Wednesday, July 30, 2014

"Disney" for the Tight Budget

My kiddos and I share a love for Disney.  Between Lego, Let It Go and Elsa; Disney was at the forefront in Sam's first English words.  We would have annual passes and go all the time... however, that will have to happen when we are in a different season in our life.

As it stands now, we get our Disney fix in more creative ways than going to the parks.

Enter our day today:

The Littles and I were on our way back home from dropping the older kiddos at their grandpa's house for a few days.  I decided to make a fun pit stop in Orlando for the afternoon.  Where?  Downtown Disney!!

Our first stop was at the T-Rex Café.  The noisy entrance had Sam saying, "no, thank you" a few times but he got interested once he saw the BIG t-rex behind the hostess stand.  Jack was the complete opposite.  He was all gung-ho... until he saw said dinosaur and decided to exit stage right at high speed.
He collected himself pretty quickly and decided that he did want to eat with the dinosaurs instead of the "monkeys". (my name for Rainforest Café) 
I replaced my normal wine choice with a water and stuck with a budget-conscience meal choice.  The kiddos enjoyed their dinosaur-shaped nuggets and fries, plus a drink comes with the children's meal.  Score!
After a delicious and fun lunch, we were on to our next event... teaching the boys the fine art window shopping!
We had a GREAT time at the Lego Store...
At our next stop, Sam made a beeline for the Frozen department.  Big surprise, I know!
Here is a picture of him singing "Let It Go" to the Elsa doll.  I kid you not!  Oh how I wished that I would have turned the video on. 
After prying him away from the Anna and Elsa dolls, we had more fun trying on hats and playing with toys.




One thing that I love about Disney is that all of the employees have their hometown listed on their name tags.  Maybe its the nosey side of me but I love seeing where everyone is from. 

First, an employee from Jamaica came up to me and said, "I was going to ask you if they are twins but I'm thinking they are not."  She couldn't contain her chuckle and neither could I.  After explaining that they are about 6 months apart, we left it at that. 

Then as we were leaving the building a Haitian employee said hello and I couldn't help but chat with her as Jack and Sam played with the squirting Stitch (yes, you read that right.)  She was excited to ask me questions about Sam:  where he was from in Haiti, how long he has been home and if we knew anything about his bio momma.  After I answered those questions, she went over to Sam and started speaking to him in Creole. 

He looked totally lost!!

The woman turned to me and said, "he's only been here 5 months?  He knows no Creole!"  She then looked at Sam and said, "momma?"

He ran the 3 feet over to me, wrapped his arms around me and said, "mommy!"  She smiled and said 'ah, good!'

We took in the pretty sights along the way too...
I do have to admit that I was purposeful in our route that we took around the place, in an effort to avoid the train ride.  Jack has a slight obsession with trains!!  He was satisfied -and quite mesmerized- by the train that ran along the ceiling in one of the stores.
 
I also fear that we may have found a new love in Sam's life.  He and Minnie had quite the moment from the time their eyes met...


And couldn't leave without taking a tour through Rainforest Café.  What a treat and the kids were fascinated; if even, a bit sensory overloaded!


What a wonderful afternoon with my FAVORITE toddlers in the whole world!! 
They were completely tuckered out...
 
So that is my solution to solving our Disney craze while on a
T-I-G-H-T budget.  Please feel free to share your tricks with me too!!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

A Survivor's Guilt... of sorts

We've all heard of the stories of people that have survived accidents, when others have perished, and the guilt they feel from that.  I've been feeling a bit of that recently... but, obviously, no one has perished.
Donald
Even though it took 15 months for Sam to come home from the time that we knew that he was our son -AND, believe me, I felt ever moment of that heart breaking time- it was still extremely fast for a Haitian adoption.
Jamescia
We have been incredibly blessed!
Ryan is still waiting for a family to care for him.
Many factors came together perfectly to make our progress go smoothly.  Partly because of Sam's abandonment (there were no biological parent interviews needed), plus there is an incredible team at the orphanage working to get these kids home and -of course- we have God's good grace for perfect timing!!
James
But now there are many times that I see pictures of those precious faces still sitting at the orphanage... waiting to join their families that are aching to have their babies home, and some that are still waiting for a mommy and daddy to open their heart and claim them as their own.

Maki-Everett
I see this and my heart hurts.
Leissa
Every child deserves to have a family cherish them every day... to have fears comforted, boo boos kissed and triumphs celebrated.  Its a travesty each and every day that a child goes with out that.
Dorothy
So what can we do??  What do I ask each of you to do?  PRAY...
Nelson
Pray for those workers that are processing adoptions to understand the importance of their jobs and the importance of each little life that is impacted by each file.  That they work expediently to bring them home, to their families.  Neither you or I can make that happen.
Richardson
Pray for those little hearts.  These innocent children have had a tough start.  One that many of us cannot begin to comprehend.  I have seen their loss and confusion first-hand.  No one, especially a child, should have to endure that.  I also pray that they KNOW that they are LOVED.  Loved like crazy by their new family and that they are WANTED. 

Brian
I ask you to pray for their families.  I never quite understood the pain until I was going through it... to have your baby in another country, to love them with ALL of your being and not have any control over when you can bring them home.  The hurt that your heart feels each night when you aren't able to kiss them good night and know that they are sleeping safely - unimaginable. 
Bruce/Gabriel
And finally, for the families that are yet completed.  That they may listen to God's tug on their hearts and follow a path that not many want to go down... but they do anyway because their son or daughter is waiting for them at the end of that path
Gerlande is still praying for a family.  Her story would make anyone cry.
So let's join in prayer that these families are joined together SOON!!
Kevin!

Amen!!
Notice a poor little guy in this photo?

How many kids did I bring home??!!

I'm pretty sure that when we stepped off of the plane on February 22 I only had one child!
Some funny pics for this post!
Our child ratio only went up by 25%.... so why does the household work seem like it has quadrupled??!! 
Seriously.  The dishwasher and washing machine could be run daily and the amount of toys strewn around the house now makes it look like I run an in-home daycare
Especially since Sam never learned how to 'play' with toys.  We are usually just finding parts or remnants of toys around!  And I don't see him moving beyond Duplo Legos any time soon, if his big brother has any say in it.
Let's just say that Sam can be the proverbial 'Bull in a China Shop'.
So we have changed our game plan...

We wash a lot of our dishes by hand now, Isabel now does her own laundry (1 down and 3 to go!), and we now have some 'family time' of clean up each night.
BUT I would love to hear more suggestions on how to keep my ship running clean and smoothly.  Any tips??
Sincerely,
The mom that is struggling to keep her head above water