Forever family...

Nine years ago today, with my parents and sister by my side, my wonderful Bryanna was placed in my arms. The time has flown by, and yet as I remember back to that hot and crowded hotel room in Hefei it almost seems like yesterday.

Today it is all about celebrating our life together...and what an amazing thing my life has become because of a red thread that was waiting to draw Bryanna and I and our family together on February 28, 2000.

Not allowing her mother to be overly sentimental, my practical daughter has chosen for us to visit Chapters this afternoon to spend a gift card and then to celebrate our Forever Family day at Red Lobster, her favourite restaurant. (Maybe I can squeeze in some cuddle time on the couch later to watch video of that pink-cheeked little baby wrapping us all around her little finger!)

I have to end this post with the words and music from Martina McBride (click to listen) - they capture everything I feel (and completely do me in!) whenever I think about the joy that Brya has brought to our lives.

This miracle God gave to me

Gives me strength when I am weak

I find reason to believe

In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger

It puts a smile in my heart

Everything becomes a little clearer

I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough

It's giving more when you feel like giving up

I've seen the light...It's in my daughter's eyes

The Closet Purge

It has been building for some time...closet hysteria.

The three major culprits: my master walk-in closet, Cassidy's closet (oh my, words cannot describe) and the pantry closet in the hall outside the kitchen. It seems that I could never find the time or motivation needed to tackle one of them, let alone all three.

So I finally called in reinforcements...my parents arrived at noon today and after lunch and a bit of quiet time, we all plunged in. Bryanna helped me sort some of the many non-clothes items that had ended up in my closet, my dad bravely tackled the pantry and the fridge, and my patient, patient mother spent over three hours with Cassidy in her room...trying on clothes, sorting clothes into various piles and motivating my 6 year old to deal with the piles of toys and costumes that were piled 3 feet deep on the closet floor.

The results? 5 bags of garbage and recycling, 1 huge suitcase packed with kid clothes going to friends, and 3 bags (so far) going to Goodwill. We all collapsed before dinner with a glass of wine (okay, not the kids...they had cranberry juice), had a huge steak dinner and I was just overjoyed. Still a bit more to do in my closet, but it is so much better that those last couple of shelves don't phase me in the least.

Here's the project in pictures...

The Pantry




In progress...








...and the results...

Cassidy's Closet


In progress (all over her room)...








...and ta-dah, the end product...

Lianne's Closet
(oh my gosh...)

Thanks, Mom and Dad - really, I couldn't have done it without you!

Hearts and Words

This was an unexpectedly lovely day...the morning was a total snooze fest...we all stayed in our pjs till noon and this mom lazed around in bed for most of it - in between watching a Valentines presentation by the dynamic duo and observing the chocolate opening!

We then spent the afternoon at the mall - picking up a few tops and new track pants (Cassidy has gone through the knees of yet TWO more pairs of pants), buying some novels for our upcoming Florida trip, and ending the spending spree with ice cream and cinnamon rolls.

Then home to feed Charlie...

.

..and off again to drop Cassidy at a birthday party. While Cassidy was having a great time with her classmates at ChuckECheese, Bryanna and I opened our new Scrabble game...we set it up on the special revolving tray my grandfather had custom made for just this purpose and had a ball. We ate pizza, argued over words and groaned at our scores.

For those of you word smiths out there, here is where we ended the contest before heading back out to pick up Cassidy...

A great start to the long weekend. We wish a happy Valentines Day to all our wonderful family and friends.

xoxo

Skating Days...

This is Bryanna's third Winter skating, but the first where it is all finally coming together for her...balance, grace, bent legs when needed, straight extensions when appropriate. I love watching her. Unfortunately, I only caught a brief segment where she is working on drills from one side of the ice to the other, but still, you can see the progress...



And this is Cassidy's first Winter skating...she just makes me laugh. She really wants to play hockey so she is throwing herself into learning how to skate...not too smooth yet but she never stops!

The Winter 2010 Olympians don't have anything to fear, but who knows...2018?

hee hee

Photo Experiment

A little sister for Cassidy

No. NO. NO.

Not that kind of little sister,

but THIS kind....

This is Suzy.

She belonged to me when I was very young, so the poor ugly thing (look at that frizzled hair!) has been around for well over 40 years. The doll has been in the corner of Cassidy's room for some time (she rescued it from the basement) but suddenly appeared on her radar this weekend. She delighted in dressing Suzy (in her own clothes!) and carrying her around. When I asked her what was with the "new friend" she said,

"This is my little sister - I wish I had one!"

This mom laughingly (though emphatically) said that that would not be happening. So now Suzy is ensconced in the rocking chair in the family room, wrapped in a blanket and ready to be included in family activities and television watching.

hee hee