tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52235504081071717362024-03-13T06:25:22.728-04:00my little lanternKevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14035613404429681435noreply@blogger.comBlogger1106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-54632938432608824682016-03-24T11:50:00.001-04:002016-03-24T11:50:41.635-04:00life goes on... and this blog doesn'tLife goes on. I'd like ours to be a little less public to the world as our kids grow older. I'm thankful for the adult adoptees and other Taiwan adoptive families that I met on this journey, and could not have done that without this blog. I'm not continuing to pay for the domain name "mylittlelantern.com" but decided to leave the blog available for archival purposes.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-59820590700025670612014-11-05T01:57:00.000-05:002014-11-05T01:57:16.389-05:00Jan - March 2014The winter of 2013-2014 will be forever remembered for huge snowfall amounts and persistent very cold temperatures. Kids missed several days of school because snow storm after snow storm. Propane costs skyrocked, and we paid over $900 a month to heat the farmhouse for at least two of the winter months. We kept the kids sleeping downstairs so we wouldn't have to heat the upstairs of the farmhouse. Hannah turned six in January and Hudson turned three in December. We had a joint party for them, but had problems making it because of very deep snow. We got stuck in very deep snow on our way to the kids' party. We had a sherrif's officer pick me and the kids up and take us back to the farmhouse until a tow truck could pull our car out of the drifts. It was a wild and crazy adventure just trying to get to town for the kids' party! We celebrated the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) with Taiwan adoptive family friends in the Chicago area. The kids' dance party was one of the best times that I've had at an event for families EVER. The construction of our home progressed with heating, plumbing, electrical, drywall, painting, and trim.<br />
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-36529104124524405002014-10-30T17:56:00.000-04:002014-10-30T17:56:31.889-04:00late 2013 in photosWe really didn't drop off the face of the earth, but much has happened in one year. We sold our home by owner with two offers in four days in order to build our dream house. It was a scramble to find somewhere to live with just a few weeks notice. Thankfully, a friend's farmhouse was unoccupied, and she invited us to rent the house in the country while we built our next home. This is the first time I've ever lived in the country. The house sits on a gravel road surrounded by soybean fields. It was quite an adventure! Our family has lots of memories of hunting cicada shells, swinging from the rope swing, evening fires on the back porch, way too much snow, freezing pipes, and living together in one bed room. We watched bulldozers break ground and it was exciting to see how quickly the Amish framing crew worked. We stopped by our property most every day to check on progress and take pictures. December 29, 2013 marked five years since we met our daughter Hannah in Taiwan.<br />
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parade of homes inspiration</div>
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<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-13703499993763055572013-09-25T00:21:00.002-04:002013-09-25T00:21:58.370-04:00summer 2013So much has changed in just a few months. We spent the beginning of the summer fixing up and clearing out our home with the hope of being able to sell by owner. We wanted to sell our house before beginning to build a larger home. We painted, we cleaned, we organized, we patched, we hired out some cleaning, and hired a home stager for a consultation. After all that, I made a web site loaded with photos of our home, ordered professionally printed yard signs, and shared our listing with local facebook groups. We had two showing and two good offers in four days, and closed the sale in August. Suddenly... we had to find a place to live! Luckily, a friend had moved away and had an empty home that she hadn't put up for sale yet. So, here I am, in a farmhouse on a gravel road! We've been busy working on house plans, and hope for construction to begin in about a month.<br />
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I was hoping to redshirt Hannah from going to kindergarten this year, feeling that she'd be a more confident student if she was a year older. She is so much shorter and smaller than her peers that they treat her as if she is much younger. Being shy doesn't help things, either... although she's getting much better as she grows older. I had hoped to send her to a private half day kindergarten and then to public kindergarten next year. It didn't work out, and the private school canceled kindergarten because of lack of enrollment. I had just over a week to figure out what I was going to do, and chose to go ahead and send her to public kindergarten out of district, but in the district where our new home will be built. Thankfully, she loves it and is doing very well. She was a little sick two weeks ago and we kept her home from school for two days. She cried because she was so sad that she wouldn't see her girlfriends, and worried that her class would learn new words without her.<br />
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Hudson continues to be a typical two year old boy. He plays hard. Eats a lot. Sleeps well. Loves well. And tests us daily. Recently, he had no problem expressing displeasure. He'll tell us "I wanna go that way!" from the back of the car and demand that we drive right... when we need to drive left. He'll also get in my face, look me in the eye, and say, "I say no!" just like Daddy says to him when he needs to get his point across. Little stinker! This is also the little boy that crawls into my arms and kisses me on the lips and tells me "I wuv you."<br />
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-80777343139056605662013-06-01T10:03:00.000-04:002013-06-01T10:03:52.884-04:00"I win!"<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Friday
evening I watched the kids play tic-tac-toe on the iPad together after
dinner. They were both laughing and yelling "I win!" over and over.
Hannah loved it because she had an enthusiastic opponent and really did
beat him each time, and Hudson loved it because he was allowed to touch
the ipad with her but had no clue what he was doing. Later while I
worked in the yard, they ran around the <span class="text_exposed_show">yard
in circles getting dizzy, took turns pushing each other through the
grass on the tricycle, and played on their swing set. I heard lots of
"Come on, Hudson!" and laughter. The kids helped me put down more patch
grass seed and each used a watering can (half full so they could carry
and use it). They're so excited to help plant new grass. I can't
imagine our lives with out BOTH of these crazy kids... and cried a
little.</span></span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-76407223354385630322013-05-27T16:10:00.000-04:002013-05-27T22:16:54.954-04:00Hannah's first lemonade stand<center>
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The sweetest lemonade in town could be found for sale in our driveway during our garage sale. Hannah's first lemonade stand was a success and made over thirty dollars. Pretty good for a little girl who kept nudging me and whispering, "Mommy! Mommy ask them. Ask them if they want any lemonade." She felt too shy to initiate conversation with our garage sale shoppers, but she would tell people her name, how old she was, how much the lemonade costs, and what she wanted to do with the money she earned. Hannah was so cute that some people would may a dollar for a cup and let her keep the change, and others gave her a dollar and didn't want any lemonade! We took Hannah to Target where she purchased some small Lego city sets with her earnings.
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-70884462573247113742013-05-27T15:58:00.000-04:002013-05-27T15:58:54.390-04:00language explosion<center>
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">We've been enjoying Hudson's language explosion over the month of May. It thrills me that he's able to express himself. We get little surprises every day with new things he has to say, and sometimes quite loudly.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">May 7th: </span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">My favorite Hudson-ism to date: He brings us a diaper grinning and exclaims, "I'm a stinky boy!"</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">May 10th and 13th: </span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">His phrases keep getting longer and longer! "Mommy,
can I have cookies?" and </span><span class="userContent">"Mommy, can I please choo choo train?" Long phrases get you what you want, big boy! Please and thank you are very important words, and he's learning that he's more likely to get what he wants when he remembers to use them.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">May 14th </span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">We enjoyed a great steak that Kevin grilled for dinner on the back porch. Hudson commented, "I like steak!"</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">May 27th: Hudson cries from his room. "Good
morning, Hudson!" I pick him up. He stops crying. "Would you like
some breakfast?" "CEREAL. MAMA, CEREAL." I get him a plate of corn
flakes and blueberry yogurt. "MAMA TV WATCH. TV WATCH, PLEASE."
Hahaha! "Well, what do you want to watch, Hudson?" No response. "Bob
the Builder? No response. "Thomas?" He nods happily and does the
happy Hudson eyebrow dance. I turn on Netflix and find my boy some
Thomas the Train. "TANK YOU!"</span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-476525578130072462013-05-27T13:29:00.000-04:002013-05-27T22:29:32.425-04:00may in photos<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8861269705/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="481" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/8861269705_f8941bc821_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> Preschool visited a dairy farm.
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Hannah is into stacking cups.
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We're working on addition and subtraction. Hannah thinks this is a game, and it is such fun!
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We visited the Butler bulldog.
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Hannah is better at opening crab legs than I am. She's not a cheap date!
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Daddy bought Hudson a big wheel.
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The kids were very excited and helped put the big wheel together.
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We book the kids to their first baseball game.
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Kevin bought Hudson a box of Cracker Jack. I asked Hudson if he'd share with me. He shouted, "No! Mine!" About ten seconds later he decided to share, and put a piece of Cracker Jack into my mouth that was all wet. Thanks, kid.</center>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-52027218554217803412013-04-11T10:27:00.001-04:002013-04-15T18:15:00.729-04:00Redirect: America through the eyes of my TCKsI'm enjoying Morgan's blog. She's an American, living in Taiwan with her family, and is now an adoptive mama too. They are visiting the states with their family for several months before returning to Taiwan. <a href="http://www.thepeacefulroad.com/2013/04/a-snapshot-of-america-through-eyes-of.html" target="_blank">I love what her third culture kids have to say about visiting America.</a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-22687111285003711242013-04-11T03:33:00.000-04:002013-04-11T03:33:05.550-04:00Hannah's grocery list<center>
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On Tuesday Hannah went through the pantry and made a grocery list of things she'd like to buy. She copied the words off of packaging. Kevin texted me this pic while I was at work. I *love* this!!! We figured out that "fuzzy sticks" were pipe cleaners for crafts, and "expo" referred to dry erase markers.<br />
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Hannah and Kevin are really into building Lego sets together right now.</center>
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Kevin's mom and dad mailed us all of his old Lego sets, and they are keeping busy.<br />
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I saw this photo in my facebook feed this week.</center>
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I think is would be a wonderful gift to give a child brought into a family via adoption.<br />
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We're loving these Taiwanese Ramen noodles that we picked up at Juncle Jim's. Nom nom nom!<br />
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Last but not least, I could have written the above someecard. :)</center>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-18989549579089364222013-04-09T11:14:00.000-04:002013-04-09T11:14:44.708-04:00"I wuv you!"My mama's heart swells. While putting Hudson to bed last night he said back to me for the first time, "I wuv you!" and blew me a kiss back.<br />
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It's okay with me if he never stops saying "dad-doo" for thank you, too. :) Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-65475021577759226012013-04-03T00:58:00.002-04:002013-04-03T00:58:32.939-04:00Easter<center>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-88883455386687828662013-03-25T23:18:00.000-04:002013-03-25T23:18:07.839-04:00I'm a bad blogger: Feb/March photo dump<center>
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I'm a pretty bad blogger these days.</center>
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I'm busy with sticky. Waking up at 3am for the crying child.</center>
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Trying not to yell and be patient when someone spills half a box of Cheerios on the floor.</center>
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At those times I'm thrilled that our dog likes to snag people food. </center>
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I felt really old pushing a snow ball around on my knees.</center>
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I was thinking about taking some more ibuprofen while making this snowman.</center>
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Yes, he has strawberries for eyes.</center>
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And I have no sticks, so we used broom handles for hands. </center>
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Any sunny day over 40F feels like a heat wave.</center>
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We DROVE to Florida to visit Grandma and Grandpa... and Disney World.</center>
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This was Hudson's first time out of the Midwest.</center>
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He had diarrhea the whole drive to Florida.</center>
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I changed poopy diapers in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.</center>
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Probiotics and Activa yogurt fixed it as soon as we arrived in Florida.</center>
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That's what I'm going to remember about this trip! </center>
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We saw princesses. We went on rides. We had great food.</center>
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And we walked a lot.</center>
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This is my favorite photo from the trip.</center>
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It says a lot about Hudson's personality. </center>
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Long days make for very tired little boys.</center>
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Hannah watched Phineas and Ferb on Netflix all the day to Florida.</center>
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She was allowed to pick one souvenir, and chose a stuffed Perry.</center>
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She's sleeping with Perry the platypus every night now.</center>
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This is another one of my favorite photos from the trip,</center>
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Hannah and Grandpa holding hands.</center>
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The kids' favorite ride was the Buzz Light Year ride.</center>
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Hannah spent a lot of time picking flowers at Grandma's house.</center>
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She got to help water Grandma's roses.</center>
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When we came home to Indiana, she asked</center>
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if she could help me water our flowers.</center>
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My rose bushes are covered with 8 inches of snow.</center>
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I don't think they need any water right now.</center>
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The Matilda Jane Good Hart line takes my breath away,</center>
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and it took a lot of my money this spring.</center>
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I picked up an extra day of work to pay for it.</center>
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Yes, it is that cute. The strawberries did me in. </center>
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Bounce house. Wanna join us?</center>
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I think this is a fantastic idea. My kids love it, get a lot of exercise, and get tired.</center>
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Then they sleep really well at night.</center>
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But I have to drag Hudson out of bouncer kicking and screaming.</center>
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That's fun. </center>
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Speaking of sleeping, Daddy converted Hudson's crib into a toddler bed.</center>
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Sometimes he'll put himself down for a nap.</center>
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We seem to have less screaming at bed time because he climbs himself into bed</center>
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instead of being placed down into his crib. Totally a control thing. Totally.</center>
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Of course, Hannah needed a photo taken of herself in her bed when I was taking one of Hudson. </center>
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Is it spring yet? I can't imagine finding ice in the sand box would be pleasant.
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-67907300506938937992013-01-30T09:52:00.000-05:002013-01-30T09:52:09.313-05:00Hannah's Rapunzel Birthday Party<center>
Hannah has been talking about wanting a Rapunzel birthday party for nearly a year.</center>
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This weekend, she got her wish!</center>
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We played a version of pin the tail on the donkey.</center>
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Two little princesses remarked over and over, "But I can't see!" Heehee!</center>
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We "tangled" the mommies up in "Rapunzel hair."</center>
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Hannah's daddy blew up the punch balls to play with.</center>
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Every princess was on her good behavior.</center>
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My favorite princess quotes from the day:</center>
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"Hey guys, I've got to tell you this! Santa is watching!"</center>
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"Hudson stunk up the room!" Apparently his diaper needed changed. Heehee!</center>
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Hannah's favorite presents are craft supplies and lip gloss.</center>
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Four little princesses and one little prince.</center>
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Ready for some punch, cake, and ice cream!</center>
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The candy buffet with take home bags was a big hit.</center>
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It's not every day that a princess is allowed to scoop up handfuls to take home.</center>
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There's gold glitter everywhere in the house.</center>
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Hannah's princess dress sparked all over. Every room. Every chair.</center>
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I think I'll be sweeping up glitter for years.</center>
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But those two hours of my little girl's dream come true were all worth it. </center>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-22223815891658923912013-01-21T21:58:00.000-05:002013-01-21T23:52:09.998-05:00my sweet girl turns five<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWL5tyhOYAE/UP39NAaWWdI/AAAAAAAAFmE/YOcaaggGShs/s1600/Sky-lantern-happy-birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWL5tyhOYAE/UP39NAaWWdI/AAAAAAAAFmE/YOcaaggGShs/s320/Sky-lantern-happy-birthday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8403340673/" title="my little five year old by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="my little five year old" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8403340673_230516c7fb_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></center>
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Mama, "Hannah, where do you want to go out to dinner tonight?<br />
Hannah, "I want to go to peng you's." (Translation: She wants to go to our neighborhood Chinese restaurant).<br />
Mama, "Daddy took you there this week already!"<br />
Hannah, "But we didn't go there yet today!"<br />
<br />
We celebrated Hannah's birthday the night before, as I'm working tomorrow... and Daddy points out that it's her birthday in Taiwan right now anyway. Our friends at the Chinese restaurant brought out a pastry surrounded by little rabbits made out of oranges and we sang happy birthday in Mandarin.<br />
<br />
Our kids eat better there than anywhere else. Hannah likes to eat noodles all of the big tofu chunks out of hot and sour soup. She also likes spring rolls and bits of chicken. She finishes with orange slices and ice cream. Hudson eats sticky rice, more sticky rice, and even more sticky rice, broccoli, several orange slices, noodles, jello, and slurps down lots of chocolate milk.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-44359351063123580332013-01-16T12:25:00.002-05:002013-01-16T12:25:39.556-05:00shark!<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8383815610/" title="shark! (edit) by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="shark! (edit)" height="480" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/8383815610_94cbbf2841_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> </center>
<center>
We got outta town this past weekend. Had a fabulous time visiting the Newport Aquarium, the new Jungle Jim's location, and sharing dim sum and froyo with another Taiwan adoptive family. Hannah is always thrilled to stay in a hotel with a pool... and thinks that is the best part of any trip that involves a hotel stay.</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
Hannah quote of the week:</center>
<center>
"Mama, are there any numbers bigger than a hundred?" </center>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-51810312526578288592013-01-08T10:44:00.000-05:002013-01-08T10:44:45.850-05:002012 year in reviewOnce a year I scroll through a year's worth of photos and try to pick out a handful to send to the "baby house" in Taiwan that connected me with our children. It is painfully hard to choose just a few images that say, "Look at these beautiful kids you gave us! They're everything to us. They're smart, funny, pretty happy, well adjusted kids! They drive me crazy and complete me all that the same time. They're doing great. Don't worry about them, that's my job."<br />
<br />
I wrote a letter to Hudson's foster mother and had a friend translate it for us. That was way harder than picking out photos. It is nearly impossible to find words to convey the gratitude that we have for this woman and her family. They not only took care of my son... but he learned LOVE from this family. Hudson kisses, hugs, wants to belong, be together... and we saw that one day one with him. I have no doubt that all of his needs were met in this family. I have no doubt he is missed by them. We will be back. We will find them again.
<br />
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8360721159/" title="littlemonkeys_web-000001 by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="littlemonkeys_web-000001" height="776" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8048/8360721159_5cfa5054da_o.jpg" width="600" /></a>
<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8360721619/" title="2012hudson_fecupdate_web-000001 by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="2012hudson_fecupdate_web-000001" height="464" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8360721619_66ffc5d52b_o.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8361784812/" title="2012hannah_fecupdate1_web-000001 by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="2012hannah_fecupdate1_web-000001" height="776" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8361784812_e06fb1987b_o.jpg" width="600" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8361784442/" title="2012hannah_fecupdate2_web-000001 by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="2012hannah_fecupdate2_web-000001" height="776" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8361784442_afcbfdbd25_o.jpg" width="600" /></a></center>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-32799695178802542792013-01-08T09:13:00.000-05:002013-01-08T11:14:44.475-05:00Hudson's vocabulary at age 2 - 64 words<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We're having a language explosion at home. I woke up to Hudson yelling from his crib, "Up! Out! Juice! Eat!" The boy knows how to express himself, for sure! At 64 words at 24 months old, he's falls into the normal vocabulary range. This mama is thrilled, and so proud of what he's accomplished in just six months with us. <a href="http://www.mylittlelantern.com/2010/01/words-at-age-two.html" target="_blank">Hannah had a similar vocabulary at age two</a>, after First Steps early intervention services, and she had lived with us and heard English for twice as long as Hudson has. </span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mama/Mommy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dada/Daddy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hannah</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hudson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dona
(Sedona)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dog </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nana</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Papa</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Santa</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rice</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Juice</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Apple</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grapes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Banana </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bread</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chips </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cracker</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cookie</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Candy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sit</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eat</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Open</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank
you</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Night
night</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whee!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Car</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Crash </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Choo
choo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Beep
beep</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Help</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Up</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sock</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shoe</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Diaper</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peepee</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Poopoo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pants</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shirt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Out</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hat</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Coat</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hot</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cold</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Snow</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Share</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eyes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nose</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teeth</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ear</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hair</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All
gone</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ball</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Treat</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jammies</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Train</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Scissors</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Seat</span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-85163736202280040612013-01-01T23:35:00.002-05:002013-01-01T23:35:16.828-05:00short i sound needs a little work<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8335800543/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8335800543_11d6c570ae_z.jpg" width="480" /></a></center>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-91096299687718247132012-12-27T23:37:00.000-05:002013-01-01T23:59:53.061-05:00Christmas 2012<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336853702/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8355/8336853702_5d7371bb7e_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
<br />
Christmas with two littles is exciting, a lot of work, and messy.</center>
<center>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336876102/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8353/8336876102_93260da21e_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
But moments like this when you realize that she's drawing the nativity... priceless.</center>
<center>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336866928/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8336866928_c8217608d2_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
We had our first real snow of the season... and Hudson got to experience snow for the first time.</center>
<center>
The words "snow" and "cold" are now a part of Hudson's vocabulary. </center>
<center>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336855012/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8336855012_59bed211dd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
Most of the time it was fun to have Silly Elf around,
but sometimes Silly Elf</center>
<center>
ran out of creativity and relied on Pinterest for suggestions on what to do at night.</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336858020/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8336858020_947f305704_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
The kids went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service in their</center>
<center>
jammies so they could be carried right into bed when we got home.</center>
<center>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336859426/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8336859426_e053e635bb_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
Hannah and I baked chocolate chip cookies for Santa,</center>
<center>
and laid out a glass of chocolate milk for him as well.</center>
<center>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336870160/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8336870160_cef82f200f_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
<br />
</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
Santa came!</center>
<center>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336861346/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8336861346_7eaa89174a_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
Hudson's ravorite present was this roller coaster.</center>
<center>
<br />S
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8335806771/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8492/8335806771_64de87239b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
Hannah received several Lalaloopsy doll items, including the</center>
<center>
Jewel Sparkle Silly Hair doll she really wanted.</center>
<center>
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336868808/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8336868808_c4419979ba_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
Santa remembered to bring something for Sedona this year.</center>
<center>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8335815611/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8335815611_eb47259ca0_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
This is my favorite photo from this Christmas. When I'm not looking,</center>
<center>
Hannah tries to sneak on the roller coaster with her roller skates on.</center>
<center>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8336873796/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8336873796_61b06fa9f3_z.jpg" width="427" /></a>
<br />
<br />
She wore her roller skates all day, and didn't want to take them off.
</center>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-45487944577769241502012-12-20T02:53:00.000-05:002012-12-20T02:53:30.928-05:00five years of visiting Santa<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/5231078102/" title="Hannah and Taiwanese Santa 2008 by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Hannah and Taiwanese Santa 2008" height="500" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5231078102_5dd14fa10f.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />Christmas 2008 - Tainan, Taiwan<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/4209420972/" title="merrychristmas2009 by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="merrychristmas2009" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4209420972_6febb399dd.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />Christmas 2009 - Indiana<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/5231076228/" title="santa2010pandoracrop by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="santa2010pandoracrop" height="448" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5231076228_818ef3a727_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />Christmas 2010 - Indiana<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/6523565067/" title="santa2011_web by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="santa2011_web" height="427" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6523565067_8274103385_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />Christmas 2011 - Indiana</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8289643561/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8289643561_22caba4b69_z.jpg" width="480" /></a> </center>
<center>
Christmas 2012 - Indiana
</center>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-78446107578630638742012-12-20T02:46:00.000-05:002012-12-20T15:20:29.842-05:00Merry Christmas!<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8288108195/" title="Christmas card 2012 by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas card 2012" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8288108195_a925e8490c_z.jpg" width="454" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
The most beautiful gift in all this world</center>
<center>
becomes dim in our sight</center>
<center>
when placed beside the gift of love</center>
<center>
God gave us on Christmas night.</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
May your Christmas be filled</center>
<center>
with peace and joy.</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
Kevin, Sarah, Hannah, and Hudson</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8288139073/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8288139073_305370d42f_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
Hannah has been asking the following questions:</center>
<center>
"How many sleeps until Christmas?"</center>
<center>
"How many sleeps until it snows, Mama?"</center>
<center>
"How will Santa come if it doesn't snow?"</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
Hudson has been saying:</center>
<center>
"Ange. Ange. Again." (Translates into orange, orange, again.)</center>
<center>
"Beep beep. Choo choo. Wooooowooowooo!" </center>
<center>
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8290698006/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8290698006_aff2f43976_z.jpg" width="480" /></a>
<br /> </center>
<center>
It is impossible to get a photo of Hudson looking at the camera,</center>
<center>
smiling, and in good focus. I'm learning to settle for 2 out of 3.</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
Hannah's preschool Christmas program was last night.</center>
<center>
I'm thrilled that she sang, did hand motions, and just plain participated.</center>
<center>
This is a huge step from the little girl that wouldn't go on stage</center>
<center>
at the end of the Chinese school to receive her certificate with the class...</center>
<center>
and the little girl that would never do fingerplays at story hour at the library.</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
Santa Claus was at preschool tonight, and Hudson allowed himself to be</center>
<center>
seated on Santa's lap for a minute after being given two suckers.</center>
<center>
Santa remembered Daddy, called him by name, and even gave him a hug!</center>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-83572878196652758842012-12-19T15:56:00.000-05:002012-12-19T15:56:05.478-05:00Hudson turned TWOHudson turned TWO last week. It feels like he's been two for some time. He plays like two, throws fits like, two, looks like two, and certainly eats like he's a lumberjack. I got the kids mustache outfits for Hudson's mustache themed little family party and tried to get some photos of them together. Total fail. Thought you'd appreciate some of the outtakes, as they are ALL OUTTAKES.
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Hudson loved his presents. He'd open a present and play with it for 10-15 minutes. So sweet! Hannah was totally annoyed and couldn't understand why he just wouldn't open all of them up. Hudson is all about vehicles with lights and loud sounds, and he can bounce away on the bouncy horse and get rid of some of his extra energy!<br />
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-11042693979148550002012-12-12T13:24:00.004-05:002012-12-12T13:24:40.744-05:00early December photo roll<center>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylittlelantern/8262248569/" title="Untitled by sarah {my little lantern}, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8262248569_5aa07689e5.jpg" width="500" /></a></center>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5223550408107171736.post-7631549179125815252012-11-25T00:54:00.002-05:002012-11-25T00:54:59.451-05:00Thanksgiving recipes<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-pumpkin-2-159672" target="_blank">Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats</a> - Read the comments of the recipe and blot out excess moisture from the pumpkin puree to prevent soggy treats.<br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/319188/new-england-cranberry-duff?center=0&gallery=275598&slide=254627" target="_blank">New England Cranberry Duff </a>- This might be one of my top three things I've ever made. I used fresh cranberries and doubled the cake part of the recipe as suggested in the comments.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11282047182701941030noreply@blogger.com0