Great Christmas Link from my 2007 Family Party

Hi all,

Thanks to Dan and Doris..they made a great little video of our family party this year.
Thanks! I thought I would share.

http://www.youtube.com:80/greeting_view?s=jm9oVIg0rHI&p=953DF8F9A7BF0A5F

Christmas is almost here!

Hi all,

Well Christmas is only 11 days away and everything is starting to come together. The festivites will be at our house this year. Nancy and her family,Jason and Dee, Anne and Brianna, Doreen and Faith and Mia will be coming over to celebrate. It will be nice to get everyone together. I wish the family visits were more frequent but I know everyone is very busy with life.

We are happy to hear that Dee is feeling better as she just had her gall bladder out. Glad to hear you are doing well Dee.

I am happy to report that I am almost done shopping and I can feel the stress level starting to drop. I finish up with work on Thursday and then I am off until Jan 2. The kids are off until Jan 7th or 8th I beleive and so is James. So lucky they have those extra days.

We are all looking forward to our visit to Upper Canada Village next week..check out their site.it looks amazing http://www.uppercanadavillage.com/night.htm

I can't beleive it is almost here already. It is indeed one of my favorite holidays of the year.

We had my Christmas party for my friends and families that I have met through Formons Une Famille. They are a wonderful bunch of people and over the years we have created a wonderful connection for ourselves as well as our kids. We had music,games, Santa came to visit, craft making and many door prizes. That party is indeed one of my favorites as we all come together and enjoy the afternoon together. To see all the angels who have joined their families this year is just a wonderful thing. To see all the kids so happy, growing and turning into toddlers and heading to the teen age years is something I have been blessed to be a part of. It gives me a lump in my throat to stand there and see them all.

So this coming week everyone has their little parties at daycare and school, work wraps up and then we count down til the big day. We open our gifts normally Christmas morning. Presley has really gotten into the holidays and loves Santa. She loves singing Santa Claus is coming to town and has no idea what is going to happen Christmas day...it will be a zoo...but that is what Christmas is all about. FAMILY.

To all our friends and our families who read our blog...we would like to wish you all a wonderful and safe Christmas and may 2008 be filled with health, peace and lots of love and laughter.

May 2008 bring more children home to their families who are waiting ever so patiently. Every child deserves to have love and a family to call their own.

We send our love to you all. Happy Holidays!!!

Karen, James, Kennedy, Madison, Colby, Jagger, Jaden, Presley, Piper & Bailey.

The family is growing once more...

So are you saying to yourself...what another baby? Nope not one but 2...here they are...introducing Piper and Bailey. They will be coming home December 7th....we are so excited.

The kids are just so thrilled and are counting the days!! We hit Walmart today for litter and kitty food and all the accessories, cute little collars with little bells..one red for Piper(black one) and one purple for Bailey(grey one).

Just in time for Christmas and our 9 foot Christmas tree...Happy climbing kitties.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Hi all,

Well this time last year as we put our Christmas tree up we were happy but in our hearts we were saddened as we knew that we would not have Presley home for the holidays as we were hoping. We originally thought that she would be home in October..and for whatever reason which we will never know...I guess it was just not the right time...when Christmas finally came we missed her not being there. We put an ornament on the tree with her picture on it as we have those ornaments for all our children. Even though she wasn't physically going to be home with us...she was in our hearts and was a part of our family.

This weekend we put up the tree and it was sooo wonderful to hand Presley that ornament and tell her to put it on the tree...she looked at the picture and said that is me. James was saying what a big difference there is in Presely since than. She has come a long way in the 8 months since she has been home. Glad this year we were all together to start the decorating in our home.I love Christmas, the beauty of all the lights, the excitement of the kids, the music, the smells of turkey and stuffing and I could go on and on.

Here she is....

Here you can see Kennedy and Madison giving ole Frosty a wet one..LOL Pucker up Frosty!

School Pictures for 2007 are in.....check em out!

Kennedy (Grade 6-Graduation Year)

What a bunch of coconuts! But I love em!

Madison (Grade 4)

Jagger (Grade 2)

Colby (Grade 1)

Jon we are coming!!!! You are no longer lost on that highway..

What a performer......I AM GOING TO BON JOVI....
I caved in and spent a little more than if I would have bought 2 tickets and waited in line...but good ole ebay came through and I am going to see Jon and the band. We are going Thursday, November 15th.....It has been a few years since I have been to a concert. I have seen Bon Jovi before and I know me and James are in for a real treat...Now to find a sitter...any offers? We are sitting in section 119 facing directly in front of the stage. Now I have to learn all the words to their new CD which James bought me a couple of weeks ago...Gonna make a memory that night!

I am going to Bon Jovi...Yah! I am going to Bon Jovi...sing it with me.

Adoption - Jen and Family

Adoption - A Korean Adoptee Thinks She's White

Adoption - The Exotification of Asian Women

Again take a listen...

Adoption - An Adoptee Talks about Intl Adoption

Interesting!

Adoption - An Adoptee on her Mom's Perspective

Check it out!

A couple more Halloween pics!

Here she is before hitting the streets for candy. She is a chocolate fiend so Halloween was easy for her to take.

She took everything in stride..

I love my little pumpkin!

Karen

Trick or Treat Smell my feet!!!!

Well it was a successfull Trick or Treat this year. It was Presley's first time out and we didn't know what to expect. She did great as she squealed with delight as she ran up each driveway with her pillow case in her hand. All the kids had a blast as we went from house to house. Here are a few pictures of them. Kennedy was a cat this year, Madison a dead rock star(looked like Alice Cooper), Jagger was a Ninja, Colby was a pirate, Jaden was a ladybug and Presley was a pumpkin.

Here they are...

Now isn't that a face only a mother could love?

November is here already and we are looking at Christmas in 7 weeks. OH MY GOD! Christmas tree will be going up soon as we normally start working on it after Kennedy's Birthday. She will be 12 on November 16th.

I can't beleive she is going to be 12 already. The years have just flew by...next year officially a teen ager. I am getting so old.

One more day of work and it is the weekend. Looking forward to it.

Take care,

Karen

Very sad!

I am sad to report I was not able to get a stinkin ticket to Bon Jovi...I have scoured the internet and the cheapest ticket is about $200 ...and I need 2....so I guess I will have to listen to my new CD instead...I was so looking forward to seeing them.

Boo hoo! Anyone have any connections in higher places?

Karen

The week ahead

Oy! Can we say I am using this stuff big time today! I am home with a big cold. I guess it is the time of the year. The kids have been sick on and off so I was expecting to get something soon. I am glad I got it now though as this weekend I am heading off to my 1st annual Cross Border Girl weekend away. Can you say SHOPPING!!! Knew you could

These bags will be ours come the weekend..

We are heading to my favorite place "Hawthorne Suites" in Burlington.

This is the place our family loves to go to except this time around Mommy is going solo with some of her girl friends...I look forward to it. We will take in some shopping, eat at my sisters fave restaurant "Olive Garden" and might even take in a movie. Too much for this mom to handle but I am so willing to try.

Have a great Tuesday!

Karen

What a Georgeous Day!

Well Happy Sunday everyone,

It was just the most georgeous fall day here today! I walked out into our backyard as we have started to put all the summer stuff away and it was just beautiful. The trees in our yard are just something else..I love this time of year. The kids wore t-shirts and jeans and were so happy to be out and about and just enjoying the day. Once I was done with what I had to do I snapped a few pictures of them as they were playing. I hope you enjoy!

Anne came over this afternoon and we had a BBQ for dinner. It was very nice. The day just zipped by so quickly and now we are quickly approaching Monday and the busy week ahead.

Until next time!

Karen

Why some pets hate Halloween

With Halloween quickly approaching..I saw these pics and wanted to share..I thought they were hilarious!

What some people do to their doggies...LOL

Karen

Jon is coming to town!

Hi all,

Well look who is coming to town....

Can you say "OH MY GOD!!!!" Isn't he the cutest thing..I sound like a teenager...but I have like Bon Jovi for many years...and this Saturday tickets go on sale...and I want to go!

Hopefully I can get some tickets.

Looking forward to seeing them again!

Karen

I know I know...here is a picture of Us!

Hi there,

Well I have heard many comments that we have all our kids but no pictures of me and James. Well here we are...our wedding day in January 2000.

It was a great day! Our wedding ceremony was done in chinese and English and the church was all decorated in red and gold. We had a minister who sang us a song..supposedly a tradition for chinese weddings...Kennedy and Madison were my maids of honours...the firecrackers went off as I went down the aisle...it was a very special day.

James looked so handsome in his tux and well my dress I didn't like it..but what is a girl to do...We had a lovely reception for our families and than left for a week long cruise...funny how is is only 7 years ago but it feels we have done so much in those years and have come such a long way.

James is a great guy, he helps me so much with the kids and the house or else I wouldn't be able to handle it all. Together we do all right!

I hope you are all having a great day..Friday is quickly approaching and happily I have Friday off...co-incidence that all the kids are having a ped day and I have 2 doctor appointments..so that should be interesting dragging them all with me. Well we do what we have to do!

Saturday I have a conference to go to and really look forward to it. It is about adoption , one of my favorite topics...I wonder why!

Have a great weekend everyone..and drop in again...I will leave the light on for you!

Karen

Our Presley - Then and Now

Well it has only been 7 months since Presley's arrival but here we go:

The 2 little trouble makers...So innocent looking aren't they!

They certainly keep you hopping.

Here is Presley at Zig Zag Zoo..her first time at a big indoor playground. Huge tubes and slides to climb and slide down. She had a blast!

Here is Miss Presley on her 4th birthday. She was so taken with the singing and the cake. Our baby is 4! Whaaaa!

This Halloween thing is all new to her. She picked her own pumpkin and was so thrilled to have done it.This year she will be dressed as a pumpkin. Nothing to scary for her this year. I think she will love getting all the candy..but the scary ghouls and ghosts walking the streets should be very interesting..we shall see!

Our Jaden - Then and Now

Here she is at 3.5 years old

This was 2 weeks after she arrived home. We were in Old Orchard in Maine.

Here she is:

Jaden is a ray of sunshine. She is always happy and full of energy.She is my little love bunny!

And here she is now:

She was very excited to start decorating our home for Halloween. It is one of her favorite times of the year. She will be a ladybug this time. She picked this pumpkin herself when she went apple and pumpkin picking.

What an angel!

Our Colby - Then and Now

Here is our Colby

Colby at 3 years old: what a cutie pie!

And here is Colby today:

Colby loves the water. He has progressed so much in his swimming. He is a big helper in our house and is always trying to please. What a smile little man!

And the best thing we could have ever done for Colby and Jagger:

These two could not live without one another. They hit it off the moment they met! Brothers who are constantly on the go and will "Keep the Force" forever..