Misc May...

Here is just some miscellaneous pictures of our May.

This is Alex with "up" hair. "Down" hair is the norm and he wears it to school but he wears it "up" for my benefit on Sundays. I joke with him that he doesn't wear it "up" to school because he doesn't want all the girls to fall in love with him.

Devree studying-like normal.
Rylee playing DS-again normal.

Kambree & Austin trying to catch some of summers first rays.
Kambree is studying, Austin apparently is not.

Devree in her Thriller costume with a less than thrilling look.

Austin & Hayden with crazy hair. (This is one of the few legitimate smiles I've captured in a long time from Austin!)

Alex showing me how he has invented his own lock for his scooter. (Prior to him buying his new bike lock.)

Kambree performing with MDC at Spartan Spectacular!

Kam with some of her dance company. You may notice how the all wear identical makeup-from the same containers never the less- which I agree with from a theatrical point of view but after this performance one of the girls came down with pink eye! So from a Mom's point of view....I'm not to thrilled about this sharing make-up situation.

Kambree performed the "Couch" dance for her Seminary Talent Show. I took lots of pictures but due to the small "stage" and the fact that she never held still-that happens when dancing-this it the end pose where they all collapse on the couch. Kambree is in the green-not because she's suppose to be, but because she couldn't find her shirt.

Devree singing her solo in choir class!

We made it!

Whew! We made it through our crazy week with just a few more additions.
First, add one Rylee with what we thought was stomach flu on Friday, then a funeral in our ward on Saturday, a trip to Instacare with Rylee to confirm that the flu was actually the first stages of strep throat so add a trip to the pharmacy, add in a few bandages on Alex's knees and all the other performances and commitments I mentioned in the previous post and there you have it! Our insane week.
Alex upon finding out that Rylee will not be attending church today came in this morning faking a hoarse throat. I know he thinks I was born yesterday. (I had already heard him fake coughing to Rylee and Rylee telling him he's not sick.) He came into my office and delivered a stellar award winning performance. Too funny. He's going to church.
He and Rylee purchased combination locks for their bikes while we were picking up Rylee's prescription yesterday. I came down this morning to find them both watching cartoons and each of them with their locks wrapped around their legs all locked up. Wow. Who needs toys when a $3 bike lock can give you so much entertainment and possibilities?
Alex has tied the wagon to his bike and likes to ride with it dragging behind him. So far I have not seen anyone IN the wagon and I made it very clear that anyone in the wagon better have a helmet on but mostly he just rides around with it dragging behind him.
Thursday he had a bike crash (he did not have the wagon attached at the time) that gave him a big skinned knee. Bath time Thursday was a major ordeal. He insisted he could not take a bath due to his injury. I told him he did have to take a bath but he didn't have to put his knee in the water. I walked by the bathroom and could hear him crying in the tub. The door was locked and I knocked to see if he needed help. I could only hear crying so I told him I would be unlocking the door and coming in. I was armed with a washcloth and shut my eyes. I handed him the washcloth and gave him a minute to cover himself and then I told him I'd be opening my eyes. He was using the washcloth alright....to wipe his tears! I guess he could care less about anything else. I washed his back and he confirmed he had washed the rest of him and I helped him out of the tub and towel dry. He did not have his knee in the water so I don't know why this was so painful for him. My theory is that he's a very tough kid, he can skid down a mountain on his belly and jump up and say "cool huh?" and pillow fight with a brother three times his size and take a beating but once he let's go and a tear escapes, he really let's go and we have a flood! Luckily this doesn't happen too much.
He's so excited for school to be out next week. Each morning he tells me how many more days of school. I thought it was time I broke the news that he would be having a tutor this summer. He was disappointed but when he realized it would be here at our house and with other children from Ukraine he seemed to take it okay. He even told his teacher at school that he was having a tutor at "mine house" this summer. June he will have a reading tutor up at school for a half hour Monday & Wednesday and then our ESL tutor for two hours on Tuesday & Thursday.
His English has improved so much. The other day during our study hour I got out one of our books and covered the English words and just pointed to objects. I was amazed at how many he knew. When I went in to meet with his teacher and the principal on Friday to discuss his placement for next year, (He's going into 5th grade in the fall-like I wanted!) his teacher told me how well he communicates and how much everyone in his class likes him and looks out for him.
He has discovered that he LOVES being with his cousins Brach & Tyler. With Rylee sick on Saturday and me running in a million directions he spent the entire day playing with them. He called me on my cell phone. "Me cousins, okay mom?" We are so lucky to have our cousins live just two blocks away.
Well, this is the last week of school. I wouldn't mind summer so much if I didn't have to make lunch everyday. It feels like I make breakfast, clean up, make lunch, clean up only in time to turn around and make dinner. This eating thing is highly overrated!
Speaking of eating, for those of you in our parent lunch group, don't forget we have lunch this Tuesday! Email me for details if you didn't get my email already.
Here's to the last week of school-may we all make it through and savor these last precious hours during the day we have to ourselves!

Our week so far!

I'm sitting at my computer waiting for an email from my title company that my closing IS going to happen this afternoon and decided to post some pictures of our crazy week. The sad part, is the week is not yet over and yet so much has been packed into it! So this is more like a mid week report!

First off Sunday night cousin sleep over, take note, Rylee is already asleep!


On Memorial Day we went to "Jump On It" in Lindon

I took lot of pictures but they all turned out blurry because of course everyone was jumping, but you can kind of get the idea of what this place is. Trampolines lined up side by side and up the walls. It was lots of fun.
This is the group shot of our sweaty and tired kids standing in front of an industrial sized fan!

Here is Austin on a Merry Go Round just his size!

Kambree with Syd and Zach on a pony ride.

Then Tuesday we had a dance performance at Murray Care Center.

Tuesday night a choir performance for Devree

Hayden and Austin after the choir performance.

Devree getting kissed by Grandma Nan after her performance.

We got home just in time for the Hainsworth cousin's to arrive and dang, if I didn't get my camera out so no pictures.
The next night Alex had scouts and Devree & Rylee and I went to Austin's choir performance.
This is Kambree who stayed home to study for one of her SEVEN finals.

Austin looks so handsome in his tuxedo shirt and vest. I tried hard to get a good picture as this is his last performance but one thing Austin is not is photogenic or patient enough to pose for a nice picture.

I did get a cute on with Grandma Nan

This is Devree showing me her locker. What could be in locker?

Rylee of course!

This is Austin and his friend Jessie.

And then this is Devree and Rylee trying to help me get Austin to pose outside of the school.

And this is the best we got!

Afterwards we hurried home to get everyone off to YM & YW's.
Tonight is Spartan Spectacular and Kambree is dancing. Tomorrow she dances again for her Seminary talent show. Ry & Dev dance again for another rest home Friday night. Add to this a closing (maybe), a breakfast to pull off Saturday morning for Relief Society, a baby shower, five children going five different ways and one of me and you have our week!

4 weeks ago today...

Alex and I arrived home after 24+ hours of travel.
Yesterday, while driving to the store we drove past a couple girls on horses and I asked Alex "What are those?" pointing to the horses. He's immediate response was, "Unicorns!" We couldn't help but laugh and in his defense when we study the alphabet the U card has a unicorn on it and the H card does not have a horse on it. So of course, the only word he knows that looks similar to a horse is a unicorn!
In these four short weeks Alex has learned so much! His English gets better every day. But he has so much more to learn then English. Here's a few other things he's learned. Some he learned easily, some not so easily:
1. When mom says your clothes don't match, you have to go change no matter how much you pout or say no. (I always say, "Alex you are not an orphan any more and I will not have you looking like one!")
2. If you don't use soap in the bathtub, you'll be getting back in to try again.
3. When you wear shorts you wear short socks.
4. You need to TRY everything on your plate. You don't have to like it and you don't have to eat it all-unless it's your vegetables-even then if you don't want to eat them, that's okay-you just don't get any treats later.
5. When you try food that you have thoroughly sniffed and made a disgusting face about, sometimes you really like it and ask for more.
6. Bedtime is at nine o'clock and when mom trust you to get yourself to bed on time and you don't do it, you get to go to bed however minutes you were late getting into bed-that much earlier the next night.
7. When you do your 10 minute daily chore poorly, Mom will call you back to re-do it as many times as it takes to get it right-and it ends up taking you longer than ten minutes.
8. Sponge Bob is cool and you get to watch more TV then the other children. (This is in an effort to help him pick up English-I know, do I really want him sounding like Patrick and Sponge Bob?)
9. Having sleep over's with cousins is cool.
10. Sacrament is boring but primary is fun.
11. You have to take turns with Rylee sitting on the best side of the car.
12. The youngest children sit in the very back of the van.
13. Austin is fun and silly and "needs crazy medicine". (That's what Alex is always telling him.)
14. Singing and dancing are a daily occurrence at your house.
15. Making money selling punch, Popsicles and popcorn is great!
16. You need to let the batteries die before replacing them in anything.
17. Mom likes hugs and kisses daily.
18. Mom is not so dumb, if you say you've brushed your teeth, your toothbrush better be wet.
19. Riding your bike is a privilege and can be taken away if you don't obey or behave.
20. You are very smart. No one may have told you that before but you are incredibly smart and your Mom tells you that all the time. (And that you're cute too!)
21. America is "rely rely cool!"

All in all, things have gone WAY better than I anticipated. After our little computer talk a couple weeks ago Alex has been wonderful. I know there are times he wants to pout and stomp off but he resists. We did have some tears over the re-bath due to lack of soap usage but afterwards I tickled and hugged him and made a big deal over how good he smells and he found his giggles. He is struggling with my new "bath everyday" rule. But the boy plays so hard and sweats-he needs to bath every day!
Last night I was gone at the bedtime hour but home shortly after and when I got home he was up with his light and radio on. I explained that he'd be going to bed tomorrow at 8:44 instead of nine o'clock. I'm sure that will be a struggle and I know that sounds like such a petty thing to worry about but the point is I left him with specific instructions (not to mention he was reminded by Rylee to go to bed and she managed to get in bed on time) and he chose not to obey. So this is a consequence he needs to learn. I know I'm a mean mother but mean mothers have the nicest kids!
I have learned a lot too in these past four weeks:
1. Wearing mismatched, homemade earrings to church makes Alex very proud.
2. That shirts are not only to cover your body but to use as a napkin.
3. Alex eats fruit like other kids eat candy.
4. That you teach your children so much right from birth and sometimes it's over whelming to think of all the things Alex needs to learn.
5. It's important to CHECK Alex's pockets before washing his pants!
6. That hot sweaty little boys give the nicest hugs.
7. Loving Alex is easy.
8. Teaching him isn't always easy.
9. English words with a Russian accent are hard to understand-no matter how loud he repeats them. (Usually when I just can't get it, he's not using the right word in the first place. Lucky for me and Alex we're both very good at charades!)
10. As much as we've both learned, we have lots more to go....
On the way to our neighbors house a block away none of us but Alex had on a seat belt and he was telling everyone "Kambree-seat belt, Austin-seat belt" etc. Then Austin said, "Why don't you tell Mom-seat belt?" Alex gasped. "Mama, no seat belt?-insert sound of disappointment- Mama broken?" So, despite the fact I'm a mean mother-with high hygenic & color cordinating standards, he must still love me or at least care about me as he doesn't want to see me "broken"!

Remembering...

Memorial Day.
On this day, we salute and pay respect to those who protect and defend our country. Which I think is good and patriotic and certainly well deserved.
In my family we don't have any soldiers or veterans to honor yet it is a day of decorating graves-or it was when I was little. We would gather grandma's red peonies & purple Irises (only she called them Flags) from her little yard in Rosepark and drive up to the graveyard. How my grandma and mother could remember where my grandfather and great grandparents graves are is still a mystery to me. I remember my mom getting after me for stepping on the headstones but in my little Wendy head that was nicer than walking over their bodies buried beneath the ground. Maybe it was because I would try to jump from headstone to headstone that my mother got after me?
My great grandparents died when I was four. I remember my age vividly because I told my babysitter how sad I was and she said something to the effect, "You don't know anything about death, you are only four." But I did know, I knew that Grandma Pearl, the woman who babysat me sometimes while my mom was at work, who let me roll out my own little pie crust and had little pie pans just my size, and kept peppermint salt water taffy in little glass containers all over her house had died. No longer would I play at her house or lay in her lap and hear her tummy growl. I think about my great grandmother often when it's quiet and late at night. I now have a tummy that growls too and I wonder if this is a genetic trait from my great grandmother or just what happens to you when you get older?
I was blessed to experience few deaths in my growing up years. My mothers father died of cancer when she was fourteen and her mother, my precious Grandma Lee is still living.
When I was much older, pregnant with Rylee, my fathers mother, Grandma Johnson died. Grandma was a canner (which may not be a real word-she canned things) and taught me all about canning. Often times when I'm canning I think, "Dang, if I could just call grandma and ask her about.... " Rarely can I make it through canning season without a tear or two in honor of my little grandma-I was taller than her in sixth grade.
My grandfather passed a year later. Grandpa was a gardener. He grew it and she canned it. Somehow he brought to his little house on Boxelder street, wheelbarrows and wheelbarrows of "mountain dirt" to make his garden soil rich and fertile. On May 15th this year I told James, "We have to plant the tomatoes today! It's May 15th. Grandpa always said the tomatoes had to be in by the 15th." and we did without a day to spare!
My grandfather loved my grandmother. He loved to talk about their courtship. Grandma was 17 when she married Grandpa. It was during the Depression when they met and he was working on one of those government projects to get men working and had to walk miles just to visit & court her. He always told me what great "gams" she had and how they could "sure cut a rug."
Sometimes I drive by small houses in Murray and see the neon blue reflection of a TV and I have this overwhelming desire to have a Pepsi. That was grandpa's drink of choice and you learn early on when visiting to just say, "Yes, Grandpa. I'd love a Pepsi." as he's going to ask you every 20 minutes until you do.
I watched my grandparents grow old, deteriorate and becoming shells of their former self's. When they passed away it was not the sick and struggling old folks that I missed. It was the grandma of my childhood who teased me that she would "beat my britches down the street"- yet I knew she would never lay a hand on me. The grandma that let me wear her Aqua Net hairspray with glitter in it for no reason at all and call me Wendy Sue. (Even though my middle name is Lee.)
I missed the grandpa who would listen with rapt attention as I played for him-at his request-on the piano during family parties when no one else in the room was listening. He would clap like I had just played a fabulous concert. At my grandfather's viewing the room was so quiet. There was a piano and a hymn book. Please know I am not a great piano player, but in an attempt to fill the emptiness and I guess to play for my grandfather one last time, I sat at the piano and played. I always pick the hymns with the least amount of sharps or flats and I muddle through-often times just plunking out the melody with my top hand but that day, I would just flip to a page and play. Sharps and flats were no object, my top hand played with my bottom hand like never before. People would walk by and say "I didn't know you could play piano like this." Neither did I and I don't. I can't. And I never have again. I can't explain it, it just happened.
I can't remember the last time I went to decorate the graves with my Grandma and I don't think I've visited Grandma & Grandpa Johnson's graves since they were buried. It's not that I don't love them or remember them, I remember them each year during planting and canning season. They each have not a day but a season. I wonder if decorating graves is a thing of the past? I mean if I don't do it and teach my children to do it, then who will?
Probably no one and that's just as well in my book because all this death and remembrance stuff really bothers me. Not that Memorial Day bothers me, I'm all for this day honoring the men and women that defend our country. It's when it comes to our own loved ones that are not soldiers and veterans. I told James if I die before he does to bury my in a homemade pine box and forget all this craziness about satin lined coffins, mahogany finishes and all the other burial hoopla stuff that make funerals so expensive. If you visit my grave-don't bring me flowers-I won't be there and they'll just die. I'd rather you buy Chinese food and have a party or something. Doesn't that sound nicer? Or maybe rather than a certain "day" to remember and honor your loved one's you could remember them when you do something they love? Like in my case each time you attend a play or in my mom's case when you sew or my aunts when you quilt or like with my grandparents when I can or garden. Remembering and honoring shouldn't require flowers and guilt. Maybe it's as simple as writing a blog post about those you love that have gone on before you. Perhaps that is much more "memorable" and pleasant then hauling flowers, traipsing through a grave yard, and getting mad at your child for trying to leap from headstone to headstone?

May Madness...

Rylee's Murray Community Dance Recital

Devree @ Guyz and Dollz

Devree (in Thriller costume) and Rylee after Guyz and Dollz performance

Amy and I at the airport! Welcome home Amy!

Alex after counting his money in his bank!

Punch, Popcorn and Popsicle sale!

Bit's and Pieces....

I know bit's and pieces of Alex's past.
I know Ivan (Alex's half brother) was 15 when Alex was born and that Ivan joined the army when Alex was three. At age four on the 23rd of December Alex was picked up in a "street sweep" and his birth mother didn't come claim him until December 26th. She was told if this happened again, she would lose her parental rights. Apparently she wasn't living in the same place as he was? Where and who he was living with is a mystery.
When Alex was five he was picked up again on a street sweep, sent to an orphanage and 10 months later his birth mothers parental rights were terminated. This was in October of 2004. By this time he is six years old. He must have been in a "baby" orphange until November of 2005 when he entered the boarding school where we adopted him from. Here is the part of our adoption decree:
"Alex has stayed in the secondary boarding school #2, the Department for children with heavy speech disorder and no parents or relatives visited him. Nobody sent letters or called or took an interest in his state of health. No one participated in his maintenance or education except for his brother Ivan who did not show a desire to become his guardian"
From Alex I've learned (through pantomiming, some English and a lot of assumption on my part) that both his parents drank...a lot. That his birth mom was not nice and hurt him. That he has a scar on his finger from his birth father who woke him up in the night when he was "a little bebe" to hit him. That his birth father is large with red eyes. This birth father later died of sclerosis of the liver. His birth mother never married the birth father, in fact she put Ivan's father on Alex's birth certificate and that is why he and Ivan have the same last name.
I know as Alex learns English that he'll probably be able to tell us more about his past. Maybe not. Maybe he won't want to talk about it? Maybe it's too painful?
I just wanted to document it before I forget the details so that later when and if he does want to talk about it I won't be trying to search the cobwebs of my brain for the details...

Alex Update...

Last night I found a note on Alex's door. One side said:
"No valkin"
the other side
"Yes valkin"
I was puzzled. This morning I asked him about the sign and what it means and he told me-by pantomiming his fingers walking.-one side says "No walk in" and the other "Yes walk in". Now it makes sense as he makes a v sound for his w's.
Alex, Rylee and Brach set up a punch, Popsicle and popcorn stand. Every time they would make a sell Alex would run in and tell me how much they had made. The did this for hours. By the end of their sale they made just over $15 dollars. Alex was so excited for his 1/3rd split. I brought them lunch and checked on them throughout the day and learned that Alex would stand at the side of the road and plead to cars going by by making praying hands and begging motions. Rylee thought that was awesome because "Every time Alex does that, people stop!" Well, who wouldn't stop for a little begging boy on the side of the road with punch and Popsicle drips down his shirt? Hopefully no one from the department of family services drove by!
At one point during the day Kambree and Devree and Rylee broke into dance on the sidewalk to the Solider Boy song. Alex, not knowing their choreography just did his own. He has some serious dance moves.
I had to talk to Alex about limiting his fruit consumption. Yesterday-what I actually witnessed him eating (and chances are I did not witness ALL of his consumption) was 2 banana's, 3 apples and about 5 pieces of watermelon. And that was all in about a four hour span and outside of the fruit I served with dinner. Today I told him that what ever fruit I serve for breakfast, lunch or dinner do not count but outside of meals he may have THREE pieces of fruit. I can't believe I had to tell a child of mine this but honestly, I can't keep buying all this fruit, we ALL need to have a little fruit, and although fruit is good for you, too much of anything is not!
He slept in until around nine this morning and was disgruntled that Rylee woke him up driving the remote control car. He came to the top of the stairs and yelled to her. "Me sleeping!"
Tonight Kambree had a double date and asked to play Wii at our house so we planned to go shopping and to the dollar movies but our shopping trip took longer than expected when the wallet Alex was trying to buy with his newly made wealth, was recalled and they couldn't sell it to us. We had found it on the clearance rack and I didn't know how to explain to him that he couldn't buy it. I settled with "It's broken and we can't buy it." There was a nicer wallet but for substantially more money and fortunate for us, the manager sold it to him for the same price as the recalled wallet. (I know, what the heck? A recalled wallet?) Anyway, we were too late to go to our show by the time this was all figured out so we picked up a Redbox and quarantined ourselves upstairs. It was a chick flick and Alex soon lost interest so he got out the beads and made me a snake key chain and a pair of earrings for me. The earrings do not have the same color beads on each side and I know I will need to wear these to church tomorrow, good thing I have long hair!
He said something so funny today and for the life of me, I can't remember what it was. I need to write these things down. If I remember later, I'll add it to this post.

Saturday Summary...

Rylee got her appliance on. Her upper jaw (like mine & Kambree's) is to small so she's been fitted with an appliance that we crank each day and slowly it will widen her jaw. It was an ordeal getting it on Friday. It fits into the roof of her mouth and is held in place by four bands, two on each side. The back teeth are permanent teeth but the front teeth the bands were to go on were baby teeth and they were so sensitive, she cried and cried and although I was there holding her hand, she would cry for me and tell me "I just want to go home." After one last try that turned into screaming more than crying, the assistants trying to fit the appliance before the doc cemented it on, gave up and turned her over to the orthodontist (who is fabulous by the way). He took the appliance in the back, shaved off the front bands, slid it on the back teeth only, cemented it in place and it was done! Thank heavens! My poor Ry. She was breaking my heart.
Thursday I went to our parent lunch and it was so fun to have Amy & Julee there fresh from Urkaine. I felt bad that it was so noisy and I felt like I didn't get a chance to talk with everyone, I'm hoping our new lunch place (1st Tuesday of each month, Archibald's at noon!) will be more conducive for mingling and chatting.
It's Memorial Day weekend and Alex is excited to have three days out of school. I'm sure everyone is excited, he's just the only one that mentions it four times a day! We don't have any fabulous plans or anything-with James being gone-but I'm trying to come up with something fun to do on Monday.
Last night I went to Jen Benson's bow making party. She's leaving in June to go get her daughter and we made lots of hair bows last night for the girls there. There are three families leaving in June to go adopt their children. When I first got home I felt so sorry for them but now I'm excited for them. The idea of going back when I first got home was so overwhelming. I had been there so long that I just felt dread for them but now that I've been home and able to reflect on my trip and adventure and realizing this is all new to them, I'm excited and happy for them. What they're about to embark on is a once in a lifetime adventure and they will be changing not only a child's life but their whole families life by bringing this child home to be a part of a family. If any of you three families are reading this post....you better post a lot about your adventure!!!
It's Saturday morning and my house is calling for me to clean it, everyone is still asleep except for Rylee and I should go make breakfast or start cleaning but what am I doing?? Reading blogs and posting this ever so boring one....

"Me English!"

Tonight we went to the airport to see the Rasts and Bunchs arrive home.
Oh, seeing them reminded me so much of how tired I was and how long that day was. Can it be that it was less than three weeks ago that Alex and I arrived home?
On the way into the airport Alex glanced at me in my new, very colorful sundress-that I bought today- and waving towards my dress he told me "Me, no cute." Which I interpreted as "I don't like your dress Mom." That made me laugh. I think it's funny he even noticed what I was wearing, let alone have and voice his opinion.
In the airport he had fun saying hi to his friends but he refused to speak Russian to them. Jeff Rast asked him the Ukraine word for brother and he said "Me don't know-me English." And then he'd tell me "Ukraine" and then make talking hand motions and say "blah, blah blah..." like he use to about English.
On the way home I asked, "Alex, could you really not understand Ukraine?" He replied, "Me speak, me no ear." Does that mean he can speak it but doesn't understand it when spoken? I said, "Alex, you have to remember your Russian, how will you speak to Ivan?" He shrugged and said "English?"
I, of course think he can understand still and speak just fine, he just chooses not too. It's his way of being "Me, American boy!" He refuses to read any of the Ukraine books I bought or the illustrated Russian book of Mormon. He also is trying many new foods and finding he likes quite a few, and he loves to drink his drinks with ice in them and ask, "Me, American Boy?" Everyday he becomes more and more American. He only refers to bad thing in Ukraine. Like when we drive over the train tracks or a dip in the road he says "Dniprozerzink." Obviously referring to all the potholes in the road there.
I tried to get him to tell me good things about Ukraine and he couldn't come up with any. I love that he loves America but I don't want him to hate Ukraine, I want him to be proud of his heritage, maybe in time that will come? For now he just hates everything about it. Except for Ivan & Snezhana. I tried for the last two Sundays to Skype with them but they haven't been on line. With our three hour church block in the middle of the day it makes it difficult to catch them with the nine hour difference in time.
James left for work today and Alex kept thinking James had left without saying goodbye as he'd pantomime driving and ask "Papa?" No, Alex he hasn't left. He will say goodbye. Then when James did say goodbye Alex said "Fifteen?" and made a sad face and then imitated papa coming home as an old man with a cane and he said, looking up from his old man posture, "Alex....big!" Like Alex is going to be grown before James returns in two weeks. What a funny boy!
He's been so much fun lately. Playing with Rylee. Playing with friends. We found a fabulous sight for reading (starfall.com) and he is doing so well. He can read the word then click on it to hear the correct pronunciation. He can go at his own speed and his own level and it holds his attention.
He wore his cub scout shirt to scouts today and he looked so...American! I need to get a picture of that next week.
I bought him a couple more shirts for summer and when I told him he said "Good job Mama."
He also called me on my cell phone today. We've been working on him memorizing the number and obviously he has it down. I wasn't home right at two but I wasn't worried as everyone was out of school at two today so I knew he wouldn't be alone. He called and I was able to tell him I'd be home soon and to stay with the kids.
He is also an incredible flirt. He loves to flirt with Kambree's friends. In church I could not keep him from turning around as Kambree's very tall and blond friend Sami was sitting behind us and he kept making faces at her and her sister Kaysha. It got to be a little out of control.
He's really a very good boy and he's trying so hard to fit in and find his place in our family. He's already found a place in our hearts. Devree was rough housing with Alex before bed and I had to go kick her out of his room, Austin is very sweet with him in his crazy Austin way, Kambree likes him-just not when he tattles on her and Rylee in her prayers tonight thanked Heavenly Father for her new brother....Alex.

Confessions of a Prima Donna....

Last Tuesday Kambree asked if I was going to try out for Murray City's summer production of "Grease". For the past two summers Kambree and I have performed together, first in "Peter Pan" and then last summer in "Footloose". This summer I wasn't really planning on auditioning. I was worried about Alex and rehearsing but mostly I just felt there wasn't a part for me. I'm a little old to be playing Frenchie-a high school drop out. Kambree left for the auditions and I goggled the Broadway cast of characters and found the cameo part of Miss Lynch. (Note, the Broadway production is not like the movie-there is no woman principle or dingy secretary) and from what I can tell, Miss Lynch is the ONLY adult part in the entire cast.

Character Description: Miss Lynch is a strict, old-maid English teacher.

Hum... I youtube the part and can only find it in Spanish but it looks like a funny character part. I called Kambree, "Maybe I should come up and audition for Miss Lynch?" Kambree, "Oh, yes Mom do!!" So how can you not go audition when your almost 17 year old daughter WANTS to be in a show with you. So of course I did.
Now, I'm going to sound sort of prima donna-ish but this is a very little part-no singing or dancing required-but I think a funny part-I'm not too sure because I've yet to find a script or a performance in English-but anyway, I auditioned. The director sends me to dance-which is kind of crazy as I don't think Miss Lynch dances at all. But I dance-not well mind you-dancing is not my forte-where Kambree got it is beyond me?
We knew call backs were Saturday but....
we didn't get a call.
Either of us.... hum??
Saturday came and went and I can't tell you how bad I felt. Like really bad. Kambree felt bad too.
Now here comes the prima donna part...um...who the heck did they cast over me? Besides being pretty confident about my acting ability, I swear I was the ONLY adult I saw up there and Kambree can dance circles around most of the girls there so... what the heck?
Monday I consoled myself with "Maybe it's for the best. Maybe rehearsals would be too much?" Kambree was resigning herself to the fact that she should probably work as much as possible this summer.
Then the thought of what would we do all summer hit me. Seriously, this is what we do each summer and WE LOVE IT! I spend the days with my children, make dinner, eat together and then they're on their own for a few hours each night while Kambree and I go to rehearsals. With James being gone two weeks at a time, it's sort of fills my nights while he's away. I'd be in a play all year long if I could butI limit myself to one show with a quick run as being an actress and performing each night is not conducive to being a good mother. (You know, home work, dance class, scouts, tuck ins etc all happen at night!) I comfort myself with the fact that I'll play all the grandma parts when my children are grown.
(Yes, I was a theater major and had dreams of being a famous actress. I currently play the part of mom, wife & daughter and try to act like a real estate agent!)
So tonight, I'm sitting waiting for Devree's 2nd show with Guyz and Dollz to start and Kambree calls me with excitement in her voice. "Mom, Saxton (the theater teacher at Murray and director of Grease) just called and you got the part of Miss Lynch!" I hold my breath. "AND.....I'm in the chorus!!"
Whoot whoo!!
Funny how much this little part-that I really hadn't planned on trying out for-made me so happy! And Kambree too!
Bring on summer....we have rehearsals to start!

Tutor Anyone?

Calling all parents with children recently adopted from Ukraine!
I've been weighing ideas for summer tutors. I've talked to other mom's, I've read others comments and I've come to the conclusion that I am not patient, disciplined or creative enough to teach Alex English all by myself. We work together for about an hour a day before he goes to school and although he tells me "Mom-Alex school cool!" I'm just running out of ideas....
So, I put an ad on Craig's list and have TEN qualified applicants willing to come tutor him during the summer, three days a week, 2 hours a day. Then I got a hair brain idea, and asked my favorite applicant what she would charge for a group lesson as opposed to one on one. She said $15 an hour. If I could find four more children-I think five would be maximum-we could each pay $3 per hour per child! Doesn't that sound lovely? The lessons would be held here at my house. If anyone is interested in joining us, please let me know. (I know it would be a quite a drive for some of you!) And I'm thinking mornings, but time and days of the week are up in the air. Let me know what would work for you.
Tonight was Devree & Rylee's Guyz and Dollz recital. They did great! Alex got bored towards the end and kept asking me how many more songs. Then in order to go out to ice cream he had to read the rest of his book on the way to the ice cream store. I know reading is really hard for him right now, he can sound out the words pretty well but he has no idea what they mean.
We had a pretty hot day today and Alex was so disgruntled about it. He kept saying "HOT!" like I didn't know it was hot or something. He had on shorts, I had the air on in the car but it was like he'd never been in 90 degree weather or something. I tried to explain that it's hot like this for four months out of the year, he'll need to get use to it but I don't think he understood.
Yesterday I went out to call him in from riding his bike and found him across the street playing soccer with some neighborhood children. I was so happy to see him in group play that I let him stay out until almost dark. Today when he plopped himself in front of the TV after school (well, he did go to Costco with me) I tried to explain that this was his time to play, that we were eating and going to a dance recital. He didn't go play with anyone but he did turn off the TV and go get his Digi.
Before dinner James, Austin & Alex all put on the boxing gloves and boxed. James and Austin get really rough but Alex held his own okay. I know they were much nicer to him then they are to each other but he's such a light weight compared to them. My only rules about boxing is don't cry to me when you get hurt and stay out of the kitchen! I have found that sometimes boys just need to hit each other and as long as they have gloves on, I don't mind if they do.
Last week I dressed up as an old lady to sing a silly song for my friends grandmothers 80th birthday party. I have a terrific old lady get up-complete with a polyester dress, gray hair and a osteoporosis hump. I looked a sight. Alex looked at me so puzzled. How in the world do you explain that? All I could say is I'll be back in a little bit. I'm sure he thinks I'm crazy!
Kambree tried out and made dance company again this year and is going to a member of the dance company presidency. She is also going to be a member of PLT (Peer Leadership Team).
Austin is struggling with his grades but besides that doing well. But really "besides that" only consists of hanging out with his friends and eating us out of house and home.
Devree received an award for having 3 consecutive 4.0 report cards and is busy working on getting her 4th 4.0. She also got her braces on last week and has a very sore mouth.
Rylee is doing well. She really had a tough time being fit for her appliance. She gets it on this Friday and I'm sure that will be a day of tears.
Alex's doctors office called with great news. All his test were negative. BUT they forgot to run the Hep B and want me to bring him back in for another blood draw. I told them no. They can wait until we go in in two months for his booster. I am not subjecting him to another poke right now. Not after the tears and drama of last time.
James is busy trying to get the sprinklers running, the air on, the sinks draining and all the other many things that need fixing and repairing done. He was complaining about how many things need fixing and I tried to make him feel better by telling him I wish people would stop getting hungry, clothes would stop needing laundering and the house would stop getting dirty!
Anway, here's to tutors, boxing, dance recitals & housework!

Orthodontist & Award

Rylee getting molds made and fitted for her appliance:

Devree getting her braces on:

And with them on....

Posing for her picture that night with her award....
(She didn't want to show her mouth!)

But then I got her! I think she looks beautiful!

The Week In Review

This was Alex's prayer tonight:
I started him off with
"Dear Heavenly Father.
Thank you for my blessings."
and then from here he was on his own...
"Thank you eating.
Thank you bike.
Thank you Mama lova me.
Thank you family I love.
Amen."

We've had a good week but got off to a rocky start Monday morning. I don't know if Alex is just testing me or what but all weekend and then Monday morning he has been sulking and grumpy and barking at people. Monday morning he yelled at Rylee during breakfast and made her cry and then stormed off and sulked and I had had it! I marched him to his room and told him he could stay there until he was nice. Then when I had cooled down I went up, laid out his clothes (I find that is easier than letting him dress himself as he has no sense of matching and gets mad when I make him change) and told him curtly to get dressed that we were going to have a talk. Up until this point when he's been acting like this I've been overly sweet and asking what's wrong and trying to comfort him but I was done with that.
I sat him down at the computer and with a prayer in my heart I hoped I would say the right things. I started off with I love you but right now I'm mad. That his behavior is unacceptable, that he hurt Rylee's feelings and he hurts my feelings when he pouts and sulks. That America has a lot of great things (bikes, own room, lots of food) but that it takes work to live here and his work is to learn English & go to school (he'd been sulking a lot about studying and school) and to be part of our family and to be nice and kind.
Then I felt inspired to tell him it didn't matter what he did or said that he was staying her and would be our son forever.
He did really well through this computer translated talk, nodding when he had finished reading each sentence. Although he's eyes filled with tears, he didn't out and out cry.
(One thing about lecturing via the computer, you really have to think about what you're saying and make it concise and spelled right. I'm glad I had a chance to cool down before we sat down for this "talk".)
I asked if he could try harder and work on being kinder and nicer and he agreed.
And since Monday I've had a whole new Alex. I don't know if it is the realization that no matter how bad he is, we're not sending him back or that he didn't know he hurt our feelings or what. I'll probably never know but he has been fabulous ever since. Happy. Willing to try new foods. (Another source of sulking in the past) Playing with his siblings. Willing to study and go to school. I thought he might have a melt down or sulking session after taking him to the store and me not agreeing to buy him a Sponge Bob Square Pants CD player but he just got a little quiet for a few minutes and then snapped out of it.
James made gumbo Thursday night and James cooking is always an adventure. I privately asked Alex if it was good before I tried it and he secretly made a yucky face to me but continued to eat as to not offend James. This made me extremely happy and of course I let him stop eating it and found him something else. (It really wasn't that good!) I had made homemade wheat bread and served Snezhana's yummy jam she sent home with me. Alex was very proud of her jam. We had my father in law and brother in law over for dinner as my father in law had never met Alex and drove two hours just to meet him and spend the evening with us.
I've decided I need to find a tutor or class for the summer. I'm running out of ideas on how to teach English. I have everything in our house labeled. My brother in law was making fun of my sign by the sink that proclaims what it is until I explained what it was for.
Tonight was the school carnival and I sent the kids with Kambree and $10 each and they had a blast. James and I had some time to ourselves and so we romantically planted the garden together and then grabbed a Red Box. The kids came home before our show was over and finished watching it with us. Alex noticed the girl in the story was pregnant and then he pointed out by making ring on the finger motions that she wasn't married. That's right Alex, we get married before we have babies! Good boy!
Then Alex and I checked out blogs of our friends in Ukraine. He's excited that Lena and Sara should be home on Wednesday.
Rylee fell asleep on my office floor while Alex and I were blog lurking and he sweetly woke her up and said "Rylee, no sleeping. Upstairs."
He's very excited for no school tomorrow and he has loved having James home. Today when leaving for school he was sure to find James for a hug goodbye.
We also went to the orthodontist for an evaluation this week and he needs braces...soon!
He's 12 year old molars are already in and you can even see his wisdom teeth in the X-ray and his mouth-like all my other children-is a mess! My orthodontist asked if I was sure he was only 10. I'm pretty sure. I have his little tag from the hospital. I don't think we'll do his braces too soon as he is not excited and I don't want to traumatize him. Maybe in the fall?
This morning while I was doing Alex's hair for school he pointed out that we have the same hair color and eye color. Can I just say that he loves me? He's so very sweet, I still get about 10 hugs a day and kisses right on the lips and I even got a letter from school this week that says:
Dear Mom
How are you today?
I like the United States.
I like my house.
I like my family.
I like the food.
Then a Love Mom in a heart
Obviously he had help with this but I like to think he really does feel this way.
Another thing he's good at is tattling on his siblings. Especially when they don't do their chores or something I've asked. Kambree was getting a little miffed-because she rarely does her chores-and told him to stop tattling. I laughed and told him he was my little KGB spy and we winked at each other. I'm sure soon enough he'll have more alliance to his siblings but for now, I'm enjoying it.
Anyway, I just had to share his sweet prayer while it was fresh in my mind and then I thought I should document our week.

Mothers Day & Monday

Not my favorite holiday. Too much guilt associated with it. You know, you hear stories about all these fabulous mothers doing stupendous things and I think, "Dang, I'm not doing so good!"

So this year, James was out of town with work and it was just me and the children. Rylee made me breakfast in bed. German pancakes with plenty of powdered sugar (notice the bag on the tray?) Then we went to church and Alex was mad because I spiked his hair-but he looks so cute with spiked hair-and he sulked through most of sacrament meeting.
Rylee sang with the Primary but Alex refused to go up then he pointed out that my mom (sitting next to me) was there and I should go up and sing to her. He had a point....
We came home and I was showered with gifts from my youngest three thanks to teachers and church leaders. When Alex notice that Kambree and Austin didn't give me a "prisint" he asked them. "You no lova Mama?" Needless to say, they felt a little bad about that.
Alex & Rylee also presented me with two little loaves of bread from Primary. We left everything on the couch and ran to my Grandma's while dinner was cooking. When we got back I asked Rylee to go get the little loaves of bread and we'd have them with dinner. She couldn't find Alex's loaf. I spotted it outside the doggie door. Ella had taken it. I sent Alex out for it and he sadly brought it in-it was half way eaten.
Alex turned up his nose at most everything I made for dinner and sulked through the entire affair. He did this Saturday night too when we went out to ice cream and refused to eat any. Saturday I think he had too much sun, too much frustration with learning how to live with a family and he complained of a headache. When we got back from ice cream he cried for about an hour but allowed me to hold him and comfort him until the ibuprofen kicked in.
So, after dinner on Sunday I asked him to come to the computer for a "talk". I've yet to talk to him through the translation program. I was pretty sure he was bent out of shape over dinner and his hair. I sat him down and before I started typing I asked what is wrong. His eyes filled with tears and he said in this little voice, "My...cake." and he burst into tears. He was upset that Ella had eaten my "Mama Day's" bread. Again he let me hold him and comfort him and within 15 minutes he was okay.
That night we went to my parents for dessert and he had fun playing freeze tag with his cousins and siblings. They were playing so well that I stayed longer than I planned as I didn't want to stop their fun.
Today when he went to school he not only wore a helmet (hurray) but asked me to spike his hair.
See isn't he cute?

At 2:00-when Alex gets out of school-I was still at the grocery store checking out. I called Alex and he picked up the phone immediately. We managed to have a conversation with me explaining I'd be home in five minutes and to stay in the house. When I got home, he helped me load in all the groceries and it was a lot! We were out of everything. Alex was so impressed with how much I bought he wanted to take a picture to show to his brother Ivan. That made me laugh.

Mothers Day Pictures...

Devree's Missing Teeth & Austin's Dutch Oven Pictures

Devree had her spacers put on in preparation for her braces next week She lost two teeth in the last week and a third one just now. Look at that "hillbilly" smile!

Hayden & Austin preparing for Dutch Oven...

More Dutch Oven....