A couple of (extremely cute) 2 year olds

Jasmine and Liv lived in the Dongguan orphanage together--probably not knowing each other, since they are 6 months apart and didn't share a room--but we met up with Liv's parents in Guangzhou, shared our wonderful guide, Kathy and became parents on the same day, at the same time. They live on the East coast but as luck would have it, Grant has family in Sacramento and they routinely visit California. We had planned on meeting up in August, but Liv had a cold and Jasmine was 1 week pre-surgery, so we didn't get the chance.

Yesterday changed all that. It was an amazing day.
Look at these 2 girls. Liv is 6 months older but she's a little more typical in her size than our long-legged, long-waisted girl. Jasmine may very well hit 6 feet when she's done growing....
It took them no time at all before they were sharing a plate of fruit and
running helter-skelter through the restaurant. We actually did keep them contained long enough to eat our food, and we reminisced about the crazy meals we had together in China with our new babies screaming and squirming at every table. We didn't waver, however, and somehow managed to eat together nightly. Looking back, I'm pretty sure we were all just a little nuts.
The outdoor fountain was an endless source of entertainment.
I'm not sure what Jasmine is trying to talk Liv into doing but I'm sure it wasn't good.




We finally stepped in when the girls were slithering on the ground like lizards, ready at any time to put their faces down and lick if the other dared. It was clearly time for a nap.

We can't describe how joyful we felt being with Liv and her family again. We hope that our girls can have a lasting relationship. Their connection is something that we must support and enable but their history is set in stone. Born in China and abandoned for reasons that we can only assume to understand, having special needs and requiring surgery as babies and toddlers, these are the facts about their beginnings. How they eventually face all of this, digest it, react to it--we will all have to wait and see. But maybe, whatever their friendship becomes over the years, maybe it will be a little something that they can anchor to, something that we as their parents can't provide. Two precious girls, living in an orphanage, meeting their parents on the same day and starting their new lives at the same time.

And really, only time will tell the rest.

Christmas day snapshots

A little spoiled, maybe? Jasmine certainly got the full flavor of gift-receiving this year, and while we have no intention of endorsing gift-giving as the sole purpose of Christmas, we know that there are many people who have fallen hard for Jasmine. It's not too often that she is indulged in this way, but this year she found her stride in enjoying a bounty of thoughtful and exciting gifts.

It will certainly be in with the new, out with the old in our little house. I have a lot of "last year's toys" to donate. That being said, Jasmine received a beautiful and challenging puzzle from her Aunt Holly and Uncle Noel.
She didn't hesitate to share it with Grandma Marj later in the day.
A fabulous day for us, both weather and company. We were gifted with my parents' presence and J delighted in having 5 adults doting on her.

My father--handsome, smart and funny. I consider myself very, very lucky to have my parents close enough to visit regularly. Shane's parents, 7000 miles away in Ireland, had to make do with a phone call on Christmas morning. I hope I never take for granted the most important people in my life.

Santa brought me a kitchen?

The clock says 1:50 and Santa made his rounds for the first time at our little house.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas. It was worth every hour past midnight.

A new friend!

Fortune fell into our laps when Jasmine started at her new preschool. I bumped into an old friend one morning dropping off his 2 year old daughter, and today we were all invited over to share food and holiday cheer. Jasmine was so excited to visit her friend from school that the first word out of her mouth this morning after she called for me was "Emmy". Yes, we did in fact have a date with Emmy. Apparently Emmy was just as excited to have J coming for a visit.
They are one month apart and speak the same language.

We couldn't be more excited to see J making friends and dragging her old parents along. We had a fine time meeting their 8 year old son, chickens, pigs, and dog Jack.
Next stop, Snowy Peak Tree farm, where we cut down our first tree. We may be a little behind schedule manifesting the holiday spirit, but we found ourselves a fine little tree.

Between Santa Claus visiting her school this week and our little decorated silver-tip, J knows there are good things that lie ahead in the coming days.

It was here first

The monster storm that has worked its way across the country made its first stop here on the west coast. We are no strangers to snow here in the foothills, but this was truly a sight to behold. I admit, we didn't go out in it all that much since there was so much of it. J tried her best to trudge through the few tires tracks that were cut through our street but eventually the effort was too much for her. Add to that her refusal to wear mittens and our snow day involved enjoying the snow day from the inside.
Zami, on the other hand, fully appreciates the magnificence of a foot and a half of fresh powder.
And I appreciated an extra day home with my family, since I couldn't get to work.

Finally some pictures

Overdue, but better late than never. The girls got together for Thanksgiving, their annual pilgrimage to the Sierra foothills. Jasmine is extremely social and loves her cousins, so much so that I am cast aside like an old worn-out doll. This from a girl who clings to her mama like bees to honey.
Jasmine is sporting her new hat and scarf, my foray back into knitting. Tis the season, after all. J never accepted wearing a scarf before, but this one she watched me knit and repeatedly reminded me that it was hers. It's all about investment...

If you look closely at these pictures, J has a permanent smile on her face. Oh, but she adores her oldest cousin.
A thoughtful moment.
And here we are, on the tail end of our morning walk. Jasmine intimated that she was tired, knowing full well that someone may just offer to give her a ride (At 30 pounds, she is no easy load to carry, even if you are a tough 9 year old).


And please, while you are perusing the pictures, please take a minute to appreciate all the fall leaves littering the ground. Yes, we are embedded in tall oak trees and for perhaps 3-4 months of the year, these trees cover the ground, roof, walkways and deck with leaves. Then in the spring we are hit with pollen for 6 weeks. Oh, and did I forget to mention the 6-8 weeks that the trees deposit acorns ubiquitously on every square inch of surface, thudding loudly on the roof for most of that time? Let me add that when 80% of the neighborhood then burns their leaf piles, we are left gasping for clean air. Just a side note.

A lot can be accomplished in 36 hours in terms of securing relationships and reinforcing the bonds of family. I deeply appreciate these opportunities, short-lived as they may be. But how many of us really live close to our families? How many of us can drop in on a sibling to share a cup of tea or a glass of wine (or both)? I am grateful that I have a brother whom I deeply cherish and whose family is an essential part of my well-being.