~COOKIE EXCHANGE & ANSWERED PRAYERS~

I had the pleasure of hosting our neighborhoods 4th annual Cookie Exchange party this year. My neighbors and I have been busy baking cookies, which we tasted, collected recipes and brought home about 12 dozen cookies each! Eddie, my helper

(he had to wear his shirt & tie again for the occasion :)

Welcome everyone
Let's eat some cookies!

We held 2 contests:

one for best display platter

the other for yummiest cookie

My girl wouldn't miss out on a cookie party!

"Thank you Auntie Michelle"

(Actually, my girl was having a hard time with mommy

so busy with her company. She did not want to stay in

the other room with her daddy & brothers. She was my

little shadow this night ~

There were huge smiles, tears and clapping. . .

why? You ask?

Prayers were answered this night, wait and see...
First, back to the cookie party-

Best display platter went to ...Trish!

Yummiest cookie goes to....Joann!

(Chocolate, Raspberry Crumb bars!)

All the "Cookie-Ladys"

Now, on to the "answered prayers" part ~ if you are a loyal reader, you will remember my friend and neighbor, Lisa receiving a referral from Taiwan in the beginning of the month. A week or so later, she was notified that the birth mother had changed her mind.

Devastating.

My heart was so heavy for my friend and I just wanted to make it all better. I prayed that her time would really come and that she would receive the referral for her daughter before Christmas.

I wanted her to feel the joy she deserves.

On this night, December 16th,

Lisa received the referral for her darling daughter,

Paige Min Shan

Congratulations to you my friend,

J - O - Y

~ PARTY-FILLED SATURDAY ~

Last Saturday was a fun day and evening of holiday celebrating! Mia and mommy started out the day by joining our Chinese language and culture class for a little holiday get together. just looking pretty!


Mia enjoyed the food,

mommy enjoyed buying

some more silk outfits for her girl :)



Mia got such a kick out of these

'crayon fingers', just stacking them

and then knockin' em down!

(I have never seen or heard of these,

but they would make a great stocking stuffer!)


~ concentration ~

all fall down!!!

Later on, our family went around the block to our annual holiday party at our neighbors house (Jenn & Gene) ~ they are always fabulous hosts and the kids and adults all have a blast!

My 'fabric girl' found this blanket in the closet...

Mia was happy to have Meg join her!

Meg & Mia watch the magician with their brothers

That's my Eddie!

He just had to wear a dress shirt with a tie.

There were many tears and frustrations trying to

find the right shirt and tie combo ~ he just really

wanted to look good :)
and he does!!

The magician has Mia on the edge of her seat!

Daddy feeds his girl

The last few days, Mia has been

crazy for her daddy ~ so sweet!

Thank you for another fun evening J & G!!

The next morning everyone was tired from the night before. Anthony and Mia were up early and cuddled on the sofa watching cartooons :)

~ CELEBRATING WITH THE BEST OF FRIENDS ~

This tradition began many, many, many (you get the idea) years ago; before kids and right about the time we all became engaged or married. My best girlfriends and I (and our significant others) marked a date on our calendar when we would all get together to celebrate the holidays. We look forward to it every year and love to spoil each others kids with love, giggles and hugs (oh, and there are presents involved too!) The best of friends; Deb, Michelle, Barb and me!
I love to jump!Max shows Eddie his trains

oh so pretty!

Checking out their gifts!

How do you get 7 kids to sit in one spot?

"If you want to open gifts. . . smile!!"

Anthony & Alexa

The hostess: Barb!

"Love the bags!!!!"

This is Mia's "pose" with hands on her hips :)

My friends mentioned that it must warm my

heart to see Mia so happy.

There are times it melts my heart :)

My Eddie just loves firemen and firetrucks

his smile says it all :)

Mia just adores Madison (note the hand holding)!

"Throw me higher Godfather!!"

Alexa & Madison hug Mia goodbye

Thank you for another fun-filled evening. What a wonderful way to start the holiday season!

~ MOMMY-ITIS ~

It is no secret that Mia and I are extremely close. I always dreamed of having a daughter, doing girly things with her and dressing her up; however more importantly I wanted us to have a special relationship ~ like I do with my mom.



Mia is crazy about me (and the feeling is mutual :) . Where ever I am, she is. If I go upstairs, she goes upstairs. If I have to go out . . . well, she'd better be coming all all hell breaks loose around here! Most of the time we do go everywhere together, but sometimes that is not possible. Mommy needs to see her friends (once in a blue moon) or like over the weekend, I dared to have our neighborhood holiday party. Yup, poor Mia was not invited :)



I used to sneak out, just to avoid the tears, even though I knew it wasn't right. What happened was that since I was the one going out and daddy was home, she takes it out on daddy. Days later, she would not let him get close. If he did, she would say "mommy, mommy, mommy" with panic in her voice and run to me. It was sad, I felt badly and now I tell her I am going out.

As I was getting ready for our party Saturday night, she saw me putting on my dress and jewerly. So, she had to put on her Belle dress and shoes ~ this mommys dream :)

Shortly after this picture was taken, we had to leave (my parents are the only ones we allow to watch the kids - so it is not a stranger babysitting). I calmly told Mia and the boys we were going out and to give us kisses and hugs. My poor girl had tears streaming down her face, crying and screaming; and the worst part was....she was crawling behind me on the floor calling my name! My heart was breaking and it took me a while to compose myself!

*The good news is that when I called a short time later, she was fine.

The good-byes are just torture for this mommy!

~ A TREE WITH LIGHTS ~

We FINALLY bought a pre-lit tree at the end of the season last year. It was almost too easy to put up the tree; no checking for dead bulbs, no untwirling the strands of lights and no 'round and round and round the tree' wrapping lights! What a pleasure! Thinking of her next move. . .
Believe it or not,
Mia has been quit good with the tree!

Daddy took out the ladder so we could place

our angel atop the tree.

Ladder = Fun

in this house!

Mia wants to help ~

but, Eddie has the honor of actually placing her up top ~

Anthony straightens her out ~

Mia blows her a belly, I mean KISS ~

Later on the boys set up the train

around the tree ~

"Oooooooo, I love this time of year!"

The house is decorated and we have already started with our holiday parties. I just want to savor this time, as it goes so quickly.