Movie Time

Dear Kidlets,
Tonight you really wanted to have family movie night so Daddy helped you choose one. You are so into animals right now that you settled on, "Turkles."  "Turkles," is a tale of sea turtles and a group of kids trying to catch turtle poachers. Very informational with top notch over acting, which gave my brain yet another opportunity to reflect on my gratitude for our two little spirited babies, neither of you are so much babies anymore. I'll note here, if I ask you, Hazel, how old you are, you will let me know in both gesture and voice that you are, "Tewwooo!" I have to think of your beautiful birth moms as I look at your sparkling faces and feel so much honor and love for them and you both that I get to have these moments with you, the ones where you can't get cuddled close enough with me and you copy how I am laying and how I move. I am grateful we get to share the dance party make up days and firsts with you. Henry you are so curious you can't stop talking and asking questions even during a movie as riveting as, "Turkles." It is all pretty awesome, this mom thing... even on days when Hazel dumps an entire bag of popcorn on the living room floor or a movie's already lacking good dialog can't be followed because Henry has to ask me the 100th question or we have 10 melt does we have to negotiate out of or nobody eats the dinner I made or I am tired and want to go to the bathroom by myself for once, I never wish for anything different. Love, Mama

RIPPED.

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Henry T: Cosmetologist!

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Saturday Afternoon Dance Party

Dear Peep and Hazelly, 
We had an AWESOME Saturday afternoon.  The rain was really pouring this morning so we decided to pick some sticks from our

rainy day jar we made 6 months ago and had never used.  It was great!  You chose the, "To Have a Dance Party with Outfits," popsicle stick.  I grabbed up what little (really old) make up I had and then some dollar select eye shadow from the grocery and you both intensely got to work dressin' up.  

Hen, you really messed up my crappy jewelery boxes dragging out bracelets, rings and necklaces, but I don't mind.  It was great watching you both but then Henny decided that it was Daddy and Mommy's turn.  Hen and Daddy went with a Adam Ant inspired look and Mommy and Hazel more of the Boca Raton bronzed up blue eyed thing.  We made it to the dance floor in full style and shaked it, spun it and flipped out heads for a good hour.  

 

With all of us pooped you two took a bath to wash up.  What a great Saturday surprise.  My lil' dance machines...

Love, Mama 

HOW MUCH ART CAN YOU TAKE... DRAWN IN CRAYON ON THE WALL BY THIS PERFECT ANGEL

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Came home from work and Henry was watching this. This is a real movie that got made. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Visits with WEEEEEE's

Dear Hazelita,
Now that Henry is in school we were able to make a visit to WW, your birth mom.  It had been a month or so since our last meet up so it was good to see WW.  You really enjoyed playing with her lil dog; rolling on the floor with him, bringing him his pillow, and letting him kiss your little lips.  We were getting hungry so we went to pick up WW's mom and get some pizza.  We ate there often when you were still a little bean growing.  You were so hunger and ate some salad, half a slice of pizza and three garlic bread knots.  WW and her mom, L were entertained by your appetite.  We had some time left so we went to the park for a bit.  You enjoyed the audience as you went down the slide on your own and giggled away in the swing as WW played 'gotcha'.  L was trying to be so gentle she barely pushed the swing to your dismay. She said she didn't want to scare you, so I showed her how you usually swing and you SQUEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAALED with happiness. 

WW is so sweet it is always great getting to spend some time with her.  At time to leave you were TIRED and CRANKY but you still gave hugs and a sweet goodbye.
Love that we are so close.
Love, Mama  

Sunday AM Cinema.

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First Day of Kindergarten, HOLY COW!

Dear Peep, 
My sweet, exuberant, humorous and intelligent boy you are now out of my daily care and in the care of two sharp, caring and thoughtful teachers in a room with 39 other kids, one of which is a pretty and creative little blonde named Lily.  When Daddy and I dropped you off for your first day you weren't showing any nervousness, any reservations.  You walked in donning a new and shiny Minions backpack, you won't allow me to call it a book bag.  You don't really need this bag as your school doesn't give homework for kindergarten and first grade, but you carry it proudly into your first day.  

Daddy, Hazel and I stuck around for a while with lots of other anxious parents checking to see if our little chicks would make it in the new nest.  

You, we didn't have to worry about.  You immediately saw your preschool bud C and following directions you both sat down to play with some blocks together.  Picking up where you left off, we stuck around for our own hearts.  

If we could have picked on kid for you to grow up in school with it would be C, he is such a wonderful, kind and joyful kid.  As I watched the big kids in the room and looked at you and Lily I felt pretty emotional.  I was having strong flash backs to the day we brought you home and the evening our adoption support group sat around a dinner table listing to a cell on speaker catching all the details about a two day old baby girl named Lily waiting to come home.  

It is overwhelming how fast the last 5 years have gone, after more years than that waiting to be your Mommy and Daddy.  You made it through the day pretty easily, except for lunch.  You weren't going to eat lunch.  You didn't.  You were not in a good mood after school.  I came to pick you up and received a very bright smile of recognition and a solid squeeze.  By day two you were hyper overwhelmed and were crying, screamin' and laughing all at the same time!  Exhausted eyes and a restless body were more than you could handle and you went to sleep quickly each night.  Now we are at day 4.  
You're a super star at getting up quickly and totally dressed.  Yesterday when I picked you up day 3 and you proclaimed, "The burrito was great!  I loved it!"  I am so proud of you because you also came up with a smart compromise to the lunch at school stand off.  You proposed that we read over the menu and on the days when it is something you like you will eat there and on days you don't you bring lunch.  Reasonable, verses refusing to eat lunch at school at all.  You're coming around, getting comfortable and enjoying yourself, even if you won't yet show us that.  As circle time was called you found your name and sat, a little stress showing on your face, checks puffed out and head hangin' a little low.  It is a big adjustment for all of us but looking forward to all of your accomplishments that will happen this year.  My growing boy.



Love, Mama

Meet Up

Dear Henny Bear,
So happy that we were able to get in a visit with JoJo, T and Little Jo before school started.  We all met up at the Children's Museum with our packed lunches and excitement to be together.  Our arrival was greeted by T running to me and giving me a big hug.  How sweet!  Then he turned to you while I hugged JoJo... I watched over JoJo's shoulder to see the two of you stare at each other a minute.  You gave each other a double high five that melted into laced fingers and swinging your arms together while you both gave out a bright, "HI!"  MELTED my heart! I caught a shot a second before you let go. It is the sweetness of open adoption and that you and your birth bros know, care and enjoy each other that makes an hours drive mute and essential, not to mention I love chit chatting with my friend, J.  We ate our lunches and you and T were anxious to get to the first thing, but first you all went down the slide together while Hazel and I waved you on.  

We bounced from area to area trying on Chinese opera costumes, playing at the sand and water table, creating your own Chihuly sculpture together, going on the carousel, pretending to be in a dinosaur nest, and playing in the ice cream shoppe.  

Lil' Jo and Hazel crossed paths back and forth and danced together to the carousel music while you and T climbed and hid from each other.  It was a really nice afternoon!  It was hard for you to leave and you avoided it, but then we regrouped and took a couple of great pictures of us all in front of Bumblebee.  

Love getting together. I can't believe how much you are all growing up.  It is so special to share these times together.  
Love, Mama