Chinese New Year!

We had a great and busy weekend!  Saturday we did some packing...not so much fun, but Sunday we met some friends at the Chinese Cultural Center in  Phoenix. Samantha rode the ponies, the train and the ferris wheel.  There was some wonderful dancers, and of course the Lion and the Dragon.  Was a good and exhausting day! 

I heard her in  her room that night saying over and over until she fell asleep, happy new year in Mandarin.  Such a cutie!  

Yesterday was Valentines day, and I, mother of the year forgot! Luckily I was able to rush and and do something on the fly...phew.  Still getting used to doing everything on my own.  Daddy will be home soon! 

2011...Going to Be a Game Changer!!

Well, this is it, it seems.  Looks like we are headed back to the northeast! Frank took a new job that will have him traveling  90% of the time, so Samantha and I are going to be learning to fend for ourselves.
The only location requirement is that he is 1 hour from a major airport, so that he can get to and from his work sites easily.  He is very excited, though I have  a little more trepidations.  Its a lot that is suddenly going to be thrown on my plate.  The household, cleaning, cooking, maintaining, bills...yard work!  Ugh! Plus all the childcare and my full time job.  Yikes!

The job comes with great beni's, and some real opportunity though, so we are going to get through it. The biggest change will come in the Spring, when we leave pack our house and head back to the northeast.  This job came about while looking for jobs back there, so now it's official.  We will be living near my family, and closer to his. Exit hot summers and warm winter's, enter 4 seasons....including...gulp...winter!

We are making a bucket list of sorts, "Things we must do in AZ before we leave!".  Today we took advantage of our great location, drove 10 min to the desert and went for a walk.  collecting rocks, sticks, and checking out the different animal footprints.  Any desert dwellers got any ideas for "MUST DO's" before we go?  Would love to hear them.

TTFN

A wonderful Holiday Season Passes

Thanksgiving, Christmas, all have passed  and now we are in a new year. Samantha enjoyed the holidays completely.  She is truly at the height of her belief in the magic of Christmas. Early in December we went to the Apache Junction Christmas parade that started with tons of snow deposited on Main St. It was definitely a little more uh..Apache Junction-ish, ahem...last year was much better, and cozier on the library grounds.

Megan and Sage came with us, and thanks to the girls, Miss Samantha actually sat on Santa's lap this year!

Sage, Sam and Megan on Santa's Lap

Then the following weekend we went to the annual party at Jr's and Janet's party in Glendale.  She had a great time again and we got to see some of the adoptive families that we have come to know over the past few years. She again was so excited about Santa.  Mrs. Claus gave all the kids a bell, and she read them the  

Polar Express.  Each child was to ring the bell if they believed.  Samantha was wide eyed as Santa came through the gate.  When he called her name, she went right up and sat on his lap.  He gave her her present and she was beyond excited!  She got a camera!  She has played with it ever since. 

We did a few drives around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights, and the week before Christmas we went up to dinner at Ben and Erin's.  We had a really nice evening and after the fashion show with the girls, we went to a home in Gold Canyon and checked out the elaborate train set up for Christmas by one of the neighbors.  People ask, how can it feel Christmasy here with no snow?  That night felt like the ultamate Christmas event.  Hot chocolate, Christmas music, kids the train set up for Christmas...was perfect! 

The two Diva's during their fashion Show! 

Megan and Sam at the Train House Drinking their hot chocolate.

One of the other big events of the season was Samantha's dance recital! She did amazing!  Was a long tiring day, but she did a great job! 

The attendies!




We also met Denise, Todd and Jiandra at the McCormick Train Park! The lights were amazing there! The girls had a great time playing with all the characters, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Buzz Lightyear...was fun!

Christmas Eve my mother had a party and the usual Christmas Revelers came over!  A good time was had by all!

   


 

Christmas morning was magical!  Thanks to Skype we got to visit with family back east while we open some presents.  Santa was very good to Samantha, he brought her all kinds of goodies.  A trunk full of princess dresses, and some electronics...was  a great day. 

The Holidays wrapped up with a New Years Eve party at our house!  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Scooter Rides and Trick or Treats!

Well, the Vespa is for sale.  Yes, it's killing me.  I really love that scooter and last week had the pleasure of a gorgeous night time ride under the full moon. I could smell the mesquite, the creosote, and the occasional horse. Was a total AZ experience.  One of those nights I want to etch into my brain to remember AZ by. Was really spectacular.  If the Vespa has to go, at least my last ride was a spectacular one.  

Halloween!  What a week of partying we had!  Samantha helped me get out all the Halloween decor and decide where they should go. She is becoming quite the little decorator.  Apparently she helps Mimere do this as well! Friday morning, I volunteered at the the Bridges to help with the Halloween party.  (I can't believe I ever wanted to become a pre-school teacher, yowza!) There was games, they made spider hats, and 5 little pumpkins to go along with their song.  Then there was a snack.  It was good to see exactly what goes on in her class all day, I don't know how Miss Dianna does this EVERY day!

Friday night redbrick had the annual Halloween party, the who office was converted into a haunted house, complete with VERY scary decor and animated battery powered creatures!  Was quite scary for a 3 year old, but she wanted to go through the scary part over and over...after her initial shock!  I think she like to face her fears...I am very proud of her for that!

Saturday we had dance in the morning, then rested Sat afternoon, a wonderful pumpkin carving party at Lauren's house!  Donna went ALL OUT and everything looked fantastic, tasted great and the kids had a blast! 

Dad and his prize pumpkin! 

Samantha and her bud, Lauren

All the little goblins lined up! 

Then of course the big day itself!  Halloween! It was hot...of course, but the night cooled down nicely.  Ben, Erin, Megan, Paula, Sage, Mel and Ross all came over.  Megan has trick or treated here her whole life, and Paula and Sage were new to the group this year! Mel and Ross came over to ooh and ahh at the costumes and hold down the candy fort while  we took the kiddies around!  Was a fun night! Samantha could have gone another hour I think but the 8 year olds were complaining about their feet and ready  call it a night after about a hour.  Uncle Ben loaded everyone up in the back of the pickup to get to the spookiest spots in the 'hood! Samantha again was a little afraid, but insisted on going up to every door, scary or not!  Then she would wave good bye to the scary guys!  I can't believe this was our 3rd Halloween with her, time is flying.  It was a magical weekend, and one we will never forget.  Life is good. 

Megan the "Aggressive Cat", Sage Cleopatra and Samantha, the Lady-Bug-Princess! 

Samantha's  friend the skeleton!

Vacation Back East!

We are back!  As usual we had an incredible time!  The trip started with the long long drive from AZ to Hampton Beach.  Samantha was AMAZING!! We couldn't believe how well she took to the road trip.  The first morning after 1 hour in the car she asked if we were there yet, I thought, "oh boy!" but that was the last of it!  She was a trooper! She had her little table from One Step Ahead http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=534362&parentCategoryId=85184&categoryId=85218 that was great, she played games, colored, did her puzzles etc.  She watched a couple of movies a day, but really way less than I thought she would want to!  We played a game that we made a wish every time we crossed over into a new state and whoever saw cows/horses first raised their hands!  She did sooo good. We will definitely do it again!

Once we got to Hampton Beach however the clouds opened up and the wind started.  We were just steps from the beach, but got sandblasted!  So that was fine, we hung out, went to our favorite breakfast place in Maine http://congdons.com/ and on another day we went to the Acton Discovery Museum which was perfect for Sam and her cousins! They had a blast!

We did manage to have one fabulous hot beach day!  Was fantastic!

Then we hopped in the car again, this time for a much shorter drive to the lake!  Lots of friends family, and fun things to do!  Sam was swimming with her cousins and Grandpa, running all over the place, climbing trees, walking in the woods, boat rides, apple picking.  We saw some fall foliage, and had hot days and cool days.  She also got to the barn with Gramp and Gram and clean Piper's stall!  I am afraid she is bored now!  

My Crazy little Swimmer Girl!!

We are so proud of out little swimmer!!!  She is doing so well in swimming school that they are she is moving up to the next level after 5 weeks!  She is a little fish!  Check her out!  (Of course just because I WANT her to jump...means she won't...so a little reverse Phych is in play here!  hee hee hee)

Little Miss Pretend Girl!   That's what she is these days.  She is either Belle from Beauty and the Beast, with her basket swinging and her books in the basket complete with yellow dress. Yesterday, it was all about Cinderella, she has the rag type dress on, and she is on her hands and knees, cleaning the floor.  I love it!  Lets hope this one lasts!!