Sarah's Serenade

Sarah sang me a little number for my 39th birthday on March 26th...American Idol watch out!

March 19, 2009- Happy 3rd Gotcha Day

Three years ago our lives forever changed when we followed our "Red Thread" to China. Crammed in a room with 9 other families, who we now call our "extended" Gao Shao Sister Family- we waited anxiously for our names to be called. Before we knew it, a sweet cherub of a child named Gao Shao Xin was placed in our arms.

Fast foward to today. That sweaty little over-dressed and over-layered baby in Guangzhou has grown into our very independant, spunky, smart and beautiful 3 1/2 year old Sarah. She has brought a lot of joy to our lives and for that we will be forever grateful to her China Mommy (as we call her) for making that ultimate sacrifice for her newborn baby. Although the circumstances are unknown to us, we can only hope she had the best intentions and wanted a better life for her daughter. We hope we have, and will continue to provide -that happy life she had hoped for.

Sarah is a great big sister to Sophie and a great helper aroud the house. She is too smart for her own good, and can be challenging at times when faced with a situation she does not like (e.g. bedtime, dinnertime, etc) In school she excels and in ballet she is an absolute princess. While not exactly an American Idol yet, she can belt out a tune like nobody's business. She is entertaining at the very least.

To begin our 3rd Gotcha Day, Sarah awoke singing "Happy Gotcha Day to Me" which was so cute. After school, Sarah, Sophie and I went to Payless to pick up some Spring shoes. Afterwards, we were off to McDs for some dinner and a romp in the playarea. Daddy got stuck working super-late so he could not participate in the fun (no new shoes for daddy) Maybe we can plan a little something extra this weekend.

I will post pictures at a later time. I just wanted to make sure I posted a note to commemorate our special day! Mommy & Daddy love you to pieces!!

Sarah Preps for Opening Day

For Kris who has been going through Pickles&Pickcheas withdrawal.

Hope this brings a smile to your face. We miss you guys!!

Chickpeas '08 Pics

Here are the girls' school pics from this year. I know- they are dressed exactly alike....but aren't they just the cutest?

Sadly, both Sarah & Sophie will be leaving Chickpeas Daycare. As of Jan 5th, Sarah is starting Footprints Montessori School and Sophie is staying home with Wendy the babysitter, Chris and some temporary fill-ins when I go back to my 4-day, 10-hour a day schedule.

Thanksgiving Eve Thoughts

The table is set, the turkey is brining & oven is self-cleaning. The girls are in bed and Chris is at work- hopefully heading back home soon. I am sipping my hard cider and relaxing- tallying up all I have to be thankful for.

I am thankful for a wonderful husband who loves me even when I am a psycho wife from hell. I know there are days that I am only moments away from being chopped-up and buried in the backyard, but for some reason I live on. Chris, although slightly flawed himself is also loving, forgiving, patient and amazingly funny. He is a great guy who is an amazing dad. There is nothing more sexier than a guy who loves his family!

I am thankful for my Sarah- who at three and a half has taught me so much. She is charming, beautiful, funny and smart. She is a great big sister, a fabulous helper- and she is getting to be a fantastic sock pairer-upper, washcloth folder and laundry sorter. She has her daddy’s quirky ways- she likes to sing and dance and wrestle and can be wacky and crazy and silly. She makes me laugh. She is also slightly obsessive-compulsive like her mommy, as well as fashionably aware of what matches and how to accessorize her outfits.

And then there is Sophie who is only days away from being one. She is our last year’s pleasant surprise-arrival who had grown in a flash. Our blond haired, blue eyes baby girl is walking, clapping and dancing. Momma, Dadda, cheese, and Sarah (Rah-Rah) are a few of her latest vocabulary words. She loves her big sister and is quite fond of her daddy too. Like her sister Sarah, she loves to disrobe down to her birthday suit and run around the house. I didn’t intend to raise a bunch of strippers, but if that what it takes to pay their way through med school- then go for it!

I am also thankful for the rest of my family and friends, both in-laws and out-laws who always support us no matter what. I am grateful that they are all happy and healthy and on the mend from whatever had ailed them this past year.

I am thankful that my guy won this past November and I am hopeful that with a new regime in the White House things will start to improve. Fully aware that our current state of affairs will not change overnight, I am optimistic that our nation is on its way to recovery. I am hoping our fiscal situation will improve, that our troops will return home safe and soon, and that whether we are black or white, Democrat or Republican- we will all learn to just get along!!

Oh- also thankful for the DVR which is recording “Criminal Minds” while I post to my blog….

The Week in Review

To be brief (and without photos) here a few tidbits of information about our week:

Friday: Chris finally got his car back from the shop. Anne-Marie rejoiced, as she might actually get to venture out of the house this weekend.

Thursday: Anne-Marie got word that she is traveling to NC Mon-Wed of next week. Looking forward to the trip, but will miss my girls and my main squeeze.

Wednesday: Chris took the Sophmeister to the Dr. Baby girl had an ear infection- which explains the blood-curdling screams she had perfected these past days.

Tuesday: Barack Obama was elected our 44th president and the Manasier's of Warwick are hopeful as they look ahead to the next 4 years. Anne-Marie highlighted her hair with garnet- she is so hip!

Monday: Is it terrible to say I completely forget what we did Monday?? Hmmm, must be the mad cow (a la Denny Crane)

Cheers!

Election Day 2008

Well today is Election Day. People all over the US are lining up at local schools, firehouses and other polling places ready to place their votes. Regardless of party preference, today will prove to be one of the most historic U.S. elections. Barack Obama could become the nation's first African-American president. John McCain could become the oldest president elected to a first term and Sarah Palin, could become the first woman vice president. Early voters last week waited in lines for several hours, and already today the news has reported longer than normal waits. Apparently people are excited about this election and are hoping for the change this country most desperately needs. Although I have heard a few people shrug off this election as not having anyone worthwhile to vote for, (Obama’s lack of experience or McCain’s age) I have spoken to several more who are as excited and pumped for this election as a child on Christmas morning.

Chris and I took the girls with us today to place our vote. As always we commemorated the day with a few photos. Although Sophie and Sarah are too young to grasp the significance of the voting process, Sarah is at least aware its Election Day and knows who the key players are. While we were in the booth this morning, Sarah reminded me of who we were voting for (Obama) and Sophie helped me pull back the handle to open the curtain. I was glad they were able to be active participants in this historic day.

By this time tomorrow we will have a new President-Elect. I am pretty certain our guy is going to win and I am psyched!