"The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child." - Joe Houldsworth
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Joys Of Nauntying
Sometimes the cuteness I'm able to enjoy as a Naunty is just too much. This is what I saw when I checked in on my littlest nephew's nap time recently:
"The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child." - Joe Houldsworth
"The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child." - Joe Houldsworth
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Fun In The Snow
I know it doesn't have quite the same ring as fun in the sun, but yesterday Craig did have a blast playing in the snow with our nephews and neighborhood kids. A snowstorm had dropped about six inches of the white stuff throughout the day and since we knew our nephews would be with us in the evening, Craig promised them some sled-riding after work. We have a decent hill in our backyard, so there's good potential for speed. Here are a couple of photos:
Craig was at the bottom of the hill catching the kids before they slid onto the frozen pond. In total, we had six boys aged 2-13 here, five of them riding their sleds.
Craig was at the bottom of the hill catching the kids before they slid onto the frozen pond. In total, we had six boys aged 2-13 here, five of them riding their sleds.
I can't wait until next year when our son will be part of these snow shenanigans.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Into The Closet
On Monday, Craig and I accomplished another goal in preparing for our son’s homecoming as we installed dressers in the kids’ room closet. The project was intended to be fairly simple: one quick trip to Ikea, pick out two dressers, put them together, and be done. Well, not so fast.
During our first trip to Ikea we bought two dressers, a low one and a taller one to sit on top of it. When we came home and opened the boxes, we realized we had bought the dressers in two different colors: white (which is what we wanted) and birch veneer. A simple exchange could have solved this matter had it not turned out that one of the dressers is not made in white, so we had to consider other options to have the furniture match. Fortunately, the white looked to be much more of a yellowish cream color which made it easier for us to choose the birch veneer.
So, we kept the lower dresser in the birch veneer and Craig headed back to Ikea to exchange the white dresser for a four-drawer dresser in the same wood finish. Then we started assembling the first piece of furniture which was rather quick and easy with two people on the job. But after we put the lower dresser into the closet, I started having second thoughts about the four-drawer dresser on top of it. It would be too high to be fully useful to me and it would also pose a potential risk of tipping over. So, after some consideration, we decided on a three drawer dresser instead. Hence, Craig made his third trip in as many days back to Ikea.
Two days ago, we assembled the second dresser and stacked it on top of the first one. Craig bolted both of them into the closet wall (one side per chance even hit a stud) to prevent them from falling over if little monkeys should try to climb them. Then I moved all of the clothes I have already bought for the kids into the drawers and also organized various other items into the closet. Here’s what it looks like and there’s storage to spare (for now):
During our first trip to Ikea we bought two dressers, a low one and a taller one to sit on top of it. When we came home and opened the boxes, we realized we had bought the dressers in two different colors: white (which is what we wanted) and birch veneer. A simple exchange could have solved this matter had it not turned out that one of the dressers is not made in white, so we had to consider other options to have the furniture match. Fortunately, the white looked to be much more of a yellowish cream color which made it easier for us to choose the birch veneer.
So, we kept the lower dresser in the birch veneer and Craig headed back to Ikea to exchange the white dresser for a four-drawer dresser in the same wood finish. Then we started assembling the first piece of furniture which was rather quick and easy with two people on the job. But after we put the lower dresser into the closet, I started having second thoughts about the four-drawer dresser on top of it. It would be too high to be fully useful to me and it would also pose a potential risk of tipping over. So, after some consideration, we decided on a three drawer dresser instead. Hence, Craig made his third trip in as many days back to Ikea.
Two days ago, we assembled the second dresser and stacked it on top of the first one. Craig bolted both of them into the closet wall (one side per chance even hit a stud) to prevent them from falling over if little monkeys should try to climb them. Then I moved all of the clothes I have already bought for the kids into the drawers and also organized various other items into the closet. Here’s what it looks like and there’s storage to spare (for now):
By the way, I would like to say thanks to Craig’s mom, sister, brother and brother’s girlfriend for the Visa gift cards they gave us at the baby shower. We put the money toward purchasing this furniture. What a great, practical, and long-lasting present!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
IAC 165 & 166 Results
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 165 which was held on 11/26/10:
1) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a waiting child with a profile on the MOJ site
2) US dossier from 2010 referred two waiting children with profiles on the MOJ site
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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 166 which was held on 12/03/10:
1) Italian dossier from 2006 referred a child under 4 yo, male
2) Italian dossier from 2006 referred a child under 4 yo, male
3) Greek dossier from 2007 referred a child up to 3 yo, male, with features in health status including family history
4) French dossier from 2008 referred a child up to 3 yo, male, with features in health status
5) French dossier from 2009 referred a child up to 6 yo, male, with features in health status including family history
6) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child up to 9 yo, male, with features in health status
7) Dutch dossier from 2009 referred a child up to 1 yo, female, with features in health status
8) Swiss dossier from 2010 referred a child up to 2 yo, female, with features in health status
1) Italian dossier from 2010 referred a waiting child with a profile on the MOJ site
2) US dossier from 2010 referred two waiting children with profiles on the MOJ site
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 166 which was held on 12/03/10:
1) Italian dossier from 2006 referred a child under 4 yo, male
2) Italian dossier from 2006 referred a child under 4 yo, male
3) Greek dossier from 2007 referred a child up to 3 yo, male, with features in health status including family history
4) French dossier from 2008 referred a child up to 3 yo, male, with features in health status
5) French dossier from 2009 referred a child up to 6 yo, male, with features in health status including family history
6) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child up to 9 yo, male, with features in health status
7) Dutch dossier from 2009 referred a child up to 1 yo, female, with features in health status
8) Swiss dossier from 2010 referred a child up to 2 yo, female, with features in health status
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Our Baby Shower
Last night, Craig and I had plans to have dinner with our cousins Bryan and Maria who live in Virginia. We hadn’t seen them since June, so we were excited to have them in town for the holidays and get a chance to catch up. Coming back to their home state, they told us they wanted to eat at a favorite local pizza place and, of course, we gladly agreed.
When we got to the restaurant, I wasn’t sure why, but Bryan quickly walked us into a private room. It was a bit of a blur and there wasn’t really time in my mind to question what was happening. A moment later, I was looking at people around the table and thinking, "Wow, there sure's a lot of faces here that look like folks I know. How weird!" For a second, my brain just couldn't make the connection that it was actually our family and when it did, I thought, "That's strange that Bryan and Maria invited everyone to have dinner with them. I guess they have to see a lot of people in a short time while they’re here." Then I realized that everyone was looking at Craig and me with a lot of anticipation and I actually said out loud, "What is this?" Craig's brother's girlfriend pointed up to a balloon and responded, "It's a boy." And that's when I finally realized we were in the middle of a surprise baby shower for us and our little guy.
We had a wonderful time with the small group of relatives Bryan and Maria had gathered to celebrate our son. We had pizza and homemade cheesecake, balloons and presents, laughter and good conversation, and most importantly, the joy of being surrounded by our loved ones.
Craig and I definitely didn’t have the slightest idea that a baby shower was in the works for us or taking place last night. We were so glad to see our siblings and cousins there and to know how happy and excited they are for us and how much they want to meet our little guy. Thank you, Bryan and Maria, for this incredible surprise and thank you everyone for coming, for your generosity, support, and love, and for sharing this special journey with us.
When we got to the restaurant, I wasn’t sure why, but Bryan quickly walked us into a private room. It was a bit of a blur and there wasn’t really time in my mind to question what was happening. A moment later, I was looking at people around the table and thinking, "Wow, there sure's a lot of faces here that look like folks I know. How weird!" For a second, my brain just couldn't make the connection that it was actually our family and when it did, I thought, "That's strange that Bryan and Maria invited everyone to have dinner with them. I guess they have to see a lot of people in a short time while they’re here." Then I realized that everyone was looking at Craig and me with a lot of anticipation and I actually said out loud, "What is this?" Craig's brother's girlfriend pointed up to a balloon and responded, "It's a boy." And that's when I finally realized we were in the middle of a surprise baby shower for us and our little guy.
We had a wonderful time with the small group of relatives Bryan and Maria had gathered to celebrate our son. We had pizza and homemade cheesecake, balloons and presents, laughter and good conversation, and most importantly, the joy of being surrounded by our loved ones.
Craig and I definitely didn’t have the slightest idea that a baby shower was in the works for us or taking place last night. We were so glad to see our siblings and cousins there and to know how happy and excited they are for us and how much they want to meet our little guy. Thank you, Bryan and Maria, for this incredible surprise and thank you everyone for coming, for your generosity, support, and love, and for sharing this special journey with us.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
IAC 163 & 164 Results
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 163 which was held on 11/18/10:
1) Italian dossier from 2007 referred a child under 4 old, male
2) Swiss dossier from 2007 referred a child under 4 yo, female, with a family history
3) Italian dossier from 2008 referred a child up to age 5, male, with features in the neuro-psychological development
4) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child up to age 5, female, with data on family history
5) Luxemburg dossier from 2009 referred a child up to age 3, male, with features in health status
6) French dossier from 2009 referred a child up to age 8, female
7) Dutch dossier from 2010 referred three biological children with respect to 7 years old, male
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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 164 which was held on 11/19/10:
1) Norwegian dossier from 2006 referred a child up to 3 years old, female with a family history
2) Cyprus dossier from 2007 referred a child up to 5 yo, female
3) Greek dossier from 2008 referred a child up to age 6, female
4) Italian dossier from 2008 referred two biological children with respect to age 5, males
5) Cyprus dossier from 2008 referred a child up to age 6, female
6) Italian dossier from 2008 referred a child up to age 6, male, with a healthy margin
7) Dutch dossier from 2008 referred two biological children with respect to age 6, males
8) US dossier from 2009 referred a child under 10 yo, male
1) Italian dossier from 2007 referred a child under 4 old, male
2) Swiss dossier from 2007 referred a child under 4 yo, female, with a family history
3) Italian dossier from 2008 referred a child up to age 5, male, with features in the neuro-psychological development
4) Italian dossier from 2009 referred a child up to age 5, female, with data on family history
5) Luxemburg dossier from 2009 referred a child up to age 3, male, with features in health status
6) French dossier from 2009 referred a child up to age 8, female
7) Dutch dossier from 2010 referred three biological children with respect to 7 years old, male
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 164 which was held on 11/19/10:
1) Norwegian dossier from 2006 referred a child up to 3 years old, female with a family history
2) Cyprus dossier from 2007 referred a child up to 5 yo, female
3) Greek dossier from 2008 referred a child up to age 6, female
4) Italian dossier from 2008 referred two biological children with respect to age 5, males
5) Cyprus dossier from 2008 referred a child up to age 6, female
6) Italian dossier from 2008 referred a child up to age 6, male, with a healthy margin
7) Dutch dossier from 2008 referred two biological children with respect to age 6, males
8) US dossier from 2009 referred a child under 10 yo, male
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Family Christmas 2010
On Saturday, Craig and I hosted a little family Christmas gathering at a cabin we rented at a local campground. We met up with everyone in the afternoon and then spent the next six hours chatting, frolicking in the snow, hanging around the campfire, eating, and playing games. Here are a few photos:
Yes, my nephews rode their bikes and sleds on the frozen pond with encouragement and participation from their uncle, my husband. Such shenanigans are par for the course any time those guys get together.
Despite the snow, we had a nice campfire going and even made smores.
Despite the snow, we had a nice campfire going and even made smores.
For dinner, I had prepared baked spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and from scratch potato soup. Judging by the nearly non-existent amount of leftovers, everything must have tasted great. For dessert, I made a chocolate cake with peanutbutter icing. I decided to try my hand at marshmallow fondant again which went much better than my first foray into this sphere. Still, I kept it simple and just cut out some fondant stars to decorate the cake. I think it turned out well.
After dinner, some of our guests returned home, but Craig’s sister and her sons stayed overnight in the cabin with us. Before bed, we played games for a few hours in the loft which put a new twist on Charades: no standing up while acting out the words. Here is Craig giving our middle nephew some help with how to convey a term to the rest of us:
On Sunday morning, there was time for breakfast and for opening Christmas presents, but then we had to pack up and go home.
I just can’t wait for our little guy to be part of all this fun in the years to come.
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