~ In keeping with our family tradition, Santa stopped by Grammie’s house the other night ~ good thing Grammie is such a good friend of Santa! ~

~ P2 had been a very good girl for sure…she even showed him that she really did want her two front teeth ~

~ P1 was more reserved and refined in her information… that’s what comes of being eight I guess ~

~ And for the first time ever, P3 was ready to walk right up, sit on Santa’s lap, and tell him ALL about it! …

Last year, Mom came up and we girls made Graham Cracker Houses. The girls LOVED it and it was super fun and easy with minimal stress for all involved.

We used empty Whipping Cream containers and ‘glued’ graham crackers on with frosting.

Then we gave them their ’supplies’ and let them go to town!  Supplies for us included Hershey’s Kisses, Animal Crackers, Goldfish, Gummie Bears, sprinkles of various colors, squirty frosting and icing of various colors….all things I had on hand and wanted to use up.:)

Mom and I helped from time …

With our eldest child being exceptionally bright and inquisitive, the question regarding Santa’s authenticity has already come up several times….although, as you can see from this picture taken only last year, when faced with reality, she still believes.  Nevertheless, we have been working through how to help P1 understand yet not spoil the magic of Santa and all he represents.  This article below written by Martha Brockenbrough and posted on Cozi, provides the perfect answer for us.  I thought it might help a few of you out as well.:)
Ho, Ho, …

My girls are off on Thanksgiving Break and I actually love it.  Less stress, less homework, less deadlines.  As soon as we finish Thanksgiving, of course, it is on to Christmas Fun and Activities.  Twitter Moms has asked what our Top 5 Holiday activities to do with our kids and I knew I had to share.
I am very blessed to have my Mom living nearby.  When it comes to doing fun things with my girls, she is my partner in crime and at the beginning of December we calendar the …

To go along with National Adoption Month, I have come across a wonderful book, written by an adoptive mom.  Her name is  Andrea Nepa and she is the author of Red in the Flower Bed: An Illustrated Children’s Story about Interracial Adoption.
Red in the Flower Bed is about:

The journey of adoption is beautifully depicted with the comforting imagery of a poppy flower who is welcomed into a garden family. It is a charming story of seeds being planted in the perfect place – exactly where they belong. Children and …

A little while back, I was offered the chance by Mom Select to host a “ZhuZhu Pets” Party.  My girls are always game for a party so I said sure, send me what I need for the party.  Much to my surprise, a very large box arrived containing some adorable little critters who have now been nominated Toy of the Year and are hot, Hot, HOT!
In case you have been in some hole under the Polar ice cap and have yet to hear about the ZhuZhu Pets, let me enlighten …

You will never know how this thrills me.  When school started 2 months ago, this little girl had such a limited vocabulary that singing the ABCs this well would have been out of the question.
Way to go Pre-K teachers!
Way to go P3!!
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EVERYTHING is Bigger in Texas!
6Flags Over Texas
P1, P2 & friends
Sept. 2009

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This image was taken using the AWESOME Olympus STYLUS TOUGH 8000!

Simply a Duet for Two
P2 and Friend Oct 2009

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Thia image was taken using the AWESOME Olympus STYLUS TOUGH 8000!

We have had quite the past couple of weeks.  My oldest daughter was being baptized on Oct 10 so we had family coming in from out of town.  Of course, Brett was gone Sunday through Wed late, my aunt arrived Tuesday and his parents arrived Thursday, not to mention it was a regular school week.  I had to finish the sleeves on P1’s dress and try to have the house in some semblance of order.

Well, that part all came together and the Baptism was wonderful.  P1 was so thrilled …

Huh? Did ya?  Well, it is.  In fact, the first week of October is ALWAYS Fire Prevention week.  And yes, that is me over there in one of my favorite dresses at about age 2 sitting up like a really cool kidlet in the big fire engine at City of Vernon Fire Department with my Daddy.  Not only was he part of the Engine Crew for many years, going on to become the Captain and then moving from Fire Suppression to Fire Prevention.  (Can ya tell I am just …

This Giveaway is Now Closed.
Welcome to Fall Allergy season! I don’t know about you but down here at our house we are all sneezin’, wheezin’ and coughing as the beloved Ragweed rages on.  Thankfully neither Brett or the Girls nor I get near as sick as some of the patients did when I worked for Gerald Moore, MD PA in North Texas.  As his shotroom guru, I had many, many patients who were miserable not only in the Fall but other times of the year as well and some …

P1 recently had her birthday and almost the only thing she wanted was a Nintendo DS, preferably in pink.  Since she was SO sure she was going to get one, I could not help making her guess a little when it came to  the package it came in.  She started by unwrapping this box of Quaker Oatmeal…something that has never passed her lips.
She was an incredibly good sport about it…never once getting frustrated or angry.  She just kept on opening…
And opening….
and opening until she finally arrived at this cool little …

It was my birthday and now I am 3!

I LOVE opening presents!

Ooh, what’s this?

Let’s try this out!

P2 was all set to help with the fun!

P1 also.  Sometimes they thought it was their birthday.

My party was all about Kai Lan.

I love Kai Lan – she looks just like me!

Good thing  Target had lots of Kai Lan stuff!

Now I can play Kai Lan with my sisters all the time!

Mommy let me pick out what I wanted and then made my cake.

Happy birthday to me, P3!

Thanks for stopping by! If you have a …

Have you noticed where you live that the mornings and evenings are a bit cooler?  I have and I am loving it!  Fall is my favorite season of all.  Maybe that is because my birthday and Halloween, two of my favorite things are in October.  Halloween was such fun as a child and now that I have kids of my own, it is fun all over again.  We like to plan ahead for our costumes too.  This year I am trying to sell ALL three of them on our …

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These images were taken using the AWESOME Olympus STYLUS TOUGH 8000 – yes, even underwater!

I have 6 kids here and one more on the way and everyone is getting along! Soon I am making lunch too and since it is Mac n Cheese, that is cool too. Then I will tell them that they can have Otter Pops outside afterward…maybe they will stay out and play for a little while too…giggle…

ps…my oldest daughter just laughed when I said Otter Pops…that’s what they were called when I was a kid, sorry.

We took the girls to see the Circus last week and while it is not the circus of my childhood (what happened to having 3 rings, hmm?), my girls did not know the difference.

On With the Show!

There is still time for you to go see them here in Dallas/Ft. Worth plus check their schedule for a city near you! Don’t forget to get you tickets from Ticketmaster for $11 each (minimum of 4 tickets) by using the Mom Central Discount code: MOM. Enjoy the show!
All images were taken …

Grandma’s house is many things including homemade bread and jam, game after game of croquet, and a peaceful, quiet neighborhood.

It is always fun to visit Grandma and Grandpa’s home!

And fun is another of the descriptions I would use for the STYLUS TOUGH 8000 because it is just so easy to use.  I push one button and it turns on quickly and is ready to use.  It focuses quickly so there you don’t miss the shot.  And offloading the pictures is a breeze – insert the USB cable that comes with …

As our vacation continued on, so did the fun discovering the other great things this camera can do.
We drove through the Dinosaur National Monument area then stayed a couple of nights with my aunt in American Fork and had a wonderful visit.  She joined us on our visit to Bridal Veil Falls and Park City.
Brett and I had both been to Dinosaur National Monument before and since P1 and P2 love Dinosaurs, we figured they would be just as amazed by the Fossil Bone Quarry as we had.  Unfortunately, it …

We are indeed back safe and sound from vacation (plus BlogHer and a trip to Boston with TJ Maxx/Marshalls for me) with many a great story to tell so let’s get started!

We were driving through Colorado on July 4th, en route to Steamboat Springs for the night.  This was a fun little stop.

I’d say P3 thinks she is right at home here in the US, wouldn’t you?

P2 was loving the fresh air and sunshine.

P1’s shirt is so true…Miss Independent!

Just to show you a little of what this camera is capable …

My girls are lovin’ vacation, especially on the day we went to Park City!  Aren’t they the cutest!?!
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I am so excited to have it opportunity from Olympus to try out their Stylus Tough 8000!! The timing could not have been more perfect…our vacation that takes us through Texas, New Mexico, Colorad0, Utah, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma for a couple of weeks plus the fun of BlogHer09 at the end of the month!  So, as we go along on our trip, you get to come along with me, learn about the Stylus Tough and see some of the pictures it takes.  After all, isn’t that THE point …

As you remember, in Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that folks take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So following Kailani’s lead, I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link over on An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy …

P3 at 10 Months Old
Nanchang, Jiangxi China

June 2007

Silly Girl!
P3 2 years at HOME!
June 2009
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Happy P1 with cute new haircut enjoying the Zoo Merry-Go-Round

These two really had love at first sight! Grammie & P3 enjoying the Zoo Merry-Go-Round Together.

June 2009

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We Hope You Know How Loved You Are!!

As you remember, in Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that folks take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So following Kailani’s lead, I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link over on An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy …

My baby is now a Kindergarten Graduate!
…sniff, sniff…

June 2009

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P2 displaying her colorful eggs with a cheesy grin.
Easter 2009

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P3 in her Adoption Referral picture About 6 months old
P3 building sand castles @ Zadow Park. About 31 months old.

Last week was the 2 year anniversary of the first time I saw my daughter’s face…something I will NEVER forget!

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THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED – Congratulations to our Three Winners:
Noreen
Sue
Tamara B.
Thanks to all who participated.  Stay tuned for our upcoming giveaways!

Here at our house, Springtime is in full swing.  The temperatures are perfect and my kids just love to be outside.  Keeping them happy and entertained is always a good thing.:)  Well, Yoplait was channeling my vibe  and sent us their Get Active prize pack (pictured below).
We’re big fans of Yoplait in this house. Remember this post with P3 lovin’ her yogurt?
Well, she still does as does P2.  …

It has been quite the day and it’s not over yet.  My migraine of the past couple days finally cleared so P3 and I were off to run some much needed errands. Three hours…it took three hours to visit two stores!
How is it that a 2 1/2 yr old is so darn exhausting!?!  Seriously.  Oh My Gosh!  She is like Paxton reincarnate! (Paxton is my friend’s child who is so smart and so busy that he has kept his mother on her toes practically from Day 1.)  She has …

Grammie got more help than she bargained for!  And the cake…Dulce de Leche cake from Market Street…
D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!
March 2009

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Accidents happen.  That is one of my favorite phrases…just ask my kids.  And when you are little, they happen a lot.  Take my oldest daughter, for example.  She recently took a tumble while riding her scooter.  After I gave her some love and dried her tears, we inspected the damage.  The Diagnosis?  Time for Salve and a Bandaid! (another of my common phrases:).

Out comes the Neosporin.  I remember my mom using it on my cuts and scrapes as a kid.  In fact, she still does.  Neosporin is a staple for …

P3 – Somebody Done Her Wrong
Mar 2009

This girl can turn on the crocodile tears better than anyone I know  So pitiful!
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THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND COMMENTS ARE CLOSED
Since this was a joint giveaway with What’s That Smell?, we pulled a finalist from each site and then a winner from those 2.
The winner is:
#132 from the entries on 3 P’s: Teresha
This past weekend was crazy busy in our house as we did our version of Spring Cleaning – overhauling and changing the girls’ rooms around.  P1 and P2 have decide to become roommates, something we have our doubts about to some degree but know, as semi-wise parents that it is …

This is something new for me, participating in the I HEART Faces challenge of the week but with my love of photos and scrapbooking, this seems like a natural extension.  This week the subject of the week that I have chosen is KIDS Pouting and as any mom can tell you, that happens a LOT.  Take a look:

That would be my middle child, P2 pouting.
She is good at it.

I ? Faces is a photography site focused on the art of capturing faces and their various emotions. Each week, people from …

Remember me telling you about Disney on Ice? Well, we got to go as well and we had a blast!  I was a little concerned about P3 getting bored or too tired – I could not have been more wrong!!  As one of the Feld Family Activators, we got to come to a special Meet & Greet with Mickey and Minnie before the show started and the girls could not have been more happily surprised.  It truly was a Magical Journey!
I have more to tell you about it but …

For the first time in my life, I am actually COOL.

You know  those cute boys Mark Ballas and Derek Hough (pronouced Huff)  from Dancing With The Stars, right? And remember a couple of weeks ago I told you how they are not only good friends but also partners in their band,  Ballas Hough Band, formerly called Almost Amy. Well just last week on March 10 they released their first cd, BHB and I was lucky enough to have a copy sent to me by the cool chicks at One2One Network.

Well, …

You may recall me telling you about a cool new game back in January for Nintendo DS, available from SouthPeak Games called Big Bang Mini.  In case you didn’t have anything better to do than rush out and buy it at that time, I got the chance to review it recently so I have some more scoop for you.  First, here is a taste of what to expect:

So, what do you think?  Fun right?  Well, it is!  Here are some bits of basic information on it:
Made for Nintendo DS
Release Date: …

My mom started piano lessons at a very early age…4 I believe.  Practice, practice, practice she did and is to this day a very capable pianist.  Brett and I knew that we wanted our girls to learn to read music and hopefully play an instrument so we researched a bit to find out what age would be optimal to begin lessons.  The consensus we reached was at about age 8 as they are able to read, sit for sufficient length of time and follow directions at that age.  Mom has …

Babies, Babies Everywhere!
P3’s First Home, the Fengxin SWI
I am so grateful for the good care she got there.  I just wish they all had their forever family!
January 2007
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A girl and her hard-won Daddy.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
Feb.2009

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Alyson

When you look at my three girls, you know straight off that they were not all born to the same parents. They are unique.

When you spend much time around them, you know that they do not all have the same temperaments. They are unique.

They are each loved for that very uniqueness.
Johnson’s brand has spent the last 50 years helping Moms care for their precious, unique babies and in our home it has been no different.  I know my Mom used it on me.  I used it on P1 …

Okay, I admit it.  I was one of those kids.  You know, the kind who are always chosen last when it comes to picking teams in sports.  *sniff*  Needless to say, I was much more attracted to sports that did not require quite as much team interaction such as gymnastics, horseback riding and tennis.  Thankfully, I married a man who actually enjoys several team sports and is more than happy to help teach and encourage our girls in sports, especially tennis and basketball.
When I was contacted recently about the USTA …

Today, school is over and P2 comes running in the door to show me something.
P2:  “Mama, guess what – Guess What?!?! ”
Shows me a heart-shaped bracelet.
“This means *John Doe and I are R*E*A*L*L*Y gonna get MARE-EED!”
And with that she happily skipped off.

*The  names have been changed to protect the innocent.:)

Both P1 and P2 have expressed interest in learning to play an instrument – piano, violin, guitar – and their dad and I are all for it. After doing a bit of research, we decided that was something we would start once they turn 8 and as hard as it may be to believe, gulp, P1 will be 8 this Fall. Of course, we want them to start off on the right foot and be willing and perhaps even happy to practice their instrument once said lessons begin (as …

If you recall, P1 is our daughter that we adopted domestically at birth.  We learned that her birthmom had selected us to be her family about two months before she was due to be born.  We were beside ourselves with excitement but had to do the best we could to keep it all under wraps until it was a done deal, so to speak, just in case the adoption did not go through. So during those two months, we knew we were hopefully adopting a newborn but that was about …

If you are a regular reader here, you have heard me rumbling about some behavioural issues we have been having with P1, our bright and shiny 7 year old.  She is as smart as a whip and twice as sassy these days.  Some of that is to her benefit and some, yeah, well, not so much.  She has always been a very emotional child.  On the positive side, she can have the most tender of hearts and give you an all-encompassing hug that you can see, feel hear and taste, …