How Do You Solve A Problem......

We had fun this a.m. getting Miss Alli out of bed! Apparently after the debate last night, she stayed up to do art.
I understand how she couldn't just go to sleep. I am the same way. After watching something like that, I have to have some wind down time.

BUT..... 8:30?  Sorry sweetie, Out of Bed for you! :)

A Retreat!

I am going to have the honor of going to the Retreat with Christine Reed, from www.smilesandtrials.blogspot.com

SOOOO EXCITED!~
I still cannot believe it..... but a friend talked to me this a.m. asking why I wasn't going.   And then, they made an offer I could not refuse! 

God is so good!  I know that the Lord wants me to go and He made provision for this trip!

SO thankful!

See You Soon!

Alli and Mike had Birthdays!

Alli turned 14 this weekend, on the same day as Mike turned 54! :)

She loves having her birthday, but birthdays have also been a "trigger" for her.
In the past, ( we have celebrated 12 and 13 together)  they brought about huge memories of her bio siblings, and a birthday party in her first adoptive  family.
This year, she was especially anxious with her Birthday coming up and wanted to know exactly what was going to happen! I shared most everything, EXCEPT the fact that her bio sister was coming as a huge surprise. :)
Her sister texted me 10 minutes before arrival so I could get Sweetie 4 out of the house and they could hide. :)
We came back home and the girls offered to play a favorite game.
It sounds awful, being called "Murder in the Dark", a game they made up.
It isn't violent.  It is just a game in the dark  where the mystery "murderer" touches your leg or arm.
Alli's bio sister Tatyana  and her friend Gibson were in the closet hiding in the dark when the game started and within a few minutes, sweetie 4 figured out there were more people in the room.
The lights came on and the hugs started! :)
It was so fun to surprise her!
And guess what!!!
All that birthday anxiety, melted away. :)

Hiding in the closet!

 Sarah gave her a foot ball. :)

 Erika and Mama gave her water color paints

 Sister love

The new mice.....

She had a wonderful birthday time.  All of her sisters loved on her and daddy. :)

I think we should surprise her sister next month for HER birthday. :)

I Love IT!

I love it that these two girls still like dress up. :)

 In a couple of weeks, both of them will be 14.  So glad they don't feel the need or pressure to just "grow up."
They are enjoying childhood and all the magic of make believe, playing fun games, imagining, and exploring their world.

Love my girls. :)

A Wonderful Beginning to a New Year!

We have had a BUSY Christmas and beginning of the year.  Alli's sister Tatyana and Gib came over for several days to visit.  We had a blast.  We also had our Ukrainian/Russian Christmas Eve Dinner on Jan. 6th.
I am so proud of all of the girls who were just a delight the whole time.
We were so happy to have Uncle Bob visit. 

 Unfortunately, most of our grand kids and kids were all bombed with the FLU!
A couple of them were able to come for Jan. 6th dinner. :)

 Silly girls, silly Gib.

 My sweet daughter's in Law on a girls night out!

 Excited to find Russian Food in America!

Kicking back..... :) 

A Retraction and An Explanation

Somewhere on my blog, I wrote that Alli had told me that she was kept in her room with an alarm on the door because her previous family was afraid of her.
It is true they were afraid, but it is not true that there was an alarm on her door.
I am not sure how we came to that conclusion with all of our talks, and it could have been that she said she was locked in her room... which I know she did say that..  But there wasn't an alarm.

I want my blog to reflect HONESTY, and I feel badly that this was not accurate.

She told us one time that we had locked her in her room and we had to correct that.  There is not even a lock on her door.  These are expressions when she is saying how she FEELS....
And it is her perspective. 
We had to show her there was no lock, and she went to her room voluntarily.  When we showed her there were no locks, she said it "felt" like it.  Probably because she wanted to be with us......

Anything I have written has stemmed from HER perspective trying to make sense of her life.  She has said she felt that she was treated differently and that is a sore spot for her big time.  When she gets dysregulated, here, she will perceive that she is being treated differently and get upset. It is her perspective. 
We work hard on these things to straighten them out and many times she will come back and say she is sorry.

We just had a wonderful visit with her sister who shared a room with her.  And she confirmed there was not an alarm.

Anyhow, I wanted to correct this. It may not seem a big deal, but it is to me, and it would be to me if I were on the other side of the adoption coin.

Grandson Invasion!

We got to spend the morning with 3 precious little boys!  And we were Happy Happy Happy!

 

 I'm not so sure how thrilled Felix was being dressed up by Miss Alli. LOL

 Sam is always joyful! He especially likes finding Surprises on the Christmas Tree. :)

 Truman had a really good time outside today! Tomorrow, it will be way too cold!

 Felix loves playing with the blocks.

 Pizza Time!

Mama and Daddy had a nice coffee date.... :)
Our pleasure!

New Hair Doos

They are so trusting! And Erika did a really good job!

She is a Jill of all trades! :)