Happy Holidays!

It's been a while...

Today, this is a kid-related blog since it had to do with Jack and how (we think) he's processing adoption.

We have always talked about adoption, even if we didn't think he could understand. Things like, "We're so glad we adopted you." "You're left handed like your birthmom, how cool!" Within the past two months, Jack has started to notice that our family are all different colors and has compared his color to his friends ("I'm brown but **** is not brown like me.").

Today Jack and I had a "discussion" because he wanted to wear two long sleeve shirts at the same time, and I thought one would do. Twenty minutes later in the car, he was talking to his Bionicle, but I decided to jump in:

J: "My other family is nice."
Me: "What do you mean?"
J: "My other family lets me wear two shirts."
Me: "Oh, do they?"
J: "They're my first family."
Me: "Yes, I know."
J: "Who is my other mom?"
Me: "Her name is ****."
J: "She said I can wear two shirts."
Me: "Well, that's good."

(There was a bit more but I'll spare you the entire conversation which ending up going some interesting places. )

After reading all the literature, I knew that when kids get older, the "my other family is better" scenario happens when the child isn't getting their way, and has the hope that it would in another family situation. I just wasn't expecting this at age four! I thought this was supposed to be a rebellious-teenager thing! I've really been anticipating the conversations about race more than this one.

What is very interesting to me is that Jack is obviously processing what we've been telling him about his adoption. In the past he hasn't really acknowledged what we've said (although he is very proud that "all the boys" in the family are adopted, i.e., Erik and he are). At least now we know he's listening!

Of course I'm biased, but

I think Jack needs to be a model :)

Oh, the joys of the Terrible Twos

Jack was maybe sort of terrible in his twos. (OK, the sleep issues were super terrible, but those are slowly improving.)

Maddy, on the other hand, WHAT THE HECK?!?! She isn't even technically two yet, but wow!

I can only hope that when she finally decides to talk purposefully, that this will improve. She is saying more words (not 50, though!) and can communicate enough to get her point across.

When Jack became more fluent, he wasn't as frustrated with us and his behavior improved dramatically. We hope that's the case for Maddy, too!

(This is her "Spring Picture" from daycare.)

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I know that this isn't the first time that this has happened, and it most definitely won't be the last. We were out at Pickup Stix, enjoying some Chinese food, and there was a family of 4 seated next to us, a mom, dad, boy & girl teen. And the girl teen kept staring at Jack! Not once or twice, at least 4 times that I saw. Yes, we know he's handsome, but seriously! We tried not to stare back, but at one point, I loudly whispered to Erik, "I think that one in the yellow shirt's never seen a black person before!" About 5 minutes after that, they moved to a different table!

Ok, we know how it must look, Erik & I out with our kids who both look nothing like us. But why stare? If you're really so curious that you must know how our children came to be in our family, have the balls to come up and start a conversation! We might actually talk to you! Staring's just rude.

Oh, that Jack...

Erik and I were having a conversation today about something Jack experienced last night, and at one point I commented, "... and there was much excitement." Jack piped up from the back seat, "Drama! Drama!" We really have to watch what we say around him, he obviously understands it completely, euphemisms and all!

Still catching up...

From Spring Break! Grandma and Grandpa were here from Sacramento, and we also had visits from Grammy and Uncle Les for Easter dinner. Complete with kielbasa and pierogi from the Russian market! Yum! Pictures to follow when I can get them downloaded.

In other news, we finally have a minivan! We got one the last week of March, before the taxes went up. A Kia Sedona, with power everything. Can't beat that new car smell! Yeah, it would have been trendy to get the Odyssey, but the loaded Kia was just so much cheaper than the Honda. And the warranty is better, too.

Finally!

Maddy is playing with her dolls! All of a sudden, out of nowhere, she is picking them up and showing them to me and saying, "Baby!" So she's not a complete tomboy...

Star Wars funny

After reading aloud the crawl at the beginning of Star Wars IV: A New Hope to Jack, he turns to me and says, "Wow, that's a lot of words!"

Jack's first joke

Jack told his first joke this morning:

Q: "Why did the egg go in the cake?"

A: "Because I want it to!"

(followed by uproarious laughter)

So... making him watch Chris Rock and Bill Cosby is paying off! Hee hee!

A few zoo pictures

It was such a beautiful weekend we took the kids to the Zoo on Sunday morning. (Yes, Jack is wearing a propeller cap in one picture! It was his reward for being a big kid and walking the zoo without a stroller.)

"Ski Week" Photos

Jack about to slide down a hill in Incline Village with an assist from Daddy & Grandpa.


He had a great "ski report card." They said he had good balance!


Jack about to get his skis on. (Lessons were at Northstar in Tahoe.)


Daddy & Maddy in the snow in Incline Village.

Where is he learning this stuff?!?!

Last night we arrived home very late (10 p.m.) from our Sacramento trip. Jack didn't sleep much in the car and was over-tired. As we both struggled to get the PJs on and get him into his room, he was literally darting around the room, avoiding bedtime. Finally, he grabbed a toy cell phone that was on the floor and yelled into it, "Jail! Come get Daddy!" Erik and I just cracked up and were distracted from our task. Seriously, I know they don't cover this stuff on PBS, Sprout or Noggin! Where would he hear such a thing? I can't believe anything like that has come up at his preschool...


He's also picked up a language "thing" of now attaching "I never get to..." whenever we tell him there's something he can't do. It sure sounds funny! ("I never get to drive a car! I never get to pump the gas! I never get to have a tea party!") Oh, you poor put-upon child!



[Pictures from the kids snow adventures to come!]

He's too smart for us

This morning Jack announced to me, "I watched basketball with daddy last night!"

I must've fallen asleep, and the game didn't start until 8:30 p.m., which is WAY past Jack's bedtime. So I asked him, "Was daddy mad?" Thinking that Erik would be telling Jack to go back upstairs to sleep since he was up late.

"Yes," said Jack. "The Bears were losing."

My new favorite picture

A rite of motherhood

This evening I put together a Bionicle (a Lego thing)! By myself, for my adoring son who as we speak is sleeping with it.

"When I was little..."

On the ride to school this morning: "Mommy, when I was little I liked gummi bears."

Right, back in the day...