Oh Canada

Craig had to go to Canada on business, so we decided to make a little family vacation out of it.   I am so thankful that we have the opportunity to travel some of the world with our kids and expose them to many different experiences.

We left CVG super early in the morning on 10/27 and arrived in Toronto about 9:00 am.  Craig dropped us off at the hotel two hours outside of the city and the kids and I spent the day eating, swimming, sleeping, and playing while he had to work.

The weekend was ours to plan, but with very variable weather, this was not an easy feat.  Due to rain, we chose an indoor activity for Saturday morning visiting the National Air Force Museum of Canada.  Rex likes airplanes, so we figured it was a safe bet.  After lunch, we headed west to get a little closer to Niagara Falls for Sunday.  We wanted to eat dinner at Craig's and my favorite Canadian restaurant, but even at 5:30 pm the wait was already 40 mins and carry out was not available until 7:00.  So, we just ordered a pizza and turned in for the evening.

Craig and I have been to Niagara Falls before and were excited to introduce the kids to this majestic site.  Unfortunately, it was a dreary Sunday, but we still enjoyed ourselves for a few hours.

Emilia called this "a strong water"

Ella couldn't have loved the boat tour more

Rex love-hated it - this was a love moment

I figured we'd not get a photo of all five of us, so took this selfie-
obviously I don't have much practice

Then a nice lady offered to snap this shot

Rex couldn't get enough of being on the SkyWheel

Monday was a work day for Craig, so the kids and I lounged around the hotel, swimming, eating, playing, napping - utterly non-productive and enjoyable.  And our friend Nancy dropped by and took us out to a neat playground for a while.  In the evening, we joined Craig and his colleagues for dinner.

We left Canada yesterday afternoon and made it home just in time to go trick or treating.

Home School Update

Ella has now passed 300 hours of instruction for the 2017/18 school year and is doing very well with her new educational setting.  She seems to be learning and, more importantly, retaining skills and information at a rate we've never seen before.  She enjoys her frequent field trips (she has four of them lined up in the current seven days), quite often accompanied by our Ms. Rie and she has adjusted well to meeting with her academic intervention specialist, Mrs. C., twice a week.  Mrs. C. and Ella are actually working ahead of grade level in some areas which is impressive.

Before a performance at the Aronoff with a friend

We have read almost 40 books since mid-August and visit the library nearly every week.  Aside from language arts and math, we have covered a variety of topics in social studies, science, music and art.  We ride our bikes each day, jump on the trampoline, and complete one hour of neurological reorganization therapy per day.  Ella also works with Gina, our trusted OT, in home for an hour each month to address handwriting and other fine motor IEP goals.

Even though she does not attend school with them anymore, Ella has multiple opportunities each week to see her friends and spend some time with them.

Ella's reward for passing 300 hours was to attend a Colts game with her dad

Overall, home schooling Ella has gone better than anticipated.  We have our tough moments, but Craig and I have not regretted the decision we made for our eldest's education at this time.  Others have noted that she seems more relaxed and happy which makes it all worth it.

Indianapolis

We had an appointment in Indianapolis on Sunday morning and the kids were off school today, so we decided to spend the night in Indiana and have some fun.

The weather on Sunday was cold, rainy and windy, so our plans to explore downtown on foot were largely foiled.  We made one single stop at the new Peyton Manning statue in front of the Colts stadium and then retreated to our hotel room for some rest.  The front desk staff had upgraded us to a corner king room on the 16th floor that overlooked the Indiana State House and the Repertory Theater.  Later in the day we ventured out one more time to meet friends for dinner.

Before bed, we had a swim.  Rex doesn't look it in this photo, but he was so happy in the water.

After a good night's rest, we had breakfast at a little coffee shop.  Emilia had oatmeal which she always calls curds and, consequently, she asked us to recite Little Miss Muffet several times.

On our way to the Rhythm Discovery Center, we saw a homeless woman in the street asking for money.  I think this was Ella's first experience with such a situation and in typical Ella fashion, she asked me about it right away.  She'd had $1.25 in her coat pocket all weekend and ended up dropping it all into the woman's bucket.

The Rhythm Discovery Center is a neat place to explore all things percussion. It was described online as a perfect destination for people who like to hit things.  Since this fits the bill with our kids, we ventured there and were not disappointed.  The whole exhibit is super hands on and we had a great time trying out a large number of percussion instruments.

Ella in front of the Pacific Island Slit Drum

Drumming with my boy

After lots of banging and clanking and learning about how drums work and seeing instruments new and old, we decided it was time to go home.  Thanks, Indianapolis, for a great little getaway.

Apple Butter

This

plus this

plus crock pot heat equals

delicious apple butter 

approved by four out of five eaters in this family.

Emilia Is Eight

My baby girl is eight!  Wait, what?

Sometimes it feels like Emilia gets a little short-changed on her birthday which follows a string of back to back annual events in our lives, so this year I decided to take extra special care with her party.  I kept the guest list very small (family and her best friends only) because large groups can stress her out.  I prepared only foods that she likes and can eat (so often at parties Emilia's food allergies prevent her from enjoying what everyone else is having) and we hired a musician to play her favorite songs.  I had it all worked out, but could not change the unseasonably hot temperatures which plagued our guests and us at this outdoor party.  Nonetheless, I believe Emilia enjoyed her celebration surrounded by those who love her.

Happy birthday, sweet Emilia!

You're the bringer of joy, innocence, and laughter,

The giver of endless love from a pure and strong heart.

You keep slaying the beasts of your past that still come to haunt you

And bravely moving forward.

You're growing and learning 
on your own terms and in your own time.

Daddy and I rejoice at having you as our daughter.

We love you forever and ever and ever.

IAC Results 403- 405

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 403 which was held on August 3, 2017:

1) Spanish dossier from July 2011 referred a female child aged 4 years

2) Norwegian dossier from September 2011 referred a male child aged 2 years and 4 months

3) Danish dossier from November 2011 referred a male child aged 2 years and 2 months with features in health status

4) Italian dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status

5) French dossier from July 2014 referred a male child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status and a family history

6) Italian dossier from January 2016 referred a male child aged 10 years and 8 months with features in health status

7) Italian dossier from March 2016 referred a female child aged 11

8) US dossier from July 2017 referred a female child aged 15 years and 5 months

9) US dossier from July 2017 referred two waiting children (#676 & #2704) with profiles on the MOJ site

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 404 which was held on August 17, 2017:

1) Norwegian dossier from November 2011 referred a male child aged 2 years and 1 month

2) Spanish dossier from December 2011 referred a male child aged 2 years and 7 months with features in health status

3) French dossier from March 2013 referred a male child aged 1 year and 7 months with a family history

4) French dossier from March 2013 referred a male child aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status and a family history

5) Italian dossier from September 2014 referred a male child aged 9 years and 2 months

6) Italian dossier from October 2016 referred a male child aged 10 years and 5 month with features in health status

7) US dossier from August 2017 referred four waiting children (#2958 & #2959 & #2990 & # 2991) with profiles on the MOJ site

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 405 which was held on August 24, 2017:

1) Norwegian dossier from November 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 10 months

2) Norwegian dossier from November 2011 referred a male child aged 1 year and 4 months

3) Dutch dossier from November 2011 referred a female child aged 11 months and 18 days with features in health status

4) French dossier from June 2013 referred a male child aged 8 years and 3 months with features in health status

5) US dossier from March 2015 referred a male child aged 8 years and 5 months with feature sin health status and a family history

6) US dossier from July 2015 referred a male child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health status

7) French dossier from March 2017 referred a male child aged 10 years and 11 months with a family history

8) US dossier from April 2017 referred a female child aged 1 year and 8 months with features in health status and a family history

9) US dossier from August 2017 referred two waiting children (#3141 & #3159) with profiles on the MOJ site

10) US dossier from August 2017 referred a waiting child (#2008) with a profile on the MOJ site

11) US dossier from August 2017 referred a waiting child (#3219) with a profile on the MOJ site

12) US dossier from August 2017 referred two waiting children (#3371 & #3384) with profiles on the MOJ site

Ella's Together Forever Day #3

On October 8, 2014 we took Ella from the only home she'd ever known, an orphanage in Gyumri, Armenia, and she joined our family at six years old.  It's been three years of ups and downs that have felt like two steps forward and one step back in many ways.  We're still struggling with a variety of post-orphanage behaviors in a child that is becoming increasingly educated and independent.

passport photo October 9, 2014

I'd like to be able to say that yesterday was a happy and celebratory occasion, but it was not.  Ella may be one of the adoptees whose trauma flares up around anniversaries such as this and whose behavior deteriorates as a response.  But Ella's smart enough to be aware of all of the dates that are significant in her life's journey, so it's practically impossible to skip Together Forever Day to circumvent some of the challenges.  Instead, we work through it which is harder, but probably healthier for Ella in the long run.

As always, Ella requested an Armenian culinary treat for her special day.  After pouring over two Armenian cookbooks, she settled once again on a sweet bread called gata which I baked for her.

Happy Together Forever Day, Ella!

Daddy and I are fully committed to you and our family.

Adoption is a marathon, not a sprint,

and we're in it for the long haul right by your side.

Precious daughter, we love you.