It's been a while

Let's see, what have we been up to?

Throwing leaves

Taking my new favorite picture of S

Celebrating a birthday

...with my favorite girl

 Seeing covered bridges

Finding cute dresses at consignment stores

Showing off preschool art

It's National Adoption Month!

That's right! It's that time of year that I actually write about adoption, and when our family gives special thanks for our amazing almost-3-year-old and her oh-so-generous birthfamily.

If you're interested in learning more about adoption, I highly recommend sites like adoptivefamilies.com, which provides a lot of information about all types of adoption. They have a pretty kickin' magazine too.

Did you know there's an adoption tax credit? It provides a refundable credit to families who have adopted, and for many is the only way they'll be able to afford the process. As a recent NY Times debate stated, these are families who may be able to provide for a child day-to-day, but otherwise couldn't afford the often hefty fees associated with adoption. The credit is set to expire, and we along with others are lobbying to renew it, and possibly make it permanent.

And because my mom always calls and asks where the picture of S is, I'll close with this photo from one of her Halloween parties. We love you, Little!

My attempt at being a fancy photographer

At least I had a good model :)

My favorite

She was throwing piles of leaves in the air. So cute

Drumming on a tree

Pumpkin painting!

Toddler and knives to carve pumpkins? No
Toddler and stickers/paint to paint pumpkins? Yes

The artist giggles as she surveys her raw material

Mommy goes crazy with stickers

Let the painting begin!

Daddy helps out

Daddy's Clown Pumpkin

Finished products

California Dreaming

We just got back from a week in California. We figured it would be more fun, and less stressful, to go in the fall as opposed to the holiday rush. The weather was just about perfect, and we had a relaxing time.

S had LOTS of activities for the plane

She hit the pool as soon as we got to LA

J and I each took a day off to visit new places. J went to the Reagan Library with my dad, and I met an old friend at Manzanar. She's an internet friend I've been waiting years to meet in person. If you're not familiar with Manzanar, I highly encourage you to learn more.

When we got back, Little Miss was learning to be a pool cleaner

She was spoiled rotten while out with her grandparents. The waistaff at the restaurant put cartoons on the TV, and gave her unlimited apple juice and ice cream. Score!

On the way home, we stopped in LA for a day to see my brother and his family. They treated us to pizza in the park. Needless to say, S loved hers.

She also loved her cousin. They are only 6 months apart, and it was fun to see them together.

S took advantage of her wheeled luggage while zooming around LAX

Before we knew it, we were home again and back in our bed. Thanks Nana, Tapa, Paul, Trina, Desmond, Felix, and Ananda for a wonderful trip. We hope to do it again real soon!

Notice anything different?

For me, not for S ;)

And a bonus pic of the kid. In her football dress. Because it's Sunday

 

Road trip!

There was a quiet weekend staring us in the face, and J suggested we go somewhere. We LOVE Keene and Harrisville, NH. So J found a cute boutique hotel, and we threw S in the car and headed out.

Our hotel (the Lane Hotel, for those interested ;) was great. Huge room, very comfortable, free breakfast and parking, heart of town. What more could we ask for? We found a yarn store for me, a kids' consignment sale (got a deal on a princess castle for S), and had a nice lunch.

Then we headed home on the scenic route.

S ready to hit the Harrisville General Store. She was a star

Playing at the Children's Center playground

The obligatory sandbox shot

Daddy posed for a portrait

Mommy took pictures of waterfalls

It was a really nice weekend break. We hope to go back again for my birthday. Squee!