2010 Resolutions!

HANDBOOK 2010

Health :
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality :
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society :
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life :
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least :
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.

Happy New Year

The girls and I are spending a quiet night (well that is relatively speaking) alone to ring in the new year. My mom is in the hospital, but resting comfortably with the help of some pain meds. Hopefully she will be home by the end of the weekend. She sure could use a break. Looks like she is in for a long recovery with wound care nurses visiting daily once again. She is a trooper and one strong lady!!

We just finished up some dinner and the girls are excited that they get to stay up until midnight. Let's see if they make it!! They are happily playing the Wii...which I am terrible at. That is a treat for them as I don't let them play often...not sure exactly why I got it LOL. They are planning out the snacks to snack on and the movies to watch...a fun night for them.

Wishing all of my family and friends a very Happy and HEALTHY New Year!!! I am hopeful that 2010 will be a good one for all of us.

We are so EXCITED to be welcoming home our new neighbor. Baby Matthew's parents are on the way to China to bring him home. The wait was excruciating, but in God's perfect timing, he was sent to his forever family!!! We anxiously await the posts from China (steveandkate+2.blogspot.com ) and to welcome him to our neighborhood. Prayers for the entire family for a safe and peaceful journey!!!

Nana's Angels 2009

Alyssa 4 years



Emily Hope 7 years



Hannah 9 years



Miranda 15 years



David 17 years

Christmas Morning

Santa was GOOD to these two this year!! They must have been very good girls!!!!

Getting Ready for Santa

Reindeer Food spread out on the lawn----check
Cookies put our for Santa-----check
Note for Santa----check
Traditional "Christmas Pajama" picture---check

Christmas Eve

Nothing like celebrating the holiday with those that you love the most!!!

Snow Storm December 2009

TOMORROW..............
My school is closed....SNOW DAY
Alyssa's school is closed..SNOW DAY

So far Emily still has school and wants to go as it is her Holiday Party tomorrow. We'll see, maybe it will be cancelled too!

The girls had fun playing in the snow today. Alyssa had some trouble staying on feet but fun was had by all.

They enjoyed some Hot Cocoa and watching movies in the afternoon. I LOVE THE WINTER!

Breakfast with Santa

Parents and school staff at OLL put together a great "Breakfast with Santa." The girls had fun and so did the adults!~!~

OLL Pageant

Alyssa's Pre-K program had their pageant today and it was just adorable. They performed the "Las Posadas, where the children acted out Mary and Joseph looking for shelter at the inns. Alyssa was chosen to be Mary and she was so cute. She said her lines loud, clear and with confidence. WAY TO GO, BABY!!! They sang several Chirstmas songs including "There was a little baby" and "Mary had a Baby." PRICELESS.

I LOVE THIS SCHOOL! The more I get to know the staff the more I am leaning toward pulling Emily from public school next year and enrolling them both in Catholic school. It has everything I want....a faith based education....strong drama, language, and music programs....good academic curricula....and terrific staff that encourage family involvement. The family involvement part is what is missing at Em's school. Time will tell.....oh yeah, and finances LOL.


Enjoy the pictures of Alyssa's first "lead." :-)

Tree Lighting 2009

On Friday night we went to the Fire Department Parade and Tree Lighting. The girls had a blast and were so excited that Uncle Tommy and cousing Hannah joined us! Fun way to start the Holiday Season!!! The tree is up and set to be decorated! By Monday, the house will be all decked out for Christmas. FUN. FUN. FUN!!!

Happy 4th Family Day, Alyssa

On December 5, 2005 Alyssa Mercedes XiuGe joined our family forever. There was never a more perfect child to complete our family. Alyssa is sweet, smart, sensitive, shy, and a joy to be around. She is doing fantastic in her new school, excelling socially, and really beginning to assert her opinions. It amazes me that this little girl who was AFRAID of people even looking at her is going to be "Mary" in the Christmas Pageant. She has learned her lines and cannot wait until the big day. She is very excited about the upcoming holidays in a way that she never has been before. In the past, the chaos that comes along with the holiday season TOTALLY overwhelmed her. This year she is ready for it and looking forward to it. I am so proud of her my heart is overflowing.

We celebrated her Family Day with all of her favorite things. The girls get to plan the day when it is their Family Day, from what we eat and where we go!! Last year she wanted Eggplant Parm for dinner LOL. This year, she was much more specific. After breakfast (bagels and cream cheese), she informed us that we would be going to the store to buy her "Mary" costume, then we would go to the LI Children's Musuem, and we would wrap the day up with dinner at Chilis.

I was happy to olbige....a fun day was had by all and she fell asleep in the middle of Frosty the Snowman!!!!

Happy Family Day, 2009!!!!!!