And the medal goes to...

Congratulations to Natalie, who recently earned a third place medal for her artwork!

Each year, the school PTA sponsors a contest called Reflections, where students are challenged to create art inspired by a specific theme.  Natalie placed third for kindergarten at her school.  This year's theme was "Together We Can..."  Natalie titled her project "Together We Can Share the Work."  She drew a picture of the many things she can help her little sister do, such as brush teeth, pick up toys, get dressed and make the bed.  

(You get all that from this picture, right!?)

Would you believe that last year Justin also earned the third place medal in kindergarten?!  The theme was "Beauty is..."
Justin drew "Beauty is Having a Pet To Love."

Good job Natalie and Justin!  We are so proud of you! ( and so is Molly!)

Shiny Happy People *

Yes.
That's Lexi.
She really is the epitome of a shiny happy person.
It takes a lot to ruffle that little one's feathers.  She's generally a go-with-the-flow kind of girl.  Lexi is just happy to be happy.

But, uh, back to the shiny part.
Or should I say... shiner.

"What happened Lexi?"
"I bonked into the counter."
That she did.  Racing through the kitchen.  Took the turn a bit too tight.  Bonk.

But still smiling.

It brought back the horrible memory of... dun dun dunnnnn.... The Moscow Swing Set Incident of 2008.
Let's see.  We were all of 5 days into our parenting journey.  The children had been entrusted to us for less than a week......

No wait!  Hold on!  Before we relive The Swings...
First came...
The Bed.
So, it was the first, FIRST I TELL YOU!  The very first day we got the kids in Krasnoyarsk.  Finally, set free from the confines of the orphanage.  Finally together!  Finally a family!

And then... a couple hours into our bliss. (Wasn't I blissful in Russia?  I'll have to go back and read the old blog posts.)

Anyway.
We had only been back in the hotel for a couple hours.  The five of us were sitting around on the bed.  Next thing you know, Lexi stood up and simply walked off the bed.
No. It was more of a dive.
She landed head first on the hardwood floor.
Scott and I may have locked eyes for a split second.  Then the simultaneous screams heard only in each of our minds,
"I thought YOU were watching her!"

Then came Lexi's audible screams.
Well great.  We've had this kid for 2 hours and have already broken her!

Do I go on to describe how her eyes began to roll back in her head?  How we woke her up every hour that night in case she had a concussion?  Trying to figure out how we would explain this in a Russian ER?  In the end, she had a pretty good size bump on her noggin, but (thank God!) she was okay.

A few days later....
Now we're in Moscow.  As you can imagine, living in a hotel room for days on end with a 2, 3 and 4 year old was about to push us all over the edge.   But then a fellow adoptive family tipped us off about a park.  A park!? Yay!  It was only a few blocks away.  We pushed our rickety double stroller through the streets of Moscow.  Then, we found it.
We found it!
Yes children!
Run!  Run free!
For a bit, all was right with the world.  They chased.  They climbed.  They swung.  Scott and I stood together, watching our sweet, innocent, ahem... non bruised children.

Then, as if in slow motion...
Lexi begins to dash toward the back of the swing set....
There is a little Russian girl already on the swing....
That little girl sails forward....
Then flies back...
The wooden seat...
The metal bars...
Right
Into
Lexi's
Face....

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE WATCHING HER!!!!"

Oh, it looked bad.  It still makes me queasy thinking about it.  She was definitely dented.  Really.  Her cheek was dented.  Her sweet little perfect cheek instantly had a purple indentation.

Seriously.  Who let us take these kids???

So that, my friends, was The Moscow Swing Set Incident of 2008. 

Incidentally, it was also one of our first big lessons on parenting.  Scott and I learned that one of us can play a zone with Justin and Natalie.  

But as for Miss Lexi?

Well, she requires one on one defense.

AT ALL TIMES.

Here are a few of the happier moments at the park.  Pre-dent.

And here's....

Well, you get it.

* Disclaimer:  No children were permanently damaged in the making of this family.  Believe me.  We immediately checked with our pediatrician when we got home.

Anybody out there?

Um.
Hi.
Remember me?
Sooooo, do I just start writing?
Do I ignore the fact I've been blog silent for 6 months?
OR do I give you my lengthy list of excellent excuses for my absence?

That might be fun...

You see, the thing is, well...
I've been on the run from the law.  The library police are after me.  It seems I have enough unpaid and overdue fines to fund the addition they are adding on this summer.  I've had to go into hiding, because if there's one thing I've learned... Don't mess with the librarians.

Wait.  That's not it.

It's the laundry.  Yes, laundry.  For the past several months I've been trapped under a massive pile of my family's laundry!  It started as only a couple of small piles.  Dirty soccer uniforms.  Some folded jammies that needed to be put away.  But soon, those piles seemed to merge with the other piles.  I went in search of clean underwear one day and just never came out.

Filming a reality show?
Waiting in line at DMV?
Got lost somewhere between the 10 pound jar of olives and industrial meat slicers at Costco?
Joined a gym? Ha! (Actually I did. Watch out!)
Took Molly on the road to dominate the Frisbee competition?
Consoling Scott about the Cubs disappointing season?

What?
No good?
Ok.  Here's my all time,  most favorite excuse:

If it's good enough for John Cusack, well, it's good enough for me.
And by the way,
I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!!

Look who's 5!!!

To round out Birthday Season, little Miss Lexi turned a whopping 5 years old on August 20th!

Papa made her a number five shaped chocolate chip pancake to start the morning.  We went to the mall to ride the carousel. (The closest we could get to what she really wanted to do, which was ride a real horse!)  We stopped at the Disney store and let the birthday girl pick some figurines to go on top of her cake.  Of course, she chose the pack of princesses.  Lexi's special day ended with her choice of dinner, "sketti and meatballs" and gifts from the family.  We love you Lexi Bexi!

WELCOME TO BIRTHDAY WEEK!

July 17

Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday to you!  

Happy 6th birthday dear NATALIE!  Happy birthday to you!

July 19

Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday to you!  

Happy 7th birthday dear JUSTIN!  Happy birthday to you!

July 22

Happy birthday to you!  Happy birthday to you!  

Happy 36th birthday dear SCOTT!  Happy birthday to you!

PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Homecoming (Part 2)

(continued...)

We ended our 2nd Homecoming Day with jammies on, gathered around the computer to watch the dozens (maybe even hundreds!) of videos and pictures from our final days in Russia (June and July of 2008): Visiting the kids in their "Russia Houses." Our morning in court. The tulips that were in bloom everywhere. Yelena, Sergey, Marina, and the many people in Russia who led us step by step through the process. Eating a steady diet of Pringles and M&M's. A parade. Dancers in the town square. Fireworks. The red and black lacquered furniture. The rows and rows of little beds lined up in the orphanage. Gotcha Day. Walking out of the orphanages for the last time. The faces of the little friends our children left behind. The women who care for those precious babies. Living in hotels. Elevator rides. Washing clothes in the sink. Pushing that ridiculous stroller all over Krasnoyarsk and Moscow. Playing in the fountain. Reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear again and again and again. Red Square. Blogging in the business center. The kids only speaking Russian. Airports. Surviving those long flights.

Lexi. Still just a baby really. Hair framing her sweet little face. Stuffy nose. Soaking up every outdoor moment she can. Rolling in the grass. Splashing in the fountain. Smiles. Giggles. Fitting so perfectly in my arms. Snuggled against my chest. Thumb in her mouth.

Lexi. My sweet silly baby.

Natalie. So protective of her little sister. So protective of her own fragile heart. Eyes that seem to suspect more than her three year old soul should know. She keeps her armor on for a while. But when we load the van to leave the orphanage for good she scoots close to me and says, "Ya tibya loobloo, Mama." Yes, my precious daughter. I love you too.

Natalie. My strong, brave, lovely daughter.

Justin. Jumping into Papa's arms. Anxious to show us all he can do. Such a smart boy. Taking my face in his little hands and kissing me on the cheek. Claiming us as his own from day one. Frustration with the language barrier. So proud to be a big brother.

The son I never imagined I'd have.

Justin. My capable, tender-hearted son.

***Insert big sigh here***

Ahh, how far we've come.

How much we've all learned about love... about trust... about grace.

I loved celebrating Homecoming Day with my family.

Celebrating with Scott. My husband and very best friend. Whom I truly love more with each passing day. Truly. So fun to bungle our way through parenthood together!

Celebrating with our children. Who fill me... no... who, overwhelm me, with depths of emotions I never knew existed.

And yet, and yet... as good as it is to celebrate being home... My heart has a place of longing for my eternal home. Sweet heavenly home with Jesus. Ah, now that will be a homecoming :)

But we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. A home of righteousness. All of this is in keeping with God's promise.

Dear friends, I know you are looking forward to that. So try your best to be found pure and without blame. Be at peace with God. Remember that while our Lord is waiting patiently to return, people are being saved. (2 Peter 3:13,14)

We read the book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, again and again when we were in Russia.  The kids loved it!  Within a couple days, Natalie and Justin were reciting it.  Their first bits of English.   

This video was shot in the bathroom of our hotel room in Moscow.  The bathroom doubled as a playroom, family room, library, laundry room.... (But, you'll see that Lexi is actually using it for it's intended purpose!)

Happy Homecoming (Part 1)

Today we celebrated our Homecoming!

Two years ago

July 2

we finally

FINALLY!

came home

HOME HOME HOME

First thing Natalie said to me this morning was "Happy Homecoming Day Mama!" She wasn't about to waste a single moment not in celebration of her special day! We started the morning with a yummy waffle breakfast. Then headed to the theater to see Toy Story 3. (Was it just me or did anyone else shed a tear when they watched it?! Sheesh!)

Later in the afternoon we made a special Homecoming Cake.

Note I said the cake was special. Not exactly fancy or beautiful! But we made it as a family, so that's what counts, right? As an added bonus (not that it matters with special cakes) it actually tasted just fine!

Baba and Grandpa were nice enough to bring us dinner tonight. We reminisced a little about that day in 2008 when they picked us up at LAX. Haggard, exhausted and emotional. But, we were together. We were a family. We... were... HOME!

(stay tuned for Part 2 of this post)