Kid Swap

It was a bit confusing after church today figuring out who was going where, but we eventually got it straightened out. Paige went to her friend's house, while the brother of her friend came to our house and the sister of her friend went to the house where Drew and "M" went. The oldest daughter of the house that Drew and "M" are at went to the house Paige is at and the son of that house is here. Oh yes, and Clay is here too. Do you have it straight? Don't worry I don't either, but I know where Clay is and I know the three others are at friends' houses.

Clay and his two buddies started right away at the Legos and are now joined with our neighbor boy. Clay thought it was funny that I was now the only girl in our house. Once my lunch settles, I am going for a run, then it will be an all boys house. I believe everyone is happy, at least the kids are. The house with the youngest kids might have gotten the short end of the stick, but I am sure next time it will be a different swap.

Just Checking in...

Not much to write about. This morning started with trying to get to the farmers market as soon as it opened so I could get home in time to go to Clay's game. It was a foggy morning, I couldn't see more than 10 yards in front of me. I turned on the wrong road and didn't notice (because I couldn't see anything) I noticed when I was at least 3 miles down, thankfully I was headed in the right general direction. After talking to the lady I buy milk from, she happens to be from Chicago, we both decided we won't complain about the fog, not as bad as the weather from where we came. Thankfully I made it in time to get to the game and then Paige's game, then by the time the games were over the sun was out. It ended up being a beautiful, spending time outdoors with no jacket kinda day. But you sure wouldn't have thought that from this morning.

I think the fog here is like snow in other places, no one wants to go anywhere, schools are on delays, and you just want to cuddle up and read a book by the fire. The nice thing though, is that usually later in the day it burns off and you can be out and about. But it can be bad to where you are almost blind when it is thick.

When I first met my new dental hygienist, she learned I was from Indiana and asked about tornadoes. She had never lived in an area with tornadoes and was amazed at the damage they could do. But right away she said, "they may have tornadoes but I bet they don't have the fog like us" I kinda laughed to myself, I think I would rather have fog all around my house than a tornado.

Just to be really random, here is a picture below from around Christmas. Some days we have a beautiful view of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Most days you wouldn't even know it was there. Our air quality is quite poor here in the valley. But on days of lower temperatures and after a nice cleansing rain (which unfortunately rarely ever happens) you can see every jagged, snow covered peak.

Hair

Not a very creative title, but I really didn't know how to describe this post. Anyway, Clay needed a haircut. He didn't think he did, but Jathan and I sure thought so. He hadn't had one since before our trip to Indiana this past summer. Jathan thought he was looking a bit like a sheepdog with the hair hanging over his eyes. And I was convinced it was affecting his hearing as it was hanging over his ears. So one evening, the clippers came out. I calmed Clay down when I told him we could do some fun things with his hair to show Daddy when he came home before I cut it all off. So this is what we came up with...










I cut the sides, used a bit of hairspray and gel, and here you have it. Jathan was a bit shocked when he got home. I thought he looked a little scary myself. Five minutes after Jathan was home I sent Clay to the shower and cut the rest.

Rockin' Mama Challenge

I have posted before about the challenges in bonding with a child adopted at an older age. Bonding can happen, but it takes a lot of prayer, work, and time. I have come to realize that there is no way it will happen on its own. I love "M" dearly, but I still feel we have a ways to go with bonding and attachment. I know that I don't feel the same towards her as I do my other three. Two which I gave birth to and one that joined our family at 7 months through adoption. So I have been reading, trying to find a way to help the bonding a long. Anyway for a bit over a week now, I have been in the Rockin' Mama Challenge. That may sound a little weird to some, but let me explain. I have been reading a blog called A Bushel and a Peck. They have adopted a few of their children at an older age and from hard places. Different circumstances but much like "M". Anyway, the blog is very encouraging and recently Lisa shared with her readers the "Rockin Mama Challenge". Basically we are committing to rocking in a chair with our child for 15 minutes a day. "M" and I have established after lunch, during quiet reading time on school days to be our rocking time or as we call it snuggle time. Fifteen minutes is not easy. Usually during that time I finished the older two's school, cleaned up anything left over from lunch and caught up on computer stuff. Fifteen minutes of that time isn't easy to give up. And to be quite honest I wasn't sure if it would make a difference anyway. But let me tell you it has. For fifteen minutes we go up to the loft, we sit in a glider, no phone, no one else, just the two of us. We have a blanket to snuggle with and just rock (actually glide), we talk some, she likes me to tell her stories and we just spend time with each other. The first day, I would say was a bit awkward, but she loved it because she was asking about it the next day. So we decided to make a certain time for it. Otherwise I was afraid #1 it wouldn't happen if it wasn't scheduled and #2 I would get aggravated with her for asking all the time and that would defeat the purpose. By the second day she wasn't so stiff and the third she was totally relaxed. Anyway, if you happen to be working on attachment and bonding with one or more of your children or know anyone who is, the challenge in on my side bar or just click on the link I posted earlier. I do see a big difference in how I feel about her. I need time with her, to where she isn't fighting to be closer to me than Drew, or I am correcting her or trying to teach her something.

Here I am

Hi Everyone,

I have been a way for quite awhile (from the blog, not my home). I haven't posted since before Christmas and even that post wasn't really saying much. I am going to try (try is the key word) to get back in the habit of blogging. Sometimes I wonder who reads this, I do not receive many comments, but then again there are several blogs I read and I never comment on either. But even if no one reads this, I have enjoyed looking back at some of the things that I have written down here. I am not very good at writing down the funny things that the kids say or do, but in the past I have written it on here, so at least it is documented.

Anyway, if you do read this, leave me a comment sometime, so I know who is out there. I am just curious.

Melissa

One of those days

I should have known it was going to be one of those days last week when my five year old came into my room in the morning in great distress. He couldn't get his shirt off the hanger. What complicated matters was that he had already put the shirt on (hanger and all). The day proved to be a rough day for this particular child and myself, but at least it started with a little laugh.

When I grow up...

I love hearing the kids answer that question. Sometimes it is me outright asking and other times it is them just volunteering it in a conversation. Their interests are broad so I never know what will come to their minds at the time. But for today...

Drew wants to work in a zoo and help animals.

"M" wants to work in a zoo as a dentist. There she will only work on the animals that are not meat eaters (she doesn't want to be bitten) Then after she works on the animals teeth, she will work on peoples teeth.

Paige want to be a creation scientist. I believe this was encouraged by her love of experiments and listening to all the Jonathan Park Adventure CDs.

Clay wants to be an underground scientist. You see he has a plan that he has been working on. When he is 21 years old he will begin digging to the center of the world. He has the plans drawn out for the machine that will get the job done. His plan is to begin collecting pieces to build this machine now. As he told me, he will ask for parts for every birthday and Christmas until he is 21, then he should have everything he needs. So for this Christmas he is requesting pieces of metal. After the hole is dug, he will take people on tours to the center of the earth. Clay told me that I could go for free on my birthday and Mother's Day and every Monday so Daddy can take me on a date there. He already has his outfit ready, the pants are already too short, so I am not sure how it will work when he is 21, but he has time to figure that out. In case you like to plan ahead 14 years, tickets are going to be $20 a piece round trip.