Soccer and Suckers

From August to February it seems our life revolves around soccer. Scott is an assistant coach for the APU women's team, which runs from August to the first of December. Overlapping with that, comes his high school team, which goes from November to February. It's all futbol all the time.... which has pretty much always been okay with me. I love to watch the games and learn more about the girls. It's definitely Scott's gift and passion, and I love to see him doing what he loves. We've enjoyed 11 years of marriage, and 11 years of lots of soccer.

But now... now, we throw 3 kiddos into the mix. I wasn't sure if I would ever get to actually watch another game for... let's say... another 11 years.

So, Friday we took the kids to the APU men's game. And just as I suspected, very little soccer was actually watched. However, the kids had a fantastic time! Many of the players from the women's team were there and did they ever entertain our three. Chasing, swinging, jumping.

Finally, we sat down for the last few minutes of the game to enjoy the yummy Disnyeland suckers the kids had been given.

Justin, Natalie, and Lexi were sweaty, sticky little messes by the time we got home. A sure sign of a super fun day!

So thanks to the APU gals for being so sweet to our little ones. I'll try to put in a good word for you to coach. All of that running around with our kids should definitely qualify you for a break at practice! ;)

The Toys are Back in Town

Well, the toys are back. Scott deposited the piles of dolls, action figures, blocks, puzzles, and annoying noise making plastic junk, back in the family room. The kids put everything back in its place, sort of.


Of course, when it was time to play.... they fought over the BOX I had used to gather up the toys!!!
Figures :)

Perhaps I Overreacted?

"Time to clean up."
"Put away your toys, please."
(Insert catchy little Clean Up song here)
"Let's clean up."
"Mama said CLEAN UP!"
"CLEAN UP NOW!!!"

This is how my end of the conversation went yesterday. Actually, this is usually how it goes everyday. But yesterday, I was done being ignored. After my third request to clean up was seemingly disregarded, I grabbed a couple of big laundry baskets and started loading up the toys. The kids sat on our "time out" step, I think in disbelief. Justin was completely silent. Natalie just kept saying, "Stop it, mama." Lexi was soon transferred to the potty, so she missed the rest of my toy evacuation, but she got the idea. I left a basket of books, but that was pretty much it.

So, it's good news, bad news. The good news is, I think next time they'll do much better when it's time to clean up their toys (at least for a day or two, right!?) I think they understand I'm expecting them to listen... and obey. The bad news is... well, there's no toys! Which means it doesn't take long until they're looking to mom and dad for constant entertainment.

I'm completely perplexed as to how I am able to get a classroom of 35 kids to follow procedures, listen to directions, and take responsibility for themselves. But here at home..... not so much.

Three Little Pirates

Our craft project took a major detour today. What started as decorating little foam crowns, turned into making pirate costumes. With rolled up newspapers as our hooks, construction paper eye patches, and lots of tape... I soon had 3 little pirates. And thanks to the Backyardigans (A show I'd never heard of 2 months ago), we know that, "A pirate, a pirate, a pirate, a pirate says Arrr! Arrr! Arrr!"


After only a few minutes into our swashbuckling adventure, I soon found my littlest pirtate (still donning her eye patch) tucked away into a corner with a doll.
Here's a little taste of how the English is coming. It seems Pirate Justin has bought chocolate and ice cream at the store (That's my kind of pirate!). Still mixing the English and Russian, he says, "Pirate scora vernoos." (Pirate will be back soon)

Whoa Baby, Lexi Turns 3!

Yep, another birthday in the Mocabee house! :) Yesterday was Lexi's third birthday. Three years old, and still very much the baby of the house. Speaking of babies... Lexi LOVES dolls. They are really the only toys she plays with. Sometimes I'll see her with another toy, but usually it turns out that she's just using it as an accessory for her baby dolls. Her special birthday gifts were a new doll from Baba and Grandpa, and Grammy crocheted a cute little sling she can carry the baby in.

Here's the Proof

It seems that sticking out your tongue when coloring a picture makes it turn out better.
Just ask any 5 year old.

Needles... Round 3

This morning we made our third, a hopefully FINAL, trip to the lab. In all, each of the kids had 13 vials of blood drawn and we collected 1 urine and 3 stool samples from each. Yuck, yuck, yuck!!! Here's some pix of the kids enjoying their "You were so brave" ice cream treat.

The screaming you'll hear in the background is Justin... down the hallway... around the corner... in a separate room...

Off to church we go!

Here's a picture of us before heading off to church last week. Yes, finally a picture with ME in it.



We've been to Sunday morning church a few times now. We weren't sure about leaving the kids in child care so soon after coming home. However, it feels like attachment is going well, and to be honest, Scott and I needed a piece of our former selves back.

Our entire lives have changed. Some parts have changed a little bit. Some things have been altered so much I forget they even existed only a couple of months ago. Getting back to church, with the familiar faces, the familiar worship... It was important.

The kids seem to be doing just fine in child care. Justin and Natalie are together, in the same class. Lexi is in a different room with the toddlers. Lexi has cried a little when we drop her off and there have been a few whimpers from Natalie, but the teachers have told us they are okay soon after we are out of sight. From an adoption/attachment viewpoint, their reactions are actually perfect. And I LOVE picking them up after the service. The smile on Lexi's face is precious as she trots toward us with outstretched arms.

Here's some pix from a few Sundays ago, the day we made our church debut. It's next to impossible to get all three of them to stand still and smile! But that's part of what I love about these pictures. Just a little peek into our real life.

Communication

I'm ready for English.

The kids already know a lot more than we expected. People comment on how surprised they are to hear them speaking so much. In fact, I'd say their English and Russian are about half and half now. The thing is, the English words and phrases they know are limited, so they end up saying the same things, over and over and over and over again... usually getting louder each time. Also, there are still many things we ask of them or want to explain to them, and although we try, we just don't have the language to do it well. Do they understand what we just said, but are being defiant and testing us? Or did they not understand what we just asked? Like when Natalie touched something when I've just said not to? (Um, then touched the same thing 3 more times... )

There's a blessing in all of this. They want to communicate. They want to communicate with US. That's a good thing.

Unfortunately, I'm finding it exhausting. I'm finding myself impatient and easily annoyed. I'm finding myself speaking tersly and being quick tempered. And it frustrates me. I'm frustrated with myself. Their little hearts have endured so much already. I want to be their safest place. Not one who wounds their little souls with my heavy sighs and abrupt words.

So, I'm ready for English. So we can talk about FEELINGS. So we can speak about WHY and HOW, rather than just this surface level of communication.

I'm ready for English, so when I say, "I'm sorry Natalie. Mommy shouldn't have snapped at you today," I know she understands.

Grammy's Visit

My mom, hereafter known as Baba Grammy, came for a visit last weekend. Between doctor appointments we had a great time going to the pool, visiting the aquarium, and going out to a yummy dinner.

It's so great having company (especially when the company does the dishes, thanks mom!) Not only does it take a little pressure off of us, the kids enjoy having the attention and someone new to, "Watch! Watch! Watch! Watch!"

Zucchini Bread

We were given a GIANT zucchini... seriously, this thing was ENORMOUS. Picture Popeye's forearm... without the anchor tattoo, of course.

Anyway, we've had steamed zucchini a couple of times,
zucchini in our spaghetti sauce,
zucchini in scrambled eggs,
and zucchini mixed in the mac and cheese.

Still, there was half a zucchini in the fridge! So here we are, cooking up some zucchini bread. It turned out to be pretty tasty!

My Poor Babies

What a day.

We started at the doctor's office, where they each got a needle stick for a TB test. They were not happy campers, but after a few tears they were back to their silly selves.

Then, it was upstairs to the lab. This would be our first of what will be 3 eventual visits. The kids each need to have about 15 viles of blood drawn in order to complete all of the tests that were ordered. It will take at least 3 visits to collect enough. Ouch. I vividly remembered screaming hysterically when I was getting my own shots before entering kindergarten. There were no hysterics, but there were tears and cries aplenty.

But they made it. I was really proud of how brave they all were.

We had promised a trip for ice cream when all was said and done. As soon as we sat down to eat, Justin said he needed to use the bathroom. The ice cream parlor didn't have one, so Scott loaded him in the van and headed home. Since our house was only a block away, I stayed with the girls and we decided to walk back. Bad move. Our little wobbly Lexi tripped and fell. She skinned up both knees AND her forehead.

Poor thing. What a day she had... 2 skinned knees, a scraped forehead, and needle sticks on both arms. Here's some "Feel Sorry for Us" pictures.

Gee-tars!

The kids love music. Even while we were in Russia, this was obvious. While we were visiting Justin in his orphanage he would often play the piano or guitar for us. Once he even played an accordian. During a visit with Natalie, she sat on my lap and let me guide her fingers on a piano. This was a BIG deal at the time, since she pretty much wanted nothing to do with us in the beginning. Since we've been home, they constantly ask to play our piano. They sit and listen to Scott play the guitar. Justin had even turned a toy mirror into his own pretend guitar so he could play along. When we are in the van they ALWAYS want music. They sing along with everything, especially Natalie. Seems like she is always singing.

So, you can only imagine how excited they were when Baba and Grandpa showed up with special gifts. Their very own guitars! It's become a bit noiser in our house (didn't think that was possible!), but they love their guitars... or as Natalie pronounces it, "Gee-tar!"

I love my new blue guitar!

Papa leads the jam session.

Justin works it out on an accordian (in Russia).

Justin playing the guitar in Russia.

One of the first times Natalie let me get close to her (In Russia, in case you couldn't tell from the big purple bow!).

Have a Laugh on Us!

My mom sent us this ecard.
It's just too funny not to share!
See, there are definitely benefits to having a family of 5... just enough faces to complete this silly card.

Enjoy!

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Meet the Potato Heads

Hey Auntie Beth!
Thanks for the Mister Potato Head!