One Year: Measured in 2 Photos (& tons of emotions)

A year ago today, we buried my niece, ARH. Publically we "did the right thing." We didn't say what we really wanted to say. We acted as others expected. We wore pretty clothes.

Privately, we buried our niece with our own hands. We blew bubbles, sang children's songs, read scriptures, hugged our remaining children, sobbed and held each other.

Love. Tears. Sorrow.

Today, I will purchase this house and begin the journey of making it our home. We will move in either today or tomorrow (whenever the truck arrives).

New beginnings. New memories. Always tied to the past and always missing...

But through tears we have: Love. Hope.



In case you are wondering - It's about Love (aka God) and Family. Period.
That is it.

In Maine

Well, we are in Maine. Arrived at my mom's ~130 am on Wednesday morning (after being locked out of the car and calling AAA/Locksmith).

Relaxed Thursday.

Kids and I ate a picnic at the ocean and then ice-cream at Dorman's.

Friday was a day to hang out with a bunch of kiddos ages 1-5.

Saturday has been rain, rain, rain. We found warmer clothes in Mom's basement (yeah!). Ours are in the truck somewhere in Kansas being driven to our new home. We have done NOTHING today - first time in weeks and it is wonderful. The kids really needed a day like this (as did their mother!)

Speaking of the truck, Mom & Bob's truck broke down in Kansas for a while but it got repaired quickly (thank God they were in a town with a Penske repair place - Salina, KS).

There is a goof-up with my final paycheck at work (deposited on Friday). Please pray that it can be corrected by 1pm EDT on Monday so that I can close on our new home (They still owe me a LARGE chunk of money that was confirmed prior to moving and yet not included in my final check as both outlined in University policy and as confirmed in writing by the HR Dept...and I need it to close the house!).

Otherwise, uneventful. ;)

Headed to get ready to go out in the rain with the kids, I think. Hmmm...Maybe.

Saying Good-Bye...

I'm a little bummed that I didn't plan a going away party. I did have three fun meals yesterday:

1. Breakfast - with Janet - one of my coworkers. Cracker Barrel in Ahwatuke. It was work related but we had a nice time!

2. Lunch with Jerry C. - the dentist I worked with at the health dept for >5 years. It was sooo great to catch up and I'm so glad we both made an effort to get together. I've missed Jerry. We haven't seen each other in a while.

We met at a newer restaurant in one of my old 'hoods - The Parlor. It's an old beauty parlor called Venus. The interior is really neat (I'd just love to photograph it). Great yummy salad. Good company. Neat history to the building. Good times. BTW - Those of you looking for a different place to eat or "go out" in the evenings - I'd recommend this one! Camelback and 20th St.

3. Dinner at Klud & Fiaz's. Klud has been telling me for years that she'd teach me to cook some of her yummy food. Well, yesterday was the day. Met at 4pm. Learned how to make 2 meals. Had a great time. Again, good people (her whole family and a friend as well as my kids).

There are so many people to see and so little time left. :(

I also had a nice "chat" with Don - the guy who hired me and the one who "brought me to AZ!" Then, I helped him as she transitioned to the dental school. I know we'll see each other again. Strange times.

Happy Half Birthday, G!

She's now officially 3.5 yrs. The plan was a cupcake celebration tonight BUT flexibility with parenting landed G at Daddy's house for dinner and the night tonight. Tomorrow night won't work. Wednesday would work but doesn't that just lose the meaning? Anyway...my baby is growing up! :(

Her best buddy at daycare who is 10 days older started preschool today. G is not going to preschool until next year. Why? IMHO, We make kids grow up too quickly and well, I'm OK with her staying "little" another year. One year of preschool will be just fine! But...that means she is officially the oldest kid at daycare and all the rest of "little". Time for her to move on. She has 2 more weeks at daycare and then a BIG move. Sad but time.

Happy Half Birthday, Baby G!

Family Adventure: Road Trip

A great weekend was had by all. Auntie, kids and I did a road trip to Southern AZ. I haven't spent a lot of time down there and with the impending move, I didn't want to miss it!

We left on Saturday. Went to Tucson. Drove around (J had never been there). Ate at a funky place - yummy, yummy, healthy food - near UofA. Escaped the location as a jumbo container of bleach fell.

Drove to Benson, AZ and went directly to Wal-Mart. Why? The hotel we'd booked that said they had a crib - um, didn't! So, now we own ANOTHER one - I don't even like (bad fabric). Might return/exchange it. Tried to take a nap. Wasn't successful. Went into the "hot" tub that was slightly warmer than the frigid pool. Kids had fun. Went to Deny's for dinner. Can you believe it? It was close, easy and open late.

Morning - ate at the hotel - continental breakfast, a warm hot tub, no crib but two beds and a bathroom all for $49....wooohooo! Middle of nowhere. We woke up. Jumped on our beds. Laughed. Got dressed. Packed up and headed out.

First stop: Tombstone. Got there just in time to see a gun fight. Ate a fried/unhealthy lunch while we watched the fight. Got the kids ear plug - G was impressed with those. I was impressed that the kids didn't get scared. Took some pics. Walked around the town. Saw people dressed in period clothing - I thought that was neat and on a different trip (no kids), I'd have had so much fun just photographing them. Pretty good lighting and all! Got ice-creams (thanks Auntie!). Ate outside while Z cried/screamed. Threw his away. Nap time? Headed out. Z slept in the car!

Drove all around the "middle of nowhere". One wrong turn but then we were back on the right trail. Landed in Patagonia at a lake 7 miles out of town. Rented a boat. Drove/floated it around for an hour or so. (Kids still hate the boats - Z a little less than G). Headed over to the beach area. G LOVED swimming with Auntie. Z - um, looked like a big bath tub to him = tears! He eventually warmed up. He liked throwing mud, rocks and sand the best but eventually went in first with Mama and then with Auntie. I realized it was their first time swimming at a lake! Good times.

Back into the car. To Nogales, AZ - saw the border but without passports in hand, we headed North. Stopped at San Xavier Indian chapel place. Nice sunset pics (and a pee stop for G). Headed north. Was unsure where we'd sleep but eventually realized that we were close enough to home to make it. Did a drive through McD's for the kids (can you believe it???). Ate at home and to bed for all but not before watching fireworks out the window - Scared the crap out of the kids!

And a place I'd visited and I'd forgotten...
Great weekend. My kind of trip. Adventure! Exploration. Little planning. History, water, gun fights, a lake, a boat, an Indian Reservation, some photography, ice-cream, jumping on beds, laughing, sunsets, simple family fun! And, did you know that there are vineyards in AZ? Yup!

Comments

Last night we enjoyed a WONDERFUL evening at the new Children's Museum of Phoenix. I'd been meaning to go there all year. I even planned one outing and then someone got sick. Last night was the night!

On the first Friday of each month, the museum opens free to the public - 6-10pm. We arrived at 620pm and had to wait for about 90 minutes to get in. Apparently, they only take in the first 600 at a time and then the rest get a ticket and get to come in by number.

It was difficult at first but then the kids got to see a magician, G got to try out shooting a rocket and they both played with sidewalk chalk in the outside ampitheater. Thankfully, it was not super hot last night! It was also nice to see such diversity in cultures, languages and economic groups. Well, once inside (and after retracing our steps to find Z's lost shoe) the kids had a blast!

The Museum is in the old Monroe School in downtown Phoenix. There are three floors of activities including a wee-ones room where Z had freedom!, an art room, a building room (building with PVC piping - both liked this), a flower garden area, a market and kitchen and so much more. It was a great evening. When we got to the car, I was shocked to see the time: 9:48pm! What?? Kids did well.

Comments - I sometimes wonder if people think I'm deaf. Seriously. If you stand right beside or behind me and speak out loud, I'm probably going to hear you. When standing in line, these two women and their combined four children appeared right behind us. They were nice women with nice children. There was a little one who I learned was born the same week as Z so of course I focused on her - size and development. I spoke a couple of times to the women but they weren't super receptive so I just watched the kids. I was pretty sure that they were Christians - at least one - based on her reaction to a situation.

Then came the words: "Do you think we'll ever be extinct?" one said to the other. I couldn't help but listen - they were right behind me! They were talking about my kids being mixed race. They assumed they were both biracial (a common assumption as the kids don't walk around with signs stating: Adopted/Siblings/Biologically Unrelated..........) After some pondering of the topic, they joked - "Nope, we still have all of those Africans in Africa." These two well educated, successful black Christian women didn't like it that I was the mother of G & Z.

While still standing in the line, I had an opportunity to comment on the two littlest kids (the little girl and Z). I made a point to tell them that he is Puerto Rican. "Oh!" they said. I made my point but come on.... As a fellow blogger and mother of 3 lovely girls from Haiti (Cate) recently pointed out on her blog, why is it always the black women? Seriously - I didn't believe it but now that my kids are getting older - those are the looks and comments. Not 100% of the time but seriously, many black women tick me off with their looks and comments.

What am I missing here? Are you threatened? Is it cultural? Do you perceive me to be doing something wrong in raising my kiddos? We are all people. I can't help it if this world has been unfair during the course of history. I respect it and acknowledge it. I'll definitely teach my kids about it. But, I can't change it. We are all people with the same basic needs and desires. Now, I'm off to raise a future black woman...Lord, help me!

Strange FB request

The mother of the first baby we'd been matched to adopt - Lauren. Learned that Lauren was born on Jan. 3rd and lives with her Daddy. Just odd. Didn't accept the friend request.

Hmm....got me wondering.

Z grew!

Today was his 2 year checkup. He now weighs 22 pounds and is 31 inches long/tall. This puts him at the 3rd percentile for both height and weight - a HUGE accomplishment. His head is at the 25th percentile (which is down - probably adjusting to his overall size). She expects him to be 5' 3" when he is an adult. Hey, it's not in the 4' range so I'm pleased! She is also VERY pleased at his overall growth and that is IS on a growth curve now! She gave him 1 year before another check up - like all other kids.

2 shots.

All on track for development.

Did have an ear infection (which I'd suspected). Off to the pharmacy for an Rx - amoxicillin - 10 days. Then to McD's - first time. Played for ~2 hours. Nice kids there. each child found a playmate and it was just fun/relaxing and cool.

Dr. P even watched a video of G's coughing and after all of the testing believes that it is small eustachian tubes as nothing else came back abnormal AND she did test to have increased pressure in her ears. She suggested that we ignore the cough and ear-holding for a few years (if possible) and she told Gianna that when she grows, the cough will go away. Other options: tubes in her ears to open up the space. Time will tell.

We said "bye" to our wonderful doctor and thanked her and nurse Jill for all of their help. Sad to think we won't be going to see those wonderful health care providers again. I tried to explain to G that we will get a new doctor at our new home. That suprised her.

Nice day. Home late. Late naps. Beautiful day (for August in AZ)!
K

The Purge & Flowers

So, I'm trying out templates for the blog. Today's attempt is: Brown & Beautiful
(kind of a theme for our family)

Preparing to Move:
Preparations are in full swing although completely disorganized! This weekend: Purge the house. Saturday: Yard Sale (note, in AZ we do NOT call these Lawn Sales - um, lawn?)

The house is a wreck! I mean, really. Sale will end at 815 this morning as I need to get over to the park and pick up our last :( food coop of fruits and veggies.

Sunday - church and hanging with Z's birthmother.

Between now and then I need to clean up the house a little or we might not survive the week.

Finally, the cat - the one who did not adjust well to our family - well, she/he has finally adjusted (now that she/he is headed back to the original owners in a week).

OK, going to try to go take a nap for an hour - before I need to be up for a yard sale.

BTW - If you know where we live, come on by Saturday morning. The crap in my driveway is NOT going back into the dwelling - it has to go! If you want free stuff - come later in the morning and just take what you want (free)!

PS - we are now in the "Moving Month" - it's August!