02-01T21:36:00.002-05:00

I am not musically inclined, not even a little bit. Nope, can't even carry a tune in a bucket.

Rosie loves musical instruments. Plays a piano every chance she gets. has been begging for a drumset for a couple of years. Loves to sing. The list goes on.

I did not however say she was musical though.

The girls love that song, the one playing in the background and sing it word for word all the time. What I didn't expect was for Rosie to start adding her own assistance.

Yee Haw

2012-01-31T11:20:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go to the Rodeo. That was an easy one to answer, Uh, hell no. Come on she said, Lily would love all the horses and Rosie would too. I thought about for a second and said I'd ring Jacob. That was a bad move because he said yes. I bought 4 tickets and we went this past weekend.

Call me crazy but when I go to an event and have purchased tickets for said event I expect to be able to park my car. Am I wrong? Well the parking situation was chaotic to say the least. Hubby decided to just do what everyone else was doing and park anywhere. Thank heavens for SUV's. He pulled up on the grass, over the curb and parked next to a trailer.

We headed into the arena. Dear lord was it smelly. Lots of bull and horses mean lots of, well you get the picture. I am walking along with my nose all scrunched up and we head for our seats. Oh just sit anywhere is the theme of the day, so we did. Little boy scouts are going around selling popcorn, soda, cotton candy etc but how on earth can anyone eat anything at this germ infested poop bowl? By the time it all got going I had purelled my hands at least a dozen times and the kids were staying really close to Jacob so I couldn't get them again.

Things were finally picking up when over the loud speakers came a voice asking the owner of a Blue, blah blah blah, license plate, *&^ J*Z please go and move your car, the horses don't have enough room. We looked at each other rather sheepishly and Jacob left to move the car. Once I was sure he was out of sight I sent him a text saying he would never find a parking space and that perhaps we should just leave. He ignored me and not 5 minutes later came sprinting back up the bleachers. Dang!

It appeared that they all were having a good time. Lily truly did love seeing the horses and the barrel races. I just sat in my little purelled section trying not to breathe. Finally they announced the bull riders. They were the other end of the arena but we could see them. The clowns came out and were really very funny and then the first bull and rider were introduced. Before I had even figured out where to look he was off of the bull. This pattern continued for a few minutes until I got in the zone. Taking photos was virtually impossible from our vantage point.

Finally it was time to leave and I was about to be back in my car and able to breathe!
Next time Kelly asks me if I want to go to a rodeo I will say, no thank you and forget to pass the message on to the rest of the family.

I forget what these girls are called but they ride in a really intricate routine

flag holders

I love how everything is blurred except the riders. They really do go fast.

Roping
barrel races

Lily barely even looked at me she was so engrossed in what was happeningHe got free!
crazy.
Silly girls

Oh happy day

2012-01-30T14:27:00.003-05:00

Last week our friends Pam, J.C. and their 2 boys, Noah and Adam, flew to China with Pam's Mum (Nanna) and today is their Gotcha day.
Here is Emma with her forever family. Awww, it just makes my heart all happy to know that their family together at last.

You can follow the rest of their trip HERE at Pam's blog.

Congratulations "P" Family we can't wait to meet Emma.

That is the very same room where we met Rosie for the first time. Oh such a memorable room. Hmm, Emma's reaction to her family is a little different than Rosie's to ours.

Running the ING

2012-01-29T20:20:00.006-05:00

We have a huge fancy marathon here every year, it's the ING. Each year Lily's school is asked to participate. I have always thought it would be amazing to be involved in it but Lily, not so much. As any evil parent would do, I pointed out all the stuff that I have to do that I do not care to do :O) Since school started she has been running in PE and keeping a log she was up to 25 miles so all that was needed at the ING was another 1.2 miles.

Today was the day. She was kitted out with her ING shirt and her ING shoelaces but for my little fashionista that wasn't quite enough. She needed matching orange hair doo-dads and orange bracelets to feel like herself and not just one of the crowd (read millions).

Ready to roll, I mean runOutside of her school waiting for the bus
HEr little group of runners.

Rosie wished her luck and then we departed.

The students were bused down to the event. Parents had to make their own way there. Rosie and I took the skank train, she loved but I was stuck in germ hell. We hopped off of one train and onto another and got off right in front of the finish line. Yeah, I gave myself a pat on the back!

This side of the street was for the 1/2 marathoners and behind that orange barricade is where the pro's were running.
The atmosphere was electric. Old, young, handicapped, fat. thin, they were all there and all giving it their best. It was quite touching to see.
Rosie proudly holding her sign.

We cheered for everyone. We saw her coach run by and then the other PE teacher and then some of her school mates but I did NOT see my girl. Their were so many of them that I missed her and she missed me, I was really sad. She made it to the finish line but I have no idea when. With a really heavy heart kidlet and I trudged back to the trains and headed home to meet her at her bus. Jacob didn't join us as he didn't get home from work until 4.00am. I rang him to say the trains were taking forever so could he pick her up and I would meet everyone at home.

He did and boy was I glad it was not me. True to form my girl was not at all impressed with the whole affair. Not at all, not one bit. She banged into the house like a thunder cloud and asked where I was when she crossed the finish line. Um, I was there what about you? She told me again that she didn't want to do it and that it wasn't much fun.

You see, the problem with Lily is this, if she ain't gonna win she ain't gonna play! I asked to see her medal, she showed me and then took it upstairs to put it in her drawer. That's where all the medals she gets for participating as opposed to earning fair and square, go.

I took it out to take a photo of. Heck it's the only medal that's ever going to appear in this house from a marathon.

That happy smiley kid that was beaming before the race actually did have a good time. She doesn't want to do it again and that's fine with me. She truly detests doing things where you don't compete you just participate. I detest that she has to win all of the time and I want her to experience as much of life as she can.

Frankly I think today was a winning day all round.

We tried to like it

2012-01-28T20:18:00.006-05:00

One of my local adoption groups posted about a new Chinese New Year celebration in town. It sounded terrific. Considering how multi-cultural Miami is we have very little for CNY.

This afternoon I threw the girlies into the car and headed to the festival. Some friends called and asked if we wanted to go bowling but I told them we were heading to the festival. Jenny thought it sounded fabulous and decided they would meet us there. Let me just say that I tonight I surprised she is still talking to me.

Now in all fairness I think it is wonderful that someone stepped up to do something positive for CNY and I mean that with all sincerity. As we approached the streets where the festival was taking place we saw policemen directing traffic as the street was closed. In my head this was a good thing as it meant there was a lot happening and the cars were prohibited from driving through the area. In reality that is what they were doing but the festival consisted of 5 little tables selling cr*p and a bounce house. Alrighty then. It was at least 8000 degrees this afternoon and the world and his brother were crammed into this tiny little area. At the end of the 5 tables was an open area where some chap, not Chinese, started pounding one of those enormous drums. With every beat the crowd was jolted backwards and forwards. When he was done, at least I think he was done but I can't be sure as my eardrums are still pounding a dragon dance broke out. The dragon dancers were very good.

There was a craft table set up near the bounce house so Rosie made a mask and they both were given fans

I finally managed to find Jenny and we made a fast exit and headed for the park.

This photo just makes me giggle. I think she is saying, " if you think I am going to smile for your photo after you dragged us to that stinkin' festival you are wrong"

Evan needed to just chill for a few minutes. I love his gappy smile.
Happy girl
Fake smiles but I love the shot.
cutie.

Helping to hold up the sky

2012-01-26T20:49:00.007-05:00

On February 12 2012, girlies are going to be doing a walk -a -thon to raise money for Half The Sky. The walk is being organised by another HTS mummy, through our local FCC group. (Families with Children from China)

Half the Sky is an organisation that our family is passionate about. Rosie is a Half The Sky child and without them I shudder to think of the care she, as a special needs child, would have received.

No child ever deserves to be raised in an orphanage but if it has to be, one can only hope it is run by HTS.

Below is a photo of Rosie and a brief update about her from her Nanny. This article was in one of HTS's newsletters a few months after we bought her home.

(click to enlarge.)

We are asking all of you to scrounge down the back of the couch, check the pockets of coats you haven't worn in a few months, check your old handbags and kindly donate that money by sponsoring Lily and Rosie.

Lily set up her own webpage for the event and you can donate directly though this link.

Lily and Rosie's HTS webpage

No amount is to small.

Thank you so much.

Double header

2012-01-25T12:12:00.005-05:00

About a month ago I posted about Lily finding a wallet at school and handing it in. She received the Student of the Month award for integrity for doing so. Since December was a short school month the awards were given today in a ceremony that combined December and January. January's character value is, kindness. Rosie received Student of the Month this month for displaying kindness.

This morning I took two little girls to school who were all excited as they were both receiving awards on the same stage at the same time. Rosie couldn't wait to actually see her sister in school. It seems that their paths rarely cross during the day even though they are at the same place.

Rosie, of course, displayed her usual anxiety about having to be somewhere different than the rest of her classmates and worried about who would take her back to her classroom so when I dropped her off we talked to her teacher and quelled her fears.

As Jacob and I entered the patio area we immediately spotted Rosie sitting in the front row and walked up and gave her a kiss. She was beaming as she told us how she could see Lily from her seat. We then made our way towards Lily who was also all smiles and she too told us she had seen her sister. Cute little girls.

Rosie's class was the first up on stage and to my disappointment once she was done the teacher whisked them back to their class so I was not able to get a photo of both of my girls together, holding their awards.

One happy girl with her friend Saywer. Lily and a classmate. They called all of 4th grade but didn't call Lil's name so she mouthed, what happened, did they forget me? Her award was from a speciality teacher so she wasn't called until all the grade levels were accounted for. I was beginning to think she had been forgotten.
Waiting for her award.
Aww, isn't she sweet?

A typical Lily move. Nothing but a blur. She flew up on that stage like a speed racer!For so long this award eluded her and now she has won it twice since August. She looks so pleased.
Yepper, she is proud.

It makes these parents proud to see the values of kindness and integrity in our girls.

Celebrating Chinese New Year

2012-01-24T12:57:00.007-05:00

Lucky for us the Chinese New Year started on a Monday which meant the hubby was home to celebrate with us. How unlucky for us that Chinese New Year started on a Monday because I work on Mondays all day. No problem I just did a little reshuffle and we were all able to enjoy a Chinese meal together.

This is a terrible picture, but you get the idea, they looked cute

Daddy and Ro
Don't get in the way of this girl and her chopsticks....even if they are back to front.

Wonton
Yes, she is drinking soup out of a bowl but it is a Chinese restaurant and you are supposed to.
Some ladies just kept starring at us and would even put their menus up in front of them when they spoke and then the other would stare at us whilst the other one spoke. So Lily gave them "the face"

A funny thing happened during dinner. Lily suddenly said "Rosie" in a loud and somewhat astonished tone. Naturally we all looked at Rosie and found that her top had come completely unbuttoned and she sat their with it flapping in the breeze totally oblivious. Talk about hilarious, even the wait staff had a good giggle.

Wishing you good fortune

2012-01-23T14:59:00.006-05:00

Today marks the start of the Chinese New Year, the year of the dragon. Both girls were happy to see their Hong Bau (traditional red envelopes with money in them) sitting on the table when they came into the kitchen. They get 2 each, one has money in it for spending and the other one goes under their mattress for the year. This is a tradition taught to me by a Chinese friend. Today they were able to retrieve their old ones.

Both girls wanted to take something special with them to school tomorrow to mark the Chinese New Year. I have a standard plan for this occasion so we set to to make them.

See that big bag? It's full of fortune cookies, 80 of them.

Counting them out and lining them up
dipping the fortune cookies in chocolate and sprinkles
loving it
umm, a little taste, please mummy.
When they were done they swirled both bowls of chocolate together....it was so good
The finished fortune cookies, all ready for school tomorrow.

Gung Hay Fat Choy.

Pedal Power

2012-01-22T20:04:00.011-05:00

Today we went for the most incredible bicycle ride we have ever been on. All fifteen miles of it and yes, we did take the girls. Lily rode her own bike the whole way and Rosie sat behind us in her little bike seat. We went to Shark Valley which is an Everglades National Park. Went many years ago with my Father and Jeanne and we took the tram tour around but this time we knew we wanted to see all the wild life up close and personal, and we did.

My bestie Jakie joined us with her daughter Lucy. They however wimped out on us 7 miles into the ride and a ranger had to come and pick them up and drive them back to the start. We carried on without them with plans to meet up at the start/end.

On your marks, get set and we were off

Not sure what's with the face. She was riding next to me and didn't expect me to ride and take photos.
Jakie

Mother and ChildSoft shelled turtle
one of our MANY water breaks

We saw so many herons, all right next to us Another gator. No shortage of them here.

This fella was part of the welcoming committee right next to the bike stands.

An old abandoned tram.

After riding for 7 miles these 2 were beaten up, so they sat for a while to recoup.

We were raring to get to the top of the observation tower.

On top of the world, I mean observation tower. This is where we said good bye to Jakie and Luci.

Love this shot.
The easy button!
Once we made it back to the car....all filthy and sweaty.

It was amazing, truy amazing and I have to say that Lily has just impressed the heck ourt of us. Never once did she ask to stop. She was the pace bike and sometimes it was hard going to keep up with her. Both girls loved it.

There was one tiny little snafu, which was me falling off my bike. (very embarrassing but no one saw it happen) After Jakie and Luci decided to get help going back Lily wanted to get going so Jacob and her took off and I stayed for a few minutes with Jakie. We had a rule that if one of us was taking Rosie then the other one had the back pack. Jacob took off and left me with both. After about 30 minutes the back pack was uncomfortable so instead of stopping and rearranging it I did it whilst riding. I slipped off the road and hit gravel and rocks and splat! I tried so hard to keep Rosie upright that I took out a good portion of skin from my knee. Rosie was fine. Surprised but fine. I didn't tell her I was hurt I just hopped back on and took off and tried to catch Jacob up as fast as I could. After seeing a snake in the middle of the road I rode even faster! Rosie thought it was amazing seeing the snake.

I am so glad that Sundays have gone back to being our family funday and not just another day. I can hardly wait to see what next weekend holds. Oh wait, I already know.

We had a picnic lunch before we started and took snacks with us on the ride but when we got back to the car Lily devoured everything in sight. I have never seen her eat that much before. I have never seen her ride 15 miles before either.

Blue sky days

2012-01-21T20:31:00.004-05:00

We have a big/long day planned for tomorrow so all I had planned for today was to finish preparations for CNY and keep a low profile. I sent a text to my friend Pam, who happens to be leaving on Wednesday to bring home her daughter Emma, to ask how things were going and if she was packed and before I knew it we had a play date in the park.

I absolutely love this time of year. The skies are crystal clear without a cloud in them and the breeze is downright cold. We spend as much time outside as is possible. Pam actually got a bit cold and had to put her jacket on....Floridians! (before she leaves me a comment I will add that I did have to move into the sun also.)

Noah, just hanging out

Adam, I love his shirt.

Lily, hanging out
and Rosie, who has to do what everyone else is doing, hanging out.
I love this photo of Rosie running. It was not what I was taking a photo of but I cropped the original down when I saw this cos her face is fabulous.

Pam and I spent alot of time talking. She has to be the calmest person that I have ever met who is about to leave for China. Seriously, this lady is so calm.

Pam, J.C., Noah and Adam, and Nana.
have a fantastic trip to baby Emma. May your new life be even more amazing and filled with love than you ever could have imagined.
Can't wait to meet your baby girl.

Love all of us.

Inside my heart

2012-01-20T09:31:00.005-05:00

This morning I was all alone in the kitchen groping through a large storage container marked simply, "Chinese Holidays". I have many of them all marked differently, Christmas, Easter, Valentine's day and so on but the words on the side of this one just struck me. Never in a million years did I ever imagine that I would have a storage container with the words, "Chinese Holidays" on it. As I unpacked the pieces I want to display for Chinese New Year I stopped and pondered each and every one of them. They are all from China, not as in, "made in China" but each one was carefully chosen by us on one of our 2 trips to that beautiful land.

I am so thankful to the Peoples Republic of China for allowing me to parent, not one but two of their precious children. My girls have made my heart whole and have made me a much better person. I hope I never take them for granted, I don't think I ever will due to the journey that led us to them.

They are both so different but yet so alike. They love life and thankfully, more than anything else, they love us. Each morning when they awake the first word uttered by both of them is Mummy. Both of them want to know I am close by when they open their eyes. It's not called with distress, well sometimes it is with Rosie, but more for the reassurance that I am near. Once they see me, their life is fine. I am not discounting Jacob here as sometimes I am gone before they wake up and he is the face of reassurance that they need.

Their beautiful eyes sparkle with a zest for life only seen when one is a child. They play together, as sisters do, oblivious to the lives they once had. A life that I could not be part of.

I love these girls with all my heart and as I hang the lanterns and prepare to read them stories about Chinese New Year I thank my lucky stars they are mine and that we were the ones chosen to be their parents.

Chinese New Year is a time to be together with family. How fitting.

Image from google images

Swimming

2012-01-19T12:47:00.004-05:00

Kidlet finally returned to swimming this week. It was cancelled over Christmas and New Year and then she was poorly so she hasn't been for ages. (lucky me)

She loves it, loves the competition, loves to race. I better get used to being poolside as Rosie is starting in a couple of months.

Warm up laps.

Frankly my idea of poolside conjures up images of pool boys, sweet and fruity beverages and lounge chairs. Ha, haven't seen any of those at this pool.

Stop censorship

2012-01-18T13:11:00.005-05:00

Tell Congress not to censor the internet NOW! - fightforthefuture.org/pipa

PROTECT-IP is a bill that has been introduced in the Senate and the House and is moving quickly through Congress. It gives the government and corporations the ability to censor the net, in the name of protecting "creativity". The law would let the government or corporations censor entire sites-- they just have to convince a judge that the site is "dedicated to copyright infringement."

The government has already wrongly shut down sites without any recourse to the site owner. Under this bill, sharing a video with anything copyrighted in it, or what sites like Youtube and Twitter do, would be considered illegal behavior according to this bill.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, this bill would cost us $47 million tax dollars a year — that's for a fix that won't work, disrupts the internet, stifles innovation, shuts out diverse voices, and censors the internet. This bill is bad for creativity and does not protect your rights.

If this bill should pass my blog that I have nurtured for the past 6 years will be gone. The stories that I write each day to entertain my kidlets in their old age will have to shut down for fear of repercussions.

Google and wikipedia are having black outs today, click on either site and you will see NOTHING. Well Google is still there and working but it's name is covered.

I signed the petition.

We knew this day was coming. *update

2012-01-17T11:25:00.008-05:00

Our girls sleep together. They sleep better that way and love not having to be alone in their own rooms. It has always been their choice. We knew one day that one or the other of them would want to start sleeping alone but I didn't expect that day to come so soon.

Lily has decided that she know longer wants to sleep with Rosie. This means one of two things. Either Rosie has to sleep with us every single freaking night, which isn't very fair on Lily as she likes to sleep with us too, or Rosie is just going to have to suck it up and get used to sleeping in her own room like a big girl.

We have spent the best part of the last week talking up Rosie's room. We have told her how fantastic it is, told her that she is such a big girl now as she is nearly 5 and so on and so on. She was meant to go into it last week but with Lily being poorly we postponed it. Tonight is the night. She isn't looking forward to it. It's not like her room is in a whole different wing of the house cos lets face it my house isn't big enough to have wings! She also shares a Jack and Jill bathroom with her sister so she won't be all alone miles away from the closest family member.

I've even brought out the big guns, a basket full of prizes. If she stays put without a fuss she gets a prize otherwise, " Sorry, you are not an instant winner please try again".

As bedtime drew closer her face got longer and longer. I knew this wasn't going to be easy on her but it has to be. I suddenly remembered her old baby monitor and dragged it out. That seems to have been the magic pill, well that and her new night light or maybe the list of instructions she whipped up: don't close my door, leave that (hallway) light on, don't close my pretty blinds just the others, make sure you take the monitor with you downstairs, make sure you come to bed soon, and on and on she went.

Her menagerie of animalsHer books and blankets
She is bed.
Awww, she's fast asleep. But I can't help wondering for how long.

If Rosie was all alone in her room then it means someone else is also all alone. Yippee, she's also asleep.

Rosie spent the whole night in her bed and was still fast asleep this morning at 705am. I had to wake her up and the first words out of her mouth were, I did it and this bed is very comfortable.

She chose her reward this morning (it was something she came up with herself and nothing out of my little basket of goodies) and so help me god I went with it. Sweeties for breakfast! Yes,, it was pretty bad of me but once in her lifetime won't kill her but it might have done her teacher in!

Holy Cow

2012-01-16T14:44:00.004-05:00

A few months ago my husband misplaced his video camera. I was unaware of this but I recently accidently found it when doing something else. I remember thinking, "this is a daft place to keep a camera". These words are now being held against me because when he mentioned not being able to find it I told him I had seen it somewhere but couldn't remember where. Now it is my fault that it is lost.

Today he went searching, really searching. Between the 2 of us we emptied every single cupboard that we have. My house looked like an episode of Hoarders.

He never found his stinking video camera. It's still my fault.

The mess.

After a really long time harmony was restored to the house.....kinda.

I was able to take some stuff to G00dwill but they refused to take Jacob. Bast*rds!

Lets just go.

2012-01-15T22:46:00.008-05:00

Yesterday Jacob threw the idea out there that we should either head to Naples for the day or Key West. Naples is an all time favourite place of ours and just a hop, skip and a jump from here and then there is Key West. We haven't been to the Keys in years. We determined that the last time we were down there we went down on the Harley.....that was a while ago. It's a long schlep, especially for the day.

We headed to Key West..that's just how we roll. We received quite a few messages and texts stating that we were quite mad for going so far for one day, frankly, that's your opinion and not ours. With minimal fanfare we shoved the kids in the car and took off.

There was a long queue to get your picture taken in front of this sign and we weren't about to wait in it! I took a photo of the sign from the side. Time was of the essence.

See we really were there too.

Basking in the sunshine. It was a chilly 69 degrees.
It was also very windy, hence my 80's style big hair.
A very empty pier. it's just to cold for us locals.
I love it when the weather is like this. There is never a cloud in the sky.

I found the Queen of England outside a British shop.

I loved this wooden building
One of the many bars
Duval street from the back of our Rickshaw

The reason we chose Key West was because of the sunset and all the shenanigans that happen at Mallory Square every night for the sunset.

There are jugglers

sword swallowers, cant quite make out his sword cos of the lighting and angle but it's in is mouth, level with his belly button
Love this photo

She has a lovely bunch of coconuts

looking perky and proud with his coconuts. Nutter!

After the sun goes down the only thing left to do in KW is drink copious amounts of booze so instead of that we headed home again.
Egads, I had forgotten that parts of US1 from KW to Miami have a special night speed limit of 35 MPH. Oh it made for a tedious drive home. I think I may have said a few naughty words but not until the girls were both asleep.

It was a fantastic day and now we can't wait to plan another spur of the moment day trip. The girls loved it.

Party girls

2012-01-14T21:21:00.005-05:00

The girls were invited to a birthday party this afternoon and were looking forward to it. As the day grew closer I asked Lily if she wanted to stay with her Goo Goo and I would take Rosie for one hour. She thought that was a simply dreadful idea and wanted to go. As of this morning she was still as white as a ghost.

It was a really cool yet sunny day here today and I honestly thought some fresh air would do Lily some good. I told her we would go but only stay for an hour. She perked up so much and finally got some colour back in her cheeks. We stayed longer, 3 hours in fact. She looked better this afternoon than she has in days.

We came home and I made some corn chowder and we all baked cookies. They are fast asleep now and I hope Lily sleeps late tomorrow. I really hope she is 100 percent cos it isn't like her to be down so long. Darned antibiotics have just wrecked her.

The birthday girlSwinging
Lily spent most of the afternoon on the swings with the "Q" boys. She hasn't seen them for a while and they just stuck together.
happy birthday Julia and little Jacob

Julia being a monkey

Oh good grief, where did she learn this little heart stopping move?

Julia...working those glasses

I taught the girls to dip French bread into their soup tonight. They thought it was so naughty and they really loved it. After I had done it I had visions of them doing it at my Fathers house, whenever we visit again, and him going utterly ballistic. I'll just have to step up my "Grandpa's House Mandatory Manners Boot Camp" an extra notch beforehand.

Who knew dipping bread used so much concentration

Rosie is always game for something naughty.
My beautiful girl with some colour back in her face.

I can't be the only one

2012-01-13T12:42:00.003-05:00

Yesterday morning after I spoke to the pediatrician and she told me to bring Lily in, right now, Lily and I went together to get her washed and dressed. She chose her outfit and then asked me to get her knickers out of her draw. The following conversation ensued.

Lily: can you get my knickers for me?
Me: Sure. Which ones do you want? Make sure they are pretty ones cos you are going to the doctor.
Lily: Why do I need pretty knickers to go to the Dr.?
Me: you always have to wear your pretty knickers when you go to the Dr. because the Dr. will see them.
Lily: SERIOUSLY MUMMY, pretty knickers for the DR?
Me: Uh huh.
Lily: (in a funny voice) oh Lily hello. Oh let me see you. Well you have on some pretty knickers so I will give you much better care. ~
Really Mum, that is ridiculous. Hand me my new ones, I really like them.

See she thought it was madness but she went for it anyway.

Surely I can't be the only woman in the world that only wears brand new knickers when I go to the Dr. Oh and if I have to take them off I always put them under the rest of my clothes so the doctor can't actually see them.
I think it is female logic!

Alrighty then

2012-01-12T18:49:00.005-05:00

Lily has been receiving all of her class work and homework assignments whilst she has been absent from school. The little boy across the street brings it to her each day.

As luck wouldn't have it, she has had to do 2 projects this week.

In social studies they are studying Michelangelo and she had to make a sculpture out of soap. The assignment suggested she use Iv0ry soap so I went out and bought some. This has to be the nastiest soap, EVAH. It smells like soap, and feels slimy even when it is dry. Yuck, I say. Just to make sure "fishy" survives he is living in the fridge. I think that will keep the slimy soap a little bit harder.

Anyway I told her that I had had to do the exact same project when I was little and that Grandpa told me that the easiest thing to make out of soap is a fish. I then explained why. Thankfully she agreed and within a few minutes she had a fish. It looks really good, definitely better than the one I did.

Later that night I went into the fridge to get something for Rosie's lunchbox and saw this.

Look at the middle shelf. There is a note

I just stood there staring and smiling. Daddy gets up in the night, a lot, for a snack and she didn't want him to eat her project apparently.

Here is a photo of "fishy"

Oh dear I think it is upside down but I'm not sure.

School stress ~updated

2012-01-11T21:43:00.004-05:00

Lily doesn't like missing school and I can't blame her. Being sick this week has really bothered her because they have testing all week and she is so worried about it. Each night our neighbour brings over her missed class work and also her homework. The amount is daunting.

Today Lilpop had a really rotten day. Suffice to say the the side effects from the antibiotics are worse than having strep. Those were her words. 2 phone calls to the doctors office and I am hoping things will be improved in the morning, they weren't tonight. If not we have to go back again. She is so pale and so very tired.

Right now I should be doing a science project. I have never done her work for her and it isn't something she would ever allow even if I suggested it. She doesn't even like it when I hand write her vocabulary words and put them on the fridge. She wants it in her hand writing not mine. The science project she got today just overwhelmed her and we sat together at the computer researching it all and when I suggested that I type it all out for her tonight, she agreed without a moments hesitation. Having missed so much class time the project is coming out of left field. Her books are at school so we did what we could from the internet and I told her not to worry. Heck, she is in so deep at this point that worrying will only make it worse. I wish there wasn't so pressure put on them.

She wants to go back tomorrow, even if only for a half day. I think she will realise that she just can't before she is even finished with breakfast. I give the kids kudps for trying.

Somehow I failed to publish this last night??

Feel better Lilipop. We love you.

UPDATE
It's not fun when you are little and you are sick and Dr's use words like blood test and shots. As brave as Lily is she is crazy afraid of shots. She gets all worked up, she doesn't cry she just gets frantic. To be honest it makes me a little batty.

The doctor ran a few tests to rule out everything else other than the antibiotics. Once it was clear that that is what is making her so ill she stopped them and all her other oral meds. Unfortunately because she is dealing with strep she needs the antibiotics so she had to have a shot. A LARGE shot in her little bum. She explained to Lily how strep can hide in the body and how it can go to the heart. Lily decided that she didn't want that to happen so she was slightly more willing to get a shot. Since leaving the dr's office there have been no more episodes. She still looks like a trainwreck but a little dinner, a nice bath and some sleep will help with that.

Schmattes

2012-01-11T14:27:00.003-05:00

Ever since Lily began swimming she has taken to putting her hair unto a turban when it is wet. We have a few of the twistie towels specifically made for the purpose and after her bath she uses one.

Someone else didn't want to feel left out so she used one too.

I laughed so hard when I saw them as they both have their turbans on backwards! Rosie didn't even get her hair in it, hers is just a hat, a backwards hat.

Funny girls they do make me laugh.

Small but mighty

2012-01-10T11:06:00.004-05:00

There was a smackdown last night.

Just a friendly one, as you can see by their faces.

Somehow the tiny one prevailed.
Lily really must have been off of her game.

Before she got sick :-(

2012-01-09T21:25:00.004-05:00

We started attending the Beaux Festival of Art long before the kiddies came along. Lily went to her first one when she was 3. Every year they have an area set up just for kids and it was there that Lilipop made her first ever sand art. She carefully chose a bottle and then layered lots of different coloured sand into it. She thought it was a magnificent master piece and carried it around with her all afternoon, stopping occasionally to admire her work. After a few hours we headed back to the car and as I unlocked the door and helped her into her seat I dropped her prized possession onto the ground and it smashed into a thousand tiny pieces. She was crushed. Her Daddy took her back the next day to make another one. Harmony was restored to my life.

This year we took Rosie to the festival for the first time and Lily couldn't wait to introduce her to sand art. (I find it quite hideous but to this day we have Lilys whole collection in the toy room and it is most revered by the little sister) They were so excited and immediately started searching for the sandman. I forgot my camera which is pretty lame but I at least had my phone.

Adding the first colour

The pro doesn't need help.
More
phew, that was exhausting
Oh yummy, these ice creams were so good.

Now I have 2 more lovely bottles filled with sand. But I have a fabulous dragon painting too!

Shortly after we got home Lily said her throat hurt. I thought she may just have been very thirsty so I gave her a large drink. After dinner she mentioned it again. This time I gave her a salt gargle. Lily doesn't really complain about much so I put her to bed and she was fine. I woke up in the night due to hubbys glorious snoring and rolled over to whack him but found a child in the way. I knew right there and then that she can't have been feeling well. If Lily crawls into our bed in the middle of the night, it's never good. This morning she woke up and felt like poo. I took a look at her throat and knew immediately it was strep. It was all spotty and ucky. She has never had it before but I know from all my friends that it isn't something you want to mess about with.

Off to the dr's she went and was diagnosed with strep. The prettiest case of strep the Dr. has ever seen. (whatever that means). So she spent a day at home with a headache, no appetite and no energy. One of her classmates delivered her work and I helped her out with it as much as possible. Good grief they get a lot of work. Supposedly, if she has no fever, she can return to school tomorrow. She hates to miss school so I know she will push to go back, I will push to keep her home if she is still as pale as she was today. Hopefully her meds will kick in soon and she'll look and feel better.

Now to keep them separated and stop them from kissing each other. Good thing I love a challenge!

Year of the Dragon

2012-01-08T17:02:00.003-05:00

My family gets much joy out of the fact that I am a dragon in the Chinese Zodiac. Jake's a snake, Lily's a horse and Rosie is a pig. Mine is the only one that garners much attention.

This coming year is the year of the dragon. It's my year. In honour of this auspicious occasion we purchased a painting at the Beaux Festival of Art, today. The artist is a lady from Hong Kong. I first noticed a huge painting of a dragon and it was fantastic but the price was a little out of our league by a few thousand dollars. She then suggested I look at another one...I had to have it. I absolutely love it.

Now we are planning on getting her versions of all the rest of our zodiac signs, But the dragon is by far the best!

Poke me with a fork

2012-01-07T14:35:00.005-05:00

I'm done!

We have been looking to move for ages now. We found a house we loved 5 hours from here. We all LOVED it but the realisation of relocating, when I own my own business and Jacob would be commuting or coming home on weekends only really made us think twice. Add to that the whole American Airlines "thing" that is happening, well we decided to stay closer to home.

We vowed at the beginning of this year to step it up and get the job done. Each day my realtor sends us a list of homes that are in our target market. Yesterday I sat down and really went through them. I found quite a few that I liked and one that I loved.

This is the front of the one I loved.

And this was the back garden.

The house on the inside was OK but needed some work. It needed a facelift. Neither Jacob nor I are afraid of reno work and if you want a house to be yours then you are going to have to do some. We totally demolished everything in the one we are in now.

Well lets just say that looks can be deceiving. Once inside the place went to hell in a handbasket. If the smell didn't put you off the filth and crap everywhere would have done. Now lets start with the structural stuff shall we, or maybe the person living in the garage? Yes, I did say that! Our realtor decided we must have had the wrong house and went out to check the numbers on the mailbox! I threatened both girls with broken fingers if they as much as pointed, let alone, touched anything.

We made a fast exit but not before I stopped, just for a nano second, and took in the water view. Then I hightailed it back to the car as fast as I could and drove back home and had a scalding hot shower.

Suddenly I don't want to move. I am done with looking at other peoples dirty houses and even their clean ones for that matter. This place was stripped and I know everything is clean and new. Even my roof is new.

It would take a full reno job, inside, outside and on the roof to get that place fit for human habitation. Only the pool area appeared to be spared from the uck.

Eww, I still feel dirty and Jacob is threatening to shoot me if I shudder and utter the words, eww, that was so disgusting, one more time.

Fresh start

2012-01-06T12:06:00.002-05:00

Oh goody, it's the New Year. A start of a fresh new slate. For me that means time to clean and purge. I headed first to Rosie's closet and then to mine. Does anyone else have a hard time keeping their shoes organised?

Mine are a disaster. I started with them first and the only thing that happened was I came to the realisation that I need some new ones.

Off to the shoe shop, see you later.

Little chilly willies

2012-01-05T10:24:00.003-05:00

My little girls are a couple of chilly willies at the minute. (For my English readers, not those sort of willies, you silly people!) As much as Lily loves the cold temperatures last night after her swimming practice she was frozen stiff. The pool is outdoors and the temps were in the 50's however the water is heated to a toasty 81 degrees. Being in the pool was great but the second she got out she was COLD.

She got dressed quickly and we raced home. She immediately headed for a hot and I mean, HOT, shower. She found some snuggly jammies and warmed herself up. We followed that with a hearty dinner and she was loving life again. It is rare that Lily ever says she is cold.

Rosie can't tolerate any temperatures below 75 and is commonly found under a fluffy blanket. I bought her some fleece footy P.J's yesterday and they seem to help. I also bought her some woolly tights and this morning I put them on her and she got so upset. I told her to stop being so silly and in the end got impatient with her. I dressed her in her uniform and thought we were done with the nonsense. A few minutes later I thought I could hear her crying so I went and investigated. She was in her Daddy's arms sobbing. She was saying she didn't like "these things". Bottom line: they were ugly ( i bought black to match her uniform ). I went to her drawer and pulled at some Hanna Anderssons that so don't match her uniform with their giraffe print at the bottom and pink stripes at the top and she loved them. hallelujah! She looked like she stepped off of the Oxfam truck but at least she was warm. Little Miss Picky Knickers went to school wearing red and pink....together in one outfit. Oh my OCD brain cannot handle this!

When I walked them into school I found myself explaining to the teacher that even though her lips were blue she is in fact 100% healthy and well and that the blueness should start to disappear in a few minutes. Luckily the teachers aid also gets blue when she is cold and was able to back up my story. Phew, I had visions of the paramedics being called. Even though she is warm to the touch, her lips are staying a funky colour for most of the day at the moment. Sometimes even I question whether her little heart is working properly or not but then I banish these thoughts from my head as fast as they crop up cos I have seen her heart working on the EKG's and ultrasounds. But sometimes......no, no, no.

We are starting a warming trend as of today. It's sad as I have loved freezing my bum off.

I need a wife

2012-01-04T12:35:00.004-05:00

I am looking for a good woman. It came to my attention at some un-Godly hour this morning, that I need a wife. I don't really want a clone of myself because I possess some qualities that are not exactly stellar so I decided the easiest way around this problem is to find me a wife!

She needs to be similar to me and have the following abilities:

~ She has to be great under pressure.

~ Able to organise utter chaos.

~Do at least five different things at once.

~ Be able to magically make lost items reappear whilst standing at the front door, with car keys in hand, waiting to depart.

~ Must have the brain capacity to keep a mental note of all birthdays, anniversaries, doctors appointments, dentist appointments, opthamology appointments, extracurricular activities, special occasions and parties for the next 2 months.

~ Must be a planner. In other words know exactly what is happening for the next 6 months. At All Times.

~ Cannot ever show that she is confused or the whole family will crumble like a house of cards

~ When thrown a curveball must be able to reschedule everything with out anyone being any the wiser.

~ Must be able to see through doors and wall and yell, change your shirt, it's cold outside without actually seeing said shirt on person.

~ May NEVER get sick.

~ Must understand that changes happen and one must just roll with them and not run around in a panic saying, "what do you mean they need hot lunches today!"

~ Be able to see a speck of dirt on the floor from 50 yds away

~ Clean up said speck of dirt without being asked to do so.

~ Must realise that the children have a bedtime for a reason and that giving them chocolate 10 minutes before they are meant to go to sleep, is NOT a bright plan.

~ Make greeting cards magically appear right before my eyes so that all I have to do is sign my name on them. They will then magically take themselves to the PO

~ Pretend to be a laundry fairy. I just have to wear my clothes for a few minutes, drop them in my hamper and ta-da they will suddenly reappear looking gorgeous in my wardrobe.

~ Locate my husbands, keys, phone, pen, bluetooth, work I.D.'s from the place where he just looked but couldn't find them.

~ Locate my phone, keys etc when I put them down to go and hunt for Hubby's.

~ Take out the trash on the correct night.

~ Remember every.single.important.date.in.history and remember all our old addresses from the last 25 years. That's 13 houses.

~ Not flinch when the kids come running into the house with blood spurting from somewhere.

~ Never be afraid to utter the words, Please don't lick your sisters bottom, or other phrases just as shocking.

~ It doesn't matter how last minute the invitation you received is, she has to be able to pull it all together at a moments notice.

~ and finally, I never want to see her sweat. Seriously, who wants a sweaty wife!

If you know anyone looking for a job like this, just send her my number!

Loving some of it

2012-01-03T20:19:00.005-05:00

My little girls, hah who am I kidding, there is nothing little about Lily anymore ~sob, went back to school today. I missed having them here with me. I missed the spontaneity of being able to just pick up and run off somewhere for some fun. I missed the constant chatter and the giggles. The whole of this Christmas break they got on so well. They played together non-stop and the bickering was minimal.

I obviously understand why they have to and need to go to school but I would much rather have them with me all the time. Home schooling is not an option, they would be dumb as bricks if I were in charge of their education but it always seems like a fabulous idea.

Rosie was a little insecure this morning as we sat down for breakfast but I managed to keep her distracted. Lily, other than deciding that school is boring, was more than happy to return to the halls of learning. I had to dress Rosie as if she was visiting the North Pole for the day. The news headlines last night were: Icy blast cools South Florida. Those headlines were correct. Due to the fact that Rosie thinks 70 degrees is freezing I knew dressing her for school today with high temps in the 50's would prove to be a challenge. We just kept adding layers until she resembled a Sumo Wrestler then we rolled her out to the car.

I love this weather, in fact I live for days like this here. I do get very very cold really fast but I love that. When it was time to pick Rosie up I grabbed my jacket and gloves and headed off on my bike. I also took her yet another fleece so that she wouldn't freeze on the way home. The strong winds are making it feels like it is in the 30's. Tonight it is going to be colder and we have a frost warning. They always exaggerate the first cold snap so my guess is it will be in the high 40's. Groovy! I have no idea why I just wrote the word groovy but I will keep it there. Blame it on the cold.

Some of you wanted to know where my photo was from New years Eve. Well, it's like this, they are in the out- take pile otherwise known as the trash. I did try to take one of the 3 of us. First I used my phone cos that has the flippable lens but it came out horrid, then I tried to hold the camera at arms length and shoot blind, that didn't work so I tried again. The kids were fine but either you looked right up my nose holes or I had 57 double chins.

BUT....you wanted to see them so here they are. I have no pride at all you know.

My chins.....

my very large nose holes (Jacob laughed so hard when he saw this one and commented that everyone does this when they take their own picture. )
It just kept getting worser and worser!

Well there you have it. You did ask, afterall!

A birthday parade.

2012-01-02T20:32:00.009-05:00

Today is hubby's birthday and whaddaya know, Coral Gables threw him another parade. The fact that is is called the Junior Orange Bowl parade must be an oversight, I'm quite sure they wanted to call it Jacob's Birthday Parade. We went with our friends Richard and Shara to honour the birthday boy. This has become an annual tradition and we love it.

This year, for the first time, the parade was in the daytime. Me no likey! It needs to be at night, it adds to the ambience. We didn't let it dampen our spirits, we didn't have to, the parade did that for us. This parade is usually amazing but this year it was lack luster at best. Of course that didn't stop us from having a good time though. The little bit that was there was very good but it was much shorter and missing alot.

Our little group waiting for it to start.

And we are off. Do all parades start with the local police department or is this a Miami thing?

No shortage of refreshments at this parade!

There were floats and....
pretty horses with ladies in beautiful dresses and......
this is for my northern and British readers, twirly girls in skimpy clothes in January is 78 degree weather, and..
the Cat in the Hat, and

lots of marching bands, and....

lots of noise, and...........
more twirly people. and..........
this tiny car being towed by.......
one of the many motorcycles, and......

The cast of Pan Am, and.......

Lily and I, and.....oh wait we weren't in it but I like the photo, and
Angels on horseback, and.....
big men in tiny cars with squirt guns, and.....
and that was the end of the parade so we headed out for dinner. Seconds after the parade ended the heavens opened and it poured for about 5 minutes

The dinner gang.

my motley crew
The birthday boy
me and my girlies.
Richard, Shara and Jacob.

The birthday boy was hungry today! He ate not one, but two birthday desserts. He had this one before we even left. It's his favourite chocolate cake in the world. Linda's Fudge cake from Cheese*ake Factory

Happy Birthday Jacob. Hope you enjoyed your parade, Maybe next year they'll get the name right!

A new year

2012-01-01T22:18:00.005-05:00

Last year really seemed to fly by at record speed. When I was little my parents and all their "old" friends used to talk about time flying and I thought it was the silliest thing ever. Hah, guess I'm one of those old people now cos time really does fly.

I am not one for making resolutions. I don't like to set myself up for even more OCD moments than I already have. If I commit to anything then it is 100% so the idea of making myself even more nuts just doesn't make sense. There are a few things that I plan to address in the next few days and some things that I want to accomplish this year but nothing life changing. Well perhaps one thing.

It is said that what you do and how you feel on New Years Eve and New Years Day sets the tone for your whole year. After my foul and cranky mood yesterday I am happy to say that I woke up chipper. That lipstick really must have been magical. I took no chances today and after my shower immediately put on some make-up. Told you I was OCD. We spent a calm and quiet day that involved a trip to a mall quite a way from here so that we could get something for jacob's birthday. It of course turned into a shopping fest and I now have some much needed new clothes. A great way to start a new year.

We had a lovely dinner at home and the girls both went to bed early. After not going to bed until 1am yesterday/today they were in need of it. Lily slept until 10.56 am but Rosie was up at 6.30 (groan)

A perfect start to a fresh, new year. Talking of fresh it's going to get cold this week. I can't wait.

An ode to red lipstick.

2011-12-31T21:57:00.005-05:00

I have been in the worst mood all day long.

It started this morning and as my, self imposed, to= do list grew, my black cloud just got bigger. I tried so hard to shake it. It's New Years Eve for heavens sake yet I felt none of the fun. I enrolled the girls to help me clean and sort. All extraneous items had to be removed from the house today. We loaded up lord knows what and dragged it to the charity shop. I'm quite sure tomorrow I'll be looking for half of it.

From there we went to the store for finger foods for our party tonight. As the time grew later I felt as much like throwing a party as I did like listening to the girls playing there musical instruments. I was really cranky.

After I bathed the girls I told Lily she could wear any one of her favourite dresses and helped Rosie chose one too. Lily casually asked if I was going to get dressed up too. Not bloody likely, was what I was about to say but instead I said, yes. With that I raced upstairs plugged in my flat iron with one hand and grabbed my make-up bag with the other. I pulled a little black dress out of my closet, ferreted about on the floor in my closet looking for some heels, threw myself head first into my jewellry box and then raced back into the bathroom to put on some lipstick. Lily chose red for me. As soon as I looked in the mirror my bad mood magically disappeared. Finally!

If only I had known it was so easy I would have put on some red lipstick earlier!

Since the girlies looked so pretty I took some photos of them. Actually Lily looks scary. She looks about 13. She has some hand me down dresses from Jakie. Jakies girls are really tiny so they wore these dresses when they were 12 and 13 but they fit Lily now and Lily is tiny for 9. I don't let her wear them out of the house as they are just to grown up for her but inside the house they are fine and she really looks smashing in them.

Rosie does not like wearing dresses but wanted one tonight. She made me laugh so much as she tried to pose like her sister. Lily is a natural, Ro Ro, not so much. Well not yet. And for that I am thankful!

We wish everyone a very happy new year. I hope that all your dreams come true and this is your best and favourite year ever.

Happy faces, happy girls

2011-12-30T20:03:00.007-05:00

The un-sleepover actually involved sleep!

They didn't wake up until 7.30 and no one was more surprised than me. I guessed that my early bird had woken everyone one but I was wrong, it was Joie's turn to be the alarm clock. Considering they were still holding court at 11pm and they usually get up at 6., they did pretty well.

They spent a very leisurely morning playing board games, watching telly and playing Wii when I decided to shake it up a bit and suggest we go out for a while on the bikes, scooters, jeeps, pogo sticks, you name it they could have it. I have an insanity gene that allows me these mad thoughts without a second of remorse. What was the worse that could happen? One of them could run me over but other than that I had it all under control.

After a quick safety briefing they were off.....at full speed with nary a glance over their shoulders. They tore this neighbourhood apart. Our clubhouse has a bike path that goes around it so that is where we headed to. I knew they ( and the rest of the world) would be safe there.

At first I decided that H's girls could not ride the electric scooters. They aren't familiar with them and H wasn't with us. I rode them about on them for a few turns and then called an executive decision and let them have them. We have enough safety gear to kit out the British Army but of course we didn't use a lick of it. No, no, no, I am such a great friend and responsible person that I just threw them to the wolves, so to speak! I couldn't stand watching Joie squash herself into the Jeep for another second, she needed a toy with some pizzazz that didn't cut off her blood supply. A quick tour of what button did what and they were gone. Peals of laughter filled the air as they raced around the path.

Racing fools

I'm not sure why Rosie looks so forlorn hereSpeedy
maniacs

Trevi on the Bum Wiggle Scooter. It may, possibly, have a different name than this but this is what you have to do to make it move.Lily on her Daddy's electric scooter
Now how did you two end up sideways on a perfectly srtaight sidewalk, huh?
Oh, just look at that concentration.
funny girls

All good things must come to an end and this playdate/un-sleepover was no different. Hollis was greeted at the front door by Lily saying in a disgusted and sad voice, oh no, it's your mum. (have I mentioned lately that I am working on her manners. LOL)

Another un-sleepover

2011-12-29T21:00:00.008-05:00

It really wouldn't be a school holiday if we didn't celebrate with an un-sleepover. Today Hollis drove the girls down this morning and then drove off all alone in her big old school bus. Must have felt very lonely! Nobody in this house was lonely, oh no. They were in heaven.

I don't really have any idea what they did this morning. They all branched out into various rooms and did whatever it is that they did. I do know that Rosie and Trevi made a camp under the dining room table because I had to secure the blankets for them. I had to disband their little camp so that they might eat lunch, I wasn't very popular.

After lunch our friend Rose joined us and we went to the park for a couple of hours. (I am about to rant so you may want to skip this bit: Why the h*ll can't dog owners down here clean up after their flipping dogs? 3 out of the 7 of us trod in it in the park. A park that clearly stated NO DOGS. A park with a childrens play area. How disgusting.) Continuing on..... the girls, Rose and I played quite merrily. It was one of our unusual days, perfect crystal clear skies and temperatures in the low 70's with a wonderful breeze. By the time we got home I think we had just about killed Rose so she made a fast exit and the girls and I continued on with our shenanigans.

Getting ready to slide

5 kid pile up
Big Rose
Trevi
The gangs all here

Tonight as I write this post the girls are all eating popcorn and watching Nanny McPhee Returns.
I wonder why they like to sit on the floor?

I expect they'll go to bed at some point and sleep for a whopping couple of hours! In the morning they'll be up, bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to repeat today. Somehow I don't think Big Rose will be so ready.

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade

2011-12-27T20:33:00.009-05:00

This time of year is meant to be cold. Snow flurries or blizzards, rosy cheeks, seeing your breathe, that kind of stuff not sweating in 80 degree weather. How can you drink hot chocolate when your A/C is the closest you are going to come to cold?

Well we found the antidote for all this hotness. Today we took ourselves to the local Ice Arena for some good old fashioned fun. We met our friends Ed, Jen and Evan there and we donned out skates and hit the ice (some of us hit it literally). I would just like to add that at no point did Jenny or I ever go belly up. We are just that good. LOL A couple of times we were flailing about but we managed to stay upright. Egads was it funny.

In Lily's short little life she has only found 2 things that she cannot do, 1 is roller skating and 2 is ice skating. After her birthday party last year at the roller rink she has pretty much licked the roller skating but this was only her 3rd time on the ice. Little miss true grit and determination, made it happen. She wiped out so many times that I lost count. She hit the guard rails so many times my head was spinning. She sucked it up when her skates started to hurt so badly and she even sucked it up when some clown mashed her hand in a metal door.

Through it all she just kept pushing and she did it. She really was skating like a human and not some sort of animal on loopy juice.
Evan also made it happen. He fell so many times I am sure his butt is blue and his knees must be raw but each time he dug a little deeper and tried it again and again. Rosie held my hand for most of the time. I few times Lily and her would skate off together and she did OK. She was so proud of herself also. We skated for 2 hours.

As much fun as we had the best part was being so cold! Towards the end I was starting to get a little bit too cold and it wasn't fun anymore. I only wore a sweater, I should have put on a jacket as well. I bundled Rosie up as if her life depended on it but she was also starting to show signs of being cold when we left. Some kids were skating in shorts, I have no idea how they didn't get hypothermia.

I didn't take a camera with me as I didn't think we would be allowed on the ice with it but I did keep my phone in my pocket so these very poor shots are courtesy of my phone and that fact that I tried not get busted whilst using it!

3 musketeers.

Rosie found a Rosie-sized Zamboni.

The real Zamboni. I just love that word.

waiting for the Zamboni to finish polishing the ice.

Scary fast aren't we?

Lily dragging her sister.

The pro's again

Don't be fooled by Evan's dejected look, he got back up.
Jenny with the girls
She loved it!

Cold is good, seeing the kidlets with Rosy cheeks and red noses was fabulous, seeing them have so much fun was inspiring but seeing Lily's smile light up the ice and listening to Rosie chant, over and over again, I'm doing it, I'm skating, was priceless.

Ho Ho Ho.

2011-12-25T21:12:00.007-05:00

Happy Christmas.

Ours has been truly wonderful. It started early-ish when Rose awoke and realised that Santa had been cos she could see her stocking which was followed quickly by the realisation that Santa came into our house and didn't scare or maim her. Shocking!

The girls got into our bed with their stockings and foraged about for quite along time with all the Christmassy goodness. After what seemed like an eternity I suggested we go downstairs. The ohhs and ahhs were quite spectacular as the girls eyed the bling under the tree.

I don't like everyone to just rip into gifts, instead the girls get to pick a gift from under the tree and read who it is for and wait while that person opens it. That way they actually appreciate each gift as opposed to just getting into a ripping pattern. Half way through we had to go outside for a while why Rosie tried out her new scooter and Lily tried out her new pogo stick. After that short intermission we were back at the gifts. Rosie changed into her Thing shirt and was once again content.

Their gifts from us were hidden at the very bottom of tree, under 50+ gifts ( no we didn't buy that many, we have a rule in this house where we only buy 3 gifts. 1 big one from Santa, one from us and one from each sister to the other.). Rosie was starting to think that Santa hadn't heard her and Lily was just as happy as a clam with everything she had already received. Finally they opened the last 2 remaining gifts at the same time. Lily opened hers first and screamed, thank you, oh thank you so much. Within seconds Rosie was jumping up and down and also screaming thank you. Thank you Steve Jobs for making my girls day so very very special.

Snippets of the Christmas fun

It's a tradition in our house, you go outside in your jammies on Christmas morning and try out your new toys. Rosie would not do it and had to change into a shirt from Auntie Sally

pogo-ing p.j. clad fool
Rudolph the red nosed Rosie
A much desired game!
Working her way through her money ribbon

We all played Wii. I got creamed.

Jakie and Lucy
Jacob, Lily, Rose and Caro
happy girl
Things indeed. Crazy Auntie Sally kept calling them by the wrong names so she sent them Thing shirts but Lily noticed right away that she should should have been Thing 1 and Rosie should be Thing 2.

Richie Rich sent the girls a book, Pooh's Little Instruction Book. It is the most delightful book filled with invaluable advice. Page one reads as follows:
If possible try to find a way to come downstairs that doesn't involve going bump bump bump, on the back of your head.

Not 10 minutes after Lily read it to Rosie, Rosie came crashing down the stair arse over elbow. Lily happened to have already made it to the bottom and looked to see where Rosie was just in time to see her trip and start cart wheeling to the bottom. Lily flew as fast as she could to catch her and Rosie is a little bashed about but just fine. Apparently she wasn't listening to Pooh's advice!
The girls love the book and it has made me laugh all afternoon.

Having children makes this day absolutely fantastic. Having friends join us for the day is just the star on top of tree but what we really want is a Christmas with my family. I'm crossing my fingers for next year...I've started to hear murmurs.

I hope your day was also filled with magic and sparkles.
Merry Christmas to all.

Visions of sugarplums dance in their heads

2011-12-24T20:52:00.006-05:00

I think for most of us Christmas Eve conjures up Norman Rockwell images of snow and family all gathered around the fireplace. Well you can scratch that idea if you live in Florida and your family is on the other side of a rather large ocean.

For starters, our traditional Christmas Eve fare is Chinese Food. Don't know how it started but it works for us. We have tried many different ideas with regard to Christmas food and that whole Turkey thing is not happening so now we add a little international flavour to both days. We mix some of my traditions from the U.K. and some of Jacobs and then we there are the ones we have just made up and thrown in for good measure, ie. the Elf that appears sometime during the day and leaves a package for the girls on the doorstep. At some point we hear jingle bells and when they dash to the door they are always seconds to late and nobody is there. The package always holds 2 pairs of matching pajamas. We have a laid back day since both of the girls are so excited we always try to keep things low key and incorporate a trip to the park.

Rosie made the reindeer some special food this afternoon. We like to be sure they get more than just carrots.

Sparkly Reindeer food. It looked so pretty sprinkled all over the grass.

Deep in concentration as she measures everything out
Stirring it up.

We had an early dinner this evening and then headed out to see some Christmas lights. There is a house, not far from ours, that really goes a little over the top with the decorations. It is so tacky and trashy and I love to take the girls to see it as they find it just breathtakingly beautiful......gag. Actually this year Lily commented that she thought it was a bit much. That's my girl!

This is the mans garden

this is his garage with an elaborate train set.
Santa being accosted by 2 strange kids
His roof
another part of his yard
more of the roof
And yes people, this is the INSIDE of his house. They let you go inside. It's just weird and tacky.
I have no words left!
I really think that house is horrid but I admire the time and effort that the owners put into it. Rather them than I.

Once the girls had had a bath it was time to get ready to the Jolly Fella himself. Cookies and milk were placed, with love, on the table, the reindeer food was sprinkled outside, and the carrots were placed on a plate for the reindeer. I suggested a paper plate but Rosie would have none of that, thank you very much!

Rosie placed Santa's magic key outside and then we went upstairs to read , Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Polar Express. I then tried very hard to reassure Rosie that, Santa is in fact a very nice person and that it is fine for him to come into the house and that, NO, he wouldn't hurt her in any way. She still seemed rather dubious but I do believe she is sleeping now. That or she is scared stiff and can't actually get out of bed and come downstairs to find me.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Goodnight.

Hanukkah Party

2011-12-23T22:00:00.006-05:00

Once the holidays roll round we all look forward to Hollis' annual Hanukkah party. It is so much fun and of course being together with our extended family is just fabulous.

Without a shadow of a doubt the highlight of the party is the gift exchange. Not the gifts that we buy for each other and spend time and love on but the little gifts that we all bring for the gift exchange. There is a $5 limit on gifts and we all go out and find some pretty nutty stuff. All of us are issued a number and one by one we choose a gift. If we don't like it when we open it we can exchange it with anyone that has already chosen one. Sometimes you get something great only to have taken away.

This year I received a game of Pick up Sticks, Rosie received a Harmonica and try as I might to get her to trade it she was not about to and Lily received a chocolate cake made out of washcloths and magnetic strawberries. She also refused to trade. All these fun little gifts are wrapped to attract attention. We even attached little bags of Gelt to the outside of ours to make them even more appealing.

The children have to wait until after dinner to open any gifts and participate in the gift exchange and it makes them so sad. LOL This year after the main course we let them have at it.

Waiting to begin

Trevi loved her gift.
Rosie and her harmonica
Lily's chocolate cake
Joie eyeing her gift rather sceptically

But this is by far my most favourite moment of the night.
Grandma Grace opened her gift and it said, "Sex in the City, LUST' and without a second of hesitation she yelled, I'm keeping it! She didn't even know what it was. Someone had to tell her it was perfume, it was so funny.

We had such a lovely time. It was just so much fun. Hollis' house is like home to us and our home is home to her so we just hang out. No pretences just all of us being us.

More of the fun.

The little ones playing ball....umm, that's not allowed in the house

The big ones playing Wii
Uncle John doing circus tricks with 3 kidlets
Hmm, Richard got some new shades and he wears them well.

I think she has the wrong word.

2011-12-20T21:15:00.003-05:00

This evening after their baths I was cutting the girls nails. I sat Rosie up on the counter and was standing quite close when the following conversation took place,

Rosie: Mummy, you have a nipple.
Me: Yes, I expect I do. (wondering why she is saying this as I am fully clothed.)
Rosie: No Mummy you do.
Me: Rosie what are you talking about? (still trying to cut those tiny little nails)
Rosie: (touching my chest with her finger.) Here Mummy, you have a nipple here.
Me: (exasperated) For the 1000th time, it isn't called a nipple it's a mole. You have nipples on your boobies.
Rosie: Oh, these are nipples? (pointing to hers) Well it doesn't matter. You have a nipple right here.
Me; You can't have nipples anywhere other than on your boobies. Honestly, this is called a mole.
Rosie: No, it's a nipple.

Great, now I am a 3 nippled freak!

He's a cheeky little Elf.

2011-12-19T13:44:00.007-05:00

I just can't get over how much fun the girls are having with Squirty Smurfy Murphy. They bound out of bed each morning to see if he has come back. He has come back every single night, much to their delight.

One evening he made himself a little snack

a sandwich in the shape of a little man.

He did a spot of fishing

and even caught one.

One morning Rosie couldn't find him anywhere so I started having conversations with her where I would gesture ALOT with my hands. It still didn't work. Thankfully Lily spotted these little red legs sticking out of the kitchen cupboard.

He was in the cupboard having a snack.

Last night he played with Mr. Potato Head

BUT........he used real potatos

Squirty won't be about much longer so we are going to be sure he goes out with a bang. I have a couple of fun tricks up my sleeve. I think the girls will be delighted.

Seeing it their way

2011-12-18T21:25:00.006-05:00

I love this time of year, I always have. There were a few years right before Lily came along that it lost a little of it's sparkle but it never disappeared entirely.

Now having the girls it is better than it has ever been. Seeing their excitement build as the day gets closer and closer is fabulous. Little things can set them off. Each morning when they open another door on their advent calendars and then realise just how few are left, or driving past a house adorned with ornaments and lights, spotting Santa from across the crowded mall or sometimes one of them will just mention Christmas and the other ones face just lights up.

Even though the big one is now a non believer she is still having the best time ever. Last year was a hard one for her. She had to deal with the truth. She is too smart to pull the wool over her eyes. She has a math and science mind and frankly, the facts just don't add up to her. She has picked apart every single aspect of the fable and finds it hard that anyone can believe in it all, "it's just not possible, no one can do all of that and there is no such thing as magic" and " if Santa makes the gifts in his workshop why do they have made in China printed on the box or the clothes have tags that say the Gap?" (yes, little smarty pants indeed!)

She is enjoying seeing Rosie get all caught up in the brilliance of the season. Each morning she dutifully helps Rosie out with her advent calendars and when Rosie can't find Squirty Smurfy Murphy, Lily leads her around suggesting she look in certain places so that she will spot him. Last night after Rosie went to bed she asked if she could set Elfie up for the evening.

Oh the fun of it all. Even Smarty Pants hasn't figured out that there are gifts hidden all over the place. Thank. Goodness.

One day last week Lily went to the mail box and there was a package addressed to them. I have never seen her do the funny little dance that she did when she pulled it out and saw the names, Rosie and I are still mimicking her today. It was a classic. The gifts are put away until Christmas. No gifts are put under our tree until after the girls have gone to bed on Christmas eve. That's how it was when I grew up. Nothing appeared until after Father Christmas had been.

The girls have seen Santa twice. Last week we took them to get their photos taken and told them both to wear whatever they wanted. I really don't care if they are in "Christmas" clothes or not I like to see them, being them. Rosie chose pants and Lily chose a fancy dress and globs of jewellry.

This is the photo from Jacob's phone. THe one we bought was much better but this is easier to get to.

Today we fell upon Santa at a park. It was a gorgeous Christmas themed park and Santa was there in a really lovely setting so we went to visit him again. This Santa was really nice. He actually asked the girls what they wanted. I thought all Santa's do that but now it is more about get the shot and collect the money. BTW, Rosie wants a dog!

Just 7 more sleeps and he'll be here.

Christmas things and thinking.

2011-12-17T21:14:00.003-05:00

It just wouldn't be Christmas in this house without Mince Pies. My Grandma made the best mince pies I have ever eaten and all the ones I have tried since hers haven't held a candle to them. Mine aren't particularly note worthy but since the girls don't know any better they love them and hubby always snarfs them down.

The girls favourite part of mince pies is making them. I don't know what is so special about them but they absolutely love doing them.

Rolling, Rolling, just keep rolling

Hmmm, some one thought it was play D0ugh
Making the hats
Little ones and tiny ones
Such a happy face

Another thing that is a must in this house at Christmas is Christmas Pudding. I failed to get one. GULP. My sister has 2 cos she forgot to bring it with her. Snarl.

Rumour has it that next year for Christmas we are going to be having a British Invasion. I really hope it is true. Maybe we can convince my Dad to come to...who are we kidding!

Rosie's Christmas Show

2011-12-16T09:07:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was Rosie's Christmas show at school and let me start by saying what a difference from last year when she was a sobbing blubbering mess who was glued to my side and had to hold Ms. Maria's hand the whole time she was on stage.

Yesterday morning she woke up and as absolutely thrilled at the prospect of getting up on stage and singing. She couldn't wait to put on her pajamas and Santa hat. As I walked her into her classroom I was waiting for her anxiety to start but she just happily went about her business and headed to her seat. I gave her a kiss and told her Daddy and I would be waiting for her in our seats. I was so happy that she was doing so well.

Ms. Katz finally bought them out to the stage and she walked with all the classmates to her seat. She looked a bit nervous but once she realised we were there she gave us the biggest smile and wave and she relaxed. I was a bit miffed because my tiny little Rosie was in the back row and we couldn't see her. I finally left my seat and went and stood at the very back because at least that way I was able to stand directly in front of her and when the taller kids moved she could be seen. She sang her little heart out. She didn't move around to much and she appears to have forgotten all of the hand gestures but she did it. Yee Haw.

Rosie is in the middle
All the way in the back looking to the side
Back centre
Her wonderful teacher and us.

Rosie is in the back row under the huge red flower

please excuse the bald head but I am just not tall enough!

Only in Miami will the sounds of the Christmas show get drowned out by the sounds of emergency vehicles. I have no idea where this ambulance was but it sounded like it was right in the room with us.

This was Rosie favourite song. She even played out the actions BUT it is blurred. I was so upset. My camera died the second the song finished so that is all I can come up with for a reason for the blurriness. I was standing so far away and was zoomed to the max and videoed for an hour. So just listen and don't watch.

We are so amazed at how far she has come. Anything out of the norm just used to scare her to death and make her so uncomfortable. Having a teacher who is not quite as understanding is a blessing as she doesn't cow cow to her every whimper. Don't get me wrong this lady is fabulous but Ms Maria had a soft spot for Rosie as she was also adopted and also that was a private school so they were more willing to bend the rules. Public schools do not have time for ANYTHING.

Rosie Posie, Daddy and I are so proud of you. We love you to the moon and back.

Life.

2011-12-14T21:00:00.006-05:00

Today I think I left smoke in my tracks. I ran from here to there and back again from the second I woke up. I run like a lunatic on a normal day but today was extreme.

Rosie woke up this morning and was only able to open one eye which although hilariously funny to see was not a great start to my day. As soon as her doctors office opened I rang them and the sent a prescription to the pharmacy. We figured it was pink eye. About an hour later my eye got all funky too. If you have followed this blog for a while you know I can't take any chances with my eye.

We dropped Lily at school and headed straight to the assembly area for Lily's honor roll ceremony. We were informed by other mothers that have had this teacher before that this would be the first year she wouldn't make the honor roll and to forget principals honor roll as that was out of the question. When she bought home her report card she had all A's in academics but a B in conduct with the homeroom teacher. Oh well we had been warned. As I left school last Thursday I bumped into the "tough teacher" and she said she wanted to tell me something. She had been thinking about Lily's grade and had changed it. She wanted to surprise Lily at the assembly so would I please not tell her. This lady who I have been scared of since school started was so nice, just a really lovely lady. In fact we chatted for a good 10 minutes and I almost got locked into the school.

Adam and Lily. The only 2 kids in their class to make the Principals Honor Roll. Standing with their teachers.

Here she is receiving an award for Perfect Attendance.
Lily, Adam and Sana, the 3 amigos.

Lily was shocked, really shocked. It was great. She then went and thanked her teacher and was hugged by her. Obviously this lady is not what everyone says she is.

Anyhoo, from there I flew to work at full speed and on the way home picked up Rosie's script. the whole time I was driving home I kept thinking....but what if it isn't pink eye and she gets treated with the wrong meds. I know that is irrational but my eye problems started with me being given the wrong meds and now I have a droopy pupil, a scar in my eye that affects my vision, a pupil that no longer dilates and contracts and my eyes are 2 different colours. I'm a bit sensitive to eye problems.
I voiced my concerns to jacob and he agreed. I have the best eye doctor ever and I have his home phone number and his cell. With all the problems I have had, I have never used them. Today I rang his personal office number. He told me to bring all of us in immediately. When we arrived the front desk was waiting for us. This is a huge practice and so busy. The wait times are awful but whenever he sees me in the waiting room he just puts me to the front of the line. (I know it is wrong for the others waiting, It's not my doing) He dealt with Rosie first, then me then Lily. All of us got a full exam, a really thorough exam and vision tests. Rosie cracked everyone up and she went into so much detail about what she could see. The tech, and I were laughing uncontrollably. 2 out of 4 of us are infected.

Darn child of mine is always bringing home something skanky from school. We all got meds, just in case it spreads. We don't all have to use them, just Rosie and I, for now.

By this time it is 4.45 and swimming starts in 10 minutes. With my eyes completely dilated I drove as fast as I could to the pool. That was hair raising. Lily was 3 minutes late. Rosie and I sat and watched her swim then we flew home for dinner. DINNER??? Oh my word the lasagna I had planned on making was still in the ingredient stage. I threw together an omelette and salad. At 8pm the kids finally went up to the bath and then to bed.

Now I need to figure out what to do with Squirty Smurfy Murphy,

Last night he ate the chocolate out of the advent calendars that my sister sent and I got 2 very annoyed kiddies this morning. They couldn't believe he had done such a thing. Once they looked in the fridge they found the stash and then spent ages methodically putting each piece back in their calendars.

Cheeky little Elf.

It will be me who eats the chocolate tonight, not the elf.

Elves gone wild

2011-12-13T12:24:00.003-05:00

One of us, either the elf or myself, must be hitting the moonshine cos this little chap is getting quite creative.

Rosie finally spotted him this morning as she was walking across the kitchen to hand me something. He was perched, way up high, in a vase on top of the kitchen cupboards. Then she panicked because her big sister told her he would suffocate.

Elfscapades

2011-12-12T21:39:00.001-05:00

It took them ages to find Squirty Smurfy Murphy this morning. In fact I had them pretty convinced that he hadn't come back.

But he was here the whole time, wrapping things up in the downstairs loo.

I stole this idea from a website.

Tomorrow they'll never find him.

King Mango Parade

2011-12-11T10:56:00.007-05:00

This year the girls and I were invited to participate in the King Mango Parade. It was so much fun last year that we dove at the chance. It wasn't until a few weeks later that I realised the swim meet was on the same day and that we wouldn't be able to do it. Luckily, or so we were told, the swim meet would be over and done by 3-3.30 so we would be able to do both.

Once Lily decided to forfeit her final race we jumped in the car and the kids got changed en route to Wynwood. They always think it is a hoot changing clothes in the car. I did to when I was little. We didn't really know exactly where we were going but the GPS was taking us there. One thing I knew is that we were to park in the Gourmet Food Truck lot and as luck would have it as we exited the expressway a food truck was in front of us. I followed it and my GPS and we arrived at the lot with seconds to spare. The kids grabbed their books and we went looking for our sign and bull whip. We were the Tiger Mom and her 2 cubs.

The crowd had already gathered and things were in full swing. The zombies from Thriller scared Rosie and things were heading downhill fast. She was clinging to me for dear life. I explained that it was all OK but she was having none of it. I was finally able to get her to walk next to me but she was holding my hand so tight my fingers were blue. I was pointing out all the fun things around us and Lily was very much getting into it. Rosie was having none of it.

We marched down to the Wynwood Walls area and finally Rosie calmed down. The merry bunch of revellers disbanded quite quickly so I took the girls and we walked the walls. Unbelievable art everywhere.

The zombies that scared Rosie
International Graffiti Artist, I can't remember his name but his work is amazing.
Inside Wynwood.

I loved this

Lily inside a 70's trailer
Camo deer.
The whole place was just a showcase and something to behold. We loved it.
cool and funky colours everywhere.

Rosie looks as if she was painted right into the picture

One of Lily's favourites
This was Lily's fave

I'm not sure she liked this one after all. She looks a little timid

We really enjoyed ourselves and the day was very full. Lily went to sleep shortly after we got home she was spent.
This morning she told me she had a great time but wishes she hadn't forfeited in her first ever competition. I wished she hadn't also but I didn't tell her that. From now on we stick to one thing and only one thing.

First meet

2011-12-10T21:18:00.005-05:00

Today Lily had her first official swim meet. This meant she would officially have times! A big deal for her. She had to be at the pool at 10am. I was working so hubby took both the girls and when I left work at 10, I headed straight there. As I was on my way one of the other mums texted me to say, don't rush they are running 2 hours behind schedule. OMW, really, 2 hours? Urghhh.

I was thrilled in some ways as this meant I had not missed a minute and when I got there she was about to get into the water for warm ups.

Dear god I thought I was going to go mad from boredom. Rosie actually fell asleep for an hour. She finally had her first race at 3pm. They weren't even allowed to eat as they didn't want the kids to throw up or get cramps in the pool. Her and her friend finally snuck away for a minute and shared a sandwich and a piece of cheese but someone caught them and snitched. I felt so sorry for them they hadn't eaten since 8am and it was 3 and they were starving and expected to race? They are little kids for heavens sake. And for the record neither Paula nor Lily pewked or got a cramp.

Lilys team finally got called and I watched as she nervously paced behind the plate. Then it was time for her to assume her position and then the siren blared and she was off. We had to laugh as she lost so much time cos she kept looking to see if anyone was around her. Every other stroke she would almost stop as she assessed her position.

This is her first ever competition and we told her not to expect to win or to even place for that matter but all that mattered was getting her official times and surprisingly, she was fine with that.

(We had another commitment this evening. One that I initially turned down due to the meet but once we were assured that we would be finished at the meet by 3 we decided to commit ourselves to that also. When we left the house this morning everybody had everything they would need for the whole day, just in case we weren't able to get home in between the 2 things. That was good thinking on my part. But it was a heck of alot of stuff to schlep.)

As we were now running 3 hours behind schedule I told Lily we were not going to be able to go to the parade. She got so upset and panicky. In the end with the help of her coach she decided to hang on for the last possible second and then if she hadn't raced her final freestyle race she would forfeit. She did in fact forfeit her final race, her choice. This tells me that she isn't as "into" swimming as she could be. If this was a horse competition she would never have missed it, ever. Don't get me wrong, she likes swimming but she isn't passionate about it.

Lily and Paula before the competition

warm up
Ready to fly
scoreboard
Neck and neck but she stopped to look and see if she was winning and lost her place. Silly goose.

Lily did really well in spite of herself and her constant checking on the competition.
Her times are:
100m Fly: 57.65
100m Back 56.53
100m breast 1.04.48

She beat her times from her friendly meet a couple of weeks ago. She knocked 13 seconds off of her fly.
We are proud of her and also think she is a funny girl. When I told her that she lost so much time by checking on her placement she said, "Mum, I can't help it I need to know where I am. I can't stop it, I tried" I'm sure with time she will stop.

She loved it but said it was dull waiting so long in between races....uh yeah, tell me about it.

More tomorrow on the parade.

4 long years ago

2011-12-08T12:21:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that it has been four years this very week. It was such a long time ago and Lily was still so tiny and still had that, oh so squeaky voice.

There is just nothing like receiving "the call". Rosie's referral call wasn't an ordinary one. I had called our agency AGAIN, to plead our case. To tell them we were her family and I didn't care if others thought so too, they were wrong. When I finally came up for air Elizabeth Rose said, she is your daughter.

We knew it from the second we glanced at her photo. We knew it as we dragged her medical files to cardiologist after cardiologist. We knew it. Parents just know these things.

Don't be put off by the title, Special Needs. The only special need is the need for love, the need for a family. It still makes my toes curl to think that the CCAA, as it was, thought Rosie was unadoptable in their regular program. She's perfect. How could she not be adoptable?

Flashback to 4 years ago.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Somebody STOP me

2011-12-07T22:19:00.003-05:00

I was prepared for a simple Elfscapade this evening with her in her new duds when this idea came out of nowhere.
When will this madness stop?

Elfette

2011-12-07T13:02:00.004-05:00

It's all good and well hiding the Elf every night or finding little tricks for him to do but he was bored.

He complained about being the same as all the other Elves.

Today we changed that.

Meet Elfette.

Tomorrow morning he will be in the kitchen, baking cookies in his, I mean her, new duds.

So Fl Asia Group Picnic

2011-12-04T19:42:00.005-05:00

Jacob and I hosted a picnic for our group today. We love these get togethers but sadly our group has become really lame and it is basically the same 2 families that organise the get togethers. Once we get something organised everybody turns out but nobody wants the responsibility of doing the organising. It's a pain in the neck but seeing the kids have so much fun makes it worthwhile. When we joined this group Lily was 17 months old so these kids are her friends and they just love seeing each other.

The group is in constant flux. People join, people leave. Kids get bigger and parents pull away as they have so many obligations with teenagers that they can no longer commit any time to the group but this one little band of parents always remain and it is so wonderful to see them and their children. I remember when we started attending functions that it felt sort of weird cos we were the newbies, now we are the old timers who strive to keep things going along with Hollis.

Today even the weather was perfect. We arrived at the park nice and early and got everything set up and slowly and I mean slowly but surely families started to join us and before long there were probably 20+ families all gathered together. One thing we always make sure we do is pass around a donation box. The kids love marching around thrusting the box into peoples business and asking for donations for Half the Sky. My father would have been proud of them all.

If fun can be measured by the dirt on my children suffice to say I had to wash Lily's face 3 times in the bath tonight before it was clean! They were absolutely filthy.

Good friends

scootering fool
A few of the old timers
Lily finds a new friend and finds she is also a fellow swimmer....cool stuff.
We suddenly thought we should get a group shot but this was just a small part of the group.

Oh and we had a fabulous time as well. Jacob konked out a few minutes after we got home and he is still asleep. I would probably be asleep but someone bought the most amazing chocolate cookies that I have eaten and I ate my weight in them so I am a little hyper :O)

Really, who would have thunk ?

2011-12-03T21:17:00.005-05:00

We have the Elf.

Yes, I was sucked into that commercial part of Christmas cheer but really, resistance is futile. The whole concept of this little dude reappearing morning after morning in a different place for my delighted little kids was just so annoyingly appealing.

Our Elf is a little bit naughty though. He has really been getting himself into all sorts of bother. Before I even visited the websites dedicated to his madness I had already pulled off some of the ones they mention. Considering how many days this little chap has to find a different hiding place I was certainly appreciative of all the commercial help I could find. I can hardly wait for him to adorn the Christmas tree in the kiddies undies, or the night when he uses dry erase markers to add moustaches to the family photos. Ha, I think I am more addicted than the girls are. Even hubby makes sure he has been moved and this morning was most concerned when he couldn't find, "Squirty Smurfy Murphy" anywhere. (yes, sadly that is his name, his registered name, no less.)

With all the late nights that happen at this time of year Elf on a Shelf certainly makes mornings a lot easier than they would be with 2 crabby kidlets. Now they bound out of bed and go on the hunt.

Squirty Smurfy Murphy hanging from the lamp in one of his death defying antics.

Party on Dude. Hubby had something to so with this set up. Rose found it very naughty that he had been drinking beer.
He must have been hung over from the night before cos he slept all day here. Our Elf moves about ALOT during the day but this day he stayed in bed.

Must dash, Elfie needs to remove the star on top of the tree and place his slender little bum there instead. Good grief this is fun.
I dare you not become addicted.

School photos

2011-12-01T22:05:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago was picture day at the girls school. I think it is odd that in their school, a uniform school, they get to wear street clothes for picture day.

I asked Rosie to, smile with her pretty smile and not her "Buck Tooth Betty" smile. When I picked her up one of the first things she said to me was, " I didn't do my Buck Tooth Betty smile but I did give them some teeth". I had no idea what it meant and couldn't wait to see the face she pulled for the shot. I figured it was going to be hilarious.

Lily chose her clothes for the photos and decided how she wanted her hair styled. She was all over the details so I knew her photo would be fine. Well barring any playground scrimmages before the pictures were taken I knew things would be fine.

Lily loves this picture but just doesn't understand why they didn't photoshop the unruly wisps of hair out of the way. (good grief, such a Diva) She is getting so big.

And here is the one who, gave 'em some teeth. Yes, she did but it's not her Buck Tooth Betty look so I'm happy. Heck who am I kidding I'd be happy if she stood on her head.

Life as we know it

2011-11-30T12:14:00.002-05:00

Life as we know it can change at any moment. We are in control of most of it, we make most of the decisions but sometimes decisions are made for us that we don't care for.

Yesterday, my husbands employer, of many years, filed for bankruptcy. That news scared the pants right off of me. They say they are re-structuring, cutting fat, cutting costs, benefits and salaries. I say, do what you need to do to survive. However before you cut the salaries of the men and women that go and bust their butts for you every single day, whom by the way, have already had their salaries and benefits cut, may I suggest that you stop the upper management bonus checks to the tune of $100,000,000's. Yes, you do deserve bonus checks but perhaps due to the dire financial straits of your company less would be more!

Before you do your blanket layoff's you should take a closer look at your employees. Many, if not most of them are thankful to work for you but as the wife of an employee I get to hear the gossip. I hear how guys badge in and out early. Say they are working but aren't actually even at the airport. Guys that are sleeping rather than working. This I have seen with my own eyes as I have been through various airports. They find a quiet corner in the departure lounge and between flights, whilst on the clock, they sleep. The guys with the high seniority that refuse to do ANY work because and I quote here, "I've been here for 20 years, you do it".

Now I do understand that with financial problems as large as yours that these issues are not going to fix a thing but when you asked the employees for cost cutting ideas and went from serving 1 olive in your martinis and not 2 to save a buck, you proved that you obviously do care about the small stuff.

Why don't you send some of your big guns down to the trenches. Put them to work and let them see with their own eyes the guys going through the baggage and doing a little "shoppy", the guys sleeping, the ones slacking off and of course the ones just that just plain aren't there.

How the hell can you run a company when you don't have a clue what is going on?

Oh and why doesn't my husband say a word, he's thankful to have a job, that's why. If I could have sent an email that couldn't get traced back to me and then connected to him I would have taken photo after photo of sleeping employees this summer and sent all of them straight to headquarters because frankly, lazy bastards piss me off!

And can someone please tell me why I don't believe a word of what this new CEO says?

30 posts in 30 days

2011-11-30T12:00:00.003-05:00

30 days has September, April, June and November...blah blah.

November is national Blog Posting Month and the idea is to post a post each day for the whole month.

I did it, This is my 30th post in 30 days. Yes I do know that this one is pretty darned lame but it's still a post!

I didn't want to mention it at the beginning of the month that I was going to be doing this because you all know I don't like pressure and added stress in my life!

Done!

(this isn't actually my post for today I just need to get the other one sorted out in my head.)

Wearing many hats

2011-11-29T16:53:00.005-05:00

The girls love wearing winters hats but oddly enough we don't have much call for them in these here parts. Doesn't stop them from longing for them though.
They found these in a shop this weekend and begged for them. Even those sad little puppy dog eyes and pathetic pleas didn't work. We just don't need any more hats.

Apples and oranges

2011-11-28T12:56:00.004-05:00

As most of you know, I am one of three children. My fabulous big brother is the biggest, then their is my wonderful sister and I bring up the rear. We are all totally different. Completely 100% individual. Yet, we love each other unconditionally and love to be together. We put our political differences aside.

My brother has a very big soap box and is VERY passionate about ALL his beliefs. That is what makes him, him. Oddly enough many of the things that have made my brother tick for most of his life are now things that make me tick too. Hmmm.

My sister is the crazy one. She has always let her heart rule her life and make all her decisions. She gets hurt very easily. She is as loyal as any junk yard dog and you always want her on your side.

I miss them both and wish I lived closer, as do my girls.

Me, I was always goody two shoes. I NEVER got into trouble. Never even got a spanking. Lame!

My parents treated us as 3 individuals and sent us to 3 different schools. We were never compared by our teachers. This was a great thing. My sister was a language whiz, a geography know it all, I was not but the teachers could not compare notes. My brother went to boarding school he just got into trouble and was sent home sometimes. Boys will be boys!

I need to put my girls in schools in different countries! Lily is setting the bar really high for Rosie and setting some lofty goals. Lily has always been a go getter whereas Rosie is more of a come hither-er. Lily grabs the world by the horns, Rosie is scared of horns.

Lily gets letters sent home for talking ALLTHETIME. Rosie is to shy to talk. Lily wins math contests, Rosie forgets that number 7 actually exists. Lily could make up poems with rhyming words at age 3. Rosie rhymes Rosie with couch. But I love them both, equally.

We received a really nice letter from one of Lily's teachers today:

A very good morning to the 4 Copes
Re: Lily Cope

Several weeks ago, Lily was playing volleyball on the court, and found a change purse with money in it. She brought it to me, and I told her, I would keep it in my desk & see if anyone claims it. That day, a student which I know asked me if I found a change pure, that his girl friend lost it. It was identified & returned to the rightful owner.

Today, during Lily's physical education class, I spoke to the entire class on what occurred several weeks ago. I told the class that I usually only select a fifth grader for student of the month, because I am only able to select one student each month for this special award. Since Lily showed such character & honesty, I am selecting her for student of the month here at W****** Center for the month of January 2012, when we return to school.

It is such a pleasure to have such a wonderful student such as Lily here at W********** Center and especially with in my physical education class.

Have a wonderful day to the 4 copes.

Sincerely;

*********

B**** M*****
Physical Education Dept.
W******** Center

It's not fair, Rosie can't compete with this.
Does anybody have any addresses of overseas schools?

Stupid auto correct

2011-11-27T18:53:00.005-05:00

Sadly on Friday morning we lost a good friend. He went to sleep and never woke up. The best way to go if I do say so myself. We have celebrated his life and now we continue on. The one hurt the most by all of this is his son. Adam is 20, so he isn't a kid anymore but still way to young to lose his Father.

Jacob and I have been trying to keep tabs on Adam in the past few days but at the same time not suffocate him. Being a young guy he doesn't answer his phone but will return a text so fast your head will spin. So, texting it has been. This afternoon I sent him one and ended it with, "please send our condolences to your Dad's sisters". My dear darling phone decided that I really didn't want to say that at all and changed it to " please send our CONDOMS to your Dad's sisters".

Seriously?
Every time I read it I giggle. Couldn't it have found something more appropriate to correct it to? Oh well I guess I have learnt the hard way. Don't just hit send, proof read your writing.

I sent an explanation immediately.

As for auto correct, it's true what they say, it really is, a stupid piece of shut.

Thanksgiving day

2011-11-26T08:13:00.000-05:00

I didn't post about Thanksgiving day, somehow it got overshadowed by my Black Friday madness and the fun we had with friends.

I'm not cooking that huge meal again. It's not worth it. The turkey isn't a big deal. Thanks to a cookery book written by and English chef, that I received as a wedding present, cooking the turkey is fool proof and even I can do it with my eyes closed. A little fluff and fuss to begin with and again towards the end but other than that it just sits all alone in the oven cooking itself. It's the side dishes that are madness. Lets face it you don't normally have between 6-10 different sides. Well perhaps you do, we don't. They aren't things you cook on an ordinary day and they are all fussy.

I spent a ridiculous amount of time in the kitchen. The girls were getting bored, the hubby fell asleep and my cries for help didn't wake him. As I got hotter than my kitchen and started banging things about not a soul stirred. We needed to eat early as Jacob had to work and I wanted him to be included in the festivities. By noon I was rushing around like a Black Friday shopper (hah) and nothing was happening. The table needed to be set, the house hoovered, the floors washed, etc etc.

Once our guests arrived everything was in place and they were blissfully oblivious to the chaos of minutes before. My mood was anything but festive but I kept it in check and as usually happens when one has a good time it changed instantly.

Once we sat down to eat, the meal was devoured in minutes. It was all good and everyone enjoyed it, everyone except Lily who has suddenly decided she will no longer eat meat, doesn't like sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce or half the veggies and other sides that we had. She a microscopic portion of food on her plate which concerned me. It couldn't keep a flea alive. Rosie actually ate more than her.

So much work for a few seconds. Perhaps it is because I'm not a foodie but it seems like such a waste of time. The company was great and we had a lovely time. The rest of the day spent enjoying each others company.

I'm done with the cooking. I really don't think my kids will be scarred for life and missing some great memories if I don't cook, they are more like to be scarred by my cooking. So from here on out, we are eating out or having it delivered on the holidays unless Jacob wants to do it.

This is my resignation.

1000th post

2011-11-26T07:13:00.005-05:00

Okay peeps use your imagination here and imagine a drum roll as this is my 1000th blog post! Envision fireworks and sparkly things, champagne corks popping etc etc. Now notice the men in white coats coming dashing into my house to drag me and my large ego away!

When I started Eggrolls and Chopsticks back in 2006 my Mum was the inspiration. She didn't get to see Lily very often and I wanted her to share in her life. She is also the reason why it is called what it is. Mummy wouldn't call Lily, Lily until we had her in our arms. She said it was bad luck. She gave her the nickname Eggroll and later Rosie would become Chopstick after something that she once said.

i had been reading blogs for sometime but couldn't imagine that anything that happened in my life could be blog worthy. My friend Lori gave me the final push to get started and I once I figured out what end was up I really loved it. The blogworld is a special community. You find people that you connect with and share yourselves.

That first comment is like crack. (figuratively people)

Then the friendships start to develop through the blogs and one by one you start to correspond with these peeps and before you know it you are meeting familiar strangers all over the world. Bonds are forged and connections you never knew existed are made.
I have made some amazing friends through my blog and for this I am eternally thankful. I still have a list of people I need to meet and can't wait to meet.

My blog is now in book form. The girls love it. I love that one day they can look back and see so much of their childhood.

I never realised what I was getting into when I started typing my first post but I am so glad that I did.

I have been surprised constantly by the people who read my blog and even more so by the people who don't. I learnt early on, strangers follow along and family stays away. It's the opposite of what you think when you start. Some of my family reads but many do not. Long time friends don't, new friends do.

If we haven't met yet, I hope that we will.

This wasn't the post I planned on writing today, I thought this was going to be tomorrow's post....such a shame I can't count.

Black Friday

2011-11-25T16:14:00.004-05:00

Every year friends of mine head out in the wee ours of the morning to get a head start on their holiday shopping and each year I say I will do it. I never do. The idea of getting out of bed in the middle of the night to wade my way through throngs of people sends shivers down my spine.

Something caught my eye in the sales ads yesterday and when Jacob finally came home from work at 1.45am I lugged myself into my car and headed out into the night. I don't like the dark. silly I know but it is what it is. I drove to Target and found the car park so crowded that the streets surrounding were turned into a parking lot. I ignored this and headed into the the actual lot and found a parking spot immediately, score! I walked into the store and found a huge line. The line was for electronics. That was of course what I wanted. I waited for just over 4 hours in that line. I met lots of very nice people. The lady in front of me let me use her trolley since there weren't any when I arrived. We all chatted and held each others places whilst we shopped or ran to the loo. The line just didn't move. By 3.30 I was yawning so badly and ready to throw in the towel but I spotted a great deal on a camera that I just knew Jacob would love to buy for me in addition to the other things I wanted to I trudged on.

Jacob kept ringing and texting to make sure I was okay and then a friend who was at a different store rang and we chatted for a bit. I was so concerned that the items I wanted would be sold out by the time I made my way to the front of the line but I was pleasantly surprised to find they still had everything and I saved over $300 and received $80 in Target gift cards. It was worth it. The big gifts are done. I can't tell you what they are cos little eyes read this.

I slept for 2 hours and then it was on with the show. We spent a few fabulous hours at the park with our friends. The weather was perfect. A nip in the air, just enough that I had to borrow Lily's friends sweatshirt!

Some of the girls

Xavi, my go to phone guy showing his disapproval of this photo. How rude.
She called this her stick
Such beautiful girls
Yeah right Kelly, Lily's isn't short, Oh NO!
Love this one
Great ladies and Danielle
How can it only be 5pm...I'm running on fumes. Kelly was my friend who phoned me last night and her hubby is my phone guy, we were punchy today as we were all so tired.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T06:46:00.004-05:00

Can't sleep. Visions of burnt dried up Turkey are dancing though my head. Guests contacting Salmonella is another real thought.
In an effort to keep those thoughts on the back burner I will I will list some things I am thankful for.

The first few are so obvious:

My children

My Hubby

My siblings

My extended family. I really do have the best cousins, you should be jealous.

Health. Yeah it does sound like a cliche but it is true.

My friends. The few people who are inside my heart, I have always been one to keep that list short.

In this economy I am glad that we still have jobs.

My job, I love what I do with a passion.

Health Insurance. Living in this country without it would scare the life right out of me.

Choices. We are free to make them.

My home, I hate where I live but I love my home on the inside and the fact that it is ours.

Humour. We laugh all the time

Airplanes. They keep my family together.

The fact that at least 10 times a day I am able to think, we are so lucky.

Lily's List.

Family

Health

Friends

Bunny, but don't put it on the blog.

Rosie's List

Being able to give Lily a hug and a kiss

My blanket
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My list of creature comforts that I can't imagine living without. ( in no particular order)

Imitrex and Topamax. Anything that kills my migraines is something to be very thankful for.

Down pillows. Having a migraine and putting your head on a brick, doesn't work.

My blog community.

fabric softener.

Chocolate, or any sweets preferably from England

My blow dryer. Without it I have freakish hair.

Skype

phone. I pick it up and BAM, hello loved ones.

Christmas decorations. But I refuse to put them up until December.

King sized beds.

Hot showers, really hot showers.

Fluffy towels, really thick ones.

And finally, sleeping late. Both my girls are early risers so on the days they sleep until 7.30 I feel I have hit the jackpot.

Happy Thanksgiving, to all who partake

Pre Thanksgiving jitters

2011-11-23T12:34:00.004-05:00

My kitchen looks as if it was the target of a terrorist attack. I look like a went a few rounds with Tyson and it's all because I am trying to get a head start on the Thanksgiving meal. I was not cut out to be a cook. I don't even like food that much. Each year I host Thanksgiving for all my family and any Ex-Pats that get lost in the shuffle. This year it is going to be smaller....probably because my cooking skills killed off a few last year.

I dutifully went to the supermarket with an almighty list in hand and came home sans a turkey. Seriously such responsibility should not be thrust upon me. As I meandered the store grabbing all the things that one needs for Thanksgiving, minus the Turkey, I was struck by how much stuff the other people were buying and thought I should get the extra stuff too. Perhaps it really isn't Thanksgiving without garbage sack sized bags of chips or the worlds largest container of whipped cream. What do I know, (a) I'm a foreigner in these parts and (b) I can't flipping cook!

There is so much to do. So many side dishes to be made. Each one more fancy and complicated than the last. As I type my stuffing is sitting on the stove, the flavours all "coming together" whatever the h*ll that means. It smells good but that just might be the wine. Not the wine in it but the wine I am drinking just to stay a float. It stops me throwing things across the room too when the cookery book uses a term that I actually have to Google before I can do it.

There's a saying in this house: Mummy only has a kitchen because it came with the house.

I found this recipe and still think I should try it. It's for people like me who don't know how to cook.

Here is a turkey recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing ingredient -- imagine that. When I found this recipe, I thought it was perfect for people like me, who just are not sure how to tell when turkey is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out. Give this a try.

1 - 15 lb. turkey 1 cup melted butter 1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is Good) 1 cup un-popped popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT IS BEST) Salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter, salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan making sure the neck end is toward the front of the oven, not the back.

After about 4 hours listen for the popping sounds.

When the turkey's ass blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room,.... it's done.

Happy Thanksgiving and gobble til ya wobble.

Oh and I am adding a new label for my posts, it's "humour" for those who might think I am 100% serious and actually drinking wine by the vat at noon.

~ She wears it well

2011-11-22T15:32:00.002-05:00

We had lunch at the Crepemaker. Rosie had a red and black, (strawberry and nutella).

That's my Lily

2011-11-20T19:18:00.003-05:00

Earlier today the following conversation took place in our house.

Me: Maia took first place yesterday in the 9-11 diving competition. Now she goes to Nationals next year.
Lily: (the same kid that took 1st place in the math contest not 48 hours ago) What do you do in a diving competition?
Me: Play golf. I absolutely couldn't stop laughing
Jacob: phew, lucky that wasn't a general knowledge quiz you were in!

Apparently what she meant, and was able to tell us once we all stopped laughing our heads off was: do you dive for distance or form or what?

Oh how I love my life.

A fabulous evening

2011-11-20T14:55:00.008-05:00

I don't think we would have been able to top yesterday day time if we tried but last night came pretty darned close. The annual holiday parade was taking place but I hadn't told the girls about it as I wasn't sure if we would be able to make it due to the competition. We raced home from the math thing and ran upstairs and changed Lily and bolted right back out the door again. If you don't get there super early you can forget it. We didn't get there early but as luck would have it we found parking, miles away and found a great spot to watch the parade from as soon as we got there.

This is a tradition of ours. It takes place at a local mall and is sponsored by Macy*s. It is the unofficial kick off of the holidays and I have to say it really is a great parade.

Oh my goodness it's the jolly one himself!

and this was Rosie's face when she saw him
one of the many fabulous marching bands
the stilt men. The chap in the front came right over to Rosie and picked her up off of Jacob's shoulders and walked away. I was so busy watching her waiting for her to scream that I didn't get a photo. I know I know duh!
This is Miami we are all about the bling
Hello Kitty
some sweet little angels that Lily liked

Chinese dragons

That is a beautiful coloured sky for the middle of November, don't ya think? This is the helicopter that flies over to let everyone know the parade has begun

Lily was very happy to see Jennifer Stone, (Wizards of Waverley Place) as the grand marshall
She looked right at us.

I couldn't take too many photos as my battery was going flat and I knew I had to save some life for our dinner arrangements. I have been following this blog for years and when Alyson posted on FB that they were heading down this way I suggested we meet up. Thankfully she agreed. We didn't have an awful lot of time so we chose our favourite Italian restaurant to take them to and met them there. Our day was starting to follow a theme, race race race, we raced from the parade to Nunzios for dinner.

It still amazes me that you can meet total strangers yet know so much about them. They are familiar strangers. The girls hit it off immediately and as they waited for their dinner Lily and AA became fast friends. AA is such a beautiful little girl. And so teeny tiny. I stayed at arms length as she is a little shy but Lily made it in very close. Lucky Lily I say. Ford, Alyson, Jacob and I were able to chat our way through a lovely dinner. So many things in common but all to soon we had to leave. Such a shame but we are going to meet up again.
A little note to Catherine and Hannah: we have now been vetted LOL so next time you are down at Disney it will be safe for you to meet us too. Ha ha.
It was such a pleasure to meet your family last night and thank you for a lovely dinner. I hope you had a fantastic day at the races. Until next time.

Ford, Alyson, Jacob and I. Photo compliments of Rose
# happy girls
I have no idea what is with Lily's face as she was having a fabulous time and no point did she show attitude. Must have caught her mid blink or something
buck tooth betty and her friends
sweet, sweet girls

I think I have now decided that for Christmas I do want to grown up camera after all. I'll just have to get used to lugging it about. To see the same photos but looking twice as fabulous go to Ford and Alyson's blog. I am having a love affair with the name Ford, not the man, he was very nice and what have you but the name. Isn't it a lovely name. So American and manly. If I should ever need to have a name for a boy it will be Ford.

She Got 1st Place!

2011-11-19T21:14:00.008-05:00

This is going to be a long post because tonight I am a proud, proud Mummy and Jacob is a very proud Daddy.

I am also going to start the story at the beginning because I want it documented for Lily.

About 6 weeks ago Lily came home form school with a paper for me to sign stating that she had been chosen to participate in a math competition against some other schools. For the next few weeks she would be staying late at school on Tuesdays for practice and if she did well she would participate in the actual competition. I asked her if she wanted to do it and when she said yes, I signed the paper and handed over the money. The first week that I picked her up from school after the practice I nearly passed out when I saw the practice test that she had for homework. I can't even give you a sample question cos my keyboard doesn't allow me to show you pi or squared numbers. I basically thought that she would be eliminated. We had plans this weekend to meet my friend Jen in Disney, the reservations were made and our girls were finally going to meet. I had no qualms about it.

Two weeks ago I picked her up after practice and she told me she had made it through to the final. Say what? Cancel the plans and get ready to study really hard.....those were my thoughts followed by, yay, way to go kidlet.

Today was the day. We had to be at Ferguson High School by 7.45 this morning. She was ready and raring to go. Hubby was off since we were supposed to be in Orlando. We met the group from her school and milled around as all the participants from the other 36 schools arrived. Finally we were taken into the auditorium where the kids were welcomed and given their instructions. Most parents didn't stay as the competition was closed. Kids only. First they took individual tests and then they took group ones. I waited with Rosie, Jacob and a few other parents. Finally she reappeared and looked a little beaten up. Every single kid said it was hard. I gave her a snack, Daddy gave her a pep talk. At some point they posted the answers for the first test and she wasn't overly confident, none of them were. A few more minutes of free time and off she went for round 2. Again we waited. It was a great group of parents. The math teacher that took the kids is not her regular teacher and is a fantastic lady. Her name is Ms. Ruiz and we owe her the stars tonight.

After forever they reappeared and we all had lunch together and the kids let off some steam. The parents talked as we were the nervous ones and the kiddies all played and chatted. Suddenly it was time to reconvene in the auditorium for the award ceremony. At this point there are hundreds of people as the parents that didn't stay have all shown up, some bringing relatives etc etc. The auditorium isn't huge and by the time our group was led in there was no room....WHAT? The announcer person (I'm sure that is what they were called) caught Ms. Ruiz attention and told her to go up to the 2nd level so as all these people were still filing in we were filing out to find the stairs. We were the first group to arrive upstairs and got the front row. All the kids sat together and the parents went off to the side.

The awards were given by grades starting with the highest grades and working down to the lowest. Anytime Winston Park K-8 centre was mentioned we went wild. They were mentioned quite a lot. One of my dear friends works at DAK-8 so we cheered like mad for them also. One of the biggest and most prestigious private schools in Miami also participated and it is a well known fact that if you have graduated from Ransome you have carte blanche to any Ivy League of your choice, they have that reputation and they are that good. So as the awards were being called we were impressed to see the public schools not only holding their own but doing really well.

It was finally time for Lily's group. The first child called was from her school. Let me tell you we were thrilled, then another, and another then her bestie Adam. As the kids are called they make their way to the stage. Our kids all had to go downstairs, outside, around a corner, back inside and down to the front so it took awhile. When Adam was called I was genuinely thrilled. His father and him took off running and I looked at Lily and she was jumping up and down for him. Lily and Adam compete at everything in school. Once I heard his name I knew it was over. I have to admit that my heart sagged a tiny bit for my girl. Another name was called and then the last name for the group, LILY COPE. Jacob and I screamed. She took off running. Parents were high fiving Jacob and I and then I realised I needed to get down there with her to take pictures so I literally took off running down the stairs in pursuit. As only Lily and I can, we got lost! We could not find the auditorium door. We ran upstairs again and back down and up and down. Apparently there was a chair holding the door open so that it couldn't lock but it slipped out and the door closed so were locked out. Oh Cr*p. We finally found a door and bounded to the stage. She ran up the stairs and I crouched at the front. They were already calling names. Next was adam he took 5th place. That left 4 then 3 then 2 and then chants of LILY LILY LILY filled the air as the announced the first place winner in the individual tests LILY COPE. I was stunned. I truly could not believe she had done it. It was so amazing to hear all these people that have never set eyes on her before, people from 35 other schools chanting her name.

She grabbed her trophy and headed to find Adam. I didn't even get a chance for a photo. I finally tracked them both down at the rear of the auditorium. I have never seen her smile quite that bright. We ran back upstairs where her daddy grabbed her. Then it started all the high fives, the fuss, the congrats.

Lily placed 1st out of 36 schools. Adams Mum told her that whatever she wanted was hers today all she had to do was ask us. LOL She said days like today are rare in a lifetime to so she should just ask for what she wants. Jacob said he is taking her over to Adam's house later to ask for a new car!

This is something that she did. She accomplished this herself. She worked for it and pulled it off. She spent the rest of the day with a huge grin on her face, clutching her trophy.

All ready to leave the house

A little bit nervous
waiting to start.

Spending time with Rosie on her break

Group photo before the award ceremony
waiting for the awards with Ms. Ruiz
Getting very antsy!!!!!!
Up on stage and grinning like a Cheshire cat

At the back of the auditorium when I finally caught up with her

Group pictures.
So proud. Her and her bestie, Adam. I love this boy and his family, such nice, nice people.
The fabulous Ms. Ruiz.

This in and of itself would have been a perfect day but look who we had dinner with tonight.
Ford, Alyson and AA.
Rosie took the photo while AA and Lily were playing

More on meeting these fabulous fellow bloggers tomorrow.

Sorry if you read this yesterday and it reappeared in your reader today...the photos were out of order and were making my brain itch!

Gone

2011-11-18T20:35:00.005-05:00

My sister and her husband left today. I feel really sad.

My sister and I haven't always got along as we do now. In fact for quite a few years I was nothing but an annoying little sister to her. She was "forced" to take care of me and "forced" to have me tag a long with her so this made anything but desirable in her eyes. Once we both grew up things changed and I love spending time with her and her with me. We are often struck by the similarities that we share. Just today we were standing talking when we realised that we were both standing the exact same way with our hands and arms in the exact same position, the only difference is we mirror each other as I am a lefty and she a righty.

I am also incredibly lucky in her choice of husbands. Mad Uncle Andy as he has now become is just a great chap. By the time he met Sally, Lily was already part of our lives so he inherited her right off the bat and then later on Rosie. He was very quiet in the beginning but as we all got to know each other he is just as mental as my sister. The girls are really lucky to have such a great aunty and uncle.

We realised today that after all the time we have spent together we didn't have any photos of the four of us together so right before they left for the airport we rectified the situation.

What a motley looking crew

Sally and I

Initially Andy thought that their plane left at 3pm. This was a dreadful idea as it meant the girls wouldn't see them after they left for school in the morning. Turns out it left at 6...duh! I did the unthinkable and pulled Lily out of school at 1.30. (I know it is ridiculous but she has had a substitute all week and one day the lady didn't speak English and taught the Language Arts lesson in Spanish...hello?? So I really didn't think she would miss to much!) Once I had Lily I raced around the corner and picked up Rosie at her normal time and we came home, got changed and headed to the airport to say goodbye. Why are good byes so hard?

Clinging

Faking the smiles
Not faking it anymore
Hot mess!

We had such a great time with my sister and BIL. I can't believe they have gone. It was so hard to say goodbye. By tomorrow it won't hurt so much......I hope.

Brrrrrr

2011-11-16T22:03:00.006-05:00

On Wednesdays the girls both get out of school at 2pm so it gives us a little extra time in the afternoons to do things. Lily usually has swim practice at 5pm but I made an executive decision today to cancel it. Instead we went to our pool. WE never go to the pool after September because the water is freezing but seeing that we haven't had any rain lately we decided to give it a shot. Brrr. it was freezing. The kids jumped right in and then Rosie immediately jumped right out but she sucked it up and stayed in for an hour. Andy dove right in and played with Lily and sally and I got wet to our knees, we're brave like that.

A slow race ???

See, my lips aren't blue yet.
Auntie sally and Lily
yep, that really is how far she went in.
Uncle Andy trying to drown Lily

Andy playing the fool.

After all that silliness everyone was hungry so we went out for dinner and then the girls begged, as they have done daily since Sally and Andy arrived, to go to yogurtland. Today they got hteir wish.

This is a really silly photo but I love the way Rose is looking at my sister. I bowed out of a frozen treat, I was still freezing from the pool

WE are down to the wire as far as time left together. THe girls have both been in tears today. Sigh.

Learning the hardway

2011-11-15T20:29:00.003-05:00

On Jacobs computer desk he has a lamp. An incredibly bright lamp that you could use to land a plane. From the very day he got it we have told the girls that they must NEVER touch it as it gets very hot. We've also told them never to touch any other light bulbs/lamps either for that matter but this one is the one we have stressed the most.

Tonight Rosie, for reasons that none of us will ever understand, decided to touch the bulb. She was sitting at the computer with Uncle Andy and I called her to come for her bath, she turned the light off and then touched the bulb. That was a couple of hours ago, she's still crying.

She has a blister on her thumb, the thumb she sucks and is generally very sad.

This picture was taken of her in the bath with her thumb on a container of ice. It's almost hard not to laugh when you see this much drama, but I didn't. I couldn't laugh at her, she really is sad. Sigh.

Do they ever realise that we set rules for a reason? I hope so.