Tracy is 12!!!

She is beautiful and happy and so very loved.

Welcoming Ellie!

Anxiously waiting . . .

The weary travelers.

The Pennsylvania Haddads!

Jack decided that he did like her after all!

Content with Mom.

Together at last!

Monday, February 13, Ellie met the family. Today Febraury 14, Dwayne turns 11! Exciting days in China. Anxiously waiting for their return on the 25th!

Update . . .

Here is the latest . . . I am ready to get on that plane myself!

Introducing Ellie!

Relax, I am NOT adopting again, but my sister is . . . yes, after 6 years (LID 08/10/2006), I am proud to post the picture of my new niece:

Isn't she beautiful?

Here is what I know . . .

Jiang Song Die was born on March 3, 2011. She is residing in the Jiangcheng Social Welfare Institute in Guangdong Province. In November she was 16.5 lbs. and 26.7 inches. Travel anticipated in 4-6 weeks.

What a Christmas present!

End of Summer and Start of School 2011

How did it happen? Summer is over and we are 6 weeks into the school year! I swear that I didn't even blink! I did manage to gain 10 pounds though! What is that all about. Take off the swimsuit and put on the pounds! Sheez!









For the first year, special shoes seem to be very important to my kids.













Nails were pretty important, too.















New harido and bag for my 7th grader.



















Styling bag and shoe laces.



















 Happy to have a lunch bag in the backpack!



















The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Penguins were both represented.

Finally Disney!

 

My children were given a pretty special Christmas gift this year by their Aunt Linda. She took us with her to Orlando in February and the kids got to experience Disney World for the first time. I am sort of Disneyphobic, but I must admit even I had fun! Thank you, Aunt Linda!

Who are these children?

Gotta love 'em! One half of our basement is empty in preparation for paint, electrical work, and the purchase of a Wii System. Right now it is all fun! fun! fun! as the kids roller blade and create shows for Mom to watch! Oh, Marney's face is clean as she was the makeup artist!

I feel like a WINNER!.

For those of you who haven't seen me for a while, I gained a little weight since I retired. Well, if you can call 30 lbs. a little weight! I think I morphed into a different body while I wasn't paying attention. It wasn't until I was at the doctor's in December for a sinus infection and he was recording his notes and he referred to "a 150 lb. woman" and I thought, "150! Who is that? I weigh 120 lbs." Ahh!

I signed up for the Body Balance Diet by Myrna Lynn, one of my mentors in Melaleuca, entered the VFL.com diet challenge with Melaleuca, and joined the Biggest Loser at my local gym, Alexander's and proceeded to lose 26.5 pounds in 12 weeks. I wasn't the Biggest Loser, my teammate Tammy took that honor by losing over 50 pounds, but together with a couple of other amazing women our team came in first (by one pound)! A lot of weight was lost at our gym in 12 weeks.

I am keeping the pictures around so I remember to pay attention to myself. I am the only parent my kids have and I need to stay healthy. Praise God, I am doing it!

And the skiing continues . . .

Skiing . . . Glorious skiing!

I really don't think that Heaven could be any better than a blue-sky, sunny day, sliding down a mountain . . . After 5 years, my kids and I finally put our skis back on and oh what a wonderful time we all had! I don't think we will wait 5 years to do it again.

Samuel turns 7!

Sam's birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day this year. We were spending Thanksgiving at my sister's Linda's home, where we were celebrating Sam's birthday along with Uncle Mike whose birthday fell on Friday, but we still had to get up early to have a celebration of our own. Here is his pumpkin roll cake with a #7 sparkler. The sparkler made us all a bit nervous, but we managed not to burn down the house!

To Mom with Love! Marguerite Jane Boyd Haddad--we miss you all ready!

Just a few snapshots of Mom enjoying Christmas in 2008, Linda's wedding in 2008, the Beach in 2007.

Ahh . . .Chocolate!

This is exactly how I feel about chocolate . . . bliss!

Jack Jack

I try calling him "John Jack", but somehow it always comes back from the kids as "Jack Jack." He is named after my father who was a "John" but never a "Jack." Oh well. Here he is in his new glasses which have made a world of difference in his learning. I guess it helps to see what you are being taught. The second picture is for the tea party at his new preschool. They had a tea party with the senior center nearby and were to dress up. The hat and tie were my Dad's. Now I know why I kept them.