We began this blog when we started our adoption journey to Colombia to adopt a sibling group of children.  As we are now celebrating our second Christmas together as a family, we started a new blog.  It is at www.ourkidsfromcolombia.blogspot.com.  Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, and support over the past two years.  We hope you will continue to follow our family!

A Special Night Out

Every year, our church has a special dinner theatre.  This year's title was called "A Christmas Post."  We are blessed with many talented people in our church.  The kids had a great time and got all dressed up for the special night.  This was the second year we have gone as a family, and here are our pictures from last year and this year.  It is a lot of fun to look back and think about what our life was like as a new family a year ago.  We will look forward to seeing what our life will look like during the holiday season of 2013.

So Many Changes

Every year, we want to go and have a family portrait made.  The kids aren't very excited about always taking pictures, but we keep telling them that one day they will be thankful they have them.  Each picture represents a memory we won't be able to get back.  It is amazing how much the kids are growing.  Angie has definitely taken a growth spurt and will be taller than Lori before we know it!  Here are their pictures from last year and then this year.

 

 

A Visit with Santa.

The kids went to the mall for a visit with Santa.  We don't go to the mall often so it was a new excursion for the kids.  Although they enjoyed seeing Santa and the Christmas decorations, the highlight of the trip was walking through the Disney store and playing at the lego store.  The next time we have a free evening, we will have to go back again.

It Is Time To Decorate for Christmas!

We always start decorating our house for Christmas on the day after Thanksgiving.  The kids were excited and a big help, and they loved helping with everything.  Angie helped Dainis carry and place everything in the yard. Her job was also to put the branches on the Christmas tree.  Ingrid helped Lori put up all the garland and bows around the outside of the house.  Juan had a great time using a hammer to stake all of the reindeer down.  Ingrid and Juan had the big job of sorting through all of the tree branches and carrying them to Angie.  Everyone helped with the ornaments, and we only broke two this year!  When the kids are home, they always want the Christmas tree lights on, and the Christmas carols playing.

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a very nice Thanksgiving, and the kids loved everything this year.  They are so much more open now to trying different foods and like almost everything, except celery!  Now that they knew what was involved, the idea of stuffing the turkey was not very exciting.  So, they watched, and we stuffed!  As we celebrated our second Thanksgiving together, our challenges have become less, and the kids continue to adjust to their new life in our family.   We have a lot to be thankful for as we begin our second holiday season together.

 

Where has the time gone?

Time has just flown by since the kids started school.  I thought I would have more time, but I think it is even busier now!  Although none of us like getting up at 5:45 to get ready for school, the kids really like it, and it was a good choice for our family.  The work is hard for them since they are behind, so we have extra work to do each night.  We are very proud of them for the progress they have made.

The kids enjoyed Halloween more this year than last year because they knew what to expect.  We went to the same pumpkin patch as last year, so everyone could choose their own pumpkin.  They were much more selective this year and tried to find the best round ones for carving!  Although the pumpkin seeds were just as slimy, the kids new it would be worth it when they had roasted pumpkin seeds to eat.

 

 

 

 

 

Our church has a special Fall Festival on Halloween night for our communit each year.  It is a great option instead of trick or treating.  The kids dressed-up like pirates and had a good time.  We have lots of candy to eat now!

It Has Been Two Weeks!

 

It is hard to believe the kids have now been in school for two weeks.  The time is just flying by!  Except for getting up very early every morning, this has been a nice change for us all.  The kids really like their teachers and are making new friends.  Our conversations at dinner are now about what did you do in reading and math today, what was your favorite activity today, who ate what for lunch, and who misbehaved and got their name on the board.  So far, the teachers have just been reviewing, so all of the material is very easy for the kids.  We will see as time progresses how they do and if we chose the right grade for them.  So, our afternoons include a snack, shower, homework, dinner, books, and off to bed.  I am still working with the kids on handwriting, Spanish, computer, and reading in the afternoon, since they don't have much homework yet.  I am learning that one of the hardest things about sending them to school is not having control over their learning and understanding all the material they are being taught.  So, we will continue to work hard at school and at home.  We are very proud of them, and they have done a great job embracing this new school and jumping in with a great and happy attitude.

Their New Classrooms

Everything about school in America is brand new for the kids.  In Colombia, the kids had desks to sit in at school, but it was first come first serve.  No one had their own.  If you didn't get one, you just sat in the back of the room.  School consisted of a lot of copy work from the teacher and the blackboard.  They were never called on to answer questions, take tests, or have a need for critical thinking skills.  They only went to school until lunch everyday  We really like all of the kids' teachers and really glad we made the decision to enroll the kids in this school.  The kids were so excited about their desks that have their own name on it and a place for all of their supplies.  This school bases a lot of their teaching with music and positive instruction.  They have very high expectations and want to instill a love of learning at the same time.  So, a lot of the skills the kids are taught, especially math, are set to music.  The teachers are all very up beat, and everyone is excited for another school year.

Painting Once Again

Although the kids are growing up (too fast!), they still like all of the simple things we did together when they first got home.  Playing with play dough, Wiki Stix, and painting on their easel are just a few of those things.  The only difference is that these fun activities have to wait for the weekend now.  Our afternoons now consist of homework, dinner, and bed.  We did paint recently, and the way the kids think now is so different, and it shows the progress we have made.  Rather than just picking up the brush and starting to paint, they really things things through.  Before we stopped schooling, the kids were doing creative writing at school everyday.  We taught them that they first need to start with characters and a setting, then a problem, and then a solution.  I had the kids think about that before they painted.  If they were to write a story, what would that look like on paper. 

Juan loves sea creatures and dinosaurs, so he wanted to illustrate what it would be like if you were driving over a bridge and could see fish in the water on a beautiful sunny day.

Angie loves animals, especially cats.  So, her story takes place on a farm near the barn.

Ingrid loved the beach when we went on vacation earlier this year.  So, like Juan, she focused her story on water as her setting.  In her picture, there were baby seagulls in a nest and a Mommy seagull nearby in the water.  The Daddy seagull is flying in the sky to make sure his wife and babies are safe, while he looked for some food to bring back to them.

We are proud of them for all they have learned!  Throgh all of the daily challenges we faced, the kids have made so much progress.

Driving the Kids to School

So far, the kids are doing really well at school.  It is long days compared to schooling at home, but they like it.  They are making lots of new friends.  The kids' school is only five minutes from our house, which is perfect.  The valet drop-off and pick-up is working great.  This is wonderful for me because I know the kids are with their teacher before I leave, and I don't have to park and walk them into school.  That would be a lot harder!  The first thing the kids do, in the morning, is meet in the cafeteria to sing some songs and say the Pledge of Allegiance together at 7:55.  They then go with their teachers to their class and get started with the day.  Getting up at 5:30, having a quick bowl of cereal, and leaving for school is a lot more challenging than breakfast this past year of homeschooling.  It was much easier to get up at 8:00, have a more relaxed breakfast, and home school on our own schedule.  This is the part the kids don't like!  With that being said, the kids needed to be in a different environment for school this year.  Also, there are a lot less behavioral issues first thing in the morning because the kids are focused on getting ready, doing chores, eating breakfast, and getting out the door on time.  There is no time to play and get upset with each other.  This also means there is no time, so far, for me to get upset first thing in the morning!  Juan is dismissed at 2:00 and the girls at 2:30.  So, Juan has a snack while he waits for Ingrid and Angie.  They all meet together on a special bench at the end of the day.  I have a sign in my window to pick-up the kids and their teachers bring the kids back to me. Here is a picture of the kids with their sign.  Then, it is off to home to start our homework!

And They Are Off!

The kids left for school this morning, and the house is very quiet!  They were nervous but excited.  We are all anxious to hear about their first day, when they come home.  I drop them off at school every morning, and it worked out great today.  When you drive up to the school, they have it set up just like a normal valet.  When I drove up this morning, the teachers were waiting.  They opened the doors, said "Good Morning", the kids jumped out, the teacher shut all my doors, and said "Have a good day."  And I was off to go back home.  School starts at 7:55, so we planned on leaving around 7:30.  Everyone got up early to make sure we were ready.  At 6:30, the kids were already finishing breakfast and ready to brush their teeth! 

It is a big change for us all to have breakfast ready and lunches made and ready to go, first thing in the morning.  Dinner and bedtime will be a lot earlier now too.  It was a great decision though for them to go to school.  I am excited to be Mom not their teacher.  We are proud of what they have accomplished over the last year and know they will do well.  So, we are off to another new adventure with the kids!

 

 

Getting Ready For School!

Our kids went yesterday to meet their teachers, find their desks, and drop off their supplies.  Their lunch boxes are out and ready for Monday, their backpacks are all packed up, and their uniforms are ready to go.  They can wear navy shorts, navy, red, and plaid scooters, and red, navy, or light blue polo shirts.  They are very excited, and Monday will be the big day.  We will post first day of school pictures then.

 

 

Over the past year, the kids have belonged to a homeschool group at our church.  We have met most Fridays and have loved it.  It has given me the chance to talk to other Moms and for the kids to make new friends.  We will miss going and know all of our playdates will now have to be planned for the weekend.  Recently, it was a show and tell day.  The kids decided to make a poster of pictures of their time in Colombia when we became a family and then since we have been home.  It was their first time to make a presentation, and they were so nervous.  They did well though, and it was good practice for the projects and presentations they will be doing this school year.

 

 

A New School

After home schooling for a year, we have decided to enroll the kids in a charter school for this upcoming school year.  In many ways, it has been wonderful to have the kids home this first year to grow and bond as a family, and we are so glad we chose to homeschool.  There have been a lot of stresses and challenges too though by going this route.  The kids came to us with little school and have not understood the expectations we have for their education.  After much research, we have found a charter school only four minutes from our house.  We are excited for the kids to be around their peers in a school environment, as they learn and understand more about what school in America is like.  We hope that with the combination of watching other kids learn and working with other teachers besides ourselves, it will offer a very positive educational experience.  The kids are excited and will go and meet their teachers, see their classroom, and find their desks on Friday.

Our Son's 8th Birthday!

Juan turned eight years old on Friday, and it is hard to believe he is growing up so fast.  Like Ingrid, he wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday.  Everyone in our family gets to pick out a sugar cereal for their birthday breakfast.  Juan chose Fruit Loops with marshmellows.  He enjoyed a healthy breakfast of sugar cereal and chocolate milk, a hamburger and play time at Burger King for lunch, and pizza  for dinner.  The kids play with friends at a homeschool group at our church on Friday, so Juan helped make cupcakes for everyone. 

 

 

 He also knew exactly what he wanted for his special day.  Although he received other special gifts, he asked for a transformer and a cake with sea creaters on it.  The highlight of the cake for Juan was the star fish in the middle of the cake.  Although he is growing up, the simple things are the ones that matter the most.  Juan is very small and young for his age.  He will be the first to jump in our lap and can never get enough hugs.  Above any frustrations we may have throughout a day, we treasure and hold on to these special moments. 

 

Our First Anniversary of Being Home

We celebrated our one year anniversary of coming home from Colombia this week.  These pictures are of the kids at the airport and when they first got home.  Grandma and Grandpa greeted the kids at the airport with their own big teddy bear holding the American flag.  They still sleep with their teddy bears everynight!  When we reflect on the past year, we have come so far in our bonding and relationship with the kids.  As compared to our time in Colombia, there is an abundance of hugs and I Love You everyday.  Everyone told us when we were in Colombia that we would be a closer family when we got settled in at home, and they were right.

 

 

Swim Team!

The kids were on a swim team at the YMCA this summer and really liked it.  They had swimming lessons last year when we got home, and it was the first time they had been in a pool.  They love the water!  The kids swam four days a week for an hour each day with the swim team and really improved.  They can now all safely swim without their life jackets.  The YMCA has a non-competitive swim team that practices twice a week that we hope to look into this fall.

Our Re-Adoption in Arizona

Our kids were officially adopted in Colombia.  However, many families who adopt internationally go through a re-adoption process here in the United States.  This allows the kids to get a birth certificate registered in AZ.  Right now, we have birth certificates for the kids in Spanish and translated to English that were issued in Colombia.  If they ever want additional copies, they would have to write to Colombia to get them.  The process was very easy, and we were with the judge for only a few minutes.  The process was so much easier here at home!  We would encourage anyone who is adopting internationally to go through this process.