a good day for all

sophie and ben applied for their social security numbers this afternoon. I have to tell you that these two kids are the very BEST waiters. We waited about 45 mins to an hour and they were absolutely angels. Ben wandered a little back and forth and gave books and magazines to some people which was funny. they started giving them back to him to put away and he did. I gave him a paper and said hold on to my important paper, dont lose that! and he didnt. the entire time we were there he held on to it. It was really just a job for him to keep him busy more than it was important paper. Sophie read some books and sat in my lap a little and talked to Ben and screwed around with Maia. they were absolutely good as gold. and their ss cards should arrive in a couple weeks!

While doing the paperwork for the ss# we found two loose passport photos. JUST what I needed to send off the Ukraine paperwork. excellent.

to the mall! where they again just were really well behaved. We once waited 3 or 4 hours for something when in Kiev with them and they were good as gold that day too. They are just good waiters. they were in the double stroller at the mall. Sophie got a new winter jacket. and we had some peanut butter cups and a drink for a snack.

Then off to the orthodontist for consultation on Chrysta. she needs some work done and its not going to be cheap. Father of the year is supposed to pay half but I dont hold much hope of ever seeing that. he hasnt paid for anything in years. the kids just played toys while we talked. they were nervous about getting poked or something but when they saw it was just for mom and dad to talk they did fine. They let them pick a toy and sophie and ben each picked an american flag! ironic? yes. adorable? yes. and they didnt put them down all the way home. in fact they took them to bed with them!

on to the ride home. They were happpy most of the way. But maia chose bubbles and she really wanted to touch the flag. Sophie would scream at her thinking she was going to take it away(I presume). Then Sophie gave herself away. She let us know that she understands way more than she lets on. I told Maia to leave her alone and let her hold her flag. Maia said she only wanted to touch it and not take it away. I said Maia she just doenst understand! Sophie chirped "Nay ponemayu! Maia, nay ponemayu." translation I dont understand. so essentially she was saying Yeah maia I dont understand when she did understand all along! oh that squirt!

When we got home Ethan had presents for us. While we were gone he was home with Cody and Chrysta because we left before school got out. so while he was home he took paper and tape and wrapped up various toys and put them under the tree for us to open when we got home. He was very excited about this. it was pretty cute.

After a rushed dinner of cheesy eggs they went to bed and it wasnt 15 minutes and all of them were sound asleep.

thinking

of "our girls" and "the boys" that we left behind in Ukraine. Wishing we could send them a box of love for Christmas. I dont see how that would be possible but I think of them so often and hope they are well and happy. I dont know if they are allowed to play out in the snow but I hope they are. and if they aren't I hope they are enjoying the beauty of it outside their windows(if they have any snow yet) Do they have a Christmas tree in their room? Do they have pretty lights on them to look at? DO they know Santa Clause? or Kris Kringle, or whatever the Ukrainian equivalent to Santa is. Will they get any presnts on Christmas? even a pair of socks? it is easy to close your eyes and pretend you dont know what their life is like over there. But we spent so much time with them, playing, laughing, hugging, learning, taking pictures, roughhousing, swinging that I can't forget. They have touched my heart and I can not ignore that. Others may be able to shut that part of their life our of their minds. I can not. These are children. Mere children. They are completely dependent. They can not "get a job" they can not choose to eat more or more often. Everything is controlled for them. And yet they have so little. it breaks my heart. and from here, there is next to nothing I can do about it.

oops! there she is.

Sophie had a minor relapse into the old defiant Sophie. But thankfully she has recovered and is happily watching little Bill with her sibs.

She got herself into a bit of trouble for returning to a place I told her not to go. I figured the lesson would be a little better remembered if she had to scoot herself out of that place rather than my carrying her. (because remember she was there one already and I did carry her and yet she returned) She refused to go. wanted me to pick her up. I have no doubt I could have picked her up and as soon as I put her down she would go there again. SO I counted to 3 and she refused to move so she did get a free ride out of there and straight to the time out chair. Time out for her is time out for me too because I have to stand in front of the chair with my back to her to keep her from flopping herself out of the chair. So I turned my back and started counting the seconds and blocked the chair's exit. By the time I got to three minutes she wasnt crying any more. I told her what she did to go in time out and wanted her to say sorry. She wouldnt look at me. But she did say sorry after a time. then she wanted me to rockabye her. so I did. REminded her I love her and she is still my baby. then she let me finish my breakfast. usually she is a sunny child. but occasionally, especially when she is tired(today!) that old defiant snotty "you cant tell me" Sophie sneaks out. maybe a nap would be more in order than school.

Cold 'nuff for ya?

brrr. plenty cold for me! I am really ready to be done with winter and it only just begun! I am a southern soul trapped in a northern body! how many years till Eric retires? I like to worship the sun. I like to play in the sun. heck who am I kidding I am happy just to SEE the sun!!! where is it? havent seen it for days. cold dark dreary winter days. blah on snow. blah on cold. blah on the weight gain because its too cold to get out!!

ok debbie downer is done for now. On to other important matters of the day. All pressent say Aye! AYE! great. I am here. so everyone got up early today and thus there are some cranky children afoot. Some of the cranky children went off to school, yes school is in session here, snowbedamned. That leaves me 3 cranky kids at home. They are supposed to go to preschool this afternoon but it is COLD! and blowing! and I just dont know if its worth it. Ben cant wear boots. well at least not unless I spend 20 minutes trying to cram his crazy foot in there. and sophie obviously needs to be carried. USUALLY the sidewalks at school are clear so if i park in the no parking lane(hey! everyone else does it!) I might be able to get them in with minimal trouble, getting them out again is different. The buses park there and I would have to park in the lot and haul them across the lot by myself. Maia takes the bus home. I cant wait until they get services so THEY can deal with transportation!!I am surprised they havent cancelled preschool altogether.

the poor dog is so cold he is hiding in my sweatshirt. WHILE MY SWEATSHIRT IS ON ME!! he loves to cuddle up and be warm. he has a new place to nap. Since we got a new high chair from Maggie for Sophie, Ben has taken over the old one. He eats much easier there. Now when Sophie sat in it, the dog never tried to get into it. But now that it belongs to his buddy Ben when Ben gets down, Dog gets in. He curls up in the seat and takes a nap. Fabio is a frou frou dog. My brother in law says any animal less than 150 pounds is a waste of carbon. I disagree. He is my best little buddy.(Fabio, not my brother in law) Until the kids came home he slept with me and was by my side all day every day. we spend more time togehter than I get with my husband! men do not understand the relationship between human and dog. Women see dogs as little humans who cant talk. Men see dogs as animals who have potential. case in point, Ben and I watched a video of a man with a golden retriever who danced with him. A woman would never do that. Men are from Uranus. Women are from earth.

I am feeling somewhat bah humbug this year. I used to make fudge for the nurses. I used to bring them treats. This year I dont think I will. With the kids I dont have the time or energy. and even if I did, I would just feel taken for granted. so why expend the energy?

What is with boys and purses? Ethan used to carry around the pink fuzzy purse(with a dead mouse in it. for real) and now Ben has the red sparkly purse with rhinestones on it, carrying it all around the house. I told him its his Man Bag. but they still call it his purse. Good thing I am not a mom who gets bent out of shape about that stuff. Ethan alwyas had his nails done when he was small. everyone loves to wear the princess crown. Ethan refused to ever be the prince or king. He was the PRINCESS!
Maia, however, is not the princess. that is much too lowly a position for someone of her stature. She wants to be the queen. She also believes this will prevent her from doing chores of any kind. WRONG!

Well I guess I have recorded enough of the day for posterity. I can go do other things now. Like fold laundry. Take kids to bathrooms. Feed kids. Take kids to school. Bring kids home from school. Wash dishes. etc. yknow, the fun stuff.

go here!

and help save an adorable little boy from a fate you wouldnt want to think about.

http://thebalsisfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-days-of-giving-day-seven.html

your help could save his life, it could also win you an IPOD touch or a quilt!

ben at breakfast

bye bye cheero! I lub you! buh bye seeyou layler! I lub you cheero!