Thursday, December 20, 2012

Did Somebody say, "COOKIES?!"

The girls had a super fun Christmasy time last weekend with some
our most favorite people courtesy of their
friend Grace and her Mommy.

It was a fun night filled with . . .

Mmmmm, pizza and crunchy cheese balls!

Interior Decorating. 

A Reindeer Food Buffet. 

Clara Rose got extra flying powder for her reindeer food! 

 Whoa! 
That was some Reindeer Buffet!!!

The Girls had a blast decorating Christmas Cookies. 


Look at all those super delicious cookies! 

The night was filled with lots of warm fuzzy moments. 

PRESENTS! 

What a party!

Thanks Michelle and Grace! 

The next day we broke out
all of our cookie making
ingredients and got busy making more cookies! 

It was a fun afternoon for all the Girls! 

And if anyone isn't sure about the level of fun

Here's proof-- frosting colored hands says it all! 


After the cookie extravaganza--

Josie and Clara Rose wanted to go for
a Christmas stroll around the neighborhood . . .

Sporting their Santa Helper hats . . .

Singing Santa Songs. 

What a great day! 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Hey, That's my Name on TV

Josephine

Because a 6-year old and a nearly 5-year old know how
to turn on the TV by themselves and
they know that mommy usually watches the evening news . . .

Josie: Mommy my name was on TV-- Josephine.


Me: Yes, that is your first name.

Josie: but that is not me.

Me: No, honey, thankfully not.

At this point, I know Josie has heard bits and pieces that something bad has happened and that most of the adults in her life are talking about it in hushed whispers.

I decided it might be better to let her watch a little of
the news and talk about it than to quickly usher her out of the room as had been happening the last few days here and there.

Josie: Mommy, did those little kids die.

Me: Yes, honey.

Josie: Is that the kids' Daddy?

Me: Yes, he is the Daddy to one of the little girls.

Josie: Why is he crying?

Me: He is crying because he misses his little girl.

Josie: Are they in Heaven now?

Me: Yes, honey they are in Heaven, safe with Baby Jesus.

Josie: Are they Angels?

Me: Yes, they are Angels.

Me: I love you honey-pie.

Josie: I love you too Mommy. Can I have dessert now?

Me: Yes.

We watched the Christmas cartoon, "The Littlest Angel."

As with probably everyone in the country-- our hearts ache for these families.

It is Christmas and in the wake of this atrocity, I took the girls to a Christmas cookie party that had been planned for weeks.

We move forward with Christmas celebrations-- because what else can we do but to move forward, especially for our children who don't really understand--
but the ache is here and I cannot begin to imagine the magnitude of this type of pain.

Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

Monday, December 10, 2012

Trees, Houses, and a Drum roll PLEASE!

The day after Thanksgiving we kicked off
the Christmas Season with our annual pursuit of the perfect Christmas Tree.


Gabrielle made the mistake of trying choose a tree other than some type of "fir" tree
to which Wim clearly stated, "If we bring home that tree I am NOT coming home!"
Who knew I was married to such a Christmas Tree diva?

Pictured below-- Wim, Gabrielle, Josie and Clara Rose standing
in front of the seriously tall Balsam Fir Tree that Wim picked out.

For those who don't know my husband IRL, he is 6'4" and while
we do have a tall ceiling-- it isn't THAT tall.


With much trimming (as in cutting bottoms and tops)
We managed to set-up the chosen tree in our living room.

Only Wim could decorate the upper part of the tree--
while standing on a chair.

Because . . . the tree is soooo enormously tall!

:-D 

We all enjoyed a fun evening decorating our tree. 


Ah, yes-- He does exist!

No! I don't mean Santa--

Xavier! 



We've also been busy making our "candy" houses as
the girls like to call them.

The assembly part is also a bit stressful for me
but the decorating is loads of fun!

We bought some extra candy this year and
I think these are the best houses we've done yet!


They look good enough to EAT!

Lastly, and certainly not least--

The drum roll!

DRUM ROLL--

EVEN LOUDER!

We have another legal driver in our house!
Her official plastic license arrived in the mail Saturday, but
she took off before I could get the camera!

CONGRATULATIONS GABRIELLE!!!

Have a Cup'O Cheer

Ti's the busiest time of year!

Busy because there are so many fun events to choose from!

Last weekend me and the girls met some friends at a Winter Wonderland Park
for a fun Christmas themed stroll.
It is becoming a tradition with our friends.

There is the ginormous talking Snowman.

Kids can ask him a question or tell him what 
they would like from Santa and the Snowman talks back to them. 

There are hundreds of Christmas trees
decorated for memorials.

It is a fun night time walk! 


This weekend Josie, Clara Rose and I had a real adventure
aboard the Polar Express! 

At the train station we were able to meet and get pictures
with many people from the Polar Express.

The engineer.

A Reindeer! 

Aboard the train we heard the story while enjoying
hot cocoa yummy cookies! 

We sang Christmas songs and listened to silly/corny
Christmas jokes.

We met the train conductor. 

Even Santa was on the train and delivered
a jingle bell to every child on board! 

What a fun train ride and evening!

The next day we were off again to another Christmas Event--

A Santa's Workshop at our YMCA! 

There were lots of candy canes,
and crafts!

The girls made some Christmas dust for the yard-- we
will sprinkle it outside Christmas Eve to help the reindeer spot our house.

They made jingle bells. 


Enjoyed snowman cupcakes! 

Wrote letters to Santa! 

Josie putting her letter into Santa big mailing Boot.
 Clara Rose had her face painted with Rudolph!

We even met-up with some of our friends!

Friday, December 7, 2012

I Believe in Santa

As adults we often lose sight of Christmas or at least that magical feeling of Christmas we personally experienced as a child.

Perhaps this is just part of growing up.

OR
Maybe part of growing up is realizing that Santa can and will exist if we want him to.

Not just for our family and friends, but for everyone!

And

We, collectively, as a society, can make it happen—if we choose to.
How much have you spent on toys that will likely not be played with beyond 5 to 10 minutes?


How much have you spent on wrapping paper and bows . . .



that, while look nice, will add to our growing problem of pollution by filling the landfills?










How much have you spent on chocolate? Whoa—talk about a loaded question!
 How much have you spent helping out someone in your community who is not as fortunate as you this year?

There are lots of food banks, Toys for Tots, and below are a few charities that provide services to Women, children and or families in need. If you want to contribute to a charity nearer to your home, they are easy to find with a simple Google search.
This Christmas let's make a vow to believe in Santa-- the Santa that lives in each and every one of us. Maybe if we all give a little bit, everyone will be able to hear Santa’s sleigh bell.

 Children’s Friend
The children that we serve face a myriad of obstacles in their lives, including poverty, language barriers, lack of education, substance abuse, and difficulty accessing health care. Because of these obstacles, many of their parents have difficulty caring for them.
At Children's Friend, we support families and help them find the strength to overcome their hurdles. By creating safe and nurturing environments for children during the crucial early years, and by helping parents gain access to the resources, education, and support that they need, we can give children the foundation to help them live healthy and productive lives.

Foster Forward
Foster Forward’s mission is to empower lives impacted by foster care. We have an unwavering commitment to support children and youth, families, and the child welfare system as a whole, to grow, connect, improve, and move forward.

Foster Forward is a nationally and locally recognized leader committed to ensuring that all children and youth impacted by foster care have safe, healthy, and nurturing families. We continuously innovate to provide proven programs that engage natural supports and promote healthy development.

 My Sister’s Place
My Sisters' Place has been a safe haven for those who are suddenly forced into the streets due to domestic violence, eviction, unemployment or mental illness.
Through guidance and empowerment, My Sisters’ Place helps those who slip into homelessness transition to a future of self-reliance and permanent, safe housing.
Ending homelessness... Supporting independence... Transforming lives

One Simple Wish
One Simple Wish empowers you to brighten the lives of foster children and vulnerable youth one simple wish at a time. From shoes to toys to musical instruments and more, you can brighten a life right now.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

More Books

Here are a few more books to complement the month of November being national reading month as well as national adoption awareness month.


Read this one with a box or two of tissues nearby.

It is heartbreaking.
In this deeply moving and myth-shattering work, Ann Fessler brings out into the open for the first time the astonishing untold history of the million and a half women who surrendered children for adoption due to enormous family and social pressure in the decades before Roe v. Wade. An adoptee who was herself surrendered during those years and recently made contact with her mother, Ann Fessler brilliantly brings to life the voices of more than a hundred women, as well as the spirit of those times, allowing the women to tell their stories in gripping and intimate detail.


Wild Swans is one of my favorite books.
It chronicles three generations of Chinese women and I think provides
one with some insight to the History of life in China for women.

Blending the intimacy of memoir and the panoramic sweep of eyewitness history, Wild Swans has become a bestselling classic in thirty languages, with more than ten million copies sold. The story of three generations in twentieth-century China, it is an engrossing record of Mao's impact on China, an unusual window on the female experience in the modern world, and an inspiring tale of courage and love.

Jung Chang describes the life of her grandmother, a warlord's concubine; her mother's struggles as a young idealistic Communist; and her parents' experience as members of the Communist elite and their ordeal during the Cultural Revolution. Chang was a Red Guard briefly at the age of fourteen, then worked as a peasant, a "barefoot doctor," a steelworker, and an electrician. As the story of each generation unfolds, Chang captures in gripping, moving -- and ultimately uplifting -- detail the cycles of violent drama visited on her own family and millions of others caught in the whirlwind of history.