Settling in emotionally

I've written about our "physical" move, but not a whole lot on the emotional. The drive up here was pretty stressful for Liana. She was on High Alert most of the way here. If I sounded like I was remotely unsafe, or lost (we were following John), she would try to fix it herself by telling me where to go, etc. We needed to have a talk about how it's the Mama's and Papa's job to take care of their kiddos, and that 7yos' jobs are to just be 7yos.

The first night home, though, Liana woke up crying her eyes out missing everyone and everything. She missed her grandparents, she said, and her friends. She wrote her best friend Rachel a letter yesterday.

But, really, though, she and Aleksa are doing fabulously. Adam is doing as well as we expected him to, but we *knew* that as soon as we started school again, he was going to be pulling those control strings again.

And, we were right. We started school as soon as we found the books - (which was Tuesday), and boy was I glad to have John home this week. As the days have gone by, though, he's gotten much better. Today's only "incident" was him telling us he didn't know how to say "Where am I going?" He would say, "Where is I going?," "Where are I going?," "Where I am going?" and alllllll kinds of variants. John and I have gotten good at standing firm emotionlessly. I often need to keep busy to quit "thinking about it" as it does get annoying after a while, but that has just helped me get my boxes unpacked faster! ;O) It didn't last as long as "usual" for this week, however, so I'm kinda wishing that tomorrow were Friday instead of Saturday, so we could have another day of "normal routine" instead of throwing another oddball day in the mix. I'm just hoping that we don't start all over next week.

I'm climbing out of the box jungle, but it's taking a while. A lot of it, I'm keeping in boxes since we're only here a year (although all of this unpacking and readjustment stuff is making me think TWO years here wouldn't be the end of the world!)

Nothing at all to report about Aleksa. She's just Leksa. Coloring, reading, writing, pretending Aleksa. She was just pretending that "Miss Peterson" was late for something or other, and she needed to go find her. Not sure if I've mentioned her skirt affinity, but Aleksa more often than not prefers to run around in a skirt. (Don't know where that came from, because I'm NOT that way at all!) So, she'll throw on a skirt, high heels, long necklaces, then pretend she's a lady and goes around talking like one. "At 5:30, Miss Peterson needed to be here, but I just can't seem to find her!" She says it nobody in particular, but as she passes through the room, we hear stuff like this allll the time. (I just plain can't type what her little authoritative voice sounds like, but it cracks me up.)

Well, anyhow, that's the deal around here. A few minor bumps in the road, but nothing terribly alarming.

Ya know, I was *JUST* about to hit "save" when Adam just came up to me with a colorbook page that he wrote, "Adam loves Mama." Then he gave me a hug and said, "Mama, I so happy you adopt me from that yucky orphanage. I would be stuck there forever." And then he fluttered away...

I guess in other words, we're all doing GREAT!

We Moved!

I think every muscle in my body is sore. These last few weeks have been grueling. We got all moved out on Saturday, and a bunch of folks from our church showed up to help us pack the truck and clean the house. They also brought us lunch, which was sooooo nice! The neighbors came over to say goodbye too. The kids had evidently really wormed their way into their hearts, because some of them came over with a camera to take pics of us all, plus they gave us a giant fruit/goodie basket as well as about a bajillion odds and ends including framed pictures, blankets, rugs, rubbermaid items, etc. Nice, but, um, odd. I had no idea about all the "odds and ends" until we were UNpacking the truck in Hudson and I kept wondering where all this extra stuff came from. One lady who actually moved out of our neighborhood last winter heard through the grapevine that we were moving out, and she showed up on Saturday to wish us well and give us a small gift to remember her by. One set of neighbors even gave us a framed picture of themselves. *shrugs*

Anyway, I might have mentioned last week that we had a farmhouse lined up to rent. (It's been a fog around here, so if this is old news, just please oblige me the redundancy this once). Well, anyway, we had a cute little farmhouse on 40 acres of woods all lined up to rent, and someone beat us with the security deposit by 20 minutes. That was last Friday. So, Saturday we drove up to the area again looking for somewhere to rent. Struck out again. Came home, and started scrambling to find *anything* we could.

I called a sister church in Hudson to ask the pastor if maybe he's heard of anything for rent, and while he was on the way out of town, he handed that request over to one of the deacons, who called us and offered to help us out a bit. Nice! So, we did find someplace to look at on Monday night, filled the application out on Tuesday, and signed the lease on Saturday *just* before we moved in.

We're in a "twin home" (can you say "duplex?") ;O) It's absolutely heaven compared to where we were. We are out in the country, just on the edge of town. We drive past horses on our way out of our housing development. We have a beautiful view of the countryside from the livingroom, and best of all, all the storage space a gal could ask for! Two car garage, plus enormous closets which instantly made the childrens' rooms immaculate, and I'm *loving* that! We also have no highspeed internet connection. Isn't that a hoot that we move up to the Cities, and lost our internet!? Such irony in that! We called a Satellite Guy today, however, and now we're both much happier after going all weekend without hopping online at all.

I didn't mention us moving in! John's parents and brother drove up with us, and helped us unload, and also the guy from the church in town here rounded up a crew of folks to help us too! What an enormous BLESSING! They also brought supper enough for a few nights, one of them invited us over for dinner on Sunday, etc., etc. It was really, really nice. I was definitely impressed with their hospitality and love. (And one of these ladies brought over supper for us last night too, which was enough for Tuesday night as well. Haven't had to cook here yet!)

John's first day of work went well! He got to the office this morning, they told him they'd like him to start on some certifications which he has been wanting to do for some time anyway. And since there isn't a jobsite lined up for him quite yet, he can devote his time to doing those, get paid his salary, STAY HOME to do it online, and get a few bonuses when he finishes them. Sweet!

This morning we introduced ourselves to the neighbor who shares our duplex. They are from Liberia, West Africa! They have a 10yo girl and a 4yo girl. The 4yo is an absolute DOLLY. The neighbor across the street is from India! *sings "It's a Small World After All"* I'm loving, loving, LOVING the international flavor of the neighborhood. John and I have been trying hard to make the world "small" for the kids - to learn lots about other countries, to know their geography, etc., and so these neighbors just Thrill My Heart! (Speaking of which, I need to take a picture of the world map shower curtain that I got for the kids' bathroom. I hung up their Ukrainian alphabet poster in there too, and I think it is awesome!)

I found the kitchen and livingroom yesterday, and today I unpacked the kids' rooms and their books and school stuff. Still haven't dug my way out of the den or masterbedroom yet... tomorrow! John still has lots to do setting up his computer stuff. (I don't know a thing about that. I just know how to check email, google, and blog!) ;O)

Btw, John's parents are ok. Very bruised up, but fine. They were going down the highway and someone pulled out in front of them. They've totalled their car, and are going to be sore for a while, but I understand there are no broken bones. Life can change so drastically so quickly. Great reminder not to take anything(one) for granted, and to thank God for each day He gives us!

Well, anyhow, I'm exhausted. I've been wishing for bedtime since about 4:30, and now that it's about 9:00pm, I'm thinking I can get away with it now! Thanks for checking in!

Pics

This is one of my new all-time favorite pics of my kiddos. I love, love, love that Liana is wearing a shirt that is way too small for her, but she can't part with it because it has a Curtsy L on it. :O) Can't they all stay just exactly like this forever?



These are two of my colorers. I took this one from the door, and I didn't yet realize that Adam was on the step below them coloring too.



Talk about a mother's DREAM. I just LOVE that the kids are picking up books on their own and finding quiet corners of the house to enjoy them in... and it is especially cool to find them reading to each other! Such a relief to have the kids being so good lately after the rough stuff I mentioned before. Very much an answer to prayer!

Moving update

Well, since we're moving, maybe it's time for a change here too! (Actually, my blog was flaky last night and this morning and John had to put a new template up to make it work). The timing seems appropriate though, so I might keep it this way.

We're moving Saturday morning to Hudson, WI, which is only 2 1/2 hours north of here, but plenty far enough away to have to start over with new friends, church, shopping routines, etc. *sigh*

The kids are doing WONDERFULLY. In fact, they're soooo relaxed about everything, that I've been even taking pictures of them "being good." This morning I walked past Adam's room to see him and Liana sprawled out on their backs on Adam's bare mattress on the floor with Liana reading him a book contentedly. I did a double-take, and then I backtracked to grab the camera. ;O) This afternoon I found all three kiddos on the steps of the deck coloring quietly. (Where did these kids come from???) Had to grab the camera for that one too!

I, however, am drowning in boxes! We only *just* found our house on Monday (we're renting 'til we settle down, sell our house, get to know the Cities better, etc.), and we're planning to move Saturday! We'll be signing the lease the morning we move in. Talk about Under The Wire. Uff! Hope we never have to do that again! lol! It was a hairy few weeks, let me just say!

Anyway, that's the news here. I probably won't post again until after the weekend when we get the computer hooked up, etc.

Moving Stresses?

Moving is a stressful time for anyone, but I think the stress is getting to the kids most right now. There are boxes everywhere, we just got rid of the piano, our routine has been blown out the window with me scouting housing, trying to pack, do school with them, etc. Plus, they're starting to understand that they aren't going to see their friends and our family as often anymore. I've had more than my share of "first months home flashbacks" lately! lol!

Basically, I'm having a bit of trouble with the kiddos right now. Yesterday Aleksa got in more hot water than she'd been in in the last six weeks altogether it seems like. She was seeking control alllll day long. Control of her siblings, control of herself, control of her mama... Uff. It was a long day. (And she's usually the easiest!)

Liana has been doing the best, actually. She gave her best friend a necklace that she kept the match to (One said "Friends" and one said "Forever"), and she got to spend the whole afternoon at her house on Sunday as a last hurrah type of a thing. She has choked up a few times thinking of leaving her friends/family, but I think that's *exactly* what a normal little 7yo would be feeling. No acting-out; she's handling life beautifully actually.

And then there's Adam. He has been hitting every single control button he has ever found all lately, only going overtime doing so. Because of his speech difficulties, we often ask him to say something differently, or correctly. Well, this morning I asked him to say, "What did she say?" again. He came up with about 500 different ways to possibly mangle that question, refusing to even come close to how it is supposed to be. That's his way of having control. We can't force what comes out of his mouth, so that's his "weapon" of choice with us. This afternoon, he couldn't read the word "mixed." Well, he CAN read the word "mixed" but he refused to do so. He said "mixed-ed," "mix-Edd" and about a half dozen variants, all the while refusing to say the correct one. It's weird to me that he thinks it hurts me when he doesn't read/say something right. He expects me to blow up at him, I'm pretty sure. That's odd to say, but truly, if he finds that something *remotely* annoys one of us, he jumps on it.

He has a new one too. He uses this one on his sisters quite often, and now in the last month or so has started to use it on me and John. He'll declare that he hates something, or that it is bad, or that he doesn't want to do something that everyone else thinks is fun - just to be annoying. Our homeschool group went bowling a few weeks ago, which we were all looking forward to. On the way there, we had to stop at the bank quick, during which time, he pulled his sisters aside and told them he HATED bowling, and that he was going to beg me to not make him go, and that he would not bowl, etc. Well, the girls got all ruffled about it, and they started crying, etc. I called his bluff, however, and told him he was welcome to sit in the car and do schoolwork while the rest of us had fun.

Yesterday, while I was looking online at houses, he told me he HATED the one I liked and that it was gross, and that he didn't want to go there, etc. It's just his control mechanism, apparently. His way of hanging onto some thread of control over his life. Perhaps many 11yo's do this, but this "kind" of thing fits well into how he wields control over other things.

All that to say: If you are looking for older kids, are you ready for them to look for and FIND your hot-buttons? How in-control of yourself are you? (Because they will needle you hard and long to see if you'll break). The more you break, the more often they'll needle you. Adam is _SO_ good at it. I've flunked out many, many times with him, and while I don't fail as often as I used to, I have definitely been challenged. What you don't think is in your heart will come floating to the top, truly, with a child who is not fully attached to you. Are you ready for the challenge of living 24/7 with a child who is on a constant seek-and-destroy mission to wear you down and see what you're made of? Are you a rock? Or are you close enough to BECOME a rock in short order? Because you can NOT blow up at these kids. You just can't. (In fact, at this *very* minute, Adam is doing it again. He has never heard the word "minutes" he says, so he doesn't know how to say it. He sure gets an A+ for creativity in how many different ways it could be possibly said, however!)

It is a challenge to parent older kids. It is a joy, but there are challenges too. Their hurts are deep, and their fears often control them. Fear of letting someone into their life, fear of letting go what threads of power they might feel they have. Can you be stronger than our emotions and not give in when they challenge you? Can you absolutely NOT let your child rule the house like that "bad Papa at McDonalds?") If you can, you can succeed at tearing down those walls around their hearts. You will have victories, and great joys in your parenting. If you are the kind of person that lets your emotions control you, you're in for a very long haul, I'm afraid.

That said, I still wouldn't have done it any other way, and we will be looking for older kids if we ever adopt again...

Bad Papas

I have to tell you all about what happened at McDonalds the other day. We were all sitting in a booth directly across from (and almost uncomfortably close to) another one with a man and his maybe 4yo little girl. The little girl started whining horribly that she wanted more chicken nuggets, and the dad kept saying, "no." Well, she kept it up until finally the dad had enough... and he got up, said, "Ok, fine," and went and bought her what she wanted. !.

John and I shot some raised eyebrows at each other, but Liana broke our silence. She couldn't believe it either, evidently, because very bewildered-like, she said, "That papa is going to buy her chicken nuggets! She made her papa buy her chicken nuggets!" She was shocked, shocked, shocked. I asked her, "Liana, what did he just teach that little girl?" And she very wisely said, "To whine some more whenever she wants something."

"Yup."

I was sooooo proud of her!

20 Months Home!

Happy Easter, everyone!

Wow, so much has happened this last month! The biggest, most earth-shattering news is that John got a new job in Minneapolis, and we'll be moving up there as soon as possible. We're hoping to find a house in Hudson, WI, though, just across the river from the Cities. We'll see. John actually signs the contract tomorrow, (er, today, depending one when you're reading this!) He was off shootin' at some food the other day, and all of a sudden up through the ground came this job... ;O) That's almost what happened. They found him, not vice versa, so this was a sudden (and very welcomed!) surprise. We're going to hate moving away from family and friends, but well, the next chapter of the Fisher Adventure is about to start! John's first day of work is May 8th. (!). The kids are excited, but I don't think they fully understand what all of this means. Adam is ecstatic at the thought of getting a dog. Hopefully it will work out that we can buy a house instead of rent one, but I don't want to rush into anything. Wanna get what I want, if you know what I mean... But, well, probably what I want isn't quite going to happen right away anyway. (I may have mentioned my dream of a farmhouse with a few goats in the yard...) (I know, I'm weird. Guess I need to pack up and move to Ukraine!) ;O)

Anyway, that's been the major bulk of what's been going through my brain lately. It has eaten my life, as a matter of fact. (Anything ever done that to you?) Thankfully, I did the girls' Easter dresses before any of this started up, so they were set for Easter. The Boys got their matching shirts again, too. And, they wound up with enough candy to last them about three weeks. Check that. Three days tops, I'm betting. ;O) I was telling my sister that the sugar buzz was pretty serious over here today. Thankfully everyone made it (alive and whole) into their beds tonight! ;O)

At dinner this afternoon (we went to John's sister's house), the kids and their cousin were talking, and their little 3yo cousin called someone "Zina." Aleksa piped up and asked for confirmation that that's what he'd said, and then she told him, "That's what my name was in Ukraine at the orphanage when nobody got me." (Mama promptly burst into tears...) I think it hit me so hard because our Aleksa NEVER EVER EVER volunteers talk about the orphanage. She hasn't ever talked about what she remembers, or if asked, she'll say she doesn't remember anything. She doesn't talk about it. Her brother and sister talk about it all the time, and while she doesn't leave the room or appear upset, she simply doesn't contribute anything. So, her saying that really hit me. She's cognitively at the point where she's beginning to puzzle together what has happened to her, whereas before, she let it fly over her head. Anyway, I'm sure I'll choke up about that for a good long time thinking about that...

After I pulled myself together a bit, I said, "Well, Leks, somebody's got you now!" I think "orphanage" comments are really starting to hit me harder now that our heart strings are tied as tight as they are. It absolutely kills me that Leksa had to sit in an orphanage so long with "nobody getting her." And my Adam and Liana! Nobody got them either! And there are so many others in the world waiting for mamas and papas. Maybe this job change will mean the possibility of Future Fishers too... So many little ones suffering out there wondering why nobody's got them yet...

April Fool!

Last year would have been crazy of us to do so, but this year, John and I have decided to initiate the children on APRIL FOOL'S DAY! *tee-hee*

We stayed up waaaaaay too late with a skein of yarn and a buncha toilet paper. We made major webs in their rooms making walking through their rooms an obstacle course. First we Yarned the rooms, and then we tp'd everything. It was a work of art.

This morning the kids woke up not at alllll excited. ;O) They were squealing, and giggling, and asking Why we would do it, and pretty much having a blast in all their mess. We told them we didn't know what they were talkng about, and that they should be ashamed of themselves making such messes so early in the morning. *hmph* lol! Well, that got them on an instant mission to play April Fools tricks on US! They gathered as much yarn as they could get, and they are now trying to make their own webs in the kitchen, livingroom, our bedroom.... (What did we do?!!!) ;O)

Best wishes to the Westons!

Remember last year when I posted the Weston's website?


http://www.wadeandjuliaweston.com


They were the family that adopted the two teen siblings, and had to leave one girl, Katya behind because her paperwork was not in order. Well, They're on their way to get her! They have an appointment at the NAC on March 30, and they need all the prayers they can get. The NAC is going to shut down for the whole month of April according to many rumors. But, the Westons are going anyway, and hoping for the best. Please, please, pray for this family, and their Katya, who they have waited so very long for. Buckle your seatbelts folks. This trip will be tougher than the last, I'm betting.

Re: Helen Keller

I have to blog this real quick...

I was just telling John about a gal who dropped me an email today and said that she'd read my entry about the Helen Keller movie, and also said that she'd seen that movie a few years ago, and wanted to know, "is adopting really like that?" because she didn't think she could handle it if it really was.

John grinned, nodded up and down, and said, "Yes, it IS like that movie ~ for about two months. But then you get used to it, and it's ok." LOL! I busted up laughing over that one. No wonder I have a permanant twitch in my right eye!

We are just kidding, btw. It does get better.

(Usually!) ;O)

Helen Keller Movie

We watched a video the other night... it was "The Miracle Worker" with Hallie Kate Eisenberg as Helen Keller. If you haven't seen it, and are planning to adopt, RUN OUT AND GET IT. As I watched it, my heart actually started racing as I had flashbacks of when the kids first came home. Almost a panic-type of a heart-racing. I looked over at John and without me asking him, he said something like, "Yes, it reminds me of that too." The movie really illustrates what an unattached child "looks" like - especially the first days/weeks home. If I have any advice for y'all, it would be to watch this movie with your spouse, and then afterwards, talk out (at GREAT LENGTH) what YOU would do to parent such a child if he/she were in your home. How would you deal with it if your child did some of the things Helen did in the show? What lengths would you go to to make the child "well?" Helen's teacher went to great - even ENORMOUS lengths to help her. What are you willing to do?

The story has a happy ending. It was so touching, and hit home soooo hard, that John had tears dripping off his chin. I was choked up too. Our kids weren't *quite* as horrible as Helen, but when you multiply what each of our kids had times three... well, we were having Flashbacks Like Crazy at the many times we felt as overwhelmed with the strong wills of our kiddos.

Go rent it. I'm tellin' ya, you'll have a clue what those first weeks home will be like, and by making your game plan now, you'll save yourselves some Excederin. Ok, you might need some anyhow. ;O)

19 Months Home

I'm a few days late posting this. The 17th was our 19 months home mark. I've been a bit overwhelmed lately with a very full plate. It's actually really starting to get to me, but I think things are about to calm down a bit (fingers crossed!), so hopefully I'll feel more like a person soon! I took a three hour nap on Saturday to recover from last week, and I've felt lots better ever since.

A lot has happened this month!

Adam first. Seems like we're constantly pulling a "one step forward, two steps back" with him. He'll be cruising along, and then crash into the side of the road and we have to go back a little way and regroup to start again. John and I have noticed some food issues that seemed to have been quiet for a while start revving up again. We've been noticing that *every* time Adam sees that there is extra food to be had during mealtimes, he'll ask for it. Doesn't matter what it is. Could be a spoonful of peas at the bottom of a serving bowl. Could be another slice of ham. Whatever. If he sees it, he'll ask for it. He doesn't hoard or steal food though, and hasn't since he first came home. Some wounds take longer to heal than others, however. :O(

Other than the food thing, Adam has been doing pretty well! He still likes to test me to see if I'm really a) in authority over him and b) if I really love him or not. (Psssst, Adam! a) yes, I am! and b) yes, I do!)

The language thing is still his biggest issue, but he's really been doing GREAT this month! Unfortunately, the only people that really know that are me and John, because once he gets an audience, he's all show, and for some reason, shuts off the brain and starts getting silly, and he can't concentrate enough to really speak clearly and correctly. He has been speaking full paragraphs *beautifully* save for one or two words or grammar structure errors. I have more confidence in that than ever that the future is pretty bright for him regarding his speech. Couldn't always say that truthfully.

Other than that stuff, he's enjoying doing Boy Stuff. He has his tent set up in his room and has been sleeping in it quite often lately. He's got it made, really. Between his loft bed, and his tent, he's been having a ball!

Next, Liana. She's still so strong willed! I've been babysitting a bunch for John's sister's kids lately, and Liana is little-miss-mama. Until a few days ago, when the baby would come over, she was constantly reminding ME to do this, that or the other thing concerning the baby. (We had to have a chit-chat over that one). She can diaper the baby, feed the baby, rock the baby, put the baby to sleep, carry the baby around, etc. (The baby is a year old, btw). But, baby Callie has come to really love Liana too. She was following Liana around all day Friday asking Liana to pick her up.

Otherwise though, while she struggles Daily with her strong will, she does seem to be wanting to be doing what's right, and these months of constantly redirecting that "power" really do seem to be paying off. She has truly come a long way already. It's just that she's got a long way to go yet too! ;O) She's gonna be a dynamite whatever it is, that's for sure!

Liana has taken off to outerspace with her reading, and I suspect it will keep getting better and better from here on out. She has just this month discovered how much FUN reading is! YAY! Just a few nights ago, she picked up a book and read it to Aleksa on the couch, just for fun. (Trust me, this wouldn't have happened last month... either her reading would have been too choppy to keep Leksa's attention, or Liana wouldn't have wanted to do it in the first place!) It was realllllly heartwarming for this mama! :O) Adam stood over their shoulder and helped Liana out whenever she stumbled over a word (which wasn't very often), but mostly, he listened in. John and I think the whole trouble with Liana's "taking off" had to do with her will. She is a proud little girl (uff!) If she can't do something well, she doesn't want to do it, and she'll get instantly MAD at YOU if she can't do it right. That meant a rocky start at reading, since she couldn't do it right at first! But now that she KNOWS she can do it... look out world! :O)

Speaking of looking out world! Here comes Aleksa Lu! She's just blowing me away with how fast she's picking up reading. Today she read a really long story (for her - it was probably 8 lines long). She's been chomping at the bit to read "the big one" and today was the day! The other two, when they had to read this particular story a year ago, pitched Major Fits at the THOUGHT of having to read it. It's all in the attitude, I'm almost certain. Aleksa does a little cheer for herself at the end of every correct word or sentence. The other two never did. Aleksa thinks it is fun to TRY to read it, even if she's wrong and stumbles. The other two panicked. (Don't get me wrong - they did "ok" - but well, now that I have Aleksa to compare them to, I can see that they did have a harder time).

Aleksa is also little miss geographer! Our world map is on our kitchen table under the plastic table cloth (remember me mentioning that?) Well, I quiz the older two on where places are on the map every lunchtime. Well, Miss Smartie has learned these places right along with the other two. She can tell you where Ukraine, Russia, USA, China, Mongolia, India, Italy, Egypt, Greece, Kenya, the Nile River, and a few other places are! Pretty good for a 5 year old! (And pretty good for a 7 and an 11yo too, because they all know 'em!)

All three kids got baptized last Sunday! I got pretty wet myself! We "dunk" at our church as opposed to sprinkle or pour, so, as I helped them out of the baptistry, I got pretty soaked. (John sat with the congregation and video taped it). Of course, it didn't help that as I took one out, that instead of sending him/her to the changing room, I made them stay there to watch the next one get baptized too. My shoes were pretty wet with everyone's drippage. I couldn't miss it though! I wasn't about to miss 2 of my kids getting baptized because I was towelling off one! What kind of mom would have done that!? Everyone came out of the changing rooms dry except for me, because I was the only one who didn't bring a change of clothes! Anyway, it was really neat, and it sure hit home to us how far the kids have come in just a year and 7 months! Pastor said some really nice things afterwards, and it really choked me up a bit. I was glad to be hiding in the dressing room instead of sitting in the pew where I would have been all choked up in public.

I think this month, over all the recent months, has given us a clearer picture of how "life is going to be" for us. Adam's speech is indeed improving. Liana's strong will is indeed being redirected. Aleksa is indeed learning up a storm and understanding more than we give her credit for. We're getting there. But more importantly, we're enjoying the trip along the way!

Good Night Jim Bob!

Can't go to bed quite yet. My mind is full of kid-thoughts. Not really sure what I'm going to write, but I guess I just gotta post something!

Today was one of those "day in the life" kind of days. Nothing at all extraordinary happened today. In fact, if I sit back and look at the things we did today, I'd say it was rather a boring day. Know what? Strike that. It was perfect.

Aside from our Saturday trip to the library, we pretty much just stayed home and enjoyed being "us." Well, except for John (poor guy!) He's been swamped with work and extra projects lately, so he was stuck sitting at the computer all day long trying to cross things off that to-do list. He even skipped out of the library run. *gasp!* So, I guess the day wasn't completely perfect since he couldn't fully participate. :O(

Anyway, as for the rest of us, we basically just lounged around. We all seemed to gravitate toward wherever the rest of us were, so we all found ourselves in our room (where John was working), and the kids and I tickled, and snuggled, and chatted, and wrestled. Other than Liana finding one of my very few tickle spots, it was a stress-free kind of a day. It was the kind of day where I go to bed completely Knowing that I am blessed, blessed, blessed and absolutely thrilled to be a mom.

I grew up an only child. Sure, I have six siblings, but they were up and out of the house by the time I could really remember much. Whenever they came home, I loved the fact that the house made noise. I knew I'd have lots of kids when I grew up. It really was Devastation when I realized I couldn't physically have any. After a day like today I think, "OK, I've got three, this is easy, let's go get some more!" (I really need to check out some Waltons dvd's from the library... maybe that will inspire John to want to go get some more kiddos somewhere!) JUST KIDDING! Kinda. ;O) Anyway, though we only do have three kids, it definitely was a "Good night John Boy" kind of a day. Thank you, God, for my family!

Lesson Learned

Memo to Self:

Next time you get a months' worth of groceries and then decide to let the kids bring in the food as you stay outside and hand bags to them out of the trunk, think again....

1 1/2 Years Home!

Yesterday was our 1 1/2 anniversary! We celebrated by John and I going out. Ok, well, that isn't why we celebrated; we went to a Valentine Banquet. Last year when we went to this, Adam cried realllllllly hard at the thought of us leaving, and it took him a long time to stop. This year, he didn't even blink. I had almost forgotten about Adam crying, but when I told the kids that we were going out and that Uncle Jared was coming to watch them, Adam told me he wasn't scared about it this time.

Lets see.... not a whole lot to update about since last month's update. The kids are doing great! Every month they get a little better though! :O) When they get excited, you might want to stand back! They get to be little monkeys when they're wound up!

Hmmm... Adam first. His speech is still difficult for him, but he really is getting better all the time. Unfortunately, when he is remotely excited or stressed, or "put-on-the-spot" he can't speak well at all. I've noticed the last few times I've video-taped him, he got all nervous and couldn't speak well at all. Gonna have to find a way of taping him more incognito. But, really, his grammar has gotten much better, (adding those "do's" "is's", etc.) but prepositional phrases are killers for him. He'll say something like, "The toy is where the floor." Instead of "on" the floor, or "Liana is where the street" instead of "by" the street, etc.

This month, however, Adam has made enormous strides in his attachment to me. He and I have been "hanging out" more together. For instance, yesterday while the girls took a bath, Adam and I sat in the kitchen munching popcorn together and just chatted away. He's just let himself be more of my buddy lately. He hasn't challenged me like he used to, and he seems to have quit enjoying "pushing my buttons" like he did soooooo often in previous months.

He still enjoys being a good helper. He's always asking what he can to do help. Never complains about doing dishes, vacuuming, taking out garbage, etc. Never.

On the school front, math is a killer for him. Absolute killer. John is writing a program to help track his math a little better, to ensure that he is mastering things, and not just getting it one day, and then forgetting the next day (without me realizing it.)

His oral reading has improved quite a bit this month, though it is really hard to judge what is his "speech/language" problem, and what is a reading problem. His comprehension is perfect, but articulation is still difficult, and he does stutter when he reads, as he does when he speaks (though that stutter has diminished quite a bit lately).

Liana next. She's made the biggest improvements with her reading this month. I think Adam's comprehension is slightly better than hers as far as knowing what she's reading, but she's much improved over last month, and has gained a lot of confidence this month. In fact, yesterday she asked if she could read ahead a little bit in her reader. That wouldn't have happened last month, I don't think.

She's also come a long way in her behavior. She's really a sweetie. Sometimes it's hard to see how far she's come until I meet a child who is a Brat and think, "wow, that used to be Liana!" Recently, I met a child who was outspoken, selfish, rude, proud, waaaay overindulged. Her parents let her have/do/say whatever she wanted pretty much. I just thought, "wow, this could have been Liana sooo easily. Good thing we adopted her instead of this other family!" What was extra-impressive was Liana's reaction to the girl. She was quiet, well-behaved and mostly just "watched" this girl. Later she told me she didn't want to be "like that." I almost laughed since she really WAS like that not so long ago! (Minus the over-indulging parents, mind you!) She still has some residuals that need to be wiped up a bit yet, but really, Liana is a great kid already!

Then Aleksa. I can't believe this is the same girl we came home with. She's very quickly progressing with her reading, and I just plain can't believe it. I thought when we brought her home that she was going to be really challenged in her learning. She's the opposite, I think. She's catching on a million times faster than her siblings did with reading. Maybe it is because she had a whole year of English under belt that the other two didn't have though. Not sure. All I know is that she's flying through her phonics/reading lessons and begging for more. She is loving the reading I'm doing with the other two during school time. We're still reading some Little House books, and she loves to "pretend" she did the things we just read about "Laura" doing in the books, right down to pretending "Jack" is following her around.

I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but the kids each have a thinking skills book that they work on during school time. That involves seeing patterns, sorting, classifying things according to shape, color or size, etc. I think it has helped all three of them - it has become more of a "fun" time than something they "have" to do. There again, Aleksa has been cruising. She has pattern blocks, or snapping cube blocks for her book, and she really loves it and is beaming-proud of completing her pages for the day.

All three have grown a foot, and I'm sick about it. I haven't even measured them lately. They aren't allowed to get any bigger! My son is going to be as tall as I am in about six months. Liana and Aleksa can just quit their growing too. They are supposed to stay tiny forever, right?

Well, I really need to get going. The troops are up and running, and that that means Mama better get herself in gear ASAP!

Valentine Magic

Decorated Livingroom

Happy Valentine's Day! (One Day Late!) I'm pretty sure that V-Day is my favorite holiday. Well, Christmas ranks right up there too, but it is such a busy, busy, go-go-go time of the year.

I do the "12 Days of Valentine's Day" for John. Each day he gets a little treat in his lunch, or a small gift, or a note or e-card, etc. Some are "romantical," and some are practical. In other words, I've been enjoying V-Day for about two weeks now! lol!

But yesterday! Oh, what a wonderful day it was! I'm sure the kids will remember yesterday forever. It was AwEsOmE! First off, yesterday morning before the kids got up, I sprinkled Valentine candy on the floor in the kids' rooms. The girls were actually awake, but oh-so-still secretly watching me dole out the goods. As soon as I left their room, I heard the flick of their light go on, and alllllll kinds of giggles. Adam says he was "half-awake" though because his loft is so high, he didn't see me at least. It was really fun.

John made me breakfast in bed!! Can you believe it! I thought that was sooo sweet! Brought me my tea and everything! (I'm becoming a Yerba Mate freak... anyone else out there drink that stuff?)

When the kids came out of their rooms (and I came out of mine!), they all greeted me with their fingertips on their heads to make themselves into hearts. Hard to explain, but I'm pretty sure you got the picture.

After the kids did school yesterday (and boy were they diligent getting through it, since they knew what was coming later!), we went out to the storage shed, and dug through the Christmas decorations looking for our white lights. Then, we came back in, and turned our livingroom into what sooo reminded me Prom Night. We also blew up ten large red, pink and white balloons and made a big clump of them hanging from/around the ceiling fan, which is also where the lights all radiated from. (Hence, the Prom Night effect.) THEN, we cut out a gazillion red hearts, hung them from gold ribbons alllll over the livingroom. We all vacuumed, dusted, cleaned and de-cluttered, until our livingroom was fit for a King.

Before John came home, we set up a table in the middle of the livingroom, with a pretty white table cloth, three small candles and sprinkled the table with candy. We put out the "good" dishes, and then played some nice classical music (rather loudly! lol), and all of us got dressed up in our favorite fancy clothes. Liana wanted to wear her dress-up dress *sigh*, but Aleksa put on her blue satin/black velvet Christmas dress. Adam had a white shirt and tie (plus a tie tack, which he was soooo proud of!) The kids proceeded to ball-room dance all over the room. John came home to the fanciest livingroom/family in town! :O) (And he came home with roses for me from a *way* too expensive flower shop in town.) *gulp*

For supper, we had strawberry heart-shaped pancakes, which John actually finished cooking while I took turns dancing with the kids. John made sure to get some good dancing in with his girls too. We alllll loved, loved, loved every minute.

After supper, John's parents dropped by to give us all some Valentine treats, and it was fun to see their reaction to our "Valentine Atmosphere." The kids filled their pockets with cut-out hearts that they had worked so hard on this afternoon.

After the Fishers left, we took down the table, and then made a "pin the tail on the donkey" kind of a game. Except it was a big heart, and we used the little hearts that the kids had already cut out as "tails." It was so fun to watch the kids giggle at each other (and us!) as we tried to feel our way around the room to go put our hearts on the board. (Which was the cardtable leaned up against the couch, btw). Adam won two out of the three games we played, and we're pretty sure there has to be a hole in the blindfold we used that only Adam knew about!

After "Pin the Heart on the Heart," we played pick-up sticks, which is the kids' new favorite game. John is the cheater in that game. He always seems to beat us all by about 15 sticks or so. (At least that's what it seems like!) lol

At the end of the night, we laid out a blanket, and we all flopped down on the floor and talked about what Love was, and what we did during the day that was loving, and how much fun it is to do hard work if it is because you love someone, etc. We sang a few songs, and then, sadly, we had to call it a night. Such a wonderful, wonderful day! I'm SOOOOOOOOO glad we didn't just call a sitter and go out... we would have missed out on one of the most wonderful days EVER. We plan to go out on Friday, but for the official "Valentines Day," I'm so glad we made it a family day.

I tried to upload some more video onto that website the other day, and they told me I had hit my capacity. *sigh* I'll have to figure something else out. There are so many I'd love to share!

Guess it's time to take down the twinkle lights and the balloons. *sigh* I guess all good things have to end some time! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

More Videos

It took over four hours today, but I put about nine videos online today. They are from the first weeks/months home, and then some from a year later. There is one of Liana telling the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears while she is sitting on John's lap. That one is taken at one month home. Then, one year to the day later, I took another video of her telling the same story. I just put up some token "cutie" ones of Leks. I only got one of them of Adam on there so far, but fear not! I'll post more later. I don't know how many clips I'm allowed to put up there without paying, but I fully plan on using it up! (I've sure had fun going down Memory Lane listening to their little voices... it's just amazing how many changes they've made in 1 1/2 years! Enjoy! http://www.dropshots.com/ShellyFisher

Curtsy Writing Video

I caught a cute video of the kids today... Thought I'd share it...

http://www.dropshots.com/ShellyFisher

A Day in the Life

Liana asked me the other day if I would teach her how to write in Curtsy. When I was telling my dad about that later, she indignantly piped up, "Mama, I meant CURTSIES writing!" oh, ok. I have no doubt that she will have curtsy writing very soon. ;O)

Our computer recently C-R-A-S-H-E-D. Good thing my hubby is a computer guru (I didn't use the word "geek," but just between me and you...) ;o) He salvaged my pictures and documents after a few days of staying up Way Late and trying to find them and extract them, or whatever he had to do to get them. I was *very* distraught at the thought of losing my digital pics and videos from the last year. I didn't cry too hard, but you know, that's just a horrible feeling. I had many, many pics burned onto disks, but my videos weren't, and it made me rather Ill.

So, after he found them and saved them, I sat and watched video after video of the last year. I noticed that I had taken individual videos of the kids a year ago this week, and so this week, it is my mission to take videos of the kids talking about the same subjects "a year later." It's amazing to see/hear how far the kids have come in a year. I cried more than a few times listening to how much their accents have faded (Leksa no longer says things are blue-tiful *waaa*)

School has been going smoothe as silk now that the holidays are well behind us. Our morning routines have been going off without a hitch, and it really sets the tone for the rest of the day. I wake up before the kids, and if I wake them up myself, they "remember" their routine lots better than if I let them sleep til they're done. They wake up wild - completly reveling in their "freedom" otherwise. Not cool. They almost inevitably wind up in trouble over something or other... Playing too rough and hurting someone, etc. They are still at the point where they need structure and routine *badly.* I get up at 6:30, either shower then, or sometimes I shower before bedtime at night, then I have my morning quiet time/tea/computer time. John gets up at 7:00, takes his shower, gets ready, and before he leaves for work, I make his lunch. I wake the kids up either right as John leaves, or a few minutes before. Adam takes his shower, gets dressed, makes his bed, etc., while the girls get dressed and make their beds. (It takes the girls as long to get dressed and make their beds as it does for Adam to shower PLUS do all of that. They're putzers and often need reminding of what they're doing. (They're getting better, however). While everyone is getting ready, I make my own bed and get dressed, plus set the breakfast table, and then sneak in as much more computer time as I can before everyone is ready to go. About every other day, I use this time to go on a house-cleaning kick. Bathroom germies are freaky to me, so I usually clean the kids' bathroom every other day at least. Since cold/flu season have hit, we've been Lysoling the door knobs, etc. too. The kids also straighten their rooms up after they are dressed. (Those are usually just fine from the previous day's pick-up). Then breakfast. We're usually done by 9:00 or 9:30, and then start in on school.

We have school time divided into two parts. Half is the seat work, which is their language, math, handwriting workbooks, "thinking skills" books, oral reading, plus a log they keep for their Patch Club. Then the "Book Time" is our our read-alouds, science, history, lit/poetry books, etc. During their seat-work time, I like to haul out the sewing machine (when it is working!), or baking/cooking up something, or do some more cleaning or computing.

This week we've been having lots of fun reading Greek history (I confess, I'm as much as a geek as my hubby; just in different areas!) I love history/lit - we've read about the Trojan War this week, and the kids have been at the edge of their seats hearing about the soldiers hiding inside the wooden horse, and wondering if they would be able to steal Menalaus' wife back away from Paris. Yesterday we read about the Cyclops and how Odysseus got away from him. It has been fun to have the kids tell John what they learned each day.

In science this week, we've read about the difference between rockets and space shuttles, and how astronauts work in space. Fun talks about floating food as they try to eat, etc. We've also been learning about things under the sea. Today we talked about how people drill for oil under the sea. Yesterday it was about how trains can go under water in tunnels, like the train between England and France under the English Channel. Tomorrow (and every other Friday after this), Grandpa Fisher is coming to do some experiments with the kids. I and another lady from church have lassoed him into doing this for me so I don't have to think about it each week. The kids are going to love it. (Grandpa taught math and science for years and years before changing jobs).

Let's see, what else... Lunch is in there too. We usually eat it late (like 1:00 some days). We're usually all done with school by 2:30. We also have been sneaking in a 10 minute exercise routine too. We all do jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, marching, "the bicycle," etc. It's a fun time of giggling, huffing and puffing. Plus, it is a more structured time of getting the wiggles out.

Oh, I should add some of the things that help our morning go more smoothly. I try to fill the kitchen sink with hot water/soap and then when we are all done with our dishes for breakfast/lunch, we each wash our own dish. We always use paper plates for lunch. Adam sweeps after lunch, the kids alternate who wipes the table after meals, and I usually sweep before breakfast (I'm a floor-crumb phobic, but you'd never know it from looking at my floor!)

After school, we quick straighten the house again and vacuum. While the two older kids are doing all their seatwork, Leks has been playing, and usually tornado-izing her room. That gets picked up before she can play outside. Sometimes we do a little "quiet time" where they sit in their rooms with a book for 20 minutes or so, but lately that has only been on terribly wiggly and screamy days. I start supper at 4:00, or at least look to make sure I'll be done with it by the time John comes home. Sometimes I have to start earlier. I do menus for a month at a time, so there isn't any mad-scramble to figure out what is in the cupboards/freezer. Makes my life lots easier, and takes the sting out of the whole "supper-time" thing. The girls often like to help making supper, but if the weather permits, everyone likes to play outside.

John comes home by 5:30-5:45. That's the loudest time fo the day, because John walks in the door playing and wresting each of the kiddos. Lots of giggles and screaming while I cook supper. At supper, Leksa's job is to get vitamins and "fish pills" for everyone. Liana gets the napkins (I always forget those). The kids and I take turns doing dishes while John unwinds after work. I sweep the floor again, and make sure I'll feel good about waking up to "this kitchen" in the morning. (I hate waking up to a messy kitchen/livingroom). Then, bathtime for the girls, more play time with Papa, (sometimes a video), then we have a family devotion time, then the kids go to bed by 8:30 - 8:45.

We try to stick to that routine as much as possible, but once a week we go to my Dad's house in the morning to visit. I also make him/us breakfast, so I know dear old Dad is getting a hot breakfast at least once a week. Otherwise, it's the same old Rice Krispies with peaches every day for him. These are also the days that if we need to shop for him/us, go to the bank, do any other errands, etc., we can do them too. We're home by lunch, and then we just do our school in the afternoons instead of mornings/early afternoons. The days we do our "Cooking Day" at Dad's, we have distributed that days' school work through the other days that week, so we don't get behind. We only do that once every 5-6 weeks, so it's no big deal. Saturdays are our Library Days, because John likes to get a book for himself also. We also check out a video or two to watch during the week. We hardly ever just turn the tv to veg... There is way too much to do to make the Routine work, plus, it is a giant brain-drain on everyone. The kids love to watch videos, but it is just as good to play "pretend" games with each other building forts with blankets, playing in Adam's tent, or burning off some energy outside.

Not sure why I wanted to post our routine on here, but I guess I just thought maybe it would be helpful to someone, somehow, and to show how cool homeschooling can be; what great stuff you can learn right along with your kiddos, and how that structure/routine "looks" during a day in the life of a homeschool family. All the while, all our heartstrings are tightened around each other, and we have all learned to be responsible, diligent, trusting, loving, and to have all kinds of fun in the process. Someone asked me recently what I do for fun. I told her my life was my fun. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else in the wide world!

Rough Day Sunday

I've been meaning all week to blog about Sunday night. I'm still shaking my head over it.

The kids are in a "kids' club" at church that sings for the congregation like once every 6-8 weeks or so. Sunday night was The Night. So, I needed to get the kids to church a half hour before the service started at 6:00. No prob. We can be there by 5:30, no sweat. I thought. John was at choir practice already, so it was all up to me to get us there in time. Well, about 5:00, the kids were goofing around, and Liana comes out of her room and says, "Mama, I didn't do it on purpose this time." And points to her hair. More specifically, she pointed to the GUM in her hair. Gum which she had already been trying to get out. In other words, it was matted in there really badly.

Freak Out Time for Mama. I quickly slathered on the peanutbutter, and started picking it out. I am not real happy about right then, but she didn't do it on purpose, so whaddaya do? Well, there obviously wasn't time to wash her hair, so I tell her that she has to wear her hair up so her hat (it's a sailor hat which all the clubbers wear) will cover it. She would be ok as long as she left the hat on.

Got the gum out, but Liana does NOT like her hair up this way. She starts crying and wailing. And, she can't find her skirt. And when she finds it, she doesn't want to wear the tights I picked for her. So, she cries and wails some more.

My nerves are shot by then. I ordered the other two out to the car, and suddenly, I realize I have No Idea in the wide world where my car keys are. I frantically dump out my purse, peruse the kitchen, the livingroom, all my favorite "dumping points" and can't find them. I'm really panicked by then, but I did find them in a bag I'd used the day before. I'm actually perspiring by then...

So, Liana is still crying in the bathroom getting dressed. She's hating her hair and her outfit, (boy am I going to have fun with her when she really IS into that stuff!) (OY) Suddenly, Aleksa starts screaming outside. I just can't handle it. Why is nothing going right all of a sudden?! From what I could understand, she hurt her ear outside. Ok, no blood; she'll probably live. I don't give her a whole lot of sympathy, to be real honest. I'm just wanting to pull out of the driveway Right Now.

So, Liana finally comes out of the bathroom and we leave. Both girls still crying, and Adam is Ticked Off, which is a usual if his sisters are hurt or crying about something. He gets mad at me when they are upset. (Which makes me CRAZY and it sure didn't help what I was already feeling at that point!) (I DIDN'T DO IT, ADAM!)

Anyway, I don't know how we did it, but we pulled up into the church parking lot right on time. Everyone is in Quite a Mood, but we're there.

Everyone sang like angels (WhatEver!), and alls well that ends well. Right?

Ready for the icing on the cake though? I found out the next day that Aleksa's sore ear was caused from (ready for this?), she had shut the car door on her ear! HOW DID SHE DO THAT? Her ear is actually quite bruised from it! I can't even imagine how she had her head positioned *at all* or WHY it would have been positioned in such a way, or WHY she shut it on HERSELF, but sure enough, Adam saw it, and Leksa felt it. Her ear got slammed in the car door. I wouldn't have believed it, but that little ear is black and blue...

Calgon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flying Fishy!

We had a wild morning over here. Adam put his nightstand/end table/plant stand/not-sure-what-to-call-it up on end against his bedroom door and when I barged in to see what was going on, the table crashed down onto the fish tank which was on Susie's cage, and Bubbles the Fish went flying through the air. He lived. You can't kill a beta fish, evidently.

Never a dull moment over here! *groan*

17 Months Home

Boy has this been a busy winter! I have a stack of unsent Christmas cards that I have no idea what to do with. Do I send out Valentines this year, I wonder? lol! It makes me sick that I never sent them - I was lacking stamps so long, finally bought them, and then they up and changed how much it costs to send a letter! Any advice what I should do? Keep them all 'til next year? I'm feeling majorly guilty over it!

Adam has been making big strides in math. Suddenly, he's understanding math concepts (like multiplication) after just one afternoon of informally explaining it to him. He has been getting only one or two wrong on a page of math instead of him kicking and screaming to just sit down with the book open in front of him. I think he's also made some good strides in his attachment to us this month - though we did have a few rocky days in there too. He's been really good about getting right to work with his school stuff, though his very least favorite thing in the wide world is reading out loud. He can do pages of his language workbook without getting anything wrong, but oral reading is really, really hard for him. He has very little confidence, and he sounds out each letter as a crutch to "getting" the word -even the short-vowel, three-letter words. But, we continue to plug away. Adam is using better sentences now, though we are still having to remind him to say things the right way. He is just now finally using "is/do" occasionally without being reminded. He's made big strides even this month, though articulation is still tough on some sounds, (r's are killers for him), and he often rushes through words instead of sounding them out the right way - which he can do if reminded to slow down. For instance, instead of saying to his sisters, "Get out of here!" He'll often say, "Ge-yout here!" I've caught myself asking him to say "Get out of here" better... It just seemed wrong! lol! I've already talked about how girl crazy he is, so I won't go there again, but UFF, are we going to have our hands full with this guy!

Liana is really EXTRA cruising with math. She has been doing her math without getting anything wrong, and quickly memorizing her facts. As with Adam, reading aloud is tough for her, but it comes a little easier for her than Adam. It's work, so she doesn't enjoy it. She reads a lot more fluently than Adam does, however, she just really doesn't enjoy it and gets easily frustrated. I've been having her and Adam take turns reading paragraphs in their readers. It seems less intimidating to both of them to know that they won't have to read the ENTIRE page by themselves. I've also found that it is good for them to have a little peer pressure, and to be helping each other sound out words. (They both enjoy being in charge of the other, so they get a kick out of "teaching" their sibling).

Liana's articulation is getting better and better all the time, and she can finally say her "r's" well. She really has a great vocabulary and expresses herself really well. Except for a slight accent, she doesn't have any language "handicaps" except an occassional lack of a vocabulary word. (The word "blaze" was in her language book the other day, and she had no idea what it was.)

Aleksa, however, has dropped my jaw more than once this month. The little sneak has taught herself to read and is constantly sounding out words, and we're constantly hearing a *loud* Aleksa excitedly screaming whatever word she's just deciphered. She's figured out blends and everything. A few weeks ago as I was reminding Liana that "igh" said "I," Aleksa read the word "right" over her sister's shoulder. On top of that, she's also started writing down words by sounding them out. She's better at "a" vowel words, but I'm amazed that she can do it at all at this point! It really seems like she wakes up in the morning knowing stuff. The lights just either seem off or on for her, and she's flipped a TON of switches on this month. I had had no idea that she was that ready to read until she just up and started reading. (It just too bad it doesn't come as easily for the other two!) She's also been working on learning to write her numbers. She just today learned to write the 0,1,2,4 and 7. She has also been sitting in on all the science, history and read-alouds for school (her choice). For fun we've all been reading the Little House on the Prairie books, and we're almost through the second book. I had wondered how much was actually "sticking" with Aleksa, who has also been sitting in for those too. She now goes through the house with her dolly calling it "Baby Carrie," and calling Adam "Pa" and talking about the wolves and indians outside. I love that the stories we've been reading have carried over to play-time fun!

Adam's birthday was on Saturday. We have a big 11 year old now! We made him a loft bed for his birthday, which he loves, but it sure makes tuck-in time a lot more difficult! Last night John had to throw me up on his bed, and then catch me as I rolled off. It amused Adam lots, so I guess the extra effort was worth it!

In other words, things are going well for us, with a few minor struggles here and there. Not a whole lot different than the rest of the world, I guess!

Near Tragedy

On the way home from taking my dad to the doctor yesterday, a garbage truck that was just ahead of us in the other lane hit the top of his truck on the bottom of the overpass and blew the hydraulic fluid line. It instantly blew alllllllll over the highway, which included all over my windshield and windows. Couldn't see *anything* and I really had to fight for control for a few *long* seconds. There were no other cars on the road around us, or I know I would have hit them. I could hardly see where the side of the road was - Dad actually had to tell me where it was. The more I wiped the windows, the more I couldn't see. It was horrible. Especially since I had absolutely no idea what happened until after I finally pulled over and asked the garbage man what he did to me! lol! The poor guy had no cellphone and of course mine was home recharging on the dresser.... *grrrr* I got to call the cops and the guy's boss to fill them in. Firetrucks had to come and hose down the highway, and everything. Such excitement. It really could have been bad, but thankfully we had no ice, no traffic, and lots of guardian angels hanging around today.

I told Dad he needed to give me his Milky Way though, so if I got in another accident on the way home, at least I would die with a happy tummy. ;O)

Srozhdestvom Kristovym

Ya know what? It's Ukrainian Christmas Eve today! I didn't go too crazy with all the cooking for it (as Kendra pointed out on her blog, Ukrainian food is back-breaking food to make!) I found a few simple recipes, and just talked it up.

I was feeling bad about not having ordered anything from Yevshan for the kids for Ukie Christmas. (Yevshan is an *awesome* Ukrainian gift store. Do a Google search and you'll find it.) I drool over this catalog! Anyway, I'd love to pick out something from it for the kids each year, but well, you know, things just happen, and life doesn't always turn out the way we want!

Well, this afternoon the mailman brought a package from one of my blog buddies full of Ukie stuff! I just couldn't believe it! The girls each got beautiful dolls dressed in the traditional folk dresses, and Adam got a carved wooden plate with the Ukrainian crest on it (is it called a tryzub?) Anyway, all three kids L-O-V-E-D them, and it really was the icing on the cake today. Adam's plate is proudly hung on the wall, and the girls' dollies have been cuddled, spun and danced with all the rest of the day.

But! The very best thing was for me. Inside this package was a bag of sunflower seeds straight from Ukraine!!! I'm *SOOOOO* excited! Ever since our trip, I regretted not buying some sunflower seeds, and this sweetheart of a lady picked some up for me on her own trip to Ukraine! How awesome is THAT?

Anyway, it was really neat that the package came right in time for Ukrainian Christmas. I loved, loved, loved it!

Srozhdestvom Kristovym everyone!

PS OOPS, Forgot to say...

Ya know, when I was typing up the last post about the weekend, I knew I was forgetting something big, and I just now remembered what it was. Definitely blog-worthy too!

As we were packing the car to head to Grandma's, guess what we forgot? We sorta spaced out putting the kids' suitcase (the enormous duffle bag we brought with us to Ukraine!), into the car. So, when we got to Grandmas and it was time for jammies, we realized, OOPS, no clothes for the kids. Not a stitch. (Ya know, I wondered why we had so much room in our trunk! lol!) *GROAN* When we packed to come HOME from our trip over Thanksgiving, we left stuff THERE. Now we forgot things altogether. We're still rather green when it comes to packing for a family of five!

Sooo, Grandpa to the rescue! He gave us some $$ to go to GoodWill/Salvation Army/Walmart and pick up what we would need for the weekend. (Ain't he a sweetie?) We actually got some really nice stuff!

While we were at Good Will, I spyed a hot-pink formal dress with gazillions of sequins (how do you spell that, it doesn't look right!) I instantly thought of the girls - they're WAY into dress-up clothes right now. So, for just a few bucks, I bought a pure silk dress that is every little girl's DREAM. Bright, sparkly, pink, and completely hurt-your-teeth gaudy.

On the way home, I realized that the dress was actually my size. So, that got me thinkin'... Wouldn't it be funny to play a little joke on my poor hubby? Yup, I decided it would.

So, when we got back to Grandma's, I told John that I had found the *perfect* dress for the Valentine banquet at church, and I offered to try it on for him. Well, I did, and wouldn't ya know, he was very polite and whistled at me instead of wrinkling his nose and forbidding me to leave the house. The girls ooed and aahed over the pretty dress. Liana noticed though, that the back was a bit too "open" and she could see my "leefchick" strap. She was rather shocked at me and stood there holding it shut so nobody could see. (Leave it to Liana to say what she thinks!) ;O) So, I very seriously said to her, "Hmmm, well, maybe you're right Liana. Maybe I shouldn't wear this dress. What do you think?" She very gravely agreed with me. "So, maybe since I can't wear it, maybe you and your sister would have fun playing dress-up with it instead?"

Instant squeals of excitement! And John looked very visibly relieved. "You had me worried there for a minute," he said. (I'm so naughty! tee-hee!)

New Year Weekend

Well, I think I'm officially worn out. And getting *another* cold too. Christmas was wonderful this year, and I'm feeling it! lol!

We headed up north to John's grandparents' house for the New Year weekend, (Thursday-Sunday). It was the longest we've ever been away from home with the kids. I had wondered how they'd do, but they held up pretty well. By Sunday afternoon, they were ready to let some wiggles out, and had to be asked to calm down, quit yelling, etc. But, it was all basic kid stuff, I think.

One of John's cousins was there on Saturday. She is rather beautiful, and our Adam went ga-ga over her. (Which inspired a *very serious* Father-son chit-chat on the way home about how we don't touch girls we aren't married to.) Adam was touching her feet, legs, trying to hold her hand under the table, telling her she was beautiful, and pretty much giving this lady the heebie-jeebies. And I don't blame her! lol! Adam has become quite the Casanova lately, and he's Just Gotta Knock It Off. He's been asking to call girls, has written an "I love you" note to a girl from church, and pretty much has gone all girl-crazy. And it is Frightening me! lol! Adam really is a toucher, and I have no doubt that his hands are going to get himself in big trouble some day soon. Touch is really Adam's love-language, and boy does he like to cash in. He's constantly hugging and touching everyone... Me, John, grandparents, cousins, friends, strangers... I myself am *not* a touchy-type, so it even creeps ME out sometimes. He's in my body bubble a lot, and I've really been challenged to shrink that bubble down since he's come home! lol!

Anyway, the kids put on a tea party for their grandma Fisher, and great-grandparents (and the knock-out cousin too!) (You'll never guess who sat next to her...) ;O) Great-grandma got down some tea-cups and saucers which were her wedding gifts to make up for everyone (we only have four cups with the kids' set).

Adam helped the Guys bring in firewood for Great-grandpa (he burns wood in the winter), and also did quite a bit of shoveling. John and his dad shoveled the snow off the roof. I was Chief Dishwasher, and the girls pretty much just chased the dog, each other, or anyone else around. lol!

They have an absolute dream house. The set up is wonderful; nothing fancy, just very homey, but their location is perfect. It is a cozy house nestled way off the road into the woods. There are tall pines all around in their yard, but the yard isn't bordered by a fence - it is bordered by dense Northern Minnesota woods. You look out any window in their house and you'd think you were miles away from civilization. Complete privacy. The truth of the matter is that just down the highway from their house, they have a SuperWalmart. I mean just a few blocks away. Like a one minute drive. It's the best of both the city and country right in one little spot! It's wonderful. We always come home from "Grandma's" very well fed (she's an awesome Norwegian cook!), and feeling like we've been on vacation. Hard to leave, in other words.

Which brings us to our actual trip home. Everyone was a bit melancholy having to leave, and the girls were cranky. Liana was particularly bear-like. Finally, after a talking-to from Papa, she started crying. If she were 13, I'd call her hormonal - "I need to cry just because!" Well, John decided to pull over and give the girl a big hug. The next thing we knew, a woman pulled over to find out if something was wrong - (I guess she doesn't see people hugging on the side of the road very often? lol!) When John told her nothing was wrong, that his daughter just needed a hug, she tilted her head, sorta said, "awwww," smiled, and got back into her car.

Not 30 seconds after John and Liana got re-buckled and we took off again, Aleksa burst into tears too. *sigh*

He didn't pull over this time, but he did hold her hand for a few minutes. Such a sneak preview into what things will be like at the Fisher House in about 8 years when we have me, Liana at 15, and Leks at 13. That year will be such excitement for John and Adam with THREE hormonal crazies in the house! lol!

Anyway, that was the weekend in a nutshell! Happy New Year!

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!)