Holiday Photos

Our holiday photo shoot this year was a smashing success.  Both kids did great.  Here is some of the results, but of course our holiday card photo is a surprise!  Savannah's planned outfit matched Seth's and was custom made, but this one was in the box too and there was no changing her mind, this is what she was wearing.  I can't say I blame her.  If I was 4 and saw this precious poodle pink outfit with sparkly bows, I would want to wear it too.  She looked gorgeous, so it did not matter what she wore and who says it has to be holiday colors.  She is just an individual and that is a ok.  We all changed our outfit but Seth who looked precious in his custom winter wonderland!  Very happy with the moments captured with our cuties on National Adoption Day! 

 Too bad Seth turned his head. 

 No smile from Seth

 Seth, Where is your smile?

 Remained very serious

 I see a smirk coming

 And there is a smile

 Back to being serious

 And taking it all in

 Now turning on the charm

 And another one

 Found my smile

 And some BIG cheese

 And again

 Do you want more?

 Dreaming of trains

 Involved

 So Seth--a boy and his trains

 Need trains to stay in the groove

 Walking in a winter wonderland

 So sweet

 Nobody is smiling, but I still like it

 Are you talking to me?

 Thank you.  I asked Seth to give this to Savannah when he was "escaping" and he did and this is one of my favorites.

 She did this on her own

 Can you say pose?  Do I have a Diva or what?

 This is a "yes, I did it" look.

 The look that melts your heart

 Just stunning

 Too bad Rich closed his eyes or this would have been a winner

 Jsut LOVE the way Savannah is looking at Seth

 A wink and a smile

 A little eye rolling

 Love my pretty in pink girl

 A melt your heart smile

 Can't ask for a bigger smile than that

 A favorite

 And this too

 Why aren't you smiling?

Our two joys

Pre K School Photo

Kudos to the photographer who took this of Savannah.  She usually doesn't look and smile.  Absolutely love it!  Here is her class photo too which is cute and a nice memory too.  Now we start our album of saving all the school pictures year after year.  Big hugs to our big girl. 

It's Savannah's Special Celebration

 Little Savannah and Clifford the Big Red Dog at the UCONN Children's Book Fair

 Creating a princess crown at the UCONN Children's Book Fair

 The princess in the finished product

 Princess Savannah and Biscut

 Savannah with the illustrator of Click, Click, Moo and other favorites.  She picked the book No Such Thing about monsters under your bed.

 Savannah and Rose Lewis signing her book "I Love You Like Crazy Cakes"  It was so special to meet her and her adopted daughter from China, Ming, who is now 14.

 Baby boy after his haircute drinking his milk from Starbucks in the car

 Mommy and Savannah time at Jack Rabbit after swimming

 1-2-3 jump.  She will jump into the pool now standing up.  Huge accomplishment.

 She swam across the therapy pool with a floatie by herself.  Usually even with a floatie she won't let go that long.

 This Fuji apple is as big as his face.

 Holding hands at the children's museum in West Hartford

 Excavating with Maggie at the dinosaur exhibit

 Seth loved the fish

 Savannah looking at some lizards and bugs

 Maggie, Seth and Savannah playing with the huge Light Bright at the Children's Museum.  I got her a Lite-Brite now.  What a great classic toy that was.

 Loving Chicken Satay at the Puhket, the BEST Thai restaurant in the area.

 He has a plan with the coasters

 To make them a train track

 Choo-Choo

 Gorgeous Girl on Forever Family Day with her new do!

 One of her presents was Baby Alive All Gone and two outfits.  She liked it in the store, but I ordered this one online to surprise her and whoops she only speaks Spanish.

 A new Barbie with three outfits.  Shopping Barbie!

 This is from Seth for his sister for Forever Family Day because he couldn't be happier that she is forever in our family.  She plays with the fishing game everytime we go into a store and it is on display.

 Savannah and her two Baby Alive babies. 

 Teaching Seth how to play the fishing game

 He did it and is very excited

He may play trains, but he plays babies too.

 Playing dollies with Savannah

 Savannah and her baby dolls

 Feeding her new baby who she named Chloe

 Savannah has moved onto Barbie, but Seth is mastering the fishing game.

Yesterday, November 14th, 2010 was 4 years since we went to the US Embassy in Guatemala, held up our right hand and swore on the holy bible to love, nurture, care for, parent, etc. Savannah Hope Brody for the rest of out lives.  Nothing could make us happier or prouder than having a daughter like Savannah.  She has always been the light of our lives and the joy in our hearts.  She is the most loving, caring, sensitive daughter and big sister.  She is just a genuine person.  She is beautiful inside and out and has the biggest heart.  We love her more than words can say and feel so fortunate that she is ours and we are her parents.  We did her big celebration last week in Boston, but we did not let this special day go by without acknowledging our daughter and all her wonderfulness!

On Friday she had her swimming lesson and then we went out to lunch.  Then on Saturday I took her to the UCONN Children's Book Fair with famous authors and characters and art.  It was wonderful and we met one of our favorite authors of adoption related children's stories and her adopted daughter from China.  She also made a crown and got some other signatures.  Then we went and got her a stylish new haircut which we all love.  We also went out for Thai Food where Savannah loves the chicken and rice.  On her actual Forever Family Day we were going to go to the butterfly conservatory in Massachusetts, but since Seth is teething it got really late when he got up and we had one of Savannah's longest time and best buddies come over and they were having fun playing.  So, after they played we decided to head over the West Hartford Children's Museum and the kids played, saw animals, excavated dinosaurs, and got to go to the planiterium which Savannah just loved.  She was amazed by the stars, moon, and planets.  She really absorbed it and was talking about the milky way.  When the museum closed we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner and then headed home.  We gave Savannah her gifts and she and Seth played until bath and bedtime.  She was so sweet sharing her new toys with him and teaching him how to play her new fishing game.  She is amazing. 

The 16th is her actually citizenship day when we touched down in the USA.  So, at school we are going to bring flag stickers and strawberries and blueberries to celebrate.