Merry Christmas!!

Miss Mas, everyone! (That's how Emily pronounces "Merry Christmas". ("Lis Na" is "Feliz Navidad".) We had a great Christmas and hope y'all did, too. The morning started with Emily shouting "DADDEEE, MISS MAS!!" into her monitor (with Mommy's coaching), which woke Daddy right up with a big, happy smile on his face. We gathered around the Christmas tree as a family, and had a great time. Later, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Lee's house for a second celebration.

Grami Frani is visiting from Pennsylvania, and she can't believe how much Emily has changed since September. Emily loves everything about Christmas--the good cheer, the colors, the lights, the gift giving, the friends, the family gatherings, and more. We watched Wiggles Christmas videos way too many times. She "helped" Mommy make biscotti for friends and family, although a lot of the batter ended up on the floor and the cookies in her mouth! We introduced Grami to "A Christmas Story", and now Grami is hooked, too!

Emily enjoyed distributing gifts, and then opening hers and everyone else's. Here's a slideshow of her having a ball at home, and at Grandma and Grandpa Lee's house.

We bought her Wiggles light up sneakers and a Wiggles nightie, which she pretty much wore most of the day! Now Emily refers to every day as a "Wee Wee party". Here are photos:

Emily made Daddy an especially nice gift, on account of he's such a great daddy. Here's the poem:



Thanks especially to the Besko Family, Uncle Johnnie Gardocki, The Siglar Family, the Mecca Family, Brent and Margo Baldwin, Jack and Susi Ruland, and the Zelinski Family for their kind gifts.

Special Greetings

In the midst of all the merriment, we'd like to say a special hi and send our love to Uncle Bobby, Grandma Lee's only brother. Uncle Bobby suffered a stroke and is struggling with that and Parkinsons Disease, while in a nursing home. He's never met Emily, but knows all about her. Grandma Lee is having a hard time with her brother's illness, and we want her to know we love her and are here for her.

Love also to Aunt Fran (Wagner), who's spending the holidays recuperating from a broken leg and facing more surgery. She has a great attitude, and a lot of patience. She needed it, 'cause Emily visited her in the rehab facility and nearly knocked a life size Santa doll over, pulled packages out from under Christmas trees, bounced ornaments off the floor, and tried to push Aunt Fran's wheelchair out of the room (with Aunt Fran in it), all while being chased by Mommy and Grandma Lee!

Update on Madeleine

Not much, sorry. Our wait time is currently estimated at 14-16 months from the time our paperwork landed in China on 9/12/06. We're 3.5 months into a loooong wait for "mei mei" (little sister). But we're happy, healthy, and a family, so we're good with that. Madeleine will be the icing on an already delicious cake. :)

Take care everyone,

Caroline

I Elfed Myself!!

This website is just great for the kids! Click here!

Here's my cousin Elizabeth

Here's my friend Summer

Also, this is just hilarious:

Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
   
   
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
   
   
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
   
   
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
   
   
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
   
   
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
   
   
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
   
   
8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
   
   
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, CHAMPAGE in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!"

Happy Holidays!! : )

More Holiday Stuff

Hi all,

We've been really busy this holiday! I really like looking at the Christmas decorations in our neighborhood, so Mommy and Daddy walk Mia and me around each night. Can't beat those blowup Santas.

Speaking of Santa--I think he's cool! Mommy and her friend Kathy planned this year's Families with Asian Children holiday party, and we had FUN!! Santa came and gave us gifts, I hogged the microphone during Kiddie Karaoke, and we all made Santa hats. Take a look...

Mommy says to tell you, she was in the kitchen when I grabbed the karaoke mike. She heard a toddler trying to sing and thought, "hmmm, that sounds like Emily". Parents pulled her out of the kitchen to see me, and she yelled excitedly, "That's MY DAUGHTER!!!" to the crowd. The audience cracked up. And then, well, I wouldn't share the mike, so Daddy gently pulled me off stage while I yelled and fought for my mike. And that was my 2 minutes of fame.

Ok, so here are pictures of my Scranton family at Thanksgiving. It's a really big event at Grami Frani's house, with dozens of people. We missed it this year, 'cause we have to pay for my baby sister, instead.

Other Neat Stuff

So let's see, we're donating money to my orphanage for Christmas. We sent a Christmas card to my orphanage in China, and to The Wiggles in Australia! I thanked the Wiggles for being so great and made a crayon drawing for them, using all 4 Wiggles colors (red, blue, yellow and purple).

I got weighed at the post office by Miss Vicki the postmistress--I'm 24 1/2 pounds! I drove Mommy crazy by running everywhere. People actually help her through doors now because I wiggle like crazy! And hey, I peed on the potty!!! Mommy jumped up and down and yelled, then called Daddy at work and he yelled, then Mommy emailed everyone and they yelled, and you'd think it was my birthday or something! Look for the picture of me with my two stickers on my cheeks. It was a fun night.

So just when Mommy and Daddy thought potty trained would be easy...in the middle of the night I took off my clothes and diaper...and it was bye bye mattress, and thanks to Uncle Dave for delivering us a new one right away! (Buy your bedding at Beds Beds Beds in Melbourne. Uncle Dave is crazy but honest. He didn't ask us to tell you.)

That's all that's new. Mommy's on a roll with pictures, so let's hope she updates again, soon!

Love,

Emily

Too Funny Christmas Stuff

Here's the Christmas train at the local library, followed by some funny Christmas stuff! Enjoy.

Xmas Carols for the Disturbed:

1. Schizophrenia -- Do You Hear What I Hear?

2. Multiple Personality Disorder -- We Three Kings Disoriented Are.

3. Dementia -- I Think I'll Be Home for Christmas

4. Narcissistic -- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

5. Manic -- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and...

6. Paranoid -- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

7. Borderline Personality Disorder --Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

8. Personality Disorder --You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why

9. Attention Deficit Disorder -- Silent Night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy-can I have a chocolate? Why is France so far away?

10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells......

And here's one for the kids:

1. Click here

2. Type in your name

3. Be patient and wait for a second

November Update

Fun at Thanksgiving

Here's Emily playing with Papa and Rea. Papa tried to steal her ice cream, and Emily held her palm up and said, "no, Papa". Then she faked sleeping so Papa would leave her alone. Too funny! There's also a shot of an incredibly delicious, sinfully rich pumpkin cheesecake. Kevin couldn't finish his slice, which means it was REALLY rich!

Sad Note About the Wiggles

Sad, but true, Greg, the Yellow Wiggle, had to retire from The Wiggles at age 34. He was passing out while performing. His heart doesn't pump blood properly, poor guy. We'll miss him! :(

Life and Good Friends

Emily's speech therapy is going great!! She now says 2-word sentences regularly, and will try and read books to us, or tell us stories about her day. It takes careful listening, but we can usually make out what she's trying to say. One night she tried to sing "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" to me, and couldn't remember some of the words, so she'd stop and giggle as if she was embarassed, then she'd try again. It was just adorable.

Emily is just getting interested in her Asian doll, so we call it "Maddie" (for Madeleine), and she does "Row Row Row Your Boat" with her and puts her in time out in the laundry room.

Here's a tribute to Emily and her buddy, Summer! The girls loved playing in Summer's toddler bed. They also enjoyed their first trip together to a wildlife refuge. They've been to see Elmo in Sesame Street Live, danced together at music in the park, attend storytime at the library together, and more. They're just having a ball!

Ok, and here's Emily doing one of her favorite things...sticking Play Doh over her nose. Dunno why, but hey, she's a toddler. Must be some kind of inside toddler joke!

Take care,

Caroline