Just dropping in to let you know that a few fellow adoptive moms with kids from Gyumri are collecting diapers (size newborn to 6) and new clothing for ages 4 to 7 for the Children's Home of Gyumri where Ella and Lilit spent the first several years of their lives. They are collecting physical goods in Pennsylvania and Georgia until June 10th or you can make a cash donation here. Everything given will reach its intended recipients through SOAR.
Another item requested by the orphanage which is home to 125 children with special needs are pediatric walkers. Craig and I purchased two to be added into the shipping container that will start its long journey to Armenia in a few weeks. I am sure a few more wouldn't hurt as they could improve mobility for quite a lot of children.
Donations are tax deductible via SOAR. For questions, do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Monday, June 6, 2016
Friday, June 3, 2016
IAC 350-356 Results
The following referrals were issued in IAC 350 which was held on March 11, 2016:
1) Irish dossier from February 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status
2) Italian dossier from October 2015 referred a female child aged 10 years and 6 months
3) US dossier from February 2016 referred two waiting children (#2618 & #2619) with profiles on the MOJ site
4) US dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#2940) with a profile on the MOJ site
5) US dossier from February 2016 referred two waiting children (#2920 & #2671) with profiles on the MOJ site
6) Italian dossier from March 2016 referred two children, male and female, aged 12 years and 7 months & 15 years and 5 months
The following referrals were issued in IAC 351 which was held on March 17, 2016:
1) Irish dossier from September 2010 referred a female child aged 1 year and 10 months
2) US dossier from May 2011 referred a female child aged 7 years and 8 months
3) French dossier from September 2013 referred a female child aged 2 years and 6 months with features in health status
4) French dossier from August 2013 referred a brother and sister aged 5 years and 1 month & 8 years and 3 months with features in health status
5) Italian dossier from October 2015 referred two children, male and female, aged 9 years and 4 months & 6 years and 6 months
The following referrals were issued in IAC 352 which was held on March 24, 2016:
1) French dossier from March 2011 referred a male child aged 5 years and 11 months with features in health status
2) Irish dossier from August 2011 referred a female child aged 2 years and 2 months with features in health status
3) US dossier from September 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status and a family history
4) French dossier from May 2012 referred a male child aged 6 years and 8 months with a family history
5) Italian dossier from April 2013 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status and a family history
6) French dossier from April 2013 referred a female child aged 6 years with features in health status and a family history
7) Italian dossier from January 2014 referred a brother and sister aged 4 years and 2 months & 8 years and 2 months
8) Italian dossier from December 2015 referred a brother and sister aged 9 years and 5 months & 7 years and 10 months
9) US dossier from March 2016 referred two waiting children (#241 & #50) with profiles on the MOJ site
10) US dossier from March 2016 referred two waiting children (#2527 & #2528) with profiles on the MOJ site
11) US dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#3123) with a profile on the MOJ site
The following referrals were issued in IAC 353 which was held on March 31, 2016:
1) French dossier from February 2011 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status
2) Italian dossier from September 2011 referred a male child aged 6 years and 6 months
3) French dossier from December 2011 referred a male child aged 6 years and 5 months with features in health status
4) US dossier from March 2013 referred a female child aged 8 years and 7 months
5) Italian dossier from March 2016 referred a female child aged 10 years and 4 months
6) US dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#2013) with a profile on the MOJ site
7) US dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#3015) with a profile on the MOJ site
The following referrals were issued in IAC 354 which was held on April 7, 2016:
1) French dossier from August 2011 referred a male child aged 5 years and 7 months with a family history
2) US dossier from October 2011 referred a waiting child (#2805) with a profile on the MOJ site
3) Italian dossier from July 2013 referred sisters aged 9 years and 9 years and 11 months
4) French dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 6 years and 7 months with a family history
5) French dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 3 years with features in health status
6) US dossier from October 2015 referred a female child aged 2 years and 5 months with features in health status and a family history
7) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#2620) with a profile on the MOJ site
8) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#3079) with a profile on the MOJ site
The following referrals were issued in IAC 355 which was held on April 7, 2016:
1) German dossier from April 2011 referred a female child aged 5 years
2) Italian dossier from December 2012 referred a brother and sister aged 9 years and 4 months & 7 years and 10 months
3) Spanish dossier from November 2014 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status
4) US dossier from June 2015 referred sisters aged 9 years and 6 months & 8 years and 7 months
5) Italian dossier from February 2016 referred brothers aged 7 years and 6 months & 9 years and 2 months
The following referrals were issued in IAC 356 which was held on April 27, 2016:
1) Spanish dossier from February 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months
2) Irish dossier from April 2011 referred a male child aged 1 year and 4 months with features in health status
3) Italian dossier from July 2011 referred a female child aged 7 years and 11 months
4) Italian dossier from May 2012 referred a brother and sister aged 7 years and 6 month & 4 years and 4 months
5) US dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 8 years and 1 month
6) French dossier from July 2014 referred a male child aged 3 years and 11 months with features in health status
7) French dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#2660) with a profile on the MOJ site
8) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#3160) with a profile on the MOJ site
9) US dossier from April 2016 referred a female child aged 10 years and 11 months
10) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#3143) with a profile on the MOJ site
11) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#3086) with a profile on the MOJ site
1) Irish dossier from February 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status
2) Italian dossier from October 2015 referred a female child aged 10 years and 6 months
3) US dossier from February 2016 referred two waiting children (#2618 & #2619) with profiles on the MOJ site
4) US dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#2940) with a profile on the MOJ site
5) US dossier from February 2016 referred two waiting children (#2920 & #2671) with profiles on the MOJ site
6) Italian dossier from March 2016 referred two children, male and female, aged 12 years and 7 months & 15 years and 5 months
The following referrals were issued in IAC 351 which was held on March 17, 2016:
1) Irish dossier from September 2010 referred a female child aged 1 year and 10 months
2) US dossier from May 2011 referred a female child aged 7 years and 8 months
3) French dossier from September 2013 referred a female child aged 2 years and 6 months with features in health status
4) French dossier from August 2013 referred a brother and sister aged 5 years and 1 month & 8 years and 3 months with features in health status
5) Italian dossier from October 2015 referred two children, male and female, aged 9 years and 4 months & 6 years and 6 months
The following referrals were issued in IAC 352 which was held on March 24, 2016:
1) French dossier from March 2011 referred a male child aged 5 years and 11 months with features in health status
2) Irish dossier from August 2011 referred a female child aged 2 years and 2 months with features in health status
3) US dossier from September 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status and a family history
4) French dossier from May 2012 referred a male child aged 6 years and 8 months with a family history
5) Italian dossier from April 2013 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status and a family history
6) French dossier from April 2013 referred a female child aged 6 years with features in health status and a family history
7) Italian dossier from January 2014 referred a brother and sister aged 4 years and 2 months & 8 years and 2 months
8) Italian dossier from December 2015 referred a brother and sister aged 9 years and 5 months & 7 years and 10 months
9) US dossier from March 2016 referred two waiting children (#241 & #50) with profiles on the MOJ site
10) US dossier from March 2016 referred two waiting children (#2527 & #2528) with profiles on the MOJ site
11) US dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#3123) with a profile on the MOJ site
The following referrals were issued in IAC 353 which was held on March 31, 2016:
1) French dossier from February 2011 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status
2) Italian dossier from September 2011 referred a male child aged 6 years and 6 months
3) French dossier from December 2011 referred a male child aged 6 years and 5 months with features in health status
4) US dossier from March 2013 referred a female child aged 8 years and 7 months
5) Italian dossier from March 2016 referred a female child aged 10 years and 4 months
6) US dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#2013) with a profile on the MOJ site
7) US dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#3015) with a profile on the MOJ site
The following referrals were issued in IAC 354 which was held on April 7, 2016:
1) French dossier from August 2011 referred a male child aged 5 years and 7 months with a family history
2) US dossier from October 2011 referred a waiting child (#2805) with a profile on the MOJ site
3) Italian dossier from July 2013 referred sisters aged 9 years and 9 years and 11 months
4) French dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 6 years and 7 months with a family history
5) French dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 3 years with features in health status
6) US dossier from October 2015 referred a female child aged 2 years and 5 months with features in health status and a family history
7) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#2620) with a profile on the MOJ site
8) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#3079) with a profile on the MOJ site
The following referrals were issued in IAC 355 which was held on April 7, 2016:
1) German dossier from April 2011 referred a female child aged 5 years
2) Italian dossier from December 2012 referred a brother and sister aged 9 years and 4 months & 7 years and 10 months
3) Spanish dossier from November 2014 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status
4) US dossier from June 2015 referred sisters aged 9 years and 6 months & 8 years and 7 months
5) Italian dossier from February 2016 referred brothers aged 7 years and 6 months & 9 years and 2 months
The following referrals were issued in IAC 356 which was held on April 27, 2016:
1) Spanish dossier from February 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months
2) Irish dossier from April 2011 referred a male child aged 1 year and 4 months with features in health status
3) Italian dossier from July 2011 referred a female child aged 7 years and 11 months
4) Italian dossier from May 2012 referred a brother and sister aged 7 years and 6 month & 4 years and 4 months
5) US dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 8 years and 1 month
6) French dossier from July 2014 referred a male child aged 3 years and 11 months with features in health status
7) French dossier from March 2016 referred a waiting child (#2660) with a profile on the MOJ site
8) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#3160) with a profile on the MOJ site
9) US dossier from April 2016 referred a female child aged 10 years and 11 months
10) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#3143) with a profile on the MOJ site
11) US dossier from April 2016 referred a waiting child (#3086) with a profile on the MOJ site
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Hall Closet Redo
Since my husband is a problem solver, he read my confession as a plea and offered to redo the closet with me. We imagined and discussed various set-ups with the premise, as always, that form must follow function and finances, and then decided that the existing shelves really did need to come out. What we found behind them was a little gross, so we sanded and repainted the entire closet.
A clean slate:
Our plan A failed once I saw it in the space, so we went back to the drawing board and thought up something even better. Tah-dah, I am quite happy with how it all came together.
Other than some things we didn't need anymore, the closet still holds the same amount of stuff, just much more organized. Some day I might even get around to putting labels on the bins.
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| Before & After |
Friday, May 27, 2016
Summer's On Like Donkey Kong
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| Driveway art to welcome the girls off the bus |
The Sisters Martini have finished their school year. I think we're all relieved to get a break.
They also brought home some great artwork. Ella's birth mom and I love her self-portrait, especially the big smile, big muscle arms, sun, flowers and blue shirt. Blue is Ella's favorite color and her Armenian mom's, too.
And look at my littlest babe... oh the places she'll go. She traced this by herself and made the coffee filter art.
Happy summer, everyone.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Summer Home School 2016
For the month of June, I will be doing summer home school again
with both girls. In July, they will be
in summer school / ESY through the district (Monday through Friday 8:00 am to
noon) and for the first part of August, we will have true time off.
Ella’s Summer Homeschool Plan
Daily
*Spell 26 words from the first grade spelling curriculum, practice
any words that were misspelled OR write a short story, letter, etc.
*Read at least two books or 20 minutes in the same book, including
verbal response to what’s been read to show reading comprehension
*Complete at least one math work sheet
*Practice second grade sight words
*Learn two new words to build vocab
Emilia’s Summer Homeschool Plan
Daily
*Review Kindergarten sight words, add new sight words as
appropriate
*Complete one tracing/handwriting work sheet for letters
*Math (how many / more or less / simple patterns / identify and
label numbers 11 to 20 / count to 30 / 3D shapes)
*Practice dressing skills
*Read one book with help in Kids A-Z
Weekly for both girls together
SCIENCE
Week 1: The Five Senses, The Scientific Method, Is It Magnetic?
Week 2: Interactions with Water, An M&M Investigation
Week 3: Does It Float?, Elephant Toothpaste, Growing Seeds
Week 4: Save The Apples, Push vs Pull
ART
Week 1: Patterns and shape people
Week 2: Symmetry
Week 3: Crayon rainbow, sunrise/ocean collages
Week 4: Mermaids (Ella’s fave)
COOKING & BAKING per the girls' request
Monday, May 23, 2016
Heart Camp
This year, for the first time, we attended Heart Camp, an event organized by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Heart Institute for pediatric cardiology patients and their families. Heart Camp which starts on Friday and ends on Sunday is held at Camp Joy in Ohio and was host to 50 families (175 people) this year. We opted for the Saturday only attendance which we found to be just right for us. This year, camp was completely free of charge thanks to many generous sponsors.
We arrived at Heart Camp at 9:30 am, checked in and then helped the kids split up into their age groups. Ella went with the 6-8 year olds who played games and did lots of physical activities. We placed Emilia and Rex with the 3-5 year olds who went on a hike, played with bubbles, parachutes, toys, etc. During this time, Craig and I could have attended a parent work shop, but we decided to stay with Rex and Emilia since they can be a bit challenging to manage in unfamiliar situations and by people who do not know them well. We enjoyed spending time with them and a bunch of other special kiddos.
After these separate sessions, there was a group lunch (quite good and with allergy-friendly options) followed by four hours of free time during which families had access to much of what Camp Joy has to offer. We hit up the petting zoo, did tractor rides, made some arts and crafts, let our adventurous kids do the Swing-By-Choice multiple times, and Ella even did part of the rope course and zip line.
The weather wasn't great for a day in mid-May though at least it wasn't raining, but by 5:00 pm, we were ready for a hot dinner at the dining hall. During the meal, we warmed up, refueled and chatted with others. I think everyone was happily exhausted from the day's activities, but still saving up some energy for the dance from 7:30 to 9:00. We hadn't intended to stay that late, but the kids had so much fun. Rex danced practically the whole time.
Throughout the day, we had many nice conversations with different families and even connected with another adoptive family. Heart Camp was a lot of fun and we hope to be back next year.
We arrived at Heart Camp at 9:30 am, checked in and then helped the kids split up into their age groups. Ella went with the 6-8 year olds who played games and did lots of physical activities. We placed Emilia and Rex with the 3-5 year olds who went on a hike, played with bubbles, parachutes, toys, etc. During this time, Craig and I could have attended a parent work shop, but we decided to stay with Rex and Emilia since they can be a bit challenging to manage in unfamiliar situations and by people who do not know them well. We enjoyed spending time with them and a bunch of other special kiddos.
After these separate sessions, there was a group lunch (quite good and with allergy-friendly options) followed by four hours of free time during which families had access to much of what Camp Joy has to offer. We hit up the petting zoo, did tractor rides, made some arts and crafts, let our adventurous kids do the Swing-By-Choice multiple times, and Ella even did part of the rope course and zip line.
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| She loves tractors and all other large machinery. |
This is Ella on the Swing-By-Choice. You have to consciously let yourself go to make the first drop. Rex loved this as well and did it four times, but we did not have him drop himself. Instead, we gave him some major pushes to go back and forth.
The weather wasn't great for a day in mid-May though at least it wasn't raining, but by 5:00 pm, we were ready for a hot dinner at the dining hall. During the meal, we warmed up, refueled and chatted with others. I think everyone was happily exhausted from the day's activities, but still saving up some energy for the dance from 7:30 to 9:00. We hadn't intended to stay that late, but the kids had so much fun. Rex danced practically the whole time.
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| YMCA with daddy |
Throughout the day, we had many nice conversations with different families and even connected with another adoptive family. Heart Camp was a lot of fun and we hope to be back next year.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
New CSA
As I mentioned before, we chose a new CSA this year which is located about 30 miles from our home. My main reasons to switch were that this CSA offers fruits and veggies (as opposed to just veggies with our supplier last year), that I can customize my box with what's in season (as opposed to having to accept whatever was chosen for our weekly box) and that they deliver to our door (as opposed to going to a pick-up site at a certain time). I also really appreciated the farmer giving me a lot of her time over the phone as I asked her about their growing practices etc. She invited our family to come out to the farm any time to see where our produce is grown.
Yesterday our first box arrived. It was quite exciting. I had said no to chard, asparagus and green onions because I'd be the only one here eating them. Instead, I doubled up on lettuces and snap peas and tomatoes from their green house. So our box included four of these packages of snap peas, two of tomatoes, and four really big bags of mixed baby salad greens, and spinach.
And today I ate my first locally grown salad of the season for lunch. Yum.
Yesterday our first box arrived. It was quite exciting. I had said no to chard, asparagus and green onions because I'd be the only one here eating them. Instead, I doubled up on lettuces and snap peas and tomatoes from their green house. So our box included four of these packages of snap peas, two of tomatoes, and four really big bags of mixed baby salad greens, and spinach.
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| Showing one of each |
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