NOLA New Year

With the kids' winter break over two weeks long, we decided to take a little trip south again.  This year we ventured to New Orleans where, while overcast, we enjoyed weather much milder than at home.  We planned each day carefully and had mostly fun times, despite a few tantrums.

12/30: fly to NOLA, Story Land at City Park, po boys
12/31: Cafe du Monde, LA Children's Museum, Bourbon Street
01/01: Gulfport, MS - meet grandma and grandpa, Ocean Adventures park, playground, beach
01/02: French Quarter Kids tour, ride the streetcars
01/03: Canal Street Ferry, cemeteries, Destrahan Plantation, fly home

Fun facts about this trip...

... our rental apartment shared a wall with this night club.  We basically partied into the wee hours each night vicariously.

... we learned that Ella likes smoked salmon.

... at the sight of a beach, our son instantly strips naked.

... a shout out to French Quarter Kids Tours for an awesome private tour tailored to our kids' needs and at a very discounted rate.

... Emilia was given beads just for being her joyful herself.

... Ella touched and fed a dolphin. #mamaisjealous

Happy 2019

From our family to yours with warm wishes of hope and peace for the year to come.

What we call the beginning is often the end

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

- T.S. Eliot

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Rex attended his first professional football game today.  Go Colts!

Advent Calendar Day 21

As I was thinking of ideas for Ella's Advent calendar, I learned that December 21 is Short Girl Appreciation Day.  Who knew?  I asked family and friends to send encouraging notes to Ella for today and this morning, she was able to feel the love from her village through thoughtful letters and text messages.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to show appreciation for our short girl.

Happy Elf Day

Emilia has declared December 20th Elf Day.  Don't argue, just roll with it.

Advent Calendar Day 11

Ice-skating with daddy was a big hit and something Ella did not expect in her Advent calendar.

IAC 441-443

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 441 which was held on October 11, 2018:

1) German dossier from May 2012 referred a male child aged 7 years and 2 months with features in health status

2) US dossier from July 2012 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

3) Italian dossier from January 2014 referred a female child aged 8 years

4) French dossier from February 2014 referred a male child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status and a family history

5) US dossier from May 2014 referred a female child aged 4 years and 2 months with features in health status and a family history

6) French dossier from July 2018 referred a male child aged 10 years and 6 months with features in health status

7) US dossier from July 2018 referred a brother and sister aged 10 years and 4 months & 9 years and 4 months with features in health status

8) US dossier from October 2018 referred two waiting children (#3407 & #3408) with profiles on the MOJ site

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 442 which was held on October 18, 2018:

1) Norwegian dossier from April 2012 referred a female child aged 1 year and 5 months

2) Luxembourg dossier from April 2012 referred a male child aged 1 year and 1 month

3) Italian dossier from June 2012 referred sisters aged 6 years and 5 months & 4 years and 9 months

4) Italian dossier from November 2012 referred a male child aged 3 years and 7 months with features in health status

5) Spanish dossier from May 2013 referred a male child ages 8 years and 7 months

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 443 which was held on October 25, 2018:

1) Dutch dossier from May 2012 referred a male child aged 3 years and 2 months

2) Spanish dossier from June 2012 referred a male child aged 1 year

3) Italian dossier from July 2012 referred a male child aged 7 years and 8 months with features in health status

4) Spanish dossier from July 2012 referred a male child aged 5 years and 1 month with features with health status

5) US dossier from August 2014 referred a female child aged 9 years and 10 months

6) Canadian dossier from August 2014 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

7) Canadian dossier from June 2015 referred sisters aged 6 years and 9 months with features in health status

8) US dossier from June 2016 referred a male child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status

9) US dossier from February 2017 referred a male child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

10) Italian dossier from May 2017 referred a female child aged 10 years and 7 months