The winter storm that was......

Teacher Conference

So, apparently we have the cutest, sweetest, happiest child in the world. (of course!) He makes everyone happier....He is never in a bad mood. (umm, no, he saves that for mom) He makes it fun to teach because he loves to learn everything. (but that curiosity can be used for evil also! lol!). So on, and on we discussed and ended up crying because they wanted to know some details of his adoption journey. Needless to say, I love his teachers. But, I still don't know what to do about Kindergarten. They said he would probably do fine to wait or to go. They felt they couldn't really push one way or the other. He does really well with the things he "wants" to do, the concern would be that if he doesn't like or want to do some things that in K you have to do, he would be a problem. Now, we can't predict this especially because we have 7 more months until school would start. He could jump in activity at any minute. I talked to them about how I was concerned that if he stayed with the much younger ones that he would not be pushed to act appropriately by "peer" pressure or imitation. They agreed and said they really thought he would be OK if he went on. They said usually the fear is later in middle school or even high school some parents regret sending the "boys" on. They said no parent has ever said we regret holding him back but many have regretted sending them a tad early. (which Nick will not be) I think it is a teacher mantra....a good one but a hard one when the child is so on the line. I think we will definitely register him for public school (he already attends speech there) kindergarten and continue to look around at the other programs....transitional K, half-day K and full day K while doing alot of praying.


IKEA

We had our first Ikea experience this weekend in another short winter storm. The roads were fine but it was like a blizzard up in Cinci. We met our friends, Mrs. Dana and Emma at the riverfront shopping area and ate at Johnny Rockets...not impressed based on the price of the hamburger. Steak and Shake much much better. But, I digress, Nick continues his hat obsession and will wear any other hat over the "star" hat. Emma and Nick were fascinated with the "jukebox" .....I hope it still works.






We arrived at Ikea and wow, big place. The kids went to the childcare center (woo,hoo) but then we only had an hour before we had to pick them up. An hour? in this place? So we basically did reconnaissance for bookshelves and organizers for the toys and left with only 3 dollars out of our pocket (a blue elephant and snack bowls)......nobody told us about the food....good thing! It could have been a sugarfest from what I have heard.


SNOW DAY?

The schools have been off all week. Monday was a mystery day. Roads good, weather moderate....maybe they were just anxious for the "storm of the century".....we have pretty dramatic weather guys around here. Regardless, we got to play with our friend Riley since he was out of school. They are both turning 5 in Feb and Nick went to school with Riley last year. They play so well together. We stood at the bottom of the stairs and listened to them talking at one point. Priceless. They sounded so grown up. They both have great imaginations. They had their Handy Manny tool boxes working overtime. Apparently plumbing may be in Nick's future...hey, they make alot more than most entry level jobs for college educated newbies. I say plunge away.





THE STORM!

My Snowbird in-laws in Florida requested "storm of the century" pics so here they are.....I know you wish you were here don't ya!


Nick the plowboy......with the ice layer underneath, the "plow" actually worked pretty well! ;)






I think our 2003 ice storm (the real storm of the century) must have pruned up our trees well because we didn't lose too many limbs in the front.....the back not so lucky. You can usually see up the street quite well but the limbs were hanging so low that it was like a winter wonderland....eerie and beautiful.




It was hard to get the right angle on the next pic. Pat was trying to get my car out from under all the stuff and had started on the roof and the ice layer and snow layer was so obvious....it was cool! Easier to see in person but interesting none-the-less.



The next pic is out our kitchen window so the screen put a bad light on the pic but these are the limbs that were constantly falling on our roof and windows ALL night. And then you hear the hmmm and flash of transformers going off as limbs fall on the power lines. Yikes is all I can say.


This was probably our thickest and biggest limb break. Amigo had quite the obstacle course to do his business. I might say before the snow came, we were having quite a good chuckle watching him try to squat on the ice layer without losing his footing but I won't say that because that would make us mean, wouldn't it.

Just another shot showing how low the limbs were.....I hope we don't lose anymore. I love our big ol' trees.

So, that's the storm of the century for us.....Western Ky got hit much much worse as well as south of here. Pat is excited to borrow the chainsaw and get busy.....he is from Wisconsin after all.

I keep forgetting to tell a few quick Nick-isms of late........

He loves his one-on-one time with each of us and has no qualms in shooing the other away. For example:

---We made the rule that Nick could not get in our bed unless Daddy was already gone to work. He follows this rule very well but if he happens to come in and Daddy is still there, his usual comment is "Daddy, go to work" (so smart)

---He loves to snuggle with me after daddy goes to work but lately (since the weather turned cold) he tells me to move over because he wants the warm spot AND the warm pillow! If I scoot over just a little (trying to give him the clue to go to the other side), he will still crawl in and say "little room here!" It cracks me up most days!

---I go to Bunco once a month or out with my friends sometimes for dinner. He knows that this means big one-on-one time with dad so one day after we had a hard day of conflict, he said, "Mom you go out with your mom friends and I play with daddy". Or, my favorite is when they are in the midst of big play downstairs and I come down to see what is going on, Nick says, "Mom you go work on your computer, go, go! "

I have also left out mentioning Nick's newest friend and go to guy....Croaky. He told us that he is a pretend friend. It seems that Croaky knows all of the right things to do but sometimes chooses not to do them and sometimes he does do the right thing and Croaky's mom and dad are so happy!. It is so sweet to watch Nick work thru all of his issues using Croaky. Croaky has a mom and dad and a dog too. We hear about Croaky all of the time and his "real" friend Mikey even included him in a prayer one day.....PRICELESS. Now, they (Mikey and Nick) both talk about Croaky on the way to school in the morning. It is a great way to talk about behaviour though and maybe less intimidating if we are talking about what Croaky did.....

OK, that's all I got for now. I always remember 10 more things that I should have mentioned after I post.....maybe I should just keep a list. Bye for now.

Oh, where o where has my little blog gone, oh where o where can it be......


I guess I have had picture block, writer's block or maybe even facebook block (yes, I am addicted). Who knows....but it has been far too long since I have mused about my sweet Krazy Kazakh and life in general.


We have had a busy New Year getting back on schedule and as expected the post holiday re-adjustments that are present as one little boy gets back to our routine and I guess "boring" life with mom and dad...... a vast array of cousins are WAY cooler.



We had our SECOND post adoption interview at the beginning of the month. I can't believe we will be hitting our 2 year anniversary for "meetcha day" in just a few weeks! It really can't be so! Although our Gotcha day was many weeks later and homecoming many more after that......I still can't believe that we are back to when we left for Kaz...2 whole years later!



Nick is just the most hilarious and obstinate/stubborn/strong-willed child I have ever met. He makes us laugh and cry more than Braveheart and Hitch put together! We have to constantly stay on our toes with discipline, creativity, and patience but he gives back in love, laughter, joy and the best hugs ever!



Today, after a particularly trying time in the car, he came inside and finally made an attitude adjustment and proclaimed to me " Mom, I turned my frown upside down, and you want some more good news?" (me)what is that ? " I love you"


OK, how cute is that....he comes up with these kind of things all of the time....I think that is why pictures are far and few between because you really can't capture his magic right now in pics....its got to be video.



Earlier this month, he was running around alot saying "undergod" like how you would yell "Underdog" super hero style....yes, I am that old to remember that show! We were just at a loss to figure out the context.....I even went so far as to give him a lecture about being careful about how we use the Lord's name. One day it finally hit me, duh!, Under God in the Pledge of Allegiance. I knew they learned it in Bible Study but I also found out they were learning it at preschool. So, I started the Pledge off and he would finish all my sentences.....Pat and I were speechless. So cute.....so we had to share........Not perfect but oh,so cute! Please excuse the Bob the Builder set up...not sure why he had to belt it out but this is his usual volume.....yes, it is painful, I know! I thought this video was quite appropriate for tomorrow. Maybe that is why Nick sang "can we fix it, yes, we can!" and we are very proud to be Americans. I didn't vote for him but I will pray for him that he will be safe and that his family will be safe and that he will lead with integrity and character and that we as Americans will take responsibility for this mess we are in.......










Nick is taking swim lessons again. I think this might be our last for awhile. He really cannot focus well when he WANTS to be IN the water not sitting on the side. I feel for the teacher but I have gone over and over the "listening" rules but he sees that water and just has to be under it. First week, he sat at the side of the pool while she was talking or doing something with the other kids and just put his head under the water. Looked like an Ostrich! I was trying to give him the MOM look across the pool but he would only come up for air! Weird kid I tell you....I think diving class will be better. He could care less about learning proper stroke technique. Tonight, I was kind of stressed watching him not sit and listen. Does that mean he won't be ready for Kindergarten next year? Will he be so distracted in class? He can't focus...what does that mean? ugh!





He has his mid-year preschool eval on Thursday. I am so afraid that they will say that he should not go to Kindergarten. Now, I am not one of those parents who won't hold them back but he matured so much these last few months that I had a little hope that we could send him on since he is a Feb birthday. If he had a summer birthday, I would have no problems holding him back but he really seems to act young with the young and older with the older. Does that make sense? I want him to be with kids his age so he can rise to the occasion not linger in the toddler world. But, I will wait and see and try not to get too anxious. We can do K twice and I definitely think he needs the social aspect of school everyday so we shall see. Another option is transitional K but everyday.





Nick current interests and joys.....

1. Signs-he wants to know what each one says and loves the ones with a circle and line thru it which he knows always means "do not". Our only problem is if we don't see the one he is pointing to before we pass it.....he will want you to turn the car around.


2. "whips" style yogurt - I haven't really allowed him to have too many yogurt products because you might as well give them candy with the sugar in them. No, I won't give him the fake sugar kind...that is a whole different issue to me. I have tried the organic, non-sugar types like they had in Kaz but he will not eat them...it is either texture or sugar...can't decide. But, he loves the Whips so they count as a treat.....not an everyday thing. He loves them so.



3. flashlights -- he got two for Christmas. OBSESSED. He wants all of the lights in the house off all of the time. He is always "looking" for someone or something. Pat is getting him ready for camping and I think he is going to be all for it! All day, I get...Mommy, will you come downstairs and be my campin' buddy?



4. Friends and a social life -- the reason I really want to send him to K is so he can get his "social" fill for the day....it is torture when your son says mom, will you play with me all day and then when there are times you have to say no, he says "but playing alone is no fun?" with the biggest pout, sweetsie face ever. We have started incorporating Nick in our family chores (he had difficulty with this in the early days) so this helps a little on the weekend. He helps me make the bed in the morning so I am learning new ways to include him that don't involve "rescue heroes" or camping for me all of the time.

Our not too great things to finish off 2008 are....

1. Sassie, Sassie mouth! ..... his discipline is swift and sure and sometimes really spicy hot!

2. Still loves to be in control....he now calls me Boss instead of Mom....thus the reason for #1.

3. Inability to control his "curiosity" while I am in the shower (NO, I am not taking one at night or before he wakes up....this would be about O dark thirty) This week he decided to see what sound his comb makes while scratching up and down on our dresser.....

I present Exhibit A...the dresser

And, Exhibit B....the comb minus some teeth now.

We still have baby locks and things up way high and he is almost Five...does it ever end? He grabbed some lotion that I had out (up high) by scaling the laundry baskets and climbing the dresser drawers! I just want a shower where I am not saying, Nick are you sitting on the bed watching your show....I can hear you!

There are probably some more but I cannot write further......FB withdrawals....LOL!

I will try to get some more pics this week and a teacher eval update too. If you start missing the posts...just get on FB and then you can shame me into an update! ;) Until then, I am going back to the 80's and all my high school friends!!!

The Christmas Season for Us (in pictures)

We had a great Christmas (sickness and all) this year. Nick performed beyond expectations at his Christmas pageant and if I could shorten the video, I would show it. He was so animated and fun during his caroling. I was such the proud mom!



There are so many pictures to share that I will just give a short description for each and leave the big narrative for the new year. Now that Christmas is over, I can show the surprise pics for Grandma Ruth and Ata Bob. The boys were so cute. We will try and get a picture of Dakota at our summer vacation but we couldn't pass up this chance with the two little ones. I just love Nick's big smile for Colin. Priceless! And, I just love that both the "Mom's" hands were in the pic below trying to control the pic....so funny!

The week before Christmas brought our first snow and Nick couldn't wait to get out in it with his bulldozer aka "snowplow". Amigo was frisky for an old one and was trying to pounce on Nick while making a snow angel but I was panicked because he was doing the angel where Amigo does his business so I missed the picture! :)

We started our journey south on the Saturday before Christmas. We had a great drive and stopped to eat lunch with the Hoagland's and Sulzer's at the Cracker Barrel in St. Louis. We headed South/West as the polar express climate change hit us and it literally dropped 2o degrees from StL to our next stop at the Segebarth's near Springfield. BRRRRRR! We haven't felt that kind of polar since Kaz. We had a minor detour thanks to our GPS which apparently was made by the hillbilly Sony as it took us on dirt roads and tried to get us in fenced entrances and the like......needless to say, Stacy and Brad do not live in the sticks anymore but our GPS thought they did! We had a great time eating yummy lasagna and laughing at our crazy kids.....I got a full tour of the Two Hearts for Hope warehouse (a very packed full room at the house) and was thrilled to see all of the stuff just waiting to go to the baby houses and orphanages in Kaz. Yeah! Nick loved all of their fireplace noisemakers especially this Santa. He reads "twas the night..." to you. Stacy got some better shots but here are mine. :) Trying to get all of them to look at the camera became a theme for the rest of our vacation....fireplace hearths too it seems.

Addison and Haven were the sweetest hostesses and Nick jumped right in....literally! 7 + hours in a car will do that to a 4 year old! :)

We arrived at Grandma Martha and Ata Bill's house with much excitement although Pat and I once again began the Sinus tango. UGH! New allergans and new climate.

Once the cold front moved thru the south, the usual balmy weather came and we were able to get out to the park with my sister, niece, and nephew. They had a blast together and played great the whole week.

On Christmas Eve, we made Aunt Julie's (Pat's brothers wife) rockin sugar cookies with real crisco/powdered sugar icing.....Can you say YUMMO! We made the cookies for Santa's snack and well, everyone else's too! It was so fun and I love Nick's two fisted decorating technique!

We waited for my sister, BJ, and kids to come over early on Christmas morning. We kept Nick sequestered in our bedroom until everyone was there. He was so excited but controllable...thank goodness! Mom had antlers for all (Zach of course was too cool for them). Santa got Nick the geotrax trains that he asked for ......the tougher guys and goggles and bunsen. He also got the chunkie starwars people that he loves!!! Santa is one smart cookie! Nick for some reason became attached to his Dallas Cowboy hat while in TX. He never took that hat off....even when applying the antlers! :)

Christmas Day eve, my cousin Scott and his family came over for a visit and all of the kids played great and baby Bethany was the star tumbler but I missed the pic! Scott helped me move from many an apt. and dorm room during college so he is basically my adopted brother. The girls all pounced him or as Lyndsay, my niece, said "you are trapped by girls!!!" Is that a "help me!" I hear!

And, the next firplace hearth, kid gathering but not looking picture opportunity...

We got a chance to go to the town Natatorium for a swim and Nick was in heaven! And, well, as usual underwater. This place had a lazy river to walk in and a whirlpool. Funtimes! Nick played so hard that he fell asleep at the restaurant table while eating dinner. Trust me.....this has NEVER happened. He was living the "play hard" motto all week!

We had the big family Christmas celebration on Saturday with my Aunt (mom's sister) and Uncle and the entire clan. My cousin Stephen and his family were in from Wyoming and his kids are close in age to Nick so again fun was had by all. We also found out that there may be more cousins in the future thanks to Cousin Ruth and Jeremy! Exciting times!

And then there was the token, hearth/children picture which actually had everyone looking, just not at me! Someone got a geat pic! We took a big family pic that I will have to post after it has been passed around as only one camera was used.....the kids would not last thru all of the cameras!

We had a great family visit for the week and even had the chance to have a date night with Pat's longtime highschool and fellow world traveller friend Dave and his wife Beryl as well as a visit from my highschool/college friend Mary Kay and her family. Nick was absolutely great for the whole week and I believe we can say that it was a NO timeout week.....yes, it is true.....he was so much fun! Speaking of funny....two pre-Christmas stories.

-----1. Nick was having trouble "waiting" for Christmas to come. We tried counting the days by marking an X, explaining weeks, days, hours, etc to no avail. One night we were driving home from shopping and he was particularly "frustrated" about waiting and I said something to the fact that maybe he just needed to pray to God to help him wait. He proceeded to say that he didn't want to pray and that it was just "too hard to wait" so I jokingly said kind of an aside to Pat....now, Nick the bible says "WAIT, I say, WAIT on the LORD! Nick didn't say much and Pat and I started talking about something and then we hear from the back.....a big OK, and then big sigh....."God, please help me to WAIT OF THE LORD!" We about busted a gut trying not to laugh. The way he said "Of" instead of "On" was so Ky! He was so serious and it was so sweet but the way he said it....kind of with a southern gospel accent was hilarious.

------2. Nick has been so lovey, dovey that it almost at times seems Eddie Haskell-ish. We even call him that occasionally. It is so darn sweet that you can hardly believe it. But, he topped it all in the car one night when (after I had talked about him being sweet and sharing his love with everyone previously) he proceeded to blow huge kisses to us one after another and then said (imagine donkey on Shrek saying this)...."I'm just sharin' the love" ....He continues to say this when being extra smooshy to us and it is the funniest thing but the most endearing thing ever!

-------We had an uneventful but LONG trip home and had one more surprise for Nick from Grandma Ruth and Ata Bob. A New Bike! He was thrilled especially because we had a really nice december day to try it out at the park. He did really well and we are anxious to get him out and burning energy at the first sign of spring!

Well, that is our Christmas in a not so small nutshell. We hope everyone has a great New Year's Eve and Wish everyone a blessed 2009!

Its the hap, happiest season of all.......

Nick has been a joy to be around this Holiday season. He has enjoyed every aspect of Christmas so far this year. He is singing carols, talking about Santa, wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas" and just generally being a cutie patootie. He loved putting ornaments on the tree and carefully plotted out each place.




Below he is hanging his yurt ornament from Kaz! We didn't come home with many souvenirs but we did get some!





He wanted to hang them up high and I just love this sweet picture of him hanging an ornament.






We worked hard on a Christmas card picture.....this is one of the outtakes....the dog was actually more uncooperative than Nick! :)





Tonight was the great debate.....Here in the almost south, a hint of winter weather coming can shut the city down but it could be like the boy crying wolf....so Pat being a Northerner decided to brave the "storm of the century" (this is really what it sounded like on TV) and we won! There was no precip whatsoever.... a little on the way home but nothing yet....It is still early....I am surprised school is not cancelled already. I really wanted that 3 hours tomorrow to finish up Christmas but it is not looking good......but I digress.....





Nick was so excited about going to the light display and to see Santa and the trains. It was truly PRICELESS! I found myself getting all teary and wanting to BOO HOO as we walked up to the building. It always gets to me at times like these when he expresses such pure joy and delight. For some reason my mind just wonders back to the little quiet boy with the serious look....no smile unless you tickle him.....and now, we couldn't suppress a smile even if we tried. He meets life head on now and brings joy and big Hugs to everyone he meets. I have struggled so much with the Christmas holidays since we have returned from Kaz. I just can't stand the commercialism and the craziness of consumerism. Frankly, it disgusts me now. I know that is harsh for a feel good season but we as a people need to get a grip. I always describe how I feel as the main character, Schindler from "Schindlers list" at the end where he is despairing over the fact that if he had just sold one more thing, not bought this, or not done that, he could have saved just one more life, he could have done more. That is how it is with me now....EVERYTHING equates to what the money we waste COULD be doing; Orphans could find homes, the homeless could be clothed and sheltered, the hungry could be fed but instead we buy the next biggest and best and most popular of the season. I can't look at my son's smile and the twinkle in his eye without thinking what a crime that is.....Truly learning more about the love of God thru the adoption of our son is the best gift we could have ever been given for the rest of our lives. Hearing him laugh, tell big stories, request a family hug, and say I love you mom will be the stocking stuffers that I cherish for eternity. So, maybe that is why I was weepy tonight, who knows, but I do know what sweet joy sounds like thanks to my son and my sweet and brave husband who weathered the great ice storm of 2008 (not) to have some great family time. So now, after all that pontificating, enjoy my boy's excitement and say a prayer for his "brothers and sisters" in Zhezkazgan tonight that they may find the same joy some day.






They have a great train display and Nick could have watched them all night....so could Pat!

This was the village display. If you click on the pic for a close up, you can see his excitement!

We took a little mini train ride and it was hard to keep him sitting!

He kept screaming CHOO CHOO and pulling on his pretend whistle!

He was so excited to meet Santa this year. Last year, he would run away scared to death. He couldn't wait to tell Santa what he wanted......Tougher and his train from GEOTRAX. Sure hope Santa can find them.........He was also requesting a winning season for the Packers next year!

So, for a first visit with Santa, I think it went pretty well....What do you think?

We have his school Christmas party on Thursday and I am so excited to see him sing this year. He has been singing along with the Christmas songs on the radio so I think they have been learning some of the classics at school! So sweet! We head to TX on Saturday and hope the weather cooperates as we travel south. Hoping to see some friends in St. Louis and the Segebarths of Two Hearts for Hope on our way down. We hope everyone has a wonderful joy and love filled Christmas and we pray that God will make Himself known to you in a real way thru the love of friends and family. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!

This and That.....

The holidays have rushed upon us and Nick is way more into it this year. We have not visited Santa yet but he tells us Merry Christmas at least every other sentence! So cute! We are going to get out the nativity and some other fun little gifts from last year that explain the real meaning of Christmas. He loves bible stories so I know he will love this one! His latest fascination is Joshua and the walls of Jericho.....he marches around talking about the walls tumbling! I have been trying to teach him Vacation Bible School type songs lately and have some great CD's. I love the old stuff but he has latched on to the "new" song from Sunday School..."GOD IS Number 1, GOD IS Number 1......" over and over and over.... so true but soooo lacking in creativity and real musicianship.....it doesn't give me the "joy, joy, joy down in my heart!" :) But, I love the fact that he will sing a tune with his Mama!

We had an awesome visit with Aunt Tracey (Pat's sister) and Cousin Colin. Colin had grown alot since July and had the greatest laugh ever. He chuckled all of the time. Nick loved him and patted his head often. It was so cute. He always wanted to hold him and wanted Colin to "come play pirates with me bud!" Nick doesn't quite get the whole age difference thing....so sweet!

Sweet, Sweet Happy Colin!

I love this pajama picture of the boys...I want to crop it and get a close up of them when I get it developed....my arm doesn't add much to the pic! ha!

We had a beautiful late fall this year and the leaves are everywhere. Nick loved jumping into the piles this year...big change from last year with the screams and crying!

The Front yard Pile!

The Backyard Pile!

Pat is teaching Nick the finer details of pizza making because after all this is how he caught his awesome wife......a man that makes pizza is irresistible! This you must learn my son! :)

We have been having the attack of the Sinus Monster and I finally had to get on some high powered antibiotics and besides an irritating cough, my voice has returned and I am starting to feel normal again. Pat is trying to keep ahead of his before it gets too bad and Nick has stayed relatively healthy all year......thank goodness! He had a rough few weeks in the middle of November but has cycled out of it and is back to his extremely sweet and hilarious self. We missed him.....alot! We just wish we could predict what causes him to regress at times....you never know what triggers him but I do know that a good schedule and consistent discipline and love bring him out so that is our usual go to therapy...... I think the holidays with school disrupted and such cause some of the upset but you just never know.....breaks your heart and exhausts you all at the same time! I am so thankful for my bloggamommy friends who have also adopted.....we get each other thru the hard days and celebrate the great ones together!










Hope everyone has a great weekend!