We are ready for Christmas to hit us wide open. We have been baking, sending, wrapping (more), cleaning and just all around celebrating. The kids are very excited to give their gifts to the family and can't wait for all the food. I get so much out of watching them take in all the excitement, and with great stride I might add.
Friday, the kids skipped out on their hours of school (I know, crazy right) and we went to Cookeville and visited all the people I work with and many of my friends at the court house. They racked up $23 bucks from all the title searchers and loaded up on more candy. We then came home and made rice krispie treats in the shape of Christmas trees and gingerbread men. Yum! What a flattering pic! We enjoyed a low key weekend to make room for a fun filled week. Monday, we picked up cousin Treyton and headed to ... Charlie Brown on Ice at Gaylord Opryland. Over 2 million pounds of ice carved in most of the famous scenes from the Christmas special. It was a whopping 6 degrees when we visited although there were so many people running everywhere and my fingers were throbing from the cold temps. I got a few shots.
Tuesday evening, one of our dogs got ran over. It was a little hard on the kids and of course I was in tears but they are doing pretty well. They took down the stocking for that dog and said a little prayer for the dog. One good thing to help get their minds diverted from the loss was going to Babushka's house, which is where they are now. We begin our holiday tonight by opening presents their before coming home and preparing for the Santa visit (although that's what mom and dad are doing while the kids are away.)
Wishing you all the warmest and most memorable holidays. Merry Christmas!!
Sunday, the 13th, was Aizley's 9th Birthday!! I am amazed when I try to grasp all the things this little girl has went through in her short 9 years on earth. She has traveled more than I ever imagined I would travel. She has been to Spain and Italy, is fluent in three languages still, has lived out many of nights wondering "what I did to make moma sooooo mad she gave me away", and spent most of her time watching over Colton, mothering him and saving food and toys away to give to him. She has lay awake at nights crying, having "bad dreams" about her childhood, holding tight to the one memory she has of the way her birth mother looks and praying that her birth father would come back and get them soon. She has seen many of her friends leave her as they join their forever families or age out of the orphanage. Yet, through all this, I see a bright, shining, ray of sunshine in her eyes. She knows she will never have to worry about going back to the orphanage or Colton be taken away from her even if moma and papa dies as she asks this question often, checking to make sure we haven't changed our minds I guess. But who can blaim her for being so concerned about her future?! Spending summers afar with "moma's and papa's" in different countries only to be sent back after the 3 months or so were up. Having no constent routine or person to rely on (other than her baby brother) has got to cause a sense of uncertainty, especially in such a young child. Never fear, my dear Aizley, you ain't goin' anywhere!!! Sunday, after church, we went to the local skating rink to celebrate her first birthday with her family and a few close friends. This Sunday was the first time most of these kids had been skating and we had a blast watching them try their hardest to stay "afloat". Most of the pics turned out blurry and dark as the kids got to skate in the cyber-arena (disco ball), play the hokey-pokey, limbo, and Cha Cha! Of course, I had to show them how to play most of these sports. Luckily, there weren't any cameras pointed my way!! Here, the birthday girl is "breaking" (taking a break from skating) to show off her present from moma and papa. Check out those pierced ears!! This is one of my favorite pics of Colton, right before one of his many wipe outs. It looks like he is dancing on his toes. You should have seen him trying to skate. He would hold one foot straight out in front of him and push with the other like he was on a skate board!! Everyone thought it was the most precious thing! I've attached a short clip of his technique!! Here is cousin Treyton and his dear "cousin" Elena. My kids have adopted her as their cousin, too! She was adopted from Vladivostok, Russia! Getting the hang of it! Colton playing limbo... Time for presents!! Aizley got so many wonderful things like art supplies. This girl prefers crayons to barbies any day! I'm ok with that!! By the end of the party, Aizley had skating down to an art. They had an absolute blast! She recieved so many neat things and we made tons of memories. Just the way I wanted it to be for her. This morning, however, she couldn't put on her shoes because her fanny was so sore! You ain't kiddin', girl!! Happy Birthday, sweet girl! We love you sooooo much!
...all over the house. We have been having so much fun learning about the holidays, the many traditions and of course all the presents. The kids are still doing amazingly upon their 7th month home although we are seeing problems with Colton in school. His grades are still up and his is making so many friends, all great things. But, we actually got a call from his teacher asking for advice in how to make him STAY IN HIS SEAT and to stop him from making squealing noises while the teacher is talking. I am puzzled at this one. He is an angel in his ESL class, a perfect gentleman at church (no "squirmy worms" like his sister), and can always be calmed down when asked. Sigh.
Other than Colton having "ants in his pants", we have been having a wonderful holiday. The kids each picked out and bought for "angel tree" babies and it was a joy watching them get so excited to pick out toys and clothes for other kids. It took them hours getting just the right gifts for these kids they have never met. They wanted to get "good toys" for them and "cool" clothes. It was precious watching them give without the slightest regret, although there was one or two "Santa could get me one like this'" thrown in there!
We finally got the house decorated and several of our presents wrapped. Both the kids thought it was the best thing in the world having more than one package under the tree! They each took turns wrapping their presents to each other and hiding them behind other presents so it would be a bigger surprise on Christmas! Aizley even managed to put up a tree in her room. I gave her the box of decorations and this is what she came up with. Great job!! Colton will get his up when he can sit in his seat at school even though I let him put up christmas bears and stockings and door decorations all in his room. I need some type of motivation for him. He did help with our tree as well but he gets a bigger thrill out of wrapping presents. Yeap, I took the time to find everything it's own box and wrapped all the little things individually with the help of that little stinker. Pajamas in one box while the bathrobe and slippers are in another. Finding the big boxes for the bed comforters and body pillows was a challenge but you should have seen their faces when I placed those under the tree! It was instantly worth all the effort I put into it. Times that attitude by a family of 20 and two kids who have taken as much joy in wrapping presents as I have and this is what you end up with. Thank goodness that part is over with. Now, if Santa could just get some help with his gift wrapping...
We woke up Saturday to a very nice little surprise. A white December morning! Somewhat of a rarity here in TN. The kids couldn't wait for the "real snow" to fall. I'm thinking "kids, this is as good as it gets here!" They had fun nonetheless. Even the dogs got into the spirit.
I did go Saturday with Aunt Murphy to Murfreesboro to finish up her shopping. We are all trying to get gifts that people can use or need this year and we are both doing pretty well at it by getting jackets and pants, JCPenny towels and the such. Now, if I can just get through Aizley's birthday party next Sunday without someone duplicating a present or a truck load of toys I'll be in business.
