Road Trip

 Around this time of the summer, I get that feeling like I haven't done it all yet.  School will be starting soon and it will be time to get my teacher game face on.  So I want to pack as much as I can into this last month.  No regrets, no "I wish", just leavin caution to the wind.

Yesterday morning,  I received a text from Imogen around 8:45am as I was taking Sarah to her ENT appointment.  "My planning skills are in top form this morning...Would you be interested in going to The Works in Newark?  Around 9:45ish?"

Heck, yeah.  So I called her and we made plans to leave as soon as our appointment was over.  My text looked liked this when I pulled into our driveway..."I'm home. Give me 20 minutes..."

 Enough time to change clothes, pack some snacks, diaper bags, and tell Andy we're off!!  Don't know what time I'll be back.  I told the kids we were going on an adventure, and they kept guessing the entire way.  Until we rode into the city, "Mama, are we in Lima?"  "No, Baby.  But it looks like it."  A quick lunch, and then we walked into this perfect, hands-on museum for our kids.

We all stepped in front of the heat-seeking machine and could see ourselves on the tv.

Some exercise and physical fitness booths, along with a Wii Fit exhibit to "try" out.

A "tear apart" a computer place, complete with safety goggles and real tools.

But their most favorite place was the Farmer's Market and dress-up pretend place.

 I sat on the bench, listening to them weave their make-believe tales, and ad-libbing as they went along.  The magic of make-believe and pretend, the fairy-tale land.   A wonderful place for all ages.  I foresee us making more trips over there in the future.  (Fortune Telling is my next career:)

We're trying to stay cool in this "Can't believe how hot it is" week our country is in now.  Pool, library, and more inside adventures on the horizon. 

Happy Wednesday:)

Stars and Snowflakes

Begin doing what you want to do now.  We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand, and melting like a snowflake.   Marie Ray

After the kids are in bed, I upload the pictures and relive the star moments I've captured during the day.  This time,  I've Sarah sitting in my lap, after waking from the town's fireworks. 

Addy and Austin went to my sister's for the long weekend, so my closest and dear friends came over to play with Sarah and spend time catching up on their summer adventures and plans.  Sarah didn't disappoint as she required each one to read and work the puzzle with her.

 Sarah went for her first haircut today.  While her hair is long in the back, a mullet's formed on the side and requires pony tails and bows to look presentable.  She never moved an inch in the chair.  I was so proud of her and the stylists could not believe how still she was.  Adorable!!

 

 She always looked ornery before.  But with her new sassy do, the orneriness factor has tripled.

Our town had its annual festival this weekend, so we walked down to see the sights.  Families on the lawn, music playing, and the fried food vendors throughout the park.

 

We stopped at the Animal Shelter booth so she could pet some dogs, and she loved it.   Of course, getting her back in the stroller was not pleasant.  She didn't want to say goodbye.

And then, we stopped at the playground.  She laughed, she waved, she yelled with excitement as she climbed up and slid down the slide.

Tonight at dinner, the three of us sat together and remembered that four weeks ago, she touched ground on the United States of America.  She met her grandparents at the airport, walked into her new home, and found her place.  And she's never looked back.

Whether the kids are playing, sleeping, or any activity, I capture these star and snowflake moments in my mind or with my camera, because these moments are what I want to do now. 
My snowflake that melts.

Hello, Summer

Taken on my new phone:)

Hello, Summer. 
I love the summer, staying up late lost in a good book.  Not the kind that make me a better person, learn something new, or about someone's life, because I do love reading those genres.  But, a good fiction novel where I'm sucked into reading page after page until the wee hours of the morning.  I'm thankful the new little one has learned to sleep in as well.

 We celebrated the first day of summer with a pool trip in between storms, and our friends arrived to play.  The boys took off playing "Catch the Torpedo", and the girls went off into their "pretend" games that most always involve cats or dogs.

Sarah loves the water, while belly-flopping, playing in the fountains, or rolling around. 

Our family laughs daily, and seeks adventure in the least likely places.

Are we having fun yet?  We had some errands to run, but even a trip to Wal-Mart can find hidden gems, such as scented nail polish that every tween needs to have.

Austin finds his adventurous side in the Rec Room, rockin with his paper jams.

Sarah finds her adventure by taking things and finding new homes for them, or leaving them all throughout the house.  We're working on picking up her toys:(

She's one of us, and it feels like she has always been part of our family. 

Our family is that, a family.  We're learning it may take us longer to get out of the house, and we may forget an item.  But, there's always Wal-Mart or Target around the corner.   We are always on bike rides, walks, pool trips, or any other adventure we can find.  And if you stop by, and please do, you'll be stepping over mounds of shoes, and our space will be splattered with toys and books, and the library is still not fixed from the spring roof leak. 

How do you welcome summer?

Gilfriend needs to catch some ZZZZ's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunshine

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, and drink the wild air...

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Living in the Sunshine...

 

Sarah brings us so much sunshine daily, that she must wear shades indoors.  This afternoon, I was playing a matching game with her and the kids, when she put on these glasses.  She continually wore them for the next half hour, even though they kept breaking.   We all were laughing as she would look up at us with serious face.

Then, she found her pair of pink shades and wore them on her head like Mama.

Swimming in the "Sea" (a.k.a the pool)

She LOVES the water!!  I've enjoyed watching her make her way down the row of "Mama" chairs, looking at the snacks they are eating.  She'll plop down in a empty chair, say a few words, and off to the next adventure.

Drinking in the wild air...

For Parents Day (Mother and Father's Day), Andy found a single bike trailer for us.  We went for our inaugural family bike ride this past week, and once she saw the kids had helmets, she wanted one.  It will need "tweaking", but it will do.  

She "tuned" up once inside the trailer, but by the end she was enjoying the ride.

Add some chalk and her own scooter, and this child is moving at full speed into the summer!

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FAQ's:

I've received many questions about her adjustment, so I wanted to share our experience with others.

1.  We are frequently asked if the language difference is a barrier?

Sarah understands what we are saying.  She nods her head, answers No or Yes, and uses motions to make her needs known.  We are working on sign language, but she communicates very well.  

2.  How has she adjusted?  

AMAZING!  The first week we were home, there were many errands and places to go. She was ready to get in the car, strapped in her seat, and met every new place with gusto.  She loves riding in the car and in the stroller.  She's not too picky with food, but we need to get a booster seat to keep her sitting at the table:)

At first, she would only drink from an open cup and couldn't figure out how to work a sippy cup or straw.  She is now drinking from both a sippy cup and a straw.  She uses regular utensils and  LOVES all snacks, but not much fresh fruit, yet.

3.  Sleep

We've moved her into her own room, with a cd of lullabyes playing continuously throughout the night.  She sleeps from 8:30ish until 6:30am.  If I bring her down at 6:30, she'll sleep another hour.  She takes a nap around 12:30ish for 1 1/2 hours and may fall asleep on the couch late afternoon for another quick nap. 

All right, so maybe she decides to take a quick nap on the floor!!  In this 90 degree heat, it might be the coolest place!!!