MIA (whispering):  Mom, I’m whispering because I don’t want PJ to hear.  I know Santa isn’t real but how does he do it?

MELISSA:  Do what?

MIA: Get to all the houses in one night?

MELISSA:  I thought you just said he wasn’t real?

MIA:  Not to deliver presents, silly. You know, on the fire truck.

MELISSA:  Oh! Do you want to know how he visits all the kids on the fire truck in one night?

MIA: Yes!

MELISSA:  Well, since he’s not real, anyone can dress up as him.  Each neighborhood has its own fire truck and Santa.

MIA:  Oh!  That makes so much more sense!

********************************************************

Patrick recently received a text that our USCIS application to immigrate an orphan (or orphans) had been received.  The text (allowable by a special form for the PAPER REDUCTION ACT), also informed us we would get written confirmation via the mail in a couple weeks…SERIOUSLY!?!?!  I thought I was opting out of that when I…never mind.

MELISSA (to know one in particular): Can someone please explain the government to me?!!?!

PJ:  Nope.  And I can’t explain the HOA either.

Touche!

warm days this fall,

it would almost be a sin

not to do some

leaf jumping.

Did you jump this fall?

Sometimes girls

just want to have

FUN!

Two Peas In A Pod

That was the title of Mia’ dance recital this year.  Ironically, it was about a group of orphans being adopted.

Mia’s class was part of a group of orphans who were adopted by a sympathetic dress maker in the neighborhood.

I just can’t get enough of her cuteness like she can’t get enough of the stage.

She even got a little solo of sorts. I was videoing with PJ’s Coolpix so the exposure is pretty wonky. She’s the first orphan to come out and bow and the center girl in the dance.

This past week was bittersweet as we’re excited about homeschooling but grieving the end of something unique.

Last Wednesday was field day.  One word…HOT!  The kids were troopers even though the temps felt above 100.  It’s so nice that Beachmont let’s us end the day with a pool party.

PJ cleaned up winning first place in the long jump, sack race, 25 yard dash, and 50 yard dash.

Yesterday was in-class awards.  PJ received a certificate for excellence in Grammar and Math.

Mia received her certificate for excellence in Bible appreciation.

Today was the Grammar School Celebration.  All the classes did short presentations.  The first song Kindergarten performed is representational of how the classical model of education uses songs to help the students memorize everything from vowel sounds to timelines.

The next part is the school song in American Sign Language and an end of the year poem.

This is PJ’s class reciting couplets they wrote about biographies they read.

Last night Mia cried all the way home and probably cried herself to sleep.  She wasn’t pouting or tantruming.  She was grieving.  You see, last night was our last official group event for Welcoming Angels (Orphan Hosting Program sponsored by AWAA).  It was the last time (at least for a long time) we would see the 5 precious children who wiggled and giggled their way into our hearts in just a few short weeks.

It’s really amazing how quickly one can become attached to someone in such a short period of time.  We are not hosting but all of the host families are friends of ours and we have been at every event.  Mia became particularly attached to one of the little girls. 

“My friend is an orphan,” she said suddenly through tears.  “They are all orphans.  We have to pray that God finds them families close to us.”

That sparked a conversation about how God answers prayers, about how to handle it when He doesn’t answer them the way we want, and why everyone needs a family.

Fast foward to this morning. 

We’re driving up the school driveway when PJ says, “Mom, have you ever heard of an 8 passenger minivan?”

“Yes,” I reply, “I think it has 3 seats in the middle row.”

“Yeah,” he says, “my friend has one.  I’d rather have a 15 passenger van though.”

“Me too.”

He continues, “If we had a 15 passenger van, we could adopt 10 more kids.”

I swear I don’t script these things.  It’s evidence to me that our kids are watching our every move.  What is important to us becomes important to them.  Quite frankly, I can’t think of a better thing for my kids to have on their minds.

They’ve been roaming my house lately.

And then dissappearing…as I hear one of them does.

Patrick has been wanting to experiment with growing herbs (or veggies) under grow lights for a couple years now.  The now-empty corner of our dining room seemed to be screaming, “Grow herbs here!  Who cares about the wine rack?” so we obliged.

The light is bought (but not hung), the seeds are bought (and now planted), and we hope to aquire a table at this year’s mud auction.

I had envisioned a long window box turned herb garden but Patrick had other ideas…twelve 6-inch other ideas.  We headed to Walmart and picked out 6 brown clay pots and 6 terracotta clay pots. 

Patrick had envisioned 12 uniform clay pots, I envisioned more character.

Isn’t this so much better than just boring old pots?

Patrick eventually caught the spirit and created a plaid masterpiece.

We did eventually get around to planting our little seeds.  Clearly PJ was finished with the photojournalism by this point.

Since we don’t have our grow table yet, our masterpieces are serving as one huge centerpiece on our dining room table.  Stay tuned…

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

“Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming…”

“Then he got an idea! An awful idea!”

“‘These stockings,’ he grinned, ‘are the first things to go!’”

“HE went to the chimney and stuffed the tree up!”

“…HE HIMSELF…! The Grinch carved the roast beast!”

Re-enactment brought to you by Mia and the 25th Annual Grinch Reading.  Reading courtesy of Pops. 

*In our house, this means veggies and cooked stuff wrapped in rice and seaweed.

Nana:  Does anyone want sushi?

PJ and Mia: What’s that orange stuff?

Nana: Err…umm…sprinkles.  Orange sprinkles.

Mia: Halloween sushi!  Mom, this sushi is ready for Halloween, too!