Annual Ethiopian Picnic

Yesterday was the annual picnic for our local Ethiopian adoption group. There were over a hundred RSVPs and it was so good to see all of the beautiful Ethiopian faces there.

We've gone to events in the past where Macy was afraid to actually talk to any of the other kids. I'm sure it's a combination of wanting to assimilate fully into the American culture and still being slightly afraid that the other Ethiopians might just be there to bring her back. I've spoken with other adoptive moms whose children were very much the same.

On the way to the picnic we discussed how one of the older girls, Kidist, would be there to braid hair and Macy was convinced to have hers done this time. When we got there she backed out though. Trying not to show my frustration I assured her that it was okay and we could always have it done another time.

As everyone was packing up to leave, Macy said "But what about my hair?" This girl has some timing, doesn't she? Luckily Kidist was kind enough to do some braids for us at the last minute...in the dark...being eaten alive by mosquitoes...while Macy cried her eyes out. She has a sensitive head, which is why we wanted braids in the first place, because we'd be able to go a few weeks without having to wash and brush her hair. She's also a bit melodramatic.

I think it turned out so cute! She looks like a completely different girl to me.

The kids had an amazing time running around with new friends, painting, eating Ethiopian food, treats, drinking lots of lemonade and swinging until they threw up. (Yes, literally.)

Swimming lessons

The kids started swimming lessons this week. All three "swam" on their bellies on the living room floor Monday morning, showing me that they already knew how to swim. Somehow that knowledge disappeared and they clammed up once they got actually got in the water. Go figure.

They're having fun though, and that's all that matters!

First car wash...

Today I took the kids to the zoo. They've been before several times so it was just another day to them. They were much more excited about going through their first automatic car wash.

Felix was a little skeptical at first but Macy, obviously, loved it. 

 Then he warmed up~

After, Macy declared "That was funny Mom. I want to do that tomorrow!"

February updates

Eeeek I can't believe it's been a month and a half since I've updated our blog. It's become harder now that our days are more status quo than out of the ordinary...not that much exciting to share.

Macy had her first Valentine's Day celebration at school. We made Valentines at home and she gave them out to all of the kids in her class. They had an awesome party in her class. Fletcher and I made heart-shaped crayons for his classmates.

Macy's hair is getting super long...or super tall, depending on how you look at it. She says it's "big" while shaking her head and making it move.


The kids have really enjoyed the Olympics thanks, in part, to the Wii Fit. They think they already know how to ski and snowboard. Here they are watching the ski jumpers. So cute!


Yesterday we hit the zoo since it was going to be so warm out (48 degrees that is). We bundled up and had a great time. After weeks of being inside because of snow they really need to get out and run around.



Macy & Fletcher have been wanting to have a sleepover, so we finally had the bright idea to let Fletcher sleep over in Macy's room. Of course, instead of sleeping, they decided to dress up. Fletch looks like Elton John.


They really are the best of friends when they're both being nice. They also fight like, well, brother and sister.

Christmas!

Here we are on Christmas day. Marc's daughter Jackie drove up from New Mexico to spend the week with us. It was great having all the kids here together on Christmas.

We asked everyone to "go easy" on gifts this year but, with three kids, it still seemed like a TON of stuff. Here's Fletch with his new Ice Age pj's from Aunt Lisa. She picked out the most perfect gifts for each of the kids. We could have stopped opening gifts right there and they would have been completely satisfied!


I love this look on Macy's face when she sees that it's a Barbie! (Another home run from Aunt Lisa!)


It was a long day with no naps, but the kids were real troopers. They opened a few gifts, then we sent them off to play while the grown ups opened some too.

And here's the whole family...

Sledding

Just when we thought it would be a brown Christmas we got a few inches of snow. Here's Fletcher sledding the day before Christmas. His great grandma sent these little sleds for each of the kids for Christmas.

Christmas programs

I've realized that I'm posting all of these photos out of order, but I just keep finding more to share!

Macy's class did a holiday program at school a few weeks ago. It was rainbow themed and about how all of us are different and that's what makes us all special. I thought it was a really nice show - fun songs, little skits, etc. - and a good alternative to the Christmas theme, which they're not allowed to do in school anymore I guess.


Here's Macy with her BFF Emma who is just the cutest. Emma narrated the whole play. She's an amazing reader already! Whenever Macy and Emma see each other it goes something like "MAAACYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!" "EMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" and they run to each other with arms outstretched.


And here's the fam at Fletcher's little program. It was a potluck dinner with all 5 of the preschool classrooms. It was a zoo! Then the kids sang a few songs. Marc took some video which I have yet to download, but here's a cute photo from the night...

Adventures in the Big City!

Each year the hotels in Denver participate in Mile High Holidays where they offer rooms for $52.80 per night. Last year we took advantage of this right before Christmas and took Fletch to see Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo, then we stayed downtown. He had SO much fun and pleaded to go again this year. We thought it would be a nice tradition to start, so we went for it!

We went downtown early on Saturday afternoon and walked all around. The kids loved being in the city, riding the bus and just taking in all of the huge buildings and masses of people.



We had pizza at Mario's Two Fisted Pizza - one of our faves - then headed over to the zoo to see Zoo Lights. Of course we can't go there without riding the carousel.


We had a late dinner in the hotel. The kids were awesome and loved staying up "really late". Back in our room we had some hot cocoa...


...then settled in for the night. How sweet are they!? This photo reminds me of our "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" book.

The next day we went to the Museum of Nature & Science. Macy enjoyed playing the piano in the children's area.


Felix did puzzles, of course, that's his favorite thing to do these days.


We also got to see Sea Monsters in the Imax theater there. Macy was a bit frightened, but the both both loved it. Fletch is "very interesting in dinosaurs" as he tells me. I don't think he knew or realized that there were dinosaurs in the ocean. After the movie Felix was reenacting everything and telling me "AAAAARRRRRR, dinosaur EAT YOU!" So darn cute.

Stay tuned for more photos...I have a lot of catching up to do!

Felix the cat

Felix's thyroid seems to be improving with the medication he's been on. His T4 is now at 11.3 (up from 1.45) and his TSH is at 8.03 (down from 18.36). I actually have ZERO idea what that means, but the doctor seemed pleased. We increased this thryroid meds slightly and will test him yet again (because the last blood draw was such a pleasure!) in 2 weeks.

Although the last doctor was sure that this would be a life-long condition, our current doctor was very positive that he could outgrow this after as little as a year of being in the US and getting proper nutrition.

And just for kicks... I had to post this photo. These are a pair of the pants that we brought to Ethiopia with us at the end of April. We had to roll them up at the time. Think he's grown a little???


He looks like he's about to go wading in a creek. Thank goodness Christmas is coming up. I hope Santa brings him some new pants!

(Note to self: Must moisturize your son and clean the bottom of your fridge more often!)

Home Depot Day

On Saturday we stopped at Home Depot to pick up a night light, but found that they were doing one of their kids' workshops.

Macy girl can really swing a hammer. She did a great job.


(Excuse Macy's crazy hair. Like I said, I wasn't planning on a photo op. But, um, obviously never leave the house without my camera.)


At home we painted our wagons red and yellow. (Note to self: oil-based paints and kids are not a good combination!)


Wearing Daddy's painting shirt...


I've always seen the signs at H.D. advertising the kids events, but never took the time to bring Fletcher to one. I'm glad we happened to run into this one. It was a great {FREE} activity to do with the kids.

And on the way out, the hot dog cart man gave all the kids free hot dogs because he is an adoptive parent as well. I could see Marc thinking "Score! These kids are really paying off!" Hahahaha!

The Puzzler

I bought this 24 piece puzzle for the kids at the thrift store earlier this week. Felix took it out yesterday while I was getting Macy & Fletcher ready for school. The next thing I knew he was putting in the last piece!


He also likes this big iSpy puzzle. And being a little OCD myself, I love how he puts the outside together first.


Now I'm not bragging or anything but............He is SO SMART! ;)

Macy

Have I mentioned how well Macy is doing in Kindergarten? Forgive me if I have, I've been telling everyone, so it's hard to remember. Anyway...she's doing GREAT! We were hesitant to put her in school only 3.5 months after she got here, but we knew that she really wanted to learn.

The child psychologist we met with at Children's Hospital's Adoption Clinic frowned when we told her Macy would be going to school. She thought it would be best if one of us could stay home with her for the first year. She also mentioned that we shouldn't be alarmed if Macy had a learning disability.

Well let's just say we're not exactly "alarmed" at this point!

A few weeks ago we met with Macy's teacher. They'd just done some routine testing on all of the kids. She said that something like 7 out of the 19 kids qualified for extra help (tutoring?) and Macy was not one of them. THAT is how well she's doing! Such a smart girl.

I almost can't believe how much she has changed since we met her in Ethiopia. I was seriously afraid of what we'd gotten into (there's something not many adoptive parents admit to!). She was sure that everything belonged to her and, if another child had what she wanted, she'd go take it from their hands. If she didn't get her way she would destroy things - walk up to a table and push everything off of it, start hitting other children...that sort of thing.

Now she's helpful, she shares, she's eager to please. That's not to say that she doesn't have her 5 year old moments! But she's such a different little girl these days.

Snow Days & Halloween Parties

A fall storm brought us 3 feet of snow and two snow days this week. Here are the kids at the beginning of the storm. There was much more to come...


Making a track for the sled...


Macy was the only one brave enough to go out the second day. You can tell how high the snow is next to her!


Felix succumbed to Macy & Fletcher's cold/flu and decided to cuddle inside with mommy...


The sun came out on Friday and melted enough of the snow that we could get out of the house. It was Halloween party day at school.




Today we have Boo at the Zoo and Trick-or-Treating in Evergreen. I'm hoping for warmer weather!

Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we headed out for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with friends. Fletcher was Spiderman...



Macy was a Princess... (very lady like here, huh?)


and Felix was sort of a skunk...he wore the costume long enough to take this picture.

Some random October photos

After the boys won bikes, Marc brought home this helmet from Goodwill. Felix was so excited. He put it on and ran around to find his football. Now every Sunday he puts it on when we watch football. He's such a riot.

Felix asleep on Macy's lap. Aww.....


Fletcher's preschool asks parents to volunteer to make playdough every few weeks. When it was our turn I started mixing the ingredients and Macy quickly jumped in telling me "like this momma". She took it out of the bowl and started kneading it like bread. Smart girl.

Felix helping me make pumpkin puree for muffins and toasted pumpkin seeds.


Yes, fall is here in Colorado!


My pretty girl ready for school.


Felix all dressed up for bed. He put his leg up like that and said "I momma!" because I stand like that all the time.


Could he be any cuter?