No more sleeping late for us! It's back to school time!
Hmmm, could T be boycotting Santa this year? We got home very late last night, and T slept in this morning. We were scheduled to go see Santa and play in snow. Unfortunately, T balked at the thought of going, and announced that she only wanted to go to Sophie's Gymnastics Birthday party. I'm very much afraid that I'm sensing a trend...
New plan to see santa, will be at the little Coral Gables Xmas display one day this week or next.
Meanwhile, we're off for some tumbling fun...
...and we're not even done yet!
Yesterday, I picked up T from school, changed her into one of her xmas-dress-extravaganzas, and headed off to Ocean Drive on South Beach for my annual office xmas party. It was held at Finnegan's Way, a bar between 13th and 14th streets on Ocean Drive. I'm awaiting pics from various people, who kindly snapped some of T.
T behaved very well. Planted herself on a barstool with some of the girls from my office, and proceeded to chow down on chips and fried mozzarella cheese. That's a first for her. She's always eschewed fried cheese sticks in the past. Last night? Gobbled a few down, then employed her perfected chichen-nugget-eating technique, and knawed the batter off the things, leaving a stringy mess.
After about an hour or so, T was getting restless, so we made our way to the pool table, where she had a fab time trying to hit each ball into a hole, directly, without the use of the white ball. Once all the balls were gone, she discovered teh white ball in the table's hole, and the fact that if you it it into any hole, it would automatically come back to you. She was in heaven. After impersonating a pool shark, T then hit the online gambling machine. She was convinced the game was working despite the fact that I didn't put a dime into it. That always makes me smile.
We then left and headed to the Perikles house, where we were set to celebrate Nick's 4th birthday and Hannukah at the same time. As t explained to me, "Mama, your party was fun, but now we're REALLY gonna have fun".
Yep, office parties can in no way compete with spending time with her beloved Sophie and Nick.
We were busy last night trolling Nordstroms, and came across the cutest sneaks EVER. They're $ketchers Twinkle T0es line. Pic doesn't do them justice, as you cant see all the sparkle they have one them. I actually had my eye on another pair, but you know those Nordstom salesmen. Always bringing a few more shoes than you asked for, that you'd never pick yourself, and damn if you dont fall in love with them when they go on your feet.
Anyway, turns out these shoes literally have lights in them, that light up when you step on them a certain way.
That's it, game over. T fell in love with them on the spot. You should have seen her face when she realized what they did. It was like she was witnessing a miracle.
Of course, I'm my own worst enemy. Guess who got in a squabble this morning with their mother, when they couldn't understand why they couldn't wear these sneaks to school?
Well, I've recently found out that snow is coming to Miami. Specifically, its coming to T's school on Saturday morning, for breakfast with Santa. Apparently, they'll be blowing man-made stuff in. I expect it will last all of 15 minutes, as it will probably be the usual muggy 80's here in the old swamp, rising quickly to almost 90. I picture a chilly wet, muddy mess.
So, here's the advice I need....what the hell do I dress T in?
I haven't played in snow since that one and only time, when I was 4 or 5 yrs old, and we were up visiting my cousins in NY. Don't recall what I was wearing, though I suspect it was some type of snow suit. Even if I had a snow suit for T, which I don't, I figure that would be totally inappropriate since it will be so damn hot. Now, I'm not a total idiot. I realize that she'll have to be in her keds vs. sandals. My main concern is her hands, since I know she'll be wanting to make and throw snowballs. The school recommends gloves, but what kind?
The only pair of gloves we own, are Cinderella ball gown gloves. I suppose they could do in a pinch.
Advice anyone?
Here's the picture that appeared in the newsletter of the Archdiose of Miami, touting T's school and the Winter Wonderland of lights and decorations that they set up. Apparently, T's class helped with the Nativity scene.
The child poses and hams it up in every photo I take of her. Ya think she could have at least smiled?
What can I say? Its 5:00 a.m., I can't sleep, the holidays are coming, and I'm counting my blessings and feeling a bit sentimental and a whole lot thankful. While trolling the web, I came across the below quote, that is probably very familiar to those of us in the "adoption community", and less familiar to those outside. Not sure who wrote it, but I've come across it many times over the years, and it has the power to make me tear up every time:
We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time and miles, growing in the hearts of those who wait to love them...
...Are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands.
The day started on such a high note. Such fun plans. Everyone was excited. We decided that we'd go visit my parents, then head up to the Aventura mall to visit with Santa.
T made her list, which is not in code, but in T-write. Most of the things she seemingly inexplicably listed, were actually things she had seen the night before in gift baskets at her school. So, for the moment, she wants:
1. Handy Manny tool table
2. Barbie scoooter
3. Nerf gun
4. Truck
5. Pet Shop house
6. Tinkerbell
7. Princess
8. Christmas pin (no idea what this is), and lastly...
9. Aqua Sand, which she saw on TV and made me add to the list.
So, we trudged to the mall and entered the line to see santa. The dark abyss of a line. The longest and slowest line you've ever seen. I felt like we were in a lost scene from A Christmas Story. Oy.
This lovely picture was taken a mere 30 minutes into our wait. I also think that's the last time I saw T smile. In her defense, it was 1:00 p.m. bordering on 2:00. She needed a nap and hadn't eaten much in the excitement. She decided that she wanted to leave. Dot convinced her to stay, but I knew the game was up. Wouldn't you know, that when it was finally our turn....
Guess. Take one Guess.
That's right. She wanted nothing frickin' to do with the damned Santa. Broke out in a bawling tantrum... tears, screams and everything. Refused to go anywhere near poor Santa.
Poor Dot had to basically carry her the whole way to the car, which was conveniently located at the other end of the huge mall. She's been a grump to deal with ever since. I had to put her in time-out this evening, and she totally up-ended the toy baskets in her room in her rage.
After a late nap, which will conveniently screw our night sleeping on a school night, she seems back to normal.
On an upnote, I was able to buy my sissy's xmas present online and am very excited about it. Bummer is, I can't go into detail as she checks this old blog out every hour or so.
So, now we're home and T is thoroughly enjoying a Scooby Doo movie.
T had a ball at the birthday party today. Spiderman made an appearance and posed with all the kids...
Until, that is, his arch nemesis "Garbage Man" showed up....
...they engaged in quite the fight, which really concerned T, who admits that she was "a little scared". 
Once Spiderman won and Garbageman left, T was thrilled and gave her hero a big hug. She then proceeded to stalk him for the duration of the party. At one point, I heard her telling Spiderman what she wanted for Christmas, almost like he was Santa. Guess she's hedging her bets.
As is usual, she horned her way right up to stand next to the birthday boy, and get a choice piece of cake. She chose a black piece with part of the web on it, and was thrilled. Licked the frosting right off.
Here's T in all her glory, posing with her posse. She was thrilled that the big girls were talking to her and even put a hat on her. Contrary to their outfits, which were really their costumes, it was hot and muggy tonight. The older girls were part of the choir that performed. We then adjourned to the classroom, where T make a xmas ornament for the tree, then dinner. T was thrilled b/c she saw her best buds...Daniel, Juan Jose, and Rene.
We left before the raffle of the baskets, b/c it was late and we were DONE. Therefore, we didn't win anything as you must be present to win. It was quite a sight to see T all dressed up like a princess, running around like a crazy girl, playing tag with the boys. She worked up a good sweat. Luckily, I kept her out of the baseball diamond, so she wasn't caked in clay dirt.
We're now home watching TV and eating popcorn.
Fun times.
We're very excited over here b/c there is a big holiday celebration tonight at T's school. We arrive at 6:00 pm, and the 4th graders will reinact the nativity and then we'll all sing xmas carols. From 6:30 - 7:00, we all go to the students respective classrooms where they will make a "holiday craft". From 7 - 8, there will be a huge tent set up, and we'll all have dinner, and then from 8 - 9 they will be raffling off gift baskets that everyone donated. The baskets will be set up for viewing, and each basket will have a box in front. If you want to take a chance on it, you put one of your raffle tickets in the box, and then a name will be drawn from each box. Sounds like alot of fun.
T is thrilled b/c she'll be able to wear her xmas dress and she's already decided that she'll be bringing her Izzy doll, who will be donned in an identical frock.
On Saturday, we have plans to attend a fun bday party, and are very excited about that. Then on Sunday, I figure I'll drop in on the parental units, and break the bad news to my dad that no one wants to buy his dumb church pews. Apparently, churches are closing left and right, and there is a glut of church pews on the market. Who knew? My fallback plan is to try and convince him to donate them to habit@t for hum@nity. Wish me luck.
That's it for now, I'll try and take lots of pictures of the upcoming, fun events.
Ciao!
