Happy Halloween! The End

Imagine yourself after spending the morning in a class full of 4 and 5 year olds spending the evening trick or treating with a 4 year old who didn't take a nap.

Yeah, again, I know!

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to bed I go!

Oh by the way, is this not THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LADYBUG you ever saw?

More pictures of today here

Happy Halloween! Scene 2

Imagine yourself in a Pre-K class full of 18 4 and 5 year olds who were free-eating candy and sweets all morning in between playing Halloween games and jumping in bounce houses!

Yeah, I know.

Happy Halloween! Scene 1

I know I will be frightened today. I am spending the day with Sasha's class.

We have to take the broom today because my car is in the shop.

HA HA HA AHA HAHAHAHAHAHA

Happy 6th Birthday Murray!

Happy Birthday Buddy! Murray is such a trooper. He spent his birthday morning at the vet with an eye infection and a bum leg. He just kept licking the technician's hands but held still for the vet. He's such a good boy.

Yeah Mommy!

Thank goodness for jack-o-lantern stencils! Didi--I would appreciate no comments about my lack of artistic talents. I used to carve them every year with my students but they didn't care how good (or bad) they turned out. But, for Sasha, I had to do a good job.

Mommy carved a PUMPKIN!!! And then we roasted the seeds using Seasoned Salt. Yummy!

Oh and for all you Northerners suffering in the cold: Yes, we are outside carving a pumpkin in shorts! And it's supposed to be 84 Halloween day. Kind of makes it hard to find a good costume. Poor us, huh? ;)

A few more pictures
A short video

Booestest

Sasha's gym had a Halloween party last night. She wore her Halloween outfit but not a costume. When it came time for the costume contest, she wanted to enter so, of course, I let her.

When it was her turn to walk the runway, the MC called her the "resident goblin" and asked Sasha to "show us your best Boo". Sasha, being the mini Drama Queen that she is, ran down the runway, SCREAMING "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO".

Needless to say, she won an award! The judges didn't say what exactly the award was for but Sasha said it was because she was the "Booestest".

Lullaby

Lullaby
Dixie Chicks

They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

As you wander through this troubled world
In search of all things beautiful
You can close your eyes when you're miles away
And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

Princess Dudley

I found him last night sleeping in Sasha's
dress-up clothes.

Mommy Brain

I had a major case of Mommy Brain on Monday morning. It was Matt's birthday. I had to get up early to go the Social Security office because we finally had all the documentation we needed to get Sasha's number. So my mind was busy with trying to make sure I had all the right papers, getting Sasha ready, and getting out the door in time to get to the office BEFORE it opened so I didn't have to wait all morning.

I didn't even think about it being his birthday until I was about 20 minutes away from the house. The guilt was terrible.

But, of course, like a woman, I can blame it back on him. He should have mentioned that it was his birthday. I would have. "It's myyyyy birrrrrthdaaaaaay!" (read in Oprah's voice)

Mommy Brain struck again when I didn't post a Happy Birthday message on the blog (thanks Great Nanny for pointing it out.)

Happy Birthday Matt. I love you!

5 minutes **Update**

In 5 minutes Sasha can:

1. Open the pantry.
2. Instantly locate THE GOOD STUFF.
3. Finish a medium sized bag of cookies.
4. Eat an entire Nutri-Grain Bar.
5. Eat a pack of Dora Fruit Chews.
**Eat a small bag of animal cracker cookies. (I found the wrapper this morning when I was putting the groceries away)**
6. Almost get a bag of cheese crackers open.
7. Try to look innocent when Mommy walks into the kitchen.

She had chocolate all over her face, wrappers were strewn about the kitchen, the sofa was covered in crumbs. I guess 5 minutes isn't quite long enough to eat all that AND clean it up. Priorities. Priorities.

Now, she's upset because she has an upset stomach.

Perfect Day for the Pumpkin Patch

Today was the first cool day in Florida and Sasha's class had planned a trip to a nearby Pumpkin Patch. It actually felt like fall. I wore socks for the first time in months!

Strangely enough, all the pumpkin patches in Florida are usually located in church parking lots. So, we went to a church parking lot today to sing songs, play games, listen to stories and pick a pumpkin.

Pictures

#1

Our profile is being shown this week. This is actually the first time it's being shown.

I don't know when. I don't know how many other profiles are also being shown. I don't know when the birthmother will decide.

So....keep us in your thoughts please.

Cheerleading...kind of (Updated link for video)

Today, in record breaking heat (91 degrees with 55% humidity to be exact), Sasha had her first cheerleading event.

Keep in mind as you watch the video, that she is the youngest girl on the team, it was hot, the sun was in her eyes, and the stickers on her cheek were bothering her! ;)

Pictures Here

Happy 6th Birthday Dudley!

He was so excited to eat his Birthday Greenie that he didn't make it all the way under the bed!

Can you tell the difference?

Happy Dictionary Day!

Go to this link and find out what bizarre holiday your birthday falls on.

Me: Look At The Bright Side Day, National Flashlight Day,
National French Fried Shrimp Day, and Hamburger Day

Matt: National Mole Day

Sasha: National Honesty Day

Dudley: Babbling Day (He would like to change it to Barking Day.)

Murray: National Candy Corn Day

I can't forget my furbabies.

Dudley "do you really have to take my picture again?"



Murray "Can you please let me sleep?"



I love my boys, even when they get a bad haircut and look like bobblehead dogs! Could they be any cuter?



(They have asked me not to show their bobbleheadedness on the blog.)

A Nice Day

It may actually be the beginning of Fall here in Sunny Florida. Today was just gorgeous. No humidity and a high of only 80. Finally.

We went downtown to a literacy festival and had a great time just being outside.

Pictures

So much better

Officially it has been 2 months, 1 week since our profile has been active at our adoption agency. To our credit, our profile hasn't really been active because there have not been any birthmothers who meet our "criteria" to even look at our profile. Last year at 2 months and 1 week of waiting, I was ready to rip my hair out. Last year at 2 months, 1 week of waiting, it was the end of April and we thought we would be traveling any day. As you all know, that didn't happen. Last year at 2 months and 1 week of waiting for children, I really thought it would never happen for us.

This time at 2 months and 1 week of waiting, I'm still hopeful. Thank goodness, Thank G-d, Thank UAFF (our agency), Thank Russia, Thank Sasha's birthmother, Thank Anybody involved that we have Sasha. She is the light of my life. She is the reason that I am not ready to rip out my hair right now. She is the reason that I know our baby is out there and that it may take some time to find him/her or her/him.

Last year this time, Sasha was somewhere else, and probably in someone else's arms. But, last year this time, she was still our child. We were just waiting to find each other. We were just waiting to be a family.

Because of Sasha, I am a Mommy and when we started this process in January 2005, that's all I really wanted. I wanted to be a Mommy. I didn't care how I got there or where my children were born. And now as I wait to be a Mommy to 2 children, I know that my time is coming and while I wait, I will enjoy my precious daughter.

From the mouths of babes

Today we were standing in line at Panera in downtown Orlando. Sasha was being exposed to a little more diversity than what we see in our small little town outside of the "city". As we were waiting in line, a young man (and when I say young man, I really mean younger than me because I am old) in his 20's got in line behind us. This young man had a very large mohawk and Sasha, being a typical 4 year old, turned around looked at him and said quite loudly,

"Mommy, he looks like a horse".

I couldn't stop laughing. I did not turn around to see what the mohawk man was doing but I did hear laughing. I would like to think it was from him.

Poor Baby

Sasha got hurt today at school.

"Mommy, I hurt myself in school today."

"Oh no. I'm sorry. What did you do?"

"I hurt my blood."

It is really hard to be compassionate while you are laughing!

A Part of History

Epcot has a very cool new sculpture at the entrance called "Leave a Legacy". When we went a few months ago, Sasha and I had our picture taken to be forever on display at Epcot. The black and white tile is what will be on display.

The words of Walt Disney: "To the youngsters of today, I say believe in the future" are the inspiration for this unique attraction.

Well then.

As hard as we tried to get her to understand, today wasn't really a big deal to Sasha. She just couldn't understand why everybody kept calling. She didn't understand why we had a special breakfast. She really didn't care about our One Year Family Anniversary.

At first I was disappointed but then I realized that it didn't matter. We are her parents and everything has gone so well that it really feels like we've always been her parents. It's hard to imagine life before her. Sure, I can remember sleeping in and watching whatever I wanted on TV but it all pales in comparison to having a family.

We love Sasha with all of our heart every single day of the year. October 8 will always be a special day because that's when Sasha was OFFICIALLY our child.

Since we've been together, every day is a family day and Sasha showed us that today wasn't really a big deal. And that's a good thing!

Special Breakfast Video

Today

One Year Ago

This was taken a few days after being home but it's one of my all time favorites so I had to repost it!





We became a family!
I will write more later after I make breakfast, clean up breakfast, give Sasha a bath and get her dressed, take a shower, get dressed myself, go to the grocery store.....................

She has the K rhythm

Watching her dance last night, Matt asked, "Are you sure she's not our biological child?"


Videos

Super Grover

I may have bad dreams about Elmo balloons tonight!


We went to see Sesame Street Live: Super Grover "Ready for Action" tonight. Sasha had the best time. This is the first show we've taken her to where she didn't say "I'm done," 15 minutes after we sat down.

Groovy

When you have kids and you are in your 30's, it's ok to buy a lava lamp. If you just say you bought it for the kid, no one will make fun of you. We bought this for Sasha.

Actually, I think Matt and I enjoy it more than she does. We went to college but neither of us ever owned a lava lamp.

Peace.

These BOOTS are made for walkin'...

...and that's just what they'll do.

I remember having a favorite pair of cowgirl boots when I was a little girl. I had to help Sasha enjoy the power of a good pair of boots! She LOVES them, especially when she is stomping in them.

Big Girl Hair

Sasha got her hair cut Wednesday and she looked so grown up. :(

Help Future Adoptive Parents

The National Adoption Foundation donates a portion of your purchases from this Amazon.com link to future adoptive families who apply for financial need.

A Chance to be NOISY!!!!!!!!!!

Friends of ours gave us tickets to a series of 3 family concerts. Before each show, the musicians and other kid-friendly places from the area set up activities in the lobby. Needless to say, Sasha preferred to find the noisy stations and we spent most of our time playing instruments. She did surprisingly well with the french horn but her favorite was, unfortunately, the drums!

For those of you in the Orlando area, I highly recommend this. Click here for more information.

(This particular event was "Costumes in Concert". That is why Sasha is dressed up.)

Fondue

One of my most favorite things to do is go out for fondue. Matt doesn't like it AT ALL. Well, guess what Daddy, I've found someone else who likes it just as much as I do!

These were taken over Labor Day weekend in PA. A new cafe opened up near Didi and Pap's house and they serve cheese and chocolate fondue. YUMMY!

Flirt

I took Sasha with me to Barnies this morning to get a coffee. When we walked in the song playing was "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree" and she screamed "I have that song" (we do) and ran over to the speaker and started dancing, right in front of a cop! Then she just started talking away to him while she danced. He just sat there and laughed. It was hysterical.

We learned last week that it was ok to talk to policemen. I just didn't think she'd take it that far.