March(Otherwise Known as Still Winter)

It was quick month that basically went from celebration to celebration.  Mostly all recorded here already.  One random picture from Livy’s b-day dinner didn’t make it.

March activities included shopping.

Believe it not, two skiing days.

Make-a-Wish volleyball fundraiser(we lost again).  We need to include volleyball skills in the interview process for new hires.

Non-bowling night at our house, which included a completely inappropriate hilarious game.

Grown up dinner out, where else, Palate.

In other news, Sof was Star of the Week at school.

She was feeling too cool that day to let me take a picture. 

I cleaned out her closet one day and realized she’s grown 2 sizes since fall.  She was left with very little to wear that fit.   

So we had to jump into spring clothing despite the winter like weather sticking around.

Sof had her first adjudication at dance.

Lexi had her last cheer competition.

Adrienne got her Laduca’s(a dancer right of passsage).

She also had her first competition of the season followed by the first “be crazy at Applebee’s afterward”.

Sof got to watch Lexi make cookies while she ate her dinner cold due to refusal to eat it when it was hot:)

They spend most their time being silly though.

Onto April, where there has to be a glimmer of spring in our weather!

Why is everyone born in March?

If birthdays in our family were math, then March would be the mean, median, and the mode.  Mean: The average month one has a birthday in our family is March.  Median: If you line all the birthdays up, the one in the middle would be in March.  Mode: The highest occurrence of birthdays happen in March.  For the record, I did not actually do the math on this, so it could be completely false.  Point is we have enough birthdays in March to double the monthly budget. 

To be fair, we have some early April ones that get lumped in there too.  Like Grandpa Culley’s…

 

We celebrated at our house with dinner, gifts, and dessert.  The big birthday girls including the little non birthday girls in opening presents, so everyone is happy.

It was a quick opening, because these girls have figured out quality over quantity.  Livy got her new iTouch and Lexi got an iPad of her own. 

 

Lexi worked for days on a gift for Grandma Linda and Papa Curt.  She collected their favorite candy(Mentos) and put together an elaborate card for them. She loves to give.

  

Our two little girls sure love dessert.  Not that the others don’t, but I think the only time you’ll ever find both Sof and Nat sitting still, not whining, not asking for anything, and not making any messes is when they’re eating dessert.

Oh yeah, Adrienne was there too.  The elusive “don’t take my picture” teen.

Every event we have Grandma Jackie at is a blessing.  Hopefully now that the weather is getting better we’ll see more of her.

Happy March Birthdays crew!

A Letter To Russia

Dear Russia,

Last month I completed my last post placement report to you.  When we jumped through all your hoops to prove we are worthy of parenting one of your abandoned children, we agreed we would report back to you on how our girl is doing.  Well guess what?  She’s thriving.  We think so, her school thinks so, our friends and family think so, and last month our social worker said so. 

 

For two years now I have completed these reports knowing that no one will ever look at them.  I did it in good faith, in the event you change your mind about American adoptions.  I was quite hopeful at first.  That it would be a temporary ban for political positioning.  Two years later I’m just a little bitter.  Shame on you.  You cite a few tragic cases of abuse or neglect.  I agree that one lost life of a child is too many, but if that is your stance you’re a hypocrite.  You are taking the lives of every one of your nations orphans by denying them the chance to be adopted into a family who will give them the opportunity to rise to their fullest potential. 

We think our girl is extraordinary. She is intelligent, loving, and full of joy.  Truth is though, she’s not any different then the 80 some infants, toddlers, and preschoolers back at her baby home in St. Pete.  Only difference is she’s here, and they are there. 

    

Sincerely, 

Sofie’s Mommy

My New 12 Year Old

Lexi turned 12 this week. It suits her well.

In this past year she’s started showering daily, knows how to use a straightener, and sprays herself with some sort of perfume daily.  She has learned to study for tests and look ahead at her schedule to make sure she gets everything done.  She is blossoming into such a beautiful, responsible young lady. 

We sang to her Monday night at Sof’s gotcha day celebration.  A little pre-birthday dessert with the cousins.

Tuesday was her real birthday, and dinner of choice.  She of course wanted Cherry Blossom.  I’m so happy that’s her favorite restaurant cause’ I love it too!

She had a couple gifts to open, one being a pair of Steve Madden combat boots.  They ended up being too big.  We were right across from the mall, so we decided to go over there and exchange them.  While there, we gave her the choice of anything in the mall for dessert.  No surprise what she picked…

Lexi the sugar addict! 

She has made a very nice group of friends at school this year.  It was one of my biggest wishes for her, and I’m so pleased with who she’s surrounded herself with.  They decorated her locker for her birthday!

 

On Friday we had them all over for a birthday celebration.  We started the night at Melting Pot for dessert.

Adrienne came to keep me company:)

They brought her a plate with her own candle and everything!

In a risky move, we planned to go to Skyzone after filling their bellies with chocolate.  Lucky for me, no one puked, and everyone had a great time!

We got back to our house around 11:45, and the girls were actually tired from all that jumping!  Lexi had some gifts to open, and they got settled for bed.

I was told in the morning that 2 of them made to the end of Frozen, but the other 3 fell asleep! 

Lexi’s friends are just like her.  Sweet, thoughtful, polite, and kind to each other.  I hope they can stick together throughout their schooling careers.

Happy Birthday Lexi!  You bring such light to our lives.  You are always thinking of others, and always go out of your way to help our family.  We always know how much you love us through your actions.  I’m so proud of how hard you’ve worked at school this year.  You are such a smart, kind, and beautiful soul.  We love you so much!  

Gotcha Day

Today we celebrated Sof’s 3rd Gotcha day.  She doesn’t care yet what it means, she only knows it’s a celebration day for her!  Monday is usually my day off, but because of all the snow days I needed to work this morning.  That was just fine with Sof because she got to bring treats to school!

 

Her teacher prompted her to tell the kids what “Gotcha Day” is(we talked about it several times over the last few days).  Sof said, “When I was a baby in Russia”.  Her teacher again prompted her to tell more.  She said, “Babies cried a lot”.  Her teacher explained it and she passed out her treats.  Safe to say she doesn’t quite get it yet. 

I picked her up before nap and we spent an hour at Chuck E. Cheese.  She loves it, and it gave us a little time just the two of us. 

Lucky for me I had a bribe to get her out of there!  She’s been obsessed with watching You Tube videos of “surprise eggs”.  With Easter around the corner there has been similar versions in the stores that she’s been eyeing.  I bought one yesterday and told her she could have it as soon as we got home:)

 

Monday night is dance, so we can’t skip that!  We made a plan to have everyone at our house for dessert right after dance.  Sof was over the moon excited for her presents and singing!  Right as we got home the doorbell rang.  It was flowers from Grandma Linda(who happens to share a birthday with Sof’s Gotcha day and St. Patrick’s day)!

  That started off the opening, and we couldn’t hold her off any longer!

She was so excited to get Littlest Pet Shop toys!  She’s been wanting them for awhile!  Her and Kaitlyn didn’t waste anytime getting to playing with them!

Finally, it was time to sing.  She loves this more than anything! 

Three years later it still feels amazing to think of how she came to us.  All the paperwork, the waiting, the money, the travel, and the unknowns.  The eyes that made you wonder if she’d ever really be “right”. 

Love and time was all she ever needed.  Low and behold, we gave it to her, and found on the other end of it we were the ones who were blessed. 

  We couldn’t love you more sweet baby girl.