Celebrating, Lots of Firsts and Working on the Basics

We heard the exciting news last week that Tatum has been accepted into the international baccalaureate program at Niwot High School! Tatum has always worked very hard in school. Way to go, Tatum! We are so proud of you!

On Sunday all of our local family members came over to celebrate our adoption. Jim's sisters organized the whole party and brought all of the food-yea! Ashley and Josh acted like perfect angels and really enjoyed opening all of the presents. They received clothes, Legos for Josh, a HSM bag with bath products for Ashley, Deluxe Pit (their favorite game during the long wait in Ukraine) and a lot of cash and gift cards. They couldn't wait to go shopping. Here are some pictures of what they bought.

Josh spent all of his money down to zero and was really happy about that. He got a lot of nice things, new shoes, skateboard and helmet, watch, sunglasses, a rubber hairy ball, and he bought Tatum and I some jewelery.

Ashley bought a pair of hightops and two rings, and then she bought gifts for her three best friends and two of her teachers in Ukraine. We know a family going to Kherson to adopt from her orphanage later this month, and they said they would take a package for us to surprise her friends with.


















Another really cool gift they got at our family celebration were custom name signs from Uncle Chris and Aunt Christine, and Josh got an amazing custom metal bed from them also. Thanks to all of the guys at Broomfield Sheet Metal for their awesome work, the kids love them! I will never forget the time in Kherson when we were showing Ashley pictures of our big family. Jim asked her if she ever wanted to be in a big family, and she said, "I just want a family." It was a true blessing to see all of our family warmly welcoming Ashley and Joshua, we love you guys!

We're coming up on two weeks now. It really seems like we have been a family of six for a lot longer. There are so many firsts for these two that they are hard to keep track of. I have to keep reminding myself to take lots of pictures. They find joy in the little things, and it is fun to see the world anew again. We saw a squirrel out our kitchen window, and they both got so excited. Ashley said, "Mom, picture!" So I grabbed the camera, and we all ran outside.

I had to buy a few plants for my terrarium, so we went to The Flower Bin.
They were both completely amazed at the plants. They touched and smelled. Ashley said, "In here, summer, " and then later she opened her arms wide and said, "Mom, this is wow!" I can't wait to see the looks on their faces this summer when the greenhouse is overflowing with flowers. Joshua had his first haircut and looks very handsome. Tonight it was snowing giant snowflakes, and they wanted to drive around with their heads out the car windows. Ashley yelled, "Hallo, America!" I wish you all could spend a day with us and see life through their eyes, everything is so exciting! Tonight they jumped on the trampoline in the snow until they were soaking wet. I think the whole neighborhood could hear them yelling and laughing.

We spent a lot of time working on basic manners last week like not throwing your trash on the floor, chewing with your mouth closed, wearing seatbelts, etc. They will pick up a large piece of food with their fork and then bite pieces off. I was showing them how to cut it into little pieces, and Ashley asked, "Mom, why?" So I showed her table manners in the Russian dictionary. We are also working on not saying no or grunting initially to everything. I know much of this is a reaction to the unknown, but it really gets on your nerves after awhile. Ashley has been telling her teacher no also. This past weekend we had Lilya come over so we could have a full conversation and explain why we have some of the rules that we do. The kids really liked her-even though initially when I told them she was coming over they both said, "No, Mom!" We are slowly building trust. Lilya informed me Ashley's Ukrainian music CDs do not have very good lyrics. I surmised that. Baby steps. Their world has already been completely turned upside down, and it is one of the few things she has from Ukraine. We will address what we put into our head down the road. She is almost a teen, and that conviction will have to come from her own heart soon enough. Lilya asked her why she listens to that music, and she said, "Why not, that's life." Both of the kids are working really hard to learn our family rules and customs here. Usually we only have to correct them or explain something once or twice.

I'll leave you with a few pictures of all four kids having fun together this weekend. Bonds are gradually being built. God has truly blessed our family, and we are thankful.

There are more pics on our Picasa link.