2010 - A year in review

January - our little girl adjusted to us as we adjusted to life without sleep

February - chilling, loving life

March - Mark turns 9 years old and is my soccer star!

April - Terri says "Good-bye" to the fun car... and "Hello" to the 7 seater SUV... sad day...sad sad, day!

April - First family trip since coming home with Mia

April - A much, much needed adult day!

May - Tom Sawyer

June - Baseball time, lots and lots of baseball! Matt is #3 in center and Chris is on the far right.

June - Father's Day!

July - Vacation in Siesta Key

July - Home of the Florida Gators! Mia was melting...

August - Pig Tails

August - Back to School

August - Mia starts pre-school - she's a little unsure but loves it

September - Loads and Loads of Football - Mark is #75

September - Apple Picking, Apple Eating

September - Mia loves her Thai dress

October - Matt caught this touchdown pass to win in OT and advance to city semi-finals

October - Adoption Finalized!

Halloween - Bum, Alice in Wonderland and MadHatter

November - First try at real family photos

Sit still!!!

We'll take it!

December - Matt turns 12

December - Mia turns 2

Merry Christmas Santa! Poor Mia is not impressed!

We are excited at what 2011 will bring - hopefully, all my friends and family will have a blessed, healthy and happy year! I hope all my friends, who are waiting, will receive their referrals, their travel approval and bring their child or children home!

Christmas Part III and Part IV

3 kids sitting still, looking at the camera? Impossible!!!

When it dawned on me that we really didn't have plans that would involve eating dinner at someone else's house for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I asked the kids what they wanted me to cook, told them we could have anything because I was heading to the grocery. Mark didn't hesitate. He yelled, "Digiorno!" Matt said, "Sounds good to me!" faster than I could respond. I'm not sure what that says about my cooking abilities, but I like that they set expectations I could meet, maybe even exceed.

CHRISTMAS PART III

Christmas Eve has turned into a great family day for us. We open our gifts from each other and hang out all day playing with the new stuff! At some point - I sat back and shook my head in disbelief at what a gift I have - a gift that can't be bought with all the money in the world. 3 healthy kids and 2 healthy parents, not waiting for anything, not exhausted from everything, just enjoying Christmas.

Mark liked his wrestlers!

Mia loves the tricycle!

Matt cracked us all up with his rock star moves!

Love this picture of us!

The Miami Heat jersey was a winner!

How about a little Orlando Magic!

Time for a nap!

Chris was there too! He was the photographer so I landed a few pictures and this one was the best - I know, not very good... Sorry babe, we'll do better next time!

After the gift exchange, we ran to the mall to tell Santa our last wishes. Matt, Mark and Santa all looking at Mia like, "Are you gonna do it?" The answer was no, not willing to sit on his lap. She sat on Matt's lap and screamed big tears while the mall chic got a picture.

And here you go - the proof that she was unimpressed! But after this shot, she gave him a high five...

CHRISTMAS PART IV

Santa came by our house in the wee hours Christmas Day with the normal 3 wrapped gifts - a Santa arrangement we set up a long time ago. But this year he played a game with the kids and left 2 gifts under the tree for each them and a clue in a bag which led them to the next clue, then the next clue, then the 3rd gift. Turned out to be a fun morning for them.

At 4 AM Christmas morning Chris heard paper moving and we busted Matt sneaking a peak. He froze like a deer in the headlights with a huge grin and then took off running for his bed, pretending to be asleep. Since we weren't buying his promises to go back to sleep, I made him sleep with Chris, Mia and me the rest of the morning. Did I mention he's not small anymore? LOL Needless to say, Chris and I were more tired than normal this morning!

This money counter was on Matt's letter to Santa!

Santa got the games right!

Mia got a vacuum! YAY!!!

All in all a very blessed Christmas season!

Christmas! Part I and II

Christmas was a month long celebration!

CHRISTMAS PART I - Chris' family on Dec. 12th

It was great! It was almost wonderful. Our California family came home... sort of... One of my nephews was flying in a day later than the rest of the family. His flight was canceled due to weather. Anyway - like I said, it would have been wonderful to have all the family in town, but I had a blast hanging out with everyone all week even as we diverted our plans daily due to the crazy weather.

Mia loved the karaoke machine!

Matt dodged the camera most of the day, but I did catch this one. He had a ball game in the middle of our celebration so... he's in his uniform.

I love this picture. Mia loves "playing" the piano.

Mark has found his spot to open gifts!

CHRISTMAS PART II - Terri's family on Dec. 19th

With everyone there, it's a sea of teenagers and early 20-somethings. My kids are the youngest 3 grandchildren. My parents have 1 great grandson, Landon. He was hilarious - I told Mia she could play with Landon. Landon replied that he didn't want Mia to play with the play kitchen because it was hot and she might burn herself. I cracked up and redirected. If he's that creative, I'll guide her to something else.

My parents and the greatest 3 kids parents could ever hope for! HaHaHa!!!

My parents, known as Nana and Papa to this crew, 11 grandkids and 1 great grandkid

Part III and Part IV to be continued...

Happy Birthday Mia!!!

It's so hard to believe that Mia is already 2 years old! Well, except when I take her to a restaurant and then, I'm like, oh yeah - she is 2...

We went to Build-a-Bear where she opted to build a Rudolph. She really didn't get into building it as much as she wanted to pick out clothes for it and play on the computers. Oh well - we all had fun.

She was digging the leather jacket!

My birthday rule is... On your day, you pick dinner. Her food choice was... pizza! I really wanted Thai, but pizza it is. We had the best pizza - ok, so we love all pizza if you haven't figured that out yet - but this was the old style pizza that you can fold in half to eat and has the exact right amount of grease - you know what I mean. Tried a new cupcake place too - cupcakes that were loaded with icing. They were over the top.

All smiles at the end of the day!

Later in the month, we had a birthday party - low key - just close family. Since Matt's birthday party has been rescheduled for January due to snow, we let him pick the cake and included him in the celebration. He picked chocolate icing with yellow cake. Normally, if they do a "friend party", they don't get a family party too.

Mia was not feeling the candles or the singing... Who could blame her?

Matt's balloon says, "It's all about ME!" Love it!

"Open! Open! Open!" She loved all her gifts, but anything princess wins right now.