Disney 2012

Our every- other- year trip to Disney to see Jena's china's sisters was a littler quicker and an little smaller this time around, but not less fun. We missed seeing the Smith family and didn't have time to visit with the Florida Big Family-- two good reasons we will have to go back again!

Just Jena

With Stefanie away at camp, Jena and I are enjoying our time together. Today she was my tour guide at the Gardens for Sculpture. She had been there for school and it was my first time so she took her tour guide responsibilities very seriously. It was a beautiful day and we both agreed that we would like to go back again. Maybe we will take Stefanie next time!

Happy Passover!

The highlight of the passover Seder this year was the wonderful "ma nistanna" preformed in Hebrew By Jena and Rafi, followed in Chinese by Stefanie. Great jobs all the way around!

Happy Birthday Stefanie!

Stefanie has hit double digits- the big 1-0. It dawned on her this year that we don't know what time she was born. At first she was a little upset that we don't have this information. I told her that she can pick the time and this made her I'm-In-Control personality very happy. For future reference we are celebrating 12 noon as the official time of her birth. Happy birthday Stefanie- we love you!

job well done- JENA!

the whole family enjoyed Jena's Hag Ha Sidur. She did a wonderful job on stage singing and preforming with her classmates. We were all surprised to see that Jena is quite the stage director, using hand gestures to let all her friends know whose turn it was and where they were supposed to stand. I am so used to watching her sit back and let Stef run the show it was a whole new side of Jena to see that she has learned from the master (Stef) and can do a pretty good job running the show too! Hard to believe that 5 years ago she could hardly put two words together- way to go Jena!

Purim preparations

The girls had fun making hamantashen at Amahs house. They enjoyed the whole process until Amah asked if they wanted to help clean the floor, to which they responded with a very polite "no thank you"

happy Channukah!

this year the fourth graders each had to write an essay on a miracle that had happened in their own life. Stefanie wrote about what a miracle it was that I was able to adopt her. I couldn't agree more.

Happy Halloween

Jena all set to go out and Stef wishing I would get the camera out of her face so she could finish her homework!

Busy holiday season

we are nearing the end of the busy High Holy Day season- so many holidays the girls don't have a full week of school for almost a month.This year I decided that we would celebrate Succot at our house instead of Amah and Zayde's, which meant we had to build our own succah. We celebrate the Harvest festival by eating in the succah, a temporary structure that must have a roof made of natural materials that allows you to see the stars at night. Thanks to Uncle Lenny we have the best succah. Of course, the weather man is now calling for rain the first two nights of Succot! Oh well.

the Sweetest Place on Earth!

We just came home from a great trip to Hershey Park with Amah and Zayde. Uncle Dave was able to join us for the day at the Park so that Stef could go on all the crazy rides she wanted (since Mommy wouldn't). She went on all the rollercoasters she was tall enough for and there were alot! Some were so scary that Jena and I couldn't even bear to watch. Jena found plenty of rides that were her speed (not too high and not too spin-y) and Zayde and I even found a few our speed- slow and low to the ground. What's not to like about a place that gives you chocolate when you check in and kisses on your bed?

old friends are the best friends

Stef left for a week of overnight camp today. Two of her friends from preschool went as well, which had us all digging out old photos of the three girls together. My, how they've grown!

Happy 4th!

To start our celebration off right, we went to Independence Mall in downtown Philadelphia. We saw the Liberty Bell and then Jena took part in helping to fold the flag in front of the Constitution Center. We ended the morning with a great meal at my favorite Chinese Restaurant in Chinatown. Last time I ate there was the day I had to get my fingerprints repeated for the INS when i was completing my application to adopt Jena. Both girls loved it too and can't wait to go back.

first grade here she comes!

Jena's end of year Gan celebration "cruise"

notice anything missing?

Jena is losing teeth faster than the tooth fairy can keep up! Looking more and more like a hockey player everyday

almost summer!

enjoying some nice hot weather this Memorial Day weekend

Happy Mothers Day 2011

We had perfect weather and a perfect family fun day at Storybook land!

Springtime!

our pink tree is in full bloom and we saw a rainbow over Cherry Hill. Springtime at last!

Happy Passover!

Why is this night different from all other nights...

At the Passover Seder, the youngest child asked "The Four Questions" (Why is this night different from all other nights?). This year Jena is ready to ask the questions in Hebrew so Stefanie took on an added challenge and will be asking the questions in Chinese. In order to accomplish this, I translated the questions from Hebrew to English and brought the translation to our Piano teacher, whose husband then translated them into Chinese. I hope that after three translations the meaning is still basically the same! I hope to video both girls reading their parts but I could only talk them into doing one question each, and even that was under duress( hence the unhappy looks)
Happy Passover!

china sisters and best friends

Eight years ago in china:




last night in our house