Spring came quickly seeing that I only had 4 weeks of Michigan winter before spring was in the air! I felt very motivated when we returned home from Colombia to accomplish many things...I expected to be organized, structured, and fully of energy...I did just come off of 10 1/2 weeks of not having to make meals, do laundry, or really think for that matter...just be mom to my kids (which was a challenging task given all the dynamics going on). I was ready to tackle life! As you can see below, I was even ready to dive in and tackle all the post-placement adoption paperwork (if you think it's a mountain before you leave, coming home, for me is a much greater a chore, after all, our girls are ours, why do we need to spend more money and time on translations, social security, Michigan birth certificates, passports)...ok, so, I had it all out, and bagged it...still need to take care of all of that...
...We did quickly get into a routine...and to my greatest surprise, both girls were way more adaptable then I ever expected or could have hoped for. I could wake Marta up from naps to drop Silas off to preschool, we could send them into Sunday School (only one intense tantrum from Caroline-kicking the teacher and screaming and kicking on the floor-who was so wonderful with her)...they love being in the van, and after having to do a little design work for John's customers, off we would go, and they were very content, no excited, because while driving in the van, Caroline discovered many new things that she has never seen before...
Below is one of our first pics of spring...heading off to church! I love Sunday mornings!
Ahhh...and this spring we began to start back up on our big project of a home...purchasing an old home has been a lot of fun, and a lot of work...John has been amazing with what he is turning this old house into...
...the old rotted wood siding came down...and the hardi board fiber cement went up (just finished today actually)...so, very soon we'll see some color on the exterior...thinking a dark charcoal/chocolate, with white trim...I can't wait!!
...I've been very fortunate by both sets of parents to be able to sneak away for a few hours and do a few field trips with Isabel and Silas...here is Isabel and friends at the Fredrick Meijer Gardens...
April is always a fun month with school because we have the Auction and the Family Fun Night...ok, I am not a fan of fun night, but, the kids would be devastated if we didn't go...so, off we went...Caroline and Silas both won a gold fish. Not to excited about that, especially since Caroline's fish didn't even live to make it home. Caroline has a VERY hard time when she watches things die (I let her watch "Charlette's Web"-big mistake-she wept on the couch for over 3o minutes when Charlotte died, I mean a grieve stricken weep!) So, when Mr. Fish died, we had quite the experience...as you can see below, Silas had a hard time being serious saying good-bye to Mr. Goldfish! But, Caroline worked through it and all is well...
...since the kids are in Spanish Immersion, they try and do South American type field trips if possible...below Silas's class went to an Al Paca farm to see these animals get shaved...interesting creatures...
...spring is our time for birthdays...everyone but Caroline has a spring birthday...you can imagine we heard, "It's not fair, Mommy." Yes, that would be in English...need I mention after 6 months of being in our home, Caroline is completely bi-lingual. AMAZING! In fact, she insists that Isabel and Silas speak to her in English, but, they are so used to speaking to her in Spanish, that they still most often forget and speak Spanish...
...Silas had a special Preschool Graduation, as you can see, he was very happy to receive his little diploma...
...ahhh, and can't forget the year end fiesta! What fun Silas had, not only with his classmates, but, even his little sisters...
El Puente at ZCS has the most amazing teachers...
John worked hard on our Spring Parade home. We are grateful to God that he provided the wonderful customers in Ed and Becky, and this home on Gun Lake to market our business...we all know the building market is down, and this job couldn't have come at a more timely season in our life...
...so, the last 2 weeks, John spent a lot of time sitting in this parade home...
...he just finished last night, so it feels like our summer is just beginning...
...Memorial Day Weekend was fun spent out at my parents on Mona Lake...
Caroline again proved how brave she was, not being able to swim at all, or little experience in the water, she was like a fish with Grandpa in the lake, and even went tubing with her cousins...
...Marta gets a big kick out of her Grandma Van...she loves a good time, and so does her Grandma...speaking of Marta, we feel she is really making progress...having taught her a little sign language, we are beginning to communicate, and she is less frustrated...we are working with "Early On" and have seen significant progress in the last couple of weeks...Marta has great potential, everyone can see that...
...Silas was just happy to have some more boys around for the weekend...thank goodness for boy cousins...
...Aunt Marcy took some time with the girls, and they were in their glory...you'd think they would be afraid on the seadoo, but, Caroline kept yelling, "faster, faster!" and little Marta just squeeled with delight...
...the day before school was out, I was able to do one more field trip with Isabel and friends to the museum and zoo...
Isabel ended her school year with her ballet recital at Turning Point...so sweet!
...the old rotted wood siding came down...and the hardi board fiber cement went up (just finished today actually)...so, very soon we'll see some color on the exterior...thinking a dark charcoal/chocolate, with white trim...I can't wait!!
...I've been very fortunate by both sets of parents to be able to sneak away for a few hours and do a few field trips with Isabel and Silas...here is Isabel and friends at the Fredrick Meijer Gardens...
April is always a fun month with school because we have the Auction and the Family Fun Night...ok, I am not a fan of fun night, but, the kids would be devastated if we didn't go...so, off we went...Caroline and Silas both won a gold fish. Not to excited about that, especially since Caroline's fish didn't even live to make it home. Caroline has a VERY hard time when she watches things die (I let her watch "Charlette's Web"-big mistake-she wept on the couch for over 3o minutes when Charlotte died, I mean a grieve stricken weep!) So, when Mr. Fish died, we had quite the experience...as you can see below, Silas had a hard time being serious saying good-bye to Mr. Goldfish! But, Caroline worked through it and all is well...
...since the kids are in Spanish Immersion, they try and do South American type field trips if possible...below Silas's class went to an Al Paca farm to see these animals get shaved...interesting creatures...
...spring is our time for birthdays...everyone but Caroline has a spring birthday...you can imagine we heard, "It's not fair, Mommy." Yes, that would be in English...need I mention after 6 months of being in our home, Caroline is completely bi-lingual. AMAZING! In fact, she insists that Isabel and Silas speak to her in English, but, they are so used to speaking to her in Spanish, that they still most often forget and speak Spanish...Below, Silas wishing me a Happy 35th birthday! Love my boy!
I had a lot of fun going to Silas' preschool class to celebrate Mother's Day (Feliz dia de Madre)...Silas was excited to sing a few songs and show me all of his projects and accomplishments. He had a really hard time in preschool during our transition time with the girls, but, the last month he really turned a corner, and is very excited to go to Kindergarten next year!
...Silas had a special Preschool Graduation, as you can see, he was very happy to receive his little diploma...
...ahhh, and can't forget the year end fiesta! What fun Silas had, not only with his classmates, but, even his little sisters...
El Puente at ZCS has the most amazing teachers...
John worked hard on our Spring Parade home. We are grateful to God that he provided the wonderful customers in Ed and Becky, and this home on Gun Lake to market our business...we all know the building market is down, and this job couldn't have come at a more timely season in our life...
...so, the last 2 weeks, John spent a lot of time sitting in this parade home...
...he just finished last night, so it feels like our summer is just beginning...
...Memorial Day Weekend was fun spent out at my parents on Mona Lake...
Caroline again proved how brave she was, not being able to swim at all, or little experience in the water, she was like a fish with Grandpa in the lake, and even went tubing with her cousins...
...Marta gets a big kick out of her Grandma Van...she loves a good time, and so does her Grandma...speaking of Marta, we feel she is really making progress...having taught her a little sign language, we are beginning to communicate, and she is less frustrated...we are working with "Early On" and have seen significant progress in the last couple of weeks...Marta has great potential, everyone can see that...
...Silas was just happy to have some more boys around for the weekend...thank goodness for boy cousins...
...Aunt Marcy took some time with the girls, and they were in their glory...you'd think they would be afraid on the seadoo, but, Caroline kept yelling, "faster, faster!" and little Marta just squeeled with delight...
...the day before school was out, I was able to do one more field trip with Isabel and friends to the museum and zoo...
...she was her goofy "free spirited" self...
Isabel ended her school year with her ballet recital at Turning Point...so sweet!That's just a glimpse into our spring, we have been blessed by some dear friends in our lives that we have been able to hang out with over the past couple months, and I was even able to do a Beth Moore study in our home with some great women...I really can't even believe that Caroline and Marta could do that, but, they rolled with it, and are proving to feel very safe and secure in their new home.
Our goal all along in the beginning was to make them feel safe and secure. If I ever felt that we pushed them to far, or were "running" to much, I'd pull back...but, John and I both feel they have found a safe place in our home, they both are showing great signs of attachment, which was our prayer over the last year and a half (attachment disorder is very real for children who have been relinquished and had a lot of trauma-so we did not take this lightly when we pursued our adoption this time around)...bonding is a process...and every week we continue to progress as a family...we have not yet arrived, and yes, have had some small bumps and some big bumps along the way...but, God is in this, He is the reason our family looks the way it does...and though not all days are easy...we BLESS Him for allowing us to be the parents to 4 most precious children!
So...on to summer days...we need this time as 6 as I said before...some days it feels we have 2 seperate sets of kids. Isabel and Silas are so bonded, and Caroline and Marta are bonded...we need them all to come together to have that "shalom in the home" that we all desire...that is our prayer and our hope for this summer...
Wow Kristi! Thanks for sharing your life with us. . what a wonderful post about a busy and amazing time in your life! Your photos are GREAT too!! See you at the lake soon!
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