Tis the Season...

***and the WINNER is Jodee from Follow The Leaders! Congratulations Jodee!!! Please send me your choice of CD & candle set and your mailing address...You are going to LOVE this set!***


As many of you know, I just love a great "GIVEAWAY" and since I am totally in the sprite of this coming Christmas season (and as many of you have already "read" I am so into the shopping thing this year), I just had to give away one of my favorite things out this year to one of my faithful followers!

I LOVE this set too! It is such a must have & I just knew it was what I wanted to share with you all this Christmas season! This O'Neill Brothers Candle and CD set is truly a beautiful gift to pass onto some else ~ or keep for yourself! I personally given out several of these sets in the past and they are always a hit! I just know you are going to LOVE it! I am giving away one set...your choice...of the "Holiday Home" collection which includes a 17 hour burn time warm apple pie scented Old Virginia Candle Company tin candle and matching O'Neill Brothers piano music CD with matching gift bag or the "Cozy Home" collection which also includes a 17 hour burn time toasted almond vanilla scented Old Virginia Candle Company tin candle and a matching O'Neill Brothers piano music CD with matching gift bag as well! Your choice! (I have photos of each displayed above along with the songs on each CD)

Now here are the rules:

Just leave me a comment after this post...and for every comment you leave ~ you'll receive an entry! It is just that simple!

The drawing for this amazing giveaway will end at 11:59PM on November 20th...so you better start posting now!

Good Luck and I can't begin to tell you all how excited I am to be sharing a little something with you - that I so love to give!

Christmas Shopping for Francesca!

Now Francesca this year was very easy to shop for. Just about every info commercial she saw, she wanted it! From the Tooth-brush sanitizer, to the famous Snuggie, to Shrinky Dinks...and these (that are shown below) she wanted them all!


Well, I finally decided on getting her the Bendaroos! This is the second year she has asked for them and after finding them on ebay for only $12 (and that price included shipping), I just couldn't resist! I am thinking she is going to love them!

Next she asked for a few new DVDs. Seeing how we already have a HUGE collection...I wasn't 100% sold that idea but after sitting down with our daughter and asking her what new DVDs she was interested in, I quickly knew I would be making a few purchases! DisneyNature "Earth" is very special to Francesca's heart as well as ours. It was the first featured film she went to see at the movies...how could I not want to purchase this one! (and trust me - it is an excellent film!)

(as for Mary Poppins - it is a classic!)

As many of you know, from my last post on "Christmas Shopping for Annabelle" you all know I got some wonderful Disney character sweatshirts from disneystore.com at some amazing prices! I just had to pick up a few for my girls and the selection was incredible...all for just $2.99 each!

OK - I know I got Annabelle a pair of red glitter shoes to match her Snow White Dress and seeing how our Francesca has a Sleeping Beauty costume to wear when in Disney (Thanks to her Aunt Molly who gave it to her last year for her birthday), I just knew she would also LOVE a pair of these glitter shoes ~ PINK GLITTER SHOES!

I just love getting my girls those matching PJs! And this year, disneystore.com was having an amazing sale on some of last year styles! I picked up these adorable Minnie pajamas for both of our girls to enjoy and snuggle up in on those cold winter nights!

And last but not least, this is the first year I was FINALLY able to purchase Francesca some pierced earrings! She saw a pair of these on that famous home shopping network we all know I love and I just had to get them for her! I can't wait until I see her wearing them!

And there you have it - Christmas-102 for our two girls! I think I did really well this year. I set a budget for myself and stayed well within my limit! Finding some amazing bargains on disneystore.com, target.com, thefind.com, and ebay.com I saved a whole lot of money! Now we still have a few presents to get (I just can't seem to make up my mind): a game board game (which are always a hit in this household) & some new books for the girls to enjoy! They just love LOVE love being read to! But seeing how these are all I have left, I am feeling no-pressure!

Oh I almost forget...here are some photos of the girls ~ ENJOY!

Since the past week was Francesca's turn to take "Billy The Bear" home from school and be his care taker, I thought it was only fitting to add some photos from her week with Billy....


all ready for bed...

getting ready to eat one of Francesca's favorite suppers!

one day we even made some "Billy the Bear" masks!

and finally - falling asleep...

Christmas Shopping for Annabelle!

Since many of you know (from several of my previous posts), I am one of those people who try to get their Christmas shopping done early. Well, this year I fell a little behind (paper chasing for #3, moving to a new state and a new house, trying to sell our old house, Francesca starting a new school...and...well you get the idea). So I made it my number one priority to get my butt into gear and start the craziness of "the season". Seeing how our Miss Annabelle really plays with a majority {all} of Francesca's toys, I truly thought about what she likes and what she would enjoy playing with {calling her own} this year!

As soon as I saw that Snow White was being released on DVD I just knew it would be the perfect gift for her. I quickly put my order in through Disney's Movie 'online' Club and it seems from this one purchased, it all snow-balled from there!





Annabelle LOVES playing dress up (unlike our Francesca). She would wear one of Francesca's Princess costumes every single darn day if I let her. So what better gift to give her but her OWN Princess costume!




And what little girl can go without this adorable teddy bear ~ dressed to match her beautiful dress!




And of course...you need some red glitter shoes to tie in the whole "Snow White" look!

(I think you can all see a theme going on here...)


Now since we will be visiting Disney World this coming January for Francesca's birthday, I thought I get the girls some Mickey & Friends sweatshirts! I just love it when we are at "the happiest place on earth" & they are all decked out in their Disney Gear and seeing how many of these character sweatshirts are currently on sale at disneystore.com for $2.99 ~ how could I have resisted!





And last but not least - as soon as I saw "this" featured on QVC - I just know it is going to be a hit in our house! As many of you know, I am NOT a fan of Play-Doh. Not sure why, but even as a kid, I just didn't like it. Anyway, when I saw this on that famous home shopping network which I am addicted to and need professional help for, I was so excited that someone out there has gotten it right! Annabelle loves to play with anything "crafty' so I am thinking this will be a hit!




(it came in a set of three so Francesca will be getting a set too)


For the most part, this is what our Annabelle will be getting this coming Christmas. Only one or two will be from Santa, Francesca will pick out something to give to her as well and the rest is from good old mom & dad!

Can you tell I am finally getting excited!


I am hoping that by the end of this weekend I have Francesca's shopping complete as well. Once it is all done, I promise to share with you all what exciting "finds" I purchased just for her!

And since I just couldn't have a post without some new photos...here they are!

Our Annabelle is trying to get on some of Billy the Bear's clothing (Francesca little bear friend from school). I don't think she realized that it wasn't going to fit over that head of hers but boy did she wear it well!

and here's one with her favorite {cough} only sister!

I'm Back!

After many phone calls and emails, I have decided to come back into the land of bloggers! To keep it simple, I am only going to post once a week. Life here is still very busy and with the holidays coming up so fast, I don't see our lives slowing down. Plus we are headed to Disney World this coming January for Francesca's Birthday which we are all super excited about!


Trying to recap all that has been happening since I took a little leave from our online journal is going to hard, but here it goes...




We finally got our fingerprint appointment through USCIS and it is set for Friday, November 20th! Hoping to have all of the paper chasing wrapped up and sent into our agency for review by the end of December. As for when we will travel...now I am thinking May? Only time will tell. We have not gotten any more updates on our Benjamin.


Francesca is LOVING school and she is now going 5 days a week! As for our Annabelle, she is still my little shadow and I wouldn't have it any other way!




We here at the Leonard household is currently getting ready for Christmas! The house is almost completely decorated (minus the tree and outdoor lights) but other than those two things - we are set to go and the girls are loving it...as I am too! Christmas music is playing...cookies are being baked...our Christmas photos cards are almost completed and I am finishing up my holiday shopping. I am hoping to start the wrapping on Thanksgiving weekend for many of our purchased gifts for our family in Pennsylvania - as they are being stored at my mom's house.
(we will be spending Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania...Christmas in DC...and New Year's back in Pennsylvania)


Now, onto the best part of this post ~ some photos of the girls ~ which I know you all have been patiently waiting for...

Our front door decorated for Christmas! I just love how it turned out this year!

Both girls enjoying the falling leaves of Autumn!

Halloween at The Leonard household - Francesca was once again dressed as Mulan for her school's party!

some good news and some sad news...

First - the Good News! As of 11:59PM tomorrow, the official fund raiser for bringing our Benjamin home will conclude! As of today, we have raised almost $1000.00! We will be drawing the names for all the prizes listed this coming weekend and we will be posting each winner on the web site!


As for the Sad News...After thinking about this for some time, I have made a very difficult decision. I have decided to take an extended break from this blog. I am still not 100% sure if I'll close it or make it private, but for now, I simply do not have the extra time to be an active member of the blogging community. Since our move to Washington DC, my life truly has a new meaning. I have met an amazing team of people who have become close friends. Many are stay at home moms - just like me - who share the same passion for family, life, and our children. Between lunches out, dinner parties, play dates, some much needed nights out, my expanding custom made jewelry line, a few other "projects" I have started, and my life as a mother and a wife, my life has taken a 180 turn since our move (plus having Keith come home every night makes a huge difference in our world). I do want to THANK YOU all for following us along in our journey in bringing our daughters home. I would have never been able to do it with out each and every one of you. You truly are one amazing support team. As for all you adoptive parents out there who are thinking about the adoption of a waiting child/special needs child who has been diagnosed with a mega colon and still want to contact me, please do so. I am always happy to answer every question you have.

As for Ben's blog, I am going to keep it up & running. After a two week period time of announcing our raffle winners, I will delete all posted related to it and start a journal of his adoption journey. We will also be using his blog for when we travel to China. Not sure if that one will become private, but only time will tell. As for now...this blog will remain as it is. You may find me posting and you may not...or you may one day find that it is private. I am just not sure, but one thing I am sure of is that for now I am saying "goodbye ~ until we see each other again..."

Today he turns 2!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OUR SWEET BENJAMIN JAMES!

Soon, very soon we'll be traveling to bring you home and although today we are many miles apart...you are foremost in our thoughts & in our hearts. My promise is to you that next year, you will be celebrating your 3rd birthday ~ home with us.

(a little bit of this and a little bit of that)

As many of you know, I am currently STILL suffering from issues with our Internet/computer. I had to finally break down and take my notebook in to the geek guy for some repairs and a good cleaning...and we are finally getting a technician out here to check on our Internet connection. Still not sure where the problems are at, but I so need to get these issues taken care of and get myself back online...get a chance to post some new photos of the girls...and also get myself caught up on all my family & friends postings.

As for us, we are still paper chasing for our Benjamin. Things have been crazy lately here. We have paper work waiting to be authenticated through the NYC Chinese Consulate, we are also waiting for our fingerprint appointment through USCIS, and we are currently waiting on some of our paper work to be stamped the the US State's office here in Washington DC. The girls are getting very excited over the thought of their brother finally being able to come home. Francesca must ask us at least once a day, "When is Benjamin James coming home?" With things the way they are and seeing how things are going...we truly do not have an answer for her, but we are staying positive that this will all work out in the end.

As for our Benjamin's fund raiser ~ we have been feeling the love pouring in. Seeing how we are still trying to get together some extra funds for his adoption, we are truly grateful for everything that everyone has been doing to help with this little boy coming home. We are also counting down the days for Benjamin's 2nd birthday, which will be on the 15th. Never having experienced one of my children's birthdays away from them - I am really struggling with this. But I know deep in my heart, our son will be home with us for his 3rd!

I also some exciting news to report, but I am going to save that for another post. Hope you all had a great weekend and here's to another fab week ahead!