Wow, I know my life is out of control when I don't have a chance to sit down and blog a little. So this is a quick re-cap and then I'll post pictures.
So as mentioned, Grandpa Richhart died and as sad as that is the great part was James came home eight days early but only to go to Mount Pleasant and attempt to put his fathers affairs in order. I went down last Thursday to rescue Austin (who had gone down with James on Wednesday) as the dust was killing him with his allergies. In fact, it's triggered his asthma and I'm not sure he's going to make it to Teachers Camp this week. While down there my sister-in-law Lindsey and I tried to clean out the kitchen, the house is so full of stuff-most of it useless stuff-and piles and piles of magazines, books, and old things. I know value is relative but seriously in my book-the stuff is junk!
I did have a really fun time driving my car to Mount Pleasant. There is this open stretch in the canyon-I normally am not a fast driver but it was just me and my very fast car and it was so fun to pass people and feel that kind of power and speed. I don't know but I think I could get in to driving fast-of course I would want to do that where I wouldn't get a ticket or endanger anyone but driving fast is FUN!
Anyway, I was of course in the thick of dress rehearsals and planning birthdays and then we had the funeral on Saturday. Towards the end of Saturday night I could feel myself getting sick and sure enough I now have a horrible head cold-complete with scratch throat and runny nose, sinus pressure and lots of sneezing! Just what I needed for opening night!
Monday I made a Sponge Bob birthday cake. Alex told me, "Good job Mom!" when he saw it and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. It did turn out pretty good-considering my lack of cake decorating talent. Then I spent the day running kids to swimming lessons, trying to get ready for Alex's birthday, doing laundry, cleaning the yard and preparing for opening night. Our show went off well and James made it back just in time. (He had gone to Mount Pleasant yet again to help get things in order.)
Today is Alex's long awaited 11th birthday. I stayed up late wrapping presents after our performance and this morning he came down to a pile of presents and a Happy Birthday banner. He told me, "My heart says....(searching for word) good prisints!" and his eyes were huge and watery. I think he was trying to tell me how his heart felt about this whole affair-that he felt something deep inside but he just didn't have the right words. I asked if he had ever had so many presents (most are school clothes just to have stuff to unwrap-his big gift is a DS-but he hasn't opened it yet!) and he said, "No.". I asked if he had ever blew out candles on a birthday cake, "No.". I asked if had ever had a birthday cake, "No.". This came as a surprise to me as they day before he was showing me how he'd blow out his birthday candles. (Keep in mind his birthday has been a subject of conversation for the past three months!) He told me he once got gifts from Ivan for his birthday when he was nine but he never had a cake and in the orphanage they did nothing for birthdays. Not even sing. I imagine everything he knows about birthdays is from watching American movies and TV shows.
So his big friend party was this afternoon and luckily James was home and his sister Kathy was here to-as she was flying back to Anchorage this afternoon. And Amy and Julee were here and even Jen Benson dropped in with her Nastia. We had tutor that morning with our Ukraine friends and then right after tutor we started the party. We had about twenty kids over. They ate BBQ hot dogs, chips, watermelon, veggies and dip. I had employed Devree to run the water games and she did a fabulous job and all the kids got very wet and had lots of fun. Then we sang and Alex blew out his candles just seconds into the Happy Birthday song. He was so excited. I served cupcakes and Popsicles and he opened gifts and loved everything! He got bionicals, transformers, a soccer ball, a baseball mitt, drawing stuff, electronic games, and lot's more! He was very gracious and thanked everyone. I did have to remind him a few times during the party to go be with his friends as they came to see him. He would go off and ride the scooter or pet the dog but as soon as I'd mention it, he'd go join in with his friends. I think he's just not comfortable in conversational settings yet. He's getting there.
He is now putting together and trying out all his new toys. Funny thing, he even jumped in the shower without being asked right after the party. Wow! We are making strides!
Tonight he'll open up his pile of presents. I can't wait to see his face when he gets his DS.
Happy Birthday my sweet boy Alex!
May you never have a sad birthday again. We love you and are so glad you are part of our family.
So as mentioned, Grandpa Richhart died and as sad as that is the great part was James came home eight days early but only to go to Mount Pleasant and attempt to put his fathers affairs in order. I went down last Thursday to rescue Austin (who had gone down with James on Wednesday) as the dust was killing him with his allergies. In fact, it's triggered his asthma and I'm not sure he's going to make it to Teachers Camp this week. While down there my sister-in-law Lindsey and I tried to clean out the kitchen, the house is so full of stuff-most of it useless stuff-and piles and piles of magazines, books, and old things. I know value is relative but seriously in my book-the stuff is junk!
I did have a really fun time driving my car to Mount Pleasant. There is this open stretch in the canyon-I normally am not a fast driver but it was just me and my very fast car and it was so fun to pass people and feel that kind of power and speed. I don't know but I think I could get in to driving fast-of course I would want to do that where I wouldn't get a ticket or endanger anyone but driving fast is FUN!
Anyway, I was of course in the thick of dress rehearsals and planning birthdays and then we had the funeral on Saturday. Towards the end of Saturday night I could feel myself getting sick and sure enough I now have a horrible head cold-complete with scratch throat and runny nose, sinus pressure and lots of sneezing! Just what I needed for opening night!
Monday I made a Sponge Bob birthday cake. Alex told me, "Good job Mom!" when he saw it and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. It did turn out pretty good-considering my lack of cake decorating talent. Then I spent the day running kids to swimming lessons, trying to get ready for Alex's birthday, doing laundry, cleaning the yard and preparing for opening night. Our show went off well and James made it back just in time. (He had gone to Mount Pleasant yet again to help get things in order.)
Today is Alex's long awaited 11th birthday. I stayed up late wrapping presents after our performance and this morning he came down to a pile of presents and a Happy Birthday banner. He told me, "My heart says....(searching for word) good prisints!" and his eyes were huge and watery. I think he was trying to tell me how his heart felt about this whole affair-that he felt something deep inside but he just didn't have the right words. I asked if he had ever had so many presents (most are school clothes just to have stuff to unwrap-his big gift is a DS-but he hasn't opened it yet!) and he said, "No.". I asked if he had ever blew out candles on a birthday cake, "No.". I asked if had ever had a birthday cake, "No.". This came as a surprise to me as they day before he was showing me how he'd blow out his birthday candles. (Keep in mind his birthday has been a subject of conversation for the past three months!) He told me he once got gifts from Ivan for his birthday when he was nine but he never had a cake and in the orphanage they did nothing for birthdays. Not even sing. I imagine everything he knows about birthdays is from watching American movies and TV shows.
So his big friend party was this afternoon and luckily James was home and his sister Kathy was here to-as she was flying back to Anchorage this afternoon. And Amy and Julee were here and even Jen Benson dropped in with her Nastia. We had tutor that morning with our Ukraine friends and then right after tutor we started the party. We had about twenty kids over. They ate BBQ hot dogs, chips, watermelon, veggies and dip. I had employed Devree to run the water games and she did a fabulous job and all the kids got very wet and had lots of fun. Then we sang and Alex blew out his candles just seconds into the Happy Birthday song. He was so excited. I served cupcakes and Popsicles and he opened gifts and loved everything! He got bionicals, transformers, a soccer ball, a baseball mitt, drawing stuff, electronic games, and lot's more! He was very gracious and thanked everyone. I did have to remind him a few times during the party to go be with his friends as they came to see him. He would go off and ride the scooter or pet the dog but as soon as I'd mention it, he'd go join in with his friends. I think he's just not comfortable in conversational settings yet. He's getting there.
He is now putting together and trying out all his new toys. Funny thing, he even jumped in the shower without being asked right after the party. Wow! We are making strides!
Tonight he'll open up his pile of presents. I can't wait to see his face when he gets his DS.
Happy Birthday my sweet boy Alex!
May you never have a sad birthday again. We love you and are so glad you are part of our family.
3 of my blog friends said something...:
Wow! i am glad the birthday party went well! although the ocassion was sad! it was good to see you all again at the funeral on Saturday. We love you all!
this is marilyn by the way!
Sorry for your loss of James' dad.. I loved the bolo tie idea...very cute.
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