The best day of my life....

was 5 years ago today. The day my baby was placed in my arms.

It would be another 15 months before the adoption was finalized. But to me, this day, 11/30/07, will always be the day Elizabeth and I really became mother and daughter. xoxoxox

 

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Pioneer Days

Today E's school held an event called Pioneer Days. The gym was set up with booths that the kids could visit and learn about different aspects of life in "pioneer times." Elizabeth's (awesome) teacher emailed a few pics from the event. :)

 

 

E reported that her favorite parts were "shaving" her face, and digging for gold. She even brought home a little piece of gold in a plastic bag :)

 

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Thanksgiving weekend

We had a great long Thanksgiving weekend, spent with family and friends. Activities including eating delicious food, practicing hand stands with Aunt Betsy, sliding down the banister at my parents' :0, going for a walk in the woods, and taking over my iPad...:)

I love 4 day weekends!!




P.S. Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking on the brown banner above. That's all you have to do to vote, and you can do it once a day. thanks! xoxoxox

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So grateful

If someone considering single parenthood came to me and asked what I thought they would need most to be a single parent, I would tell them this: support system, support system and support system. Having people in your life close by who love your kid and who are willing and able to help be a part of raising your child is the most important thing you need. It's more important than money, to me anyway.

So, on this Thanksgiving weekend, I want to say how grateful I am for my support system. First, Maria. what can I say?

For all the sleep overs with Elizabeth, for all the times you pick her up from school and for all the times you take her to Church, and most of all, for loving us and taking care of us the way you do...thank you, thank you, and you...

 

Next, of course, are my parents...

For all the delicious dinners, for all the times you pick her up from Afterschool when I have to work late, for all the laundry you let me do at your house, and most of all, for all of that irreplaceable Grandparently love you give to Elizabeth, I am so, so grateful, and I thank you both...

I am very blessed to have the village I do to help me raise my child. :)

 

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Thanksgiving Day recap

One of the best parts of our Thanksgiving this year is that my sister and BIL are visiting here from Colorado! Since we rarely get to have all the family together in one place, we decided to take some family pictures.

Miss E and I and our electronics.

Of course, once I downloaded some games for her on my iPad and let her use it, the kids' vtech player I got her last summer was completely abandoned. Side note: I bought my iPad about two weeks ago and I LOVE it...I want to marry it...:)

E and I also hung out for a bit at our friends' house, who live just down the street from my parents.

It was a fabulous day. And on a totally unrelated note, I will not be stepping on the scale today...;)

 

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Happy Thanksgiving!

From Elizabeth and me to all of you :)

xoxoxoxox

 

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How to cook Squash

Today, Elizabeth brought home a booklet with recipes for Thanksgiving dinner, made by each of the students in her class. It was about the best, funniest thing I've read in a long time. Elizabeth's contribution was a recipe for Squash:

"Get a squash at the store in an aisle; aisle nine. Take it to your house. Put it in your refrigerator. Make it squishy by mashing it with a spoon or something. Cook it by putting it on the stove and waiting for it."

Sounds good to me! :)

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Then I saw her face...

Five years ago today, I was shown these pictures by my social worker...

I would spend the next two weeks bringing these pictures with me EVERYwhere (and staring at them constantly)...xoxoxox

 

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Don't you hate it when mothers brag about their kids??

So, I had Elizabeth's parent-teacher conference today. The first thing her teacher said to me was "I wish every student could be like Elizabeth!" I knew we were off to a good start :) I really like E's teacher, and so does E. She loves school and is having a great year so far. Her teacher said that E is quiet, and is able to stay engaged in activities for long periods of time. That was great to hear, because I don' t always see that at home...;) Was it inappropriate that I asked if her teacher could move in with us? The only concern Miss M brought up was Elizabeth's handwriting. I had noticed too that while E has been writing her name for quite a while now, her handwriting hasn't really improved much. Miss M said the school has an OT who comes around and gives suggestions to the teachers for kids who need a little extra help in a fine motor area. E was always a gross motor kid, but I've noticed since school started that she has gotten much more interested in sitting and writing her numbers and letters.

I also spoke with Miss M a little about E's history, and asked if E ever brings up the subject of adoption, which the teacher said she doesn't. E does mention her little sister Brianna, though. :)

All in all, it was a great meeting, and I am so proud of my sweet girl! xoxox

And I thought I'd end this post with a totally gratuitous pic that I took this morning at the bus stop, because I can...:)

 

 

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The first of many...

school pictures!!

 

We finally got her school pictures back :) Cutie pie xoxox

P.S. Don't forget to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking the brown banner above. Thanks!! xoxoxox

 

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VIP!

Elizabeth is the VIP of her class this week. She is very excited about this because it means she gets to sit up front in the "special rocking chair" next to the teacher all week. Tonight we made a poster with pictures of her with the people she loves, and doing the things she loves to do.

Happy VIP week Miss E! xoxoxo

 

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A fun Saturday

Dance class...

A little "gardening" outback..

And a very dark, noisy birthday party (of a classmate)...

...all made for a pretty fun day :)

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A letter from Chikondi!

Today I got my second letter from Chikondi, the little girl E and I are sponsoring in Africa :)

Some day, when E is older, I really want to take trip to Malawi so we can meet her!

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A few final Halloween pictures

So I know it's way after the fact now, but I just wanted to share a few pics from Halloween morning at E's school that I didn't post before. The Kindergarteners and First graders had a little parade in their costumes. This top picture is E with her class. So cute :)

The "mummy wrap-up"

P.S. Please vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs by clicking on the brown banner above. That's all you have to do to vote, and you can do it once a day...Thank you! xoxox

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First snow of the year!

Yep, Winter is coming...Here is what we woke up to this morning...E was pretty excited!

I promise not to get political, but...

I just love this picture...

That's all :)

It's election day!!

Up close and personal with Miss E

The other day, Elizabeth was interviewed  by a 4th grader and here is what E brought home...

 

Funny that she said Cinderella was her favorite movie...she has never seen it(although she definitely knows who she is)!  I love that she reported that she has a sister :) Even though Brianna doesn't live with us, she is very much E's little sister.