Yesterday I went on a Field Trip with Jacob's class to Silverlake. The goal of the field trip was team building and water safety. Being a teacher myself, I have been on a lot of field trips and this was a really good one. The first thing we did was ride the bus to Silverlake. Jake was my partner. It was about a 20 minute drive.
I have never been to Silverlake, even though it is really close to our house. It was really pretty. In the summer they have a beach that you can swim at and some nice playgrounds. I think it would be a great place to take the kids this summer! The first thing our group did was a challenge course. It took our group working together to complete each task.
Then we went on to water safety. The kids learned all about life jackets and how to have the right fit. Then they learned about canoeing. They had to practice their strokes on the dock before they got to try the real thing.
I was not planning on riding in a canoe but Jacob wanted me to, so I did. I sat in the middle and Jake sat on one end and his partner was at the other.
The kids did pretty good but there was a lot of bumper boats going on...
The next activity was survival skills. Somehow I was picked to be the injured person and the kids had to carry me on a stretcher. This was my view:
It was actually scary. I could not tell where we were going and I was scared the kids might drop me. The came close a few times when someone could not hold up their end.
Once we reached our destination we had to pick the best supplies, from a list, to help us survive. It was fun. At different times through out the day, I had my own group of kids. I loved it and it warmed my teacher heart. I just love kids and teaching them and interacting with them. It was a great time.
I do not watch a lot of TV personally but when I see something about Adoption it totally sucks me in. I saw a commercial for a show called "The Little Couple" and knew I had to tune in. I had heard of their show before but had never watched it. It is on TLC. The couple, Bill and Jen, are little people and have been trying to have a family through many avenues and are blessed to now be adopting.
Well on the last episode they traveled to China to meet their new 3 year old son and bring him home-he is also a little person.
Being an adoptive parent myself I really appreciated how they portrayed adoption. Bill and Jen had all the emotions I think most adoptive parents to be have.
But a lot of times on TV adoption stories are of infants and so once the new parents are handed their precious bundle it is euphoric. Well the Little Couples new son is 3 and they did not edit out the hard time they had when they first met each other. He was crying and did not want to go to them, one time he even tried to hit them. He clung to his caregivers not wanting to go to these strangers.
Bill and Jen were amazing. As much as they wanted to just grab their son and love on him, they didn't. They did not force themselves on him and let it happen in its own time. I am definitely going to be watching the rest of the season to see their adventures as a new family.
When we adopted Naomi she was 2 years old. When we got to the orphanage it was lunch time. When it was time for us to meet she was taken away from her lunch and escorted into the room.
All I wanted to do was hold her and kiss her but she was unsure. I offered her a doll and she took it but she did not come to me. As a mom, who had been waiting months, to hold my little girl, it was painful but I understood. I was a stranger to her.
But that moment she was finally placed in my lap, because she did not come on her own, was like giving birth. But if you look at her face it is blank. This picture truly shows what it can be like to adopt an older child and the varied range of emotions.
This picture was taken much later in the day, it is our first kiss, and she is starting to relax. Naomi did not talk to me for a whole week-she said nothing. At night when it was time to go to bed she would hit me. It was hard but so so worth it.
Our dog, Oliver, can be such a good sport. Naomi likes to dress him up in all kinds of clothes. It usually gives us all a really good laugh!
The other day she dressed him up in my Halloween costume, yes mine. I was a Bee last Halloween and I looked cute! When I saw it on Oliver it was too cute to pass up! Photo op! Enjoy!
A few weeks ago we had Field Day at Port Gardner. It is a carnival like event to celebrate the end of the year. Every year there is a booth where the kids can get their hair sprayed. It has never been much of an issue before, but this year since Naomi has dreadlocks I wasn't so sure it would be a good idea. I am in charge of Field Day so Darrick was on Naomi duty. I told Darrick to have them spray it lightly.
Well as you can see from the picture, that did not happen. While Naomi was getting her hair sprayed, Darrick was sitting on the bleachers talking to his buddy Eric...no comment...
With the dreadlocks and orange spray she picked, it looked like she had Cheetos all over her head. Disaster...
But thankfully it just took a few shampoos to get it out. Then it took 5 hours the next day to re tighten the dreadlocks. Oh well what can you do?
Yesterday we celebrated Memorial Day by hanging out with our friends the Alvines. Darrick and Steve both love BBQ and when they get together it turns into a meatfest. We started off with grilled bread that had butter, salt and honey on it. The smaller ones were gluten free.
I barely got a picture of the wings before they were all eaten up. I don't eat wings but I heard they were good.
I just had to get a picture of sweet James. The Alvine family adopted James a few months ago from the Philippines. He is a very active little boy and does not sit still for very long. He was running around or riding his little car around and the whole time he kept saying "fast!"
This was the brisket that Steve cooked.
This was the famous pork roll that Steve makes. It is pork that is wrapped in bacon.
Then to round out the meal Darrick made his awesome pulled pork with delicious homemade BBQ sauce.
Good thing the Alvines invited their neighbors too because there was more than enough meat to go around!
Four years ago we turned to Bethany for help. You can read more about it here. We have been attending a Parent Support Group for 4 years now. While the parents meet with our beloved therapist Amy, the kids meet with two other therapists. The kids will work on different things. But for the last few months they have worked on Art Therapy. Then last meeting they displayed all their art and put on an Art Show for the parents. Naomi attended all the sessions and the boys attended some. Enjoy!
Naomi-Happy-a vase with flowers and birds
Jacob-Angry face, Happy face
Naomi-Sadness-Jesus' cross
Jacob-surprised face
Naomi-feeling crazy
Jacob-joyful
Micah-he said he was just painting an elephant...middle schoolers....
Naomi-Apple with a worm in it
Naomi-calm
Jacob-feeling strange
Micah-I just painted circles...
Naomi-double dip feelings and the red one looks mad
Naomi-Excited-Christmas presents on Christmas morning
Naomi-a duck looking at its reflection in the lake
Origami-penguin and swan
Penguin
The kids
Naomi and Nene-the first two original members of the group
We are a family of five, who love God and each other. We desire to follow His plan for our lives which has led us to Washington. Our life is full of adventures and surprises. Come along!
