Uh-oh

Keith can now open doors and unlock/lock them.

I'm in trouble.

Baptism

Tonight I was asked to play the piano for a baptism. This was the first time I have ever played the piano for a church function, other than filling in for primary now and then. It went well! I didn't make one mistake. The baptism was conducted in spanish, which was fun to attend. The man who was baptized was named Raul. After he was baptized, as they were bringing him up out of the water, Raul began bawling. I had never seen this before at a baptism. It was so humbling to see. It really made me think about what a wonderful ordinance baptism is and how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to be baptized. I am grateful to have been there at Raul's baptism. The Spirit was very strong. If you have questions about baptism and want to learn more, click HERE.

Weekend trip

My brother, Evan, is getting married to his sweetheart, Shelbee, in the Dallas Temple in June. There is also a family reunion the week before in San Antonio, TX. We were planning to attend the reunion and then visit with family until the wedding before coming back. Then we found out we're moving this fall, so we should save our money for that. So we decided to attend the sealing and visit some family on our way there and back. Then we realized that we don't even have money for that. So, now I am going to fly down the day before Evan's wedding and fly back after his reception. That's right - I'm flying down on friday and flying home the next day. That's a lot of flying in a very little amount of time. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful. I'm grateful to be able to go and see my brother's wedding. But I'm sad that Tyler won't be with me in the Temple and I'm sad that my extended family won't be able to meet the twins for the first time either.

"Man Man Lai"

in mandarin chinese means: slow slow come. It's so fun to watch my twins growing and learning and progressing. In some things they are moving faster than others, but this post is about those simple and small things that I've noticed as of late.

Keith took two bites of food all by himself - holding his own spoon and everything. There was a time that I thought I'd be spoon-feeding him forever. I still spoon feed him because it's awkward for him, but it shows he has the desire to be able to feed himself which is great.

The other day I told Kristina to "wait a minute" to which she CLEARLY repeated "wait a minute" back to me. Wow. Her language skills can be fuzzy in English and especially in Russian, but this was spoken PERFECTLY clear. She also sang the often-sung melody of "nah nah nah nah boo boo" today. So cute.

Speaking of repeating words, Keith repeated "don't touch" (not very clear - but I knew what he was saying) after I said it yesterday to him. I was blown away. His vocabulary is taking off. He can say: Hi, Thank you, Eat, Up, Bye bye, Sleep, Snuggle, Yes, & Drink. Many of these words aren't easily understood by others, but the main point here is that he is COMMUNICATING! Another thing with Keith is that today he approached me with the sign "eat". Usually I ask him if he wants to eat and he does the sign back to me. Today he just did the sign - I was excited to see that from him.

Kristina is learning how to snuggle better. Usually she contorts her body in a weird position whenever I snuggle her, but she is slowly learning how to relax her body and not be so tight and tense.

Keith likes to use his walker - but not as much at home. He usually scoots around at home but when we go out - he is cruising along in his walker. Many people have commented how wonderful of parents we must be to him, but the honest truth is that we have just loved him and he himself has the desire to walk, talk, and progress. It's a huge blessing to be a part of his life and to watch him improve.

Kristina has been going to pre-school 4x a week for a month now. She LOVES getting on the bus. She is becoming more independent. Once the bus comes she puts on her backpack and races down the driveway to the bus. Most people who work with her at school or therapy comment on what a happy, bubbly girl she is. Her smile can certainly light up a room!

In the fall Kristina will be attending a special needs kindergarten. Keith will be attending a special needs pre-school. One crazy thing, all 3 of my kids will be attending a different school! I had hoped that Kristina could continue at the school she's currently attending but the staff put her into another school with the same type of integrative kindergarten program. We also found out that we are going to be restationed somewhere else between October and January. We're waiting to find out where, exactly. I love the military - it's like a new adventure every 4 years!

Just kidding

So, I was wrong. I am not giving a talk on Sunday - my husband is! So, um, if you read the talk I posted...I'm not sure that that is the talk that Tyler will be speaking on. But, it was a good read anyway, right? ;o)

What's going on? Stress. Since we're going to be moving this fall - many of our thoughts revolve around the idea of preparing our home for selling/renting. This is the first house that we've ever purchased. Consequently, it's our first house to sell. Which brings me to this next point: if you're sold a house before did you use a realtor or sell by owner? Spill your words of wisdom. I've never done this before!

Who wants to give a talk?

I am giving a talk next week at church. The topic is on the talk* by Susan Tanner entitled: "My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord". Has anyone read it? I would love to hear your thoughts and to know which things of the Lord that you delight in.

*Click here to read her talk.

Happy Birthday Keith & Kristina!

This year we are celebrating Keith & Kristina's birthdays together. We had a great time today! The balloon fairy came and brought pink & blue balloons for the twins. We had our friends Ben & Sarah and their two children, Rachel & Spencer, come join us for strawberries and cream cake and homemade strawberry banana ice cream! We got the kids a turtle sandbox and a big bean bag (pink for Kristina and red for Keith). Kristina then got dress ups and Keith got books. It was a great time!

Here are the proud parents of such cute kids: Tyler & I; Sarah & Ben. Thanks for coming!!

It's cake & ice cream time! Keith did NOT like it. I wonder if he'll fuss next year?

Keith enjoyed his presents. Kristina was DEFINITELY into it all!

Isn't she a doll???

Here is a video of Kristina opening her presents. She thought I was taking her picture instead of a video, so she's smiling pretty much 100% of the first half...so cute. Keith wasn't exactly excited about being up on his new bean bag chair. :o(

Singing the Happy Birthday song to the twins!

Zoo Field Trip

Tyler went with Anna on a field trip to the zoo. They had a marvelous time - Anna was SO ecstatic to have her daddy with her. Here are some pictures:

Anna wanted a picture of this "chicken" (read: quail) really badly. Can I just say that things are different on the field trips that Anna is taking versus the ones I took? Growing up, we rode in an unairconditioned school bus. Anna rode in a charter bus complete with a/c and movies played on screens. Amazing. I also want to dote on my wonderful husband. How many men would take a day off of work and go to the zoo ALL DAY with his 7 year-old and her class? Not many. I am so proud of my hubby. He's a really wonderful daddy to his kiddos.

Family on the move

It's in the upper 80s today - are you ready for summer? We are excited about our trip to visit TX/OK for my brother's sealing to his bride in the Dallas Temple. The girls had their last gymnastics session tonight until July. They really enjoy it and I think that kids need more exercise than they get from being in school all day. If we decide to homeschool Anna this fall, there will be a time set aside for exercise every day. I don't want for Anna to have weight problems that could be avoided with some time at the ymca track.

Here is a picture from our April GNO at Red Robin:


Jana, Marie, Heather, Sarah, Stefanie, Melany, Heather's friend, Angie, Jill, Dora, & Nicole. Thanks ladies! It was fun!

Big news: we're moving. When? Sometime between October 2009 and January 2010. We have some ideas of where we'd like to go - but we'll just have to see where the Air Force wants us to be! We've loved OH so much and aren't eager to leave our friends, but I feel ready for a new adventure. I like this whole military-move-around-every-4-years thing. It's cool! I will get to meet so many wonderful people everywhere I go! So feel free to come visit us - wherever we'll be!

Birthday Celebration!

Make a Smilebox invite

Home

Kristina just came off the bus, hugged me, and came inside. The first thing she said was: "Where's Keith?" Then she ran to go see him and say hello. Isn't that so sweet? They are such good friends.

TOFW

If you haven't been to Time Out For Women, then I highly recommend it. This was my second time to go and I'd go again in a heartbeat! We drove down on friday night and went to the program in the evening and then stayed at the Embassy Suites overnight (we stayed up until 4am - we had a BLAST!) and then attended the program on saturday. My spiritual reservoir is filled and I feel renewed in my life. Here are some pictures:

Back row: Trish, Andria, Michele, Becky, Michele's mom, Nicole, Sarah. Front row: Jill, Andrea, Sherry, Teresa, Jenn, & Angie. We had a blast!

Myself, Sarah, & Nicole eating Graeter's ice cream! YUM!

Sarah & I being silly. What else is new?

Modeling our sleepwear. Aren't we cute?

Did I mention that we were up until 4am??? Yeah, we had some fun eating candy, playing games, and chatting it up. Thanks girls! Can't wait for our next outting!

What's your poison?

So, if you were about to begin a diet - what would be something you'd want to eat (restaurant or homemade) that you'd make sure you ate BEFORE you started a healthier eating program?

Satisfaction

There is something so satisfying about a clean house. For some reason I have been able to keep the downstairs quite tidy the past 2 days. And I LOVE it. Who knows how long it will last - but for now? I'm enjoying it.

I took the twins to the eye doctor today. They are going to have a minor eye surgery to correct their strabismus (fancy word for lazy eye) this summer. Keith was in his walker and it was quite difficult to corral both he & Kristina in a huge parking lot. Keith didn't want to go the way that I was going and Kristina was hyper, as usual. Somehow we made it to the van. Did I mention it was raining? Yeah, perhaps next time a stroller would be in order.

I am considering the idea of homeschool for my daughter, Anna, this next year. I am eager to learn which programs are the best out there. You may now leave comments (and links) that will help me learn which program would be best for us. Thanks!

Braces

Keith's leg braces came in today. He was NOT happy about them. Keith doesn't like for anything to touch his feet - they are ultra sensitive. What's amazing is how much bigger they make his little feet. For example, the only shoes that will fit him now are 2 sizes bigger! We went shoe shopping this afternoon and could only find one pair of sandals that would work with the braces. I am hopeful that the braces will help him walk more correctly than before.

Kristina is now taping on her tummy to help with trunk strength. It's amazing how strong her upper body is and how weak her lower body is. She is constantly tripping and falling down - many times with nothing getting in her way but herself.

Application of the scriptures

Today I had a nice man knock on my door selling Living Scriptures videos. We own many of them already, which I readily told him (I always feel guilty for not buying things from people - but in this case I already had them). He asked me if I could give him an address of someone who might be interested in the videos. I told him I wasn't sure. He thanked me for my time and went out to his car. He was in the car for a while, I noticed, looking at a map. Then this scripture came to my mind:

Matt. 25: 40:
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

I felt that I could do more to help this young man, so I quickly grabbed an address of a friend and went out and gave it to him. It turns out that he's never had a job in sales before and that this was his second day on the job - with no sales to show for it. I felt compassion for him and genuinely tried to help him by pointing out some of my neighbors who might at least let him pitch to them. As I walked back to my house, I felt happy that I'd followed the scripture that had come to my mind. I am grateful for inspiration.

Happy Mama's Day!

When I was in my 20s my mom informed me that for the first couple of years of my life - I referred to her as "Mama" instead of "Mom." It grew on me and I decided that I would be "Mama" to my children. I love it! So Happy Mama's Day to ya'll. (I'm from Oklahoma, don't forget)

Yesterday we went to Young's Dairy and had a great time. Here are some pictures:

For Mama's Day I was given two kinds of orange flowers. Orange daisies in an orange basket (she knows me well) from my awesome friend, Sarah, and a beautiful large orange and white bouquet from my sweet husband and kids. I am so blessed! I'm surrounded by orangeness and it makes me one happy mama. Oh yeah.

Today my husband said that he would clean the house, make dinner, and change ALL of the diapers. What a fabulous husband I have! We had smoked steaks, smoked bacon, homemade (breadmaker) bread, roasted potatoes, and coconut pound cake. Am I spoiled or what? Then this evening I got some snuggles from Anna and Keith. (Kristina was already asleep in bed)

Anna & I sang "Teacher, do you love me?" in church today. Anna changed the song to "Mother, do you love me?" She did a great job and I sang AND accompanied us. That was a first for me - to accompany myself singing. It went really well (I was pleasantly surprised - I didn't mess up!) and I think that music will be a way for Anna and I to grow closer together. I know that music has been a way for my mom and I to become closer. :o)

In return for Anna singing with me in Sacrament meeting, I rewarded (read: bribed) her with a "flute" (recorder) which she now has been playing on all day. You may now offer your condolences for my ears. Here is a video of her innate recorder playing ability. About halfway through, Kristina will begin swaying to the rhythm. Enjoy.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I don't speak French

but everytime I hear this song: Ma Nouvelle France, I feel something. Today I found a youtube clip of it by Celine Dion. It's from a French movie. It's a very beautiful song and the video is very touching and seemed to fit my mood for Mother's Day. Below is the English translation of the song.



Ma Nouvelle-France

Translation:My New France

My beautiful love, my beautiful lover
I'm getting to the end of all my torments
Will these few words from the deep of my jail
Reach you someday?

Hold your body against me
Hold me very tight for the last time
Your warm breath is still burning my skin
Like on the first day

You gave me loveIt will be my light
I take it away with me
And when I get too cold
It will warm me under the earth

And you my beautiful girl
I would have only had the time
To show you the word love
When I fly over the wind
When I cross the nothingness
To find myself before the big giant
I will look after you

I gave you birth
Remember your mother
Above all don't forget
That the violences of love
Are equal to the violences of war

Farewell my tender lover
My sweet girl
My two loves
Farewell my beautiful country
Farewell my New France

My New France

Big Sister Anna

It's seeing things like this that warm my heart as a mother:

I am so grateful for these three children who have made me a mama. God certainly knows the children that I need and likewise what kind of mama that these children need. I feel blessed beyond measure. International adoption has certainly helped to fill that hole in my heart created by years of infertility. I thank God for my family and for my opportunity to be a mother. Happy Mother's Day!

Mother of the Year

2009 Mother of the Year.

Who knew?

Quote of the day

Background: we have a puppy, Maggie, a small dog who avoids Kristina most of the time.

Kristinaism of the day: "Mama, Maggie pushed me."

Really, how? Ha ha. You can tell that she's in pre-k, eh?

Carnival

Last weekend Tyler & I took the kids to the carnival. We love having 3 kids to do fun activities with and this carnival was no exception. We were there for 2 hours of fun!


The girls each got a wristband for unlimited rides - definitely got our money's worth there.
Kristina & Keith rode several rides together, since they qualified for the same type of rides.

Keith LOVED this ride!

It's a funny thing - I LOVE rides! I rode 3 rides with Anna. Tyler rode 1 ride and was sick. He doesn't handle them very well. When we were pregnant with Anna, we went to a carnival. We rode my favorite ride, the tilt-a-whirl. Tyler was sick afterwards. Then we rode the ferris wheel...Tyler thought he was going to throw up! And I was the pregnant one!

Early in our marriage we strove to find music that we both liked to listen to. I like classical, reggae, and latin dance music. Tyler like punk ska and oldies. Natalie Merchant was something we both agreed upon. Here she is singing "CARNIVAL" which I found especially appropriate with the title of this post. Enjoy.

My views on adoption

It's a funny thing, adoption. You don't know how you're going to really feel about it until you've gone through it. Anyone know what I mean? For example, I was concerned about whether or not I could love another child as much as my bio daughter, Anna. Before we brought the twins home, I told myself that I wouldn't publicize that fact that they were adopted. Since we're military we'll be moving around a lot - so I told myself it wouldn't be "out there."

I'm happy to say that I love Keith & Kristina as much as I love Anna. It's surprising how quickly I've become attached to these adorable little ones. And as for them being adopted? Well, let's just say that I surprise even myself how many people I tell that they're adopted! I find myself being proud of them and where they're from, and especially hopeful about their future.

A few years ago I wasn't ready for adoption. Last year it felt right, and now I wouldn't have it any other way. Do I plan on adopting again? I'd love to. We'd also like to have a few more bio, too, if God wills it. But for right now, I am grateful for these 3 precious children that God has placed in my care. I am so blessed.

The day for mothers

What will you have your husband do for you, I mean, what do you do to celebrate Mother's Day? Or my husbands ask, what will you do for yourself this Mother's Day and say your husband did it?

This boy was made for walkin'

And that's just what he'll do...now that his walker arrived yesterday. Keith is really excited about his walker and I'm excited to see him become stronger and be able to walk on his own someday! Enjoy the pictures!

That's my boy.

Little Miss Muffet

Today I heard Anna teaching Kristina this well known nursery rhyme:

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet

Eating her turds and whey...

That's not exactly the way I remember it.