I just LOVE this time of year!

During our trip to New England last summer, Isabel was given several Barbie DVDs (Thanks, Livvy!). One of them was Barbie Nutcracker which Isabel quickly fell in love with! I knew then that her big Christmas/birthday gift would be to go see the Ballet in December. The decision was... when? We have several showings in our city and I really wanted her first experience at a ballet to be a wonderful experience. I spent quite a bit of time online looking and was finally able to get some great seats. (We were in the seventh row.)

When we went to the symphony for the first time in October, Isabel ended up falling asleep before it was over. So, I really didn't think she would hang in there for the whole dance performance but, much to my surprise, she did. I think having some friends along helped keep her interest. We went with two other girls from China and discovered some more friends were seated just a few rows behind us.

From the theater, we visited a dear friend's home for a nice Christmas party before heading out to see the annual Luminaries in a nearby neighborhood. We stopped by the live nativity scene and then took a ride in the horse-drawn carriage, singing carols. It was wonderful...even without snow!

I just love this time of year.

Bethlehem, Breakfast and Book Club

Last weekend was a busy weekend (although... when is any weekend NOT busy in December?) with a visit to an amazing re-enactment of the town of Bethlehem on Friday night, Breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning (Thanks, Melissa!), our annual FCC ornament exchange later that afternoon, and our December book club that night. A packed day... to say the least!

Soldiers Guarding the Entrance to Bethlehem

Breakfast with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Rudolph

Our Amazing Group of FCC Women

First Day of Chinese Lessons

Isabel had her first official Chinese lesson this morning. A mother from our local FCC group coordinated all the details to start a small group (six children) of 4- to 6-year-olds. It should be fun. (Another group of 5- to 7-year-olds started their lessons this past summer.)

I knew all of the other children through FCC and Isabel was already friends with two of the girls. It looks like the children are going to get along fabulously!

Moons and Balloons

What a great day! Headed out to a park near the beach to celebrate Friend Lucas' 5th Birthday. Yummy cupcakes, fun swings, colorful balloons and of course, the pinata.



We then headed out to another park that was actually on the beach to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with out local FCC group.



You couldn't ask for a better night. Everyone just brought blankets and picnic dinners and we relaxed while waiting for the Harvest Moon to rise over the horizon. Coming over the dunes, laced with sea oats, you could hear acoustic guitar playing in the background. The kids were scattered all over the beach competing in Moon Cake- (insert Moon Pie) eating contests, making lanterns, rolling eggs, hopping in three-legged races and of course, building sand castles.








As the evening drew on, someone put in a CD of Chinese instrumental music which played softly against the laughter and splashes of the kids who had, by that point, decided to jump in the water regardless of whether or not they had on a bathing suit. Looking back from the water in the growing dusk, the beach was dotted in tiny yellow lights of many lanterns.
Simply a glorious night.

New England Vacation

What a whirlwind of a trip this has been. We spent two days driving up the East Coast and met several fellow AP friends whom I've gotten to know through the adoption process: in New York we met fellow single moms Lorraine and MaryHelen, Jana who is mom to another Shangrao beauty named Gabriela, and then Sherry up in Vermont. The highlight was definitely the visit from Denise, Tasia and Emmi. With their arrival, Isabel and Emmi, her foster sister in China, were reunited.

It has not just been a trip about China sisters though... we have been fortunate to be able to spend time with family. Isabel has just LOVED being able to spend time with her cousins Tommy, Hailey and Bridget.(a.k.a The Didge.) I, too, was able to reconnect with my cousins on The Fourth of July with a visit to Cape Cod. I just loved catching up with Suzie and Stacy. And not to leave the other side of the family out... we were even able to spend some time with cousins Cheri, Arianna and Ian!

Best of all, after not seeing each other in over a year, Isabel and I were able to visit my mom. It was a wonderful day listening to them playing games and having tea. Isabel just loves her NaiNai and was so excited to have some one-on-one time with her.

Two more days before we head back to Florida. We head up to Maine tomorrow and then Boston on Wednesday to visit two friends from my college days at Northeastern. We will begin the drive home on Thursday which will mark the close of a wonderful vacation with great family and friends.

Dinner for Fifty...Oh, And Separate Checks, Please!

I am so grateful to live in a city where there is a wonderful FCC community. Not only do we have annual events like Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival and Autumn Moon Festival, we also have monthly activities. While the moms like to get together for our book club we also have play dates and dinners where our girls can spend time with each other.

Tonight was our June FCC dinner and there was a great turn out. I was able to meet some new folks and the kids had fun playing with each other and making some crafts. When I walked out to the car, I was shocked to see that over three hours had passed. How thankful I am that Isabel will be able to grow up with these Sisters from China and have a support system in place as she travels through the journey to adulthood.

Water Day

Each Friday throughout the summer, Isabel's school has Water Day. The kids wear bathing suits, bring in beach towels and sunglasses and have a blast.






Though right on the river, there is no actual pool. Sooo, the kids have a blast running around in all sorts of sprinklers, filling up buckets and little plastic pools.



I cracked up when I saw all the little girls' towels lines up nice and neat. (It reminded me of trying to find a place in the sand for my towel as a teenager. The only thing missing was the obligatory smell of Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion.)

The boys' towels, on the other hand, were dropped all over the place in drippy wet piles. Hmmm... I seem to remember something like that from my former marriage.

The fun continued on into the evening with a pizza-pool party with an outdoor movie at our friend Melissa's house.











The girls all got together and played first...








and then after pizza, everyone headed for the pool.















Hot tub with friends.





Little Miss Twinkles just loves the water and starts swimming lessons on Monday.
As nightfall approached, the movie began. Watching Finding Nemo while floating in a pool on a blow-up dolphin... it doesn't get much better than that.

June Book Club

FCC Book Club. Another night of great laughter, good wine and wonderful friends.. with three (daringly courageous) newbies that joined us. The book was funny and wickedly poignant.

April Book Club

Vini, Vendi, Urini
(We came, we conquered, we peed our pants...from laughing!)



I was lucky enough to host this month's book club. As always, a fun night filled with intelligent conversation that descends into copious amount of laughter, preceeded by copious amounts of wine. (Anyone else seeing a connection there?)
It was such beautiful weather, I decided to have us start out the evening in the back yard at the pergola and then move in later on for the book discussion. As dusk approached, I asked if folks wanted to move in or stay where they were. Everyone wanted to stay put. The breeze was just glorious. I brought out candles and we laughed until very late. The running joke of the evening had to do with seating. I was expecting about 10 gals. Fifteen showed up. When we ended up spending the evening outside, we brought out my dining room chairs. Those, in addition to the other chairs and swing outside provided a seat for everyone... but one. I sat on the edge of the deck until my bottom was numb, at which point I brought out one of Isabel's little white chairs... as in... toddler-sized. As soon as the first person left to go to the bathroom, I jumped up and took their chair. This "Musical Chairs" ensued for the rest of the night, leaving many a gal making serious decisions about whether to remain in her current spot (and face a U.T.I.) or go for relief and be stuck with the WHITE chair. That chair never saw so much action in its two years at my house.