As Predicted: Snow in October

Joshua assured us that he had seen snow in China. He was able to tell us how to build a snowman with lots of details including a carrot nose and sticks for arms. He got stuck on a word for "buttons." I told him he could use rocks, pine cones, or even potatoes if we had any.

His personal goal was to make a snowball and throw it!

 Here he/she is!!!

 Cora helped Joshua build the snowman.

 Trey was all about the speed.

We got quite a bit of snow. Here is some perspective, although the picture was taken mid-morning and the snow had settled and melted quite a bit by then.

 Okay, here is the weird part. Leaves are still on the trees and falling because it's still fall.

The boy loves snow. He doesn't always want to spend a lot of time outdoors. I think he gets discouraged because he cannot keep up or overwhelmed with not being able to understand the play going on but today he was all about being outside.

 

Joshua has my heartstrings, pulled tight!!!

 In the side yard, massive snow forts, walls, and horses were constructed. Erika came to show me her snow friend. She made this to play with.

 Imagination combined with the great outdoors is a wonderful thing.

Making The Blog

Is this what it takes to make the blog?

Gruesome, I know.

The fact that the pictures were on my camera was a big hint!

Jerrod was part of a haunted house for his work at a campground.

Can you imagine getting paid to look like that?

This is the closest we will get to Halloween this year.

Over the years we have done just about every variation known to man.

Early on we went around to our friend's houses by car to satisfy the sweet tooth.

Soon after we visited shut ins from church.

One year we went to the nursing home and the residents gave candy.

We've had harvest parties at church where the kids could dress up.

I've read all the books, articles, debated the issue.

And now, we just kind of ignore the whole thing.

It's a lot easier.

Tooth decay is minimized.

And the ADHD monster is not fed by the inevitable sugar highs.

But don't get me wrong.

My kids like to dress up as much as anybody.

Look what was on the pumpkin this morning.

Instead of frost there was frosting.

 The little boys headed out as soon as they possibly could.

 Joshua was so EXCITED to show me his collection of snow!

 Out came the sleds.

 For some serious fun!

Give them a little frosting of snow

and they will find a way to make the most of it!!!

Days Out Mean Doctors

We haven't seen a soul, literally, or been with other people since before China. It's kind of weird. Not that we are that social anyway but between the twice a week soccer games we committed to and the multitude of doctor's appointments, we have been in a bit of survival mode. I would say we have had at least two or more appointments each week. Which is okay because we manage to find ways to make our forays into the big wide world fun even if we have to get shots and such.

Monday we had two allergy doctor appointments and an audiology appointment. Between the two was Lindsey and her cows so we stopped in for a visit. Joshua had not seen the dairy barn yet so it was fun to introduce him to the black and white girls.

 Lindsey LOVES her siblings, this is true. 

But get her around cows and she is H.A.P.P.Y!!!

 What a difference a year makes. 

Micah has decided that maybe he doesn't hate cows!

Cora is our "cow whisperer."

She got the cow to perform and show us that lovely tongue!

I'm thinking, "Do we have baby wipes in the car?"

 Joshua took it all in and was appropriately cautious.

 Although he really wanted to try.....

 If cows could talk, she would say.......

"What a bunch of dumb people looking at cows."

 Erik admitted he thought he was going to get kicked.

See him hugging the wall?

Lindsey: "Erik, these are COWS, not horses." 

Enough said.

 Okay ladies. Do your thing. 

Eat, sleep, and make milk.

I think I have said before that my greatest large family challenge is keeping everyone in shoes. Trey informed me a few weeks ago that his sneakers had air conditioning built right in and Micah's toes were practically curled up. So we added a stop and got Trey and Micah new sneakers.

However, another little boy thought HE should have new sneakers too. But HE didn't need new sneakers. He went from 0-90 showing his level of frustration. The entire department store knew we were there as we made our way to the front of the store. I asked Erik and Erika to take him out to the car where he could recover in private while I paid for the shoes. Oh boy! We are still in transition....

 On the way home, we stopped at a playground to blow off some steam and let the crying one have some time to calm down. 

My kids are so fun. They invented teeter totter X 3.

I laughed so hard I cried.

                       

And then I laughed even harder.

 Somebody told Cora her shirt was gaping and 

she proceed to try to remedy that.

 While she was riding the bucking bronco teeter totter.

 Cora's a good sport and is ALWAYS ready for fun even at her own expense.

 Trey had a great time stranding Micah.

 Happy boys!

After three doctor's appointments, two pairs of sneakers, and 1 tantrum, along with a fast food lunch, we called it a day and headed home. We had fun together and that is all that mattered!

Creating Other Gods

Homeschooling allows us the privilege to include God as we walk and talk and learn. 

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 

I love our curriculum this year: Heart of Dakota. 

We are into our Bibles everyday discovering new and old truths.

Today we talked about the Tower of Babel:

The power of self-importance and creating other gods to worship.

Which begs the question: What have I made into a god in my life?

Confused looks all around.

Mom: "For me, the computer. Girls, what do I do more? Read my Bible or look at the computer?"

Point taken. They got that.

Cora: "My art. I keep going on my drawing when I am supposed to be doing something else."

Kloey: "Liking sugar more than other food. It makes my ears red after."

Erika: "I can't think of anything."

I couldn't think of anything for Erika either.....

We all have them, those other gods that we put before the one and only true God. 

I love relearning life lessons with my kids.

A Good Neighbor

Around these parts, a neighbor is 

anyone who lives within a mile or two.

And this wonderful man is a very good neighbor.

He brings us flowers from his garden.

He loves up on all my kids.

AND he shows up with ice cream, often!

Thanks, Dave, for being our friend and a good neighbor.

Bribery for a Friday Test

Joshua was scheduled for an upper GI test on Friday. Meaning that he could not eat or drink after midnight. Do you know what it is like to withhold food and water from someone who lived in an institution, recently had his world turned upside down AND doesn't understand English? I cringe at the thought. 

I didn't have any Mandarin speakers this time to I resorted to out and out BRIBERY. I am here to tell you, it WORKS! Joshua has made a huge language leap over the last two weeks and he is chattering away in English and is beginning to attempt to make his feelings known as well. So here is how I laid it out:  

(BTW: Joshua hates milk. Not sure if it is just the consistency of our milk in the USA or if he doesn't like milk. He didn't drink a whole lot in China either.)

ME: "Joshua, we have to go to the HOSPITAL on Friday for a test. You have to drink some milk and then they are going to take some pictures of your belly. No shots, okay?" 

"You can't have anything to eat or drink in the morning but you can play Wii as soon as you get up, okay?"

JOSHUA: Eyes light up, he lives for Wii.

ME: "Yes, no juice or water but you can play Wii until it is time to go."

JOSHUA: Nods. Consider that a deal.

ME: Gulp, here goes the fun part. "Joshua, if you drink the milk stuff at the hospital, you can have noodles, we will stop at the cupcake place, AND you can get rainbow sherbet."

(BTW: If Joshua doesn't want to drink something, Joshua won't. Evidenced by the medicine he spit ALL over the male nurse in the hospital. I respect that he IS eight years old. You cannot make him do anything he doesn't want to do.)

JOSHUA: "Noodles and TWO rainbow ice cream?"

ME: "Two? Okay, two. Whatever it takes, but you have to drink the milk, okay?"

ME: "AND we can bring the IPOD and your movies." I am going all out on this one.

JOSHUA: "IPOD and MOVIES?" Big smile!!!

The stage was set. The deal was ON. I was praying for an easy morning because this test was important and I didn't want to have to do it more than once.

Wii completely distracted him. We had to get all the kids in on the deal and asked them not to eat or drink before we left at 8:15.

 What is that between Joshua's feet?

The only "thing" he has attached to: his flashlight. We brought one to China and he goes to bed with it each night and has a special place for it during the day.

 This boy is HAPPY to go somewhere with just Mom and Dad

even if it means no food or water.

 

Dad is drinking his coffee and made sure things were 

copacetic at work on the way up to the hospital.

 O.K., Joshua. You can use the camera and take my picture.

Do I look as hungry as you?

 First pass on the machine. The ipod was in full use. 

I think he was watching his praise video.

 One of us could get suited up to deflect the radiation.

Joshua chose Dad. Imagine my relief?

He is kind of cute in purple, though.

 

Very brave boy! I was so proud of Joshua for drinking 

his "milk" which is basically chalk and water.

"The promise of noodles and rainbow ice cream kept him on track."

  The bed rotated to a prone position while he was on it

and took pictures back and forth. 

The test was completed successfully in a little over an hour. 

Joshua was a good digester and 

has a lovely although malrotated digestive tract.

Since we got done so quickly, 

we took Joshua out for breakfast on the way home.

 He ordered three "jidan" (accents not included).

That is THREE EGGS, no kidding.

 Joshua has the camera. 

He was H.U.N.G.R.Y. at this point.

 Dad is drinking some more coffee!

Been a long morning for Mom and Dad.

 Later in the afternoon, I went to the courthouse to submit Joshua's re-adoption paperwork. Although our adoption was final in China and recognized by the United States, we will readopt him in our state so that we can get a birth certificate and a US passport. Having those will make the paperwork in his life much easier and simpler later on.

 After the courthouse, we went to the grocery store 

to get the promised rainbow ice cream.

 Boys, you are definitely COOL!

 

Especially holding your ice cream!

Health Update:

Joshua has dextrocardia (heart on the other side) and with that condition, often a bunch of other issues arise. Joshua has no functional spleen, only some scattered splenetic tissue. I feel so technical these days. Splenetic is fun to say!  He also has some malrotation in his gut. When we are in the womb, did you know that our intestines come out, rotate and go back in again? Well, sometimes it doesn't happen that way. We are waiting to find out what we need to do about his malrotation which could be life threatening. None of these things were a complete surprise as our fabulous Dr. M educated us about all of this last December. Still, a lot of medical needs to deal with and watching our little guy submit to test after test is hard but necessary to ensure that his life is as good as it can be.