A Rainy Morning

This morning I heard Maria crying - she'd fallen out of bed. I went to tuck her back in and realized that Daniel was awake from a storm as well. Soon we all ended up in Momma's bed....never to sleep again this night. They kept running to the window (w/ blinds fully open) to watch the rain and lightning. I've learned when there will be no more sleep for anyone and this has definitely been one of those mornings.

They've been playing and had breakfast a long time ago as well. Now, Momma gets to watching them coloring - they've been doing it quite a while. Daniel's coloring the left hand side of the book and Maria the other. Daniel's giving her the occasional instruction to "Stay in the lines" and they are clearly enjoying coloring together.....turning the page and doing the next one. That's worth waking up early to enjoy.

Maria's Sunday Finest

Maria woke up wanting to wear one of really nice dresses again this morning. She was absolutely adorable in it and Momma loves picking up a clean little girl (she's usually black from playing hard on the playground). I'll definitely have to ask what she does for fun on her dress up days but it obviously is something other than her normal playing - she has stayed clean every time!

When we got home she immediately hopped on her bicycle even before we went inside. We played an hour of red light/green light, school bus (Momma was Maria's and Daniel's passenger) and choo choo train (again, mom gets to be the passenger and has to walk really fast to keep up!).

Its fun playing pretend with them. I'm very curious how they know how the school bus door opens - Maria had it just right....and I don't know that they've ever ridden on a school bus or even seen one up close. Daniel's favorite pretend game is to be Momma and I always get to be Daniel. Of course, tonight I'm two teachers at the same time - one for each of them! I'm definitely learning some new skills!

Maria's Pretty Dress

Maria had 3 beautiful dresses to choose from on Sunday morning. She didn't have any trouble making a choice. This was her choice - and she looked mighty cute! Oh - and the letter stickers in the background.....hopefully those will come off one of these days!

A Swimming Conspiracy

This afternoon on the last part of the way home I returned the call of a friend from Phoenix who I hadn't gotten to talk to in a few months. Obviously I'd missed some interesting conversation in the back seat. Daniel and Maria both got out of the back seat without shoes and socks. I didn't think much of it until they took a left turn when they came through the back gate and announced that they wanted to swim. Momma was completely thinking that they wanted to put their feet in the water so I opened the gate. In the few seconds that it took me to unlock the gate this is what happened.

No, the swimming suits weren't out there handy. We had to run inside to get them after being a little underdressed for the back yard. Obviously Sunday afternoon Daniel and Maria learned all they truly needed to learn to enjoy the pool - how to spray water out of the noodle. That was pretty much what they were interested in doing tonight - and they're fairly accurate. Momma is likely to pay for that little lesson in the months to come!

Swimming!

Saturday night it was Daniel's turn to spend the night at Aunt Gay Lynn's. He got to go drive go-carts, the train, and play putt-putt. He had a great time. Maria and I picked up an excited little guy at Aunt Gay Lynn's on our way to church. Think Aunt Gay Lynn might be ready for a nap after having each of the children for one night.

After naps, we got in the pool for real for the first time - all of us. It was initially chilly but was quite comfortable after we'd been in just a few minutes. Mom's knee needs some rehab help and the pool is great for that even if it is a bit early - the knee won't wait and Daniel and Maria are more than happy to join me....ok, they suggested it. Both children were initially terrified to get in their tubes and hang on. By the time we got out, Momma got to keep her skin (not being clung to for dear life). And, they made some other great advances. They both kow the finer points of blowing water through noodles - and Daniel is pretty skilled at aiming at mom across the pool!

The summer budget will definitely have to include a lot more healthy post-swim snacks. They
come in starving every time they swim. Thinking we'll start swimming every night. We used to do a neighborhood water aerobics class at night - looks like that season of Momma's life is over for a while, but somehow I expect Momma will be getting plenty of exercise in the pool just the same!

First night apart

Today's been an eventful day. We started out discovering that red koolaid and stomach issues aren't a good combination. I think Daniel's fine, but we've had to go to some unpleasant lengths to be sure that's true. He got to spend a day at home with mom but they do seem to fly by.

We picked up Maria early from school at his request. We got home and they were going to ride their bikes. Momma thought it'd be a good time to clean out the car - we create quite a mess and I was ready to shape it up. I said "I'll clean out the car while you ride your bikes". Daniel immediately took off his shoes....he would have no part of me cleaning the car by myself - he was thinking car wash and he was getting ready. So, the inside of the car is still clean, but car and bicycles are thoroughly washed....and the pool checked out again. Maria was completely adorable washing her bicycle and I did take pictures but unfortunately left my card reader at the office. She's looking happier and happier all of the time!

Tonight we'd planned for Daniel to go to Aunt Gay Lynn's and to switch it up tomorrow - their first sleepover at Aunt Gay Lynn's and their first nights apart from each other. After Daniel's been sort of iffy, Daniel stayed with Momma and Gay Lynn and Maria did their sleepover and we'll see if Daniel's ready for a Saturday night visit to Aunt Gay Lynn's. Daniel and I went out to dinner at the Chinese place - we had a good time after a lot of tears initially. And, I finally found something he'd had at the detskey dome - he'd had watermelon at the detskey dome and seemed to enjoy it.

The past week or so I've noticed a lot of "Jesus loves me this I know" and "The big kids are playing at school"......sort of all together. Daniel used to make up his own play language when he was trying to play and keeping up his pace. Now, he's doing it all in English, but he's saying English phrases/sentences he knows and can say well so he can say it fast and he incorporates that as his new "play language". Yes, Jesus loves me and a completely apparently unrelated sentence are put together for his purposes - said quietly to himself or when he's reading a book. He's going to fool around and really be reading and speaking like he's like to before long, but he's sure a creative improviser! I love it!

After dinner we stayed up late and he got to talk to Maria on the phone. It was so sweet listening to them talk and him trying to be the big brother and the momma all rolled into one. He told her what we'd done and you could hear her telling the same thing about their evening. When it was time to hang up Daniel told her to "no standup, no buttons, sleep" in his best big brother voice. I do have the sweetest little boy on earth I do believe!

Our nicest thing of the day

It is a longstanding Brown family tradition to share our "nicest thing of the day". We've tried it a few times with Daniel and Maria periodically, but they're getting much better at it now. Momma's learned to share hers first, let Daniel go second, and then Maria will tell us her favorite food of the day (Maria's is ALWAYS food!).

Today was a good day. I got to take Daniel to visit "big school". He's been thrilled with the prospect of being "almost 6" - what he tells anybody that asks how old he is.....forget 5 now. My best thing was easily taking Daniel to big school and having him really enjoying himself after starting out a bit scared. He adapted so well - even crying when we drove away - a sweet cry like he hated to leave.....obviously interested in all of the neat stuff and big kids he saw there. And, it was fun hearing him tell Maria about the "big kids" he saw and what the school was like, too. Momma enjoyed this day!

Daniel's favorite thing was spending time with Maria and Momma and opening the doors for them. Yes. Every time we get in the car, Daniel now opens the door for us. Then he goes and buckles himself in his car seat. This has all happened since the weekend - about the same time when he started really getting excited about being "almost 6".

Maria's nicest thing was the soup, crackers, juice, and applesauce that we had for supper. Think she may have to have some new rules on the "nicest thing" some time soon except that the food probably IS her favorite thing. They love to tell me how little they used to get to eat at the detskey dome, but they sure came pretty healthy to have been starved. I think what they had was the same thing every day - and while they may have been a little hungry, they weren't THAT hungry.

Its so much fun talking to Daniel and Maria these days and its hard to believe they've been here almost five months! Momma can't imagine life without them - God is good!

My Colorful Son

We thought we were going to take pictures yesterday, so we had colorful spring clothes set to go. We're going to do it today instead, but certainly didn't want to send Daniel and Maria in their picture taking clothes. Daniel....perhaps, but Maria can take dirty to whole new levels just from a regular day at school - and shoes can be worn out in a week! So, I took a plain shirt and khaki shorts. Daniel said "Momma, I want to wear pretty clothes". Daniel likes to be colorful and handsome!

Look ma no cavities!

Maria was such a big girl today at the dentist's office. We'd taken her by a few weeks ago when she'd had too many strawberries and wouldn't even open her mouth - guess she knew it'd hurt. Today was a different story in every way. She got her teeth "counted" and cleaned and was all finished in no time - without cavities. The dentist did say we have braces to look forward to - mom wore them for 8 years so I always sort of expected it was a rite of passage. Guess fluoride isn't such a big deal after all. They were brushing their teeth at the orphanage but they're just like other children - not that excited about doing it.

Maria

Daniel loves being out front, so it seems Maria is always in the background except when you get her all by herself. It is always fun to see her bloom a little bit at a time.

Last night was the second time that I've gotten THE MOST INCREDIBLE smile believable. She has a sweet and pleasant smile when she's not being Reagan or a Tiger (we are Bulldogs /Techsters so we need to work on that!). I heard her up about 1 just playing in her bed. I almost melted on the spot when she smiled. She was so happy to see her Momma that I HAD to lay down with her in bed for a few minutes. She immediately put both arms around my face and head - definitely not a traditional hug or comfortable way to sleep for either of us. I'd love to know what she was thinking when I walked into her room, and I'd love for her to be sharing that smile with the world a lot more often! I'm just not quite sure how I'd function if she did, but hopefully I could learn to adjust. That smile just screamed I'm happy and even joyful all at one time.

More firsts

This weekend was a rainy one here. We'd much prefer playing outside, swinging, riding bikes, and taking outdoor outings, but we had to get a little creative yesterday. We went to the Bass Pro Shop on Saturday to see what that was all about. Daniel and Maria's shopping up to now has been mostly about groceries, so their eyes were big when they walked in to this huge store. We climbed up the stairs and looked out over the store to see what they wanted to do. Then we took a look at the dead deer, bears, turkey, alligator, et al. We checked out the 4-wheelers and saw all of the cool gadgets you can get to pull behind them. Daniel thinks 4-wheeler rides should be a big part of his birthday party in April at the farm. Hopefully PawPaw can help him out with that!

Then we came the elevators and got to see the fish. They ran out of the elevator to go look - completely awestruck with the aquarium. They loved the huge catfish and the alligator gar. I think they studied them for about 1/2 hour at least. They loved it - a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. We didn't even check out the video games and stuff....next time.

After lunch and a little rest (how come they nap at school and play at home) and the rain continued to pour. I decided it might be time for their first movie. Aunt Gay Lynn and I had the great fun of taking them to see Hotel for Dogs. They thought we had a big TV until they saw the movie screen. It was fun watching them enjoy the movie - turning their heads when the sounds came from the different speakers. Maria sat in my lap most of the movie - it pretty much folded up around her. Daniel pretty much hung out in Aunt Gay Lynn's lap. They definitely had a great time there, too. Oh - and Maria loved the popcorn!

My children and sleep

Daniel and Maria have been sleeping great....well, at least they were before they could play outside until bedtime! We've completely lost our wind down time, so we're needing the melatonin that helped them sleep when they first got home. But, I didn't realize this until last night where it really became crystal clear.

I put them to bed at 8 and they went to bed like they have been. Usually in 5-15 minutes there is no sound coming from the bedroom. Last night at 9 I realized I was still hearing noises. I'm in the living room 20 feet or so from them and they are in adjacent separate rooms (and I heard almost nothing). I decided to investigate the noise (and take the melatonin to whoever was awake). So, I get up from my chair and walk down the hall. I hear Daniel whisper to Maria "Maria, Momma's coming put away the books". They were both in their beds reading with the lights off....and I'm wondering how they knew that!

So, melatonin for both of them and back to the living room for mom. At 9:30 I still hear some quiet movement so I go back to investigate. Daniel is sound asleep but Maria is laying in bed, but beside nearly all of her toys and books poured out on the floor (yes, she'll be cleaning that up!). But, I can't help but notice a little shiny stuff on her left eye - looked a little pink. So, I turn on the light to see what is going on and there is pink glittery eye shadow all over her left eye. And, in a grea sense of fashion for glitter eye shadow applied in the dark, blue green eye shadow - equally glittery - applied to the right eye. I had to turn my back to keep from laughing out loud. She finally made it to sleep a few minutes later.

Had no idea that parenting was going to be so entertaining!

Maria's my music girl!

I wish I had a picture of my Maria riding in the back seat singing with her new preschool practice CD. We'd had one before Christmas (first week or so home) and Maria had really enjoyed singing with it and doing the motions - even when she hardly knew a word of English. Last night they gave us one without Christmas songs on it - the songs they're working on now. It has some of the old favorites like "Wiggle Worm" on it and some I've never heard before. Can't tell you what joy it gives me to see her face light up when she sings and does the motions. I'm not sure if she is that happy when she's doing it with the other children in her class, but it melted Momma's heart for sure and makes me wish I could be a fly on the wall every Monday and Thursday for music class. She knows all of the motions and may not get every word right (what child does?) but she sings so joyfully about Jesus!

I'm so glad that they're in a Christian preschool and learning about Jesus. Those little songs are such a great opportunity to share about God's love for them! I can't wait for them to see and understand all that He's done for them and to grow to love Him! We're in church every week and pray at home, but it is so obvious that they're learning a lot of great things at school as well.

After school is much more fun in Daylight Savings Time

After school we went to the neighborhood school - pretty much like a park with great equipment, basketball games, and a couple of soccer practices to watch while we play. Here are a few pictures of Daniel and Maria....yes, they are VERY adorable! We had fun!

This and That

We've had a fun time this weekend - mostly chilling out. Reagan is visiting us, so there is always ready entertainment for now. Here are a few details of things I've learned from them this weekend:

1) They've picked up the 2 index fingers crossed like an "x" sign from school. Something reached up and grabbed Maria and Daniel quickly "x-ed" it out for me. I rolled. Of course, he saw a cross on a church as we were driving around and he thought that was bad, too. Then, when he saw one at church this morning he had to run check it out - we had some teaching to do that the cross was a wonderful thing for us - and something good. Obviously the first of many such cultural misunderstandings.

2) We went shopping for flowers to plant in our flower bed on Saturday. I was so proud of how great they shopped. We had to walk through an area of breakable stuff to get to the flowers and I asked them to put their hands behind their back. They did a great job of enjoying the store with their hands right where they were supposed to be. We got and planted our flowers - blue petunias.

3) Tonight we were reading a card that said "Take a Bow", so we learned how to take a bow and curtsey. We had to practice applause and bows and curtsey's - fun stuff.

Another week is off to the races!

Dinner....and hope its not true!

Tonight, 12 of us went to Texas de Brazil for dinner.....5 children....mom, aunts, uncle, grandparents and great grandma. Daniel wiped out the grilled bananas again, but Maria probably made them regret that they let 4 year olds eat for free - she can eat some meat! They've come so far in how they're able to sit and be a part of a special dinner. The rest of the family is off to Disney for a week tomorrow - we'll look forward to a day when we're ready to join them on a trip like that. Mom used her vacation going to Russia to get them, and I'm thinking that Mom's vacation was time well spent - I love them!!

On the way home Daniel was talkative. We were talking about our slightly delayed bedroom routine and how I was going to be giving them good night kisses and telling them "Sequoina noche - ya tibya lablue" - "goodnight, I love you". I've told them the Russian version most every night - along with the English while giving them kisses and spending sweet time with them. They both love that special time. Daniel told me that he didn't get good night kisses at the detskey dome - just in America. I was surprised and asked again. He repeated that he didnt' get any kisses when he went to bed over there. Momma cried then - I prayed many nights at Russian bedtime that somebody was loving Daniel and Maria as they were going off to sleep. They were well cared for in the orphanage - and I would say loved as much as an orphanage caregiver can 15 children in a group, but the fact was that God loved Daniel and Maria and called their Momma to come and love them and bring them home - so she could catch up on kisses and loving them the way they deserve to be loved. So, tonight when Daniel asked me to kiss him all over his face like he usually does when I put them to bed it meant way more to me than it ever has. They are special and I want them to go to bed and wake up every night knowing that they are special and loved.

More pictures from the weekend

Maria's still coloring like her big cousins - Callan and Kenna. It is so funny to see what Daniel and Maria enjoy. All five of the Brown and Glascock children love being on stage - can't wait for next Thanksgiving and Christmas to see what sorts of productions they come up with - they definitely enjoyed having a stage to play on last weekend! Maria got a few cheering lessons from Kenna and Maria just got to be by the big girl, Callan, at dinner. Daniel and Maria were living fine last weekend!

Speaking of flies on the wall......

.....it got even better the last hour before bedtime. They were in the bathroom playing tiger (yeah - more training is needed....they should be playing bulldog!) - complete with the overturned laundry basket acting as the gate. It was sounding a little rough so I decided to play a little of the Russian kids music that Aunt Elena had sent for Daniel and Maria. They immediately noticed it and the computer had to go on top of the tiger's gate. There were a lot of play it agains as I was trying to download it into ITunes, watch the show, and keep the music going. Daniel went and got a pillow on one song - got down on the floor to sleep after turning off the lights. Obvious questions emerged - yes, they went to sleep to that song. The lights went back on and the dancing started again for another song "Oblaka" and I was thinking it was about a dog - nope, a horse. The tiger's den became a horse stable right away. And, unfortunately, I don't know what song evoked this response, but I'll be testing it again. I turned on one song and immediately I had two children strip down to their underwear and doing a vigorous dance - not at all the quiet wind down time I was aiming for! They had to go to their rooms (they call them Daniel's class and Maria's class - a little bit too much school and haven't gotten the bedroom name down yet) to have more room to dance. I got enough of an explanation to know that they would listen to that song at the orphanage and dance in their underwear. They love America, but it definitely brought back memories for them for sure. I enjoyed them enjoying it....we'll definitely be doing it again. And, yes, I will be asking for more details when their language gets even better. They'll probably be glad that I didn't take pictures tonight!

Should invite flies on a wall

It is so fun to spend time with Daniel and Maria and then leave the room. Tonight, Daniel and I read about Curious George and the Dump Truck and he is still in his bean bag closet reading and counting ducks. I wouldn't have invited flies to watch me try to get up and down in there with my currently very stiff knee...not a pretty picture. Daniel loves Curious George and likes reading about his adventures - of course, George has nothing in common with my sweet little Daniel at all!

Maria and I read Green Eggs and Ham - they read it at school this week and even ate Green Eggs and Ham. She read it again after I walked out - saying things with the same emphasis Momma had - not quite as interested in reading the same book as much as Daniel. Maria was on to the stud finder, her baby doll, and "Goodnight, Moon" - her favorite.

This morning was when I first started thinking about how much fun it would be to have videos of the times they didn't know anyone was watching - Maria saw a jet and said proudly "America" - I'd heard they watched for Momma and said that from the orphanage, but that was my first time to experience it. She immediately started talking in Russian....and Daniel equally as quickly let her know she needed to speak English - "America". Its so fun to actually get to have conversations now and you can even see when Daniel's wheels are spinning trying to come up with a word in English for what he wants to say - he comes up with it sometimes....or goes to play B - the demonstration if its just not there. He's definitely identifying as an American and Momma loves it. When I try to practice my Russian with them Daniel will pretend he doesn't know (I don't think he's really forgetting it - he just doesn't want to speak it).....Daniel tells me "No, you English".....thinking Maria would like to have Russian for a little while longer!

Weekend pictures

Here are a few pictures from the weekend - more to come later:

Daniel drinking coffee in bed and watching TV in the hotel - that is the life. He expected it when we got home - and was a wee bit disappointed when I expected him to drink his coffee at the breakfast table.

Daniel especially likes the cows, but he got Grandma and Maria to join him in checking out the heiffers.

Daniel and Maria checking out the treadmill with Grandma. PawPaw tried to hide how to turn it on, but this picture was taken a few minutes after Daniel had very carefully turned it on and showed Maria how to do it, too.

Clothes and shoes!

Daniel has been having trouble with his pants - he's too skinny but his pants are too short. And, the belt I have for him he can't operate (I have trouble, too - so that's on the list). I had noticed yesterday that his jeans were getting a bit thread bare in the knees.....washed them his morning and realized they were much more than that - a quarter sized hole! So, think we need the belt and some new jeans. And, guess its time to discover patches or teach him popular culture that holes are ok - he's only been wearing them four months.

Obviously he's hit a growth spurt though because I tried on two pair of shoes that I couldn't get on him - he's growing overnight! Its so sad, but guess home is agreeing iwth my boy! Unlike most children growing up in an orphanage, Daniel was/is thin but not significantly underweight or small in height. So, I wasn't really expecting he'd grow much very fast. He's grown two inches since he's been home, so add something else ot the list that mom thought wrong about!

Good to be home

We're home and I thought I'd share a few more thoughts for the weekend- pictures will have to wait until tonight:

Daniel loves coffee - and he really enjoyed our little coffee maker in the hotel room. I took his picture in bed drinking coffee and watching the movie. He enjoyed it so much that I decided to make him some coffee this morning (decaf). He went and layed down on the couch and THOUGHT I was going to bring him coffee on the couch while he watched TV. I left him know the vacation was over - he could go drink it at the breakfast table if he wanted coffee!

Maria is very positively impacted by her big older cousins - girls. We went out to eat and it always seemed to be places that they colored. Callan and Kenna color pretty in the lines and would typically flank Maria while they were waiting. Maria's been a one color - splash it all over the place kind of colorer. We got home last night - and even this morning - and she was wanting to color in the lines and with more than one color. That is funny that the big girls have such an impact on Maria because Daniel has always liked to color and it never phases her.

And, on that note, I think Daniel loves having a boy cousin. Every time he jumped from the side of the pool, he would make sure Carson was watching first. Perhaps it has something to do with Carson being so happy to clap for him when he jumps - Daniel does like an audience. And, he was singing little songs......"Carson, Carson, Carson......"

It was a good weekend of enjoying family - Daniel was off to school singing his little song about our family. "Daniel, Maria, Momma.....Detskey Dome no.....America yes" Its a happy little song and Momma love to hear it!

Greetings from Bossier City

This weekend we headed up to Colfax for a family wedding and then Bossier City to see Callan and Kenna's Upwards Basketball and cheerleading. Its been a fun time. More details later, but Callan wanted to be sure that I made a post while I was still at her house. Friday evening was a fish fry for my cousin who was getting married - my Dad's the youngest of 13 and the fish fry was his side of the family. This was Daniel and Maria's first time to meet most of them. It was held at the Civic Center in Colfax - complete with big stage. All of the cousins had a fun time running and playing up there. We spent the night at Grandma and PawPaw's then headed up bright and early for the ball games.

It was fun watching the games - although 2 hours sort of gets to be a long time for Daniel and Maria at anything where they aren't the active participants. Kenna and Callan did great - and Carson even helped with the cheerleading.

Most of the afternoon was big fun at our carefully selected hotel - one that had an indoor swimming pool! It had turned COLD, but it was warm in the pool. Callan and Kenna are great swimmers and Daniel later told me he wants to be able to swim just like them. Maria LOVED jumping off the side of the pool and quickly finding Momma, Aunt Gay Lynn's or Uncle Bryan's arms. Daniel wasn't quite as eager a jumper but did a little bit.

Maria fell asleep on the way to dinner and would've been perfectly content to go to bed at 6, but after dinner with all of the cousins it was off to bed at 8 for the Brown's - Daniel gave explicit instructions that we should turn off all of the lights....Momma obeyed since she was sort of tired anyway. It was a fun day.

I'm expecting a guest blog - Callan (Kayla's 8 year old daughter) about her view of the weekend since she's watching my typing over my shoulder. She's a great oldest cousin!

Looks like pictures will have to come later.