Sydney saw Santa Claus today. We stood in line for 50 minutes and I was sure that the end result would be that Sydney would refuse to sit on Santa's lap. However, when our turn came, Sydney walked right over, climbed on Santa's lap and said "Hello Santa." This is her picture from today. I'll try to find last year's photo of Santa and post it later. What a difference a year makes!

This is Sydney's Shaun! Although we've never held him, or heard his voice, or seen his smile...we love him!

Sydney is truly the funniest little girl. The things that she says keep me totally amused. But, in addition to being funny, she has a sensitivity that surprises me for a 2 year old.

Tonight I was reading a newsletter from Shaohannah's hope. Sydney pulled out the envelope and looked at it. She saw the picture of Steven Curtis Chapman with his daughter Shaohannah. Of course, Sydney wanted more details. So I explained that the newsletter talked about the children in China who were waiting for their mommies and daddies to come and get them.

Sydney then saw a picture of a little girl who didn't have an adult holding her. Syd wanted to know where the little girl's mommy was and I explained that the mommy hadn't found the little girl yet.

Sydney looked solemn. Then she said, "I need to get my Shaun...my brudder...my Shaun. I NEED my Shaun in China!"

Sydney is so right...she needs her Shaun! And Mommy and Daddy need their Shaun too.

For some reason I can't post pictures from AOL so here are the pictures that should have gone with yesterday's Thanksgiving post.

What a wonderful Thanksgiving week. Tuesday afternoon, Sydney and I went to Adel to watch Zeb's first 7th grade basketball game. The Warriors went down in defeat but it was nice to be able to see that first Jr. High game anyway.

Next we headed back to Norwalk and picked up Daddy for Hannah's first varsity game of the season. Sydney was in basketball form as she headed for the game. I am not kidding when I say that Sydney loves basketball. All through warmups, Sydney jumped up and down with her pom poms and yelled "Go Team Hannah! Go Team Hannah!" She saw her Brit during warmups and yelled "Go Brit" until Brit turned and waved at her.The Lady Warriors started the season strong against Winterset so that was a follow-up to last season's championship game.

Wednesday I got a jump on the Thanksgiving dinner with grocery shopping and baking pies and fixing some salads. On Thursday morning, Abby came out early to help me with dinner and to help with Sydney. Abby fixed Sydney's hair and when Grandma asked who fixed it, Abby said "I did. That's why she looks like me!" A couple of the pictures show Abby and Sydney making turkey cookies for dinner.

There was a very nice crowd for Thanksgiving. Mom, Dad, Randy, Angie, Hannah, Zeb, Sarah, Abby, Beka, Tyler and Sam all shared the day with us which made it more special. The only one missing was Shaun. Brian remarked in the morning that it was Shaun's "last China Thanksgiving". Well little man, Mommy's coming as fast as she can!

We got notification today that our Dossier has made it to China. I'm praying for a quick log-in date but we will see.

A friend that I have made online is in Nanchang right now picking up her son. He is a year younger than Shaun. On Thanksgiving she gets to visit the orphanage and I'm hoping that I will hear something about Shaun.

We also received word last week that the pillow that we ordered with a picture of Brian, Sydney and I had arrived at the orphanage. I hope that his foster mama will tell him that this is his family and that he won't be too scared when he sees us.

Tomorrow afternoon, Zeb starts Jr. High basketball. It seems like just yesterday that Hannah played her first game. Tomorrow night, she starts her Junior year of Varsity.

I'm going to try to load the picture of Sarah and Sydney.

Ok...I finally got the picture to post from Shaun's birthday party. Apparently the new blogger is having some technical difficulties. So here is the picture of Shaun's birthday party.

It doesn't seem possible that we are about to have another Thanksgiving. Last year was quite an adventure. Sydney was totally Mommy's girl and wanted to follow me and be held every step that I took. Sarah, Zeb and Abby all came to spend the evening with us. They helped keep Sydney occupied while I cooked. When it was time to sleep, Sarah, Abby, Sydney and I all hit the king sized bed. At one point, Abby was sleeping on the floor and Sydney wasn't sleeping at all. I think that this year will be easier!

We celebrated Shaun's birthday even though Shaun wasn't here. We bought cupcakes and a Happy Birthday balloon. Sydney sang Happy Birthday and blew out the candles for him. It's very difficult to know that my little boy is half a world away...but I know that God controls the details so I'm trying to wait patiently.

We spent the weekend in Kansas City and had a very good time. Brian, Sydney, Hannah and I went to KC to watch some basketball. The Seton Hall women played the Kansas women in the first game and the Missouri State women played the Iowa women in the second game. We sat in the front row on the floor under the basket. That's my favorite place to sit...Sydney actually did a pretty good job of watching the game. After the games, we spent the night at the Marriott....

Brian and I both worked in downtown KC across the street from the Marriott so we had many lunches at Lilly's in the mid-90's. This was Sydney's first trip to KC. She stood in the window on the 12th floor of the Marriott overlooking the city and asked "Where's the city?" But on Sunday morning when she looked out the window, she caught on and exclaimed "There's the city!" ...

When we went to check out Sunday morning, we passed the Seton Hall girls coming back from breakfast. Sydney had on one of her basketball shirts and was dragging her suitcase behind her. The girls were looking at her and saying "Hi. How cute." I said "Sydney, those are basketball players." Sydney grinned and said "Like me." Yes, my beautiful little girl...just like you...

The picture at the top of the page is from this summer. But it's so cute that I just had to post it. I love blogs!

We are going to Kansas City to watch the Mo State Bears play the Ia Hawks. Spaz is coming with us. This is Sydney's first trip to KC...seems strange that we haven't been there in over a year. We used to go frequently. And we lived there for 6 years. I love KC...just too busy to go.

Sydney did most of her own packing this morning. She has a suitcase that is about her size but it has a handle and she is pulling it behind her...good practice for when we travel to China.

About a month ago, I was singing the song "You are my sunshine" to Sydney. The lyrics go "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray." Sydney looked at me awhile later and said "Sydney make Mommy happy?" I said, "Oh yes, Sydney makes Mommy VERY HAPPY!" Sydney smiled at me and said "Mommy make Sydney happy too!"

What joy she brings me! I'm attaching a picture from this summer of Sydney eating sweet corn. She loves it and would usually make it through two full ears!

Today I've decided to join the ranks of bloggers. I'm not giving up my website...I love it. But, the truth is that I don't have much time to sit at the computer and this is a quicker way to keep current with Sydney's latest adventures.

For example... Wednesday was my niece Abby's 7th birthday. We celebrated by going to Chuckee Cheese. The entire family made it...even Hannah made it for a few minutes. She had to leave before the pizza arrived because one of her basketball teammates was signing with the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. (Congrats to Kelsey Cermak!) Zeb, the 13 year old was quite happy with his cup of tokens...would swing by occasionally for another piece of pizza, then off to another video game. Sarah took total charge of Sydney which of course made Sydney very happy! And, Beka, like Sydney is at a good age for Chuckee Cheese so the birthday celebration was a good time!

Then, we came home and Mommy logged on to check email while Sydney got to watch one Dora video. As Mommy sat at her computer, a little voice came from beside her. It went something like this...

Sydney - "Mommy, my nose."

Mommy, as she reaches for a tissue - "Is your nose running?"

Sydney - "No."

Mommy, now looking at Sydney and seeing the concerned look - "Is there something in your nose?"

Sydney - "Yes."

Mommy - "What is in your nose?"

Sydney - "Gum."

So began our trip to the ER to finish our celebration evening. We tried having Sydney blow the gum out of her nose but it didn't work. However, the tears that started on the drive to the ER caused her nose to run...and that caused the gum to fall out of her nose. A full piece of chewed up Dentyne gum! So, no ER bill this time. But, if I know Syd, we'll get more chances.