What a wonderful New Year's Day we had!  Some highlights:

- Eating our annual Chinese meal at a restaurant.  This year we went to the China Buffet in Forest Lake.  There's a nice selection of food there, and the girls enjoy the experience.  It was interesting to watch both of their heads turn quickly when they heard the wait-staff speaking in Chinese.  I often wonder if somewhere in their early life if they remember hearing words spoken in Chinese.  Ten months is a long time to spend in an orphanage, and certainly there must be some lasting memories...even if they cannot consciously remember them.

- Purchasing a VCR/DVD.  After over 12 years, the VCR finally gave out.  Time to step now into the 21st century.  Worked like a charm on the first try.  We watched Cinderella as the first video since Sophia has been reading different variations of Cinderella, has the costume, and has re-enacted the story many times with her own adaptations.  To see the original film on the t.v. was a real treat for her.  Even Olivia was captivated by it.  At the end she said, "I really have to go to the bathroom.  I held it for the entire movie."  Apparently she didn't realize that you can stop a movie on the VCR.  She didn't want to miss a minute of it.  It was so fun to see the movie through a child's eyes.  The genuine laughter was particularly fun to be a part of and watch.

- Reading Cinderella (Ruth Sanderson) and Rapunzel (Paul O. Zelinksy) as well as Time for Bed (Mem Fox).  The first two were lovely retellings of the story with amazing illustrations.  The last one is an easy book, but comforting one with pictures of mother animals and their babies.

- Continuing to clean thoroughly and do all the laundry to make the home allergy-free.  The washer and dryer are on constantly, am vacuuming twice a day, and all bedding has been changed.  Have read more articles from the internet about tips in making a home more allergy-friendly.  Am noticing a slight improvement in Sophia's nose.  However, she had a bad reaction on her back this morning after being around the dogs and cats. 

Went to the store and purchased Claritin, Aveeno bath soak (for eczema), Aveeno lotion (for eczema), and Calamine (for itching).  Looked at alternative flooring for the entire upstairs (to replace the carpet).  Lots of things to consider and modify to create a better environment for her (and me) to live in. 

- Made a traditional "Sunday Dinner."  Sundays were relaxing times when I was growing up.  In some respects, that tradition still continues with the reading of the Sunday paper, church (when not traveling), reading books, and playing.  "Sunday is a day of rest," I overheard Sophia say.  Hmmm...I guess it is becoming a tradition.