Alive and Kicking...still

We are all still here. I know it has been awhile since I have posted. We are doing well, enjoying the summer. Em is now 15, Cl is 13 and Flora is still 2 (going on 12). I couldn't be a luckier mama. Em and Cl are truly the best big sisters out there.
Flora A-D-O-R-E-S them. Flora frequently sports painted toes and more recently painted fingernails. We have a rather large group of teenage girls who also serve Flora. Yesterday, someone asked me if Flora has play dates. I said yes! Whenever Em or Cl have friends over Flora thinks they are here to visit HER! Flora will stand at the gate in our back room (still in place to corral the animals not Flora) and call for Em or Cl to come and get her. And they always do!
We spent 10 days on a sailboat in the BVI a month ago. It was Flora's first sailing experience. She was tremendous! It was a fantastic trip. Flora was jumping off of the stern of the boat (wearing her wings) into 20 feet of ocean water with turtles, barracudas, and other small fish. She, in typical Flora fashion, was easy and fun. She loved the entire trip...the car, the plane, the tram, the ferry, the sailboat and the taxis!
Flora is doing her "nastics" weekly. She tells us how she rolls and jumps and hops. She is enamored with "nastics." Generally speaking, she is mesmerized by sports. She enjoys football, basketball, and baseball games. As I have "tasted the kool-aid" at Karate/Jiu~Jitsu setting the example for Flora, she now walks around the house punching and kicking in the air. She is excited about the pee-wee class she will likely start when she turns three. She also picks up any stick like object and ball and plays "field hockey" around the house. I guess for a house full of girls, we are sports people. Flora's excitement is evidence of that.
She is easily on target with every milestone. Her language is unbelievable. She often says 4-5 word sentences. She even corrects herself. The other day I was brushing her hair. I had in my hand her bag of hair do dads. She looked at me and said, "I get it." Then she looked at me shook her head and said, "No, I PICK it." The no was not for my benefit, but shaking off her use of get searching for a better word, pick. WOW!
Seriously, I could not be prouder of all of my girls. They are the most exciting edition to my life. Thanks Joe!

Happy Birthday Wee One!

Today Flora is two. She will tell you that today is her birthday and she is two. She will also tell you that on your birthday you eat cake AND open presents! Ah, it's good to have older girls to corrupt the brain of the wee one. :)

I have been meaning to update what she has been up to lately. I know everyone really wants to see photos, and I think I have posted more than usual lately. Flora is potty trained! Yippee!! It was a fairly easy road, 6 weeks. She just moved to a regular bed (last night). She was a little worried, but she rally enjoyed being able to get out on her own.
She is talking up a storm. For a while now, everything is WHY? She used to call Claire, yaga. ??? Now it sounds more like
Lee-AHHH. Emily is no longer Em, but Emily.
While I have always enjoyed the two's, not so terrible in my book, we have had two huge temper-tantrums. They have lasted for nearly 30-45 minutes. I am hoping that will be it!
She goes to gymnastics, "nastics", every week. She LOVES it. She loves to "rolling", as she calls it, over the barrel. Next year she will start school, officially. Luckily, I was able to snag a spot at the most prestigious, best Montessori school in town. ;) She is most definitely ready for school. I just can't believe how much she has grown and changed in the last year.
I was telling Joe just yesterday that I feel there is NO difference between bio children and adopted children. I look at her, and she is obviously Chinese, but that doesn't make any difference. I still feel like I gave birth to her. Joe says there is a mental illness in there somewhere. :) But then, on the flip side, today especially, I think of her birth mom. I would love to share with her that Flora is a wonderfully radiant, wonderfully adjusted little girl. She brings so much happiness, excitement and joy to our family. Happy Birthday, wee one. We love you!

Happy Easter

After Joe's amazing Easter Pizza, we colored eggs. Flora really enjoyed it. She would ever so carefully throw each egg into the dye. Then she would insist upon using the wire holder to transfer the wet, dye soaked egg into the egg carton. It really was fun.



This morning she was very excited about the baskets of candy sitting on the counter. We waited for C to "hide the eggs". She had a great time searching for them. Flora would squeal with delight every time she spotted an egg. Then once again, using the same technique of tossing the eggs into the dye, she would lob the eggs into her basket. Ah, what fun!!!

The Day Before Easter

'Twas the night before Easter. Joe has decided to make Easter Pizza. Photos here.

Easter Pizza is goooood!

Yes LNB....

I am a cheater! I sat here as I put Miss Flora to bed and updated my blog. So there! :-P

The Old One....

Holy Moly! My oldest, a freshman in high school mind you, was asked to the junior prom. She has never been on an official date before. So how can it be that her first date is prom???? Isn't that the ultimate date in high school? Well her date was a very nice young man. I approve of him, which basically sealed his fate that my daughter was not interested in him. They are just friends.

Welcome, Tiger!

Surprise! I am not Chinese, but my youngest daughter is. So... how do I balance her heritage and culture when I know some about it but haven't "lived" it. Chinese New Year is the Mac Daddy of them all. I decided to celebrate CNY like Thanksgiving. We had family over and celebrated CNY on February 14th. I cooked all day. Some things were from scratch and some were assembled. All in all it was a fun time and good food. Here are some photos of our evening.