Sports Day at School and Helping Daddy

Today is Sports Day at school. Dressing for this was not a difficulty in our house as Amy had no less than three shirts (all Bomber shirts!) to choose from, thanks to Krissy and Aunt Arlene. I thought about letting her take her pom poms to school, but soon thought better of it as Amy can be an overzealous cheerer at times.

Lately, taking a picture of Amy has become a challenge as you usually get this . . .

Every morning, Amy helps Daddy put his belt on. We often talk about what is a "Daddy job", a "Mommy job", and an "Amy job". Putting on belts, in this house, is definitely an "Amy job".

February 22nd - Birthday Party

Amy and I went to her friends Ben and Julianne's birthday party on Sunday. It was at the local Y which had lots for the kids to do. Amy, of course, was really into the fancy party hats and the cake and juice. There were two cakes to choose from - vanilla (the best!) and chocolate. I'm pleased to say vanilla was the choice of the day. I should probably explain that Robin loves chocolate and I love vanilla. Amy takes great pleasure in changing her favourites from day to day. In fact, lately we've had impromptu concerts in restaurants with sing-songy chants "vanilla (or, on occasion, chocolate) is the best!", seeing who can drown out the other. The other patrons must think we're nuts!

The slide was a big hit with not only Amy, but all the kids!

The big boys at the party were so helpful to the little kids, making sure that they didn't fall going up the big ladder.

What a great party!

February 21st - Chinese New Year Celebration

On Saturday, we went to our FCC's Chinese New Year Celebration. There was great food, dancers and prizes, along with the all important lucky money in red envelopes. We brought Jillian, Megan and their cousin Lindsay, Aunty Carol and Aunt Arlene to join in the fun with us.

The girls were so excited when they finally saw the much discussed Dragon Dancers . . .
. . . but someone quickly jumped into Aunty Carol's lap and was not so keen on the Dragon after all.

Even when the dragon got close, Amy was still not keen.
She did enjoy dancing the night away beside the stage with her friends though. Much more her style.

February 17th - Our Winter Holiday!

We went on our winter holiday this week! As we just made a BIG purchase (that's another post!), we decided we needed to keep our holiday plans smaller. So, we hopped in the car and drove south for a few hours into a different country.

The hotel we chose to stay in had a great waterpark that we all enjoyed. Amy loved the kiddie pool and was not so keen on the big bucket that dropped 3000 gallons of water! Carol and I really enjoyed the huge waterslide, while Robin loved the lazy river. Unfortunately, on the second day, due to some fecal matter in the connecting kiddie pool, both the lazy river and the water slide were closed.

In all, we had a great time relaxing and shopping for a few days.

February 15th - Happy Bithday Seanie

Happy Birthday Seanie!

Love, Amy

Bubbles!

When Amy got up on Valentine's Day, there was a large balloon attached to a gift bag waiting for her. After reading her card (she can now recognize her name in print!), she opened the gift bag . . . and paid no attention to the books or the few chocolates . . . it was all about the bubbles!!!

Our Kindermusik instructor, Carmen, used bubbles in class last week that seemed to last forever! Not only that, but in Amy's eyes, they could be used indoors - something I do not allow with messy soap bubbles. Given that is all she has talked about, I bought some for her.

I have to agree with her, they are terrific!

Jillian

Jillian came over today. Amy was up at 6:00 this morning insisting that we get up because Jillian was coming. When we did get up (two hours later!), she had the world's most efficient bath and got dressed herself without any complaining. She was one excited and focused girl!

Once Jillian arrived, the girls did some dancing, played in the basement and then asked to do some baking. Given that it's Valentine's day tomorrow, we decided to make some cookies.

Measuring the flour seemed to be the best part.

Rolling the dough and cutting of cookies was fun too. Jillian was making "Zoobadaddys" (I may have spelled that wrong!) with her dough, while Amy was sticking to the more traditional "Daddys" (looking oddly like butterflies).
Actually, for these two, cleaning up is the best part (it's amazing how they manage to dress so similarly).
If only washing dishes could always be this much fun!

Baking

Sean's birthday is this weekend, so Amy and I thought we would make a cake (okay, cup cakes!) to send him in Toronto. She is becoming quite proficient at cracking eggs, pouring liquids and, her favourite, scooping flour!
The best part, however, is stirring and scooping. I think it's really just the close proximity to the batter that makes it so exciting.
What do you think?!

Here We Go Again!!!

Last night we held a Chinese New Year dinner party. Once everyone was seated at the dinner table, we asked that they all break with tradition and have dessert first. Together, everyone opened up their fortune cookie that was at their place and read them out loud.

Our neighbours, Connie and Irene, had ones that read "Nuts and Bolts for two please" and "Buy more Smarties and double your fun". Denny and Eryl's said "He never did listen to you" and "This is a wonderful thing". Aunty Marilyn's was "You will soon hear the pitter patter of little feet". Arlene's predicted "There will soon be another package arriving from China". Mine read "Amazing what a Mother can accomplish when she makes up her mind". Robin's said "You are truly a wonderful and devoted father". And finally, Amy's was "You will soon have a little sister"!!!!!!!!! (My sister Carol's somehow did not make it into her fortune cookie. We secretly think she ate it!)

Yes, we are heading back to China to add to our family again! Arlene was the first to get it as she looked at me with wide eyes and said, "Really?!?" and Aunty Marilyn did not disappoint as the floodgates opened . . .

. . . on poor Arlene!

Another wild party at the Sander/Kersey household! Thank you Denny and Eryl for thinking of and bringing the most wonderful dessert possible.

Bowling with Ben

Yesterday morning, we met our friends Peter, Monina, Ben and Julianne to go bowling. Ben is in Amy's class at school and is a year older than her. His sister, Julianne, is a year younger. All seven of us took part and it was a lot of fun.

Ben and his Dad watch Ben's ball roll down the lane.
Julianne tries to follow her throw.

Daddy helps Amy throw her first ball.
Soon she was picking out her own ball, carrying it over, squatting down, and pushing it down the lane. When the ball eventually (because it would go so slow) got to the other end, it would usually knock over at least one pin. Not bad at all for a first time.

February 6th - Babysitting again!

Amy and I were fortunate enough to be able to babysit my friend's baby again. Of course he slept for quite awhile, even through the "When he wake up? He wake up soon?", poke . . . poke.

Happy as a clam!

February 4th - Amy-isms

Some recent Amy-isms that have us rolling in the aisles . . .
- Amy was "writing a list". She got her tape out and was hanging the list on the kitchen cabinet. When asked what was on her list, she answered incredulously, "tape".
- Amy loves vanilla "shakemilks".
- She is beginning to make some very funny faces.

- Some of her favourite phrases as of late are "Wait a minute!" (as if something has just occured to her), "Actually . . .", and "Not just yet".
- Amy loves the Backyardigans. The final line in the show is always "see you next time" and it is usually Amy's final line as she is going to bed, as she waves goodbye, and as she leaves Safeway. She utilizes it pretty much at the conclusion of any encounter.
- Amy loves to go to her Aunty Carol's house. You can always tell when she has been there because she will have both her hair and nails done. Carol tells us she asks for this as soon as she walks in the door, as if it were a beauty salon.

Babysitting

Amy and I had the pleasure of watching my friend's baby for a few hours yesterday when she was volunteering at her other son's school. Amy is so in love with babies, that she has been talking about this for days.

January 31st - CNY Celebrations

When we were in China, we happened to be there with friends of ours that had been waiting for two years in the China program. Given that they had been the inspiration for Robin to begin thinking about adopting, it was fitting that the stars aligned and we happened to be in Beijing at the same time. Here are a couple of my favourite pictures of Amy and Jillian (older by 6 weeks) in our room in Beijing having dinner. And yes, our eating habits have improved somewhat since then!

On Saturday, Jillian's parents invited us over to celebrate Chinese New Year. We all had a great time, with Jillian and Amy getting their faces painted (they're cats, by the way) by Jillian's big sister Megan.

Amy is a little out of sorts as she's not keen on having Jillian up on Daddy's knee!

January 31st - FCC Playgroup

Amy and I went to our FCC Playgroup this morning. She always looks forward to this and goes like crazy the whole time she is there. For awhile, the attendance had really dropped off due to the long wait associated with adopting from China, but there are many families in our area that are switching to the Waiting Child program. Now there are new children attending as well as some boys.

Amy dancing with her good friend "Little Halle", not to be confused with her other friend "Big Halle". Hard at work!
She really loves Halle!

January 28th - Gifts from Krissy

Robin went to Toronto on the weekend for business, but also took advantage of the trip to spend some time with Amy's beloved and much missed brother and sister. Much to Amy's delight, she was the recipient of a gift from Krissy when Daddy returned.

One can never have enough fancy skirts, especially when your favourite book to read is Fancy Nancy. It goes quite well with the new "Thumper" slippers, don't you think? Thank you Krissy. She sure loves them.