Tea Party with Auntie Sharon and Papa's Birthday!

It was John's birthday today! He's a whopping 32 years old! (Such a baby... I'm a year and a half older!)

The kids and I made a stop at the good ole Dollar Store for some cheapo gifts from them, and then we went to a "real" store for some a little more substantial gifts from me. The kids got him a pair of socks, a serving spoon, two mylar balloons, shaving cream and a Batman toothbrush. I got him a dvd he's been wanting, plus a watch. Actually, it was a package with two watches in it. One dressy, one casual. He hasn't had a watch for years.

Liana made The Cake with her Easy Bake oven. She loves that oven sooooooo much. I had been planning on making a big cake too, but Liana felt a little slighted, and so after talking to John about it, we decided just to eat up the leftover cake we had from Christmas. (Only one person can eat a tiny Easy Bake cake, and the rest of us needed some to eat too you know!) :O)

Auntie Sharon came this afternoon too. It was soooo much fun for the kids to show off their Christmas dresses from Grandma, plus some of their other toys. And, we even had tea. Leksa Lou put on her most polite manners and hostessed a very proper tea party. I can't even remotely put into words how funny it is to listen to her little accent as she tries so hard to be so prissy. She loves to pour tea, so she'll gulp hers down in two swallows so she can dump the tea, sugar and cream into her cup again. And she *Loves* to act all dignified and lady-like.

The funniest part of Auntie Sharon's visit, though, was when she was admiring the Christmas tree. You know, the tree "the kids decorated." ;O) Well, when she told us how beautiful the tree was, all three kids said, "Thank you!" to her at once. Liana proceeded to tell her that the back was bare (which it isn't now that I've redecorated it), but when Liana looked, she didn't even notice. (Liana had overheard me laugh about the back of the tree being empty). What came out of her mouth was, "Mama, can I have a candy cane?" Sharon later asked me if that was all rehearsed. Nope. I just know my kidlets! lol! They still haven't noticed that I redid the tree. For real.

John Loved all his thoughtful gifts, and his cake of course! *cough-cough* It was so cute to listen to the squeals of excitement as the kids wished him a Happy Birthday and sang to him. (We have three *very* off-key singers at our house. Well, four if you count me! lol!) Very nice day!

We're headed to John's grandparent's house in the morning. It's a good 6 hour car ride, and we plan to stay through the weekend.

Recipes!

Had to share some of my favorite holiday recipes. Yeah, I know, I'm late, but I figure if you're interested, you can print these out for next year - or try them for New Years! Na zdarovya!

Shelly


Title: STUFFING

Description:
Better than StoveTop. Promise!

Ingredients:
8-9 cups dried out bread, crumbled
2 cups chicken/turkey broth
1 chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 eggs, slightly whipped
Parsley flakes
Thyme
Sage
Salt
Pepper

Directions:
Saute chopped onion and celery with 1/4 cup or less of butter. Add to crumbled bread in a large bowl. Add broth and slightly whipped eggs. Pour into greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes COVERED, then for 15 more minutes uncovered.



Title: CRANBERRIES

Description: Yummy change of pace from straight cranberries

Ingredients:
Package of fresh/frozen cranberries
12 oz package frozen raspberries, thawed
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup 100% Cranberry juice (or use Cran-Raspberry juice)

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Boil until thick and cranberries have burst, stirring constantly. Chill 8+ hours.



Title: PUMPKIN LOGS

Ingredients:
1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar (optional)

Directions:
FOR CAKE:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar.

COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.

BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.

FOR FILLING:
BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.


Title: AUNT MAXINE'S JOHNNY CAKE

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sour cream
2 cans creamed corn
3 boxes Jiffy corn bread mix
4 eggs
sugar to taste (between 1/4 - 1/3 cup)

Directions:
Mix it all up, and bake at 325 for one hour. Makes a very large recipe. My pan is 10x15 and it was still nice and fluffy. Could easily make one 9x13 pan and one 8x8.


Title: AUNT ANN'S SKILLET COOKIES

Ingredients:
1 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups dates, chopped up small
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp salt
2 T milk
Boil for 3 minutes in skillet, cool a little, then add
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup nuts

Directions:
Shape into balls, and roll in coconut flakes.


Title: COUSIN SUE'S ARTICHOKE DIP

Ingredients:
14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded mazzarella cheese
1 oz (1/4 c.) shredded jalepeno pepper cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
2 T chopped green onions
Dash garlic salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 1 1/2 quart casserole or quiche dish, combine all ingredients. Bake uncovered 20-30 minutes or until slightly browned and bubbly. Serve hot with crackers.


Title: BECKY'S SPINACH DIP

Description:
Here is my niece's recipe, and the "I" is her.

I make this recipe with fat free/low fat ingredients, but it can be made with the "normal" ingredients also. I use the full package of Onion Soup mix (the person I got the recipe from uses half) and I usually put too much Garlic Powder in it (I don't measure it) It is best if made the day before you need it, so the flavor have time to blend, but can be made the day of and still taste as good. If you want the elegant look, Carve out a loaf of bread and put the spinach dip in it. Serve the parts of bread that you dug out as what you are putting the dip on. Otherwise, serve it with Bagel pieces or crackers

Ingredients:
8 oz Cream Cheese
8 oz Sour Cream
1 Pkg chopped Spinach (thawed and drained)
Onion Soup Mix (1/2 to 1 Pkg)
Garlic Powder (to taste)
1 can Water Chestnuts-diced (optional)

Directions:
Mix the Cream Cheese and Sour Cream together until smooth.
Add Onion Soup Mix and Garlic Powder.
Add the Water Chestnuts.
Fold in the Spinach.

Chill & Serve

Number Of Servings: Depends on how hungry you are. I can eat it all myself, so it is one serving ;)

Preparation Time: Varies depending on how cold/frozen your ingredients are.

Merry Christmas!

We had a really, really wonderful Christmas! Didn't finish any jammies or robes, but we still had a really wonderful Christmas!

Friday morning after breakfast and some last minute wrapping, we went to my Dad's house for a while. He loves his pie, so we brought him one, plus a bunch of cookies along with his gift. Nobody loves presents more than my dear old dad! lol!

A few of my siblings left some gifts for my kiddos when they had come in the days before Christmas, so my kids had an absolute frenzy ripping open their presents. The girls got more lip gloss/make-up than I have! (Well, I don't wear it except on Sundays anyway, so I guess that doesn't say a whole lot!) Not only that, but they got some body-glitter. We have had two little sparkle girls ever since. Adam got some Batman Bath gel/etc., and a compass and hat. He thought the gel was shaving cream, so instead of washing his body, he um, well, he got his first shave. Didn't cut himself, but evidently he did it, because he came out of the bathroom convinced that his face has never been smoother. *groan*

When we got back from Dad's house, John had left the kids' stockings out so the kids could open them. We put the gifts the kids each bought each other in there too, so that was fun to watch. We had taken them all to the Dollar Store last week to get each other presents. Liana bought Adam some masking tape. (He loved it TO DEATH! lol!) Liana bought Aleksa an umbrella, (which she herself had wanted). Adam bought the girls some balloons that made whistle noises. (Very annoying and they just might disappear in the night very soon! lol!) Leks bought Adam a wire-cutters. (Ask me how scared I am!) She bought Liana an umbrella! (She broke the one she got for her birthday, so she's been begging for one since).

Anyway, basically, their stockings had nuts-in-the-shell, giant apples, some sugarless gum, toothbrushes, small "Dollar Store" toys, giant lollypops, and candy-canes (Leks doesn't call them "candy cakes" any more!) :O(

I say all this so you understand my awe when the kids were completely content, excited, and Thrilled To The Max with them. They really assumed that was all they were getting, and they were not disappointed. They played happily for the next several hours with the balloons, little toys, etc., and loved, loved, loved that they had free reign with their candy and nuts. It was all just awesome.

That night, we let them have another round of gifts - this time they got sleeping bags, and the original version of "Annie" which we watched Christmas Eve. The version we had before was the newer Disney version. It is much better, and we'll probably shelf the older one. The older one had a more suspensful ending, but as for the rest, well, I had remembered it differently I guess. There was a bunch of yucky stuff in the old one that I don't much like my kids to have to watch. Lots of "show-girls" not wearing enough clothes, and lots of very yucky dancing that I'm not sure why was necessary. *shiver* Why on earth would you put such yuck in a CHILDREN'S movie? Oy! Anyway, the "magic moment" of Daddy Warbucks asking Annie to be his little girl was much, much better in the newer version anyway. Much better for kiddos.

Anyway! Christmas morning after church we came home to a turkey dinner with some friends. Not just "any" friends either, these are really kindred spirit type of friends. It is an older couple who really could be old enough to be our parents, and I have really loved getting to know these sweet folks in this last year. Sue has taught me a gazillion things about cooking and baking, and she is also the one I'm taking my quilting class from. I wanna grow up to be like her! John has also really liked getting to know the Mr too.

So last night we opened up the rest of the presents. Adam got an indoor-outdoor tent which John set up on his bed right away. He also got some 3D planets that glow-in-the-dark and hang from the ceiling. Between his fish, hamster, tent, and planets (and his little radio-thingie that makes white-noise of crickets chirping), he has a regular campground in his bedroom! He L-O-V-E-D going to bed last night! :O)

Liana got an Easy Bake Oven that she has already broken in... This morning after breakfast we *had* to make some cookies. We made some beautiful cut-out cookies with her oven (and mine!), and then frosted them all. The tea party with Leksa's teaset will be later this afternoon! (There aren't *any* excited children over here today! lol!)

I had to share this poem/song that another adoptive family had on their blog. I've never heard it "in real life," but I hope it is as pretty aloud as it is in print. Brought tears to my eyes anyway, and I had to pass it along...


"All I Really Want for Christmas" by Steven Curtis Chapman

Well, I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old, green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone

I didn't come and talk to you 'cause that's never worked before
And you'll probably never see this letter, anyway
But just in case there's something you can do to help me out
I'll ask you one more time

All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for, but there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family.

Well, I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it's really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I'm really trying hard not to be bad

But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I've heard it sounds like the greatest gift
on earth
Would be a mom

All I really want for Christmas is someone who'll be here
To sing me happy birthday for the next 100 years
And it's okay if they're not perfect or even if they're a little broken
That's all right, 'cause so am I

Well, I guess I should go, it's almost time for bed
And maybe next time I write you I'll be at home
'Cause all I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I'll never be alone, someone who's love will never end
Of all that I could ask for, well, there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family.


For those of you still waiting for your children, hold on! Keep plugging away! They're out there waiting for you! They need you to not lose heart and toss in the towel! They need their Merry Christmas too...

Much love,

Shelly and family

Christmas Exhaustion Sinking in! ;O)

Uff, I'm tired. Today we spent the morning doing my dad's monthly grocery shopping, and then headed back to his house for Cooking Day. That's what we call it when we spend the morning/afternoon cooking up his meals for the next month - six weeks. He has oodles of Ziploc sturdy plastic plates with covers that we bought a few years ago on clearance (Ziploc, when are you going to start making those again!?) Anyway, we fill up those plates with meals for his freezer. We made 64 meals today. That's enough for 8 weeks this time. I'm pooped. (That's NOT 64 *different* meals, that's 64 PLATES/bowls of meals, btw.) We made meals with goulash, chicken, fish, ring bologna, baked potatoes, corn bread, muffins, veggies, beans, and then we made a big pot of chili and froze a bunch of individual rubbermaid containers full.

Then I came home and scrounged up some last-minute recipes for our Christmas dinner... I've procrastinated on that way too long, and I'm starting to panic! Saturday we'll be going to my dad's house. We're having a couple from our church over on Sunday. I'm really looking forward to our weekend!

Busy Day!

Yesterday was sure a packed day! In the morning, the kiddos and I went to Grandpa's house. We hadn't been there in a week (we *always* go at least once a week), so it was High Time. We've been having such cold and snow that I've not wanted to poke my nose out the door much except to finish up Christmas shopping.

Then, when we came home, my sil brought her 3yo and 9mo over for me to babysit for the rest of the day. So, from 11-5, I had five munchkins running around over here. Strangely, I actually got a lot done! I managed to get my laundry done, vacuuming done, 1 bathroom cleaned, plus an almost all-day project with the kiddos of making salt-dough ornaments. My sil's 3yo begs to do play-do every time he's here, so I thought it would be a good idea to do something like that. He had a good ole time, and so did my crew. Especially when I broke out the paints. The 3yo thought it would be fun to paint the table surface as well as his ornaments lol! Good thing I have a clear plastic vinyl over the top of my table. The kids can do anything they want to the table, (except cut into it!) (Which they've done! lol), and it won't hurt anything. I have lots of notes, maps, alphabet/handwriting charts, etc under the vinyl. We have limited wall-space, so the table has become a "wall" of sorts.

Anyway, I also made homemade soup last night on top of all the chaos. I have no idea how any of the above happened! Lol! The 9mo is pretty um, tempermental at times, so when she's tired or irritated, Everyone knows about it. Thankfully she didn't scream the entire time she was here like she did last time! lol! We all had lots of fun. Our kiddos love it when their cousins come to play. I just have to realllllly watch that my girls don't get too much into "Mama" mode. They both are pretty bossy with anyone smaller than them. (And if I'm only talking about Liana, she'll get bossy with anyone, Period!)

By the way, I couldn't stand the mess of my tree anymore, and the other night after everyone went to bed, I took everything off the tree, put about 2/3 of them away, and then redecorated. I had been literally picking up ornaments off the floor all day long and putting them back on. It was just nuts. TOO MUCH JUNK on the tree! (I hate clutter!) (You'd never know that if you saw my computer desk, however!) I really hoped nobody would wake up and see me do it, but nobody did. (I would have felt like the Grinch!) But, the funny part, is that even three days later, NOBODY has noticed! John knew I did it, of course, and he says it is now a beautiful tree, but none of the kids even blinked twice at it... They're too busy keeping a watchful eye on how many candy canes are left! That's what they're worried about! lol!

That's the news here. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas week!

Christmas Jammies?

Starting to panic here... I was hoping to make the kids bathrobes and jammies before Christmas... Somehow, I managed to finish Adam's robe, but for the rest, I've been having a horrible time. I have broken needles, jammed thread, and basically, my machine has been on strike gagging and hacking every time I sit down to sew. I'm about to waive the white flag. *sigh* Anyone have tips for sewing on fleece?

More Annie Moments

Had another "Annie" moment around here last night. At the dinner table, 'Leksa was singing some of her favorite "Annie" songs... She only knew a few lines of a few songs, but they were so sweet, I actually burst into tears right there in the middle of my supper. She started singing, "Maybe they'll be calling me Ba-by, maybe!" and "Yesterday was plain awful, but that's not now, that's then!" (She didn't get all the words right, but she got it really close with the right tunes, and it just plain melted my heart.) Then, after supper, the girls both had to serenade me. They started spouting off all the words to the "Yesterday was plain awful" song, and even did some of the same choreography as the movie. (Complete with pinkie handshakes, etc.)

It was late by the time we cleaned up after supper, but John and I HAD to let them pop the movie in again. It was a snow day here - everything closed, (Except the Fisher Schoolhouse, right Sharon?) *tee hee* Lots of white stuff falling down. It was a perfect night for snuggling anyway. This time when the watched it though, they knew enough of the words to sing along a bit... Did I ever tell you how much fun it is to be a mama?

We Love You Miss Hannigan!

This morning the kids were rather quiet before they all "officially woke up" (that is to say, before they all started stirring, saying good morning, etc.)

I decided it was best to go investigate... I found all three kidlets piled in Adam's bed with stacks of books reading. It was really sweet. For fun, I poked my nose around the corner and said something like, "Fun? We're having FUN at our house? We can't have fun and get along at our house! What are you doing?!"

Without missing a beat, Liana wrinkled her nose and shouted, "We love you Miss Hannigan!"

(If you haven't seen "Annie" for a while, you'll miss the humor, but trust me, it was pretty funny!)

Tree UP!

Beautiful Decorations? :O)

We put the tree up today!!!!!! :O)

What F-U-N! The "Guys' Job" was to put the lights on the tree, but John decided after only five strings of lights that it had enough, and that I needed to do the rest myself if I wanted more. *pffft* So, I took over the rest. A good tree needs a gazillion lights! My mother would have been ashamed of me if I only had five strings of lights on my tree! lol!

I also put the garland on, but after that, the kids had free reign on add the ornaments. I handed the ornaments to the kids so they didn't completly have a frenzy, but they did great. Well, they "did great" and then they put about 100 more ornaments on it. So, the front of the tree is loaded, the back is bare, the sides are somewhere in between. The floor, I'm sure, will be strewn with ornaments in the morning after the slide off during the night. *grin* In other words, it is the Worlds Most Beautiful Tree! :O)

John made the hot chocolate, we had lots of cookies to snack on, and we piped Christmas music in from the boombox in the kitchen. It was a perfect day.

My mom would have been so proud. She was a Christmas tree nut. This was the first year that Mom's ornaments have been divided up among the seven of us kids (I'm the youngest of 7). My sister and I wrapped the ornaments up so they were undiscernable, and then later Dad and I put them in seven bags not knowing who got what. Dad then chose my bag for me.

I got just the right ones. Ones that weren't terribly "fancy" (I only got one Hallmark one, for instance), but I did get some of the down-homesy ones that *always* had to be on the tree. On a whim, my sister and I had wrapped a few of the plastic bulb-covers... plastic apples that go over the lights, and white doves... I was almost disappointed when I unwrapped one of each knowing how many "nice" ornaments Mom had in her stash, but once I got them on the tree, and they lit up so brightly, I knew they were just the perfect ones for me. I can't remember a year they weren't on Mom's tree, and seeing them shine really makes me smile remembering how much Mom loved them. I also got a few that I myself had given her. One was a goofy one that I bought her for the '84 Olympics. (The only Hallmark one that made it into my sack.) It was the year Mary Lou Retton got her "10" on the vault. I was so impressed as a 12-yr-old wanna-be gymnast, that for Mom's present that year, I got her a *really homely* ornament commemorating it. (And if you knew my mom, you'd know that the Olympics meant Not a Thing to her. The rest of my siblings probably would have raised their eyebrows and wondered what ever possessed her to buy it.)

All the way around, this year putting the tree up has been more special than last. Last year everyone was still settling in, learning English, getting into the groove, figuring out everyone's personalities, and really, still learning to love each other.

This year, they are comfortable to us, and we to them. It was just a lot less stressful, and more relaxing. We could just be "us" without being on high alert that one of them was going to go wild and start yanking things off the tree to toss around the room. I didn't have to watch who was doing what where. Not really sure how to explain it any better. This year, I could look around the room, sigh contentedly, and say, "Ah, what great kids. Aren't they doing a terrific job with the tree?" - and not worry so much that anyone would be pitching a fit, telling me "No!" or whatever. Our relationships have just matured, deepened, and we've just all become a part of eachother. Kinda like when you make soup... If you throw all the ingredients together, the flavor doesn't really blend until you let it simmer for a few hours. It still might be good soup if you eat it right away, but it just isn't the same. I expect that next year looking back, I'll say the the same thing about this year. Families just get sweeter as the years go by, right? :O)

"Annie"

The other night we watched "Annie" for a family night activity. The kids L-O-V-E-D it! You should have heard the erruption of applause and cheering when Daddy Warbucks told Annie he loved her and wanted to adopt her. "Yay! Annie is getting adopted!" "Someone loves her!" "She'll have a forever family!" John and I grinned at each other over their happiness and excitement.

It took 15 1/2 months but...

Last night John and I realized that we actually only used ONE family-sized (24-pack) of toilet paper last month. This is a first! We've *always* gone through about one and a half of those big packs...

THE KIDS ARE FINALLY USING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TP!!! YAYYYY!!!!!!

For those of you yet to get your kids, JUST YOU WAIT! lol! It will astound you that either:

a.) they won't use tp at all, or
b.) they practically use a whole roll with every potty break and constantly clog the toilet.

(And besides that, the first month home, you'll find the *used* tp in the wastepaper basket instead of flushed down the toilet!)

Leksa lost another tooth!

She pulled it out herself this morning. I wanted to do it, but she isn't a thing like her sister... She didn't want me to touch it!

What was funny was the first thing she said was, "Now you can make soup!"

The last time Liana lost a tooth, I teased her that I was going to make some soup out of it... (I know, "EWWWW," but you really had to be there... I thought it was funny anyway!)

So, I told her I prolly needed about 17 more of them to get a decent broth. So, she opted to put it in her toothfairy pillow to get her buck instead.

Motherhood is such a riot!

Crab Soup?

Another funny kid story...

Yesterday when we were up north with John's extended family, they had oyster stew along with all the turkey leftovers. The kids love most soups, so the older two had to have a bowl. Adam was tickled to see that it had oysters in it because he'd had them before in Ukraine - even had them raw, he said. But, he mistakenly called them crabs, which I somehow missed.

Anyway, I was sitting at the next table, and not really paying a whole lot of attention to them when Liana shouts over to me, "Mama!" I ask her "What?" She says, "Do I have to eat this crap?" I paused a moment unbelieving that I heard her right. I say, "What did you say?" She innocently says, "The crap. Mama, do I have to eat it?"

I pause a few more seconds weighing my words. Then I asked her who told her it was called "crap." She shrugged and said, "Adam did." Adam piped up and said, "Yeah, it's crab soup!"

OOPS.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful holiday so far! I consider the holiday started on Wednesday, when I hauled out the baking/cooking ingredients. I LOVE Thanksgiving! I love to cook and bake, and I love the little hands around my table who love to pitch in and help out. So far, we've had a rather untraditional Thanksgiving dinner - We had borscht and verenyky at my Dad's house along with three different kinds of pie and a pumpkin log (to-die-for-yummy). Dad doesn't like turkey, so if I couldn't make a turkey dinner, then we were gonna give him a Cultural Experience. Dad sweated out whether he would like the soup or not, but he ate it, and said it was good, (but that doesn't necessarily mean he really liked it! lol!) Anyway, all of US enjoyed it very much! LOL!

I have to back up to Wednesday again. My back has been bothering me for a bit, and rolling out pie-crust and doing other cooky-baky things sends me into back-pain 911 sometimes. So, during one of my breaks, I was laying on my tummy on the couch and Aleksa was trying to massage me. Well, while she was doing so, I heard a couple "angry-voices" in one of the bedrooms, and then Liana started to cry. So, I called them into the livingroom to find out what happened, and Aleksa started saying, "BLOOD! BLOOD!" Liana put her hand to her head, and then started SCREAMING. (She had stopped when she heard me ask them to come to the livingroom to tell me what was going on.) Apparently, Adam had thrown a shoe at her. Nice. *sigh*

Just then! The timer on the oven went off telling me my apple pie was done. So, being the good mom I am, I sent Liana to the bathroom so she didn't drip on the carpet, and then I tended to the pie first. (No flames please!) ;o) I then heard Aleksa announce to Liana, "Liana, Mama already told us we were NOT going to the hospital today, good job!" (Earlier the children were being rowdy, and I calmly told them they needed to play nice because "We are not going to the hopsital today under any circumstances." ) I had to laugh.

Anyway, I ran down to the bathroom to tend to the Victim, and meanwhile Adam started to really freak out. He absolutely HATES it when his sisters are hurt. Can't stand blood, and can't stand them crying. He gets really, really freaked. Usually, he declares ME at fault for whatever blood-situation there is, but this time he knew it was his hand that threw the shoe... So, he was pretty miserable. I washed Liana off, and basically, it was just a little cut, but it bled a lot. After I explained to Liana that heads bleed lots even if it is just cut a tiny bit, she instantly stopped crying. I layed her down on the couch with Adam's lap as a pillow, and tried to make Adam feel better about the whole thing. Leksa and I tried to give him hugs, etc. Liana even reassured him that "Heads just bleed a lot, Adam, that's all!" He still kept saying things like, "She's going to die!" and crying lots.

So, I did what any Good Mother would do, and I declared Liana "Healed!" and then ordered all the kids to pick up their tent-mess. (The kitchen chairs had been moved to the livingroom during my baking frenzy, and that means "Tent Time!" for the Fisher kids. Poor Liana had to hold a rag on her head, and then try to bend over and pick up toys and blankets. Adam almost instantly shut off the tears. I guess he thought that she probably wasn't going to die if I was putting her to work! lol! (SORRY LIANA! tee-hee)

This week we have been given a TON of venison. I'm soooo thankful for the meat. For those of you out there hoping to adopt little girls, you really need to watch how much beef you feed them (among other things); there are lots of little girls coming home and then starting puberty wayyyyy too early because of the extra hormones in meat, dairy, etc. Liana's body symptoms have reversed, except that she has facial hair on her upper lip. I haven't mentioned that on here before, because I haven't wanted people to NOT come home with little girls for fear of this happening to them. It is more common than you'd think though, so do your homework on this subject. I know quite a few families whose girls have had this happen to them.

Anyway, about the venison. I was surprised that my kids weren't completely Grossed Out seeing a deer hanging from Grandpa's tree, or by us cutting it up. They just matter-of-factly asked to help grind or package. Liana has become a pro at the vacuum-sealer-thingie. She's become an old pro at lots of things. She can now make oatmeal from start to finish for the whole family. She's gonna be dangerous in a few more years! She's really Miss Susie Homemaker in a lot of areas. And she's only SEVEN! Wow!

Today we're headed up north to visit the Fisher side of the family. We'll only be ther through Saturday, so just a short trip. I plan to sleep, sleep, sleep in the car (or try to!); Thanksgiving has worn me OUT!

Hope you all are having a great holiday weekend too!

Science Experiments

Homeschooling has such endless possibilities for natural science-learning. Adam planted some of Susie's hamster food on a whim this fall, and was amazed to grow clover and a berry-producing weed of some sort (it has small, smooth, round, black berries on it; any clue?), in just a few short weeks.

Today he learned that if you put cream cheese on your bagel and THEN put it in the toaster, that you can make a full-fledged FIRE in the kitchen! Isn't that AMAZING?

So, we're minus one toaster (had to throw it in the sink to get the fire out), but we've had a wonderful learning experience. I think we'll be holding off on further cooking lessons for him for another few years...

*cough-cough*

Fifteen Months Home

Fifteen months home. Seems like they've been here forever, and it seems like they just stepped off the plane. It's kind of a weird feeling.

Everyone is doing really well! Aleksa has overcome all her fears of going upside-down, (which, if you've never seen the terror on her face and coming out of her lungs, you don't quite get why this is awesome news). She even ASKS to be flipped upsidedown now! Never thought I'd see the day.

She's also really developed good patience for the more difficult books we've been reading with the other two for their school. She sits in to hear the read-alouds, history and science, and throws in comments here and there, so I know she's getting quite a bit of what's going on. She's also writing her name on her own, though half the time her s's are backwards. I think it's adorable, but we're still working on getting that fixed.

The other day, Aleksa said, "Mama, can you do me a favorite?" (How could I say no!?) She's the little machine for "cute comments" lately. The other two just don't come up with them like she does.

Liana is still doing well with school. She's reading almost better than Adam is. (I think we've hit a plateau with him for a while.) Neither of them are convinced that they can just pick up a book and read it, but they actually can. For some reason they think if it isn't in their reader for school, they don't know how to read it, so they don't bother trying. We're working on that!

Adam has been doing really well too. Math is coming slowly, but it is coming steadily, and we haven't had to park at any point for a while now. He gets his page a day (or whatever) done without any frustration lately. Big relief for me, as this was the Most Dreaded subject for me for a long time. He's reading is ok. His comprehension is wonderful, but he is slowwwwwwww. His workbook level is about 3rd grade, but his oral reading is nowhere near that. He can decode long words, but it takes him a while. I'm busting him back to some much easier readers so he gains some confidence and fluency.

Speaking of fluency, he's been doing really well. Still doesn't consistantly put is/does in sentences, but whenever we say, "Can you say that better?" he always fixes it perfectly. If he is excited, among friends or acquaintances where there is even the slightest "stress," he'll resort back to incomplete sentences filled in with sound-effects. I'm so glad we've got him at home for school so we don't let him get away with that all day long.

The kids have been talking more and more of Ukraine, their birth families, etc. John and I have been discussing doing a birth family search, but we need to work out the timing a little better, and talk out what we'll share with the kids, how much, when, etc. It would be really good for us as their parents to know the "full" story too.

Baby Talk

Aleksa has been commenting on some of the Russian phrases that I still try to use with them, telling me that was her "baby talk." Out of the blue yesterday, I started to say a nursery rhyme that the kids taught me when they were freshly home from Ukraine. It is a little Russian version of "Georgie Porgie" called "Cola, Cola, Nicolai." Aleksa looked at me excitedly and said, "Mama, that was my baby song!" Then, remembering how much she *loved* a different rhyme ("Ladrushki" for those that have Ukie/Russian kiddos home already), I started singing that one, and she said, "Another one of my baby songs! Oh, I was such a small baby!"

I just thought it was interesting that she connected anything Russian/Ukrainian to her "baby" days.

Liana's New Smile

Just took this one a few minutes ago... I took a bunch of others too, but for some reason, while the quality of this one isn't the greatest, I really think it is cute anyway. Thought I'd share.

Misc. update

I've been slacking off bigtime on this thing. It's a constant nag in the back of my head, "Shelly, you've been slacking on your blog. Sit down a minute and write!"

*sigh*

So, here I am! School has been a huge energy-sucker, but I'm loving every minute of it. Our curriculum is literature-based, so we are cuddled on the couch for a big chunk of the day pouring over really cool books, and getting hooked on some great stories. One of the most recent read-alouds (chapter books) has been "Mr. Popper's Penguins" which we finished up last week. It's about a man who acquires some penguins as pets, and it is basically a silly little story that apparently kids L-O-V-E. We went to the Madison zoo a few weekends ago, and you should have heard the squeals as they got to see the penguins! They were hopping and shouting, and laughing, and could hardly stand still for me to take their picture.

Liana lost her second upper front tooth today. I yanked it out at Grandpa Peaslee's house today. It wasn't ready, but she kept asking me to work on it, and finally, it came out. I've been teasing her that I wanted to pull it out so I could make soup. Won't she freak when she finds out that I actually DO have soup on the menu for tomorrow! *tee-hee* Dad told me that we should have had that on video because he'd never seen such a brave girl... I was really pulling hard, and she really hardly blinked!

Adam has made some big progress lately in his attachment to us lately. Just today he hurt his finger (he actually stapled it as he was trying to fix the stapler...), and I made a big deal out of it, and he let himself really cry, and he let me really cuddle him and rock him like he was a little boy. (This guy is now nearly 80 lbs., so this was no small task for me!) He's been my shadow all the rest of the day. I wish I had a switch that I could pull to make all his heart hurts go away... He's so hard for me to reach sometimes. He is an awesome kid, but he just can't let himself fully love and be loved. He often will search for my hot-buttons, and not only will he push them, he jumps, hops, and stomps all over those buttons just to see what will happen. He doesn't do that with John though. Just me. And almost always when John isn't home. Usually it comes in the form of him pretending he doesn't know something. For example, I'll say, "Adam, show me the last letter in this word." He'll point to the first, second, middle, second-to-last, a letter in a completely different word, etc., but he will flatly refuse to acknowledge that the last letter of the word is "e." (or whatever.) Then, he'll go on about how he's never heard the word "last" so he doesn't understand. *sigh* He's getting much better, but I can see also that we have a way to go in the area of trust. Our Adam went through a lot before we took him home. It is foolish to think that a new address is going to fix all his hurts. Time, consistancy, love, patience, etc., etc., have taken him a long way, but it is going to take a lot more of the above for him to let go.

Leksa is still my hair-in-her-food-findin' little sweetie.

I joined the FlyLady's group today. Looking forward to learning a TON. I've been really learning a lot lately on my own about meal-planning/budgeting, and it feels good. I've been planning our meals out a month at a time, and shopping monthly for groceries. (We still have to pick up bananas, milk, etc. during the month, but you know what I mean). We've saved a ton of money by shopping once a month instead of more frequently, and I'm loving that I know exactly what meals are in my freezer/cupboards without having that 4:00pm panic of not having a clue what's for dinner. Hate that feeling. Anyway, it's taken a long time, but I'm turning over all kinds of leaves. I am seeing more and more that families with either a gazillion kids, or families who are broke, really have to be organized. They don't have the luxury of slacking off and ordering pizza every other night. Know what I mean? I've been reading a blog of a lady who has a big family. I met her on one of my homeschool db's, and boy have I learned a lot about planning. Planning for menus, planning schedules, prioritizing everything, planning jobs/cleaning/etc. You just gotta be together to pull off that lifestyle! I don't necessarily agree with everything she says (just as y'all don't agree with everything coming out of my brain!), but it has been interesting and thought-provoking. (And very convicting... I'm such a lazy, wasteful bum sometimes!)

Anyway, that's what's been floating around my head lately.

Oh! One of the ladies who has been faithfully following the Fishers since our trip is finally in Ukraine! I'm so excited for them!!!!! Here's the link to their blog! http://www.becomingafamily.blogspot.com/

Aleksa's Lunchtime Prayer

I have to share Aleksa's prayer at lunchtime. "Dear Lord, fank-you for diss food, and please, Lord, please, when we find a hair in our supper, please let us be quiet and frow it on da floor and not be bad. Amen."

Names

The other day I stumbled upon a list of names that we were considering for "our kids" before we went to Ukraine. Liana was in the room when I found it, and she asked me to read them to her. The list also had the name meanings on it, and she was tickled to see her own name at the top of the "Girls" list. I was happy to tell her that her name meant "My God has answered me" and then with her middle name it meant "with a Valentine." She instantly said, "YES, He DID answer me with a Valentine! YOU!" I hadn't considered that she'd think it meant that God had answered her too! I instantly teared up, and we had a big ol' hug-fest right there on the spot. What a sweetie!

Then, Liana insisted that we show her brother and sister the list, and showed them what their names meant. (Though Aleksandra's name was in the boy column, because I had figured we'd have two boys, and have an Adam and an Aleksander.) Anyway, when I told Adam his name meant, "Man who is like God" he just beamed. Then Aleksa asked what her name meant. It means "Defender of Mankind" (and then her middle name has to do with the Greek God Zeus.) Anyway, when she heard her own name meaning, she grimaced and said, "Mama, can we pick something different?"

Lol. Nope! (Poor Girl!)

14 Months Home!

Sunday we had a monumental day. All three of our kids went off to another family's house for the afternoon. After church, they loaded up in their van and off they went for the day. They were So Excited. This family has 11 kids. So, our kids were beside-themselves excited to get to hang out with all these other children for the day. They were so excited, in fact, that they bolted for the door after church, and never said good bye to their Mama. I cried. *sniff* I realized the girls forgot their coats, so I did have a reason to go to the van before it left, but *sigh*, well, you know!

John took me out for dinner while the kids were off with their pals, but other than that, we had the quietest Sunday afternoon that we've had since before our kids came home. I even got to take a nap! That is just plain unheard of these days at the Fisher house.

Yesterday during school, Liana was frustrated that her handwriting wasn't as beautiful as she thought it should be. She erased, and wrote, and erased some more. Finally, in exasperation, she said, "Mama, I am sooo disgusting!"

Another fun language "oops" was when Aleksa showed John that her fingernail was getting long, "Look, Papa, my nail is growing up!" She's also very proud of her age. If she accomplishes something monumental, she'll say something like, "Five girls know how to do that!" She's been surprising us with rattling off some math facts that her big brother and sister have been working on. By the time she actually gets there herself, she's going to already know it all! I'm beginning to see the benefits of those old-fashioned one-room school-houses!

Speaking of school, we're learning all about Ancient Egypt right now in history class, and Liana out of the blue yesterday told John that "King Tutankamen's father's tomb hasn't been found yet." She's quite proud that she can say (and remember!) his name (whether I can spell it or not is another question!) So, she throws it around as often as she can lately. We've been enjoying scouring the library looking at mummy books and videos, etc. The kids were delighted yesterday to find a book called, "You Wouldn't Want to Be an Egyptian Mummy: Disgusting Things You'd Rather Not Know." They made me start reading that one in the car on the way home! It's been a really fun year so far!

Adam is still our sweetie, Adam. Big-hearted, affection-seeking, always wanting to please, happy-go-lucky. Bouncy though! ;O) He's faithful to his projects - he'll work til the job is done, and then some. He's the first one up, showered, dressed, bed made, room picked-up, etc. He's ready for the day in no time flat. The girls, on the other hand, have to be reminded that they are in the middle of getting dressed sometimes. I've been known to peek in the room to see a half-naked Aleksa playing dollies instead of getting dressed. She forgets. !. (Liana doesn't necessarily forget - she's just too busy having a good time to care about something silly like getting clothes on for the day!)

Just tonight Adam begged to be able to be the one to do dishes. "Liana got to do them last time!" (I wonder how long that is going to last!)

He loves any scrap of praise we'll throw his way, and we try to reward him accordingly. Just today he did a great job doing something or other, while his sisters were off in La-La-Land forgetting all about their assigned tasks. The girls were horrified that I rewarded him with a bag of Peanut M&M's! Liana decided to rearrange her bedroom to see if that warranted a bag of candy for herself. It didn't, but it did get her room arranged pretty well. (I'm so mean, aren't I?) This girl where she doesn't have muscles, but she makes up for it in attitude. She's not strong enough to move her doll-house, but she decided it was going to move, and move it did! lol!

Oh yeah, and yesterday marked our 14 Month Home day!

Lost teeth!

This poor blog. I've been so neglectful of it lately. But, I've been hitting the pillow *hard* lately, and haven't had much time during the day to be on the computer.

It's actually been an eventful few days. Aleksa lost her first tooth the other day, and Liana lost her first upper tooth just yesterday. For some reason Liana's upper tooth hit me the hardest. Now she LOOKS like she's lost teeth. No longer that little kid look. And her other front tooth is loose too, so it won't be long before she really looks funny. She's so excited though! I'm shocked that my five-yr-old is losing teeth. Her other lower front tooth is loose too. Not sure what's up with that!

Aleksa's lost lower tooth just accentuates her little lisp. It isn't a *bad* lisp, it's just that she says her s's a little differently, and now you can really see that tongue hitting those lower teeth as she talks. The lost tooth just made her cuter, I think! (I'm a little biased though!) We took video of the "pullings" but, I'll have to take some pictures of the girls with their new smiles.

I can't help, at times like these, to think of the kids' birth parents. I hear of other moms whose babies are GETTING their teeth, and here I am with my "brand new kids" getting all proud that mine are LOSING theirs. First, I think about how much I have lost by not having had these three since birth. Then I think about what their birth parents have lost by not having the ability to raise them. And then to think of what the KIDS have lost. Adoption is a wonderful thing, but unfortunately it is created by a circle of losses, and the birth family loses BIG TIME.

Aleksandra?

Just a short little whatzit this morning. At the breakfast table, I happen to mention to Leks that most people in America say her name with the /a/'s as is "Ann" and minus the trilled /r/. Every time I call her by her full name, I always say it the Russian way, which sounds like the short /o/, with the trilled /r/. So, it's something like "O-lek-sonn-drra." (The actual Ukrainian spelling is "Oleksandra.")

Anyway, when I told her that, she made a horrific grimace, and then started pretend-gagging. I cracked up. She's never been called Aleksandra by anyone but me, so that's the only way she's ever heard her name (the RIGHT way!) ;O) She tried to say it the American way, and could manage the short "a's", but insisted on keeping the trilled "r." She just couldn't bring herself to Americanize it fully. lol! (Of course, her little accent still keeps that trilled "r" a lot of the time anyway, but I thought it was funny that she wouldn't even try it.)

That's all. I had to write that down somewhere so I wouldn't forget it.

Misc stuff

What a busy last month! I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

School is going well. Our routine is pretty set, though we have some rough starts some mornings! I have to gush about Aleksa. She's putting up all the calendar numbers now! I'm *SOOOOO* impressed with my little girl! She sorts through the 31 numbers, finds the appropriate one for the day, and puts them in the right spot! AND, today she read her first word! I had wanted to wait to do Kindergarten with her next year, but she's really seeming like she's getting ready, so we'll wait a few more months for her hands to gain some strength and coordination and we'll probably start Kindergarten in January. We've been reading a book for her Pre-K stuff called "People" which she absolutely loves. I pointed out to her today that we were almost to the end of it (we only read a few pages every few days or so), and she got upset and said, "Mama, I don't want that book to be empty!" (Speaking of funny ways of saying things, the other day she told us that her "handle-stick" on her apple fell off.) And another funny thing she said was actually at supper tonight. John was serving her veggies, and she said, "Choot-choot, Papa." Out of the clear blue sky, she spoke Russian to him. I almost fell over. ("choot-choot" means "a little bit")

I've been trying to convince Liana to let me snip off her hair. It's getting scraggly and yucky. It's so much cuter cut just past her chin. Looks fuller and healthier. But, well, you know Liana! It's gotta be her idea! LOL She and I have been really tight lately. She's extra-cuddly and clingy, and loooooves to help me out with whatever I'm doing. She's a honey.

Adam is still plugging away at those math-facts. Reading is clipping along really well. He can pick up books and start reading - but he has to be convinced that he CAN do it. He hasn't fully realized his capabilities yet. Still easier to have Mama read it to him... Gotta get some confidence built up in him. It truly amazes me how much he as learned in one year. That goes with all three, of course, but I need to keep reminding myself of that with Adam so I don't get discouraged about how much farther he has yet to go in order to be "caught up."

Speaking of school... I'm taking a scrap-quilting class! All by myself without any kiddos tagging along even. It just started this week, and I am really excited about it. Need some "me" time, and some way to get those creative juices flowing somehow.

John and I even had a date this month! We haven't gone out since March or so. It might have even been Valentine's Day. Not sure. We've been Long overdue, that's all I know!

Way past my bedtime, so off I go. Have a great weekend everyone!

More late night ramblings about odds and ends

Adam has had a loose tooth for a while, and the other night while he was sleeping, he banged his face (somehow?) on the bed. That woke him up, and he apparently decided to see if he could pull that tooth out. Mission accomplished. I was mighty bummed that I didn't get to video The Event, but he's proud of it regardless. I just wanted his first lost tooth in America to be a bit more memorable. *sigh*

Speaking of Adam, I have to say, he's really a nice kid. He has a heart of gold. He is a hard worker, and really takes pride in a job well-done. He works really hard on his school-work, and even will ask me if he could work longer (over a break period in the day), so he can be done sooner. I don't even have to stay watching over his shoulder. He just does it. And I'm floored. (This has NOT always been the case with this guy, trust me!)

After a meal he still thanks me for making his food, rinses his dishes, and it is not uncommon our Adam to volunteer to wash dishes before we draft him/anyone. Gives lots of hugs and kisses. Loves his sisters. No temper tantrums. Pretty much, he's becoming a really great kid.

But, his silliness is hard on the nerves sometimes. He often reminds me of Tigger. While Tigger bounces everywhere he goes, Adam will do that too, as well as squeak, squeal, get in your face, invade body space, etc. While people don't always appreciate that, and I'm afraid it has cost him some friends, but this is who he is right now, and he can't seem to change the habit. I'm looking forward to him growing out it a bit... which, thankfully, he is. It's a million times worse when he's overstimulated though. Oy.

Adam's sentences are getting better and better all the time, but he is still months behind his sisters. Just in the last few months though, we've seen major improvements, and since we have seen such good development there, John and I think that a lot of the trouble with his speech is that he's lazy. If we say, "Can you say that better?" He usually can. I'd say 90% of the time, he can. He just doesn't always bother. It just usually takes too long, so he'll grunt, point, and slur, leave out words, do sound effects, etc. All of that is getting less and less all the time (we were QUITE impressed with his repretoire of sound effects when he first came home from UA. We don't hear nearly as many anymore.) He also has a stutter and a hard time with his "r's." This guy has so much going against him for his speech. Age, gender, brain development/structure, and probably biggest I'd say, is the trauma he has endured in his life. (The doctors/therapists disagree, but if it were all mechanical, I don't think we'd see the progress we've seen this summer. We'll see.)

Liana came up with another funny word today. "Mama, feel my heart, it's beeping!" That's one of my new favorites, along with her "shaking" tooth, and "buzzing" (sleeping) feet. It has been really fun to hear how the world can be interpreted by these kiddos. They all three are still having trouble with certain word orders in their sentences, ("Why he does that?") and they still don't know all their irregular verbs yet. We still hear things like, "I throwed the ball.." etc.

Aleksa is still Aleksa. She's always flying under the radar. Liana tramples all over the radar screen, and Adam bounces across it. Leks is a different creature. The other two, if they are naughty, you KNOW about it immediatly. Aleksa is harder to figure out. She's our happy-go-lucky one. She's just thrilled to BE. She is thankful, full of hugs and kisses. Loves to snuggle and cuddle, and touch and tickle, and giggle, and she loooooves her tummy blubbered. I wish there was a way to bottle up her laugh, because it can NEVER fail to make me smile. If Aleksa is laughing, then I'm smiling. And I've never seen anyone else fail to do so either. Her happiness is contagious, and her smile brightens every room. When I tuck her in at night, she cups my face in her hands (palms pressed to my cheeks) and then she'll slide across my cheeks and smoothe my hair. All the while she'll jabber on about "what she liked today."

Life at my house is exhausting, but we're a happy bunch! (Anyone want to volunteer to come and do laundry for me though?) ;O)

13 Months Home

Last year around this time, I remember how determined our kids were about not wasting food. I made apple pies on Columbus Day last year, and not a single scrap of apple peels or core, (or stems!) went unconsumed. Just the other day I smiled to myself when I noticed Adam peeling his apple before he ate it. He "doesn't like the peels now," he said. He's come a long way. Food was such a friend of his for so long. And, I guess it still is to a point. He will still ask for seconds and thirds until we say "no" sometimes. But, his apple peel left on his plate said a lot to me about how he's done this year.

Last year this time, we were trying to teach Adam his numbers and how to count, and even how old he was. It took ForEver to even teach him how to do a simple dot-to-dot. Now we know that this has to do with the way his brain was formed, and that math will probably alwayss be extra-difficult for him, but even so, he is now not only knowing how old he is (!), but can do dot-to-dots to whatever number we pick, can count, and is memorizing math facts. They come hard for him, but I'm so glad someone directed us to Math-U-See. He understood and could say his "+9" math facts after just a few days with that curriculum. I sure wish I had had it when I was in school! It teaches the "why" of math better than I have ever heard. "A 9 always wants to become a 10, so it will suck one away from that number 7. See how the whole in the top of a 9 looks like the end of a vacuum nozzle? It uses it to suck up, or steal from the number it is being added to. Then, look what you have. You have a 10 and a 6. What number is that?" All the while, it uses blocks (very hard to explain here), but you can SEE the math happen, which is what Adam needs. If we had sat him down with flashcards and insisted that he memorize them, there is Absolutely No Way he could have done it. Now, instead of using the blocks, Adam can just visualize what is actually happening with the math, and he can understand it better. Such a blessing to find this curriculum. So, so relieved.

Speaking of homeschooling, we had a trip to the library and afterwards the park the other day, and while we were there, a lady was there with her toddler. She was SPEAKING RUSSIAN to her kiddo! Our kids followed this lady around the park like she was their long-lost best friend. She was from Russia, and I was *sooooo happy* to find out that when she spoke Russian to my kids, that they could actually still understand her! They responded in English, (which she understood too, thankfully!), but it was very interesting to know that the kids' Russian is still floating around in their brains somewhere. It was also interesting that the kids didn't avoid her like the plague. I've heard of so many other kiddos who, once home, would actually walk away from Russian/Ukrainian speakers they met, and really want nothing to do with them. The part of me that truly grieved when they began to lose their Russian was absolutely elated to see that it was still in their heads somewhere.

Anyway, this lady said she would try to make it to the park once a week to speak to our kiddos in Russian. *happy, happy Shelly* So glad for this opportunity for the kids. Hope the weather stays nice for a while!

Aleksa has been going to town with her learning too. She had been in a fog for a long time when she came home last year. I mean, a FOG. I really wondered what her future was going to look like. Well, she's really caught up. Knows her colors, her shapes, and most of her letters (by sight), all of her sounds. She can count up a storm, and loves to do so. I've noticed her attention span for stories with few pictures go up really well too. Last year she would sit through a few paragraphs and then climb down and want to play with her dollies. She'll sit through (and comprehend) them now. Loves to be read to, and always has, but the types of books she's ready for are changing.

Liana is doing great in school. She overhears me teaching Adam something, and pretty-much, it is hers. She's gained a lot of confidence in reading over the summer, and she's really flying. She's also not-so-patiently awaiting the loss of her first upper tooth. She even tried to tie dental-floss around it and slam it in the door. It wasn't ready, and the knot wasn't tight enough, so, her tooth is still in her head.

Hubba-Bubba Head

Liana is lucky to be alive today.

This afternoon while the girls were playing, Aleksa's gum accidentally fell out of her mouth and landed in Liana's hair. It didn't stick, but we had a fun conversation recalling Adam's run-in with the gum last fall and how we had to put peanut butter in his hair to get it out.

Well, about ten minutes later, Liana announces from the next room that she had bubble-gum in her hair and needed peanut butter. She put it in there ON PURPOSE because she thought it would be fun to put some peanut butter in her hair like we did with Adam. (Did you catch the words, "ON PURPOSE?" She even GIGGLED about having done it!) I Coulda Killed Her.

Mama was NOT a happy girl. I slathered the peanut butter (and of course, we only had chunky and not creamy), in her hair, and then told her to sit there at the table until the timer went off. Mama needed a time-out before she strangled the girl. Of course, that isn't what I told her. I told her the peanut butter needed to soak in for that long. So, I holed-up in my room trying to chill out before having to go out and deal with the mess she made of her hair. It, of course, was a giant wad stuck toward the top of her hair (couldn't have been the bottom, right, and it couldn't have been a Chicklet, right?)

Anyway, after I came out, I got out the video camera and handed it to Adam. I figured I needed proof that I didn't kill her, and to document this wonderful occasion. I wound up having to cut it out... the peanut butter failed her. Liana wailed the entire time.

So, then tonight Mom Fisher calls. I say, "Grandma, do you want to hear what Liana did today?" and then I handed the phone over. Liana gets on the phone, explains the whole thing, and THEN she tells my mil, "And then, when I told Mama what I did, Mama said, 'Liana, get your butt in here!' so, I got my butt in there."

That's when I asked for the phone back. LOL!

Oy. We're all either minus a few hairs or plus a few frayed nerves, but thankfully, everyone can now laugh about it. It took a while though! ;O)

School Days

What a week. We started up our full schedule of school this week (not just the 3R's as we had done most of this summer). Our overall theme for the year is "Intro to World History" so we've already jumped into learning about how people in different parts of the world eat, dress, live, look, celebrate, believe, etc. Today we made pinatas after reading about Mexican fiestas. (We just need the candy to fill it, and then we're set for a fun time this weekend!) I also made Indian saris for the girls to play around in, plus a sarong for Adam (that lasted all of about 15 seconds and then he wanted *nothing* to do with that!) Tomorrow or this weekend we're going to make an Indian drink called "lassi." Anyone heard of it? It's a yogurt drink. Sounds like something our three will love, so I'm anxious to try it.

Our science this week has been learning alllll about water. Ice, fog, steam, etc., and we even conducted a couple experiments. (What am I saying? Adam has been conducting water experiments ever since he came home from Ukraine!)

Aleksa has been in Cutting and Pasting and Stapling heaven! She made an elephant mask yesterday that she played around with all day - and she couldn't wait to scare Papa when he got home. Thankfully, Papa gave her a good scream when he came home, which sent her into a giggle-frenzy. She's just adorable. *contented sigh*

I've been going to bed bone-dog-tired, but feeling good that the school routine is back in swing. I'm never gonna finish my book though... too busy to pick it up during the day, and too tired to read it at night. (I'm reading "Pride and Prejudice.") This is the first book "just for me" that I've picked up in ages. Most of "my" reading comes off the internet, and all of my book-reading for the past year has been for the kids. I'm stubborn though, and I'll finish it if it kills me. I'm half-way through and Mr. Darcy has just declared his love and Elizabeth has just raked him over the coals and told him to get lost. It's just getting good in other words! ;O)

Speaking of my reading my own book, my kids have been Jealous of it. Liana is driving me CRAZY demanding my attention. "Can you read me a book?" "Can you watch me ride my bike?" "Can you help me...?" With the school-stuff sucking up most of my energy, I *need* to have a "just me" time.

Btw, I've been trying to find my turkey pattern, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. The best I can do right now (not having found the pattern) is that I could trace my turkey parts and let you eye-ball it with some general instructions.

Tea Party!

Aleksa
Liana and Adam

A few days ago I broke out a tea set that I had bought several years ago when children were just a dream. I had found it at a craft show for Way Too Much Money and just had to have it. One of those kinds of things. I haven't hauled it out yet because I really wanted the kids to not be all wild with it and think it was something to break. The girls were dying to dress up, so I invited them to a tea party, and even Adam got excited when I told him that he could wear Great Grandpa's hat. He looked rather dapper, I must say! ;O) Adam pretended to be King, Liana Queen, and Aleksa the Baby Princess. I was the servant. We had a blast! Real tea (please, no flames - they were raised on real tea, it ain't gonna kill them now!), and Triskit crackers, plus a white table cloth, Ukrainian rushnyk, clip earrings, bracelets, rings - Adam even got a tie-tack! It was a lot of fun, and we got a lot of video of the Royals ordering the servant around. Fun, fun, fun.

Later on in the day, we babysat Cousin Glenn and Cousin Callie. Callie is 6 months old. Adam and Liana were chattering at her, and she started sort of rocking in her stroller seat. Adam got really serious and said she wasn't happy. I was confused. He said, "That's orphanage talking." Liana sat down on the ground and rocked back and forth and said, "Mama, this is what we did in the orphanage when nobody loved us." Lump in my throat. I'm so glad they don't feel like they have to do that now!

Busy doing and busy thinking

So much floating through my head lately. The hurricane, the new school year, getting the house organized before school starts in again, the anniversary of my mom's death, having the children dedicated at church on Sunday, then before that it was all "One Year Home" stuff. What a whirlwind of a month, but it's just going to continue on with the school year coming into full swing again.

Thursday marked three years that my mom has been gone. I feel horrible that I didn't remember that until the next day. That's when we went to my aunt and uncle's 50th. Aunt Karen is my mom's sister. She's so much like her in so many ways. Same hands, similar features, same way of speaking. Karen even wore Mom's perfume on Saturday. I overheard her talking to one of her kids about something or other and I *know* my mother would have used the exact same words, in the same tone of voice with the same expression on her face. It made me smile, but I did have a few lumps in my throat. It was cool to remember Mom in so many little ways that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise, and haven't thought of in a long time. I really miss her!

Sunday we had the kids dedicated at church. Actually, we had me and John dedicated to being the parents we need to be for them. The longer we've had these kids the more I realize what an emormous repsonsibility we have. It's pretty humbling. I really pray they turn out ok inspite of us! (I should say "me" - John is an awesome Papa!)

It's been a busy few days. I'm trying to get the house all organized and the kids' clothes all sorted and ready for fall, plus getting ready for the new school year to kick in. I had to snort a few times when I realized that amid all the shoe/undie collecting for the Ukraine packages, that OUR kids needed some too. So, this week we will all pile in the car to get some sneakers. How ironic! lol!

By the way, the very next day after we brought "Jeff" home, he made himself a cocoon-thingie in that plastic bin. Couldn't believe it. We have him under the deck, and hopefully he'll be safe over the winter. We hunted online looking for what kind of caterpillar we had. We looked at hundreds of caterpillar pictures, but we're pretty sure he's a polyphemus moth. According to the info we found, he'll stay in his cocoon until next June! Liana was crushed, but at least he didn't crawl away like I figured he would!

I don't know how many of you are affected by Hurricane Katrina, but even though I don't have any family down there myself, I'm just sick about all the chaos this storm has caused. My niece's husband's family lives in New Orleans. Check that. Lived in New Orleans. They have all pretty much lost everything. I can't even comprehend that. Not even slightly. Counting my blessings, but praying hard for those whose blessings have washed into the ocean. What a tragedy.

I've been chatting with a lady who is in the process of adopting three kids from Liberia, Africa. I didn't even really know you COULD adopt from there, so it has been interesting to learn a little more about it. At lunch today, just to see what the kids would say, I asked them, "So, if we ever adopted any more kids, should we adopt from Ukraine, or should we adopt from Africa?" Always looking for an adventure, Liana shouted, "Africa!" When I asked her why, she said, "Mama, we've already adopted from Ukraine." What cracked me up about that statement was the word "we."

I doubt we'll ever adopt again though. Maybe if our ship came in. I'd love to go around adopting sibling sets in different continents. That's a cool dream, but then reality hits and I realize that THIS sibling set at our house is about as much as I can handle! (And I do a poor job handling just them some days!)

Sorry this blogging stuff has been so inconsistant. I've been busy doing and busy thinking.

Jeff the Caterpillar

Adam and Jeff

Today the girls and I went to my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party at their cabin.

It was a wonderful day up until it was time to leave. That's when Liana shouted, "Look, Mama!" and as I turned around, she jiggled a Giant Green Caterpillar at me.

Freaked. Me. Out.

Nothing gives me the heeby-jeebies like Giant Green Caterpillars. At least not like this kind. I've never seen one like it. My brothers thought it might turn into a teradachtyl instead of a butterfly. I just can't imagine what kind of creature this thing could possibly become.

Anyway, Rotten Cousin Sue came up with a plastic box to put the caterpillar in to take home. Great. (She did ask me if it was ok to give the box, so, *sigh*, she wasn't entirely rotten, but... ;O) ) Liana proudly took "Jeff" home and made a nice little abode for him in a shallow plastic tub. This thing is staying OUTSIDE. Whereas I bragged about how wonderful I was about the various bunny situations in my life, I'm not so wonderful about 3" juicy green creepy-crawlies. Especially when Liana is wagging it at me and practically chasing me around the yard to taunt me.

I'm not safe anymore. She found my achilles...

Cage, Penguins and Rabbits

Susie's Tummy
Susie's Cage

Over the weekend, John and I designed and constructed a brand new cage for Susie. It was purely a guilt thing. She now has a 24"x25"x?deep" wood cage with a long window in the back and a partially opened top for little hands to easily pet her. We still need to round/scoop off the top edges of the petting section, but it's good enough to let her use for now. She's got it made. She can now climb on the outside of the toys she could only climb inside of just a few days ago. She loves it, and so do we. The only problem is that we don't really know where to put the thing! It's in the livingroom right now, but I'm not terribly thrilled about that idea. She'd been in there before, but I didn't like that my house smelled hamster-like. We'll have to do some figuring on that one. Kind of an eyesore too! (But I don't care a whole lot about that... As long as my hamster and my kids are happy, then so am I!)

Yesterday Auntie Sharon took the kids to see the National Geographic documentary "The March of the Penguins." They've read several penguin books before yesterday, so they were excited about learning more about them. Liana talked Auntie Sharon's ear off with questions during the whole thing, *grin,* but nobody was traumatized by some of the birdies dying. They loved it.

Speaking of things dying, or about to... Liana and Co. found a baby bunny in the yard yesterday and caught it. It wasn't hurt; it was just timid and too slow for its own good. Liana zipped it in her little purse and swung it all over the yard yesterday morning, (unbeknownst to me, I'll have you know). Leksa finally spilled the beans. I called Liana over to me, took her purse, dumped the mortified (and probably rather dizzy) baby bunny out, explaining that the bunny's mama was probably not going to want to take care of it now because it now smelled like Liana and not a baby bunny, and that it very well might die. She felt really bad, poor kid. (I found out later that she went into the house and cried.)

I was actually pretty proud of myself for not having a cow about the whole thing, but when I was a little girl of Liana's age, something similar happened with a bunny and my big sis DID have a cow. (Didn'tcha, Sharon?!) I figured she felt bad enough, so she didn't need a further lecture (whereas I still can't figure out why my sis had the cow about MY particular rabbit).

I had been conducting a science experiment. A bunny had died in our yard, so the neighbor kids and I buried it, and then dug it up every day to see what it looked like. The day it had maggots on it and we all started screaming was the day my sis was over. She chased all my friends away, and I'd never heard vocal chords hit such high notes, or seen faces pop so many veins. What was the big deal? It was already dead! She reburied it in a place she never let me know of - (though I searched the yard pretty well looking for loose dirt) - and to this day I don't have a clue what the big deal was! lol!

Poor Susie!

We just had one of those nights where we knew we were parents *for sure.*

Susie got loose again. We'd had her in her exercise ball this evening, and since that's how she usually gets loose, we had some duct tape on the lid. Anyway, after looking for a million years, we finally gave up, tucked the kids in, and I immediately found her in our closet poking around. No problem. Except. Except that the 2" piece of duct tape that had kept one side of the lid on her ball closed was now firmly pressed on the side of her fuzzy little body. It was horrible. We had to get a scissors out and try to snip duct tape off of our furry friend. And she was not a happy girl. 'Specially when John accidentally slipped and nipped her side. Susie actually screamed. I didn't know hamsters could do that, but John felt SOOOOO bad. Like, teary-eyed feeling bad. Like hafta-play-the-Nintendo-after-we-were-done-so-he-could-shake-off-how-horrible-he-felt kind of bad. We had to put her in a deep box for the night until we can really clean out her cage well tomorrow. I put new pine chips in the bottom of the box to make her comfy though, and gave her her wheel and food/water. We didn't want her germy cage to infect her little tummy. We plan to buy her a new ball (and maybe even cage) on Saturday. (Did I mention how horrible we feel about our Sus?) Never thought in a million years I'd ever have to do minor surgery on a hamster. Especially one involving silver duct tape! Never a dull moment around here!

Another website to watch

Here's a website of a family who has taken their three kids with them to Ukraine, and will be adopting three more! The kids in this family also have a spot on this site to blog too, so it's been a fun one to read.
Here ya go!

ONE YEAR HOME!!!!!!!!

Adam
Liana
Aleksa

Can't believe it. We lived to tell about it! "The Hard Year" is done. Behind us. Let the good times roll!

But seriously, we've had good times this last year! Sure, there have been some tense moments here at the Fisher house, (and undoubtedly there will be many more), but by and large, we've had a blast!

Probably a big part of the reason they say that the first year is hard is because you really are still getting to know the children and they you. That's a process, not a switch. I'm constantly getting to know my kids. As they have "aged" this year, I've had to get to know them over and over again. There is no doubt in my mind that Aleksa, for instance, aged emotionally and intellectually about two years in this year. At least. And that has radically changed her personality. (Good thing! Remember the Warrior Princess?)

You're also still getting to know them health-wise that first year. We are just finally getting to the bottom of Adam's problems, and that has been extremely stressful. (Lots of appointments this summer). Lots of middle-of-the-night wondering if your child is going to have a normal, healthy and productive life. The language issues mask so much. You really don't quite know who you've got until their English kicks in. Same goes with their emotions. Who you come home with may be a very different person than who you wind up with after they've settled in to your family. "Is my son throwing a fit because he's a normal 3-yo, or because of his emotional baggage of his background? Oh no, what if he needs ritalin!? Or psychotherapy?"

Plus wondering if you love them all enough, or one not enough, or wondering how to reach one better, or whatever. It definitely would have been a LOT easier to adopt just one child. All our energy could have been poured into the one. Only one to worry about bonding with. Much easier than three at once, for sure. And I couldn't even imagine how the adjustment would be if I'd had biological children to compare them to. Because I for one, did not love all three "then" like I do "now." -And having a bio kid to compare that too would be extremely stressful. "What am I doing wrong? Am I a bad mother?" That's probably just my own personality factoring in there, as I know there are many, many families who successfully and happily adopt with bio children already in the mix. I already think I'd have a hard time if we adopted again. Would I love another child like I do these guys? I'd feel so guilty until I did! (Sorry for the rabbit trail. Just thinking out loud...)

It has also been a difficult year physically. I'm tired. Mama ustala. I've never cleaned my house so much in my entire life like I've cleaned my house this year. And even with all the cleaning, it is constantly a clutter pit. I'm constantly sweeping, vacuuming, picking up, doing laundry, dishes, etc. Finding my "groove" has been HARD. In fact, out of this whole year, I think the most difficult part for me has been carving out a new life routine that works. That has caused me the most stress of anything, I think. I've constantly felt like a circus-performer who spins plates on the stick. I have felt like I'm about ready to drop all the dishes any second. Trying to balance everything has been hard. I'm really bad about not making time for me and John - we've been on maybe two dates since the kids came home. How horrible is THAT? Also, I've not really made time for myself. I need to get out more. Walmart doesn't count. (I try to pretend it counts, but it doesn't. I'm still in "Mama mode" at Walmart thinking about the needs of the household and kids.)

Anyway, about today. Adam and Aleksa woke up sick. They've been sick, but they woke up sicker. Of course, we had family pictures scheduled. Not terribly crazy about them, but we did it. *sigh* We had one taken with a flag background, and it really turned out nice. I ordered quite a few of those. Had to! This was their One Year Anniversary of their U.S. citizenship! What lucky ducks! We also had their pics taken with their Ukie outfits too. They could still squeeze into them (well, Adam barely did), so I figured we'd best do it before we couldn't anymore.

There wound up being three big boxes to UA. That's 85 pounds worth of stuff! John and I bought an air-sucker-outer "foodsaver" and got about 2 boxes of undies/socks into one box. I stayed up 'til after 11:00 last night packing, taping, labeling, etc'ing. There wound up being 75 shoes, and 364 pairs of undies, btw. AND, there were enough contributions toward shipping that it was FREE!!!!!!! (CAN YOU SAY *WHEW*?) ;O)

We also celebrated by giving the kids gifts that I had bought from a friend who crochets and sells cows for her adoption fund. It was fun to tell the kids that these cows would help another child or two come home from Ukraine. I'm not sure they fully understood, but I sure did! (Missy, we're praying for you!) Aleksa had to sleep with hers tonight. But Twinkle had to come to bed too. She doesn't call the cow a "cow" though. She calls it her goat. She calls her "My Pretty Pony" her "donkey." A little confused yet about the farm animals! ;O) (If anyone is interested in the cows, please let me know. I'll put you in touch with her. Great cause!) ;O)

One year home. It flew! It dragged! ;O) (Just kidding!) I hope all of you out there who are waiting, (or just still praying at this point!), can one day soon have your arms and laps full and overflowing. It's been the happiest year of my life.

Thank you North America!

<

We got three boxes of shoes/undies all at once today, and the kids about had a field day with excitement. They all three helped ripped open the *very* well-packed boxes, and oohed and aaahed over the fabulous shoes and undies. I've been overwhelmed with how far-flung people have been sending their "stuff" from. We've had two packages from Canada, one from HI (I think that's the abbreviation for Hawaii, right?), NY, CT, TX, one of the Carolinas (can't remember which right now), IL, MN, WI, FL, NJ and I'm absolutely certain that I've forgotten a few places. (These are off the top of my head, so please forgive me if I've forgotten your state.)

I just hauled *everything* out today to count up what we've got, and not including the $60 that the kids get to shop with (they'll do that tomorrow since we now know what we have and what we might need), we have 321 pairs of undies and 64 pairs of shoes (and they are all NICE shoes at that!), 2 pairs of boots, 1 pair of mittens, 46 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of tights, and 30 toothbrushes.

Once I pulled all the "goods" out to count, the kids really started to get excited about our project. They went through their closets (again!) to find shoes that are probably outgrown and then started scrubbing them up to send. Liana and Adam sat out on the deck scrubbing their old shoes for a good long time chattering about which of their friends they hoped would get new shoes.

Feels great to be able to do this. Thanks so much everyone. You did a good thing.

Ring and Before/After for Adam & Leks

Don't have a lot of time to sit at the computer, but in the absence of text, I thought I'd post some pics. Enjoy!

Court Date Anniversary

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of our court date. All these celebrations are really exhausting! Didn't make a cake. ;O)

I did get to pick up the mother's ring that I ordered on my birthday. Instead of using the traditional "birthstones" I let each kid pick out what color stone they liked. I wasn't there for their births, so their "birth" stone doesn't mean much to me. (Plus two peridots and a garnet wouldn't have been much to oooh and aaah about...)

Adam picked a blue sapphire, which suits his personality really well. (And he looks super-handsome in blue!) Liana picked a red ruby, which I'm sure I don't have to comment on how perfect that is. Aleksa changed her mind several times, so I steered her toward a yellow topaz. Aleksa has always reminded me of my mom, so I thought it would be nice to use my mom's birthstone. Plus, waaaay last fall/winter I said to her, "Aleksa, you know I love you, don't you?" And she replied, "Yes, I'm your sunshine." So, yellow has struck me as an Aleksa color for a long time. (She even asked for a yellow dress back when she was still at the orphanage.) Anyway, I had the stones set so they are red then blue, then yellow. Red and blue for the American flag, and the blue and yellow for the Ukrainian flag. I love it. Couldn't have packed much more meaning into this little ring if I tried!

*happy Shelly*

Leksa's Birthday!

Well, I'm officially caked out. Don't want to see another hunk of cake for the next ten years. Or at least until Adam's birthday! ;O)

We have a five year old! We've never had a five-year-old before! Except, I guess, when we met Liana. She was five for a few days after we met her. Leksa woke up so proud to be big now! Such a cutie. She got her crown, breakfast in bed, stroller and umbrella, packages and visits from the same people who came through for Liana. It was almost comical how similar their days were. Except that John had to work today and we didn't do mini-golf. Her cake was much prettier, however. I made it. I take that back... Aleksa got to stir the batter a bit, and got to dump the water in it for me. Much better. I frosted it while she and the others were outside playing. When she came in and saw it all decorated, she actually was so excited that she kissed the cake! (Hey, I'd rather eat her kissed cake than Liana's slimy-frosting mess. *shiver*)

In spite of how similar their days were, Liana has been jealous allll day long of the attention her sister got today. John says he saw it right away this morning when we had breakfast in Leksa's bed. He says Liana looked too quiet and contemplative.

This really has been the first time I've seen such an obvious jealousy between the girls. I'm surprised it hasn't come before, though. When people first meet the kids, they *always* tell us how adorable Aleksa is, and how sweet her smile is, etc., etc. I try to pipe up about all three of them, but people just don't see how horrible favoritism is. I really hope that Liana doesn't come to resent her little sister some day because of it. Some people just show it in body language (easy to do since Leksa is a snuggler), but Liana and Adam get the short end of the affection stick quite a bit from people outside our family. Drives me kinda crazy. Adam can't help that he isn't a cuddly pre-schooler, but he needs that affection just as much or more so than Aleksa. Liana can't help it that she doesn't give her smiles away to "just anyone." Not a whole lot I can do though. Aleksa is cute, and her sunny personality makes people really drawn to her. I can now really see how the favoritism at the orphanage happened. It is happening here in America!

Liana survived, but it really came out at church tonight. Whereas she started out quiet this morning in her jealousy, this evening she ended it at the top of her lungs. She pretty much acted like a monkey trying to suck everyone's attention to her. She was climbing on vehicles in the parking lot, laughing/screaming, shrieking, etc., etc. Pretty much, being a nightmare. She gets to call one lady in the morning to apologize for the car thing. (She had been asked to quit it, but the quarter had already been put into the nickel slot, and she had a hard time digging it out at that point...)

Looking forward to normal again. Birthdays are fun, but they are traumatic too! I don't like them getting older, and neither do their siblings! Let's just call off all the rest of them....

Misc happenings

Yesterday we stopped at a friend's house so she could show us how to feed her cat and water her flowers while she and her family are on vacation. While we were there, her twin daughters hopped on their bikes and declared that they were going to the pool. "Can I swim in your pool too?" asked our kids. Mrs. W. explained that it wasn't her pool, but the city's pool. (She lives in a different city than we do, so our kids haven't ever been there.) The kids asked if they could go. Mrs. W. told them that was up to their mom. "Where's the pool?" they asked. Mrs. W. pointed north-west. We promptly forgot about it. Mrs. W. and I chatted away and suddenly Adam asked, "Mama, where are Liana and Aleksa?" They had disappeared. They went to the pool. Well, they THOUGHT they were going to the pool. I take that back. LIANA thought she was going to the pool, and Aleksa went along with her big sister for kicks.

So, off Mrs. W. and I went looking for our girls. Found them a couple blocks away, and instead of being surprised that we were out looking for them, Liana said, "I didn't see any pool."

That's the second time in two weeks I've had to go looking for her. I can't remember ever having to do that before. New 7-yr-old wings? I dunno, but boy, do we need to get that strong will harnassed somehow! Liana at 16 is a scary thought for me right now. Like *really* scary.

At the library the other day we had yet another bathroom event. I went into the stall with Aleksa, but Liana was in the one next to us. Liana's toilet flushed three times before she was done, and she asked over to Aleksa if hers was flushing on her. It wasn't (I was blocking the sensor.) So, when Aleksa and I left the stall to wash our hands, I turned around in time to see Liana's bare butt crawling under the wall of the stall over to Aleksa's newly-vacated one. Evidently she had had enough of her constantly-flushing toilet and wanted to try out Aleksa's quieter one.

Never a dull moment around here, that's for sure!

While I spent the few days before Liana's birthday gearing up for preparations, etc., I've put Aleksa's off 'til the very last minute. This morning it hit me *hard* that 'Leks is having her 5th birthday tomorrow. At the breakfast table, I said something about this being the last day of having a four-yr-old, and suddenly I found myself bursting into sobbing tears. All three kids' eyes widened and everyone froze waiting to find out what on earth was up with me. Good thing Adam's isn't this week too... my heart just can't take it! After I explained that I didn't like having my babies grow up, Adam came up to me, and with a twinkle in his eye, he said, "Mama, on January 14th, I going to be 11 years old." He got a tickle for that.

Aleksa wanted the same things as Liana got, so it's going to be a deja-vous birthday. As long as she's happy! (She even told me where I needed to hide her presents.... In the same places we hid Liana's!) The only thing different is the menu. (Yay!) She wanted verenyky for supper (good girl, Leksa Lu!), and chocolate cake and chocolate frosting and chocolate ice cream. (My kinda woman!)

Update on Liana's birthday

Before it becomes Aleksa's birthday tomorrow, I'd better get around to filling the blanks of what happened for Liana's.

We made her a princess crown to wear for the day, complete with aluminum foil to make it shine. She loved it. Then we had breakfast in bed... all of us in her bed. That was interesting with cereal. (We did Malt-o-Meal with Adam's birthday breakfast).

Then Aleksa and I hid Liana's presents around the house. She only had a few of them, so we wanted to make it special. A friend from NJ sent her a package too, and she LOVED opening that. A friend of the family stopped over with a birthday cookie (a big chocolate chip cookie with "Happy Birthday" on it.) She also brought a few small presents like color book and crayons and a little porcelain teddy bear holding a block with an "L" on it. Grandma and Grandpa brought over their present on Sunday (there was a family wedding on Saturday.) Altogether (aside from what I already mentioned), she got a baby stroller, an umbrella, a sewing kit, a scooter, pop-beads to make jewelry, a fleece poncho/jacket/robe, some birthday money and some hair accessories. Pretty much, she made a haul.

When I went to make her birthday cake, she about had a cow. She didn't want ME to make her cake. SHE wanted to do it. She "knew how" she said. Afterall, she'd just watched me make my own a few days ago. So, I told her how much of what to add, and she did it all by herself. Right down to cracking the eggs. She was sure proud! (But this girl really goes to town with the frosting. YUCK. I literally couldn't tell where to put the candle in - there was so much frosting that it slid off the sides. Next time, I'm decorating the cake!) She also got to pick her birthday supper, which I was pretty forlorn about. She wanted Tator Tot Casserole. (NOT my favorite, but John loves it, so I hafta cook it once in a while. Unfortunately the kids love it too. *sigh*) So, I didn't particularly care for *any* of the birthday supper, but Princess Liana enjoyed every bite, and I guess that's all that matters!

We all went to play a game of mini-golf in the afternoon. It was a hot day, but they had fun chasing their balls around and having us cheer for their 17 strokes to hit their par 2 hole. It drove John a little crazy that they didn't care about good form, but hey, so what!

It was a fun day, and she told us several times that she was so happy and that she never had a birthday before, and never had this much fun on her birthday before, etc. I'm glad she liked it. It was fun making such a fuss.

Happy Birthday Liana!

Today is my Liana's birthday. Right now she's still alseep, so nothing festive has happened just yet. I just felt like posting because I'm feeling all reminiscent; probably because we celebrated last year's birthday in Ukraine and I have seen what an enormous year this has been for her. Like the biggest in her life! Last year on her birthday she was a scared, sick, skinny, child that I really wondered just how to "reach." Looking back at my blog from her birthday and the days before, she really reminded me of a stray cat... The kind that doesn't let you near, but definitely needs you. Needs some food, love, snuggles, etc. Liana didn't trust us, fought with us constantly, threw tantrums telling us she didn't love us and we didn't love her, and would run off at the drop of a hat. She was pale. She was ragged. She needed us, but didn't know how to accept us. Her love for us was not easily won.

But now! Oh, Liana, I'm so proud of you! You have learned to fit into a family beautifully! You, of all three kids, have needed us and loved us with your whole heart; and you learned to do it remarkably quickly.

While your brother was throwing tantrums last fall and telling us he was going to run away (and trying to convince you to do the same), you would tell him (still in Russian), that this was your home and that you finally had good food and a nice papa and mama and that you weren't going anywhere. I knew we'd officially won your heart by then.

Looking at the pictures from Ukraine and looking at you now, I just can't believe what a change there has been. You've gained 10 lbs, five inches, a whole new language, a glow and a beautiful smile. I'm so glad you are mine.

But you're 7! You're not supposed to be getting older all the time! You just turned 6 afterall! I know this year won't be as enormous as last, but that just scares me all the more. 8 will come before I blink, and then 9. Stay my little girl as long as you can, ok, Lianichka? I love you so very, very much.