China Sent Referrals Yesterday........

for waiting families who were logged in in China during February 23, 2006 up to and including February 28, 2006!  Remember we are logged in on April 3, 2006.  We are getting closer............

This is good news, because there were many families logged in on February 28, leading many waiting families to think that day alone would take up one complete month of referrals........so to have it grouped with other dates is fantastic!

Congratulations to all the families who were created yesterday after parents saw their babies faces for the 1st time!

Just had to share our own little "achievement"!  Lily we love you.........

Hanukkah Party 2008 was a SUCCESS!!!

This year at Carole's Hanukkah Latke Party we had 3 special guests!  Aunt Florence, Carole's Mother's sister, Uncle Julie, married to Aunt Florence, & Mickey their daughter.

They live in South Florida and we see them once or twice a year.  But 2008 was a bonus year - because they drove up to Carole's Hanukkah party.  It was a great surprise!

Here is Paige with her Great Great Uncle Julie.......they are both silly nillies......and I love it!

Paige with her Great Great Aunt Florence!  Aunt Florence reminds me of my Grandmother (my mom's mom) so to see her and Paige together reminds me of me & my Grandma Sulewski...........

Paige & Cousin Allyson hanging with the "big" girls Amber & Jade........

The Latke cook Carole, with my sister in law, Rachel, and close family friend Karen.....

Me, my mom, FLO!, with close friends - Barbie and her daughter Karen........

Until next year my friends.......have a Happy & Healthy 2009!

Girls Day Out Part 2 - Lunch at Brio!

Yes, my friends, December 27th and we had dinner outside.......it was a beautiful evening...........

the food was yummy and the company was good!  

.........So long as they had chicken & fries, Paige was happy!

......& so long as they cooked the onions before they put them on my pizza, and didn't put on parmasean cheese, Mommy was happy!

Allyson & Paige playing Plex from Yo Gabba Gabba "Robot Walking - Robot Walking!"

A day full of fun and silliness between cousins!

Thank You Grandma Carole for a fun afternoon............

Girls Day Out Part 1 - The Tale Of Despereaux..........

.........yesterday Paige and I joined Grandma Carole, Aunt Rachel, and Cousin Allyson for a little "Girl Time" while the "boys" in our life went to the FSU bowl game.

Part 1 of Girls Day Out was to the movies to see The Tale of Despereaux............

Here is my review: HUH?!?!???  This is what I walked away from the theater with:

There was a precious little mouse who was born, and he was brave and had a lot of courage.

See what a cute baby mouse he was???

........then he grew up, and 9 million story lines came crashing into each other, and the beautiful Princess almost ended up being eaten alive by a gazillion rats......

........then Paige fell asleep, and I held Paige's head for her while she slept.

Paige & I do not give this movie a 2 thumbs up, go see Madagascar 2 again, instead!

The Adler Family Of 4 is back in Orlando together again........

......at least until Rachel's Orlando vacation comes to an end next week!

It's been a while since I've taken a picture of just the "original" Adler family......and they all look pretty gosh darn good!  Happy Hanukkah my family!

St. Louis Cousins are in Orlando To Celebrate Hanukkah!

Last night we went to Hanukkah Services at our temple.  We met Grandma Carole, Papa George, Aunt Rachel, cousin Allyson, and Cousin Daniel.  Paige was VERY excited to see her cousins!

When Paige woke up from her nap yesterday, she said, she didn't want to go to Temple, because "Temple is boring......."

She doesn't look too bored up on the bima with Rabbi Engle helping him hold his prayer cup, now does she?

Then we all had Hanukkah dinner at the Temple & lit our own menorahs - thank you Grandma Carole for bringing them!

Mother and Son lighting the Hanukkah lights together...........this big boy was in his mommy tummy the day of my wedding.......I cannot believe how quickly he is growing up!

........then back to Grandma Carole's & Uncle George's condo for some Hanukkah presents!

Jack was surprised and excited as a 12 year old boy - His parents got him a Wii gaming system!

And the cousins, each got their very OWN digital cameras!!

Here they are ready to start snapping away!  Get ready for your closeups family & friends!

Thank you Grandma Carole & Papa George for your very generous gifts!

He ate, He delivered, He left GIFTS!

Santa stayed true to tradition and ate his oreos and drank the milk Paige left him.

Rudolph ate his whole carrot.

And Santa brought Hermey his new toothbrush.

And Santa left a thank you note for Paige and the race car set with 3 extra cars that she asked him for this year!

He also left her the ski slope holiday "decoration toy" that Paige had said she wanted a million times after seeing a similar one in the window of Janie & Jack at our local mall....

.......AND he also gave her the Talking Tinker Bell doll that she mentioned MANY times.........

Paige thought it was pretty nice that Santa left her Tinker Bell & and ski slope toy even though she didn't ask him for them when she visited him in person.

"Mommy, but how did Santa know?", "Santa has many elves that peek in the kids houses to see how they are behaving and see if there is anything else they wanted but forgot to tell Santa."       Paige thinks it over.............."Oh......."

Phew........one more year down with her believing in Santa Claus!!!!!!  Her mommy does too!

Hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas!!!

.......safe travels Santa!

.........the snacks are out at our house for Santa & Rudolph.......along with a new toothbrush for Santa's elf, Hermey, who doesn't like to make toys and wants to be a dentist..........

I promise Santa, Paige has been VERY nice this year!  

Bring it on Santa!!!!!!!

.....and visions of sugar plums danced in her head......

Along with a LIFE SIZED gingerbread house!!!!  Oh My!!

Only at Disney World, would you find this!  Can you smell the gingerbread through your computer screen people!??!  Y-U-M-M-O!

.....and a picture of the christmas tree at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel......kind of amazing, no?

Paige and I spent a Christmas Eve afternoon enjoying the Christmas decorations at the Grand Floridian and Polynesian hotels with Grammy & Pop Pop........ 

Especially on Christmas Eve......

.......we pray to Lily's guardian angel - "please keep our little one safe as you did Baby Jesus the night he was born......." amen......

Today we went to the Queen Mary of the Universe Shrine (a.k.a. Mama's God's House) here in Orlando, to light a candle for Lily.......the Christmas decorations were breathtaking, as was the sight of Paige praying to God to send Lily home soon.....

.......she whispers when she prays.......

........lighting a candle for Lily..........

..........signing the prayer book next to the candles........

.........a picture of Paige and Mommy's prayer to God on this Christmas Eve.......

Paige's parents may have different religions, but we both believe in the same God!

Merry Christmas & Happy 4th night of Hanukkah........

3rd Night Of Hanukkah & my "Eloise"........

On this 4th night of Hanukkah, I once again say thank you God for my little girl.......

Paige's gift from Grandma Carole was a new "relaxing dress"......it's not a nightgown, and it's not a dress to go outside in, it's a dress to wear in the house in which Paige "relaxes" in.....this is one of Grandma Carole's life lessons to Paige.......you relax and you have a specific dress in which to do it!

Paige wasted no time getting into her new "relaxing dress"..........

Paige often reminds me of Eloise, the little 6 year old girl who lives in the penthouse at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.  The Eloise books were my favorites when I was a little girl.

When Paige and I were spending a day in NYC with our bestest friends, Cheryl & Kirby, this summer........we walked up to The Plaza Hotel, so I could get a picture of the famous Eloise painting that hangs in the hotel with Paige standing in front of it.

Once this picture was taken, a little wish of mine made many, many years ago by a much younger me came true.  My daughter with Eloise!

This is the pose Paige gave me, when I asked to take her picture with her new "relaxing dress" on...........is this kid the spitting image of Eloise or what?

Next up - the 4th night of Hanukkah & Christmas Eve - we'll be lighting candles in the Menorah and leaving cookies for Santa.....my life is very interesting and full of fun!

Fed Ex Rocks!

As you may recall, I ordered one of my "dream strollers" for Lily last week, when I found it for 70% off the retail price online!  It was delivered via Fed Ex just 3 days after we ordered it!  

If only China processed their adoptions as quickly as Fed Ex delivers -- we would have had Lily home for ages!

Thank you again Grammy & Pop Pop for funding Lily's stroller!!!

And may I present, Lily's Silvercross Dazzle stroller in Pumpkin!  My FAVORITE color! 

This should be easy to spot in the sea of strollers during our Disney World weekly jaunts!

Daddy looks ready to stroll with his 2nd baby!

Paige put her stamp of approval on my purchase!  "Very comfy Mama!"

Happy Happy Hanukkah Everyone!

Paige "gets it" this year.......so the holidays are extra special in my life this year!

We prayed to God, and thanked him for letting the oil last 8 nights instead of 1 night, so we can celebrate Hanukkah!  

We also prayed for the children all around the world who won't get holiday gifts this year and who won't have a special holiday meal (Paige did give presents to two 11 year olds from the  Salvation Army Angel Tree this year - I want her to know just how lucky we are!)  

And of course ended our prayer with, "and please bring Lily home soon! AMEN!"

Paige got her very own menorah, complete with wooden flames, so Mommy doesn't have an anxiety attack watching her little one hold a lit candle!  Thank you Grandma Carole & Papa George!

........sitting down to dinner AT the dining room table as a family!  That's our very own "miracle" in our house!

Lighting the menorahs.........

Paige waiting oh so patiently, with garbage bag in hand, while Daddy opened her 1st night gift.........you need a masters degree in opening childrens' toys to get these things out of the box!

Paige completely immersed in her Littlest Pet Shop toy world.........a very Happy 1st Night of Hanukkah 2008!

Potato Latkes for Hanukkah!

I realized something last night........... it is a good thing I was not a mother & wife in the 1950's........Lucy Ricardo got to wear beautiful dresses, complete with hats & gloves.....but she also cooked breakfast, sometimes lunch, & dinner EVERY day for Ricky.......I would have been a divorced spinster if I was me in 1950!

My Hanukkah present to Jack was a dinner for the 3 of us served at our dining room table.

It was a success!  But I did have Paige as my Soux Chef, thank goodness she likes to watch the Food Network, so she brought a lot of knowledge to our kitchen!

We started with 2 potatoes and 1 onion.  Paige peeled the onion skins off like a professional!  Just look at her little hands......

Then she added 2 eggs and many tablespoons of flour.  She immediately washed her hands after cracking each egg --  I don't know if it's because of salmonella or just simple OCD..........

 

Then we added our "secret" ingredient......but you are all are family & friends, so we will share our secret ingredient with you - BOOGERS!

Paige is STILL sick, and we had to stop our cooking to blow her nose, and this is what she blew out of her nose.......me being me, I had to grab the camera.......I am calling the Guinness Book Of World Records to see if this is indeed the world's biggest booger...

Then Paige mixed all her ingredients together......."Mama I am a good little "cooker", and a big helper to you!"

And here they are, cooking away in the oil, which is the whole reason we celebrate Hanukkah in the 1st place.......

I like to call this picture......"Proof That I Cooked"..........

......and in case you were wondering, yes our latkes were

 Y-U-M-M-O!!!

Our Ottoman.....

Our ottoman in our living is one of my "loves" in my life.......hey, I am a simple girl.....

.......this ottoman is one of Grandma Carole's "GS" finds......(GS = Garage Sale), if there is something you need, just tell Grandma Carole, and she will respond, "Ok, give me time."

And magically the needed item appears in the back of Grandma Carole's minivan.....this woman is a professional, believe me people........

So Carole finds "the dream ottoman", it's a square, it's on wheels so it can be pushed around the living room where we need it, and I can put my legs on it when they are oh so tired at the end of a Disney World filled day!!!

Now the color of the ottoman wasn't the "perfect" green that OCD me would have preferred......but I was THRILLED with this "GS" purchase!

For fear of our dogs tinkling on the ottoman, we pinned a brown blanket over the ottoman as a makeshift slipcover - Martha Stewart I am NOT!

However, Martha Stewart, Grandma Carole IS!  And she doesn't charge us for her handiwork!  ++!!  "I will make a slipcover for it!"

Jack, Paige, Grandma Carole, & I went on a fabric shopping adventure and found the "perfect" fabric in the perfect shade of green to make OCD me oh so happy!

So last night, Grandma Carole & Papa George come over for some take out, and Grandma brings her sewing machine - and our dining room turned into Martha Stewart's workshop!

Paige "helped" alot!  She liked pushing the pedal of the sewing machine.......

Jack got in on the action with his mom, adjusting the slipcover........he and his mom share so many similarities.......

Check out Papa George in the back of this picture, yes he is sleeping.......he's not a big "Martha" fan.....

.......see what I mean??  fast asleep.......must have a clean conscience!

We had one minor delay, the sewing machine needle broke when Grandma Carole was almost finished........so a quick trip to Walmart for mother and son ensued.......

And then it was finished!  And it looks beautiful..........Check out our "Martha" taking a break after all her hard work........looks great, no?

THANK YOU MARTHA STEWART, oh, I mean Grandma Carole!