Sunday Snapshot {the witching hour}

I have heard other mothers use the term "the witching hour" but never really understood what they meant until I had my own child.  Because Cadie didn't come to us in the traditional way, but through adoption, we went through some tough transitions with our little one.  Cadie was 18 months old when she came home and from the first day, refused to nap!  Only in times of extreme exhaustion, would she close her eyes and nod off, but only if I was holding her!  It has been 2 years, and with the exception of short naps at preschool (we only allow a one hour nap or we are done for at night), our girlie NEVER slows down for a minute.  But there's a time between 4pm and 5pm when she is cranky and fussy and just plain difficult to please.  And without careful planning, it can be like dancing around a grizzly bear.  This is what I call "the witching hour."  Make or break time.  So this is how we handle the witching hour in our house- with art!  I plop her down at the kitchen table with paint, brushes, crayons, stickers, piles of paper, play dough, whatever.  And Cadie just seems to calm down, slow down and relax into another place in her mind.  There isn't a lot of talking... sometimes I'm getting dinner started, sometimes I'm painting too.  But what a difference 30-40 minutes later when my child emerges again, refreshed and calm, and proudly admiring her art that covers just about every inch of wall space in our kitchen.  I hope she carries this habit, along with her walks, into adulthood as I know how well they serve as a source of happiness and pride!

Sunday Snapshot {breaking news}

Shocking news, in fact!  Back in November, we found out that we are going to have a baby!  While for most couples this would be the most exciting news they could hear, we were just in shock. I am 45 years old, we have been married for over 12 years, and we just never thought this was something we were going to experience.  Earlier in the fall, we had been having long discussions about going back to China to adopt another little girl.   I wanted it more than anything.  I wanted Cadie to have a sibling from her birth country and I wanted to have 2 little giggling girls! But when we took a hard look at our finances and our financial future, we just couldn't see how we could make it work.  I cried a lot. But the idea of just having one was beginning to settle in.  We started looking into the best private school in our area, we started thinking about return trips to China, and getting Cadie started in Chinese school.  But apparently, God had other plans for us.  So, now after shifting gears again, excitement is starting to build and Cadie is so excited to be a big sister!  Cadie will turn 4 in June, and she is already planning all the things she is going to teach her little brother...how to play hockey (her current obsession, thanks to cousin Jack), how to play soccer, and how to brush his teeth!  Oh my...she's in for a shock when she sees how little this baby is going to be!  But it is opening the door for questions about her own past.  And we are welcoming the questions as they come.  I just hope I can provide the answers.  She is such a sweet, loving girl.  Most days, I still pinch myself when I look at her.  God really does answer our prayers.

Progress!

Do you remember this picture?

This was the first day of preschool and my little girl did not want to go.  It was a tough day that first day, and for many more days after.  But then something happened.  We discovered the window.  The window in the preschool classroom that looks out over the parking lot.  A life saver for this mom and dad!  At first, when the teacher peeled Cadie off of us, she took her to the window to say goodbye.  Tears.  Then one day, no tears and a wave.  Then a shout, "Wo Ai Ni, Mommy!"  Then... {brace yourself}, no teacher.  She went to the window, all by herself and waited patiently for me to walk out of the building to my car which I parked right in front of the window. I promptly heard "bye-bye Mommy...have a good day at work, Mom...put Kung Fu Panda on (yes, she loves this song)!"  Oh my, how far we've come.  Here is how I left her on Friday morning as I pulled away...

 I'm so proud of my girl and how much progress she's made in such a short time.  And I'm proud of myself and daddy for hanging in there with her and giving her all the time, hugs and kisses she needed to feel secure in her new classroom.  We love you CadieXin, and we will ALWAYS be here for you!

Sunday Snapshot {hayride}

A few quick pics before we head out the door.

Our resident ghost family.

The Snyder tribe!

My tribe!

Evelyn and Ethan enjoying the ride.

Cadie was very guarded during the ride; and the sky looked a little Sleepy-Hollow-ish in this picture!

Emily after a run down the slide!

Cadie loved going down the slide, but mysteriously her "feets" weren't working to walk up the big hill! 

The end of a fun evening!

On Saturday evening we headed out for our annual neighborhood hayride and brought our friends, the Snyder's, along. It was a 30 minute hayride through a Christmas tree farm, followed by a smorgasbord of hot dogs, s'mores, and hot chocolate around a big bonfire. Throw in a big slide made of drainage pipe, and you have some pretty happy kids!  It was cold too!  But a great time was had by all and we can't wait to do it again next year! I would have loved to get more pictures, but other than the light from the fire, it was totally dark and with all the commotion, it just didn't make for good picture taking time!

Sunday Snapshot {smiles}

We just love this little girl and her big smiles!

The littlest things just make her day...

and fill her with such pride!

There is nothing that she can't do...

She will accomplish big things in her life!

Sunday Snapshot {ghosts&goblins}

We are preparing for Halloween around here.  The ghosts are starting to arrive!

They are popping up all over our yard!

Oh my!
  
These pictures were taken with my sister's Canon EOS 40D on a test drive with minimal editing in Picasa.  This photography stuff is hard work!  I want my point and shoot back!  Enjoy.

Sunday Snapshot {caving 2012}

Christopher had another caving club meeting on Sunday morning in Kutztown, so Cadie and I decided to tag along in hopes of getting to do the tour of Crystal Cave.

While daddy was in his meeting, Cadie and I took off on a nature hike, with bag in hand for collecting treasures.

Getting a 3 year old to stop moving for any length of time is a feat in and of itself, but then to get a smile...priceless!

She looks so little next to the that tree!

Leading the way.

Finally, daddy is wrapping up his meeting and we can tour the cave.  This girl loves it up there on daddy's shoulders.  I'm sure the view is a lot better when you're 3 years old!

Why do they always sell the tickets in the gift shop?  It can take an hour for Cadie to pick out 1 souvenir...and these 2 parents can look like a couple of shifty salesmen trying to coerce her to just pick something! Torture!

Getting "the rules" from our guide before heading in the cave.

It was very difficult to capture on camera the beautiful "crystal" formations while trying to keep Cadie from touching everything!

Heading out after the tour...that was the longest hour of my life!  Cadie thought it was "great!"

The entrance.

The old Inn.

Cadie saying hello to the horse! I tried to tell her it's not real.

Her new friends, Boneses and Batty, from the gift shop.

Daddy trying to steal one of her snacks...love the facial expression. That's  a new one!