Highlights of Being Home (Part 1)

We have now officially been home one month. There are so many moments in the midst of it all that it's hard to know where to begin. As you can tell by the lack of posting, we have been busy. Life as a family of 4 has been awesome and exhausting all at once.

This past week I was messaged by an old friend. She had tried to mail us a Christmas card while we were gone but our mail forwarding had some kinks in it and for whatever reason it was returned to her. She was double checking to find out if we had moved. Bill and I have been blessed to make some great friends along the years. Some we get to see every week and others at least once a year. A few even less than that, but it is always wonderful to hear from everyone and find out what has happened since we last got together.

Anyway, I was reminded that this friend had made a very generous donation to the adoption process over a year ago. It was significant at the time because it was right as we were about to loose Simon for the first time. It was a moment when I was doubting what God was up to and this particular friend is someone who follows God wholeheartedly. She gave a very specific amount of money and I knew that God must have inspired her to give at that moment. It reminded me that even when it feels hopeless, God is at work behind the scenes. It was wonderful to find out that she has been reading the blog and keeping up with our story.

Reconnecting with her caused me to stop and remember that this has been a long, long process. Four years to be exact. I wanted to take a quick moment and thank everyone who has sent a card, purchased pretzels, eaten pancakes, sung a song, purchased a raffle ticket, took a chance on an iPad, said a prayer, given a hug or listened to our stories. It is humbling to know that so many people are woven into Isaac and Simon's stories. We remember each of you as we pull out a hand me down or use a gift card. Every time I warm up leftovers for the kids I am reminded that I didn't make these meals and that God is carrying us through. There will never be enough words or thank you notes to cover it all. So as I sit here on a quiet Sunday afternoon I thought I would try to share a few of the moments. They won't be in order and it is by no means a complete picture of our time at home, but these are a few things that I want to remember as we begin the business of growing up too fast:

FUNNY STORIES

Whenever we get in the car Isaac says (in the same order every time):

I: No Pa-pane 

Me: Nope, no airplane Isaac. We are home now.

I: Ky-ya scooool

Me: (often yes, but if I say..) No Cara's School

I: NO BOO BOO!

Me: (often yes, but if I say..) No doctors Isaac

I: No Dot-tor?

Me: No Doctor

I: Chicken? ( with a happy grin because we stopped at Chick-fila once and Isaac fell in love)

No Matter what we are doing if you tell Isaac it is time to eat he jumps up and shouts "Eat! Eat!" and begins to clean up in an effort to be first at the table. It is priceless.

Isaac has become a super duper helper around the house. He actually gets mad if I get out the dust buster without him. He loves to help make mommies coffee in the morning, empty the dishwasher, vacuum and most of all, chase the steam from the steam mop.

MEETING FRIENDS

Isaac's first Chinese food dinner from the James family. Isaac liked the food but he LOVED having friends over to play.

This game was given to us years ago but it is still a huge hit every time friends come over. As soon as Isaac sees the box he starts running in circles yelling "Hula-bu-lu!" Each time we play it he gets better at listening for the directions but mostly he just likes to dance around to the music and stomp on the shapes.

Chopping fruit with friends is fun! A good majority of the clothes Isaac is wearing these days come from Rhylan's closet so these two were super excited to finally meet one another. It is an awful photo, but look at that smile. He could not be happier to have friends in his home.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

Isaac is still learning English so any word that has "ed" in it comes out as "dead." Red, Bed, Bread, etc...all come out  as "dead." He also struggles with the "s" sound.

One day Bill decided to make Isaac grilled cheese and tomato soup and Isaac shouted
"Yeah poop and dead!"

It has become a family joke now. "Who wants poop and dead?"



GREAT FAMILY MOMENTS

Cara and Isaac got to discover the fun of sledding. 

We got to recreate Christmas with the Kamps family this past weekend. Who doesn't love unwrapping their first Tonka truck?

Grandma also got to show Isaac some of the great toys they keep at their house.

The girls had fun too. Here is Cara enjoying a tea party with GG and Aunt Katie.

Cara choose where everyone sat but Isaac had his heart set on hanging out with Samantha. Mommy didn't mind the break :)

Isaac also got the chance to go to his first American birthday party. Our cousin Jack turned 1 this week! We haven't been to Jacks house yet so Isaac is convinced that they live at the play place. He kept asking "Daddy's room?" I think he was trying to figure out where everyone slept.

The boys waiting to get into the play area.

 It is an American tradition to do a "Smash Cake" for the first birthday. You let the baby dig into cake for the first time and make a total mess of themselves. I am pretty sure Isaac thought it was his "smash cake" birthday.

Making the tough call between more cake and bubbles.

Bubbles won. Look at that face!

ISAAC-ISMS

Ple-A (Play)

I-Gik (Isaac)

Pool (any body of water)

Poppycock (Poppy's Truck)

Buh-lu-lu (Blue)

No Cut It (what we say every time we pass Ike's barber shop now)

C-wee-all (cereal)

Peab (please)

Nan (Meow)

Poop (soup)

Huggies (hug)

No bye bye (it's not time to leave yet)

Choo Choo baby (cookie monster)

Daddy Toocher  (Daddy's a Teacher/Daddy's at work)

Ple-A Know (play in the snow)

Mommy Beep (excuse me mommy)

Lee-ann-mon (Ironman)

There are so many more moments to share. Thank you to everyone who was a part of bringing this family together. We could not have done it without you.