High School Half-Time Show

Checking out the H.S. trophies. Just 7 short years away...

Routing for GHS!

The Big Finale!

PS- Will make the move to private in about a week, so please get me your email if you want to keep up with the journey.

Our own little Captain Sully!

One Final Step

We are quickly approaching several anniversaries, so it seems even more timely and fitting that we will complete the final step in Luciana's adoption in just a few weeks. We will appear in court of February 4th to appear for what many refer to a "re-adoption". It will be the legal process of completing Luciana's adoption in the respect that her name will legally be changed and a new birth certificate will be issued with that beautiful name. It's a big deal, and we are pumped for it!

Then, that's that. No more home studies, no more documents, no more notarizing... just our messy, noisy, full of love and laughter little life. Cheers to that!

PS- Getting ready to go private due to some advice from bloggers... if you'd like to keep up with the kids, please send your email address and I'll send details. I'll delete addresses from comments as soon as I reply. Sorry... but it does seem like it's time. This blog has seen us through an amazing journey, and now I want to tuck it away safely. I will probably use it more to update pics of the kids after we come through our anniversary posts. Thanks for all the support.

Look Back...

I had to step over 3 dolls and around a life size doll house, past a toddling beauty, and through a trail of toys to sneak off to my laptop tonight... how great is that?!?!

I had this pull to peek back at "this time last year", knowing it would stir up all kinds of emotions and memories... and it did, but looking back is soooooo good for me. I can't explain it, except that I can remember writing many of those posts last year through a haze of tears, and when I read them now, my cheeks hurt from smiling because it was all worth it.

So, with that said, and with a little wild woman waiting in the next room, I am signing off... leaving you with a linkback to January 2008 if you want to remember, too. Remember, start at the bottom... oh, blogger!

Much love!

Making Memories and New Traditions

Ok. Here's the story:

Our first holiday season with Miss Lucy has been a little different than we had magically imagined. My grandfather (whom I think the absolute world of) has not been well. To be brief, and so not to go in a direction I am not prepared to go, I will just say that our time with family has been spent in a different and far more important way. Needless to say, Christmas has snuck up on us...

So, determined to create memorable moments and to begin family traditions, I made my little family of four trek to the mall for the quintessential photo with Santa Claus. I went online to be sure what time to be there, and packed my little family into the car at 8:00 this morning. Lucy was decked out in a gorgeous silver sparkly dress, and Sam chose a handsome button down all by himself. They were adorable, and Sam was psyched up for his first real visit with Santa. (In past years, he has opted to send Santa a wave from the sidelines, not feeling brave enough for a face-to-face it the man himself.... this was his year!) All the way to the mall, Sam rehearsed what he would say when finally facing the big guy, and he was feeling very "big-brotherly" in his role of ushering Lucy into this tradition.

Well, we arrived near 8:30 only to discover that Santa would not be rolling in until ELEVEN o'clock! Hmmm. That was the first sign of what was to come. But, determined to make the most of things, we took advantage of the nearly empty mall and attempted to make a dent in our pathetic shopping list. Both kids were true sports. Finally, with 30 minutes to go, we decided to head to Santa's Workshop and join the small cue that had formed. At that exact moment, a white haired, jean wearing, tattoo sporting jolly old soul arrived on the scene... yup. Sam's eyes were glued to this character who looked familiar but so quite right. I think I heard him whisper, "That guy is not Santa....". We tried to divert his attention, but the damage was done. Naturally, he accepted that that man must be one of Santa's many helpers as St. Nick himself is a very busy man these days. Fine, good enough.

While waiting in line, and waiting, and waiting, we befriended some other families and shared war stories of Santa's past. We swapped toys and crackers and went to great lengths to keep our gaggle of children content while waiting. Finally, at 10 past 11, Santa made his grand entrance... and, truly, the crowd (with seeming memory loss of the jean wearing fella of a half an hour ago) went wild! It was a magical moment... just as I had planned! ;-) We were the fourth family in line and ooohed and aaaahed and giggled as each child timidly approached the now rosy cheeked Santa.... the first one was a screamer, and we all thought it was precious, knowing he could easily be our own... and, as you can see, folks, that is just what happened. Three hours, a big hit to the VISA, and half a bag of goldfish later, here is our first Santa photo!

Merry Christmas!

May yours be filled with laughter and joy... and loved ones to share it with.

Much love.

Has It Really Been a Year?!?

One year ago, I heard words I will never forget from a woman I would never meet thousands of miles away... One year ago, I was told that Luciana was OUT of PGN! It is so hard to imagine how my every waking moment was consumed with "OUT" and PGN, to call, not to call, stalking Guatadopt and plotting timelines... sound familiar to anyone?

I can remember everything about the joy of that night... where I was and what I did right after, the shouts of cheer from families and friends, the "special delivery", the tears and the laughter. We took the first deep breath we had taken in a very long time. The days and weeks to follow would prove to be some of the most challenging in my life, but this night one year ago was simply joyful.

Take a look back: One Year Ago

Love.

Sneak Peak

While home yesterday (Sam is still sick), I attempted to snap some pics of the kids for their FIRST holiday card together... it was a time in my life that I was grateful for a sense of humor... and that Sam is such a very patient big brother. Luciana wanted NOTHING to do with the adorable ideas I had for a picture. She was in and out of the old LL Bean sled, she wouldn't look at the camera, she certainly would not smile.. she was having NOTHING to do with it. Truly, I started to snap pics of her during one of her tantrums thinking this year's card would show what life is really like in our house! (hee hee) Sam was exasperated and we were about to call it a day... but, don't you know, when naughty little girls know they are getting away with something, they SMILE! I snapped this moment as Lucy climbed (first time!) into her rocking chair and whipped around with that "look what I did" smile! Look at Sam's face... can't you read his mind?!?! Ha! I love it. So, here it is, our wild child with her adoring big brother. Happy Holidays!

(The tree is decorated now, I promise!)

Happy Thanksgiving

We are feeling more than our fare share of blessings today.

It's so strange to remember "this time last year". Our life is so full... and insane... that I could almost forget to remember! Ha! But, on days like today, I try to take at least a moment to soak it in... my house is trashed, my laundry is overflowing, sleep is a novelty, and we are loving every minute of it!

Happy Thanksgiving.
Love, love, love.

Happy Halloween!

Each time I have passed those little "Baby's First Halloween" onsies that have been all over the stores this month, I was reminded of this time last year when my heart was aching for a sweet baby girl who was so far away that I couldn't hold all of my longing for her in one heart. Halloween is such a corny and silly holiday, but holidays are each like little timelines of memories and moments, and I knew we were missing this one with her last year. I wondered if she was wearing the little onsie we had sent after our first visit with her... also in October of last year. I wondered if she could even remember those strangers who had loved her up for one very amazing week in her life only a few weeks before. It's funny what certain times of month can bring back in emotion... Well, these pics just scream, "Look how far we've come, baby!" We had a blast... the "little stinker", Darth Vader, and Raggedy Ann! Daddy went as a business executive... with and orange tie, to be clear that he really knows how to shake things up! We were visited by Didi and Papa, and the whole night was festive and fun. We hope yours was, too!

Happy Halloween!

PS- Check out the little stinker one year ago!