Old Week, New Week

Based on my lack of posts, you might have been able to guess that things were a bit crazy here last week.  Rex had spring break and was home with me which usually means that just about everything else in my life comes to a halt.  The upside of this time with Rex is that we get extra close emotionally as we have lots of hours to play and cuddle.  The downside is that the mountain of house work and paid contracting work from under which I have to dig out today and in the days to come is enormous.

A magical morning of making foam floor tiles
stick to his wall -
Who knew it could be done?
Rex verbally asked me for help several times.

On top of Rex's spring break, the girls each had field trips and I chaperoned Emilia's while Craig and Rex had a guys' day.  We had two out of five therapy appointments cancelled which was unfortunate, especially during a week lacking structure already.

So tired after playing outside

Things should settle down now for the next few weeks and we're hoping for reliably mild weather from here on out.  After doing a nice job collecting all the sticks and branches that had fallen off our trees over the winter, Ella has requested a campfire and outdoor meal for next weekend, so fingers crossed that conditions cooperate.

Pictures Of The Day

Because we all need a little help sometimes:

Proud of our big girl.  Reciting is one of her strengths:

Sunday Best

Our Sunday started liked this...

And ended like this...

Pea and potato curry

Fresh strawberries with homemade pound cake
and homemade whipped cream

I call this a good Sunday.

Nappies For Nork 2016

Last year, through the great generosity of many donors, we raised $12,000 for SOAR to purchase diapers for Nork orphanage in Yerevan.  For eleven months, thousands of diapers were delivered to the children living there, but the funds will run out after the final delivery this month.

Therefore, please join us in Nappies For Nork 2016, a collaboration of SOAR, Hopscotch Adoptions, and adoptive mom Viviane Martini whose son lived at Nork from early 2009 until summer 2011.

Nork orphanage is home to approximately 70 children, age six and under.  About 40 of them are in diapers.  In order to change each child four times a day, the orphanage needs $30,000 annually.  The government provides only half of that amount.  Our goal for the 2016 Nappies For Nork fundraiser is $18,000, giving each child an additional two diaper changes per day as well as a small emergency supply for times of high demand, for example, during viral or bacterial infections of the GI tract.

Like last year, donors’ names will be entered into a raffle of 12 prizes, including four $25 gift cards, handmade greeting cards from Zadik orphanage (3 sets), an original photograph by Beth Shepherd, Bzrk Reloaded by Michael Grant  - signed by author, Martini Family Baking Recipe Book, and two sets of three handmade Christmas ornaments showcasing an antique Armenian stamp.  The drawing will be held on April 22, 2016.

Please send your tax-deductible donation by check to:

Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief
ATTN: George S. Yacoubian, Jr.
150 N. Radnor Chester Rd.

Suite F-200
Radnor, PA 19087
USA

Or via Paypal on the SOAR website: http://soar-us.org/donate.html#donation.

Please earmark your donation for the 2016 Nappies for Nork diaper fund.

Thank you.

P.S. You can follow our progress via the fundraising thermometer on the right.

Spring Break 2016

Last week was our family's spring break.  We packed it chock-full of fun.

Saturday, March 19

Amid therapy and lots of work at home, we took the kids bowling for the first time.  Their grandpa is an expert bowler who has bowled a perfect game multiple times, so he was showing everyone the ropes.

Sunday, March 20

We went swimming at an indoor pool.  Emilia is so much more confident in the water now.

Monday, March 21

We flew to New York to visit Lilit.  The girls had such fun together.

Tuesday, March 22

A great day with Lilit, some sightseeing with our friend Hripsime, and a wonderful reunion dinner with a friend who has also adopted from Armenia.  Her older daughter and Rex were roommates in Yerevan and she picked up her younger daughter at the same time we did Ella.  It was so nice to catch up.

Hungry Armenian girls

Wednesday, March 23

Our last day with Lilit.  And another great dinner date with a fellow adoptive family.  The two Gyumri girls do not remember it, but they were in the same group at the orphanage for a while.  They connected very quickly.

Thursday, March 24

Time to go home.  The kids were angelic through the entire trip.

Friday, March 25

We caught up on work at home, attended therapies, did some shopping.  And on Friday afternoon, the kids finally needed a break, so we paused life for several hours and just relaxed.

Saturday, March 26

A lovely day with Grandma.  Lots of sunshine, good food, and fun.

Connected

Our ladybug

With Frog and Toad

Sunday, March 27

Happy Easter.  We skipped the bunny and the baskets this year because we really did not need any more excitement (aka stress) and just had a quiet day at home.  Homework, laundry, leftovers, outdoor play, naps.

IAC 346 & 347 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 346 which was held on February 4, 2016:

1) Irish dossier from September 2010 referred a female child aged 1 year and 8 months

2) Spanish dossier from December 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health status

3) Irish dossier from February 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status

4) Italian dossier from July 2011 referred a female child age 7 years and 2 months

5) Italian dossier from September 2012 referred a brother and sister aged 8 years and 3 months & 5 years and 10 months

6) French dossier from November 2012 referred a male child aged 1 year and 9 months with a family history

7) French dossier from January 2013 referred a male child aged 2 years and 7 months with features in health status and a family history

8) Italian dossier from March 2014 referred a brother and sister aged 8 years & 4 years with features in health status

9) US dossier from July 2014 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status

10) French dossier from November 2015 referred a brother and sister aged 8 years and 7 months & 7 years and 6 months with features in health status and a family history

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 347 which was held on February 11, 2016:

 1) Spanish dossier from December 2010 referred a male child aged 2 years and 6 months

 2) US dossier from July 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status

 3) US dossier from October 2013 referred a brother and sister aged 1 year and 11 months & 3 years with features in health status

 4) French dossier from March 2014 referred a female child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

 5) Canadian dossier from November 2014 referred a male child aged 2 years and 9 months with features in health status

 6) US dossier from December 2015 referred a male child aged 2 years and 5 months with features in health status

 7) French dossier from January 2016 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status and a family history

 8) US dossier from February 2016 referred a waiting child (#2943) with a profile on the MOJ site

 9) US dossier from February 2016 referred two waiting children (#2977 & #2962) with profiles on the MOJ site

Picture Of The Day

Last weekend, I was working hard to pack up our family of five for a little vacation. I had my to do and packing list on my bedside table and was editing it constantly as I was running all over the house gathering stuff and completing tasks.  

When I returned to my room at one point, I found this unexpected thank you from I don't know who, but I sure loved it.