Mikhail

Kids love to tell *anybody* stuff that they themselves find interesting. Adam is chatterer. Unfortunatly he isn't the most articulate child we have, and therefore can't always string together his words in the most appropriate fashion.

Yesterday at church we had a fellowship meal after the service. Adam sat with us near his Wednesday night kids' club teachers. To make conversation, he said to them, "My name Mikhail and my papa name Mikhail."

Major throat clearing by his mama.

Had an impromptu chitchat with him about making sure he includes the words "Ukrainian" or "first" or "birth" before the word "papa," because his "Papa" was sitting right next to him and his name is John, not Mikhail. I also reminded him that his birth/Ukrainian/middle name is Mikhail. I guess I'm a little protective of my hubby's feelings too, and figured of the two of us (John or me, I mean), that little reminder needed to come from me.

Thought you'd all want to hear this story as a balance or contrast to Liana's "real mama" comment the other morning.

Susie Found!

Forgot to mention... Susie the Hamster is safely back in her cage. John made us all stay out of the house Wednesday night (same day we noticed her gone), so he could search the house (quietly) by himself. He found her between the washer and the dryer. She was super thirsty and hungry, but she was ok. Everyone was very relieved. Especially me, as I wasn't looking forward to sleeping in a house with a loose rodent running around... (No offence, Susie Cute!)

Real Moms

Just have a quick breakfast time story that I HAVE to write down quick...

The kids always refer to their birth mom as "Mama Zhana." Well, this morning, Liana said to me, "Mama, she's not really my mama, I shouldn't call her that." I waited to hear what she was going to say. "I already have a real mama, and that's you. She's more like a step-mother or something, but you are our real mama."

After I teared up and gave her a big hug and kiss, I sat her down and told her that it was ok to call her Mama Zhana because she'll always be a part of her, and that I knew she loved her very much. I also told her that I was glad that she loved me, and that I was also glad that she loved Mama Zhana, because that meant that there was an awful lot of love in her heart. At that, she smiled really big and gave me a big hug.

22 Months Home

I sorta missed the 22 Month Home post. Oops. We were away for the weekend (went back home to see our dads for Father's Day.)

But! I thought I'd post some pictures I took on Friday. I'm sending off a bunch of pictures with the kids' yearly report, (which I'm sending early since we just moved). (Btw, a yearly report is the report we have to send to the Ukrainian Consulate to update them on the kids' welfare: health, accomplishments, personality development, etc.) I had the top pic made into an 8x10 for our mantel. Just love it!

Not sure what to say about the kids... We're all getting to the point where we're just not analyzing them like we used to. Though I should mention that Aleksa, who started sounding out words on her own at Christmas time, is now reading at about the second grade level right now! Never, ever thought she'd have had this easy of a time in school from what we knew of her when we first brought her home. Remember how worried I was that she was, um, well, You Know... ;O) I'm so happy to say I was dead wrong about her! She's a little smartie!


My buddy Adam came through for John for Father's Day just what he gave me; He told John he was thankful that we adopted him and launched into his "what if" story of what would have happened if we hadn't adopted him - on Father's Day no less. He has such a tender heart. He also has been talking more and more about the boys left behind at the orphanage. "What if they don't get adopted?" Those questions were tough on ME to ask, so I can't imagine how a boy of 11 is processing that one. He has several times asked me to stop everything and pray with him for those boys. He was practically in tears each time, and I don't need to tell you how they left me!

Liana! Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll just let it tell you how she's doing! :O) She's loving the new neighborhood and woods. We just saw a deer on Sunday night right across the street from us in this very field where she and the others are standing. She's been a busy, happy little girl this summer. The girls in the neighborhood are really nice, and she's slightly older than a few of them, and has (much to her delight) developed quite a following... ;O)

Well, this is our Lolly. I call her that because it is short for Lalichka, or la-la which means "baby." She's got a loose upper front tooth, and I choke up every time I think of it coming out. She's not s'posed to ever get big! I made her pose for dozens of pictures out on the lawn the other night when she told me it was loose enough to maybe come out. I even took a video of her. I don't want that dumb tooth to come out. Why, oh why can't children stay forever five?

Bubbles in the window

I was sitting quietly today looking out our livingroom window enjoying our scenery (see mother's day photos!) The kids were outside playing and John was taking a nap, so it was just me, my comfy chair, and a fabulous view. Then suddenly, a few soap bubbles gently floated past my window. I couldn't see the kids, but I could see their bubbles. It made me smile. I'm a MOM! I still just plain can't believe it. AND! My kids are happy and healthy and safe. Those few little soap bubbles proved it.

Bubbles in the window

I was sitting quietly today looking out our livingroom window enjoying our scenery (see mother's day photos!) The kids were outside playing and John was taking a nap, so it was just me, my comfy chair, and a fabulous view. Then suddenly, a few soap bubbles gently floated past my window. I couldn't see the kids, but I could see their bubbles. It made me smile. I'm a MOM! I still just plain can't believe it. AND! My kids are happy and healthy and safe. Those few little soap bubbles proved it.

Mother's Intuition?

I was sitting on the couch today and Aleksa was playing on it next to me, but she was getting a little nuts-o. Liana was in the kitchen supposedly finishing up her math. Finally I said to Aleksa, "Liana, that's enough." Liana, who didn't know I called her sister the wrong name, thought I was talking to her and called in from the kitchen, "Mommy, how did you know I was being bad!? You weren't even IN here!"

Cool! Two birds with one stone! :O)

(Ok, how many of YOU would have fessed up?)

Breaking in the Neighbors...

The thing about moving and starting over somewhere, is that you are constantly retelling "your story." Who even knows how many times I've told people about having adopted the kids, that we're homeschooling, etc. We're peculiar to people, and we have (all at once) been bombarded with questions.

And we're fine with that. (Obviously, or else I sure wouldn't be blogging!) We're proud of our kiddos, the progress they've made, and proud of where they're from. But, we've also had some very uncomfortable questions lately. There's this fine line though, where questions get inappropriate. One asked (in front of my kids) what happened to their "real" parents. Still trying to come up with a polite answer to that one! Others have asked about "birth" parents, which is better, but I scratch my head wondering why they need to know that. *sigh* (Btw, if you didn't catch that, WE, John and Shelly Fisher are Real Parents. Not a pretend bone in our bodies.)

I let the kids play in a neighbor's yard the other evening and the mom came over with the kids (and hers) and told me they had all had a great talk about where they were from, about the orphanage, etc. I have to tell you. I almost freaked out. (Not really, I was very nice. But inside, I freaked.) There are certain people that are *so* curious that they pump the kids with questions, and appear to enjoy doing so when John and I are not present. A while back someone sorta took Adam under their wing and pumped him with questions before I happened to notice... That person told me that they were just trying to be someone that Adam could come and talk to if he wanted to. (Even though they'd only seen Adam like Three times. Ever.) I told her that I was da mama, and John was da papa and that we ourselves are there for him when he wants to talk. The mama bear in me came out that time.

And so yesterday (this is a riot!), the neighbor boy comes over (he's probably 7). It was his last day of school, so that was the big topic of conversation among the kiddos. Anyway, this little guy is a Brain In a Half, and will probably be a lawyer or senator some day. But, he said to me, "Um, Shelly, I was wondering. When you school the children, do they just get to play all day?" I about spit my koolaid I was so amused! I said, "Um why do you ask?" He said, "Well, I was just wondering if they just played all day." I said, "Garett, if your mom was your teacher, would she let you play all day?" And he told me "no way." Then I asked him if he thought I would let them do that. I guess that satisfied him, but then he asked, "So, what level of math are they doing right now?" "Um, Garett, why do you ask?" "Oh, I'm just wondering. Sister Margaret is so hard! If we get anything wrong, she really gets on our tail!" At this point Liana looked at Garett funny, and then she looked at me. I chuckled and said to Liana, "Of course YOUR math teacher NEVER has gotten on YOUR tail, has she?" To which she replied, "Oh YES, she has!" lol!

Anyway, I let Garett know that just because we homeschool, doesn't mean he can quiz us. I have since instructed the kids that if anyone "quizzes" them (and several adults have done so upon hearing they are homeschooled), that they are to respond, "My mom says I don't have to answer people who quiz us just because we're homeschooled."

We'll break in the neighbors eventually! ;O)

Raising the White flag

Well, there's more than one way of skinning a cat. I kept thinking about Aunt Millie's "bleach bucket" and then I kept envisioning one of my Three Stooges tipping it over, or playing in it. The laundry area is right outside their bedroom doors. Even though it is an enclosed area, there aren't any deadbolts to keep them out! ;O) Those memories of Adam's late-night bathroom bubble/soap experiments are still too fresh!

So! I had to get a little more creative. And, my creativity brought me down to the shoe store where we bought Mr. Adam some sandals. Voila! No gray socks to wash! (At least 'til fall!) Happy Day!

(I fully intend on re-reading all your suggestions come cold-weather season though! THANK YOU everyone for all your ideas!)

White Whites?

Ok, I'm doing laundry. And Adam's socks are GRAY. How do those of you with busy, busy boys keep your whites WHITE? I think I'm missing something. Do I just have to buy new socks every other week or what's the deal? I'm dead serious, I'm just plain clueless on this one! Please HELP!!!!!!!