Back to 'daughter #2'

OK...after much talk (and a few cocktails), Keith & I decided that the name Janelle is just not for daughter #2. We were away...just the two of us...for an over night trip to our local bed & breakfast, enjoying our supper when we started talking about 'names' in general. I mention to Keith that it is important to me that our daughters share a part of my heritage (I am Italian) as well as his and theirs...since they will have his last name and they are/will be Chinese. Now, I did make a promise to Keith that he would be able to pick out daughter #2's name...so it was totally up to him if he wanted to change it. Well...after much talk & research, we have now decided to change Janelle's name to....?

We have a few names in the running, but he hasn't made a decision yet. The front-runners are: Caterina...Chiara...Nicolina...Stella...and Sofia. (I loved Gabriella, but it was veto). I am hoping he makes a decision soon. I am now back to calling daughter #2...."daughter #2".

Make sure you check out the photos below from my sister's birthday party this past week (seeing how my Internet was down the past two days...I am making up for lost time with two posts in one day).

Aunt Lisa's Birthday Party from the 25th

I know...I am so late getting around to posting these photos from Aunt Lisa's birthday party on the 25th, but we've been having bad storms here & my Internet was acting up (it took me two days trying everything with my laptop until finally this afternoon, I unplugged our connection from the Internet box to our outlet...and...wal-aahhh...that was all that needed to be done). Anyway...Happy Birthday Aunt Lisa!

There are also some more photos from the kids having some pool time on Tuesday. We are currently getting ready for our trip to Williamsburg, Virginia this coming week with Owen, Amy, and Katie. We are leaving tomorrow & are so excited (I already have the SUV 90% packed). I'll be taking our computer with us so please check back for updates. I can't wait to see our two Yihuang girls together again!


The birthday girl and Francesca!


Aunt Lisa is such a push-over...of course she let Francesca blow out her birthday candles!


Now Grandma is lending a helping hand to Francesca (it took her three times to finally get all the candles out).


Now it little Scotty's turn...

(my sister's adorable little boy)

And finally...pool time!


Be seeing you really soon from Williamsburg!

Like mother...like daughter! (Part one of two posts for today)

At school today, Francesca completed her first painting...and I must say...it is really good (for it being her first time and for her only being 2 1/2). I am finally getting around to posting some of the paintings from our private collection that I have completed over the years. I just hope that she so does appreciate our art world & comes to love everything that I have since the first day I picked up a paint brush...it is not about being good...it is about loving what you have created!

My little artist!


"a portrait of Honey" our dog

(Oils on canvas)

"Going home"

(Oils on canvas)

"Sunset Reflection"

(Oils on canvas)

"For the one I love..."

(Oils on canvas)

"The Beginning"

(Color pencils & pastels on paper)

"Winter Wonderland"

(Charcoal on paper)

"Flowers for Vincent"

(Color pencils & pastels on paper)

Part two..One hot day!

This past week was one for spending time in the pool! So, Francesca and I went to Aunt Lisa's house to hang with her & little Scotty for some fun pool time! We have been having such great time hanging with them (it is now every Tuesday & Thursday that we are getting together since Francesca's school days have changed to Mondays and Fridays).

My darling daughter!


Check these two out...


It is so hard getting both to look at me...at the same time...ugh!


"Are you sure you want this ball because you don't look like you are too interested?"


My cutie-pie!


My sister and I are planning a trip with just us and the kids to the beach the end of July! I can't wait!

A Day At The "Paupack" and some pizza

This past weekend was truly a wonderful one...

finally...Francesca eats some pizza!
As almost every Friday, Keith & I get pizza from The Library,take it up to my mom's and everyone comes over to enjoy it for some supper. Usually, Francesca will first eat the cheese, than lick off the sauce and finally eat the crust...well this past Friday...Francesca actually ate her pizza as most people do (holding the whole piece in her hands and taking a bit) for the first time! This is big for us in the Leonard household! Everyday, Francesca is again surprising me with doing something new and growing up a little more.

a day in the Pocono's at Lake Wallenpaupack
Keith and I also went away (yes, just the two of us) for the first time since bringing home Francesca. It was only for one night, but it was so hard (and Francesca was not happy that she wasn't going). It was so very nice to get away & spend some time with Keith, but we both missed Francesca so very much...we called Grandma a dozen times to check on her. The next morning, Grandma, GG, Auntie, Aunt Lisa, Uncle Scott, and Little Scotty...along with Francesca (of course!) drove up to the Paupack to meet us for lunch at The Boat House. I was counting down the minutes until her arrival. And the look on her face when she saw us...melted my heart! (my mom said that after 10 minutes of dropping her off she stopped crying and starting playing...she did ask for us when she went to bed and when she got up in the morning, but I truly think my little stinker was 100% playing us...knowing full well we were going away without her).

Francesca eating her pizza!


Photos from Sunday at The Paupack (Francesca just love it and she did get her feet wet!)










and finally...Happy Father's Day to all the Daddy's out there!

Katie!

The first words out of Francesca's mouth this morning were "Katie"! At first, I had no clue what she was saying, until she ran over and starting pointing to the photos that we have in her room of Katie (Amy & Owen's little girl) and herself and said "KATIE" again.

I guess we can say Francesca thinks we are leaving today for our trip with Owen, Amy & Katie (she heard Keith & I talk about last night). I had to explain to her that we still have two more weeks until we seeing Katie again. We are so excited about again getting together with Owen, Amy & Katie! We haven't seen each other since New Year's & that is way too long! This time we are traveling to Williamsburg, Virginia and staying together for a whole week. Francesca & I are leaving on June 28th to meet up with Daddy in Washington DC and than traveling to southern VA on the 30th where we will finally see our friends again...its been way to long....Here are photos that were taken last time we got together!

Francesca and her friend Katie! (I guess we can say Katie is Francesca's longest-known friend seeing how they were in the orphanage together since Jan 2005)




Francesca, Owen, and Katie with their 2007 glasses on! (Keith & I were so sad that day...I was crying my eyes out and continued to cry for about 45 miles after we left their house...seeing how that photo was taken about an hour before we had to leave Michigan to head home)



(ignore the date stamped on the photo..I didn't have the camera programmed correctly...it was actually 1/1/07)

Lots of photos!

Francesca & I sure had a great day yesterday! We spent the morning at our local park, talked on the phone with Daddy, and had a hair cut! I am also posting a photo of Francesca with the Grandma that we had taken this past weekend.

I was thinking about taking Francesca to our local animal conservatory yesterday, but I thought it was going rain...which it did...so I am glad that we went to the park instead. Maybe next week, we'll take a day trip to Claws N' Paws.

For now, Enjoy The Photos!



Francesca and Grandma!



At Elm Street Park



I am going to go down the big slide!



I'm coming down...






I really want to go in the swing!



I love it!



On the phone with Daddy!




My new hair cut!



Don't I look too cute!

Going to Disney! (again)

We can't wait to see this view!

Francesca just loves Mickey Mouse!

We all love the princesses, but I think Francesca's favorite is Belle.

(the reason why I say Belle is because that is the princess that Francesca is always wanting to play, but I also think Cinderella can be a favorite...as well as Ariel aka Little Mermaid and Princess Aurora aka Sleeping Beatuy)


Francesca is just so excited that I have to share this all with you...I finally got around to booking our trip to Disney this year for September! I did it yesterday, while she was napping & I told her where we were going once she got up...so you can imagine how many times she asked me last night about going back to see Mickey Mouse. She is so excited as we are too!

Last time we stayed at Disney's Riverside, and even though it is a great resort, we decided to take the plunge this year and stay the Disney Grand Floridian, which we are really excited about! So far, it is Francesca, Keith, Grandma, and me going. We are really hoping that Aunt Lisa, Uncle Scott, little Scotty, and Auntie (aka Mela) decide to join us as well.

Nascar at Pocono!

I am finally getting around to posting our photos from Friday's qualifying at Pocono. Even though the day was so hot, we still had a great time!

*I have to mention this before I start posting the photos. At the race in Richmond we attended, we had race fans (who we did not know) come over and ask our permission to photograph Francesca in her Tony Stewart outfit. Keith & I didn't see a problem with it...so they took their photos, told us how adorable she is (which we already knew) and thanked us. Well at this race, we had a gentleman come over and ask if he could take photos of Francesca...while she was sleeping in her stroller. She had her TS outfit on including her #20 headset and was past-out cold! (she wouldn't take off her head set...I guess all the talking we did to her about having to keep them on while at the race worked...so she fell asleep with them on) Again, Keith & I didn't see a problem with it so we said it was OK. After the photos we taken, the man came over to talk to us. Come to find out, he is Tony Stewart's neighbor! How cool is that! (he also asked for our email address so he can send us copies of the photos...I can't wait to see them!)*

I want to see some race cars!!!!


Checking out my driver in the #20 car!


Here he comes....



Just a day at the race track with Aunt Lisa, Uncle Scott, and Little Scotty!



Me & Mommy!



Mommy showing me where Tony is at (coming around turn #3).


Being silly!

Our Trip to Grandma & Grandpa at the beach!

Well, we just arrived home today from our trip to Virginia Beach this past week & we had so much fun! Just wait until you see these photos. We sure have a lot going on this week. Friday, we head out to the Nascar Race at Pocono. I think I am going to need a vacation from our vacations!

Francesca with Mommy & Daddy!


On our way down to Virginia Beach...Francesca sleeping in the car.


Francesca and Ace (one of my parent's cats)


Francesca thinks she is a cat!


Having fun with Grandma & Grandpa (aka PaPa) while waiting for our dinner.


Everyone saying "cheese"!


I love this photo...Francesca & her PaPa!


She loves her pops.




Beach Day Photos!













Dinner at my parent's favorite mexican resturant!


When can I have one of those fancy drinks PaPa?



Can't have a few days at the beach without Ice Cream!


This photo was taken once we got back to northern Virginia while out to eat. Look at how many straws Francesca has in her cup!



*I do have some more good news...when we arrvied home today, Francesca's passport was waiting for us in our collective mail. (it only took 13 weeks lol)*