Chopstick Christmas!

This was our second Christmas together as a group. We are so fortunate to have a great group of girls! Everyone looked so grown up in their dresses. We even took a Mommie & Me picture! I think the girls had just as much fun playing with their friends toys as unwrapping the presents. I think Cheerleader really liked her Minnie Mouse pen! Thank you all for the gifts. I truely love the time together to share with the Moms! See you all next week for cookie decorating! I think a beat Panda Mom to be the first blog!

The Next American Idol!!!!!

Running back's true passion is singing! This past week he has sang in front of the church and has had his school program. In the school program,"The Night the Reindeer Rocked", he sang in the reindeer chorus. This is the first year he did not have a speaking part. In the picture he is the 4th from the left. At church, the childrens choir sang their invitation for all to come to their upcomming Christmas program. The picture is not the best, the flash did something strang to his eyes. I would say it was his true self comming out!, but he truely loves church and has told us he wants to be a preacher! Team Dad & I have talked to our choir director about singing lessons for Runningback, he thought is would be a great idea. Watch out American Idol, here he comes!!!

Visit With Santa!!!

Today, Cheerleader went with the Chopstick Chicks to visit with Santa! Last year she was very interested in him but would NOT get close on her own. This year was a different story, she was the first on his lap! She asked for a Mickey Mouse movie and puzzles. There was some whispering going on as well, I hope he understood everything. We had a great day, riding on the carousel, shopping at the Disney and candy store. We also made a new friend at the playground. We hope she comes to our Christmas party! As soon school is out we will take the whole "team" to see Santa. Quarterback & Runningback need to tell him what they want for Christmas!

Goodbye PeeWee Football! :(

Today we will post in blue, our team color. Quarterback had his end of the year party Sat. night. The boys had a great time swimming at an indoor water park. It was 40 outside and 85 inside. Some of the moms got a little teary eyed, it would be the last time we would see each other for 2 years while our boys played for opposing junior high teams. We have been with the same coaches for 3 years. Quarterback has come to love and respect his coaches so much, he really values their opinion of him and his playing ability. I just pray that he would treat his parents the same way! The boys themselves got a bit solemn when they finally realised they would not be on the same teams. I pray they all remain friends and not let the town rivalry get the best of them, they will be back together for the 9th grade!

Our "Finding" Day

Today is a day that most adoptive parents do not celebrate. The day their child was found. On a cold Dec. 1, 2003, early in the morning our little one was found on a park bench outside of a school. She was dressed in a red silk gown trimmed in black feathers. We were told it was a festival costume of some importance. There was no note. We have the name of the person who found her, but who was it? Her father, grandfather, uncle or truly an angel sent to protect my child. They estimated her age to be 4 days old. This past week many things have been on my mind. Does her mother remember her birthday, did the officials get it right? Why was she given up? Was she the 2nd child, was it because she was a girl? Was her mother pressured into giving her up or was it her idea? All during the adoption and up until now, these are questions I did not want to think about. In my mind she has always been MINE. She came into being when we started the adoption papers. If you calculate the time we did the paper work, waited for the referral and flew over to get her, the timing is perfect. Nine months with her mother and 7 months waiting for me to come pick her up. HE most definitely had her planned for us. We never had any problems with our paperwork, other than the drudgery of doing the paperwork. Our wait was during the shortest wait time ever, 6 mo. To top it off she is the youngest referral we have ever heard of, 5 mo. old at the time of referral. The day we landed in the U.S. she had her 8mo. birthday.

On her birthday I prayed for her mother, something I don't thing I really did in the past. I thanked her for my child, for putting her in Gods hands to send to me. I prayed for the person who found her. Thanking him for being at the right place and time. I know someday she will want to know about her mother and how she came to be with us. We will someday take her back to China to visit her homeland. If she wants to find her, we will try. She was her birth mother, but I am Mommy, Mom, and Mother.

Minnie Mouse Birthday

This past Mon. was Cheerleaders 3rd. birthday! We have been blessed to have her on all 3 of her birthdays! This year she wanted a Minnie Mouse theme, it was her idea to dress up as Minnie. It was her Halloween costume. Out Chopstick Chick friends were there as well as 2 friends from school. The girls had fun playing, eating lunch, opening presents, and playing again. CL and the Chicks have such a good time together, I think the Mommies have a great time too. I must say, I am getting pretty good at this birthday cake thing. Over the years there have been many cakes, farm yards, treasure chests and ladybugs. This year was a try at "Candy Clay" for Minnie's portrait. Quarterback & Linebacker were not happy about missing the party. It was held on our usual Chopstick Chick day during school hours. They did ask if they could miss school for such an important occation. We made up for it with a family dinner out.

Cookie Decorating!!

It has become a tradition in our neighborhood that the Sat. after Thanksgiving everyone gathers at the Waswick home to decorate Christmas cookies. They moved here 3 yrs. ago and brought the tradition with them. The kids have a great time and we get a chance to reconnect with our neighbors and share in the Holiday Spirit. I truely love the Christmas season!