Happy New Year!

Thanks to Grammy Carol for the lovely Christmas gifts received, the kids just loved them:

Jacob checking out the 1st Christmas photo album.

Zach discovering the world of Narnia, in the form of a pop up book (that is the most beautiful pop up book I have ever seen!)

Tristan explaining what sound a mammoth makes.

Kaitlynn twirling around with her purple *yes, that's right... purple* too-too (how do you spell that anyways?)

One of the scenes from the Narnia book.

The Lion from Narnia.

The 1st Christmas photobook that Grammy Carol put together... just lovely, especially with the ladybug paper!

If you are wondering if the kids are all wearing the same t-shirt, they are. They got their gift from Uncle Mark, who works for Disney Animation Studio, and the t-shirts are from this studio (they have Mickey on it, which just made everyone's day).

It has come to my attention that people I didn't expect to be reading my blog have been... I am honored and touched that these people enjoy this glimpse into our lives. So I am going to make an effort to keep posting at least every two days... oh my, this looks and smells like a New Years resolution doesn't ? Damn, and I don't particular like resolutions..... Some days I run out of things to write, and other days I have so much to say that its hard to limit things to one post. I will try to find a happy medium by posting every other day.

I wish you all the best for the New Year. I am hoping for a quiet year, to be honest... what are you wishing for?

I am such a twit sometimes

I just now am going through all the stuff from China, and I finally got around to developing the camera that the orphanage used to take pics of Kaitlynn. Here they are!

The K striking a pose. Those pants and shoes are the ones
she was wearing when we met her.

I want to go over there, the light is better.

Fong Fong, Kaitlynn, Samuel (I think).

Ring around the rosy.

Kaitlynn with Fong Fong,
the other girl that we met at the same time as K,
and Samuel.

K and the boys, I think the one on the far right is Samuel.

This is the nanny that we met on Gotcha day.

Kaitlynn wearing one of the outfits I sent, with friends including Samuel.
It was too short!

Merry Christmas!

This would have been the best Christmas on record, if it weren't for the skunk that is presently in our driveway fixing on passing away there and the TV going wonky on its horizontal hold. Here are some choice pics from the fun. Merry Christmas everyone!

Getting Santa's plate ready.

Everyone get on the train to go to bed, Santa is coming!

Boys being boys... playing the modern day version of marbles, with Bakugans.

Opening up my first Christmas present - Minnie!

Diego rocks!

Taking a Nintendo break

Welcome to the annual Christmas day Garage League... literally. Don't believe me, look at the next picture.

The game was won by one goal, but one important player was missing
- Grammy Carol as goalie was not able to make the game!

Jacob talking on the phone to Grandmaman and Grandpapa Hammel, all the way out in S'toon.

All dressed up for Christmas dinner.

...but first I have to play with my brothers' hockey cards.

Daddy and me, after dinner.

Ruff.

Ode to a beater

It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the passing of my Black and Decker beater. This was no ordinary beater, this was a member of our family for so many years. I remember when we first met, thanks to my Mom, who was convinced I would need you before I left for University way back in 1985. Through the years you put up with so much - at times, being left in your cupboard, ignored but not forgotten, then being overworked around Christmas time every year. This year was our best year together. You did so much for your family of 6, even though the years were starting to show. Your tines were bent, your white exterior was looking a little yellow, you would overheat a bit when you worked too hard, you would pant a bit in between sessions of baking and mixing. This is all to be expected from one who is getting on in years.

As all good things, it is your time to official rest where ever it is Black and Decker beaters go. There will only be one like you, you can never be replaced - they just don't make them like they used too. This is how I would like to remember you, hard at work and enjoying yourself. Rest in peace my friend of so many years.

Good news... kind of

First off, recipes will come in a next post - I'm glad you are all impressed!

I wanted to jot down a quick note to let you all know that that damn satellite that I have been blasting for months has finally launched successfully. DH is working night shifts this week, which sucks but the good news is that he should be off on parental leave for a month as of tomorrow morning after his last shift. I nearly cried when he got home this morning and told me this... I am swearing at him under my breath now since I have a stress knot in my shoulders from taking care of the 4 kids all by myself this morning, again,... but if this is the last morning of this craziness, then I won't swear too much. This is quite amazing, especially considering a vast majority of the people he works with will be working over the holidays to get this bird working properly.

Also, I had the most amazing and pleasant day yesterday in spite of being alone with 4 kids and having to get downtown to the Children's, after 5 cms of snow fell, for 10 am. I was convinced that I would never make it on time especially considering the Victoria bridge was backed up for at least 30 minutes (or maybe longer... didn't hang around to find out, I went to the Jacques Cartier instead, after waiting 10 minutes or so), the fact that the truck is so big and hard to park (thank doG for a lovely parking attendant who parked it for me!), and that I needed to get a hospital card before heading upstairs (I get the number 40, and they are at number 3! Mistake, then took me right away). Now, on to the wonderful part: as I am trying to find the room number 1126 for K's Cleft Clinic appointment, I turn a corner and who should I see? A smiling Leanne with Tao Tao in tow! I wanted to weep... a happy adult face who looked just as surprised as I did. So we quickly made plans to meet after the appointment, for coffee. We spent I don't know how long in McDonald's talking and feeding the kids, but it was just lovely. I dropped them off at their house, and got to meet Gretchen (Hi puppy!) and I got cookies to boot! Then it was off to Colette's, and I got to meet her littlest angel who is just happy as can be. I tell you, I couldn't have planned this day it just needed to happen the way it did and I simply loved every minute of it.

I can hear my Mom sending me mental vibes.. "but what about the doctor's appointment?" K is just fine, she has "just" a regular cleft without any associated syndromes. She will need surgery asap to close the palate, but we need to go to ENT first and get her hearing evaluated to see if she needs tubes. She is speaking a lot, so I suspect her hearing is just fine (we have probably about 15 words in french now: auto, camion, pieton, velo, NO, Oui, Encore du lait, salle de jeux, Zachary, Jacob, Zorro, Maman, Papa, Leanne, Tao Tao, beau chien Zorro... ummm, I think there is more, but you get the picture). I think we are looking at March or April time frame, depending on the plastic surgeons availability. K will stay in the hospital for 2 or 3 days to recover too (I thought it was done on a day surgery basis, but its not). Then soft and mushy food for a bit - the doctor described it as getting your tonsils out, nothing more than that... to which I cringed at remembering Tristan vomiting and screaming in terrible pain for days on end (Thank doG for Nintendo... the only thing that kept him distracted completely from the pain... now what do I do for a 2.5 year old?). Hopefully, K isn't sensitive like Tristan is.

So what do you do when you are sick?

This is what I do when I am sick - fever, cold, sore throat... yes, the whole kit:

Butter cookies, chocolate hearts, mice, butter cookies dipped in chocolate and more mice.

Close up of mice and butter cookies dipped in chocolate.

Mice close up.

Chocolate hearts.

Yes, I know, completely mental... but boy are they good!

Christmas tag

So I've been tagged by brn2scrp, so here goes (keep in mind I am sick and delusional, so I can't be held responsible for weird answers... more on my sickies later):

01. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Santa Sacks - this dates from my mother, so we are going back at least 30 years here before recycling was fashionable. I still have some of the original bags she would use.

02. Real or artificial tree?
Real baby.

03. When do you put up the tree?
whenever we have time. This year it was after our Christmas party with other adoptive families but I have been known to put it up on Dec 23-24th.

04. When do you take the tree down?
When I can't stand the needles everywhere.

05. Do you like eggnog?
Love it... especially the new creamy one from President's Choice with some spicy rum.

06. Favorite gift received as a child?
Our family grandfather clock - weird, I know, but it was the center piece of our household.

07. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes... somewhere... not very safe to put it out cause its made of porcelain.

08. Hardest person to buy for?
My Dad was always the hardest to buy for, hands down.

09. Easiest person to buy for?
Me... no the kids I guess.

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received?
Oh god... all right... here goes: I came home from university for Christmas, and saw a big huge box under the tree. I was so convinced it was the computer I had been begging for, I nearly went into shock when I opened the box and found... a desk lamp. The letdown was hard to hide, cause my parents were so proud and happy about the lamp. I still have the lamp today - its got my alumn crest on it. I doubt I would still have the computer.

11. Mail or Email Cards?
Hmmmm... whatever is easier for those sending cards. I just want one, regardless of how it comes.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Rudolf the rednose reindeer... yup, the old one made with clay animation. That abominable snowman still scares me to this day.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
September-ish, after school supplies and the like are done.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
ummm... don't think so.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Chocolate mice, shortbread cookies, turkey and cranberries.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
The Muppets Christmas cd... I kid you not, it wouldn't be Christmas without Kermit and Piggy fighting over Figgie pudding.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home!

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer?
Let's see, there's Dasher, Dancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitsen. I do recall the most famous reindeer of all. Am I close?

20. Do you have an Angel on top of the tree or a star?
Nope... won't fit this year, so its a series of bows.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas day, if we have the older boys. Otherwise Christmas is celebrated the 23rd, if the older boys are with their father.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The rampant commercialism - in China, were they don't celebrate Christmas, they were putting up decorations and playing Christmas music everywhere. Why? I haven't a clue... but that was my clue to the power of commercialization.

I'm tagging Doris for this one. Now, off to do homework!

Christmas Party

Thanks to Karen for organizing, and to all her elves! The Kids, at various times, had a great time. Mom and Dad are quite done for the day...

Tristan with Santa

Zach with Santa

Jacob, as elf number 2 3/4!

Kaitlynn, as elf 2 1/2

At the beginning of the festivities

NO!

5 minutes till Dodo, Kaitlynn. ..... No!
Yes, Kaitlynn, 5 minutes till Dodo. ... No!

Kaitlynn, time for Dodo..... No!
Yes, come on sweetheart. ... No!

Nothing more beautiful to hear than a 2 year old saying No to me.

Oh, and did I mention that the dog that she was absolutely terrified of is now her best friend, to the point that she is feeding him from her hand her breakfast cereal? We have created a monster!

Its been a month!

Today, it is exactly 1 month since we met Kaitlynn. How far we have come since that day, when she was so strong, grieving and so scared. She is a little under the weather with a nice little cold today, but she is still full of energy and silliness, as any 2 year old should be.

Here she is, first time in my arms at the Hotel on Nov 5:




And here she is goofing around with Jacob:


Can you see the difference? Look in her eyes, she is another child now.

Eureka!

Nothing more needs to be said:


(Thanks to my Mom for outlining how to get this doggy integration to work... slowly!)