Katy's Birthday

Our best friend Katy turned three. Spot the birthday girl. There was face painting and what a fabulous party. It is certainly a tough act to follow since Haley's birthday is next! My great friend Sharon invited me to be part of her mommy's group. Needless to say most of the girl's are 5 since Sharon's oldest is now 5. Katy the youngest was always the baby until Haley and I now party with them. Haley and Katy get along great.

When you come home with your adopted daughter all the mommy groups already exist. In fact they have existed since they were all in Lamaze class together...and by the time you join them...they are all planning how to go back to work....luckily I always had Sharon and Haley just adores the big girls.

So Where is that Smile?

Well it is still there. It is a smile that lights up a room. She has become a little shy and we often don't see it when we are out and about. But when people do...it is electric. Sometimes it surprises people and they can not believe it. It is truly a smile that melts hearts.

So she has a new love. It is called swimming. In fact she always wants to go. It is better than gymnastics. It is probably in a tie with horses and smarties. The horses are gone with the winter and so she often asks about them but they are simply not around to adore. Swimming on the other hand is just up the hill and wow I could not have predicted this. Smarties are a carefully controlled substance so she asks about them but they are a little fleeting. She dreams about swimming and every time we get into the car she thinks we are going, or thinks we should go. The most challenging thing about swimming...is getting her out of the pool and keeping her out. Even after we have changed into our clothes...if I turn around too slowly, she is skittering down the hall towards the pool....she is ready to go again.

Just Say Cheese

She talks too much these days....even just "cheese" required about 5 words....she is probably saying "just say cheese haley"

Our new snow suit

It works well for lying down and following daddy. We have had about another foot since these photos! We shoveled snow twice today.

Tea Time

Haley just loves pouring "hot tea" for anyone....Hot is an important word....since she hates things

hot...but tea is always hot....

I am Canadian

One note to add. Haley is a Canadian Citizen as of November 24th. Yipee. We finally received her card days prior to leaving on holidays. I probably need to mention that we applied at the beginning of April. It took our government 8 months to process an extremely simple case of citizenship. This is shameful to say the least. In the US and England....citizenship is granted to adoptive children from abroad; upon arrival in their new country. It is immediate. Just a little frustrating, but we are very happy. Happy New Canadian.

Happy New Year

We had the most fabulous time visiting family. It really makes us wish we lived much closer. We have the most caring loving family we could ever wish for, thank-you to everyone who made this holiday so special. Haley was overwhelmed with gifts but I can honestly say that she likes them all. She plays with everything and they were all so incredibly thoughtful. She loves to make tea, cut up her vegetables, Thomas, James and Lady are always in need of new batteries (she even runs them up and down the hallways), the giraffe from the train is constantly at her side, she sleeps with Poh, the Ponies get new beads, and well our new snow suit is the best....we can even sit down outside, it is really perfect.

So each and every flight we take is a little different. I can honestly say that a two year old....really needs their own seat. Even a 1 3/4 person needs their own seat. Thank goodness we had one! It was definitely our most challenging flight to date. The first hour she slept (take off is really too much for her to take), we played for the second hour, and we screamed for the third hour and when she was too exhausted to scream any longer she slept again. So that third hour....well she wanted to go outside...and mommy said "no". We writhered and tossed and thew ourselves at the chairs in front of us and finally we stood up on our chair and howled "away mommy, no mommy" at the top of our lungs for all to hear.....and then we collapsed....I was pretty sure she had had a poop in those last 10 minutes..but no way was I standing up to check and I am pretty sure all those around me were willing to take the smell instead of the screaming. And well she was nothing but sugar and spice for daddy the rest of the evening....she really didn't talk to me.

What can I say.....except get a seat! he he he he

Lots of love to everyone especially grandma (mama), poppa, oma and opa. I know she misses you all.