Funny kids

Tonight Rylee asked me what immigrants are.
I began to explain. I explained the difference between illegal immigrants and immigrants using Alex as the example that if he hadn't gone back to Ukraine and we hadn't done the proper paper work then he would be illegal but because we did all the proper paper work he is a legal citizen of the United States-that he actually has dual citizenship with Ukraine.
Alex pipped in "But I cannot speak Ukraine."
I know, but you couldn't speak English at first either. Maybe someday you will re-learn Ukraine?
Rylee: When you go on your mission you will have three languages. English, Ukraine and your mission language.
Me: Right maybe you'll go to China and learn Chinese.
Rylee: Maybe you'll go to Japan and learn Japananglish.
Me: (Laughing) Do you mean Japanese?
Alex: I want to learn to speak Kung Foo!
And with that he made some funky karate moves and sounds.

Conversations With Alex

Tonight while tucking Alex in I was telling him about a boy that was hosted by two different families and when one of the families showed up to adopt him he cried because he really wanted to go with the first family.
Why? He asked.
I don't know. I replied. Then I continued,
Maybe the first family had a cooler house or more money or something. I don't know.
Alex: Maybe he wanted lots of presents?
Me: Yes. Maybe.
Alex: Not me. I don't care about presents I just wanted a mom.
Sweet huh?
Then he quickly asked:
Why do American's have so much money?
I began to reply but then he thought of a much more pressing question,
Why do we fart?
I tried to shift gears and give a somewhat serious yet accurate answer all the while wondering how we went from one question to the next without a breath of thought.
Alex: It's really gas? Can it light on fire?
Me:Yes. But if you really feel you need to try it, you need to have your dad's supervision. I don't know anything about it and you could burn your bum.
(Seriously. I know this boy better than tell him he can't do it because he'll try or to leave him with a "Yes, it will light on fire" because then he'll for sure try but perhaps suggesting parental supervision will deter him? It was worth a shot...right?)
Oh. I don't want to burn my bum. I will not do it.
(Whew!)

Sydni's Birthday

Many families have family heirlooms.

Diamond rings.

China.

Antique Furniture.

But nothing as cool as mine....

No, it's not the Barbie Cake.

Nope, not even the Barbie doll.

It's the Barbie PAN!!

I inherited it when my Grandma Johnson passed away. The very pan that she use to use to make ME Barbie cakes with when I was just a little girl. Am I lucky or what? (It helps that my Aunt Bev loves me and knew I really wanted it and she made sure I got it.)

Now, I am not a cake decorator by any stretch of the imagination but I do LOVE making Barbie cakes. So, I was honored that my niece Sydni requested a Barbie cake for her 3rd birthday. (That or my sister talked her into it as Kammy making a cake with her broken foot was probably NOT an option)

Here is Syd and Kam with the cake.

And me helping Syd cut her cake.

Opening presents....

And an away shot to get the full picture of Kam's poor foot!

Syd is so fun to give gifts too as she's such girly girl-the polar opposite of my sis! I didn't get the squeal of delight on camera when she opened her Tinker Bell dress-up we gave her but here she is getting her pink feather boa from Grandma and Grandpa.

Happy Birthday sweet Syd!

Sunday S'mores!

The best part of Game On Diet! Is free day! Once a week we get to eat whatever we'd like. (We have found that we do have to be somewhat reasonable. Like, you can't consume 10,000 calories in one day and expect to lose weight that week!) And Sunday is usually our day. We went shopping on Saturday and found these amazingly HUGE marshmallows. This picture does not do it justice. That is a large marshmallow next to our super huge mellow. The penny was suppose to give it perspective but really....it's doesn't! I would say these super, enormous mellows are about four times the regular big mellow.

So Sunday, we made S'mores! Yum.

Over the gas flame on the stove. (Too hot for a fire in the fire pit outside. Good grief.)

"Mom, this marshmallow too big!"

(He's not really mad here-it's just his serious Ukraine look!)

Very messy

But yummy!

Wendy Words

Last night I took the kids (three out of five) to the pool for "Inflatable Night". (The one night once a month during the summer they allow inflatable blow up toys in the pool.) I calendared it-determined to go-and it's a good thing as things kept popping up and I had to keep reminding everyone "We're going to Inflatable Night!"

Well, it was from eight to ten and I decided to NOT wear a swimming suit and just go as the "fun" parent that I am and watch and read my book.

My book was a bomb-as in not interesting or good-unlike the modern day definition of " the bomb" as in, "He's the bomb!". That's suppose to be a good thing now days?

Anyway, I digress.

I was quickly bored and getting cold. (Funny, I just blogged about how hot I was two days ago!) I called James to pass the time.

We got to talking and he was telling me how he thinks that people with hardships, trials and handicaps are going to find Heaven just so much sweeter than those who have had it easier. Perhaps he's right.

Now, without tempting fate or putting out bad mojo-I think we're pretty blessed. We don't have too hard of trials compared to so many (and I would like to keep it that way). I pointed out that it takes having something hurt or not work to appreciate it. Like a broken toe. Man-alive, you just don't appreciate NOT having a broken toe until it's broken! Am I right or what?

I also pointed out perhaps the sweetness of Heaven has something to do with gratitude?
To this day I never do my laundry without a great sense of gratitude for my dryer.
Seriously.
Every time.
And I do laundry A LOT!

Living in Ukraine for six weeks and one day has given me great perspective when it comes to so many creature comforts.

I love my dishwasher, my disposal, the fact that I can rinse my mouth with water right from the tap when brushing my teeth. As much as I hate summer construction on the roads I am so grateful to have streets without potholes and sidewalks without cement chunks sticking up. I am grateful for clean air, landfills with garbage (and not garbage everywhere and anywhere), that we don't have wild dogs running in packs-for the most part and that I can understand the language around me-again for the most part.

Fast forward to this morning: Alex just couldn't think of a thing to write in his gratitude journal. I suggested his eyes, that he can see. Then I went on with his healthy body, his reconditioned bike that his Dad spiffed up for him, his air conditioned house, and the list kept going. "Okay, okay Mom. I got it!" "Alex, there are hundreds of things to be thankful for. You just have to think about it."

Back to last night: Sitting there last night-while talking to James-by the clean, non-contaminated pool on a comfy lawn chair while children clad in colorful swimsuits splashed and played with their parents-or at least their parent is present but observing with book in hand-I couldn't help but compare that scene to the pictures and descriptions on my friends blogs currently in Ukraine. Descriptions and pictures of children walking down a dusty roads in 102+ weather for twenty five minutes to get to the contaminated river/swimming hole complete with moss and rusty nailed boards rigged into diving platforms. Some with dangerous rocks jetting out under bridges as children jump into the water below. Where swimming suits are optional as underwear works just as well and there are no rules, no life guards, and no parents. Where you don't drink the water and if you do, you get sick-well at least the American's that join them. Other friends while observing their soon to be son at camp in Ukraine learned the children were not allowed to put their heads under the water. Seriously. Contaminated water.

How very blessed I am and probably you too.

I not only grew up with a clean, safe public pool but with parents holding out warm towels to be wrapped in, treats to snack on while loving hands reapplied sunscreen and remind me "not to swim until thirty minutes after eating". How blessed was I to have a strong, fun Dad that tossed me in the air and taught me to dive for pennies and made the biggest splashes-even getting the lifeguards wet-with his great cannonball!

How blessed are all children to have a mom (with book in hand or not) to give attention to each "Watch me mom!" "Look at me mama!"

To have a Dad that works hard so they have new swimsuits each season and snacks and admission to the pool.

How blessed are children with parents.

Loving parents.

It's all about perspective and appreciation isn't it?

Don't you think Heaven will be just that much sweeter for not only those without

but for those with gratitude & appreciation?

I sure hope so.

I hope to find more gratitude and love and if at all possible avoid going without or any hard trials and heavy hardships.

(I'm banking on gratitude to keep us safe & make Heaven sweet!)
So that was our casual poolside conversation.
One of James' favorite subjects.....Heaven!

Here's to clean, chlorinated water, swimsuits and sunscreen!
May your children get their fill this summer!

One Little Guy Looking for a Family!

I knew adopting would change my life but I didn't know how greatly it would expand my circle of friends or how I'd be following along others during their adoption experience. We have four families in Ukraine adopting right now and lucky for me they each keep a blog. (You can find their links on my side bar!) I check on their blogs about five times a day!

One family is at Alex's orphanage in Dnipro and we've been able to see pictures of Alex's friends-one boy named Bogdan is in line to be adopted and Alex asks about him all the time, "When Bogdan come to America mom?" "I going to teach Bogdan American math!" (Because math in America is so different than math in Ukraine?)

Two of our families are at an orphanage in Sumy and both have mentioned this boy below, Dima. His story breaks my heart as does the thousands of stories out there. But the Stockwells and Gledhills can tell his story first hand so here are excerpts from their blogs regarding this boy, Dima.

This is from the Stockwell Blog

Today was difficult at the orphanage. Some of the children who don't have families, or who have never been hosted, were pained by the two sets of parents there today (us and Gledhills) here on the trip to take our children home to America. Little Dima/Punya, our little buddy, was found walking alone and crying before we left tonight. We went up to him and he was shy and trying to hide that he was crying. But he confided that he feels alone, and I would imagine that of course he feels this way, watching us here at the orphanage to pick up other children. We can't get him off our mind tonight, and are determined to find little Dima (and the others) a home, a family, a life outside of the orphanage complete with love and opportunities. We've bonded with so many of these kids in the last 9 days... I find myself praying for them all the time. I know we can't adopt everyone, but I'm telling you I wish we could.

And from the Gledhill Blog

We had a great time with the kids at the orphanage Saturday. We also met Dima who is a sweet kind boy , 13 years old. He is a great soccer player. Yesterday we were talking with the all the kids and we later found out that Dima went off in tears. We learned that he wants a family. It was so hard on him to watch us, knowing that two of his friends are soon to leave with a Mom and Dad. This broke our hearts. I could hardly get home that night without crying in the taxi. It all came out when I walked in the apartment. I have never felt so humble.

I'm posting this picture and these excerpts as you just never know who might read it, be touched or have a witness that this boy half a world away was meant to be a part of their family.

God bless and God speed Stockewell's, Gledhill's, Wendleboe's and Mecham's. You are in my prayers!

My Blog Soap Box

Man it is hot!!
Hot, hot, hot!
And I'm sitting in my air conditioned house!
I should be making dinner but did I mention....it's hot?
So what am I doing? I sat down to the computer to enter some purchases in Quicken and make a menu for the week-I'd just returned from taken the kids to the library for their reading awards and a quick stop at the grocery store and then I thought I'd check on our families in Ukraine and I got sucked into blog world.
My blog world.
You know how those little "If you liked this entry you might enjoy...." and three other posts are at the bottom of each post? Well, it's just a random thing and I see the same posts all the time come up but today I clicked on one that I hadn't see in awhile and it was last July-the entry about Alex making cookies and going to the airport to meet Katya and the Lobo's when they came home. I thought it would be interesting to read what we were doing last year at this time-I was doing that through our adoption experience but had stopped-and then I was lost....lost in my own blog. I had forgotten so many of the things I had blogged about. Last year at this time Alex had been home less than three months and was saying the funniest and most tender things. I am so glad I recorded them. You always think you'll remember this or that but you don't. At least I don't. It was so fun to read what we were doing and see the progress that Alex has made. It was fun to see all the kids and notice how much they've changed in just a years time. It was tender to think back about my father-in-law who passed away last July.
My favorite entry in July was when Alex told me that he wished he was born from my tummy. And I had forgotten all the funny things and odd sentence structures he use to use. I don't have a baby book for Alex, a lock of his hair from his first haircut, pictures of him eating his first birthday cake. I have nothing like that, but I do have my blog-a record of his firsts with us.
So people....the three of you that read....BLOG!!! Not because I want to read more-you all know I'm trying to cut down to an hour a day-but because you will forget! I think sometimes we feel like we need to have something important to say or an important event-I know I feel that way sometimes but it's the day to day, every day ordinary posts-the one's where no one comments because there's not much to say? Those are the ones I love. Oh how I wish there had been blogs-or I had recorded in my journal-when all my children were babies. The funny things they said, the tears and trials. I attended church a few weeks ago in one of our old wards and I couldn't remember a thing from that time of our life. Kambree was three and Austin one when we moved and the only memory I could conjure up sitting in the chapel was a little dress that Kambree wore with bears on it. I could remember a dress!!! THAT WAS IT!

This quote is off of my friend Sara's blog and is so very true....
Do not trust your memory, it is a net full of holes; the most beautiful prizes slip through it. --George Duhamel

Well, it's still hot and now we're hungry too.
Guess I need to get off the computer!

Alex's Physical

In order to go to twelve year old scout camp in two weeks, Alex had to have a physical. It had been over a year since our first very traumatic doctor's visit. (The one where he had been home less than a week and had five shots, a blood draw, sobbed and crawled on my lap rocking back and forth to comfort himself.) We reminisced a lot about that first visit while waiting for the doctor.

Since last May Alex has grown three inches and gained eight pounds!

On the drive to the doctors office he was very concerned about the doctor having to look at his privates...again. Then he shrugged it off saying they had doctor exams in the orphanage at least twice a year and he knows all about getting his privates looked at. He did express concern for our lady doctor, "I would hate to be a girl and look at boys penis's all day long." I explained that she probably didn't look at them all day long-just a few seconds out of her day. (While trying not to burst out laughing!)

He made it through the embarrassing check with the choice from the doctor, "Do you want Mom in here or the assistant?" Alex quickly choose me and as promised I looked away so we salvaged some of his dignity.

But he did need two more vaccines.

He was okay about it and as we waited and waited we talked more about that first visit and how awful it was and how far he's come since then. He laid his head in my lap and let me stroke his hair while we waited for the nurse to come in with his shots. It took forever!

Here is shot #1:

Shot #2 was much more stingy and Alex was not shy about it.

But truly he was just being a bit dramatic as this is just seconds afterwards!

Then we got home and got a phone call from the doctors office explaining they had administered the wrong shot! (What the heck??) It won't hurt him-they said-he had a tetanus combo shot....no wonder it stung! But he has to go back next week for the original Hep B.

He took the news like a man (and a Tylenol) and left for 11 year old scout camp!

Dev's Girls Camp

This year girls camp was at.....

I went up the first day and spent the night. Here we are playing cards on Dev's bunk. (Thanks for the photo Emma!)

This is Dev with her horse Roy short for ROYGBV (Red, Orange, Green, Blue, Violet)

Dev and Veronica-her good friend from Parkview Ward

And with Veronica and Camille-sucking on Ring Pops!

I believe this is the girls in their skit-they're playing that they're boys. That's Dev in the tye-dye with the beard. My crazy, fabulous friend Amy is next to with the pink bandana in her hair.

This is the bus ride home....poor Dev. Ten days out eleven camping would make you tired!

I will add more pictures as I find them on Facebook!

Musings....

Alex heads to scout camp today.
He's so excited he got up at seven and got his chores done and his studies already!
(Although he told me he's not getting up that early any more as he's already tired!)
After helping him with sentence structure and spelling in his journal I got a "Thanks mom for teaching me. You teach me everything."
Aww...just need to savor this moment and blog it so when he rolls his eyes and/or stares off into space during our lesson's I can remember that he does appreciate my efforts and he is learning!
One of the mom's yesterday asked him if I was nice. I held my breath. I don't feel like I'm very nice sometimes. He immediately nodded and said yes! Whew. All I could think of was our long, drawn out repetitive talks-that can't possible be nice-they're not even nice for me!
I found it funny yesterday that, here we are at the park with lot's of friends both Ukrainian and American and all the kids are grouped around the grown ups listening to our conversation. We were talking about other families and their adoption experiences-you would think we were talking about them or something pertaining to them. This is proof that their English is coming along-they now like to eavesdrop on their parents-just like their siblings-something a year ago was impossible! (We use to be able to talk freely about our Ukrainian imports in front of them-as long as we didn't use their names-they were oblivious!)
I mentioned yesterday that we need our own "grown up" language. Wouldn't it be great if there was an adult language that you couldn't grasp or learn until you turned a certain age or became a parent yourself? It would be awesome! Christmas surprises would be easier. During family dinners you and your spouse could confer with each other across the table without anyone knowing what you were talking about! If parents were acting stupid at their child's sporting event an announcement could be made reprimanding them and reminding them to act like adults. It would be great!! Seriously.
Oh well. I'm beginning to sound like Alex with his "inwetions" that will make him super strong and invincible or make short cuts through tunnels and down slides from our house to his cousins.