It's just a little rain

Today we played soccer in the pouring down rain. For a kid that sometimes complains about getting dirty, he faired it well. We had a pep talk beforehand about how it was ok to get all muddy and we'll wash up later. I think that was the release he needed to just get out there and enjoy it. He was even asking me why I had my umbrella, 'It's just rain Mom!'

Daniel also tested for his next belt in Karate. Oh, pardon me - Tae Kwon Doe. He keeps correcting me! He is now a proud blue tip belt...

Ukraine picnic

Let me tell you about the lady at our church who helped us with our adoption. Her name is Kathy and she went to Ukraine and adopted a little girl. But that one adoption wasn't enough for her. She was moved by the plight of orphans and wanted to do more. So she helps other couples in our church that want to adopt, facilitating their paperwork process here in the states (at no charge) and then assigning facilitators to work with you in Ukraine. She also started Hopeful Hearts (check out the link on the sidebar), to raise money and assist the orphanages for those kids who will never get adopted but still need help and love and hope. The Lord has blessed their efforts so much that they've been able to extend their benevolence to orphanages in India and Afghanistan as well.

Every year they have a picnic for the families that they have helped to adopt. Not everyone can come each year, but it's a good time to catch up on the kid's progress and meet the new kids that have found their forever families this year. What a legacy - look at all these kids (and this is just a fraction of them):

Kathy - we are so thankful for you....for your willingness to follow the Lord's leading, to step out in faith where many would have thought they couldn't have an impact, for your love of the kids and passion for building families. In knowing you, our lives are forever changed.

Wedding Fun!

We went to a wedding over Labor Day weekend and they had a photo booth at the reception. We had such fun dressing up and making goofy faces. Is it slightly sad that we're so good at being dorky?

On a side note - second grade is going great! (which you can probably tell since I haven't been moaning about troubles) I was all geared up for a rough start to the school year, like First grade. But Daniel is really doing great. We've had a few minor hiccups, but I have to say - he's really great at being a second grader. Thank you Lord for your special blessings on our sweet boy!

Soccer kid

Daniel had his first soccer game this past Saturday. His uniform this year is orange and black so they are the Tigers! Daniel's aggressive nature really helps him out in soccer. He gives it his all the entire game - he runs, he goes after the ball, he mixes it up with the other players. Pop is so proud! Since he is always in there scrapping over the ball, that means he is also getting roughed up by the other team trying to get the ball. He gets knocked down, pushed and elbowed quite a bit. He hangs in there though and really gives it his all. We think soccer is going to be his favorite sport!

FamilyPalooza

Every year on Labor day they have a big carnival at our church. The weather turned a bit chilly this year but Daniel still had a great time playing games, jumping on the inflatables, eating junk food, at the petting zoo and just enjoying a day off school!

The big one is OUT!!

We have been calling Daniel 'Nanny McPhee' with his snaggle tooth hanging down. It is hanging on by a thread and really wants to come out. We were teasing him at lunch and I took a few snaps....

after an extended period of wiggling and squiggling, it finally CAME OUT!! Check out this triumphant smile:

Man - ever since we have her a raise, the tooth fairy is going broke!

Back home safe!

I was able to get home yesterday and beat Irene! I am glad to be out of the city and home safely. Here is Daniel's verse for the week....

Stuck in NYC

Came to New York for a client meeting yesterday, but they had bad weather and the airport backed up. I had to stay an extra night but I hope to get home today. I am missing my boys! I got to go see Rockefeller Center after my meeting. I really need to come back here one day as a tourist!

Caching

We are staying busy, trying to get settled into a routine with school. So far, second grade is going great. (fingers crossed!) This morning when I dropped Daniel off at school he said, 'I don't think I am going to have a good day.' 'Why not?', asks mom. 'I just don't feel like it' he said. Whoa! Let's hope he was just teasing me!

Last weekend we did some geocaching. We wanted to get out and enjoy the nice weather. We found ourselves at the location of the very first geocache Daniel ever found in America. So of course, I had to snap a photo. We have found many caches with him in the last 2 years!

Where do babies come from?

The beginning of Second grade is going great so far. (Thank you Lord!) They have to do timed math for homework. Which means, they have a sheet of math problems and they have to complete as many as they can in one minute and 15 seconds. What a challenge for a perfectionist!! We're working through it. But, his behavior at school has been acceptable so far and we're just thrilled. They had a party in the school library last Friday and got to dress up like a character from a book they read over the summer. Check out our cowboy. Of course, he can't take a toy gun to school so Pop made him a cool lasso...



And he also lost his BIG front tooth!! This is his fourth tooth to come out and he looks so cute with with the gap in the front. When I was in second grade I was missing both of my front teeth. Daniel might be there soon:

I have to tell you about a conversation we had on our vacation. I got an email that a girl I work with who was pregnant when I left lost her baby. What a sad time. Daniel overheard me sharing this with Jason. He said, 'How did she lose her baby?' Whew! I always try to answer his questions truthfully and not shield him from the sad parts of life, but still in an appropriate way. So I said, 'You know that babies grow in mommies tummies.' (we had a good friend he calls Ms Bunny who had a baby and we talked about how she had a baby in her tummy) 'Well, this lady mom works with - her baby got sick and died. So she won't be able to be born.'




Daniel says, 'I don't get it mom. How does the baby get in the mom's tummy?' (Whoa! Really?) I tell him, 'Well, that's how God designed it. The baby starts out as a little speck in the mommies tummy and then it grows and grows and when it's big enough to be born, it comes out of the mommies tummy and is born. And that's his birthday!' (let's see if that satisfies him)

He looks across the table at me with that sweet face and says, 'Did I grow in your tummy Mom?'

Do you ever wish you had a pause button? You could push it and pause everything, the whole world, while you come up with the right response. I totally need that pause button! I was flabbergasted. We do talk about when he lived in Ukraine 'with all those kids'. He remembers it. He knows he is from Ukraine. What I have not done a good job with, is to talk about his birth mother. I don't have the words. I don't know what to say to make him understand when I don't understand myself. Avoiding it hasn't been the best choice. He was almost five years old when we got him so I assume he remembers and knows he didn't start out with us. But it's our job to help him connect all these dots. So, without the benefit of a pause button - I plunged right in...

'No, you didn't grow in mom's tummy.', I said. 'You grew in another ladies tummy in Ukraine. You were born and she couldn't take care of you so she took you to the place with all the kids where they could take good care of you until Mom and Pop could come get you. And now you're OUR little boy who we love sooooo much!' He got a big smile on his face and said, 'OK.' And then we moved on to the next topic. No more questions, for now. Huh. It's just such a wide arc of emotions and it happens so quickly! I need to talk with him about it more and just make sure that he knows he can ask whatever questions he has and will get honest answers. I think he knew the answer to that question was No, but he didn't really know the follow up information. I did the best I could. I will be prepared next time!

Snorkeling

Did I mention that we went snorkeling in Cancun? Not off the beach, but actually in open water! We practiced in the pool with Daniel the day before, so he could adjust to the feeling of breathing through that tube. He actually did really great and I was so proud of him. He is pretty easy going and willing to try just about anything (food or experiences!). I remember the first time I snorkeled on our honeymoon and I was totally freaked out by it all. Getting used to the breathing is totally weird!

He was excited about seeing the fish. He had a death grip on my hand but we were floating around looking at fish. Then he adjusted his mask, got salt water in his eyes and that was all she wrote. He wanted to get back in the boat. I didn't push him. I was so proud that he was willing to do it - even if it only lasted 10 minutes.

Soccer

The soccer season has finally started!! We've been waiting all summer and Daniel is really looking forward to playing. I think this may turn out to be his favorite sport! (and basketball of course) Check out his great Barcelona soccer jersey pop got him...

Second Grade!!

I can't believe it, but our little boy is growing up so fast and today was the first day of second grade. Oh my! When did he get so big? I am so proud and sad and amazed and nervous all at the same time. On the way to school this morning I was telling him how proud I am of him, how much he has accomplished in 2 years and how big he is! Then, we were walking in to school and he was holding my hand (love it!) and he says to me, 'look Mom, it's a penguin and an elephant!' 'Where? What?' 'There!', he says. 'That puddle looks like a penguin and that one looks like an elephant.' It was so sweet and reminded me, OK, maybe not so big. Still my sweet little boy....

New bed!!!!

The missing screw came in right before we left and pop worked really hard to get Daniel's new bed together. Once he got up there - it looks really high. Yikes! We have pillows piled all around the outer edge and hoped that he wouldn't roll out. It's a double, so he has lots of room up there. The first night he slept in it was the night before we left for Mexico AND he lost a tooth (can the tooth fairy reach that high? Sure mom, she'll just fly up here!) AND it was the first night in the new bed. Whoa! He probably didn't get any sleep from all the excitement! (and mom is excited about our NEW window darkening curtains from Pottery Barn. Maybe now we can sleep in on Saturday?)

Hola!

Sorry for the long pause, but Daniel got his first stamp in his shiny new passport and we just got back from a lovely, relaxing week in Cancun Mexico. It was a great vacation. We spent loads of time together, just the 3 of us and had a lazy week playing around in the sun.

Going down the water slide:

Daniel got to practice his 3rd language - Spanish! He got really good at saying Hola! and Gracias!

Enjoying the Mariacchi band:


















Contemplating this great life:

Cincinnati Reds Baseball game

Daniel had a good time at the game AND it was a winner!! With a water bottle and a fan - we were still HOT HOT HOT!