More pictures from Florida!

We have been hanging out at my parents senior RV Park. It has been very entertaining........

Old men in tight Speedos, strollers for dogs, AMATEUR (did you get the amateur)jamboree/variety shows and aqua fitness in the pool with noodles to stay afloat. As my niece Ceinwen put it: "More polka music than a girl can handle!!!"

The girls and Kael

Ceinwen and Aimee

Aimee makes a mean drunk.
Picnic in the Disney parking lot!!!! Thank heavens we brought food. Over half of the restaurants were closed because of low numbers. We could only choose from hot dogs, corn dog nuggets or chili in the park.

Dad and moi
Happy Kael and David
Denise, David, Ceinwen and Kael

We didn't manage to get any pictures with the Disney princesses. They were hard to reach. Snow White kept waving and running away. B*tch! It is all good though... why take your picture with a princess, when you can get a queen.

Aimee and the Queen of the Castle!

Hello from Tampa Florida!

Cheers my friends!!!

Well, we have already been here one full week. We have been having a brilliant time. Our plane ride was good and Aimee was not the same little possessed baby she was when we came home from Vietnam. She only got a little fussy in the last few hours of the trip; but, nothing too difficult at all. PHEWEY!!!

Here is the Little Miss watching her Sesame Street on the portable DVD while we waited in line at customs. God bless whoever invented the portable DVD!

It was awesome spending this last week with my parents, as well as my sister and her family. Aimee is so animated and excited when she is with her cousins Ceinwen and Kael. I love seeing her play with them. I also love seeing her with her Uncle David. She becomes mesmerized by his gentle voice and is often gazing into his eyes while they play the Hat Game.

Aimee and Uncle David

(More pictures to come of Aimee, Ceinwen and Kael, and the rest of us when Auntie Den sends us all the amazing pictures she took during the week.)

Now that Aimee is older, she has discovered how much fun it is to collect leaves and sand. She spends much of her time here playing with the different sized leaves.

We don't have any beach pictures yet (sorry Shauna). It has been too cold. Apparently, last week has been one of the coolest weeks ever here in Tampa. Now, dearest K, do not think I am complaining. I am extremely grateful to be here in Florida rather than at home in the freezing temperatures. Having said that, I was a little disappointed with our Disney day. It was the coldest day of the week.

This is us pulling into the Disney parking lot. As you can see, it was next to empty at 8:30am. That is because it was zero degrees (no exaggeration). That is really cold when you did not pack winter clothing. Brrr!

If you look closely at this next picture you will see frost on the garbage can. We had to scrape our car before we left. Thank goodness Mom and Dad still had their scraper, otherwise David and Den were going to have to use their credit card.

Aimee and Memere on the Safari.

Aimee loves her new Minnie Mouse balloon and plush.

Can you see the sheer delight in her face?

I was so surprised to see how much Aimee enjoyed the Lion King Show.

She watched with such intensity and sang along (quite loudly) with the music.

Carousel with Maman

Little nap!

The parade with lights was amazing. We did not stay for the fireworks because by then we were all frozen. We look forward to watching them next time!

Aimee, as well as a few others who shall remain nameless, went to

bed without changing into their jammies.On that note, I shall wish you good night and catch up with you later.

Dear Mémère and Pépère,

Thank you for your pictures from the sunny south. Really, there is nothing better than seeing you soaking in the sun when I am freezing my flipping Huggies off.

Have you forgotten how #$%& cold it is here in Canada! I don't even have the luxury of crying about it because my tears will freeze to my face. Ugh.... and don't even get me started on the whole nose dripping thing..... Thank heavens we are joining you in two more dodos!!!

Love, your adorable, sweet, frozen grand-baby,

Aimée

Cabin Fever!!!

Going out these cold days is not easy. Aimée does not enjoy being in her snowsuit. She grunts and squirms. By the time she is all bundled up I am exhausted. Before I can remember why exactly we are going out, she has wiggled out of her boots and pulled off her hat and mitts. Ugh!!!

"Can you find the baby?"

These days, we are just staying inside where it is warm. Aimée is finding all kinds of things to get into at home. She has definitely moved from baby stage to toddler stage. She enjoys playing in her kitchen and scattering the dishes all over the place. She loves playing with her Roll-Around balls and tossing them all over the place. She adores playing with her farm house and whipping the animals all over the place. Are you getting a clear visual of the state of my home? It is a landmine of toys and I have waved the white flag and surrendered.

Every girl needs to learn how to fix her own car by starting with the basic etiquette of mechanics: Every tool has its own place. Here is Aimée whipping her tools around moments after I picked them up. Is it just me, or do you see a slight naughty twinkle in her eyes too? (Check out the hair sprouting from her helmet. Very nice look!)

Basement has been taken over!

The other day, I did not close the door to the powder room properly. Would Aimée be a baby if she passed up on that glorious opportunity? Thank heavens I caught her before she began unrolling the second and third roll.

Well, I have found a solution to all this antsiness and it goes something like this:

"Come along and sing a song

And join the jamboree!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E"

Hot Dog! Hot Dog! Hot Diggity Dog! We are going to Florida next Saturday for two weeks! We will be joining my parents who are already there (snow birds). My sister, Denise, will be meeting us there along with her family too. I can hardly wait. Tinker Bell, get your fairy dust ready! Cinder, Belle, make room for a few more princesses... 'cause we are coming with bells on!!!!

Oh Happy Day!!!!

Hannah is truly and finally coming home!!!!!

My good friend (and colleague) Cindy, who has been waiting over 12 grueling months for a travel date, learnt this week that the problems that were holding up Hannah's adoption have now been resolved. She will be leaving early next week for Vietnam. I am so excited and happy for both of them.

Hannah is from the same orphanage as Aimée. Here is a picture of the two girls together in Vietnam. (Hannah 6 months and Aimée 7 months).

It has been 7 1/2 months since they have last seen each other. They are due for a good sorority reunion wouldn't you say? Aimée and I can barely wait to see her in her mommy's arms!!!