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.

Art Spirit Week

This week is Art Spirit Week at the girls' school.  The students were encouraged to dress in a certain way each day.

Monday: Dress like something or someone you would find at an art museum.  For Ella we had a very fitting t-shirt with the iconic Rolling Stones logo, but Emilia was harder to outfit.  We finally settled on a shirt that looked a little bit like a photograph.  We do the best we can.

Tacky Tuesday: mixed-up and mismatched.

Wednesday: Dress like you would for a gallery or art exhibit opening.

Thursday: All shades of green for St. Patrick's Day.

Friday: Dress like a painter.  For Ella, we had this cool paint-splattered shirt from my sister's work for the 2013 Kreativwoche in Vienna.  For Emilia, we had to go with a more French-inspired styling.

This has been a fun week for the girls and me in terms of fashion.  I think they both enjoyed their outfits and our daily photos.

Super Seven

A while ago we celebrated Rex's seventh birthday. 

Here's the recap in photos.

Rex's party tray to share at school -
homemade bacon and potato chip truffles included

Of course, he cared very little about the special treats
and just wanted his turkey sandwich for lunch

Party room all set up for us
at Rex's favorite indoor playground

Banana muffins, maple cupcakes
and double chocolate cupcakes

These homemade maple cupcakes were a hit
and gone by the end of the party
as were the chocolate ones

Cousins take flight

Sizing up the big slide

Big squishy hug from his mama
while everyone sang Happy Birthday

Telling us all the cupcakes were nonsense
and he wanted a sandwich

Some of the 37 guests
gathered around the table -
Rex was happy

Happy, happy birthday, Rex.

I can't believe you are seven.

Daddy and I are so proud of you

and love you forever.

You are full of laughter and love,

curiosity, adventure and mischief.

If you could, you'd live outside
where you feel free, energized and creative

or in our big bed

where you feel safe, comforted and adored for who you are.

You're the best little boy in the whole wide world

and we're so lucky you're ours.

Picture Of The Day

Emilia's independent work at school - she tries so hard:

Manic Monday

We've had a super busy weekend and, consequently, our house was a mess this Monday.  So, I got to work.

Between the time I get up around 6:30 and when the girls board the bus around 8:30, I usually play a little game with myself called, "How Much Can I Get Done?"  This refers to tasks not part of our regular morning routine.  Today I was especially motivated and got some extra jobs completed before the girls left for school;

*loaded and ran dishwasher
*stripped beds and started laundry
*put away clean laundry from yesterday
*cooked chicken for chicken salad
*did homework with Ella
*picked up downstairs
*answered emails

Then when I was home alone for the next four hours, I

*made 6 individual freezer pizzas for the kids
*finished preparing the chicken salad
*unloaded dishwasher
*folded laundry
*ran another load of laundry
*mopped kitchen and downstairs bathroom
*swept dining room and family room
*vacuumed all carpets
*called PCP for a physician's order
*cleaned girls bathroom
*emailed with Emilia's therapists at school about an emerging issue
*called my mom

I think my manic Monday will lead to a slightly more tranquil Tuesday.