A trip to Disney

NOW FASCINATED BY FACIAL MAKE UP FROM MY CHANEL COLLECTION, SHE EASILY WAS PERSUADED TO SIT FOR A WHILE AND HAVE HER FACE MADE UP, EVERY OTHER DAY.
THESE TWO SISTERS ARE JUST AS PRECIOUS AND LOVING AS I KNEW THEY WOULD BE. ELLIANA HAS THE CUTEST LAUGH AND SO LOOKS UP TO HER BIG SISTER BELLE. AND SWEET ISABELLA HAS A HUGE HEART AND PATIENCE EXPLAINING TO KIRA ALL SHE NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT DISNEY. I JUST LOVED HOW ISABELLA LEAPED INTO MY ARMS WHILE WE WAITED FOR DINNER ONE NIGHT. I ADORE THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY!

EPCOT OR MAGIC KINGDOM? ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LET THE PARENTAL UNITS KNOW! KIRA LOVED RIDING IN THE DOUBLE STROLLER WITH HER NEW PAL AND ISABELLA LOVED STROLLING WITH US.
FIRST SECURITY CHECK! IT'S ONLY DIAPERS LADY! LOOKING COOL RIDING HER MICKEY BUS.
PRETTY ISABELLA ACTING SILLY THE DAY WE MET.
CHECK OUT MY NEW SHADES!
PEEK A BOO!
DANCING IN THE STREETS

MESMERIZED BY TINKER BELL
AS YOU CAN SEE, KIRA LOVED CINDERELLA AND TALKED ABOUT HER FOR DAYS.

SHE'S BEEN WEARING THAT DRESS TO BED EVERY NIGHT AND THE BOTTOM IS SHREDDED!
DADDY BRIBING KIRA WITH A JELLY BEAN TO GO ON ONE MORE RIDE WITH HIM!

Back to Basics

OKAY, I KNOW THIS TITLE IS A CHRISTINA AQUILERA SONG, BUT OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING...GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS SO THAT I CAN SORT OF GET BACK ON TRACK. BLOGGING HAS TAKEN A BACK SEAT THESE DAYS TO OTHER EVENTS, BUT HAVING LOOKED BACK AT PREVIOUS POSTS I REALIZED THIS BLOG HAS ALLOWED ME TO MAKE SOME AMAZING FRIENDS AND BRAG ABOUT MY BEAUTIFUL GIRL. SO HAVING SAID THAT, I'M GOING TO TRY AND GET BACK IN THE LOOP.

SO WHAT IS KIRA UP TO AT 32 MONTHS OF AGE

• TALKING UP A STORM. NOW SPEAKING 6-8 WORD SENTENCES AND I'M SO HAPPY!
• CLIMBING AND JUMPING
• RIDING HER TRIKE (IN THE HOUSE, BECAUSE MOMMY CAN'T RUN AS FAST AS SHE CAN PEDDLE THAT BIKE).
• BOSSING HER DOG AROUND.
• ROLE PLAYING WITH ELMO, MAX AND RUBY.
• MAKING NEW FRIENDS IN PRE-SCHOOL AND LEARNING TO CLEAN UP!
• CAN DRESS AND SOMETIMES COORDINATE HER OUTFITS.
• COUNTS TO 12 AND KNOWS ALL HER ALPHABETS.
• CAN PUT TOGETHER 12 PIECE PUZZLE WITHOUT HELP.
• THINKS HER KITCHEN IS A REAL KITCHEN AND SO I FIND ALL KINDS OF STUFF IN IT!
• NOW ANSWERS THE REAL PHONE AND CONVERSES WITH MY FRIENDS!
• SHE CRAYONS ON THE BIG SCREEN TV AND ALSO WASHES IT OFF.
• CAN THROW A BALL LIKE COLE HAMMEL (GO PHILLIES)!
• SHE LOVES TO DANCE AND REALLY HAS SOME RHYTHM.
• LOVES GIRLY THINGS (PURSES, SHOES, DRESSES).
• ENJOYS PLAYING WITH HER FRIENDS AND ASKS FOR SARAH ALL THE TIME!
• READS BOOKS TO HER DOG AND ELMO BABIES.

SHE IS A SHEER DELIGHT AND CAN OUT TALK ME:))

OCCASIONALLY SHE WILL HAM IT UP FOR THE CAMERA SO HERE'S SOME OF MY FAVORITE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

Birthday Fun

PRECIOUS BABY

HANDSOME NICK

NICK TEACHING THE GIRLS HOW TO DRINK FROM A FOUNTAIN (NOTICE SARAH'S MAKING THE EFFORT)!  

AFTER SEEING HER BIG BROTHER GULPING WATER, SARAH GIVES IT A TRY!  I LAUGHED SO HARD WHEN I SAW HER EXPRESSIONS...SIMPLY PRICELESS.  NICK WAS OFF TO THE SIDE STARTING AND STOPPING THE WATER AT HIS SISTERS EXPENSE, BUT SHE WAS DETERMINED TO GET A DRINK IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY!  

TWO BABES PLAYING WITH THE FOUNTAIN AND HAVING SOME GOOD OLD FASHION FUN!

THESE TWO RAN AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND...AND AROUND!

"GOTCHA", NO I GOT YOU!"

SARAH, I THINK YOU DROPPED THIS!  SARAH'S LOOK SAYS' IT ALL, NO WAY, THAT'S NOT MINE!

WELL, I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO SPEND MY BIRTHDAY THEN WITH MY DAUGHTER AND DEAR FRIEND LISA  AND HER TWO CHILDREN.  

KIRA ALREADY HAS A CRUSH ON NICK (OR NICKNE AS SHE CALLS HIM) AND SARAH WAS JUST AS FUNNY AS EVER WITH HER ANIMATED EXPRESSIONS.  WE TOOK THE KIDS TO THE PARK TO GET SOME PHOTOS, BUT IT SEEMS THEY WOULD RATHER PLAY AND PLAY HARD THEY DID!

I THINK WE NEEDED ONE OF THOSE HIGH POWERED SPORTS PHOTOG LENS TO CAPTURE THE ACTION.  BUT THESE WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME VERY FUNNY PHOTOS!

Lady Peep Boutique

I've had quite a few comments on the dresses in some of the photos that Kira's wearing. The green flowered dress was made by my sweet friend Daleea who designs her own clothes for children.

I love her dresses, professionally serged, seamed and made with love. So please take a look and visit her at Lady Peep Boutique. 

Will post more photos of her dresses.

DIM SUM ANYONE? photos finally

Yesterday we met up with friends from the Bucks County FCC group!  We went to the Imperial Inn for Dim Sum in Phila.  The food was great, as usual.  It's been so long since I had really, really good Chinese food and this was perfect!  

It was wonderful to see all the girls dressed up in their traditional Chinese outfits.  They were soooooooooo adorable and I could tell they were having fun with sweet sounds of laughter and chatting!  I am surprised we didn't get thrown out of there since the tiny Hunan princess ran around to each table and then around the entire restaurant till she was almost in the kitchen.  It was beautiful outside with the temperature in the 50's here.  

Afterwards, we decided to not stay for the parade due to the loud firecrackers they set off.  Kira was already freaked by Sponge Bob the night before, so I thought it best to wait till she's older to understand about the meaning of the Dragon Parade.  

I made sure I got my "red envelopes" with the Year of the Ox on them and a then a sheet of the Lunar New Year postage stamps 2009 as little momentos for Kira's scrapbook.   I have been saving the stamps during the wait for our referral and it's become a little tradition of mine since.  

Then we were off to my brothers' house so I could help my niece study for her nursing exams. Poor thing, she was yawning the entire time:)), maybe it was my big mouth again, or she was just plain tired.  Anyway, I do hope she remembers some of the stuff.  There's just so much to learn, I wonder how I did it back then.  Then again, I remember...there was someone who helped me when I needed it.  How strange that this time of year I get nostalgic for the past.  I don't know why, but it happens.  Fortunately they are very good memories that I'll hold dear to me.  I think a lot has to do with the fact that my brother lives where we all grew up as young children.  So I drive past my old house, high school, roads and byways I used to walk, places I used to play and homes of friends I adored.  Guess this should be a separate post, but hey this is my blog, I can write what I want!  Plus I have a few minutes to myself for a change!  

Anyway, Dim Sum was great, meeting my new friends always makes me smile and happy and, yes, taking a walk down memory lane, 20 plus something years of it, also warms my heart, in a big way!  

I'LL HAVE ONE OF EVERYTHING PLEASE!
OH THIS IS SUCH A GREAT PHOTO!
KIRA MAKING MIA LAUGH!

I JUST LOVE THE FACES OF THESE LITTLE GIRLS, SO LOVED AND SO BEAUTIFUL. WHAT I ENJOY IS WATCHING THE INTERACTION OF THE GIRLS WITH THEIR PARENTS.  THE AFTERNOON SHOULD HAVE BEEN "GIRL FUN" VERSUS DIM SUM...HERE ARE SOME SWEETIES THAT DIDN'T MIND HAVING A PIC TAKEN, JUST LOOK AT THE SMILES!  

HERE IS THE POSTAGE STAMP FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR 2009 PRETTY STAMP

LOOK WHAT CAME IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY

THANK YOU SO MUCH YOLI FOR SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY PRESENT FOR KIRA. YOU REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT WE SO APPRECIATE IT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT CAME FROM YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. I SAW THE PACKAGE LATER IN THE EVENING AND MADE KIRA MODEL IT FOR US. SHE WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO PUT THIS OUTFIT ON! LOOKS SO PRETTY TOO!

HOW PRETTY IS THIS OUTFIT FROM AUNT YOLI, UNCLE JOSE, SALLY AND CAEL. KIRA LOVES IT AND AS YOU CAN SEE IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH FOR HER TO SMILE!
MOMMA, LOOK THIS IS THE COOLEST OUTFIT EVER, IT HAS WHITE SOFT POM POMS ON IT! (TWO OF HER NEW WORDS ARE BALLS AND APPLE) TOO FUNNY. TRIED TO CORRECT HER TELLING THEM THOSE ARE POM POMS, BUT SHE CAN'T SAY HER "P'S" YET.




THANK YOU AUNT YOLI AND UNCLE JOSE FOR THINKING OF ME DURING CHRISTMAS. THIS IS MY FAVORITE OUTFIT, it's warm, has soft little pom poms and I just love it!

YEY, WE MADE IT TO SEE YOLI AND JOSE' ( I had to change the title after seeing these photos)

MY SWEET SWEET FRIEND!
BUNDLED AND COZY
HEY JUST BECAUSE I'M LITTLE, DON'T FORGET ME HERE!
PRETTY LIGHTS AROUND THE PLAZA (PHOTOS COURTESY OF YOLI)

IT SEEMED AS THOUGH WE COULDN'T GET TO NY FAST ENOUGH TO SEE OUR AWAITING FRIENDS! THE BABY HAD HER NAP, ATE, AND THEN THEN OUR HEATER WENT. OKAY, CALM DOWN, I SAID TO MYSELF WHILE I WAS STOMPING AROUND THINKING SHOULD WE GO OR STAY TILL THE HEATER GUY CAME AND FIXED IT. I CALLED THE GAS COMPANY AND EXPLAINED (our sweet friends from Florida are in NY) WE HAD A BABY IN THE HOUSE AND THE HEATER DIDN'T WORK.  THE GAS COMPANY SAID, "WE'LL BE THERE BETWEEN 9AM AND 4PM!  THEN I REPEATED, DOES HAVING A BABY MAKE US PRIORITY?  THEY SAID, THEY'LL MAKE A NOTE OF IT!  OOOH, I FOUND MYSELF BITING MY TONGUE ONCE AGAIN.  ISN'T THIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY FRIENDS?  

FORTUNATELY, I MUST HAVE GOTTEN ACROSS TO SOMEONE EMPATHETIC AND THEY CAME AND FOUND AND FIXED THE PROBLEM.  YEY HOO, IS ALL I COULD SAY. 

THEN OFF TO NY WE WENT!

It was a year since we first met Jose and Yoli in China.  Now there we stood in the "Met" as we hugged, smooched and were reunited once again.  Oh we had so much to chat about.  I loved the expressions on Yolis' face when she saw Kira again...she lovingly picked her up and gave her the sweetest hug and kiss.  I enjoyed the three of them interacting and when we went to eat and settled down, it was as if Kira somehow remembered them.  She smiled from across the table and then went to sit in Yoli's lap...again craving more love from this wonderful woman and Mommy to two beautiful adopted children.  We took pics, Jose took more pics and then we went to Rockefeller Center (My IDEA).  

Okay, so you know when you're all excited about something, you forget certain things...like how far you are walking!  So I had these shoes on, clogs meant for high speed walkers like myself, however, they weren't really broken in and so my foot started to ache a bit.  I didn't pay attention and just kept walking.  The night was so beautiful...the crisp, cold air, the smell of roasted chestnuts from the street vendors and colorful Christmas lights all around us lit up the night.  We walked along Madison Avenue having fun window shopping and talking.  

53 blocks, 3 Elmos,  one Winnie the Pooh, a Bunny and 3 dozen Santas later, we arrived at Rockefeller Plaza!

HOW PRETTY!  It had to be the biggest Christmas tree I ever saw and felt like we stepped into a movie set.  Just lovely, especially since it was a first time for Kira and I to be there.  Yes, I admit, never been there before while living so close!  But it didn't matter, I was enjoying another first with good friends and my little daughter.  We took more photos, and then had to part and make a train back to NJ.  Oh, how I wanted to stay and spend more time with Yoli and Jose.  They warm my heart!  We reluctantly had to leave and gave big hugs until we can meet up again.  

So the long, cold walk to the train station was on.  I started to get an awful cramp in my foot and had to stop.  I knew it was my shoe, but hey, I couldn't take it off, so Dani tried to get a cab. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE  to hail a cab on Madison Ave at night, so we kept walking.  Meanwhile Kira was bawling and screaming, wanting to get out of the stroller.  Where is Yoli?  She'd be able to calm her down!  It was getting colder by the minute and all I could think of was not letting my baby get cold.  Dani took off his inner coat and we wrapped it around her, (she had layers of clothes on), I put my scarf around her face and we sheltered her from the wind.  She kept on crying and I thought, where the heck is a cab when you need one! 

So we walked another mile or more to the train and Kira finally fell asleep.  She wasn't cold thankfully and just slept till we got home.  

In the meantime, I had this aweful pain in my foot that was just getting worse.  I paid no attention to it really since my eyes were on Kira the whole train ride home.  It wasn't until this morning that I awoke with one great big, toe that was so swollen and painful, I thought it must be broken to hurt like that.  Mega strength Motrin failed to help, ice a bit, but the throbbing of it all, was the worst...it feels as if every nerve in your body ends up in that one toe!  I can't bare weight on it and thought, how could a walk have caused this?  Well, I still don't know and my doctor said it's trauma to the nerve and tendons and prescribed a walking boot (which I can't get today because that walking boot store is closed).  

Well, I still can't get over how much fun the day was for us all.  Despite my aching toe, my heart is full with the love of good friends and my family.  Hey blogging would be boring if not for a little adventure, right!

OKAY, I ADMIT IT, THESE ARE WHY MY FOOT HURTS...ACHING TO BUY THEM!
MORE CITY BEAUTY
YES, ELMO'S WERE OUT PATROLING THE STREETS OF NY


AND HERE WE ARE, YOLI AND JOSE AT THE TOP THERE, DANI AND I ON THE BOTTOM, YOU CAN TELL WHERE I AM, CAN'T MISS THAT BIG MOUTH!





Well now that I uploaded some of the highlights, I find myself missing Yoli and Jose terribly! The baby just loves you both and so do I. So until we meet up again, it will be a Holiday to remember for sure! Thanks for coming up and hope you had a wonderful time!