Sgroiland

2011-12-24T10:16:00.000-06:00

We want to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas/ Happy Hanukkah from Sgroiland! This time of year we celebrate the great joy of life and the remembrance of all those special people that have had a hand in creating it.

With Just One Small Voice

2011-11-19T08:14:00.001-06:00

Halloween IV is here!

2011-11-03T22:51:00.001-05:00

We had another fun Halloween season here at Sgroiland. Marlee dressed as "Blueberry Muffin" (little known friend of Strawberry Shortcake). Bridget dressed as the "Blue Fairy". We hope you enjoy Halloween IV!

2011-10-25T20:48:00.001-05:00

Halloween IV is coming soon! Yes, it is Marlee's 4th Halloween with us already and Bridget's 2nd! They love Halloween as most children do. They have caught on to the idea that Halloween also means that they get to star once again in the Halloween Videos. They have watched them many times over and can't wait to see what Dad comes up with this year. Pressures on Dad once again! Dad will come through. Look at the subject matter!Here is a sneak peak and a reposting of the original video "Marlee's Halloween".

2011-09-25T17:51:00.000-05:00

We had a lovely walk on the beach this weekend.

Marlee and Bridget get their ears pierced

2011-09-20T20:21:00.000-05:00

Marlee and Bridget have talked about wanting to get their ears pierced for a while now. Bridget felt it was too scary. Marlee wasn’t scared but we were hesitant. Recently, some beautiful “Hello Kitty” earrings were too much to resist. Marlee convinced Bridget that if she could do it then certainly her older sister could.

They were both pretty brave about it. I think it hurt a bit more than Marlee was expecting.

She cried for about 10 seconds and then turned to Bridget and said “You can do it!” holding her right thumb up in the air.

Bridget went next and certainly could not back out following Marlee’s encouragement and display of bravery. Bridget made it through without a tear.

It did hurt, but it didn’t take long for both girls to start looking at which earrings they would hope to be getting next.

Marlee gets a new 'Do

2011-09-08T19:21:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Mommy!

2011-07-27T21:45:00.000-05:00

Today we celebrate Lorna's birthday, Bridget's One Year Gotcha Day, Marlee's Three Year Gotcha Day, and our return home to Savannah, Georgia. Dreams really do come true! We love you Lorna! Thanks for making our lives so great.

Sunday night beach stroll

2011-07-18T06:46:00.000-05:00

Hi from Sgroiland! A stroll on the beach is our reward for a busy day of unpacking,sorting, and settling in following our big move to Savannah. This past week has been a lot of work but nothing less than a dream come true for us. The girls are both adjusting well. I think they like the beach. Do you think so?

Things are changing at Sgroiland

2011-06-10T20:23:00.001-05:00

The year of the rabbit is marked by rapid change. We certainly have been experiencing that. Every day the girls get a stronger sense of themselves. We all grow closer and our family forms around all of these changes. Our willingness to embrace the new and let go of the old (not just the easy stuff) lets a new healthy life form around us all. We are so excited about our pending move to Savannah. It should be beautiful!

Savannah Girls

2011-05-29T06:32:00.000-05:00

Above - A trolley ride through the city. Below- A cargo ship passes by on the Savannah River.

Moving to the coast!

2011-05-15T11:19:00.001-05:00

The house is for sale and Sgroiland will be relocating to the southeast coast. Marlee and Bridget are very excited. We will be posting throughout this adventure so check in again soon. It should be interesting!

More From Disney

2011-04-21T21:26:00.000-05:00

I am really enjoying these collages. Here are some images from our vacation in Disney. I really love how many smiles we captured. See if you can find a picture of each of the girls (Marlee, Bridget, and Olivia (Marlee's friend) sleeping -- completely zonked out from all the fun. It is like where's waldo!

Marlee's First Violin

2011-04-16T14:29:00.000-05:00

Daddy and Marlee went to the music store today to purchase Marlee's new violin. It is a 1/4 size and has a great sound. Marlee has been saving her money for quite a while. I guess all that kindermusik is paying off! She seems to be a natural! Here is a collage and a short movie clip of her first attempt to play! Not bad huh?

Bridget and Marlee reunite with Olivia at Disney World

2011-04-02T21:07:00.000-05:00

We recently returned from our vacation at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We had a wonderful time. I took so many pictures and videos that it is taking me a long time to go through it all. In this post I have included some pictures in a cute little movie. We hope you all can share some of the joy we experienced. Marlee's dear friend Olivia and her family recently moved to Orlando and the girls were having a little trouble dealing with it. Reuniting them and watching them play together was truly beautiful. Stay tuned as there is more to come. Enjoy!

CNY 2011- The Year of the Rabbit

2011-02-06T08:00:00.001-06:00

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy (Chinese) New Year! There have been plenty of celebrations going on around Sgroi-land. Here's a peak at the fun:

Marlee's Fourth Birthday!

2011-01-24T23:58:00.000-06:00

Marlee celebrated her fourth Birthday with friends and gymnastics this past weekend. It was a lot of fun. Below is the lastest video. Bridget selected the music for this one (one of her chinese pop favorites). Happy Birthday Marlee! We love you!

Snow Angels

2011-01-11T13:59:00.000-06:00

The girls have a snow day today, and they're taking full advantage of it. Bridget had never experienced snow before this winter, and she seems to think it's pretty special. Marlee loves it too. Mom and Dad...not so much...but it's fun to see their joy!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2010-12-28T00:16:00.001-06:00

We had a story book kind of Christmas this year. Sharing the season through the eyes of an adopted fourteen year old experiencing Christmas for the first time was something we will always cherish.
In this movie you will share some of our family's joy. Notice the many smiles. Adopting an older child can be harder than adopting a baby but the rewards can be measurably satisfying. Thank you for sharing a little bit of our lives and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each of you.

Enjoy!

A singing Christmas Card from Marlee and her class

2010-12-17T19:44:00.000-06:00

The Girls Are Having A Lot Of Fun These Days!

2010-12-16T20:46:00.000-06:00

Tis the season…Holiday fun!

2010-12-09T19:44:00.002-06:00

We’ve had a great time preparing for the holidays. Here’s a glimpse at what’s been going on in Sgroi-land:
We had our first portraits as a family of four!
The girls had fun decorating the Christmas tree. Bridget told us that she has seen Christmas trees before, but never had one until now. She seems to be quite enchanted with it!

The girls also built a Gingerbread House together.
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care…
Lou outdid himself with his holiday display this year!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Please do what you can...and thank you!

2010-11-30T11:49:00.004-06:00

It's that time of year again when the Zhanjiang Kids Organization is asking for donations to continue their Open Arms program. For those of you who don't know, our precious Marlee is from Zhanjiang, and we give great credit to the Open Arms program that ZKO established there for Marlee's on-target development and ability to adjust and bond so easily. They are doing truly wonderful work. Marlee was actually "child #2" in the Open Arms program, and they have since helped hundreds of others at the Zhanjiang Social Welfare Institute! We're surprised and delighted to see that they're still using Marlee's photo on their donation page. See if you can figure out which one she is! And, while you're there, please consider giving what you can to this wonderful organization.
http://www.zhanjiangkids.org/helpingopenarms2010.htm

Marlee then:

Marlee now:

Breakfast with the Sugar Plum Fairy

2010-11-14T16:00:00.002-06:00

The Evansville Dance Theatre hosted their annual “Breakfast with the Sugar Plum Fairy” to kick off the Holiday season. Marlee and I attended with 4 friends and their Mommies from our local adoptive families network. We all had a great time enjoying the festivities!

Marlee dressed in her Holiday clothes, ready for the big event.

Waiting for the festivities to begin

The girls got to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy after a lovely performance from The Nutcracker.

Ellie, Maggie, Marlee, Arabella, and Ellie.

Halloween III

2010-11-03T20:39:00.000-05:00

Bridget joins Marlee for her first Halloween and Marlee's third. Halloween III is a thrilling romp through this year's Halloween Season. Bridget has been with us now for a little over three months. How are Marlee and Bridget doing these days? Not bad. Enjoy the movie everyone and Happy Halloween!

More fun with the Grandparents

2010-10-27T10:52:00.003-05:00

We had a great time visiting with my parents, and both girls were saddened to see them leave (as were we)! Here are a few more pictures from their visit.

Grandma and Grandpa visit!

2010-10-21T15:40:00.002-05:00

My parents have been visiting for a couple weeks, and we have all been having a great time! Yesterday, Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy, and Marlee visited the Evansville Museum (Bridget had school and Lou was at work). Tonight we’re all going out for dinner with the extended family, so we’ll be sure to post more photos tomorrow!

Marlee’s School Pics are in!

2010-10-09T09:15:00.003-05:00

We are so proud of our girls! It is amazing to think of Marlee as a "school girl" (our big 3-year-old is in Jr. Pre-K) when she was just a baby a bit ago. But, here is proof of it. We really love how they turned out. Bridget’s Pics should be coming in soon.

Marlee goes to the Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-04T15:40:00.002-05:00

Marlee’s Jr. Pre-K class took their first field trip, and Mommy came along as a chaperone. Marlee enjoyed her first school bus ride, her first hayride, a walk through a maze, and picking her own pumpkin. Here are a few highlights from our day:

Birthday parties and home improvement

2010-09-27T15:19:00.002-05:00

We attended a birthday party for Bridget’s new friend, Hope, on Friday evening. Hope is the daughter of our new friends the Peckenpaugh’s. We all had a great time. On Saturday, we got up and started stripping the wallpaper in our living room. It was fun to have the whole family pitching in.

Up, Up, and Away!

2010-09-19T10:09:00.001-05:00

Here Marlee takes off at her school picnic. All the kids seemed to really enjoy this ride.

Playtime

2010-09-16T19:23:00.002-05:00

Over the past two days we’ve watched as Bridget has started to relax and play! It’s great to see her smiling and laughing. Marlee has been waiting patiently for her sister to become a playmate, and it looks like she’s getting her wish. Needless to say, we’re all very happy.

Fitting in

2010-09-12T08:14:00.002-05:00

We had dinner with the Peckenpaugh family last night. Two of their daughters are Bridget’s age. They allowed the three teenagers to make dinner for the rest of us, and they did a great job! More importantly, Bridget seemed to have a great time with the girls. Here’s a picture of Brianna, Hope, and Bridget with their finished meal. We look forward to seeing all of them again.

Labor Day Windfall

2010-09-06T18:11:00.001-05:00

Happy Labor Day Everyone!

We stopped at the furniture store today and Marlee got her face painted like a butterfly and a balloon shaped like a butterfly. Bridget and Marlee had a bunch of popcorn and goodies as well. You never know what you’re going to get.

A Beautiful Day

2010-09-04T17:37:00.002-05:00

We had our best day yet today. Bridget and Marlee really had fun at the Evansville Zoo this morning. Bridget practiced English often, repeating animal names and participating with eyes wide open. Marlee participated in a little play that the zoo staff put on. It was cute.
Bridget got a lot of great photos with her camera. It was such a beautiful day.

Getting to Know You

2010-09-02T06:20:00.001-05:00

Not only are we getting to know Bridget but she is getting acquainted with herself as Bridget. We went to the open house at her school last night and her teacher said that she is doing very well. She says that she really likes school.

She took these pictures of herself with the camera we got her for her birthday.

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More New Friends

2010-08-29T20:36:00.001-05:00

This weekend started off with a dinner party. We had Shuang, Betty, and Sela over for dinner on Friday night. Shuang is a student at the University of Evansville. She has agreed to come over once a week or so to help ease Bridget's transition to life in the USA and to help her in communicating with us. We had a nice dinner and Bridget even cooked the vegatables. Bridget grieves for many things. Friends, Foods, Language, School and culture are all very different from a month ago. Sometimes she handles it well, while other times she pulls back and doesn't want to do much of anything. We are really glad that Shuang has agreed to help her a bit. Betty and Sela's support was really nice to have as well (Plus, Betty brought Brownies and Betty knows chocholate very well).

Getting acquainted.

Here, Lorna wonders what it is she will be eating while Bridget prepares some unidentifyable vegatables.

I think Bridget likes what she is hearing.

Bridget and Shuang talk about life in Mandarin Chinese while Marlee observes and wishes she knew what they were saying.

Film From Our Trip to the Safari Park

2010-08-25T00:36:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick little film that captures some of our experiences at the Safari Park in Guangzhou, China. It really was an amazing place. It must have been 100 degrees and it was very humid! It was hard to keep the camera lens from fogging up. It sure was fun for us to be with Bridget at last.

Bridget has been doing really well in school and is adjusting more and more each day to life with us and in the United States. It is an overwhelming adjustment as one might imagine.

The School Girls

2010-08-18T07:29:00.001-05:00

This morning both Marlee and Bridget headed off to school toting supplies and lunch. It was so beautiful to see “the school girls” setting out together for the day.

Bridget's Party

2010-08-16T20:35:00.000-05:00

It seems that Bridget really had a nice 14th Birthday. She faced her fears of going to school today and seemed to do very well. Everyone made her feel so special at the party. She surely must feel like a princess. As it should be.

Bridget had a very big day. She was scared to go to her first day of school today. But, I think she ended up really liking it. Many kids tried to help her out.

Bridget had a nice time at the birthday party with lots of presents to open and happy people looking on.

Happy 14th Birthday Bridget!

2010-08-16T07:10:00.001-05:00

Please join us in wishing Bridget a Happy 14th Birthday today! Not only is it her birthday but it is also her first day of school here in the United States! It should be a very exciting and somewhat stressful day (you think?).

When Bridget got up this morning for her first day of school she had a surprise waiting for her...

Lots of Balloons and a birthday gift from her family.

Yesterday, Linda brought her puppy over for Bridget and Marlee to play with. This also brought out many smiles.

Feeding the Animals

2010-08-12T07:42:00.000-05:00

Our trip to the Safari Park in Guangzhou was a really great zoo experience because we had access to some of the animals. Here is neat footage of Marlee and a giraffe.

Kate and Nathan escorted us to Hong Kong

2010-08-11T06:25:00.002-05:00

On our last day in China our friend Kate and her son Nathan came to Gaungzhou to spend a little time with us. They also guided us through the train station and accompanied us all the way to the Hong Kong Airport where Kate's husband Doug and other son Evan joined us for dinner. It was so nice to see them. I know Bridget loved the opportunity to speak Cantonese--A bit of a break from the language struggles. (We might still be in Hong Kong somewhere without Kate's guidance). Thanks again Kate. We love you!

Auntie Kate and Bridget talk (In Cantonese) prior to our train ride to Hong Kong.

Fun to watch Nathan and Marlee play. Nathan came to Guangzhou to visit Marlee when she was adopted two years ago. They sure grow fast!

Nathan and Marlee play as we wait to head to Hong Kong.

Auntie Kate bought Bridget some chinese speaking DVDs of a TV series that apparently is laugh out loud funny because Bridget did a lot of smiling and laughing watching it on the laptop.

These are lizard skins on a stick. We went back to the market to take a picture of them before we left. I was hoping they weren't some kind of dessert treat. Apparently, they have medicinal purposes.

Getting Used to the New Place

2010-08-10T07:20:00.001-05:00

Bridget came to us speaking no English at all, so communication is tricky. However, we're pretty sure she likes her new home, especially her room! It has taken her no time at all to organize her things and settle in. And, like a typical teenager, she sleeps a lot, so we're glad she's comfortable. We're looking into starting ESL classes right away. In addition to needing to improve our communication, we feel certain that our girl also misses her peers. So, the sooner we can establish some new friendships, the more comfortable she'll be. That said, we had a chance meeting with another family with three teenage girls, all adopted from China! One of them still speaks Chinese! All three of these lovely young ladies have reached out to Bridget to make her feel welcome. Yesterday, we stopped by their home so they could loan her some English study guides for Chinese speaking people. She and I are going to sit down together today and start working on them. I think we're moving right along.

So Good To Be Home

2010-08-08T16:52:00.004-05:00

Here it Is! Bridget Gotcha

2010-08-07T19:58:00.000-05:00

Here it is the Bridget Gotcha Video! We are so excited to share it with you all.

We're Home!

2010-08-07T19:06:00.003-05:00

We made it home with Bridget, safe and sound, this morning to much fanfair! Thank you so much to the great friends and family who met us at the airport and made Bridget feel so welcomed. You could tell she was pleasantly surprised to get such a greeting as we observed the biggest smiles that we have seen so far. She really seems to love her new home too. She seems almost surprised that what we told her about it was really true. She is now taking a nap in her bed. That feels really good.
The trip home was a great adventure. It started with our friend Kate and her son Nathan (who are from Hong Kong) meeting us at the hotel in Guangzhou and riding/guiding us through the train station and along on our trip to Hong Kong. What an amazing city. We got to spend a few hours with Kate and her family before we flew out of Hong Kong on our 13 hour journey back to Los Angeles. By the time we made through immigration in LA we were late to our connection flight to Chicago.
As I get the chance to reflect back on this it is truly amazing that we caught that flight. We literally ran through that airport starting with a sprint accompanied by the Cathay Pacific representative in her red suit and high heels high-tailing it through the international airport to the American Airlines check-in process (Cathay Pacific is a great service airline by the way - highly recommend). Along the way we encountered doubters who told us there was no way to catch the flight and a long delay clearly in our near and apparently distant future. But we bonded as a family (including Cathay Pacific rep) with no communications or language problems -- all on the same page -- as we ran to our departure gate. Nothing would stop our family. I (as Daddy) was burdened down with all of our carry-ons, movie cameras, and passports tenuously dangling, was out front in the final stretch bound and determined to make it to the gate to hold the plane (of course it was the gate at the furthest end of the long concourse). It was crowded as I sprinted through. I looked back at one point and I could see Lorna and Bridget still running, but well behind. I couldn't spot Marlee but she is so small I was confident that she was a few sleepy strides behind her momma. Needless to say I was shocked when I looked down to my right to see her beaming smile as she was sprinting right along side me in true "Chariots of Fire" fashion. Apparently, she had seen me take off with such great enthusiasm that she couldn't resist the "game" and was up for the challenge. I couldn't believe how fast she was running! She looks up at me and says "Are we going to make our flight Daddy?". I had to laugh though I remained focused. "Come on!" I exhorted.
We made it. They had some other delay at the last minute anyway so they let us on. I told Marlee "you are a real trooper". She went on to tell her heroic story to each person she encountered there-after. "Daddy says I'm a real trooper and we didn't miss our flight".
The rest of the journey went very smoothly including our wonderful greeting party here at home.
Well, I am currently uploading the much anticipated Bridget Gotcha Video. It will be arriving in a few minutes.

Venturing Out

2010-08-03T06:45:00.001-05:00

We have had a couple of very nice days. Bridget seems much more comfortable and very happy. That makes us feel much better. We have ventured out into Guangzhou many times on this trip and really experienced the city. It does expand your horizons and awareness even though it is exhausting. In these photos you will get a glimpse of some of what we experienced today. By the way, that is a real chicken head that Marlee is holding. It accompanied our lunch. Marlee isn't afraid of much.

Its a walk in the Park

2010-08-01T18:14:00.001-05:00

Today, we went with some friends to a great park in the city of Guangzhou. I am not sure if Bridget enjoyed it all that much. She hasn't quite allowed herself to relax and participate in much yet. Older child adoption is a much harder process than it is with a younger child. But, we are making progress each day. Here are a few more pics. My philosophy is keep having fun and eventually fun will catch on. I hope it works.

Girl Friends

2010-07-31T03:18:00.000-05:00

A trip to the Guangzhou Orphanage for Mommy and Bridget revealed many smiles.
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Lou, Lorna, and Marlee Sgroi
http://sgroiland.blogspot.com

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Day Four - Safari Park

2010-07-29T04:01:00.001-05:00

Today we went to the great Safari Park. It was really nice. I think both Bridget and Marlee really enjoyed it. It was hot. They really let you interact with the animals. Fortunately, not the ones that will eat you. I shot mostly video today, but here are a few photos to keep you happy until I edit the gotcha video. Things continue to go well with Bridget. The language barrier is a little hard to deal with. But at day four we are pleased with our progress. She is a sweet person.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

2010-07-27T09:06:00.000-05:00

Today is Lorna's Birthday. It is a very happy one. The White Swan supplied us with the birthday cake. We all sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed eating some cake. We went shopping and got some nice gifts. We were here two years ago on Lorna's birthday as well.
Here are some more photos...

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Lou, Lorna, and Marlee Sgroi
http://sgroiland.blogspot.com

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It's Official!

2010-07-27T01:19:00.001-05:00

Today, we went to the Civil Affairs Office and completed the adoption in the eyes of the Chinese Government. It was really pretty smooth. We are all doing really well as we have completed our first 24 hours together. It is so neat to see Marlee and Bridget together. Marlee copies everything her big sister does. Bridget really wants us and we can tell. She is mature enough to understand the whole thing. We got her a very nice electronic translator. We used the translator to help us buy the translator at the electronics store near the Carrefour Grocery Store. It was a very interesting process.
Marlee didn't sleep through the night all that well. But, she napped has napped on and off since our arrival. She is very excited and a bit wound up. She is having a great time.
Bridget has really enjoyed her meals. She just made a little bracelet with this bead kit thing we gave her. We were glad when they asked her at the Civil Affairs office if she wanted the adoption to go through that she said yes without any hesitation. She knows we are weirdos but remains interested.
In a couple of the early photos we recieved of Bridget she was making the peace sign. Now, Marlee prompts Bridget to make the peace sign for every photo. I managed to catch some nice moments between the two of them. Here are a few pictures with plenty more to come.

And More Gotcha!

2010-07-26T08:01:00.000-05:00

What a fantastic day. We are all exhausted. We went shopping after our gotcha and bought some clothes that fit and a translator. Then we went to dinner at a Thai place. Bridget is a very good eater. Well, at least, she is starting today! We will post more very soon so stay tuned! Yippee! We are so happy!

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Lou, Lorna, and Marlee Sgroi
http://sgroiland.blogspot.com

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Gotcha!

2010-07-26T07:50:00.001-05:00

What a sweet girl! It is so nice to see the "Sisters" together. We really had some beautiful moments. Here are the first pictures!

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Lou, Lorna, and Marlee Sgroi
http://sgroiland.blogspot.com

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We Made It!

2010-07-25T16:34:00.001-05:00

We are here at the White Swan in Gaungzhou. We got settled and grabbed a few winks. We are all so excited we woke up at the same time. Marlee had a great trip. She is giddy with excitement. It won't be long now Bridget!

Just a few hours.

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Lou, Lorna, and Marlee Sgroi
http://sgroiland.blogspot.com

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Marlee Finishes Gymnastics Camp

2010-07-23T17:54:00.000-05:00

Today was the last day of Marlee's week long gymnastics camp. They did a little performance at the end. Marlee, friend Arabella, and all of the kids did a great job. Check it out here. By the way, we leave for China in a few hours! Wooooo.

We can't wait!

2010-07-20T18:26:00.001-05:00

It looks like gotcha day is Monday! Whoohoo.

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Lou, Lorna, and Marlee Sgroi
http://sgroiland.blogspot.com

The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with Hotmail. Get busy.

Keeping Busy

2010-07-10T19:17:00.000-05:00

We have to have fun while we wait for the big trip right? It is summer after all. Here is a little slideshow of our trip to Holiday World earlier today. It's fun!

Yeah! We have travel approval!

2010-07-06T20:31:00.003-05:00

We found out today that we have recieved travel approval to go to pick up Bridget at the end of this month. We are all so excited. Now, we will schedule all of our official appointments and then make our air travel and hotel arrangements. If things go as scheduled we will be in China on the exact dates that we were there 2 years ago when we got Marlee. We will keep you all posted as now the excitement happens! Check back soon!

Getting Ready!

2010-06-02T20:40:00.000-05:00

Mommy was shopping for clothes at the mall for Bridget. While she was in the store Marlee and I kept busy doing mall things. We had fun. It won't be long now and we will be heading to China! Stay tuned everyone!

Important News Update From Sgroiland

2010-05-12T14:27:00.006-05:00

We have just received photo updates of our soon to be adopted daughter "Bridget".
She seems happy and is so pretty! We also received our travel visas in the mail today. Our trip to China is now immenent. We are just waiting on our scheduled appointments to be made so that we can make our travel arrangements! We are all so happy here at Sgroiland!

Bridget is 13 years old. It has been nearly two years since we adopted our daughter Marlee(current age 3).

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T15:08:00.003-05:00

Marlee wishes Mommy and all Mothers a Happy Mother's Day!
(Don't forget to check out Marlee's Gotcha and Marlee Goes Home Videos located at the bottom of this blog page)

Aaaahhh Spring

2010-04-24T18:58:00.004-05:00

Marlee has really been enjoying the spring and the warmer weather.

Grandma Elderkin just had her Birthday so we helped her celebrate at the Olive Garden. Andrew and Barb came down from Walton, New York. Grandma did a lot of smiling.

I should write a sonnet about Marlee's Easter Bonnet!

2010-04-04T16:30:00.004-05:00

We had a nice Easter Dinner with Uncle Tom, Aunt Tonda, Kristy, Britney, and Grandma Elderkin.
Happy Easter Everyone!

Marlee wishes you a Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T11:04:00.005-05:00

Arabella's Birthday Party

2010-03-27T21:27:00.005-05:00

We sure did have a lot of fun at Arabella's Birthday Party today. Here are some nice moments captured in pictures...

Gung Hay Fat Choi!

2010-02-22T07:56:00.003-06:00

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone! Marlee had a great time celebrating with her friends. They are all so cute. Sometimes I am stunned at the level of happiness Marlee approaches things at. It is such a privilege to share it with her.

Dancing with Joy

2010-02-09T19:49:00.002-06:00

Marlee does most everything with a sense of joy. We put one of her favorite videos on and she started to groove. I just got the camera and let it roll. She does some pretty good moves. Must have picked them up from watching Daddy.

Introducing....

2010-01-08T10:15:00.005-06:00

Tian ShaJiao, soon-to-be Bridget ShaJiao Sgroi! (aka "my sister!", per Marlee)! Our beautiful newest addition is 13-years-old and waiting for us in Guangzhou, China. We hope to travel in the spring to bring her home.

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Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T20:45:00.004-06:00

We have had a delightful holiday season and Christmas Day. Here is the latest Marlee YouTube video. Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy 3rd Birthday Marlee!

2009-12-20T10:04:00.004-06:00

The day started off with birthday gifts in the morning from Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa and then the fun continued later with a birthday party with more loved ones, pizza,cake, and even more presents! This is a very happy birthday girl! Yeah! (Notice the doctor kit ID tag she is wearing in the party pictures. She wore the ID and the birthday crown all evening. She is still wearing them.)

Marlee enjoying the Holiday Season!

2009-12-20T09:54:00.004-06:00

This season is so exciting. With Marlee turning 3 years old she really "gets it" this year! Here she decorates the tree with Mommy. Then, it was a trip to Nashville and the Opryland Hotel where we met our friends Robert and Shakila for a wonderful time. It didn't take long for Marlee to get comfortable and feel at home there!

Christmas Ornament

2009-12-16T07:12:00.002-06:00

Marlee came home from preschool with this Christmas Ornament and we thought we would share it. Marlee turns 3 on Saturday! Wow! She is such a great kid.

Marlee to get new sister!

2009-12-14T18:30:00.002-06:00

Sgroiland, USA - We are happy to announce plans to adopt a beautiful 13 year old girl from China sometime around summer 2010. More details to come.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2009-11-26T10:21:00.002-06:00

Happy Halloween Everybody!

2009-11-01T13:11:00.003-06:00

Halloween was a lot of fun this year. Marlee really knew the game and had a blast. Here is the video: (make sure you watch last year's halloween video too.)

Fun Fall Weekend

2009-10-22T18:57:00.006-05:00

We had such a fun weekend! First our neighbor, Linda, stopped by with her new puppy.

Then, Lou and Marlee watched the entire Polar Express movie in 3-D!

Then our friends, the Greaney's, came over to our house for dinner and pumpkin carving!

Moon Festival Time

2009-10-04T19:10:00.005-05:00

Its that time of year again! Time for the Harvest Moon Festival. For Marlee, it's a chance to dress up in her favorite chinese outfit and have fun with the other girls in the FTIA group. Here are some pictures of the dinner at Gracie's restaurant. It was a big week as Marlee also moved from the crib to a real big girl/princess bed! She is such a great kid!

Isn't she lovely?

2009-09-19T10:02:00.003-05:00

I did an impromptu photo session with Marlee yesterday, and I'm stunned by the results. When did my baby transform into this gorgeous little girl? Slow down, time, slow down....

Marlee and the Frog Follies

2009-09-13T06:40:00.002-05:00

We recently took Marlee to the big car show in Evansville, Indiana. She sure is getting to be a big girl. She had a lot of fun.

Marlee's Vacation

2009-09-04T09:43:00.001-05:00

Here are highlights from our recent vacation trip to New York State to spend time with family there. It's fun to watch!

Marlee's One Year Gotcha Anniversary!

2009-08-29T17:56:00.002-05:00

Here is the long-awaited one year anniversary video. We had a wonderful time. I think the kids remember one another at a deep level. What do you think? Enjoy!

Marlee Lights Up Church

2009-08-26T23:36:00.001-05:00

Here is a cute little video we filmed recently on our trip to visit family in Walton, NY. Just makes you feel good. We have lots more video to come so stay tuned.

Hey, when you're here, you're family!

2009-08-26T21:14:00.004-05:00

Here we are at the Olive Garden, Syracuse, NY. Pictured left to right: Marlee, Mommy, brother Alex with Joy,sister Erika with Luis, and Daddy. It was so nice.

Old Friends Laughing

2009-08-11T07:29:00.002-05:00

The fun part about this series of photos taken at the end of our recent reunion trip was that they happened naturally. Marlee and Mia sat up on the bench together and just started laughing together. They were so happy to be together. No need to say cheese or eggplant to elicit a smile. Just natural beauty shinning from two old friends!

Wow! Wonderful!

2009-08-09T16:21:00.007-05:00

Now this has been a great weekend! We got the families in our travel group together. You could tell that the girls remembered each other at some level. We had a really nice time filled with so many great memories. We will start you off with a few pictures. I am in the process of putting together a one year reunion video. But, that will take me a bit of time. So, here you go!

We Landed One Year Ago Today!

2009-08-07T18:45:00.003-05:00

It was 1 year ago today that, following our grueling flight from Guangzhou, China we landed back here in the United States. Marlee and all the lucky girls in our travel group immediately became citizens. It was a wonderful day that concluded a wonderful adventure. Immediately, a new adventure began and we haven't slowed down. I have to tell you folks that this past year has been absolutely amazing! If any of you are wondering whether to adopt internationally we can do nothing but encourage you to do so.

To celebrate, we are getting Marlee and her friends together for a one year reunion! We can't wait to see everybody! What a fantastic group of people we had the good fortune to share this with. We will be posting updates very soon. In the mean time, here are some pictures of Marlee and Sky (one of the children from the travel group) at the recent FTIA picnic in Indianapolis, IN. Enjoy!

More Fun with Grandma and Grandpa!

2009-07-09T17:24:00.005-05:00

It's fun to watch Dora anyway. But when Grandma and Grandpa join in it's even better!

There sure is alot of smiling going on around here!

I am always hearing that "they grow up fast!". Here is Marlee grown up:

Summer in high gear!

2009-06-29T19:46:00.005-05:00

Our friends Kate and Doug are here visiting us from Hong Kong. Marlee is really enjoying the company. Its a good ole american summer day with hotdogs, swimming, sprinklers and other backyard fun! Here Marlee (2 1/2) plays with Evan (4 1/2), and Nathan (2). They sure do love those hotdogs!

She Measures Up!

2009-06-15T21:46:00.003-05:00

Marlee is an absolute joy! Here she is posing at the Newport Aquarium just south of Cincinatti, OH.

One year ago yesterday....

2009-06-10T10:12:00.003-05:00

we saw these images for the first time

And here's the light of our lives today. She's been with us for 10 months. We love this beautiful, brilliant, strong, funny, talented, amazing child more than words can describe. The wait may have been excruciating, but she was worth every minute and more. Hang in there, waiting parents!

Feeling at Home

2009-05-27T20:31:00.008-05:00

It has been such an amazing journey. I can't believe we have had Marlee for 10 months! Sometimes it feels like she has always been with us. She is quickly turning from a baby into a bright and happy little girl. We went fishing together. She follows directions so well and was really able to participate.
	We planted some roses together in the front garden.

Marlee decided to have a picnic in the living room (I mean the park) with her friends.

Marlee meets Uncle Bill and Aunt Beth

2009-05-19T18:06:00.002-05:00

My brother and sister-in-law came to town to meet Marlee this weekend. We had a great time and look forward to meeting the newest addition to their family in the fall (Marlee is going to be a "big cousin"!).

Marlee and Mia together again!

2009-05-10T19:53:00.002-05:00

Marlee and Mia were best friends at the Zhanjiang Social Welfare Institute in China. They were adopted at the same time (nine months ago), and their parents became friends, too. We were all able to get together for a fun-filled weekend to celebrate Mia's second birthday. Here are some pictures of our beautiful, thriving girls. We're all so proud!

Marlee and Addison

2009-05-04T10:42:00.004-05:00

Lou and I have moved several times, and we've learned the value of finding good friends at each stop along the way. We recently met the Greaney's. John and Kathy are a lot of fun, and their daughter, Addison, is Marlee's age. Actually, we met through the kids (Marlee and Addison took gymnastics together), and they have become great friends, too. Here are a few pictures of the girls on recent outings to the zoo and Children's Museum. Aren't they adorable?

Happy Easter Everyone!

2009-04-12T13:00:00.002-05:00

Getting Ready For Easter!

2009-04-11T17:18:00.007-05:00

We are getting ready for Easter here at Sgroiland. Marlee colored eggs with great precision and care. She enjoys her new Easter Bunny from Grandma and Grandpa Thomson!

A few more pictures

2009-04-09T22:05:00.002-05:00

We've gotten behind on this blog, so here are a few more pictures of Marlee's recent visit with Grandma Sgroi. As you can tell, they had a great time together.

Marlee and Grandma Sgroi

2009-03-31T11:59:00.002-05:00

We have had a great week with Grandma Sgroi. Here is a little clip.