Happy New Year!

We had a fun New Year's celebration this year. We were invited by a friend of mine for college to join he and his family and friends to celebrate. Mike and Michele also have two girls from China, although their girls are 9 and 7. Libby, our girl who likes bedtime, actually made it until 9:00 before she asked to go home to go to sleep. A few parents mouths dropped open at that. I think they both made it until 10:00.

New Years Day, we had my annual birthday brunch. It is a tradition I started 4 years ago when Eric told me he was going to have to work that day. I was not going to sit around feeling sad, so I planned my own party. It has become one of our favorite yearly events. We have friends from church, neighbors and family join us for a brunch and have to practically shove folks out by the end. This year was probably the best ever. There was just a lot of happiness abounding.

Our dear friend Marc is doing well and they will be heading to Long Island for a new treatment program. Keep them in your thoughts that all goes well. They gave us passes to Waterpark of America. Eric and I, to be honest, were a little...cynical, about the whole thing. I don't know why, but it did not appeal. Shame on us. We went there with the Breton's and all of us had a blast. Libby and Maisy could not be persuaded to leave. We were there from when it opened until we were kicked out.

Will try to catch up soon with some of my favorite Libby and Maisyism's of the year. What an incredible year it has been.

Happy 2012!

Merry Christmas!

Okay, a little late on this one. Will try over the next few days to catch up with the Roller's.

December went by in a blur. Libby and I had two very fun mother/daughter dates. We went to the Wizard of Oz with Colleen and Jai. It was spectacular and I think the moms may have enjoyed it more than the daughters, although both girls had fun. We also did our annual mother/daughter date with LeeAnne and Ellie and went to the Nutcracker this year. Libby was so enthralled, she was trying to dance in her seat.


Libby continues to thrive in her school. We struggle with homework each night, but ironically, she has no problem with the language, it is trying to finish math and vocab lists each night that do us in. She had a talent show and practiced and practiced for it. She sang beautifully, but never looked up. Of course she belted it out like Ethel Merman when we were at Target several days later.



Maisy loves her little pre-school. Her class is very small and they seem to get even more extra special time to play and interact. Her vocabulary has exploded and she is a very funny and naughty little monkey.

We had a very lovely Christmas. Both girls were beyond excited about it this year and had written their letters to Santa. We went to the mall and Libby very clearly told Santa what she wanted. Maisy just cried. She said next year she will not and that she will be sure to tell him what she wants. We did the Children's Pageant at our church this year for the first time. Libby was a lovely angel. We were so proud to see her up in the front and she knew all the motions and even sang! Maisy on the other hand, was not quite an angel. She kept talking through the whole service. I took her out and told her we had to be quiet and we went back in. Libby said something to Eric and then it began. "Shh, Libby no talk. Shhh, Libby, no talk". Thankfully, most around us were laughing, but we beat a hasty retreat and were home about an hour earlier than expected.


Christmas morning was very fun and both girls seemed to be genuinely happy and excited about their gifts. Libby almost swooned when she opened up her Lalaloopsy. Dinner that afternoon was at my brother Keith's and they did a lovely presentation as always.




There was no snow on the ground here and I know many others would be happy about that, but I do like my white Christmas. Although rather late in saying this, I truly hope you all had a very wonderful Christmas!

Thanksgiving...

and much to be thankful for. We had a lovely Thanksgiving day with Doug, Colleen and kids. We met at our favorite Chinese restaurant and ordered Peking duck. It was fabulous. Also ordered a whole walleye and so many sides our table could have collapsed. Hope to make this a yearly tradition. On Friday, we grilled our turkey and had new friends Ben and Brandy over for dinner. They are both from out of state and are relatively new to our church, St. Mary's. Plus, they are in the process of adopting a child from China. Libby has her very first crush and it is on Ben. It is jaw dropping for me to witness. Both B & B are fabulous people and we had a great evening.

Libby and I went to the Wizard of Oz at the Children's Theater with Colleen and Jai. Libby insisted on wearing her Dorothy costume. It was an incredible performance. Both girls really enjoyed it, but Colleen and I agreed that one year older would be the perfect age for most of the plays there.

I am finally decorating for Christmas. I am not inspired this year and if the house had stayed the same, I would have been okay. This is quite shocking for me. I did pull things out and although not up to my usual ho, ho, honess, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. I know that as the girls get more excited for the big day, my feelings will soon match theirs and that is one of the joys of Christmas.

Stay warm!

Prayers for a friend and his Family

We are going through a very sad time here. Our dear friend Marc was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the end of September. Sadly, none of the treatments have been very effective. His latest round was done in hopes of decreasing the size of the tumor so they could remove it. Unfortunately, it did not shrink and may have grown larger. He has been in and out of the hospital due to his bad reactions to the treatments and other complications. I cannot put into words how much we miss his company. Not to be able to spend time with him and wondering if we will again has been very disheartening to us. Each day we wait for word that we can at least stop in and see him for a bit. We will keep praying that we get the go ahead soon. Our thoughts never leave his wife Teri and their daughter, our God-daughter, Maddy. I, selfishly, have so many memories going through my head. We would meet at the Green Mill, a restaurant directly between our two houses, more times that we could count over the years. So many dinners with them at their house and the ones in the winter with Marc adding wood to the fire and settling into a chair with Maddy climbing up to snuggle against him. He is such a good guy, good friend, father and husband.

We will continue to pray for him that he may be comfortable and surrounded by those he loves. If you read this, please keep him and his family in your thoughts.

Halloween Catch Up

Time has just zipped by. We had a Halloween season this year. We went to the Children's Museum for their annual party. The girls had a great time and the staff does a wonderful job. Libby had a Halloween party at a friends on Saturday. We had a family Halloween party on Sunday and Monday was Halloween-whew! So thankful I grab Halloween costumes at consignment sales, garage sales and clearance racks. We ended up using most that we had for any number of reasons. Halloween night we had the most trick or treaters that we have ever had-about 120!

Life settled down after that and it is just back to school and regular life. Thankfully, both girls are still loving school and that is such a nice thing. I no longer attempt to say anything in Chinese because Libby will first tell me she does not understand me and after I say it several times, will correct me. Hmmmmm

Eric is traveling for work and was fortunate to spend time with both his sister and family in Richmond and his parents in Staunton. Maisy said, "me too miss you dada" on the phone to him and I think both Eric and I got choked up over it.

Starting to make Thanksgiving preparations. I cannot believe it is just around the corner. Hope all of you have your feet under you better than I have!

Pumpkin Patch Visit

We went to the pumpkin patch/apple orchard for the third year with T-Man and family. The first year we went, it was so cold we were in winter coats and hats. This year, it was an absolutely gorgeous day. Eric had to do the annual ride down the hill in the wagon with the kids. Libby got to try and fling apples at a target with a giant slingshot. Maisy got to swing her her favorite bee swing from last year. We had just a great day.

Libby continues to love school. She does have homework each night, but does it right away. She is teaching us all how to count to 10 and to say some basic phrases. I fear the day when she is fluent and I will have no clue as to what she is saying! :) We are just so fortunate to have this school near us.

Maisy speech is improving leaps and bounds. Her pre-school teacher today told me she is able to understand her so much better than just two months ago. They think she is the most independent funny little thing. They would be right.



Less than one month ago we found out our dear friend, and Maisy's god-father, has pancreatic cancer. We are all trying to do as much as we can for the family during this difficult time. They are also members of St. Mary's and Eric and the St. Mary's Snow Shoveler's have offered to help with many big projects. I have offered to take their daughter, and our god-daughter, Maddy as often as they need. It is times like this when you realize how precious loved ones are. Please hug those you love and keep our friend and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

So proud of my girls!

Though Libby was pretending to sleep, poor thing was not. School is tiring.

I cannot believe how fast the month of September sped by in a blur. Libby has officially been in school one month. We are so thankful that there has been no separation anxiety or fears. In fact, quite the opposite. She loves it! She has no problem riding the bus and gets off at the end of the day with a big smile on her face. Libby had thought that the other Asian children in her school were Chinese. I had to explain they were most likely not. She recently informed me that she was very happy she had Chinese teachers. I know for some adoptive children it would not matter, but it really drove home how happy we are we went with this program for many reasons. Last week, she sang "Happy Birthday" in Chinese. By bedtime, she is one tuckered out girl.

We had our first parent meeting with the teacher last week. We knew we would have to be involved more than the average parent, but this really drove it home. The administrator of the program has made a huge offer to the parents-to teach us enough Chinese that we would be able to assist with basic homework. I have never heard of any school offering this and we are thrilled to be learning Chinese. The parents are also banding together on FB to organize and to promote the school. It's is going to be one heck of a ride.

Miss Maisy loves her pre-school, but is right in the midst of being 2-1/2 years old. She is bossy, sassy, loving, clinging, teary, mad and exhausting. Dang, we love our little monkey. She cries each time at drop off, but when I come to pick her up, wants to stay and play. Her speech continues to grow and we are thankful to the school system that allows Mary, her therapist, to come to our house each week. This morning, I woke up to Maisy singing "Twinkle, Twinkle". She was working very hard at enunciating her words. Our little amiable girl right now is our tyrant and the girl who used to just go to sleep is now up until all hours. We know we will get through it and on to the next phase we will go.

Eric has always made fun of me pretending to make Libby/T-man wedding plans. However, now that it clicked that T-man's last name is Walker, he is determined that they marry so we will have Libby Roller Walker. And I'm bad? :)


This week, the temps will be in the 70's-80's. Wow. It is gorgeous here and we hope to take advantage of the weather.

Maisy's favorite part of the MN Zoo, riding a fish.

Our poor sick Libby trying to have fun.

Yeehaw, Tenzing

! Trying to "pet" the fish

Kissing the "puppy" goodbye

I have a sticker on my nose, take my picture.