One More

Just a try at a photo contest over at I Heart Faces. I am such a beginner compared to the others who submit such gorgeous work but why not, it's worth a shot right?

And I Think to Myself...

What a wonderful world! I see snow falling slowly and coating the trees. I see 3 snow angles on my front lawn. I see my 9 yr old help his sister to make a snowball. I see my kids eating dinner by candlelight because the power went out for a whole night.















Last week we were on vacation in Aruba. I saw white sand and crystal blue water. I saw my 2 yr old daughter swim without floaties and throw herself under water. I saw my 5 year old snorkel for the first time and squeal as striped fish floated by him. I saw the memories being made as the kids shared meals, took walks and ate ice cream with their grandparents.

































And I think to myself...what a wonderful world.

The L's have a new Cousin!

This year our holiday plans were a bit altered and with good reason. Usually it's our crazy routine of Xmas eve in NJ with Rick's family then we head back home so that the kids can wake up in their own house on Christmas Day(Yes, we usually jump in the car around 11 and get back to spread out the gifts around 3 am).
2010, however, had to be different. You see, after all the adoption ups and downs, my cousins Laurie and Mike finally have a son. Anthony arrived home from Taiwan in late November and Dec 26th was his baptism day. So we packed up the car once again after a party in North Jersey and spending Christmas in south Jersey, off to Long Island we went in the middle of a blizzard. The kids were so cool with the plan. After all, they were meeting their new cousin and waiting for them at home was a mountain of presents! Here are a few pics...

Tis the Season

Can you make out the name on the heart? It says Julia. This is the name we chose for our daughter who was born on Nov 29,1999 and passed that very same night. This is the day in which we begin our Christmas decorating every year in honor of our little angel who was born too soon and changed our lives forever. Yes, it has been 11 years but as many of you out there unfortunately know, a loss such as this doesn't ever just go away, no matter how many subsequent children you may have or how many years pass by. It's always a missing piece of your family...always a hole in your heart.
So once again we dedicate our tree to our little messenger. Without you, our family would never be what it is today. Fly high little one and thank you for choosing me to be your mom. With this our season begins...

Ornaments, some old some new...




We took our gingerbread houses very seriously...







How beautiful is this? My friend Maggie made 2 for us...


An anniversary gift from Mom and Dad. Dec 5 was 12 years for us!


The National Christmas Tree. Not quite Rockefeller Center but when in Rome...



Hope everyone is enjoying the joy of the season so far!!

Holy Crap!

CRAP is what I woke up to find all over the kitchen table today...yes that's mini frozen pizza Lily decided to eat for a before breakfast snack.


CRAP is what we found on the floor when we thought it was ok to keep Lily out of a diaper on Saturday...toilet training is up and down these days. Happy to say it was on the hardwood.



CRAP is a word my 9 yr old just loves to use these days..."Ah crap I forgot my book," or "Ah crap, I don't want to go to bed." I am not loving it.


CRAP is what I find all over if I even turn my head for a second...Lily has learned that the safety cabinet locks come off if they aren't tight enough...Great!

CRAP it's a good thing they are cute!!

Adoption Bill

This may be of interest to many...
International Adoption Simplification Act to be signed into law