Lazy daddy

Daddy sometimes doesn't like to get off the couch to get a drink or turn off the lights. So, he's teaching the boys to do it for him. Here is Alex turning off the lights for daddy. I was really impressed when I saw him do that until I found out that daddy taught it to him.

If only Chris would teach them something really useful like washing dishes or doing laundry. Wait, I'd settle for them just going potty on their own!

And then we were four

One year ago (yesterday) we brought our boys home from Russia. It was Thanksgiving day. Our flight from Moscow was fairly empty and we got two rows of three seats across so we had tons of room. Unfortunately our flight got in late so we missed our connection at JFK and had to spend the night. That meant that we didn't actually get home until the 23rd. I can hardly believe that it's been a year already but at the same time it seems like Alex and Zachary have been with us forever.

We met Alex first. In October 2007 his was the first orphanage we went to. He was in Taganrog, about 1 1/2 hours away from our hotel. He was 23 months old. When they brought him in he was so sad. He opened up a little that day while our Russian speaking doctor examined him. Alex was very good at following directions. We were told that he was a favorite "best boy", he was able to eat with a spoon, could point to body parts and pictures in books, knew animal sounds. We even saw him rocking a baby doll and singing to it (I wish so bad that I had that on camera!) He appeared very healthy and big. We signed the paperwork requesting to adopt him that very day. During our visits on the first and second trip he never seemed very happy. He almost always had a sad face and sometimes even cried. He wanted to go back to his caregivers! It was a little hard for us but we knew that it was a good sign. That means he was attached to his caregivers and could attach to us. We had court on November 9th, which was Alex's second birthday.

This was the first day we met.

It took a peanut butter cracker to get him to sit with us.

This was on our 2nd trip in November 07. Alex kept leaning farther and farther over that I thought he might fall off the chair. His caregivers gave him the pink sticky candy thing to try to cheer him up.

Zachary's orphanage was in Rostov where we were staying. When we met Zachary he was a ball of energy! Other than a quick little cry when he was first plopped in our lap he warmed right up. He loved to be tickled and played with. We were told that he was standing and trying to walk but by the next month he was cruising. We wonder if he could walk already and we just didn't try. They also told us that he was very active and must be watched at all times! Also that he loves attention, especially from adults. Zachary was a small fry and had 6 teeth when we met him at 15 months old. Despite his size, the doctor thought he was healthy. So, we signed the paperwork for Zachary on our second visit.

This was our first visit with Zachary. He had really short crazy hair.

They always seemed to have Zachary in a cap. We joked that it was to cover that hair!

Zachary and daddy on our 2nd trip walking outside.

After our court hearing on the second trip we decided to stay in Rostov during our 10 day appeal period. We got to visit with the boys often during this time and also got to see some of the city. At the end of the 10 days we picked up the boys and flew to Moscow. Of course Alex cried when we got him but once we were out of the orphanage he completely changed. That very first night in our hotel as a family Alex was smiling and playing. We spent a total of three nights in Moscow. The boys got into everything they could and ate everything they could. The only thing they didn't do is sleep. Boy were we tired when we got home! Zachary would only sleep when someone was holding him and standing up.

I am so happy and proud to be their mama!

Finally home

We finally made it to our house today. Our trip home began on Friday. When everybody was still a little under the weather we thought we'd head back Saturday but then decided when we woke up on Friday to go ahead and come. We knew we'd have to make it a two day trip and spend the night somewhere. That somewhere was in Kansas. We got to my mom's house last night around 6 pm or so but decided to stay there. I didn't think the boys would let me put them back in the car for the hour ride to our house. We came to our actual house this morning. The trip home was a rough one. Alex still did very well but wasn't completely well health wise. We had to make one emergency stop for him on the first day. Zachary just wasn't happy at all. I think he knew how long the ride was going to be and wanted to voice his opinion the entire way. Thank goodness for a few naps. We had a good overall trip, I guess. We didn't get to do much of anything outside of the house due to rain or illness but got to visit which was the main point of the trip.

Did I say how GLAD I am to be back home, though?

Anything girls can do

boys can do better!

Wear a cozy shawl.

Rock out a cool witch costume.

Wear a jaunty witch hat.

I know they're going to hate these pictures when they're older but what do you expect with older girl cousins/sister around? There's girl stuff everywhere!

Simple pleasures

Zachary thinks it's pretty cool that Aunt Joey's house has air vents on the floor. The problem is trying to keep him from sticking fingers in there.

The sick house

Sorry no pictures today. I have very little energy. A nasty bug is going around this house. It started with my younger niece when we first got here. She kinda gets it alot so we had no idea it would spread. Then yesterday morning my little nephew got it. Then last night my mom and me. Alex and Zachary are a little bit puny and Alex hasn't been eating well but so far, not too bad. I won't go into details. Today we all layed around the house as much as we could. My poor sister had to feed my kids for me while I moped on the couch. Now she's not feeling so great so I may have to return the favor tomorrow. I never even got a shower today - yuck. This is the first stomach bug that I've had since the kids came home and I'm really praying that they don't get it in full force. I'm doing quite a bit better now but am just drained. I got very little sleep last night and think I'll turn in early tonight as soon as I'm sure my bedmate (Alex) is fast asleep.

My frostbitten toes

Got a little story for ya, Ags. This morning after my sister left to take the girls to school my mom decided to jump in the shower while I watched the three boys. No biggie. Then the dog (a cute little Westie named Spencer) started barking and standing at the door. So I let him out. There is no fence in the backyard but they let him out without a leash all the time. He's pretty good about coming back when called, usually. So the boys and I watched Spencer do his job and he trotted around the yard a bit. Then he started to walk to the fence line separating their neighborhood from the one behind them. A man behind the fence came out with a large bird flapping on his arm (I'm talking like a hawk or something) and was putting it in a shed like building. Spencer gets right up on the fence and starts barking at them. At this point I have walked outside in my pajamas - barefoot - am and calling for the dog.

He doesn't come.

I clap my hands and continue to yell.

He doesn't come.

I say the magic word - biscuit.

He doesn't come.

I try all three "Spencer, biscuit, biscuit, biscuit!" (while clapping).

He actually walks away.

Now I can't even see him anymore because he's walked around the back of the neighbors house. I poke my head back inside and yell at my mom to watch the boys. I know she can't hear me but don't care. I run out in the damp grass and 30 something degree morning still in my pajamas to get this darn dog. On the other side of the neighbors house is a road. Oh, no! I just know that the dog has run into traffic and has been hit and my sister will never forgive me that I've killed her dog while she was gone! I finally spot him around the corner and grab him before he can run any farther. I carry him all the way back to the house. My feet are tingling and hurt because they are so cold. When I get to the house I drop the dog and wrap my feet up in a cover. The boys are fine but as I expected my mom never heard me and didn't come down. I felt sure I had frostbite on my toes but the did finally thaw and now I'm good as new. I'm not talking that dog out without a leash again though.