Easter

We had a great Easter weekend and the kids had a ball. We went to our neighborhood Easter Egg hunt...which only took about 10 minutes for all the eggs to be collected. Unfortunatly Lucas and Emma were separated into different areas because of their ages so we were only able to take pictures of one...and since it was Emma's first Easter egg hunt...she got all the pictures. They had a great time!

We colored eggs on Saturday afternoon (an annual event that is even more fun with two) and Emma really enjoyed getting creative. As a result, I am sick to death of eggs and I do not want to eat any for a REALLY long time:)...

Easter Morning, Lucas and Emma woke up excited to see what the Easter Bunny brought them. They searched high and low for their baskets. The "Easter Bunny" hid them behind the curtains in the dining room and it took them a while to find them. Of course, this is nothing new in our house...if it isn't in plain sight...no one can find anything...including Chris!! Unfortunately Lucas became quite sick throughout the day and he didn't even eat any of his treats. Oh well...more for mama!!

We had another parent/teacher conference with Emma's teacher last week and she continues to be doing very well. We asked the question "Is she going to pass to first grade" and her teacher responded "absolutely!". She told us that she is so attentive and she sometimes explains the teachers instructions to some of the other kids. Not bad for a kid who didn't understand English 6 months ago!! We are so proud of her. Now...if she would just stop writing her name on everything...closet door, carpet, bedskirt, walls, tables...

Lisa

6 Months Home

Lucas Graduation photo: Pre K

Emma school photo: Kindergarten

Taking the truck for a ride

Lucas and Emma Playing at their favorite park

It's hard to believe that we have been home for 6 months with Emma. She has come so far in such a short amount of time. Last weekend she pulled her "homework" out of her backpack and told me she needed to read her books. With her on my lap I was settling in to read one of the books to her, with her pointing out the sight words that we have practiced. Apparently my reading expertise was not necessary as she proceeded to read the whole book herself! I was in shock!! It was a short book with simple language but when she read "rectangle" I almost fell off the chair! How is it possible that this little girl, who didn't speak a word of English 6 months ago (and she couldn't read Russian either), learn to read a whole book? I certainly couldn't read in Kindergarten. I am so proud of her...my admiration for her just keeps growing.

Lucas has been having some problems at school with one of his little friends. Every day he comes home crushed because this little girl "isn't very nice" to him. Nothing too serious... just typical kid stuff...he just tends to take things to heart. Anyway, after discussing with him ways for him to deal with it, Emma comes over to me, puts her hand on mine and whispers "It's ok Mama...I'll take care of Luka". It is amazing how she sees her brother hurting and she has taken the roll of "big sister" very seriously. I imagine she will "take care" of him for many years to come. She is small....but she is mighty! I have no doubt that she will protect him, as I am certain she "protected" the smaller kids at the orphanage. It is her nature. Such strength wrapped in a package of pure kindness is truly humbling to see. I don't know that Lucas will truly understand how blessed he is to have Emma as his big sister until he is much older.

There isn't anything else going on. Life has settled into a pleasant routine with daily reminders of our many blessings. I pray that those families that are in Ukraine right now find their pleasant routines as well.

Lisa

Life is Good

I'm sorry I haven't updated recently. I've been pretty busy lately and I realized I haven't even taken any recent photos. Sooo...I thought I'd take a video of one of our favorite Tuesday/Wednesday night pastime. Lucas absolutely LOVES American Idol and we have had to endure months of "When is the singer show coming on??". Now that a new season is upon us I wanted to share a bit of our weekly ritual. While watching AI we each take turns during the commercial break to perform. We typically make up a name, age and a song in which we perform for the "judges". Since this has been the first round of competition, each of us performs and gets a "yes" or "no" from the judges. "Yes" means "Your goin to Hollywood!!!!". Tonight I took a video of Lucas and Emma performing. I've spared you any piece of the hideous performances by Chris and I...because...well...I have too much pride and posting a video of us butchering "You light up my life" on the internet is just more than I am willing to share. But I have absolutely no problem exploiting my children's "talents". I hope you enjoy!

We have been keeping pretty busy lately and things are going really well. Emma continues to flourish and we are so proud of how well she is adapting. While picking her up from school one day last week, Emma's teacher said to Chris "Emma has made my year!! She's my little sponge. I love her enthusiasm". She loves going to school and her reading and writing is improving weekly.

Lucas also continues to bond with his sister. They are two peas in a pod and only occasionally want to throttle each other. The other night at dinner while having yet another conversation about how unfair it is that I am the boss and they don't EVER get to be the boss, I told Lucas that he could be the boss when he is grown with children of his own. I tried to impress upon him that he can boss his children around all he wants. He stated emphatically "I'm not having kids!". I said that that is fine but that he might change his mind someday. He took a few moments to think about this and then he said "Ok...but you'll have to go with me". I answered confused "what do you mean?". He said "When I go to Mycraine to get my kids, you'll have to go with me...cause I'm not gonna go alone!". After recovering from my laughter, I instructed him that not all people go to Ukraine to "get their kids" but if that's what he wanted, I'd be more than happy to go with him. The conversation moved in the direction of how people go about "getting children"...but I won't bore you with those details.

Emma is starting to talk more and more about her life at the orphanage, now that she has a better understanding of the English language. It is heartwrenching to hear some of her revelations. We try hard to reinforce that she is a forever member of our family and when I say "You know you're not going back right"...her face lights up with a beautiful smile and she sighs contentedly and says "Yes". (of course Lucas teases her with "tomorrow we're taking Emma back to the orphanage"...but she usually responds with "well then we're taking Lucas back toooooo...na na na na na na...."). I asked her what she likes most about her new life here and she answered "I get lots of hugs and kisses". She does indeed!!!!

Well, I promise to be better about updating more frequently. Please feel free to continue to make comments (just click the comments section). Lucas and Emma love to have me read them over and over again.

Lisa

Christmas

Emma's first Christmas present! (from Poppy)

Daddy and Lucas reading a new book

Christmas Eve at Aunt Tracey's

Cookies and milk for Santa

Look! Chris got a train set...disguised as a gift for Lucas!

Enjoying the loot!

Christmas has come and gone but we are left with sweet memories of our first Christmas as a family of four. We spent Christmas Eve at Chris's sister's house (Tracey) and the kids had a great time playing with their cousins and eating great food. As usual, aunt Tracey spoiled all the kids immensely. The living room looked like a battlefield with all the cast aside wrapping paper strewn about. Emma was a little slow in getting the hang of opening the presents but once I showed her that she could just rip it off she soon caught up to her very experienced brother. We all had a great time and they both fell asleep on the hour drive home. Once home, they quickly dressed in their new pajamas and set out the cookies and milk for Santa. They immediately headed to bed and I imagine dreamt of sugar plumbs and whatever else kids are supposed to dream about on Christmas eve.




Christmas morning they got up at 6:15 and we told them they needed to wait to get up until it was light outside. Well, they were so excited that they of course couldn't go back to sleep so we got up soon afterwards. Since it was still dark outside, we decided to eat first because we always video tape the opening of the presents and we wanted there to be enough light. Well that's the excuse we used anyway. Perhaps we are just plain mean and can't help ourselves...haha. They ate breakfast quickly and were jumping up and down in anticipation of opening their treasures. Once we got settled beside the tree we had a wonderful time opening each gift and Chris and I feigned excitement/surprise for every gift that Santa brought. It was so much fun! We spent the rest of the day putting together toys and playing with each and every one. We had a honey baked ham in the afternoon and friends of ours came to visit for a few hours in the evening. We were exhausted by the end to say the least.

I hope you all had a joyous Christmas as well! I will post an update in a few days about New Year's Eve.


Lisa

Santa dancin...

We received one of those blow up Santa's as a gift and we took him out for a spin in the livingroom...

Christmas is on its way...

Galveston Beach

Looking at "beached" jellyfish

Family Christmas photo

Silly family photo

Too Cute for words!

I can't believe it is only 2 weeks until Christmas!! Time is flying by. Things are still going extremely well and Emma is getting really excited about Christmas. I think Chris and I may be even more excited than the kids! We can't wait for Christmas morning. Chris bought a "Polar Express" train set for Lucas and he is busy mounting the tracks to a board and adding Astro turf, trees, and other cool things to make it a dream come true for Lucas. He loves trains and he is going to go nuts when he sees it!! Of course the train set is "officially" for Lucas but I suspect that it is just as much for Chris. He never had a train set growing up so he's living out his fantasy under the guise of a Christmas gift for his son:). I can't really blame him...the dollhouse Emma is getting is really a 38 year old wish fulfilled for her mama!!

We spent the weekend at the beach recently with my girlfriends. The kids had a great time walking on the beach and looking at the hundreds of jellyfish washed ashore by the tide. It was so nice to relax and spend time with good friends. Thanks Ya Ya's!!!

We took our annual family Christmas photos in front of our tree, for our Christmas cards. As in years passed, it took approximately 30 photos to come up with a few that all of us are smiling in. I am a perfectionist so I'm always wanting "just one more" to capture the perfect photo. I had to bribe the kids with "just 2 more shots then we can take a silly one". I've attached the results of our silly poses.

Emma is continuing to adjust well with no major issues. She's lost 3 teeth since we brought her home (one today) and she is really liking the whole tooth fairy thing. She looks so cute smiling with a missing front tooth.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!

L,C,L &E

Update

Sweeping the leaves

At the zoo

Halloween

Pillow fight at the Renaissance festival (we went again)

Hello everyone,



We've had a busy month since the last time I posted. We had our first parent teacher conference with Emma's teacher and her ESL instuctor. She is doing fantastic in school and she is progressing so fast, it has our heads spinning. She is able to read simple words by sounding them out phonetically. We just keep shaking our heads at how easily she is understanding letter sounds and their uses in words. She is speaking very well, although she's like a minah (sp?) bird...mimics everything that is said. She also is able to rhyme really well and she frequently will not only sound out a word....but say 4 or 5 words that rhyme with it. She also seems to have the same ability as her mama in learning the words of songs. Picture her singing from the backseat of the car..."Burns, Burns, Burns...the ring of fire...". Yep...she's singing Johnny Cash!!!! I can't help but laugh everytime I hear her. Another favorite it "We will, we will...Rock you!". I'm afraid she also has the same terrible singing voice that plagues her mother...sigh. Oh well, at least we try.



Halloween was a big hit. Emma was dressed as Cinderella and Lucas was Anakin Skywalker. Lucas filled Emma in on what to do to "get candy" so Emma was hooked immediately. It was so fun to watch them both run up to each house to collect their scrumptious treats. Emma really wanted to do it again the next night and she got pretty pouty when we said she'd have to wait another year. She doesn't really understand what a year is yet but she realized it was a long time away.



The other day they were both playing at the park (3 houses down from our house) while I sat in the driveway and read a book (I could see them). After about an hour, they came home and announced that there were too many leaves in our front yard and asked if they could sweep them up. Before answering, I looked at them and thought "what planet are you from?" and they whined "Puleeeeeez!!"...as if it would be a punishment if I said no. Seriously, they must be from an alternate universe where children enjoy cleaning. Not that I'm complaining mind you. Although it was a little embarrasing sitting reading my book while my little aliens swept the driveway. Hey....I didn't want to sweep! For me it would have been a punishment!



Today was Emma's first Thanksgiving and all week she has been so excited to eat turkey and "punkin" pie. She kept saying (while rubbing her stomach) "I love punkin pie". I just laughed because she's never actually tasted pumpkin pie. I was worried that the anticipation would be much better than the actual experience, especially since she is such a picky eater. We went to Chris's sisters house and enjoyed the usual fare, in which Emma ate more than she has ever eaten....and she did like the pumpkin pie. We really have so much to be thankful for this year (as we do every year) and it was so nice to just be thankful and not longing for the missing part of our family. I've been so grateful every year for Lucas, and loved the years we had with him alone. We never stopped believing we were also meant to have a daughter and Emma was always there in our hearts waiting for us. We had her name picked out even before she was born...before Lucas. She has completed our family, and enriched all of our lives in ways we are just beginning to discover. Both of our children are treasures...even if they are from another planet.



My thoughts and prayers are with the several families in Ukraine right now (I'm following their blogs religiously) making their dreams come true. I love joining in your journeys to bring your children home. Ukraine is a wonderful country and I am so grateful that they are entrusting their precious children to all of us. If only everone could experience the joy that these amazing children bring into our lives. To all of you waiting...soon you will join the exclusive club of Ukie parents, which brings with it unimaginable gifts. Soon you will be a foreign land, frozen upon her landscapes but warm within her heart. Respect her for her strength and history and thank her for her generosity. She is our children's heritage. ...and she will always be remembered.



Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!



L,C,L & E