M-I-C-K-E-Y....

Recently, I wrote a blog post about 'going to' Disney on a tight budget.  Well our budget hasn't changed but our Littles were given a generous gift for their birthdays - a ticket to Disney World!! 

So cool!!

Since our house is bursting at the seams with stuff -mostly toys- we asked family and friends that wanted to give a birthday gift to our boys to consider sending gifts towards a Florida resident pass.

Don't know what a Florida Resident pass is??  Well, its one of the many perks of living in the Sunshine state (or you could also look at as our pension for dealing with all of the tourists that come to see the mouse!)  Anyhoo.  Florida residents are offered discounted rates and even some annual pass offers. 

For instance, we were looking at the weekday annual pass.  Since we avoid tourist attractions during the peek times anyway (weekends and holidays), this was a perfect fit.  In the end, it cost less than the cost of 2 tickets.  PLUS, we have a friend that could get us another discount on top of that!! 

Needless to say, the boys had a wonderful birthday party on October 18th.

We were able to get the kiddos and myself (daddy has opted out of Mickey Mouse festivities) with a minimum expense for our family.  The older two have offered to put their band classes on hold until next year so we can apply those costs towards the 'field trips' we'll be making (hopefully twice a month - at least!)

Last week was our first time going to the "Happiest Place on Earth"!!  How exciting!!

I was in tears the whole way down Main Street.  It was amazing to think that this little child had not even seen running water just 8 months ago and now he was walking down the magical streets of Disney World. 

This was also Jack's first time going.  He is my 'strong, silent guy' and just took it all in.

We had such a wonderful day!  My mom bought a ticket too. 

Granny!!

That will be perfect for those times that the littles will have to sit out on a ride.  One of us will go with the older 2 and the other will stay with the little guys.

 

Jack and Sam could barely see over the top!

Not all of the rides were loved!

The Littles even got to meet one of their favorite characters!!

 

Fist bumps and high fives for everyone!!

Two days later, on Halloween, we went with some of our best friends instead of stocking up on unwanted candy.  Saying we had a BLAST would be an understatement!!  Here are some photos of our adventures... 

Two moms and 7 kids... oh my!

 

 

We are looking forward to a FUN year at the 'Mouse House'!!

There ARE Good People in the World

We have had our good ol' Toyota Sequoia for 10 years now.  She was bought while I was pregnant with Cole and has served our family very well.

Seriously.  Best vehicle ever!

Over the last couple of months, her old battery has been put to the test.  It seems that our family has had difficulty SHUTTING DOORS, turning off lights and such, thus leaving me with a dead battery to deal with the next day.  (and usually when my hubby is down in Miami and not available to help)

Thankfully, there has always been a neighbor, passer-by or even a lawn guy (true story) to come and resuscitate the old girl back to life.

Last Friday, I was taking the kids to Orlando and Stephen was working locally.  To save of gas money, I piled the herd kiddos into Stephen's little car and left our truck for him. When I was about half way to Orlando I got a call from Stephen that the old battery had finally, completely, thoroughly died.  Not even cpr (aka. a jump) could bring it back to life.

Thus, Stephen spent his day working from home.  Between you and me, I think he enjoyed a quiet day at home.  Just sayin'.

Late that same day, I received an interesting call from a neighbor...

He said that he had noticed our truck in front of our house and had heard about our battery issues.  He then said that he also noticed that the front 2 tires were quite worn.

Yes, these items are on our ever-growing to-do list.

But then he said that he had talked with his family and a local garage and they wanted to take care of ALL of these items for us!!!  WHAT?!

We were amazed and speechless at the offer!  ...and quite frankly, Stephen didn't feel that we could accept such a generous gift.

The neighbor then went on to say, "please don't say no.  You carry some precious cargo in that truck and I have it all worked out with the company."  How wonderful is that?!

So, at 6am this morning, they came over and got our ol' girl out of the drive-way.  She spent the day at the car spa!!!  When she was driven back to our house tonight, she had 2 brand new tires, a new battery, and oil change.  PLUS, they had replaced a faulty warning light breaker and flushed out the systems.

I don't even know if this other family grasps the gravity of this blessing to our family...


Pay no attention to the grumpy face on Jack... he had just woken up from a late afternoon nap

We are so incredibly THANKFUL!!  What a true blessing to our family!!
Now to think of a way to thank this family for their thoughtfulness....  Any ideas?

 

Hair today, Gone tomorrow

In our house, we have a lot of hair.  Even our boys like to sport the long 'do too!

Personally, its one of my 'things'.  I've always cut and colored my own hair and I also cut everyone's in the family.

I blame my mom... watching her be a hair dresser during my entire childhood left a BIG mark.  Well, at least its a good one!

Anyway.

I found it extremely difficult to have no say over Sam's hair while he was at the orphanage.  Those children's hair is at the mercy of the nanny's whim.  I cringed -some from fear- the first time that I saw him with a shaved head because I've seen the long straight razor that they shave them with.

Here are some of Sam's infamous 'dos while there:

And my personal favorite -NOT-....

Once he came home, I relished in growing it out, finding the right mixture of hair care products and styling it.  WOW, was there a lot for me to learn.

I think that I was doing pretty good too.  His hair were growing healthy and looked great when I styled it.

 

And then swim team season started.

The Littles spend the entire time playing in the pool.  I didn't realize that the chemicals were really drying out Sam's hair. 

Last week, a friend suggested that I try a sleeping cap for him.  It will help to hold in the moisture and to keep his twists held together more, when he has them in.

So here is our new tool in Sam's hair care.  We will call it his 'ninja cap.' [hat tip to some fellow Haitian adoptive mommas]

What do you think?

Loving the Adopted Child

Again folks, I'm asking for grace from you before we even start this topic.  I'm wanting to give you all an actual account of how my feelings (particularly my love) have been these past 6 months since Sam has come home.

Its not always pretty but its real!  Real for me at least...

So the moment that I knew that Sam would be my son, my son, was magical.  It was love at first (or second as it were) sight!  This love was a unique love.  It was special.

I knew in my heart that I loved him and would always love him as my son. 

It was a protective love too.  I immediately wanted to protect him from the hurt that I knew he had in his short life.  I got angry and sad when I heard that some thought that this was a child that would not be loved or adopted. 

Eventually, it grew into a love so fierce that I knew that I would lay my life down to save him.

This was the love that spoke of when we finally got to bring him home.  I loved him like I had carried him in my womb for 9 months.  I would do anything, ANYTHING, for him.  Always.

And then our world needed to grow even more because, surprisingly, this love was not enough.

You see, I was not counting or realizing the importance of those oh-so-important infant stages.  When you are cuddling and gazing into the eyes of your precious baby and falling helplessly, UNCONDITIONALLY, in love with him.

It turns out that those are important times.... but it doesn't have to be a deal breaker!

When your adopted child comes into your family, they are not this helpless newborn that gazes lovingly at you for their every need.  Oh no!  They come with -in some cases- years of experiences and history. 

You have dreamt and loved this child from afar.  Longed and ached for them to be tucked into their bed, under your roof.  Once it actually happens, you're left thinking "ok, what do I do with this child now?"

Their past experiences come up in just about every aspect of their/your life... and mostly, that's not a positive thing. They will test your every limit, boundary and last nerve because they -honestly- owe you nothing.  You have not been the one feeding and clothing them for the last several years.  They have no respect for you or your authority in your house.  They have no idea or concept of the time you spent struggling to get them home.  [oh, my heart aches for these babies]

BUT we keep on trudging forward... because we are family.  For better or worse.

We would have our good days and we have days that I would either end up in a fetal position, crying or face first into a 1/2 gallon of ice cream.  (often times I would prefer the later, just so you know)

You keep on trying new parenting approaches.  Change structures and routines to find out what works and what doesn't.  You break out those adoptive parenting books that you thought you wouldn't need and WISH that you would have actually finished reading them BEFORE your child came home! 

And P-R-A-Y.  Lord, did I spend a lot of time praying.  Praying for guidance to raise this child in the loving environment that he deserves.  Praying for the wisdom to change myself and allow myself to grow.  And praying for the grace to forgive Sam's faults but mostly my own.

AND THEN IT HAPPENS!  You don't even realize it.

It sneaks up on you - just like those 10 pounds did from all of the ice cream!

You fall completely in love with your child.  And I'm not talking 'he's my son and I would die for him' love.  NO!  Even more!

The 'I love you UNCONDITIONALLY' love.  No matter how frustrating he can be, I can see past it now.  To the little boy that he really is.  The little guy that wants to truly please and learn to follow the rules... he just struggles with them at times. 

Those 'flaws' aren't really there anymore.  WOW!  How freeing and amazing it is for both of us!

It took almost 6 months of struggle, patience, hard work, and faith to get to this point and, YEEHAW, it is worth every moment!

Do we still have room for improvement?  You bet ya!  BUT we should always be striving for that.  Right?