Preschool

Today was the kids first day of preschool.  I'm not even sure what to say about it.  The drop off seemed to go well.  Mimi was fine with waving goodbye to me.  Abraham was a bit clingy when I said goodbye but he became distracted and I left.  I was there for about 5 minutes listening and didn't hear anything so I was happy.

Fast forward to the afternoon.  Around 3 pm I started to get a weird feeling as I returned home from my walk with the dog.   I don't know why I just felt like they needed me then.  I waited though and went to pick up the kids at around 4 pm.  They were outside and both were crying, although Mimi denies this.  So Abraham sees me and his soft crying turned into hysterical sobs.  Yikes.  I felt awful.  Not awful enough to quit though, because I'm not gonna lie, I loved the alone time and the ability to get things done.

I talked to a couple different teachers.  One was this lovely woman who told me how their day went.  She thought they did pretty good.  She said he was upset in the morning so they brought him to Mimi's class but that only seemed to cause Mimi to cry and get upset.  Lovely.  But she claims both kids seemed to enjoy doing the activities and Mimi will claim her favorite part was painting.  We had a discussion about preschool at the dinner table tonight.  All of these things came out of my girl's mouth in a matter of 5 minutes as I asked questions.

"I don't wanna go back to preschool.  I wanna stay home forever!"

"I cried because I missed my mommy"

"There are too many kids there.  I just wanna be home in Oakland"

"I just wanna play games in Oakland not at preschool"

"I just wanna stay home with you guys"

"Mommy I waited and waited and waited and waited and waited and waited and waited and waited and waited and waited for you to come"(Yes she really said "waited" this much)

Okay these were only the ones I jotted down too!  I am dreading preschool on Wednesday.  We have to stick with it though right?  I don't know who I'm asking but something tells me whether it is now or in a year or two they are going to have to get use to being away from me and in a setting with other children and teachers.  I guess I kept them in the nest too long.  I'm thinking a half day preschool might be better but there just are not open programs now and with my schedule it doesn't help.  So wish us luck for Wednesday!  Because they are going back.

Halloween 2011

Okay so it's not really halloween yet, but we celebrated today at the zoo. Just in case we don't get out trick or treating on Monday.  Monday which also just so happens to be the first day of preschool.  Yes the kids are starting preschool 2 days a week.  I am a failed preschool homeschooler!  How bad is that?  I couldn't even deal with teaching the ABC's.  Well it's not as simple as that but off to preschool they shall go.  And I can't wait.  I think we will all enjoy the time away.  I know I will.  I got my days planned out with yoga, walks around the lake, lunches and coffee dates. I just hope it goes well and no one gets kicked out for their non-compliant attitude.  I also hope they figure out a way to get the boy to pee in the potty.  Because he doesn't want to.  Not that he can't.  He just doesn't want to.  Mostly because we want him to :)

Anyways back to the zoo.  It was a fun time although a bit slow paced compared to six flags which is my favorite "fun place to go with the kids".  I mean really how long can one just sit and stare at animals who usually doing nothing?  And when they do things they are often really really gross.  Just go stare at the elephants for 20 minutes and you will see.  But the husband won the "where we will go today" debate, so the zoo it was!

May I present snow white and "Thomas the tank engine"....just as Abraham would say.

The Beach

We are home from our 1 week at the beach house!  Okay okay we've been home a while, but man oh man I just can't seem to catch up with anything, let alone update the blog.  So this may be short and sweet.  Like some photos and that's about it for tonight.  I have a lot to write about.  Like how my children continue to amaze me day after day.  Because David had to work I drove down south with them alone and back.  It was easy.  Too easy really.  They are just so good.  My precious little gems :)  Anyways just a few photos.  And just an FYI, disneyland was the happiest place on earth this year for the boy!!! We are so going back.

After I asked them to hug :)

Early morning doughnut runs

Welcome Ryleigh Jayne!

2 weeks ago we all flew out to D.C. to await the arrival of Amy's baby girl.  Ryleigh Jayne was born on September 20th at 1:39 pm.  I was blessed not only to be there for her delivery, but we all got to spend the first week of her life with her.  Ryleigh seemed to enjoy the company of Mimi and Abraham.  She certainly learned to sleep through toddlers shrieking with joy and throwing bloody tantrums that is for sure!  The entire experience was wonderful for our family and Mimi was so intrigued and amazed by the baby.  Welcome to the family little miss.  We love you and miss you so much already.

Moments after her arrival.  Safe in Momma's arms

Mimi's gentle kisses

Yeah!  Even the boy showed some interest

Ryleigh is intensely gazing at Mimi for several minutes here.  

Nana and the trio

Melkam Addis Amet 2004

We celebrated the Ethiopian New Year in San Jose this year with our friends and the large Ethiopian community here in the bay area.  The best part was seeing our friends Selam, Tigist and Jennifer.  The kids took about 2 minutes to warm up with each other and then it was just like old times.  So happy happy new year!

2 Years Together

We have been a family for two years now!  Wow I remember how it seemed like it would be so long to even get to that 3 month mark, then the 6 month mark, then the 1 year mark, and now we are at 2 years together.  This exact time last year I believe we had just arrived into Washington D.C. and were spending about 36 hours with Amy and Corey before flying out the next day to California.  It was only a week before then that our lives changed forever in Ethiopia.  I have written some about that week before and I'm not about to rehash that right now at midnight.

We celebrated our "family day" as it has come to be known, with a trip to fairyland.  An afternoon filled with face painting, balloons, rides and cotton candy was the perfect way to celebrate.  I think dinner consisted of 1. rice crispy treats 2. cotton candy as mentioned before 3. french fries with extra ketchup 4. top ramen and 5. maybe ice cream or popsicles????  When we got home the children opened their presents from David and I.  Abraham scored a Thomas the train set and a talking Henry train. He is obsessed with them.  Mimi received an Ethiopian doll named Rahel and also a figurine set from the Princess and the Frog disney movie.  They were both very happy with their new presents.  I am still so proud of my children for being so grateful for things.  Just two little presents each and they were so thankful and sweet about it :) Please don't let that change.

It was a wonderful afternoon and a day worth rejoicing and celebrating.  Happy 2 year family day to my beautiful children.  I can't imagine life without our family of 4.

A Day in the Life

I am starting to write this right around nap time which means I may just miss my afternoon nap today.  Since I began watching the kids full time I have yet to miss my nap.  I always have good intentions to stay awake and be productive but by 1-2 pm I am spent and need my daily nap!

Our days are filled with a lot of joy.  And lately lots of frustrations.  But more joy.   Tuesday and Wednesday were rough this week and I fantasized about putting the boy in day care.  He was defiant, aggressive, and disrespectful.  We had to crackdown on his behavior.  There were certain behaviors like shouting "NO!" to me or even worse saying "SHUSH MOMMY!" that I deemed unacceptable.  He is learning(I think but really you never can tell) that those are not acceptable ways to talk to me or anyone.  And the last two days have been more joy than frustration.  Yeah!

So our day today went something like this as it normally does.

6:59 am: I hear shouting from the kids room.  "MOMMY!  MOMMY!" Abraham wakes up and shouts this for 20-30 minutes until I decided he probably isn't going to go back to sleep.  Mimi just lays quietly in her bed with a pillow over her head and reports upon my entering that Bubba once again woke her up.

7:04 am:  Abraham marched to time out for shouting "SHUSH MOMMY!" at me.  I guess he forgot the rules over night.

7:18 am:  Abraham back to time out for shouting NO! at me

7:19 am:  Abraham is pissed

7:45 am: Breakfast served.  Abraham scarfs down a cereal bar.  Mimi stares at her bowl of cereal and chokes down a few bites before declaring she is all done.

8:00 am:  Brush teeth and mouthwash rinse.  Abraham runs out to living room and dribbles mouthwash across just cleaned living room floor.  Great.

8:30 am:  Manage to get the kids and dog downstairs to the stroller for MY morning walk.

8:45 am:  Threaten the children if they don't keep their hands to themselves and sit their little butts down properly in the stroller we will NOT be going to fairyland today.

9:00 am:  At the lake.  Get kids out of stroller to walk a bit.

9:03 am:  "I'm tired!"  "I'm really sleepy mommy!" "I don't wanna walk!" GRRRR.  I run ahead of them knowing they have no choice but to follow me.

9:10 am: Dumb ass says as we run by "Them be adopted kids!"  No shit sherlock.  Learn to talk.

9:30 am: Arrive home.  Manage to get stroller into the garage and dog and kids up the 45 stairs to the house without incident.

9:31 am:  Turn on PBS.  I get stuff ready for fairyland and change into more appropriate clothing(not sweatpants)

10:30 am: Arrive at fairyland. Give the children a talk about how the stroller will primary be used to hold Mommy's backpack and snacks and will not be used for lazy toddlers who wish to be pushed all around instead of walking.  Also mentioned it will be used for a time out place if we do any of the following. 1. hit 2. kick 3. have tantrums 4. shout NO! or SHUSH MOMMY!.
"Okay Mommy!" they both shout in unison.

11:30 am:  Abraham has meltdown b/c Mimi was tall enough to ride on the merry go round and he was not.  I hold my crying boy.  Okay this meltdown makes sense.

11:36 am: Secretly digging the purchase of my new double stroller.  The city mini double.  Yes the stroller obsession continues.

12:30 pm- Home from fairyland.  Dog is busted.  He was on the couch when we were gone.  He runs all around like crazy.  The kids knock on the apt next door to play with Mina their 3 year old friend.  There is some chaos.  Screaming children. Crazy dog.  The kids come to our place to play.  I start lunch for all of us.  I think I check email.  I call Amy while making lunch.

1:15 pm- knock on door.  I assume it's Mina's mom.  I run to the door tripping over toys as 3 toddlers just stare at the door ignoring my initial request to open the door.  Outside is the upstairs neighbor asking me if I want my dog back? WTF?  Where is my dog?  Outside she says.  Crap.  I didn't know he got out in the chaos.  I guess he was just waiting at the front door of the building.  She peeks inside to see the chaos of 3 toddlers and quickly runs away to resume her quiet single life.  What you don't want to come in and have a nice neighborly talk?

1:30 pm: Eat lunch. Everyone eats good. We run out of chicken nuggets so my children(MINE not the polite neighbor girl) decided they must dip their organic fuji apple in bbq sauce and ketchup.  Lovely.  Just lovely.  But hey they ate their apples.

2:00 pm: Finish lunch. Yes it takes that long!

Then the next 20 minutes went something like this.....

Me:  Mimi get your underwear on!
Mina: Bubba hit me!
Bubba: Mina took my phone!
Me: Mina?
Bubba: I don't wanna share!
Me:  Mimi get your underwear on!
Mimi: I don't wanna wear underwear!
Me:  Mimi go find your underwear!
Mina : "He said SHUSH to me" (after witnessing the house rules and seeing how he goes to time out for this)
Me:  Thank you Mina.  Abraham stop throwing things at Mina.
Me:  Mimi get your underwear on!
Mimi: Where's my UNDERWEAR? I can't find it!
Me:  How the H**L should I know?(I didn't say this).  Instead I say "check the bathroom you know where you left them."
Mimi: I found em! I need help!
Me:  No you don't
Mimi:  YES!
Me: Fine come here
Bubba:  My choo choo.  She took my CHOO CHOO!
Mimi: Give him his choo choo back(Oh man this girl sticks up for her brother)
Me: We don't take choo choo's from our friends.  Please give it back.
Mina runs away with the choo choo.
Me:  Come on time to go home!
Bubba:  Mimi and Bubba going home?
Me:  You and Mimi are already at home.  You live here remember?
Bubba:  Oh yeah! Me forgot!
Bubba: WAHHHH! She took it again!  WAHHHH!
Me: Okay Mina is going home give her hugs and say thanks for playing
Bubba: NO!
Me:  It's nice to hug our friends
Bubba:  NO with his head hung
The girls hug(of course).  Abraham continues to refuse to hug her.  Fine.
I take Mina home. It is way past nap time.
30 seconds later.
Bubba : OH I really miss Mina!
Me:  Ha! Really?

We go to sleep from 2:30-4:30-5. Then not long after that Daddy's home! Woo hoo!

I could write down the evening but I will just summarize it with this.  Take out, movies, and absolute joy.  Staying home with my children is the hardest thing I have ever done.  But the rewards are plenty.  It is absolutely wonderful.  I recommend it to all.