The Vampire's Mother!

I made it through Thursday!!!

Hurray for me!!

It's not that anything was bad or terrible-in fact everything was fun and good it was just....
so much!!

First off, I DID get the part of the vampire's mom. My characters name was actually "Paul's Mom" very appropriate since I'm known in these parts as Kambree's Mom, Austin's Mom, Devree's Mom etc. (It's not a major motion picture or anything so don't be looking for me on the silver screen-just a 10 minute short to promote a new film production company-if I ever see it or it hits You-tube, I'll link it-but only if I don't look like a ding dong!) Filming was slated for last Friday, then pushed to Tuesday, then Wednesday and finally ended up on Thursday. (Yeah, that's how film goes!)

I skipped the gym-sorry Amy-to gear up for my crazy day. (But in truth? I should of got up and worked out rather than toss and turn then get up late and throw my morning off!)

I needed to be in Provo at ten.  I made lunches, got kids out the door, drove the junior high carpool-in my nightgown with James' robe over the top-and came home and checked on my bloggy friends. I was just hanging, chilling getting ready for my shot and I realized that I didn't really know where I was going! I  goggled my location and realized that I should be leaving in TEN minutes! Yikes! I jumped in the shower-went all natural with hair and makeup-as there would be a makeup artist there-and jumped in the car!

The Google directions were crazy and I got so confused. I finally just let my Realtor instincts take over and found the location without the printed turn by turn lousy directions-with five minutes to spare. Whew!

We were shooting at some cute old ladies house that was all done in 1980's blues and browns. Well taken care of but VERY dated. (Hard to separate my day job from my moonlighting job!)

After hair and makeup-where they put me in blue eyeshadow and pinned my wild dread lock like curls into a french twist-we did our first shot. Me, drying dishes at the sink and hollering for my son Paul.

2nd shot was Paul on the couch listening to his Ipod with the help wanted paper over his head. 

Next shot was me removing the paper from Paul and his non caring responses to me asking him how his job search was going.

Then the camera shot me from Paul's angle. Oh, I'm sure that will be lovely. Nagging him to get a job.

The actor playing Paul was a really fun and cute guy named Arron. I, of course am truly to young to be playing his mother-as he is 28! (Doubt me if you must but I did the math. Nope. Couldn't have a 28 year old!) However, he's playing a 21 year old- so yes, I could have one of those but still I would have been VERY young!

The shot that took the longest was our embrace-supposedly at the end of the day when I-the worried, hoovering mother-had been looking for him all day. (Come on people! He's 21! My seventeen year old is gone all day and I don't rush to embrace her at the end of the day but....that's show business!)

So they did one wide shot from my back side. (Thank goodness not wide enough to include by lower backside!) and then a shot from my side of the embrace and then one from him. This took over an hour and about thirty takes and about fifty embraces. At one point Arron apologized as the takes on his side were numbering the double digits. "No worries," I said. "I recently adopted an eleven year old from an orphanage and I spend hours hugging all the time!" (In defense of Arron and his acting abilities-he's job was much harder than mine. He's been turned into a vampire now and he hugs his mother, then gets the urge to bite her and then controls the urge and just squeezes her tight. Thank goodness!) Why the hoovering mother that I'm playing doesn't notice his bite punctures on his neck, his pale white skin or at the least his new grown fangs is beyond me!

One more shot of me on the phone, calling around looking for Paul. (A scene the director made up on the spot!) and then I was done.

I rushed home, got Austin from school as he stayed late for driving range. Dropped his friends off-as I didn't want extra kids at my house with my meeting that night-and then got home to turn around and pick up Dev from school who had dress rehearsals for tomorrows talent show.

Got home, Alex was already at  birthday party, I got Ry off to dance, returned work emails and calls. Set up some showing,. heated up left overs for those at home for dinner, attempted to finish laundry-or at least have it out of sight, give my main bathroom a "spit and a promise" (my moms saying for a crappy yet surface looking cleaning job) before for my meeting, banished my kids to different floors and realized I STILL HAD MY BLUE EYE SHADOW ON and my hair in this polygamist style french twist. Oh my!

Hurried upstairs and tried to switch out my eyeshadow to something more contemporary and throw my hair in a pony, rushed downstairs and was sweeping my floor when the first guest arrived. Whew!
During my meeting Alex arrived home, Rylee took her bath, Kam arrived home, Kam and Dev left for regional basketball game and Austin had Hayden over. Jazmine never got picked up-unannounced to me amongst all the chaos in my  house-so when my guests left around ten I had to break up the co-mingling, get Alex and Rylee to bed-who thoroughly enjoyed watching movies with the other kids until way past their bedtime, and herd everyone to bed, off the computer and lock up!
When I walked into the bathroom I looked a sight-fluffy hair that I'd pulled out of the french twist and put back in a pony, tired red eyes and way too much makeup-the blue seeping up from under my quick fix-was still there! 

I indeed looked like a vampire's mother!
Here's a picture of me on set:

My Vampire Son, Paul!

And just in case you want to know where we were at last year at this time, here's a link to our 2nd Day in Ukraine.
http://blessedwitharichhart.blogspot.com/2009/03/our-first-full-day.html

New families seeking new adventures!

Tonight we had a meeting with the 2009 families that hosted Ukraine orphans last fall. To hear their stories of inspiration, frustration, paper work nightmares....oh it all came rushing back. I remember just over a year ago, walking through my life here but having part of my heart walking around in Ukraine. Wanting so badly to bring Alex home, praying he was safe, wondering what he was doing, and hoping he still wanted to be part of our family. Listening to these parents just brought back all those feelings.

Wow.

People, when hearing we've adopted want to know why? What lead us to adopt? Why when we already have four? And an older child? Our story is too long to tell and to sacred to share with just anyone. Adoption isn't for everyone. It's not a fad, (Once, I had a well meaning family member compare me to celebrities that are adopting-like I was just doing the popular/chic thing. Grr....that didn't sit well with me. We didn't adopt to be like Madonna or Brad and Angela!) it's not easy, and it's not for the faint of heart. If it's right for you, only you will know. 

I knew. I knew and I couldn't deny the feelings I felt. When the first whisperings of the spirit came to me, I tried pushing it away, I was sure I was crazy. Then as quickly as my prompting came I also had a quick glimpse of how horrid I would feel standing in front of this person-this person I knew and loved before-in the next life and the sorrow I would feel telling him, I'm sorry. I didn't look for him. I was too scared. I didn't know what to do. I didn't have the money or the time. It was a fleeting moment-this sorrow I felt-but I think the Lord knew I would struggle with doubt. That I needed this reminder about a promise made before this life. 

I also think the Lord works in mysterious and wondrous ways. If you had told me two years ago that I would travel half way around the world, live for six weeks in a foreign country, come up with almost as much money as our first house and figure out the hoops and endless paperwork involved in completing a international adoption. I would have asked you what you were smoking!?

But mountains can move. Tonight a family shared with me their mountain that the Lord moved for them. It's not my story to tell but trust me, this was a BIG mountain. Our Lord is incredible and he loves and knows these children. Just as He knows and loves us. 

Do I have any advice for these parents, facing the unknown, throwing their hat in the ring, taking on this quest to love, save and change the life of a child?

Hang on! Keep your hands inside-preferable in the praying position-do not let go, do not give up hope, stay seated and just hold on!

It WILL be bumpy, it WILL be scary and getting them home just changes you to a different track on the roller coaster with different bumps, turns and loop to loops.
The secret, a wonderful and famous man once said is:

"The trick is to enjoy the ride!"

And just in case you want to follow along as I retrace our adventure, here's where we were last year at this time:

http://blessedwitharichhart.blogspot.com/2009/03/we-made-it.html

Austin @ Spring Fling!

Kambree's Blog

Hey! Please check out my cute daughters blog!

http://kambreerichhart.blogspot.com/
I've convinced her to start a blog so I can stalk her when she goes away to school. Her first post was pretty cute-amazing to think this blog may capture the most important decisions and times of her life. 

So drop over and say hi, she could use a comment of support!

Thanks tons!

W

Oh my....

One year ago today we left for Ukraine.
One year.
Oh my, it seems like yesterday and yet it seems like Alex has always been ours.
How can that be?
I've decided to follow my blog one day at time from last year and relive our experience. I remember being so very excited and nervous.

I wish I could have had a video of mine and Alex's talk after school yesterday. It was about the maturation program. Devree had asked how the maturation program went to both Rylee and Alex as they came in from school. Rylee proceeded to answer but Alex walked off, following me into my office. I said,

Alex, Devree asked how the maturation program went.

I not talk her about it!

Why?

(Shrug)

Were you embarrassed?

Yes.

Oh, honey. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. 

In utter disgust & bewilderment Alex looks at me.

Mom you know penis?

Umm...yes?

You know penis get hard?

Umm....yes.....

You know why?

Uhh...why don't you tell me?

Excited!

The contempt and bewilderment is what is not coming across in this post. His eyes are as big as saucers and he's just appalled!

Didn't you know that?

No!

Well, good then you learned something today.

Then he proceeds,

And we learn about girls. Girls have....umm......

Girls have?

You know. Boys have penis girl have........

He's using both hand gesturing towards his lap and he's just not finding the word. I'm not sure what word he's looking for. And not wanting to introduce any new words and have to make further explanation at this point to add to the confusion I went with:

Oh, you learned about girls private parts?

Yes! 

 (Huge shudder and grimace on his part.)

Then he moved on to another subject and we didn't mention it again.

I was so proud of myself. I didn't crack. I laughed later when he left to go build a fort with Brach. And I laughed again with my friend at the gym this morning. The look. I wish I had the look of bewilderment and disgust and exasperation and this post just doesn't do the story justice! 

Oh my.

So, Brach and Alex are building a fort. First it was digging a hole in the field behind Kam's house. A hole that they were going to put a TV in and have tunnels connecting it to other holes. (Who's TV? No idea. How were they going to power it? Again no idea. But they're out there digging a hole and moving about an inch or two of dirt a day so Kam and I figured....why stop them?) Now it's going to be a wood fort out of the old wood from our makeshift stairs that we took out to have out deck installed. Alex is attempting to haul it over in the wagon. This I believe will be an all summer project.

Alex had a sliver in his hand last night from the wood and tried to tell me it was just dirt. I made him get me a needle. He said, 'You no hurt me Mom." I won't. And I didn't. He was so impressed and had to admit when I pulled it out that it wasn't just dirt!

I've been working on helping Alex identify feelings. Sunday morning he got up and made German pancakes for the family.(Yes, all on his own. He helped Rylee make them one morning and so he knew where to find the recipe and he's all about "If Rylee can do it, so can I!" ) He also straightened up the family room. You could tell he was quite proud of himself and I thanked him profusely for both tasks. He came in after wards and wrapped his arms around me and said "Mom I loves you sooo much!" This sort of came out of no where. I told him I loved him too and asked why he thinks he loves me sooo much?

Because I make breakfast and clean up living room!
I realized later that what he felt WAS love. The good feeling you get when you serve those around you. Later that night we talked about showing love through service and feeling good about serving. I think he was just bursting with joy from his service and only had the words I love you to explain that wonderful, happy feeling inside him.

He also came home last week and told me-that a voice but not a voice told him him in his head:

"Alex, don't forget your Spotlight*." 

(He's saying this in a theatrical spooky voice.)

*Spotlight is the book report form I had asked him to get because he set his first one on the counter in something sticky.

I told him that was probably the Holy Ghost reminding him to get his homework. 

Then he told me once the voice also said

"Alex don't forget basketball."

That's great I said. You are listening to the Holy Ghost.Those are promptings. It's great that you are listening and understanding. The Holy Ghost can help you make decisions and keep you safe but you have to learn to hear his voice.

Later that night in his journal he wrote:

I like when voices in my head speak to me.

Oh dear.

That's sounds a little disturbed.

We talked about how crazy people hear voice too. Voices that say bad things or tell them to do bad things. Maybe we should clarify what he means by voices? And on his own he wrote:

I like it when the Holy Ghost speak to me.

Whew!

That sounds so much better!

Oh my, who would have guessed a year later we'd be here learning about maturation, building forts and feeling the spirit? It makes me excited for the next year!

International Language of Cars....

What's with boys and cars? It's an international language with boys, one that can bridge all communication. Alex LOVES cars. The first word I ever heard him say was "Honda". This was when he saw our van in the airport parking lot when we picked him up for the hosting program. To which Austin replied "You might know Honda but I'm going to teach you Zonda!" (Austin's all time favorite car is a Zonda Roadster!")

For the longest time once we got Alex home he would ask me what the "two flag" car was called. I, not being a car person (I can tell you the color-maybe what the bumper sticker said-and if I can see inside I can remember if it was clean or dirty or what the drivers hair looked like but make and model? Heck no!) had no idea what he was talking about. For the longest time he couldn't seem to find a "two flag" car to show me. Finally  he found one-it was a Corvette! (Whew! Even I know a Corvette and could help him out with that info!)
Well, today we saw this car-or one very similar-coming home from school. And the back seat of my car erupts with enthusiasm. (Alex, Brach & Tyler were in the back.)
Alex starts cat calling....

"Oh baby!Yeah! Whoohoo!"

He's tapping the window trying to get the attention of the driver.

He exclaims:
"A MILLION time nice!!"

After the noise level dies down and the car gets out of sight, 

Rylee-sitting in the front seat-informs they boys that her first car is going to be a blue Camaro. It's going to blue with a white stripe and she's going to spray paint her hand blue on it. (I'm shaking my head in disbelief.) Then she clarifies,
"The first car I buy."
I tell her,
"I hope you're going to have a lot of money."
Rylee says
"Oh, I am. I'm going to have a lot of money. I'm like that."

Alex tells with a little disgust and disbelief and A LOT of authority tells her,

"No, you imagination!"

At least he has a grip on reality....right?

Maturation!

So, I should be cleaning my house, working, figuring out something for dinner, or planning how to get through Thursday (I only have about a million things stacked on this day-one of them being my film shot-yes, I was cast as the vampires mother!) but instead I sit here blogging because this was just way too funny not to share.

So, about two weeks ago I got a letter IN the mail about Alex's upcoming maturation program at school. I looked at the calendar, noticed James would be away at work and checked the box yes, my child will attend and yes, I will be there and sent it back with Alex. 

Last week I got a note home for Rylee that the school has decided to invited the 4th grade girls as well. Boys and girls meet separately but unfortunately the 5th grade boys meet at the SAME time as the 4th and 5th grade girls. (4th grade boys are off the hook until next year!)  Hum....what do do. I really feel like I should be there with Alex as I don't know how much he'll understand and he might need some translating-mommy style AND I really feel like I should be there with Rylee because she is so very sensitive and I knew most everyone else would have their mom's there. 

I decided I'd just split my time between the two. 

Beforehand I thought I better make sure Rylee was clear on just what we were going to be learning about. I knew she knew the basics as living with older sisters even Austin knows the basics and since we out number the guys here we're often reminded-by Austin-that "I AM STILL IN THE ROOM!" when we talk about our cycles, need for chocolate or who's bathroom is out of  T's.

So Rylee couldn't help but know at least SOME of the mysteries of womanhood. But just to be safe I sat her down and gave her an overview. Yep, she knew it pretty much.

Now maturation has been the talk of the school. Apparently there has been a petition going around-drawn up by some boys-that attending maturation constitutes as abuse? What the heck? However, I'm sure Alex would sign, not because he thinks it's abuse or even knows what maturation is but because he loves to sign his name in cursive. I don't know whatever happened with this petition but it didn't cancel the maturation class.

So last night-while I'm talking with James on the phone-Rylee comes in and  in an attempt to stall her bedtime she asks me why I'm not having anymore babies. "Is it because my eggs are all gone?"

"What? Rylee? I am not talking to you about my eggs right now. It's way past your bedtime. Goodnight."

On the way out is dawns on her. 

"Oh, never mind. You still have your eggs because you still have that (.)"

Thanks Ry. I'm glad you figured that one out.

So, this morning I tell the kids, I'll see you at nine for the maturation program. 

Alex asks, "Mom, what maturation?"

"Oh it's just a little class on how your body works and what happens to you when you grow up."

Alex shrugs. No big deal. Or so he thinks.

Rylee rolls her eyes. She's not looking forward to this.

I start out with Alex. He's sitting next to Brach and Kammy and I are on either side of the boys. The movie comes on and talks about showering and wearing deodorant each day. I nudge Alex. He looks at me with a "this has got to be a conspiracy" roll of his eyes. Then the movie shows the male anatomy. Alex's eyes open wide, he looks at me, he looks back at the screen, then back at me and whispers loudly "Mom, this weird!" Brach at this point has his head in his hands and his elbows on his knee's. He refuses to look up. I look at Kammy. Bad decision, we both purse our lips, look forward and try not to look at each other again as we know we'll burst in to giggles over the heads of our appalled and grimacing little boys.

Alex tells me again, "Mom, this weird!" when they show what the male anatomy does when blood flows to it. Brach has still never looked up at the screen.

It's time for me leave.

I give Alex a quick squeeze and slip out to go with Rylee.

Her movie is in full swing and she has saved me a seat.

"So what do you think so far?" 

"This is weird!" 

Hum...that's the same thing Alex said.

At one point Rylee asks me if she can have chocolate when she begins this process. Funny, that's not something they talk about in the movie. But apparently a perk or at least Rylee has interrupted it as one

There were NO questions after the film. Silence. Dead silence. The girls were excused. There was a quick parent meeting. Kammy came in  and sat with me and Amy. I asked how it went with the boys after I left and she said they talked a little about girls and what they go through and Brach put his fingers in his ears and his head between his legs and Alex covered his eyes.

We laughed. Finally we could. Too funny. 

Maturation. 

What a way to start your day!

Too True Tuesday

Hum....the Too True Tuesday Topic this week is things we indulge in.
That's tricky. 

You all know I'm cheap, right? I mean I did that post on how we try to save money and I even proudly displayed my coupon success at the grocery -complete with pictures-so admitting I have indulgences is sort of hypocritical but since it's time for the truth....

I have certain name brand products I buy that I don't care what they cost, they're the best.

Crisco Shortening

Skippy or Jiff Peanut Butter

 Surf or Tide Laundry degergent

 Clorox Bleach

Professional shampoo and conditioner\

and

GOOD hairspray (like the $12 can of  Big Hair)

The rest, I can go generic on. Who cares? My friend Lori's son did a science experiement on if cookies prepared with all generic ingredients taste different/worse than those prepared with name brand ingredients and the results were the generic verison actually got MORE votes. (Which doesn't validate my need for Crisco but that's okay.)

But I don't really consider these few name brand products indulgences. Necessities, actually.

Some personal indulgences I would never go with out are:
COLORING MY HAIR

I tried it. Tried to imagine my silvery roots were actually highlights. I know it's chemicals and dye-can't possible be good for you-I mean for goodness sake they're now recommending not coloring your hair during your first trimester of pregnancy so certainly this is something I should avoid and go green etc. But I couldn't stand it!! Yuck. My hair looked dirty and old and just (insert shudder right here!). I'm a brunette darn it! You blonds out there just don't understand. A few silvery/gray hairs in your head don't stand out like a neon beacon saying "Look at me, I'm getting old!!!" We poor brunette's notice EVERY SINGE ONE!

HEATED SEATS

I know, what a baby. But I LOVE my heated seats. I worry that I'll wear the drivers side out. I don't think I turn it off October-March. I also LOVE my automatic start in my car. Perhaps it's because I have an early am-as in it's still dark and none of my neighbors lights are on in their homes early- gym person and I start my car-with the garage door open of course-while I fill my water bottle, tie my shoes and then (yawn) leave to get my girlfriend for the gym. (The important thing to note here is that I am leaving to GET my girlfriend-going on my own? Not an option. I need peer pressure to get me out of my bed at this time each morning!) If it's not my turn to drive my friends car is usually adequately warm before they pick me up and they each (I rotate between to fabulous friends MWF & TTH) have heated seats too! Yes, heated seats, auto starts.....defiantly indulgences!

400+ THREAD COUNT SHEETS

Another indulgence. I grew up knowing that you just didn't buy under 200 thread count but my first pair of 400 count....oh, my, yummy!
ELECTRIC BLANKET
Okay, maybe something is wrong with my internal temperature but between my heated seats and my electric blanket on my bed I don't know which one I could give up. Especially when James is gone. I just crank that blanket to high before I get in bed and have toasty warm blankets.....oh, la, la! I have electric blankets on everyone's bed as I think it's that necessary. But I don't know that anyone uses their blanket like I do. I know for a fact James NEVER uses his side. Which is fine, when my side wears out, I'll just flip the blanket over and use his! See? I'm still frugal....right?

Anyone else want to play along? Come on, what are YOUR indulgences!?

Memory Monday

So, I had my lovely mammogram and it just happened to be at the same office building as my children's pediatrician. On the way in from the parking garage I snapped this picture as every time I see it, it always makes me smile.

You see, when Kambree (my senior in high school) was a little lass, she asked me,
"Mom does this mean no woofs allowed?"
Well....it DOES look like a wolf....don't you think?

Devree's team WON the championship!!!

It's important to have fun, be a good sport, improve
BUT
VICTORY IS SWEET!!!
Whootwhoo!!