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!

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.

http://www.cfsri.org/

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.

http://www.rifpa.org/about/

 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

http://www.sistersplacect.org/

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.

http://www.onesimplewish.org/

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.

Josie's Big Birthday Bash

Josie asked for a specific party place because

she wanted to climb this mechanical rock wall

for her 6th Birthday.

Climb it she did!

Look at ther go! 

Many of her friends came to celebrate

her party-- including a two boys from her class. 

There was lots to do from fort building,

to giant doll-houses. . . 

Bouncy House . . .

mini-basketball,

ping-pong,

Wipeout on Xbox,

more fort building 

Soon it was time to line up and head to

the next party room. 

The big birthday cake featuring . . .

(at the request of the birthday girl who

did want to actually see the cake ahead of time)

Josie and Clara Rose in a heart

with

Sponge Bob, Patrick and Gary

Blowing out candles

(Clara Rose is totaly tired of Josie's birthday)

Next it was present time. 

Clara Rose got a little emotional and

received som much needed love from Daddy.

Josie was thrilled with all her presents. 

At the end of it all, Josie handed out party favors

to all her guests and thanked them for coming to her party. 

Relaxing at home in a new Birthday house-coat while

decorating her Birthday purse. 

It was good weekend and Josie had a lot of fun.

I think the best part for me was on the drive home after her big party--

Josie new Clara Rose was feeling sad that it wasn't her party--

Josie said to Clara Rose, "Clara Rose, do you know the best part of my birthday?"

"Having my little sister next to me all day!"

Clara Rose beamed the rest of the night while she played

with some of Josie's new toys.

Bye-Bye Five

Last Weekend was the momentous occasion of Josie turning 6-years old!

The birthday-girl her first morning as a 6-year old!

Josie opted to wait until the evening after dinner to open her presents.

We made a truckload of cupcakes and brought them to the

China Cares playgroup in the afternoon.

It was a fun afternoon and all of Josie's China Care friends

sang Happy Birthday to her. 

Josie with her China Care friend.

At the request of the birthday-girl, we had breakfast for dinner--

pile on the bacon!

Don't forget the ketchup! 

Next it was time for a few presents!

Josie was all smiles opening her gifts. 

Clara Rose was happy to get her Consolation

"Boo-hoo, it is your sister's birthday and not yours," present. 

Breakfast for dinne?

What better to follow that than a delicious doughnut cake?

After flying high from a sugary high . ..

everyone crashed for some cartoons. 

We See the Moon

For any parents through adoption who find it difficult to talk with your children about

adoption or who aren't sure how to begin discussions with your child(ren) so they know it is OK for them to ask questions and express their feelings, you may want to consider reviewing this book.

An elegant and evocative book for adopted children to open the birthparent and adoption dialog between parent and child.

Many adult adoptees have gone through life wanting to ask questions about their birthparents, but felt the thoughts they have might make their parents uncomfortable. Then, these questions have remained unasked and unanswered. "We See the Moon" opens the adoption dialog at an early age by allowing the questions in your child's heart to be asked and discussed, creating the foundation for conversations to come.

This is a story written from the child's perspective, asking the questions that dwell in their hearts about their birthparents...What do you look like? Where are you now? Do you think of me? It will help children use the moon as a private tool to connect with a family that is always with them in their hearts.

China Care Olympics

The girls had a fun event this past weekend with the University's China Care Program.

I think I have mentioned before that the China Care Program is a non-profit

organization that raises funds to pay for surgeries needed by orphans in China who will otherwise not likely recieve the surgery needed.

The organization is largely made up of college chapters who also provide mentors

to children adopted from China.

This weekend the Chapter we participate with held an

Olympic themed fundraiser.

Josie and Clara Rose with their friends Carly and Claire.

There were lots of games to play with small prizes. 

There were a few different shows throughout the afternoon. 

Clara Rose and her friend Grace giving it

their all in a leap frog race. 

A Lion Dance Performance. 

After the Lion Dance Show, the kids were invited

to get a closer look at some of

the Lion Costumes.

The "Baby Purple" Lion is a huge fave! 

Look at that cute baby Lion Dancer! 

Clara Rose was one thrilled little girl! 

It was a fun afternoon for everyone!