Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Andy's Best friend in Ukraine, Amir and Esther with Orphans Hope
(JPEG Image, 2736x3648 pixels) - Scaled (16%)
This is Andy's best friend, they call each other brothers. He is with Esther in this picture. She is in Ukraine and has known Andy and Amir since they were around 5 I think. You can check out her blog--there is a link on the right hand side of my blog. Esther has been a lifeline to the children of Ukraine.
She is close to Amir and has helped us to communicate with him since being back in the US.
Amir needs a family. Let us know if you want to contribute to the "Adopt Amir" fund.
This is Andy's best friend, they call each other brothers. He is with Esther in this picture. She is in Ukraine and has known Andy and Amir since they were around 5 I think. You can check out her blog--there is a link on the right hand side of my blog. Esther has been a lifeline to the children of Ukraine.
She is close to Amir and has helped us to communicate with him since being back in the US.
Amir needs a family. Let us know if you want to contribute to the "Adopt Amir" fund.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Faking a Shower
This morning Andrew was in his office early working, with the door shut. He heard Andy get up, scuffle out of his room...starting his morning routine which generally consists of him sweet talking the animals, playing with Allie and lovin' on her, showering and brushing his teeth. This is what he does on his own...or at least we thought.....
However, perhaps not....so this morning he heard all of this up until he went to the bathroom. This morning, and now I wonder how many other mornings, he fired up his electric toothbrush for all of 30 seconds, then cranked up the shower for about 20 seconds, got dressed and went about his business. HA he faked his shower! Andrew said it took everything in him not to laugh out loud. Of course Andy didn't know his Dad heard all of this. Andrew chose not to ask him if he'd showered bc he simply didn't want to force the kid to fib.
So he tells me this and of course we laugh. But tonight at dinner Andrew busted him, lightheartedly of course. I was watching Andy's face as a smile timidly spread across his lips. He saw we were laughing and I guess figured the coast was clear. Andrew of course thinks its hilarious bc he was a 10yr old boy once too and apparently did the same thing. I must say, I think it is hilarious, but I don't remember doing that when I was 10.
Andrew then recounts a story of bragging to his mom after kids camping that he didn't shower the whole week!
Upon hearing that and cracking up at both himself and his Dad he says
"I also stick my head under the sink so my hair looks wet."
At that point, me, Andrew, my Mom and my Sister lose it. He just gave away his last trick as far as showering goes.
Maybe you had to be there... or perhaps its just my first boy...but I think its so funny that Andy fakes taking a shower. He seemed so proud of himself too.
Note to self...smell his hair in order to prove he showered?
However, perhaps not....so this morning he heard all of this up until he went to the bathroom. This morning, and now I wonder how many other mornings, he fired up his electric toothbrush for all of 30 seconds, then cranked up the shower for about 20 seconds, got dressed and went about his business. HA he faked his shower! Andrew said it took everything in him not to laugh out loud. Of course Andy didn't know his Dad heard all of this. Andrew chose not to ask him if he'd showered bc he simply didn't want to force the kid to fib.
So he tells me this and of course we laugh. But tonight at dinner Andrew busted him, lightheartedly of course. I was watching Andy's face as a smile timidly spread across his lips. He saw we were laughing and I guess figured the coast was clear. Andrew of course thinks its hilarious bc he was a 10yr old boy once too and apparently did the same thing. I must say, I think it is hilarious, but I don't remember doing that when I was 10.
Andrew then recounts a story of bragging to his mom after kids camping that he didn't shower the whole week!
Upon hearing that and cracking up at both himself and his Dad he says
"I also stick my head under the sink so my hair looks wet."
At that point, me, Andrew, my Mom and my Sister lose it. He just gave away his last trick as far as showering goes.
Maybe you had to be there... or perhaps its just my first boy...but I think its so funny that Andy fakes taking a shower. He seemed so proud of himself too.
Note to self...smell his hair in order to prove he showered?
Andy's 1st Birthday Party: 11yrs old
So we made it...our first official birthday party. Andy's first ever and my first as a parent.
whoohoo milestone :)
I was hoping I'd have something really funny to write...lol but I don't. The party went over great.
We rented a huge inflatable slip n slide and the rest was "baseball themed" (well except for the pinata which Andy really wanted so of course we did). It was really fun.
I will say that I don't know of any other 10yr old who worries about the state of the house and yard for their own party. It was cute and sad at the same time. I had to keep gently reminding Andy we had it covered, we would take care of it. He was really exciting. We had a countdown going on the calendar and in the kitchen.
Of course I did my 'Motherly Duty' of worrying that we wouldn't have enough kids, or that it wouldn't be fun...whatever else there is to fret over... However, I must commend myself because I kept it under control and at some point (who knows when) I just stopped. Yeah, all on my own I was calm and collected and decided whatever would happen would happen. HA no.
Between my Mom and a few friends, that happened. Either way it was really fun, we really enjoyed ourselves and got a bunch of great pics--that need to be uploaded--and Andy scored some great gifts (can I say that? Is that tacky?)
My sister got the cake and pizza and I've never seen such an awesome cake that also tasted good--seriously it seems like you can only have one or the other. But it was great.
So here we are...1 down...tons more to go. Ahhh--insert me smiling and sighing. With this birthday/milestone comes the reminder of all the birthdays Andy didn't get to celebrate and all the years we missed. However, he is here now and it just seems normal--which is good. But it did make me stop and remember (although its easy to remember) how very blessed we are to be a family. I look at him and I just want to hug him and never let him go.
Last year we celebrated his birthday at a McDonald's in Simferopool, Ukraine. It was the first time we'd seen him in almost 2yrs and we couldn't have been happier. He spoke maybe 2 words of English and already called us Mamma and Pappa. I'll never forget him sitting there smiling from ear to ear. He had never even been to McDonald's. He ordered a cheeseburger happy meal, ice cream cone, and a chocolate muffin. He saved a few bites of his cheeseburger and half of his fries for later. And neither Andrew or myself could quit smiling or hugging him. And here I sit just shy of a year from that day (bc his real bday is the 25th) blogging about his first party. We've come along way. Thanks to all of you who've been a part. I'm actually trying not to cry just thinking about our journey. I keep a journal for Andy. I've been writing in it about him, the adoption...etc since we started this process. I was reading back through it Saturday night and there was a bday card tucked inside from what we thought was his 7th birthday. I remember his birthday then. I was at Dell and Andrew was still selling real estate. I must have thought about him all day wishing he would be here. And here we are, and he's here. It felt like it would never happen. The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.
As I've told you before I don't go back and read these....so sorry if this one was a waste of your internet time :) I'll post pics of his bday as soon as I can get them loaded.
From dreaming on his birthday, to a McDonald's party of 4.....here we are, home all together--Mom, Dad and Andy-- :)
Happy Birthday Andy
Here's to all the birthday's to come!
whoohoo milestone :)
I was hoping I'd have something really funny to write...lol but I don't. The party went over great.
We rented a huge inflatable slip n slide and the rest was "baseball themed" (well except for the pinata which Andy really wanted so of course we did). It was really fun.
I will say that I don't know of any other 10yr old who worries about the state of the house and yard for their own party. It was cute and sad at the same time. I had to keep gently reminding Andy we had it covered, we would take care of it. He was really exciting. We had a countdown going on the calendar and in the kitchen.
Of course I did my 'Motherly Duty' of worrying that we wouldn't have enough kids, or that it wouldn't be fun...whatever else there is to fret over... However, I must commend myself because I kept it under control and at some point (who knows when) I just stopped. Yeah, all on my own I was calm and collected and decided whatever would happen would happen. HA no.
Between my Mom and a few friends, that happened. Either way it was really fun, we really enjoyed ourselves and got a bunch of great pics--that need to be uploaded--and Andy scored some great gifts (can I say that? Is that tacky?)
My sister got the cake and pizza and I've never seen such an awesome cake that also tasted good--seriously it seems like you can only have one or the other. But it was great.
So here we are...1 down...tons more to go. Ahhh--insert me smiling and sighing. With this birthday/milestone comes the reminder of all the birthdays Andy didn't get to celebrate and all the years we missed. However, he is here now and it just seems normal--which is good. But it did make me stop and remember (although its easy to remember) how very blessed we are to be a family. I look at him and I just want to hug him and never let him go.
Last year we celebrated his birthday at a McDonald's in Simferopool, Ukraine. It was the first time we'd seen him in almost 2yrs and we couldn't have been happier. He spoke maybe 2 words of English and already called us Mamma and Pappa. I'll never forget him sitting there smiling from ear to ear. He had never even been to McDonald's. He ordered a cheeseburger happy meal, ice cream cone, and a chocolate muffin. He saved a few bites of his cheeseburger and half of his fries for later. And neither Andrew or myself could quit smiling or hugging him. And here I sit just shy of a year from that day (bc his real bday is the 25th) blogging about his first party. We've come along way. Thanks to all of you who've been a part. I'm actually trying not to cry just thinking about our journey. I keep a journal for Andy. I've been writing in it about him, the adoption...etc since we started this process. I was reading back through it Saturday night and there was a bday card tucked inside from what we thought was his 7th birthday. I remember his birthday then. I was at Dell and Andrew was still selling real estate. I must have thought about him all day wishing he would be here. And here we are, and he's here. It felt like it would never happen. The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.
As I've told you before I don't go back and read these....so sorry if this one was a waste of your internet time :) I'll post pics of his bday as soon as I can get them loaded.
From dreaming on his birthday, to a McDonald's party of 4.....here we are, home all together--Mom, Dad and Andy-- :)
Happy Birthday Andy
Here's to all the birthday's to come!
Monday, July 13, 2009
I'm Stupid
Andy got upset the other night and in his madness (whatever you want to call it) he threatened to write "I'm Stupid" on his face. It was late and we were all tired. I (of course) told him he was not stupid--so don't go emailing me :) but that if he wanted to do that I wasn't going to stop him.
I shut the door and left...praying he wouldn't call for me again.
Fingers crossed.....hold your breath...nope no more yells.
The next morning I go in to wake him up, one of my favorite things. They are so sweet and inncocent before they get up aren't they? So I'm rubbing his back and as I'm about to say "Andy wake up" he rolls over and what do I see--you got it... black marker...smeared across his precious face.
I hold back a laugh and walk outside to call Andrew, who's already left for church.
I decide to not say a thing to Andy about his new tattoo. You can tell he did it in the mirror and it doesn't actually say 'I'm stupid' it really says MI then you can see an bits of stupid but it's all crossed out... so really it looks like MI with a dark line underneath. MI is somewhat accurate if its for mission impossible...that about sums up how I feel sometimes.
So we get ready with no mention of "the mark" and later a few minutes before we are leaving he says to me "you know how you say you wouldn't let me go out looking silly?"
"Yes."
"Well" he replies " Do you really mean that."
I of course nod, because I do--I wouldn't let him go out dressed silly as I have told him before.
This of course doesn't satisfy him because he wants me to say something about his mark, fuss, get mad, anything. And I'm not.
So finally he caves and asks "well are you going to let me go looking silly."
"No. I think your clothes look nice."
hmmm I can tell he's still not satisfied with his performance...
"So you really would let me go out looking silly then."
"No I reply, I told you I wouldn't send you out dressed silly and you are not. I cannot help that you chose to write on your face."
So finally as am walking out the door he says "how do I get it off" Which I know he knows because he's already washed part of it off.
"Soap and water"
"What if it doesn't come off?" dont' get all soft he says this defiantly as if it will give him a get out of church pass.
"Well then, I guess you will go to church looking silly."
With that I go to the car and wait. Whatta ya know he comes out, with a clean face.
Guess that will teach him not to use that type of 'threat' again.
One for Mom.
Whew, I was worried this would be a bad morning.
Of course....if you read this and you have kids that know Andy PLEASE do not let them read this or know about this story. He would be devastated.....
Ok I'm trusting you...
Dear God, please don't let any of Andy's friends come up to him at church or wherever about this...or I'll die and feel like dirt.
Amen.
:)
I shut the door and left...praying he wouldn't call for me again.
Fingers crossed.....hold your breath...nope no more yells.
The next morning I go in to wake him up, one of my favorite things. They are so sweet and inncocent before they get up aren't they? So I'm rubbing his back and as I'm about to say "Andy wake up" he rolls over and what do I see--you got it... black marker...smeared across his precious face.
I hold back a laugh and walk outside to call Andrew, who's already left for church.
I decide to not say a thing to Andy about his new tattoo. You can tell he did it in the mirror and it doesn't actually say 'I'm stupid' it really says MI then you can see an bits of stupid but it's all crossed out... so really it looks like MI with a dark line underneath. MI is somewhat accurate if its for mission impossible...that about sums up how I feel sometimes.
So we get ready with no mention of "the mark" and later a few minutes before we are leaving he says to me "you know how you say you wouldn't let me go out looking silly?"
"Yes."
"Well" he replies " Do you really mean that."
I of course nod, because I do--I wouldn't let him go out dressed silly as I have told him before.
This of course doesn't satisfy him because he wants me to say something about his mark, fuss, get mad, anything. And I'm not.
So finally he caves and asks "well are you going to let me go looking silly."
"No. I think your clothes look nice."
hmmm I can tell he's still not satisfied with his performance...
"So you really would let me go out looking silly then."
"No I reply, I told you I wouldn't send you out dressed silly and you are not. I cannot help that you chose to write on your face."
So finally as am walking out the door he says "how do I get it off" Which I know he knows because he's already washed part of it off.
"Soap and water"
"What if it doesn't come off?" dont' get all soft he says this defiantly as if it will give him a get out of church pass.
"Well then, I guess you will go to church looking silly."
With that I go to the car and wait. Whatta ya know he comes out, with a clean face.
Guess that will teach him not to use that type of 'threat' again.
One for Mom.
Whew, I was worried this would be a bad morning.
Of course....if you read this and you have kids that know Andy PLEASE do not let them read this or know about this story. He would be devastated.....
Ok I'm trusting you...
Dear God, please don't let any of Andy's friends come up to him at church or wherever about this...or I'll die and feel like dirt.
Amen.
:)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
andy's 1st birthday party
andys birthday is coming up, july 25th and so we are planning his 1st birthday party! not just his 1st in America, or 1st with us but his VERY first ever!! needless to say he is excited...and oooh so cute @ it. hence me posting this from my cell phone-holy sore thumbs. after his baseball game last night we pulled into the parking lot of party city and headed inside. when he realized we were there for his party he squealed and his eyes lit up-oh yeah, i'm thinking-im in big trouble, if he's that appreciative over invites hwo can i say no to anything?? lol. anyway short story long he was in heaven the whole time. and he's making out his invites as we speak and he was so happy to do them. it was so sweet. he's looking forward to it so much we have a countdown in our kitchen! so...basically i just wanted to share how much joy he brings me-just seeing his excitement over his bday. little boys, or @ least mine, sure do know how to get their moms wrapped around their fingers! good thing he doesn,t know :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
