Reflections

Weeping Willows have always been my favorite tree. I just find them to be so beautiful. Today i took the kids to a park that has many weeping willows and yes, I went there just to look at them. There is just something so peaceful about them and the reflections they cast upon the still water.

As I sat reflecting, I noticed the kids had run to another willow whose limbs hung very low. They were standing on part of the trunk grabbing the limbs and swinging as high as they could go. I watched for a long time pretty much lost in the moment. It was like our two worlds collided, and God was romancing me.

Later the kids took some time to check out their reflections on the water. I caught a few still shots, but there was no way for me to capture the love that surrounded us in those moments. There is just a certain way God loves us through nature. It touches my soul.

Peek a boo!

Such a girlie girl - NOT!

Life is a compilation of the tiny joyful moments in time...

Lost in their thoughts...

Reflections

Just hangin around on a weeping willow!

Hold on tight!

And, this is Sophia's BFF! Could her working at Starbucks have anything to do with that? BTW people - did you know refills on ice tea and iced coffee at Starbucks are only 50 cents????!!!! This is not a well known fact! Also, if you are a fan of Starbucks, try their Piodinis!!! They are awesome!

More Birthday Pics

Here are a few more pics that Allie took with her camera yesterday!
The crazy girl with her new skateboard!

Allie and Sophia take a wild ride!

These next few pics are from today - Sophia's official 5th birthday! She got the crown at school today where she shared a big box of 100 calorie snacks! The school has a strict health policy this year! I can't complain.

Then for dinner, Sophia's choice was Mandarin Chicken from Panda Express. She and Zack both LOVE it, and it is healthy.

And, we've heard that chocolate is a vegetable so we ended the evening at another place Sophia requested to visit - See's Candy!!! I bought her the Wicked Box of chocolates in hopes that she may have won a trip to San Francisco, London and NYC!!! No such luck...

And, here she is being typical Sophia dancing around a fountain! I think she looks cute in her long jean skirt and footless tights! She reminds me of Jen in high school!

This concludes Sophia's birthday celebration although she has promised to wake up before midnight for one last hurrah! I don't think that will happen!

To My Daughter

Dear Sophia,

It has been 20 months since I first laid eyes on you. You were a tiny little button nosed angel wearing a green plaid dress standing in front of a Christmas tree. My stomach had butterflies. The earth seemed to be spinning faster than it had the day before. As I looked into your big blue eyes, I knew God had led me to you. He had sent me thousands of miles to meet the wonderful little person who would become my Sophia Joy Rivera.

I have to admit that it was very scary for me - the thought of becoming your mama forever and ever. I wondered if I'd do a good job; if I'd love you enough; if I'd be all that you needed me to be. Auntie Gina could tell you that I felt sick on the three hour drive back from the orphanage that day. Emotions were running high, and all I could wonder was what God had in store for us together as a family.

I'll never forget hearing your voice as you sang a Russian song for me or the day you asked me to put all of the hair bands in your hair at one time. Then there was the day that we chased each other round and round that big pink room with that monstrous stuffed lion. We would growl at each other and giggle as Auntie Gina snapped photos.
Then out came the balloons and bubbles.

I was so nervous and am such an inhibited person sometimes that Auntie Gina got the party started. She was bopping balloons all over and you were laughing so hard - running and jumping. You especially loved when she would bop me on the head with a balloon! To this day, you vividly remember all of these things, and we talk about the memories of Russia often. These memories will be your oldest memories. I pray I can keep them alive for you.

On March 26, 2007, I sat in a tiny room filled with three short pews, four chairs, two attorneys, a translator, and a judge. I was so nervous. This would be the day that I would find out if I were indeed going to be granted full custody of you and your brother. It was one of the most important days of my life. I knew two little blessings needed a mama and a home of their own, and that judge held our futures in her hands. Fortunately for us, she was VERY kind, and it didn't take long for me to finish answering about 50 questions from her and 4 or 5 from the attorney after which she stepped out for what would prove to be the longest 20 minutes of my life!


You know the outcome because as I type this you are sleeping so peacefully next to me tired out from your 5th birthday celebrations! Someday we'll laugh about the infamous haircut that happened during your 4th year of life, and the silly promise I made you! I promised you could sleep in my bed until your hair grew out, and today it has been 5 weeks and counting.

Sophia, you are such an incredible person.Even at just five years old, I have learned SO MUCH from you! You share everything you own. You even give out your last piece of candy. This year on your birthday you told me I could have your biggest present, and you told Zack he could have the smallest one. At your party, after you scared yourself on your new skateboard, you let all of the boys take turns riding it. You are so unselfish.

You have a great personality. You can be a HUGE handful, but you are great company and that energy is going to suit you well throughout life. You know no stranger, and although, I don't let you talk to strangers, you follow my lead. When I welcome someone into my life, you are quick to warm up to them too. You make everyone feel at home, and you love unconditionally. I hope you'll carry that into the future. There are many people in life who do not have this capacity.


You are funny! You say the silliest things at the silliest times! And, when you say, "I love you, mom" I melt inside - especially when you follow it with, "and I like you too"! I have no idea where you picked that line up! You are such a conversationalist. I often ask you if you are still talking, and you say with great exasperation, "YES," and without missing a beat, you go on talking! I have to admit that I am trying to help you to know when it is a good idea to hush, and you do really well at being very quiet in the bookstore and the library. You are a pro!

You love books. You devour 20 or 30 books each time we go the Borders. You methodically go through each one page by page taking in all you can. Then you bring me another stack of books to read to you. You especially like spooky stories and stories of little girls who like to do boy things like skateboard and play baseball. Your favorite books right now are SkippyJonJones hardbacks.


Your face is changing a little more each day. Your chubby cheeks are gone, and your baby face is no more. To me though, you'll ALWAYS be my baby girl, and no matter what the future brings, I pray that you will always know how very deeply I love you and how beyond thankful I am that God led me to travel with Auntie Gina all of those miles away to bring you home.

So, happy birthday my dear girl. This mama loves you now and forever.

Sophia's Birthday Party

Today we had Sophia's 2nd birthday party! Nope, she's not 2! She'll be 5 tomorrow, but this is only her second official birthday party with cake, presents, and a pinata!

She chose to have her party at a skatepark in Brea! She invited her 5 favorite boys ranging in age from 6-13! She was the only girl, and she was in her zone! All of the boys said, "This was the best birthday party ever"! And, Sophia had a blast!!!! Sophia surrounded by boys...something tells me she is going to have many boys that are friends.

Before the party starrted, I took her to get her birthday outfit, and she chose a DRESS! I was shocked! She typically hates dresses because she says she feels naked, but today she was insisting that she wanted this cute Roxy dress for her special day. Well, it cost more than I wanted to spend, but she got it because she surprised me!

The kids must have sucked down 2 or 3 Tiki Punches today! They are not used to this and actually both asked for water! Go figure.

Sophia got many presents but one of her favorites was the Body Art gift that Heather got her! She now has a full stock of tattoos!

She also got the Super Bratz game for her DS, a digital camera, Sonic for the Xbox 360, a soft comfy blanket, and a nice new skateboard helmet!

Josh and Matt watch Sophia open her presents! They got her the CUTEST outfit ever! You'll see it on the blog soon!!!!

And, Sophia got a Sector Nine Skateboard!!!! She climbed on it (on her bottom) and went down the ramp and FLEW! It scared her so much that she spent the day letting everyone else ride her board while she borrowed theirs!

Allie and Sophia! Allie got Sophia a cool Dora coloring book, Disney Princess vitamins, and Sophia's brand chocolate chip cookies!

Sophia had a HUGE Dora pinata! Here she is swinging away!

This was the best shot of Zack and Sophia today! LOL They were too busy for pictures!

Jen joined us today which was so much fun! Surprisingly this is the one picture I stole of her!!!!

Here is the little skateboarding princess!

Isn't Josh a cutie?!

Zackmeister!

And, my friend got a hold of the camera!

Cheese...!!!! Tomorrow, I'll be five!!!!

Today Sophia spent her day with people that she loves deeply! Each person she spent her special day with has a super special place in her little heart, and she expressed that today with many hugs, giggles, and kisses!

Stay tuned - I plan to start a blog for Sophia to post her pictures from her new digital camera!

Tomorrow, a letter from mother to daughter...

Open House

Thursday night was open house at the kids' school. I was surprised that it didn't begin until 7:00PM and ended at 9:00PM. I didn't have a sitter so the kids were exhausted by the time it was over, but they did enjoy having me see their classrooms. I had already met both teachers, but this gave me the chance to find out generally how the kids are doing.

Before open house began, I asked both kids if they wanted their teacher to know that they are from Russia and that they spoke Russian before speaking English. Both said, yes. They are both very secure and feel no hesitations about talking about Russia or how they got home. For me, I go back and forth with "needing" to tell the teachers or the coaches or anyone for that matter.

I just want to make sure they are not singled out or treated special because of it. I want them to be treated just as any other American kid. On the other hand, I want the teachers to know why they might say sentences backwards now and again or why they are not familar at all with some words.

For Zack, this week he learned the words hint, thread and thimble. These are words he had never heard before and needed to know for school. I also figured out that he thought drums were called jrums! So, for this reason, I decided to tell his teacher. She was very receptive. I get the sense that she really enjoys Zack's personality, but I fear she might be too easy on him! She did say that he talks a lot in class and had to be moved to do his work. She followed this with telling him that she used to talk a lot in class too so he didn't need to worry. After open house, Zack and I had a long talk about this! He knows better than to talk in class so much that he has to be moved! Mrs. Wayland would be shocked! LOL

And, sure enough, I asked him yesterday if he was talking in class, and he told me he had to be moved to Mrs. Ulrich's desk area to do his work because he was talking to Ruben. Having been a teacher, I have had those students whose personalities click with mine and therefore, most of what they do I find cute or make excuses for... Now I am seeing the other side of that!

Don't get me wrong. I am so glad that his teacher loves him, but I want him to do his VERY BEST in school. I have heard some adults say if my parents had just guided me, I would have ended up attending USC, or I would have been a doctor, or had my PHD. And, truth is maybe for Zack it may be the difference between going to college and not going at all. Or perhaps, it will be the difference between having a good work ethic and just lazing through life on his good looks and sense of humor.

Don't get me wrong. This is just first grade, and I am not so OCD that I think all of his life depends on this year. However, I do know that habits are built over time. I just want this year to be another block in a solid foundation for a successful future in which he reaches his full potential. I feel that a big part of that will be having a mom who encourages him every time he reaches a bar that I hold just a little bit out of his reach. I think his small successes will make him crave the high that he gets from reaching goals.

Okay, well, I know I am blithering a bit. And, perhaps for some of you moms out there, I take this parenting thing way too seriously. LOL But, Zack is a happy boy who knows his zero, one, two, and three math families. And, last night OF HIS OWN VOLITION he worked for two hours on a suplemental math book I bought him. I never told him to work on it nor did I sit by his side. He got a high five at the end and tons of encouragement for learning so much in just one week.

Kristen, the cd I got him for math is Addition and Subtraction Rock. I found it at the school supply store where I also found teacher created workbooks that have suited him well. The cd has helped especially during times that I am too wiped out to quiz him on his math families. THe cd allows time for the kids to answer before the singer gives the answer so it is very helpful.

When Zack knows ALL of the answers to the addition song, he gets the new Lego Batman game for his DS. He is working very hard and has found that he enjoys learning! He is as happy as a clam even without video games for an entire week!

Sophia had a tiny "melt down" at school yesterday. She was frustrated because her M was messy, and she couldn't make it better! She is very driven! So, I am working more on her Ms this weekend! I just told her that everyone has tough days. Inside, I was thinking that she went to bed way too late because of open house!

Sophia's birthday is Monday! My baby girl is turning 5 already!!!! sigh

Wordless Wednesday

A Wonderful Fall Evening

Here Zack is riding a Santa Cruz. It is one of the first types of skateboards that the first skateboarders rode. It is a smooth ride, but not as fast as a Sector 9.


Then Zack switched to a straight up skateboard so he could so some tricks. He is getting a lot better and for 6, he is pretty good. He is pretty adamant about learning so that helps!

Melissa asked if Zack and Sophia are as chummy as they appear to be in the pictures, and I'd have to say yes. These next two pictures are candids. They have a cool relationship. Of course they bicker just like any other brother and sister, but for the most part, they get along extremely well and respect each other. Melissa, you mentioned I haven't been to your blog lately - you forgot to add me as a reader when you went private - dmrgirl85@yahoo.com

I have thought about going private too, but for me, it would just be to eleminate a few readers who I don't care to have knowing my life, but since I am sure it would affect many other readers who enjoy seeing the kids grow up or who are curious about the progress that adoptive kids and moms make, I'll stay public and keep all of the questions that go unanswered on this blog, on my personal blog which is private!

We had a great time playing a little baseball!

Can't pass up a ride on one of those cruising boards! Gotta love it, and Zack thinks his mom is cool! Of course, the coolness dies down when I tell him it is time for a bath and bed as I quiz him on his math facts!!!! Today was the first day with zero video games, and he mastered adding the zero and one families!!!! And, that is great progress as he was having trouble with the concepts. I bought a cd with addition and subtraction facts to rock and roll, addition flash cards, and two workbooks! I am such a teacher!

Sophia doesn't know it yet, but she is getting a very cool skateboard for her birthday! She is going to be beyond thrilled.

Sophia can be such a tomboy, and it is cool by me! Go girl! She loves wearing the hats that Zack has outgrown!