Perhaps Clothes Would be a Better Idea

First the backstory......

Last week X and I were at JC Penneys and I needed a backpack (which are in the same section as the luggage) While trying to decide on which backpack, X found a small orange suitcase that he fell in love with. I told him I had to talk to his dad before we got it. He cried (not a tantrum, but crying as if his heart was breaking) the entire time in Penneys, walking through the mall, while I shopped at Macy's and halfway home. And he has talked about this suitcase for the entire week. B and I decided to get it (and one for A) so that they can pull some of the luggage on vacation as well. So Tuesday night X and I (and D) run up to the mall to run an errand and get the suitcase. Turns out they were on clearance so I threw in the pink one for D as well. They couldn't wait to get home to pack them. However- their choices are interesting to say the least.

X has packed a box full of keychains from other trips we have taken, a fleece pillow, his Leapster game and he is about to try to fit a large blanket in

Meanwhile, not to be outdone, D has packed her Leapster, her pillow and 2 stuffed Elmo dolls.

What are you waiting for??? Let's Go!!!!

Needless to say, the suitcases have been repacked with actual clothing and we are off to California in the morning.

Happy Family Day K

We were at a family reunion over the weekend so I am a little late in posting this but no fireworks on July 4th can compare to meeting you last year. We arrived into Addis late on July 3rd but even going to bed at 2am didn't stop us from getting up early the next morning to await the time when we could go and meet you. At around 9am we we walked over to the care center with the other families in our group. Finally it was our turn. They brought us into a room with about 10 babies in them, all sleeping on their bellies under blankets and said "which one is she?" Your brothers were trying to decide (which was hard since we hadn't seen update pictures of you and all we could see was the back of your head) Just when they were ready to give up, I saw you in your crib. We picked you up and you seemed very confused about what was going on, but you didn't cry. We visited you often during the week until we were finally allowed to bring you back to the hotel with us- 4 days after we first met.

You have grown and changed so much. You weren't even able to sit up when we met and now you are toddling after your siblings. You have worked so hard trying to master all these new skills and you are still growing and learning everyday. We are blessed to have you as part of our family and we also remember your first family today for without them there would be no you.

Happy Family Day K- We Love You!!

Things Look Different From This Angle

So this morning started with this excitement. And surprisingly, it continued for about 45 minutes, even after falling, and tripping, and being tackled. And since it was early this morning, everyone is in their pull ups (whether they need them or not, D has a new thing about being a "baby" but that's a whole other subject) and of course pants-less. K has an excuse- her pants are too long and she kept tripping on them. I am not sure what everyone else's excuse is.

Test Time

A tested for his first belt in Kung Fu last week. He did awesome!! He was the only kid in his class who completed the test individually and he went first and had no idea what to expect (and for a kid with Asperger's that in and of itself is a huge accomplishment) The Master running the test called his name, and almost immediately after his bow Sifu Max (his teacher) grabbed him from behind for the first self defense move. A didn't even hesitate and got out from the grab. So now he is a (kids) yellow belt and he can't wait till he can test again. He wants Sifu Max to teach the new forms faster so they can test sooner.

Is It Possible to Upstage God??

Cause D sure tried during her baptism. She was quite the comedian and several people have come to me while I have been out in stores, the YMCA, the library to tell me how cute they were.

However, I did catch D trying to baptize K using our water cooler in the kitchen.....

Because They Aren't Dramatic Enough

I pay for them to take drama lessons. These are their spring productions. A is the spider in James and the Giant Peach and X is the Prince in the Princess and the Pea. X was a shoo in for the role as he is the only boy in the class (which is becoming a theme with him)

You Don't Have To Go Home but You Can't Stay Here

So normally the ducks leave once the pool is less pond like and more pool like but...

We come home from an art show having promised the kids that if they stopped whining about how hot it was at the art show they could go swimming when we got home. They are in their suits within 30 seconds of walking in the door and are headed out (with the dogs) when we notice there is a duck in the pool. No biggie, they usually fly away when the door opens but then we see she is not alone. Eight very cute ducklings are swimming behind her as if they own the place. After about 10 minutes we realize they are quite comfortable and aren't planning to leave on their own anytime soon so B goes out to "encourage" them to leave. Of course, the ducklings, who had no trouble getting into the pool, are too small to get out of the pool. So B makes a step and a ramp and eventually out they go, only to walk to the outside of the pool fence and get comfy in the bushes WHERE THE DOGS CAN GET THEM. Now I can't think of much I would like to deal with less than one of those ducklings becoming part of the food chain in front of my kids. So we try to wait out the ducks. After about 30 minutes A comes in and says "you can let the dogs out, Dad says the ducks are gone from the bushes" I look out the door- the ducks are gone from the bushes because they are back in the pool!! So the whole "encourage them to leave" starts over and they leave the pool and go right back to the bush (ducks are not the smartest animal in the world) B decides it's time to really encourage them to leave so he gets Nevada (65 lbs) on the leash and out they go to motivate momma duck to take her babies elsewhere. Momma duck sees the dog coming and pretends to be injured flapping and flailing so that the dog follows her. Meanwhile the ducklings all run back into the pool. Finally though B did shoo them into our neighbors yard and they haven't been back since.