We're Off to School

Hola friends and family!

Big big things have been happening in the Calderaro household these past few months. First and foremost, we are super proud of Joe who graduated Summa Cum Laude from high school. We moved him into his college dorm and it really hit me, he will be leaving home forever. It sure happened fast. It seems like just yesterday he was graduating from preschool and in the blink of an eye, he's graduated high school. The house will seem so empty without him. I don't like to think about not seeing that smile or hearing, "morning mom" every day. I'm certain Mike and Sofia will also miss Joe terribly. Poor Sofe. It makes me so sad to think that she will have no recollection of her early years with Joe.

Surprisingly, Joe really wanted to live on campus. It makes me uneasy because these dorms are so small and SO HOT. There is NO air conditioning. On the ride home, I dwelled about all these changes. I admit it, I cried for the first 50 miles of the trip home. Ed tried to reassure me with logic, saying he can't stay home forever. He said Joe will meet new friends from other states and possibly, other countries. I was also reminded that he can come home any weekend he chooses. I know it is silly but, the only thing that made me feel better was Joe telling me how great the cafeteria food is. Being that I am truly the worst cook in the world, I jokingly asked him if it is better than my cooking. He chuckled and said, "sorry mom, it is so much better, it has flavor." I'm so glad to know at least he won't starve.

Preschool graduation June of 1997

High School graduation June of 2010

Bye Bye Joe Joe, give me a kiss.

Woe is me, I miss you already.

My friends find it comical that we are sending one off to college while our youngest is beginning preschool. Looks like retirement will not be in our immediate future :) Yes, little Miss Sofia has joined the class of 2025. Sofia told me the night before school that she changed her mind, she decided she was still too "yiddle" to go. The next morning, just before school, Sofe told me she couldn't go because she was too sick. I told her that I didn't think she was sick. She added a fake cough and said, "see, I sick." Pretty good for a three year old huh? Sofia was very apprehensive when we got there. She liked meeting everyone and checking out the toys. However, she began wailing when she realized I was going to leave. Truly heartbreaking. She clung to my neck every morning and screamed bloody murder when they took her from me. This went on for two whole weeks. Through past experience I learned that staying around will not remedy the situation. The teachers said the other girls just wait for her to finish her meltdown so she can come and play with them.

First day of Preschool June of 2010

Happy 4th of July!Not too high now.

Fun at the County fair

Me ha! Giddy up Fred.

Get your arms up daddy!

Where is my bucket?

We really enjoyed our summer together. We went to carnivals, parades, zoos, beaches, picnics, baseball games and water parks. The boys visited Baltimore, Washington DC, New York and Boston. They ate their way through the East Coast visiting many restaurants featured on the show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives."

Yankee Stadium, New York

Citi Field, New York

Camden Yards, Baltimore
National Park, Washington DC
Fenway Park, Boston

We also got to play catch up with our dear friends the Hollis Family when they came to visit the Windy City. They were lifesavers during my long stay in Colombia. Although two years have passed, it didn't take long at all for Sofia to reconnect with her "bestest" friend, Emi. Sofe loved hanging with all the kids but, there is a special bond between those two girls. It was great fun catching up with their wonderful mami, Beth. During our visit together, we checked out the Shedd Aquarium and ate some delicious deep dish pizza at Geno's. I was shocked to see how much the kids have grown. The best part of the visit was that there was no longer that language barrier. We got to see Jessica and Joaquin's great little personalities first hand. The visit was too short but, we will certainly get together again. It is a Midwest connection!

Nate, Emi, Jessica

Sofia & JoaquinPenguin TrainingEmi's new hairstyle looks beautiful!

Well there are just a couple more weeks of summer left. Shortly, Sofe will be picking out her Halloween costume. Thanks for checking in on us. We are so grateful for our friends and family.

Two Years Together

Hello Everyone!

April 14th was a very special day for our family. We celebrated the second anniversary of our "Gotcha Day." Ed and I are so grateful to God. We have been blessed with three very special children. Each one has their own personality yet, they mesh together so perfectly.


We worried for nine months during each pregnancy and were so grateful when the boys were born healthy and strong. Throughout our marriage we discussed international adoption. Suddenly, there came a time when we felt compelled to move forward. We began this process in the spring of 2004, two and a half years before Sofia was born. Due to our age, we anticipated being matched with an older child. There were unexpected delays with paperwork and ICBF committee meetings. We experienced multiple changes to our placement on the waiting list, and heard nothing for over three years. When we finally received information on an available child, we lost that referral. Every one of these events had to occur just as they did in order for Sofia to be referred to us. It scares me to think what would have happened if just one of these events occurred differently. Shortly after returning home from Colombia in June of 2008, I learned it was now virtually impossible to adopt an infant girl from Bogota. These children were being adopted by Colombian families. There is no question in our minds that God had a hand in this adoption. I make it a point to thank Him every day for our three treasured gifts.




We enjoyed a quiet family celebration. It consisted of dining out and a trip to our favorite ice cream parlor where the kids built their own sundae. Very low key. Sofia is too young to really discuss adoption.We have just started reading some fabulous books that are geared towards preschoolers. Her new favorite is, "A Mother For Choco."I have also been reading up on how to deal with people who openly introduce or refer to her as our adopted child. I wasn't as sensitive to it when she was a baby. However, Sofia is very smart and inquisitive. There have been several instances where I have had to quietly educate these people, explaining that she can HEAR YOU and we haven't had this conversation with her yet. UGGGHHH! I don't think people intend on being insensitive, they just don't think beforehand.

We have had some fun these past couple months. Sofia loved going to see Curious George Live. To me it was a far cry from a Michael Buble concert but, Sofe really enjoyed herself. With a little help from the boys, Sofia can make a pretty good snow man. She sent Valentines to her friends, and began swim classes. It seems our fearless little girl is not all that fearless when it comes to the water. She is very cautious. When the instructor asks her if she would like to try this or that, she says, "no thank you." We'll give it some time. On the other hand, she did LOVE going to her first movie, "The Princess and the Frog." Sofe is now a big movie buff and has established her own routine. It involves setting herself up with a booster seat, popcorn and a cherry icee. Mike and I celebrated another birthday. I can not believe he is already fifteen.

What happens when you allow a teenage boy to watch an active toddler for a couple minutes?


She is taught to say, THIS IS SPARTA!!!

Sofia enjoyed the annual trip downtown to eat breakfast with the Easter Bunny. We always like hanging out with Tia Patti, Tio Bub and Prima Lauren. Sofe twirled around in her fancy Easter dress (courtesy of her dear Nonna,) got her face painted, ate all kinds of goodies and received more animal balloons than she could carry.

Sofia also had a blast coloring Easter eggs with the big girls. On Easter morning she was up with the birds to see what loot the Easter Bunny brought her. Funny, the boys used to come wake us up right away. We heard Sofe opening a few eggs and eating some candy before she came to get us. She knows I don't allow candy in the morning. She is a savvy child who just can't say no to chocolate or jelly beans. Sofia's philosophy is, "it is better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission." Little did she know I offer a pardon on the holidays.

Now that the weather is warming up, Sofia is back on her bike. She has moved up to a two wheeler with training wheels. The way she rides, I anticipate those extra wheels will be off before the summer ends. Well, that should bring everyone up to speed for now. Enjoy the beautiful warm weather.

Peggi