Odd-ball mothers

Once our school year wrapped up and we started our light work of just math and reading for the rest of the summer, the kids were thrilled to be able to go outside and play with the neighbor kids earlier in the day. That isn't the case though. Because now the neighbor kids are away at day care all day instead of off at school. Makes me sad that there aren't more moms out there who stay home with their kids, (or rather, WANT to stay home even.) It doesn't bother me when moms HAVE to work for one reason or another, but by and large I've been meeting women who think staying at home is beneath them. They have a degree! Can't waste that! They'd go crazy all day with kids! They'd be bored all day. Blah, blah, blah.

One of the neighbor ladies told me this week that she was glad she didn't have more kids because she couldn't handle the two she had, and didn't really relate to kids very well. Her own children! It made me incredibly sad.

Guess I've been feeling rather odd-ballish lately for my choice to stay home. Really wishing being June Cleaver-like were a little more in vogue. I'm definitely an odd duck around here.

Creatures in the Wall

Woke up this morning to the sounds of a Critter of some sort crawling Inside My Bedroom Wall. Freaked Me Out. I tried really hard to dismiss it, and convince myself that I was still half-asleep but when I heard something actually shake itself off, let me tell you, I was UP. I had visions of mice, or even *gulp* a Hamster scurrying around chewing wires in the walls and dying in there - or worse yet, MULTIPLYING.

I couldn't get myself down to Adam's room fast enough to check and see if Susie Cute was safe and sound in her little cage. She was. *whew* Or maybe not "whew" - at least I would know that Susie was a FRIENDLY rodent inside my wall, and not a nasty vile thing that perhaps came a-nesting because I'm not a good enough housekeeper. *waaaaah!*

So, by this time John is awake. I come back into our room and he asks, "What is that noise?" (Yikes, he heard it too! It must be really there! I had thought maybe I could pretend I was imagining things and go back to bed.) I tell him I think there is a mouse or something in the wall (we are in a rental house afterall!)

He valiantly comes to my rescue. I wonder how he's going to get the thing OUT. About right them I'm ready to pass him the sledgehammer. He decides to take a more conservative approach and instead look out the window. Our room is on the second story. He tries to look straight down, and thinks he sees something, so he takes off the screen so he can crane his head out. There is a small hooded vent of some sort just a few feet below the window. (Dryer vent?) And! We see a mama and papa BLUEBIRD (with twigs/grass in their beaks), sitting on our satellite below that. They were looking up at us wondering who we were and what we thought we were doing here. (And evidently did not appreciate us interrupting their busy morning.)

Let me just say that the thought of The Bluebirds of Happiness nesting in our vent is a MUCH better feeling than the thought of mice in the walls. Talk about opposite extremes! Nevertheless, I'm up for the day. Way too much adrenaline coursing through my veins.

Leksa fell off her bike

...and she landed on her Ear.

How did she do that? I dunno. But there isn't a scratch on her except for on her ear. She cried and cried. Hard to be a good mama when you're trying so hard to stifle a chuckle... This is the same girl who slammed her ear in the car door. Still scratching my head over that one too.

Full Circle

Things have come full circle to a point. Yesterday I was telling the kids what Independence Day was all about, and explained that one of the ways we are "independent" is that we have the right to vote for our own president. Then I asked the kids if they remember coming with us to vote. I then chuckled thinking of the first time we took them to vote - it was the Presidential election a few years ago, when the kids first came home. The kids had been *angels* waiting in line, etc., and after we left the building, Liana grumbled, "Presents, No!" Evidently she had thought she was going to be getting a Present, not a President.

Anyway, I told that story to the kids yesterday, and Liana sure laughed that she had misunderstood me. Kind of fun to be at the point where THEY are enjoying the humor of what they said/thought those first months home.

Mikhail

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

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

Major throat clearing by his mama.

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

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

Susie Found!

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

Real Moms

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

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

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

22 Months Home

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

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

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


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

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

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

Bubbles in the window

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

Bubbles in the window

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

Mother's Intuition?

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

Cool! Two birds with one stone! :O)

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

Breaking in the Neighbors...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Raising the White flag

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

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

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

White Whites?

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

Papa of the Year

John is an awesome Papa. I knew it before, but last night clinched it.

He had an impromptu made-up game for all of us. The kids were each told to write *very* short messages to both of us parents. Then, when they were done, John took the messages to me, and he helped the kids write them out with their bodies laying on the floor. So, the letter L, for example, was Adam laying straight, and Liana laying perpendicular at his feet. Get the idea? Ok, well, I had to guess the messages, and then guess who wrote each one. Both the older kids wrote "I love Mama" on theirs. Can't remember what Leks wrote. But, when it was my turn to look at the messages for John, I had them write them out with their bodies standing up. (So, the letter T would be someone standing with their arms outstretched on each side). Anyway, the older two wrote "I love Papa" on theirs, but Leksa had more of an interesting secret code. She wrote, "Big dot pit." ?. *shrugs* Not sure what she meant by "Big dot pit," but John and I sure got a chuckle out of it.

THEN, it was OUR turn to have the kids figure out what we were writing. John and I took turns writing out "ICE CREAM." (You should see John Fisher trying to act out the letter E!) ;O) They carefully had those pencils going trying to figure out the word, and when they realized it said "ICE CREAM," they all asked, "Are we getting ice cream?" And when we nodded, they all shrieked with excitement! It was better than Christmas!

One of those sweet memories I'll have forever...

Adam's scar, plus weekend odds and ends

We took a trip into The Cities today to pick up some clothes for the girls. They're growing like weeds and were in dire need of a few things. Good thing John drove. They had detours and construction and all kinds of nasty City Things. We wound up ditching our pre-printed directions altogether and just kinda winged it. Very thankful John drove. AND, we saw a Chipotle restaurant right next to the shopping area we went to. So, there's my hope that John will take me again sometime... we LOVE Chipotle! :O)

After our shopping expedition, the kids all had a water fight outside. It's super hot here, so it felt wonderful, I'm sure. John and I pretty much just vegged for the rest of the afternoon. Not a huge Memorial Day extravaganza, but it was alright.

Adam showed us a scar on his upper arm yesterday. We try not to ask about his scars - he has many - but if he offers up their stories here and there, we listen with pricked ears. This one, I had to laugh about. Evidently, he had been looking around the orphanage for his sisters, and when he found Aleksa (er, Zina), he picked her up. Well, the Little Missy didn't want to be picked up, so, she bit him. And hence the scar. And let me tell you, this is a HumDinger of a scar on his arm. Just goes to show how far Aleksa has come in these past few years. She was the Warrior Princess when we met. She even bit me *hard* on the shoulder when I put her on the potty at the apartment in Kiev on our way home. (She wanted to go potty "na ulitsa" - outside.) Yeah, RIGHT. So, I forced her on the pot, and she leaned forward and took a chunk out of my shoulder. Anyway, I had to laugh a bit looking at Adam's arm. Brought back memories for me too, as well as painted a picture in my brain of what Zina was like before she got herself a mama. ;O) (Too bad I can't bottle up into words what a sunshine girl she has become... she'd never dream of doing such a thing now!)

Oh! We met a family at church on Sunday who adopted a buncha kids. I can't WAIT to get to know these folks better. They have two absolutely beautiful older girls (like 14 and 10?) from Cambodia, a 4yo girl from Nepal, and a 2yo boy from China! They also homeschool their kiddos, so I'm anxious to compare notes, stories and share some support. I think both of our families were shocked and excited to have found each other!

Oh! And we met a Ukrainian lady yesterday too! She doesn't speak Ukrainian or Russian, but boy does she look and dress like one! Poofy hair (hope she never reads this), dressed up to the 9's, and with Adam and Liana's coloring. Also very typical Ukrainian facial features; almond-shaped brown eyes, etc.) Our kids offered to teach her Ukrainian. I thought that was cute since our kids know about 14 words! (Ok, maybe they *understand* more than that, and can pull out some vocabulary once in a while, but mostly it is gone). The kids said "Do pobachina!" to her when we left. (That's "Good bye," btw, but I have no idea how to spell it).

Anyway, that's the scoop so far. It was a pretty quiet weekend, but after all the moving fuss, we've been needing that around here lately!

Weekend update

This last weekend, we went back "home" for a farewell party that our church threw for us. Talk about emotional basketcases! One of those who wanted to wish us well wanted to share a memory he had of our Adam. I have to pass it on to you all, since I think it speaks volumes of how far the kids have come in their lives.

Last year, the kids were playing at this family's farm, and Adam reached up into a corn stalk, took down an ear of corn, detassled it, and then ate the whole thing, corn cob and all. Raw. And apparently with great gusto as well. What born and bred American boy do you know that would do that? But a boy who has known great hunger in his life considered such a find an actual feast. He does leave apple cores on his lunch plate now... most of the time. So, he isn't quite "that bad" anymore, but it sure tells a lot about how far our kids have come in their short lives.

Since this weekend, Liana has been a Monster. She is a control-seeker. She absolutely must be in charge, and has had to be reminded *CONSTANTLY* that she's only 7 and isn't the mama or papa. She loves the new house, etc., but she did not like leaving people that she loves behind, and this weekend was a reminder that she lost some thread of control over her life by having to leave everyone.

When we pulled away to come home on Sunday night, Aleksa told me that she changed her mind and wanted to stay, and that she was going to miss her friends too much. I told her that Mamas don't go anywhere without their babies, so she needed to come with. She shrugged, said, "Ok," and off we went.

Big changes are tough on little kids - and us adults too. But, well, I guess I see more positives out of this move than anything else, so I'm happy we're here.
Life in general just seems less stressful in this situation than in our last.

When John went out to call the kids in last night, he got to introduce himself to the neighbors across the street. The Mr. is in IT too, so they had lots to talk about, and he was even invited in! I was bummed though, to hear that the Mrs. and the children are going back to India for the summer starting on Sunday. John is hoping to be able to hang out with the Mr. a lot more after his family leaves. He's never seen so many programmers in his life as he has since we've moved! (John was the ONLY programmer in the office where he worked before!) Now he works with 'em, AND lives next to 'em! He's a happy boy! :O)

Oh! I keep forgetting! We got our first package of shoes on Monday! Thanks Katie, I think that was from you! We also got a brass bell this week that says "Fishers" on it... but it didn't say who it was from. So, thank you, whoever you are! It is BEAUTIFUL!

21 Months Home

21 Months home! (A few days late!) This month has been busy and eventful with the move, but it has also been one of the best months with the kids yet. The big move has drawn us all together really beautifully somehow. All the long carrides up here to look for housing, all the excitement of making our new house a "home" and having John home with us so much of the time (though he's not anymore as of Wednesday).

It has been interesting to me to hear surprise from the neighbors/new friends that the kids are from Ukraine. One neighbor just yesterday told me she never would have known! (The kids have been playing with their kids ever since we moved in, so she's had lots of chances to hear them talk). I think they have a bit of an accent yet, but probably she wasn't paying too much attention... ? She also had asked why we homeschool, and that was why I mentioned the "Ukraine thing" in the first place. She was really surprised and said they sooo good and well adjusted. *big grin from Mama*

Food is still big around here. I wish it wouldn't be horrible to pin signs on my kids asking people not to feed them! There is a self-proclaimed "Candy Man" at our new church, and we've had to ask him not to feed our kiddos. (We didn't really have the nerve to do so at our old church, but we figure we're starting over, and can do so here). Adam's attachment to us has probably been the most affected by people *everywhere* giving him treats that we don't normally give him. I don't just give candy and sugary snacks any and every time the kids are around me, and yet there are/were neighbors, folks at church, etc., that would give our kids these things just because the kids said "hello" to them. Sunday School teachers give snacks, candy, and gifts CONSTANTLY, and it makes John and I into caregivers that don't do as well of a job as these Most Wonderful People. Some would even write them notes in the mail, give gift cards, presents, etc. (Ask me how many times I've given my kids gift cards!) Anyway, that stuff has not helped our relationship along At All. It is SO hard to explain, but those of you out there with older adopted kiddos might know what I mean, and if so, I'd love for you to comment, so it can be better explained for the rest of the world reading. (Penney, Brenda, Cath, are you out there???) If anything has been "the hardest" about our older kids, this has been it.

The day before yesterday, I made apple juice for our morning juice instead of our "usual" oj/other fruit juice, and Adam told me that Grandma Fisher gave him/the rest of the kids some apple juice boxes on the way home from the airport in the car. That was 21 months ago the day they came home from Ukraine. And he still remembered the flavor of the juice. Food is definitely a very big deal. Our relationships aren't as shaky as in those first months home, but because food is still so huge to them, we do need to be careful... (And know what? Liana just asked me for about the 5th time if I've forgotten that she was hungry for her lunch, and wondered if we were going to have it today.) (And, btw, I've NEVER forgotten to fix the kids lunch in all the months we've been home. I myself have an affinity for a full tummy, and had to explain that to her just now.) I should add, though, that food is NOT an issue for Leks. Never really has been, except for the texture-thing she had when she first came home that quickly wore off.

One day this spring, Adam was playing a video game and the girls were outside. Well, they came in and asked if our neighbor could give them a cookie (or whatever it was.) I said it would be ok, and instantly, Adam dropped the video game to go with his sisters to the neighbor's house for "his cookie." (HELLO! We have cookies here!) I should have stopped everyone dead in their tracks and fed them one of our kinds of cookies, but I think I actually let them all go. *sigh* Occassionally, when Adam is feeling sorry for himself, he'll ask me to make him cookies "right now." And if I say no, he'll go sulk. (If I let him, he would anyway... I don't allow complaining unless I don't notice it right away.) The funny thing is, that he usually waits until I'm up to my elbows in something else. Like during our move, come to think of it. Half of our kitchen was packed in boxes and we were using papter plates, etc. He asked me to make him cookies. What. Ever.

Ok, off the food talk. The rest of life around here is wonderful, and the food issue is actually sooooo hard to "see" that most of the wide world looking in on our family would see absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. No squirt-guns with red ink, no soap being used up in one day, the tp is lasting as long as it should, nobody scaring Mama to death with their crazy behavior. If it never gets better than it is right now, I'd have to say that I'd still be the luckiest mama in the world!

Shoe Drive Heads-Up

Many of you have asked about the Shoe Drive this year. We are definitely going to be sending another shipment to the kids' orphanage this year, and if you would like to add to it, you are more than welcome! We were all overwhelmed last year by the generosity of so many of you. I loved the lesson for my kiddos as well as the opportunity to help out. Several families had their kids go through their own closets and sent us their own shoes... and I think that is AWESOME. (You deserve "Great Mommy" awards for encouraging your kiddos to do that!) I'm definitely not opposed to sending used shoes, so if any of you are frequent yard-salers, we'll take whatever you find, but please don't make me scrub them up! lol! (But unless the undies are Pristine, I don't really want to pass along used panties... I did find some reallllllly nice heavy-weight high-quality undies for toddlers in a 2T last summer that I found at a yard sale, and didn't think twice about sending them.) Keep in mind that these undies are going to be Really Worn.

So! I thought I'd give a heads up about it again, and give a little more specifics on what the deal is... We'll be sending the package on August 17th, which is our "Home from Ukraine" anniversary. We're sending socks, undies and shoes. Please keep in mind that the orphanage we're sending this stuff to is for little kids from about 3-8. There are a few children on either end of that age spectrum, but most of the kids are this age. BUT. These kiddos are not the size of American kiddos this age. Our Liana was 6 when we brought her home, and she was just a little size 4 in her undies. Leksa was a size 3. Adam was about a size 7 or 8. So, I'm thinking for undies, I'd love to see a bunch of sizes between 2T-7. There will be more of a need for the smaller sizes because of accidents that littler kiddos inevitably have, especially when they have giardia. If you do happen to send larger sizes, that's fine, but, there aren't many children who are actually bigger than that.

Shoes are tricky too. I'd say sizes 6-13 would be good "target" sizes, but again, I'll send whatever you pass along! They will all undoubtedly be put to good use.

Some people also sent socks. During the winter time, the kids all wear tights. That's boys too. Adam wore tights even as a 9yo. They just all wear 'em. So, if you find warm tights anywhere at a garage sale this summer (can't really buy 'em in the stores right now), they'd also be well-appreciated.

Our new address is:

885 Fraser Lane Apt. B
Hudson, WI 54016

Thank you!!!

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

Happy Mother's Day! It was a freezing day, so nobody would cooperate with smiles, so we opted for Plan B photo ops... I kinda like 'em, though, our yard/view make for great back drops for anything!

This morning the kids presented me with their gifts... Liana got me a yellow rose, Adam got me a keychain, and Aleksa got me a duck statue.
Papa came through with some red roses... (What a lucky Mama I am!) It was fun getting ready for church this morning... The kids were all scrambling to get their last minute pictures drawn for me and kept shouting in, "Don't come out yet, Mama!" Such sweetie pies I have! After church we tried to go out for dinner, but everywhere was packed, so I suggested Dairy Queen. It was fun, and the kids couldn't have been happier with thier icecream treats! (And Papa and I didn't mind them either!) lol!