Happy 10th Birthday Ingrid!

Ingrid turned 10 years old this week and is growing up so fast!  She had a great birthday and was a princess all day.  She loves to play dress-up!  When she is happy, her whole face lights up, and it makes us all smile.  She is a great joy to our family and very loving.  After a fun day at home just playing, we surprised Ingrid with a birthday dinner at Chuck E. Cheese.  All of the kids were so excited and had never seen anything like it..  Since it was her birthday, we got front row seating for her birthday show with Chuck E. Cheese and lots of tokens to play games. 

After eating lots of pizza and cake and running around playing games, we went home to open presents.  She received a Barbie pool, one of her favorites, a new playdough set, books, and a very special bunny rabbit to sleep with at night.  Happy Birthday sweet Ingrid!

Choo Choo!

The kids love putting together a train set all around their play room.  They have started making houses out of legos to set up a whole town.  They really play well together and have a lot of fun.  Our daily schedule is usually showers, breakfast, chores, school time, lunch, and then play time throughout the afternoon.

Dainis's Second Father's Day

For those who have been following our blog, thank you so much for your support and interest in all of the activities of our new family!  We are very sorry we haven't written in awhile.  Dainis had a great Father's Day, and we were all so glad to be home this time.  Last year, we were in Colombia still.  We had presents waiting for him at home, but I remember running around Bogota trying to find a Father's Day card, which were all in Spanish.  This is a picture from last year from our hotel.  The kids are growing up so fast and changed so much!  Although they look happy in this picture from last year, as we look back, there were so many challenges everyday, as the kids made the transition into their new family.  They are so loving now and a great blessing to us all.

The kids surprised Dainis with a cake that they helped pick out and three presents from each of them.  Each child got $3 to buy presents at the dollar store and they were all well thought out gifts.  He got candy, razor blades for cutting things, soap, a new hat for working outside, just to name a few.  Thank you Dainis for all you do for our family.  You are so loved!!

 

 

A Hip Hop Performance

The kids have been going to the YMCA for gymnastics over the past few months, and they love it!  The girls decided to try Hip Hop dance and go on Thursday nights.  They have really enjoyed it and was asked if they wanted to be apart of an upcoming dance recital.  There was going to be ballet and hip hop performances.  What we discovered at the last minute was the Hip Hop performance would be only our girls!  They are very shy, and we weren't sure if they would do it.  However, they hopped up on stage and did a great job!  We were so proud of them and couldn't believe they had memorized all of the steps.  Now, if we can just get them to memorize what they need to for school!  We will all look forward to the next recital.

Happy Mother's Day!

Last year, I officially celebrated my first Mother's Day in Colombia.  Although it was nice, the kids didn't understand.  They gave me pictures they had drawn, but having a mother was just too new for them.  This year was so different, and we have been blessed with very loving kids.  Although we have had lots of challenges our first year together as a family, our family bond is strong and there are lots of hugs and "I Love Yous" floating around the house everyday.  Homeschooling has been one of our biggest hurdles, for many reasons.  However, I wouldn't have the relationship I have with the kids if I hadn't!

So, this Mother's Day, Dainis took the kids to the dollar store to pick out gifts for me.  After much thought, I received a bottle of perfume and mint candy (my favorite) from Angie.  Ingrid bought me hand soap that smells likes flowers (I was out at that time), along with more chocolate candy.  Juan gave me a beautiful little purse to take to to the YMCA.  He said he didn't like the other one I was using!  He also bought me chocolate candy.  The day ended with a big bowl of chili and chocolate cake!