I Am Drowning!

It has been over a week since our return from Paris and life hasn't stopped or slowed down in the least! I got the best welcome home from the girls upon arrival and hubs had a complete Thanksgiving spread ready for us. So we did had a turkey dinner after all! We arrived home at app. 7PM, had dinner and by 9PM I was out cold. Jetlag got the best of me once again. I don't know what it is but returning home is so hard for me. It took most of last week to get over it.

PS: I went back to my Paris posts and added pictures should you want to view them.

What else should I do upon my return in a jetlagged stupor? Plan a Birthday Party for Alexia, of course! She turns 2 at the end of the month but because my brother is getting married next weekend, we celebrated her birthday 2 weeks early. Our theme was ''Welcome to the Farrell Zoo''. Many friend and family joined us to celebrate this momentous birthday. Alexia had a grand old time!

Let's start with a lovely picture of Alexia with her father.

Alexia and Cara-Li were both wearing leopard print skirts and I was wearing a zebra-striped top (no pics of Cara-Li and I, of course!)

Followed by some pictures of the dessert items that were served.

Cupcakes in the shape of bears, pandas and sheep. Joint venture by Moi and Auntie Laure.

Monkey birthdy cake made by Auntie Laure.

Fruit floral arrangement that I am EXTREMELY proud of. It was quite easy to make and lots and lots of fun! I believe I have found myself a new day job.

These are the loot bags for the kids. I used Halloween pails as the base of the monkey face.

Day Off in the Sun

Yeah, right! I took the day off this past Wednesday and let me tell you, it was much harder and tiring than going to work! I had so many things to do in preparation of next week's return to school for Cara-Li. So I had the brilliant idea of jamming everything that needed to be done into one day. It started off with an early morning visit to the hospital for blood tests that should have been done 2 years ago. Then I joined Mortimer's Mom at the local Second Cup at her Knitting Club. I wanted to learn how to make this bag out of grocery bags. Thanks to her and her friends, I am off with a new hobby (like I needed another one!). OK... is it just me? They charged me $5.00 for a medium latté!!! Since I am in the coffee business, I know that it cost them no more 25 cents to make! That is nuts! The barista was trying to grab the $5.00 bill from my hand as I was really holding on to it. Heehee! And to boot, I got a $37.00 parking ticket after I put $3.00 in the meter! Next, I shopped for an hour for some scrapbooking organizing stuff before I picked up Cara-Li from her first play date to head downtown for uniforms. After 2 hours of traffic, parking issues and a whining little girl (I don't want to go to french school!), we made it back to Mortimer's Mom so that Cara-Li can have a playdate (number 2) with Dumpling. Then I shopped again for the next 2 hours for more school stuff and groceries for the weekend. In conclusion, I left the house at 8AM and returned at 5PM, with one parking ticket, one tank of gas spent and legs that would no longer hold me up. I was better off going to work!

Christening Bliss!

Well... we finally had our first Garden Party and it was for Alexia's Christening. I had the best time planning it although I only started seriously planning it 2 weeks ago. Invites had been sent but there was no real plan. Then we went to a wonderful Baptism last week that had been planned to a tee and I started to get nervous. But I work best under pressure! One last weather check on Friday morning and we decided that it would be a go for a Garden Party. Called the rental company and had tables and chairs delivered. Eventhough thunderstorms were expected in early evening :)

First off, here are some photos of the party favors and thank you gifts that were given to our guests. My dear friend L. and I worked on this the day before. Many thanks must be given to 3D as this is where I had seen the chocolate-dipped fortune cookies some time ago. Thanks D!

In the center of each bamboo steamer was a special fortune:

To the world, you may just be somebody… but to somebody, you may be the world.

This is what they looked like all wrapped up.

And all the leftover cookies were placed on this lovely 3-tier platter with some chocolates and Pockys in a glass that was used on the dessert table.

Everyone also received a Money Tree in honor of Alexia.

The actual church ceremony was short and sweet which was just fine by most and it was super hot and humid! Good weather for a Garden Party (and thunderstorms too!).


That's the four of us all dressed up!

And here we are again with the Godparents, my brother M. and his fiancée T.

Everyone was then invited to our home to enjoy the backyard and a lovely lupper.

Backyard prior to guests.

My parents and my neice, B.

Here is my brother N., my other brother M., sister-in-law M., and dear friend LC.

Here we have C., K., B., J. and Alexia.

Here's a glimpse at the crazy dessert table. There was way too much cake!! But it was really nice!

Here are some pictures of the kids having fun!

My little Alexia, the party girl!



Dumpling and Cara-Li


My neice B., J., Dumpling and Cara-Li




G., Cara-Li and Dumpling



Dumpling, Cara-Li, G. and BB (hiding)

It was also my father's 80th Birthday today! Happy Birthday Nonno!






And, I had to finish with this photo. This is the best photo taken of us probably since our wedding day, a long, long time ago!

By the way, we were graced with a lovely thunderstorm and heavy rain just shortly after dessert and Chinese tea was served :)

So sorry for the million photos but it was such a great day!

Talent Everywhere

First off, last Friday Cara-Li lost yet another tooth making that 2 in one week. But this time it was a front tooth and sadly I had to say goodbye to Cara-Li, my baby, and say hello to Cara-Li, my toothless wonder!


While I'm on the topic of Cara-Li, look at this drawing she 'whipped' up while I was making supper while fending of her baby sister. Too bad it was done on a piece of scrap paper from the recycle bin (she is sooo frugal). Today, I ran out to the art store to get her a sketching pad and pencils. A mother can hope!

Tonight was Cara-Li's final gymnastics class where the kids put on a show for the parents. We have been going to these shows for the last 4 years and what a difference time makes! These kids where great! Especially Cara-Li! Heehee!

And here is Alexia giving a show in the sidelines for those who cared to watch. She was basically copying what Cara-Li was doing. The crowd certainly got a kick out of her! Too cute!

Sneaky!

Finally, I can show you what I've been up to! You remember the first quilt I made?



Well, I have to say that I just love making quilts. I have lots to learn but I find it so rewarding at the end. After I finished the little doll quilt (which my partner recieved and loved), I had to come up with another project. Easy. We had just been invited to Yummy's Christening and I thought, wouldn't it be great to make her a Bai Jia Bei (100 Wishes Quilt). Now, while this quilt does have 100 squares, the fabrics did not come from 100 people. Time was of the essence. The 100 wishes all came from our family! And this is not a doll quilt... it is actually a crib size quilt. Now, I couldn't post about this any earlier as my scrapbooking partner, Red, is Yummy's Mom and she reads my blog! Didn't want to spoil the surprise!

Here are my two lovely girls on our way to the said festivities with our quilt nicely wrapped (not shown) in hopes that our recipient would love it.

And after a very long day with no naps for Alexia, here are Daddy and Alexia watching a little Teletubbies before dodo.

OK. I'm looking for a new project. Quilt anyone?

Visits, Sleeps and Swaps

I forgot to mention yesterday that we had a lovely visitor in the morning. Alexia had a playdate with NL, who was part of our adoption group. I just found out that NL and her family moved to Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue a couple of months ago from far, far away :) The girls had a grand old time playing for a while until it was time to pick-up Cara-Li from school. Then it was off to the Patisserie for a quick lunch before it was time for us to part ways and make some well-deserved dodos.

Speaking of dodos, it was Mom's night out last night for my monthly play at the Centaur Theatre and as usual, I can never sleep afterwards. My mind always races and I need lots of time to wind down. Needless to say, I was very tired this AM after only a fews hours of sleep. It was such a beautiful day that we decided to have a picnic out on the deck (which was lovingly shovelled and pressure washed on the weekend by my darling). Once Alexia was put down for her nap shorly thereafter, I decided to return to the deck and lie down for a while. A while which turned out to be over 2 1/2 hours! Cara-Li was right beside me playing with her 'stuff'' the whole time. There is something to be said about the first Spring nap outdoors. I just love it!

I've done a crazy thing. OK, it's not so crazy but I may have bitten off more than I could chew. I have joined a Doll Quilt Swap. What this means... I make a quilt for a doll and send it to the person who was assigned to me by May 31st. And I, in turn, will receive a doll quilt from my mystery quilter. Sounds fun, right? Problem is... I have never made a quilt, ever! I am taking this very seriously! Last week, I went to Fabricville to pick out some fabrics. Lucky for me, I met an older woman who is a quilter and gladly helped me select the fabrics and gave me a quick overview on how to go about making a quilt. I have consulted with many web sites and many books from our local library that I think I am ready to attack this. My fabrics have been washed and ironed as per instructions. My tools are prepared. Get ready, set, GO!

Chinese New Years Celebrations

Once again, as every year since we have be home with Cara-Li, we had a wonderful New Years Celebration in Chinatown (of course!) with family and friends. This year, along with the usual suspects :) , we had some new families, Mortimer's Mom and Red ,join us making our party spill onto 2 large tables instead of the usual one. Our lovely daughters were the center of attention and really the reason why we were celebrating this very important Chinese holiday. Dinner was great and the company was even better!

Julia, Cara-Li and Gabrielle

BB, Cara-Li and Dumpling (BB & D from Mortimer's Mom)

Yummy from Red

Alexia

What do you do with your extra candy canes from Christmas, you ask yourself? Well, rats (or mice) for Chinese New Year, of course! Cara-Li and I made these little creatures as a little thank you for coming to dinner for all their little guests.

My doorbell rang this afternoon and look at what was at the door! A lovely bouquet from Red and family as a thank you. What a nice surprise!

Busy, busy!

What a busy week I have had since my last post!

It started off with a family photo shoot at a studio. Boy... this is not an activity for the faint at heart! It is not easy to get a picture of a one year old that all she wants to do is walk around. God bless that photographer! Here are some of the photos that were taken. Do you know how hard it is to choose out of over 100 shots? I have purposely omitted the photo that will be used for our Christmas card. You will have to wait and see!

Next came scrapbooking. I finally started cutting up those pictures and using all the scrapbooking goodies I have been saving for the last four years. What a weight off my shoulders even though I only have three pages done. I am on my way! Thanks to my new friend Red for coming over and holding my hand while I cut parts of my daughter's hands and feet off (in the pictures of course!).

Next on the agenda was the preparation for a bridal shower that I was part-organizing. I was in charge of purchasing and wrapping the group gifts. And I decided to make the bride-to-be a wedding cake. Yes, this cake is make of towels... lots of them tightly rolled. It turned out well, I must say.

Friday was spent at work and shopping so I left early morning and did not get back until late night.

Then on Saturday, I spent half the day going to the mall to pick up the photos only to realize that I had forgotten my gift certicate at home (for the second time) therefore had to go back home to fetch it. All this with 2 children, seeing that my darling husband left ever so early that morning for a week in St. Louis.

And then, Sunday was the said bridal shower at which I spent most of the day at. Lots of fun was had by all. Geez... I wish I was getting married all over again. The gifts the bride-to-be were fab!

Today, I thought I would relax but alas I had to actually work from home as stuff needed to be ordered for the store... Christmas is around the corner after all!

And tomorrow after I drop Cara-Li off at school, Alexia and I are off to work for a couple of hours as I must finalize my ordering and cannot do so from the comforts of home. And I musn't forget to pick-up my Christmas cards from Costco. I am ever so anxious to see the final product!

OK... gotta go!