40 degrees...

It was 40 degrees and sunny today. I love the sun, and hate winter. So, off we went in boots and snow pants (even though there is no snow...) and met my friend and her little girl at the park. We had fun, and got really muddy. I was upset that I forgot my camera. A smiling child in muddy pants and boots is cute, however THIS waiting to be cleaned on my laundry room floor is NOT.

It was so nice to get outside. I have been so grumpy about this adoption wait lately and I think the sunshine cheered me up a little.
After the park we went to the library where we found this children's book...
It is about a 7 yr old unnamed sister and 5 yr old brother named Max. We haven't decided for sure but Max is the #1 on our list for Loveson. Maxson was my boy name for our daughter H. Next year W will be 7 and L will be 5, so it is a book that I'd like to own one day. It is a really cute story about Max being the annoying little brother and always in the sister's way, taking her things, etc...but in the end the sister misses Max and lets him back in her room...
So, finding this book also put a smile on my face.

Spent my Christmas $...

We have had these 2 toads for 4-5 months now, and they are doing well, so I chose to spend $30 of my Christmas money on a bigger nicer environment for them...and they love it, they even told me so!! (OK, so these are my son D's toads...the secret is, they really are my toads, I love toads. One of my fav childhood memories is when I got tadpoles from a neighbors run down pool they were getting rid of. I watched those tadpoles grow into toads and let them free. I also caught a large toad when I was young and tried to keep him as a pet, but he died. So, I originally had little faith in these guys, but they are doing good. We saved them both, one out of our sump-pump, the other from getting squished at my hubby's job site.) Don't you love the half coconut with a door cut in it? They love it, it somewhat reminds me of the huts you see in Haiti...

Also, I try to introduce new foods once in a while. My kids are picky eaters and do not like many veggies, but when I got these for them to try, a pomegranate and sugar snap peas, my son D says "Mom, where did you get these, are they American foods?" I couldn't help but laugh!!

D liked the pomegranate, H liked the sugar snap peas, B didn't care for neither.

Christmas from Haiti...

Pictures of W and L in Haiti!!

(Don't you love that shirt?)

I miss them!!

We had a good Christmas...here are the kids with some of their presents...

H likes Polly pockets...

and baby dolls... (H also has not been liking shirts lately :-)
and she loves her Click Start!!

D got Star Wars Lego's and a helmet...

and pirate ship...

and B opened an acoustic guitar from Santa and a video/camera from my parents...

(he likes his gifts...just doesn't like smiling for pictures.)

I've been tagged!

I've Been Tagged
Here the rules to receiving this award:You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous bloggers in a post.
You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.
You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.
On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.
I was tagged by Sarah @ getznelson.blogspot.com
She is adopting a cute boy from the same orphanage W and L are at. Although Sarah lives in another state than us, I feel she is a friend. Sometimes only others along side you in the process of adopting can really understand the emotions we go through. I am glad Sarah is my friend. I can always count on her for support, or to just listen to me vent.
This is what she wrote about me: A, she is another adoptive mom, with a cute family and a big heart.
Ok so five things I am addicted too:
1. Coffee...I know others are saying this, but it's true. I love my morning cup, and I usually only have one...sometimes two. But I never drink it after noonish. If I don't drink my coffee, I get migraines, and crabby...and then i realize how addicted I really am!!
2. Sunshine...I NEED sunshine. Sunshine makes me happy. I really think I am one of those people who could really benefit from a face lamp in the winter. In the winter I get grumpy and dream about those long lost summer days.
3. Kissing my kids...they will all tell you I kiss them too much. I could kiss them all day and never get enough. The older they get the less kisses they want, the less cuddling they will allow, and I am gonna get as much as I can now!!
4. Computer of course...for adoption related issues. It really becomes a compulsive disorder that I have acquired. From info on my files, to pictures, to being there for others on the adoption group, to weather in Haiti, to news going on in Haiti, etc...it's very easy to let it consume your life.
5. Feeling guilty...I always think I could do better in many aspects of my life. I am always thinking of ways to make my kids lives more fun, more simplified, more organized, more educational activities, more quality time together. I just want to raise them the best I can. There just isn't enough time in a day to do all I want with my kids, and I am sure when W and L come home, this will just intensify!!

Oh, and Sarah...I do the same thing with the TV, I laughed when I read your 5th addiction. I never watch TV...but when I go to sleep, my hubby is usually already asleep, and the house is quite...so I turn on the TV, roll over and go to sleep...I don't even care what channel it's on!

Our Christmas letter...

(I included some pics from on the letter that i mailed out to a few close friends and relatives.)

The A’s had another busy year in 2008!

B is 13 now, yes, that’s right, I am now mother of a teenager! B is taking guitar lessons and still bowling. He also loves to draw. He is on the computer, watching TV, playing video games, and hanging out with friends.

D is in Kindergarten. He played T-ball and soccer this year. He prefers soccer. In the spring he started riding a two-wheeler bike like he already knew how. It was nice not having to run behind him holding on to the seat, promising not to let go…for days and days. D loves Star Wars and Lego's. D likes to draw, swim, and play video games. D also had a few friends come for sleepovers which he thinks is the coolest thing ever.

H has started preschool! Although she is very independent at home, she is very shy at school. H also played soccer this year. She is only 3 and not old enough to play soccer here in town. So she played for M (the next town over) like D did last year. She loves riding her big bike (with training wheels). H loves to swim, color, ride horses, care for her baby dolls and watch Shrek.

We made a trip to Ohio for my brother D’s wedding. It was a great time! I am glad to see K join our family. We also had fun playing ghosts in the graveyard and having fires in our backyard making smores. We also went to the County Fair like every year.

This year we had a foreign exchange student for one month during the summer. Kazuki is a 12-year-old soccer player from Japan. It was a great experience. We took him camping, fishing, downtown Chicago on the train, a boat ride down Chicago river, Millennium Park to see the bean, miniature golfing, bowling, go-carting, a Chicago Fire soccer game, to West Beach, Brookfield zoo, and had a lot of fun hanging out here…baseball, riding bikes, fishing down the street, swimming in our pool. Thanks to my mom for helping out and paying for some of these fun days!!

In March we heard from the orphanage in Haiti that W’s brother had moved into the orphanage. We had only a couple days to decide if we wanted to also adopt him, keeping these two siblings together. After discussing that we didn’t have the money for his adoption, we decided yes…that YES we would also adopt little L. The money is not all paid at once and we will figure it out somehow. How could we not? In April my mother and I went to Haiti. My mother met W for the first time, and we both met L for the first time. We just can’t wait to get these kids home!! W just turned 6 and L 4.

A’s Home Improvements has D (hubby) working, but it is slowing down. I am down to only watching one little girl part time, but am back working Friday and Saturday nights at ******. I have also recently started a blog for our family. It’s an easier way to scrap booking. Each year you can get your blog printed and bound. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to journal your everyday life. So, if you ever want to pop in and see what we are up to…it’s www.crazyfunfamilyofseven.blogspot.com ! We hope you all have safe and happy holidays. With Love, ********************

My dad took the kids "Christmas pics"...

We had an awesome day...

Winter Wonderland at Navy Pier Chicago...
This place is a blast! We have a tradition of taking the kids out of school, spending money we don't have and going to this awesome place every year. It's always the best spent money, and we have been going since my 13 year old was 3 years old.

This is the Haiti tree there...

D and Dad...

Me and H...
they have several carnival rides...

And we all went ice skating...

H is starting to LOVE posing for pictures...
This is H's first time on the ice!

They had a miniature Ferris wheel, I have never seen one like this before, it was H and D's favorite ride...

Then they wanted to go on the BIG one...Dad's turn!! (Mom doesn't do heights!)

Again, B thinks he is too old for pics with Santa... and is at that age when they don't like their picture taken period.

Between the rides, those big blow up slides/bounce houses/ obstacle courses, ice skating, a magic show, staff walking around in fun costumes, the trees from all countries, Santa, it was a fun fun day.

As you can see I am a picture person. I am not much of a writer and believe that a picture says a thousand words. I have a ton more pictures of this day, and it was hard to decide what to put on my blog...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY W!!!

Our girl in Haiti is 6 today!!!

There is a group in Haiti right now having a Christmas party for all the kids. I hope they are all having a good time. I miss you W !!

My daughter's preschool fieldtrip...

It was a long day, but fun! We took a school bus from the school to the train station, then a train to the city to see Santa!

H with her friend J on the bus...

on the train...
Oh no, it's our turn to see Santa (notice the nail biting)...

Not willing to sit on his lap, but will stand close for a pic...still biting...

OK mom...one quick smile! (still biting)...

Away from Santa...

me and H by a fountain there...