Happy New Year - 2011

From our family

to yours !

Sometimes "simple" can be.......

....simply fabulous!


We headed out on Christmas Eve and then hunkered down for some good ol family time.

We had one of our quietest, less stressed Christmases ever and I think I could get used to it.

It was so laid back and lazy that I don't even feel like editing a whack of pictures right now. I just converted a few to black and white and may add a few in color tomorrow.

Or not.

Depends on how the day goes.

Oh, yes....I could get used to this.

=)

Oh, I probably will throw in a few more quick shots but meanwhile, I hope everyone had a great Christmas......simple or not!

Black and White Wednesday "Christmas 2010"

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~ Burton Hillis

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the livingroom on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly. ~ Andy Rooney

K....it's me talking now. You know how much I love my black and white. Well I thought I'd throw ya a curve ball.

Ready? Brace yourself.

We pulled out some purple for our picture taking this year.

See....even I can learn a new trick!

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away.

~ Eva Logue



He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.

~ Roy L. Smith

May God's Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

TODAY! We welcome Christmas!

In just a few days, it'll be Christmas, and there are a few very excited little girls here - counting down the sleeps till Santa comes.

(I checked....and he is coming!)

Look who I found under the tree. What a life!

Our Christmas Village.

It's an Angel village and the detail is really exquisite.

And while we're making merry - there's nothing like some beautiful Christmas carols.

This CD just blows me away. David Phelps has the voice of an angel, to me - the best voice in the world. If you don't know him - treat yourself and catch his "O Holy Night" on You Tube. The boy can 'sang' !!!

Dahlia was so excited this year to be Mommy's sous-chef in the kitchen for some Christmas baking. She kept hugging me saying "this is the best day of my life".

And Dahlia gets her own little tree in her room. Milana has a few decorative pieces in hers too but up high - you know - as in "look with your eyes"!

Our Christmas Tree!

That's my little corner of the world.
Please share with us what your “Today” is like in your part of the world and link up with Communal Global's
"Tuesdays Around the World" !

Black and White Wednesday - " Great Traditions"

Every December, since we became parents, we have celebrated our families in a special way. Our agency sponsor, who herself has adopted 6 (yes, I said 6!) children from China - invites all the families she has personally helped to bring their children home - to a Christmas Party. This year we were about 130 people.

Many of these families we only see once a year. But just watching how each child blooms with the love of their forever families with each passing year is amazing.

The kids simply have a blast. Dancing themselves silly!

"Come for a spin, sister - o - mine!"





(...yes....Milana is still sporting that black eye. It's been 3 weeks now and I put make-up on it and can still see it.)





Milana now knows where the goodies are coming from. No more crying for the big man in red.

Joining Lisa today for this photo challenge.

I hope everyone is enjoying the season

(and celebrating the real reason for it too)!