Happy Chinese New Year

It was a crazy day. The girls have basketball practice starting at 6. I don't have time to cook supper, since it is CNY I stopped to get Chinese take out. Grama & Grapa always have cake and ice cream with us for b-days. Gene called and said his folks would come down tonight to help celebrate Tia's b-day. I told him to start without me. I knew there was no way I would be home in time. I had a quick bowl of ice cream before turning around and heading into the school. The girls were excited to see the Chinese take out. Tara tells me she never had egg rolls before.

Once again it wasn't the first American Chinese New Year I had planned for Tara, but everyone was happy and that is what counts :)

Tia Turns 12

Happy Birthday Baby! I can't believe how fast time has flown by. You never get the peaceful day or weekend as far as that goes. It was a whirl wind week and even more so for the weekend. I always think I will buy extra at Christmas and save for your b-day, it never happens. I went shopping for your gift and couldn't find anything that was right for you. I thought about giving you those earrings from China, but I would love to hold out a little longer...maybe your 13th.

Our Saturday started with getting the hair done. Those darn short bangs, I put more little rubberbands in to hold them and used more gel than ever. I made stew for lunch which was really brunch. We needed to be on the road at 11. Gene didn't want to stay in Lamoni for the swim & pizza, so we drove separate. We stopped by Walmart in Osceola and grabbed skittles & starburst for Tia to pass out for a treat. It is hard to believe all the girls that have issues with their legs. Makenzie came with a bum ankle and wasn't able to participate, she sat with a bag of ice. The first pass during the girls game went okay. The girls bb team started out way behind with the score and ended up loosing by a few. They had a great second half! Our kids did a great half time of the boys game (the first one was practice). The kids were able to head to the pool after a few photo opts. We missed the end to the boys game. It started alot like the girls game...we got an update that it was in overtime and they ended up losing by 2. We had swim suits of which Tara thought we were nuts. The pools shallow end was 4ft which is what Tara is, so she had to hang onto the side. Kate saved her(from boredom) by walking around in the pool with her, thanks Kate! Pool time goes fast and we move onto pizza. The kids love the day! We stopped in Osceola and grabbed Pizza Hut for Gene, a movie and potatoes (not sure why, we aren't home long enough to cook). Time for bed to start over again.

Sunday started with a present waiting. Tia wanted to know when she got to open it. I gave her the choice since the day was going to be so busy and she chose immediately. We hit the road at 7:30 for Indianola to play basketball against Waukee. We swung thru BK for breakfast, a b-day treat. Gene stayed home with Tara, cause we weren't sure how many games Tia would be playing. Didn't end up being many, they lost the first one for Sunday and Tia's team lost 2 games on Saturday. We headed for home...I scooped the sidewalk of the several new fluffy inches of white stuff. Made Tia's triple choc b-day cake and headed to Truro for Tara's bb game vs. MstM. There was only one game, which was team 1 (Tara is team 2, but 5 girls didn't show, so Tara played a little bit). It was more obvious she doesn't understand what she is needing to do. It will just take time and practice. It was 4:30 before we got home and Gene was getting ready for work. Tia blew out candles as he was walking out the door.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Sunday was basketball with Tia in the high school gym. The middle school gym had open gym, so Tara went down there and played. Worked more on taxes.

Monday was basketball with Tara and Tia. While Tara was practicing, Tia was getting into trouble. She and a friend were playing ball in the library, not sure what the library was doing open, but she was wrong.

Tuesday was basketball with Tia in the high school gym. It was also sign up for softball, so got the girls signed up.

Wednesday was tumbling for Tara and Tia, it wasn't quite as cold this week. Yeah!

Thursday was tumbling for Tia...Tara does such a good job watching. She gets a little restless sometimes, but is never unbearable. I tried to go b-day shopping for Tia. Not sure what to get?? I can't believe she turns 12 on Sunday. Dropped off supper for the Young family. I was hoping my girls would help me cook, but we haven't been home long enough.

Friday...what no activities, I can't believe it :) Oh I forgot the house needs lots of TLC...

Saturday is tumbling exhibition in Lamoni at Graceland college, pool party and pizza. Usually a fun day!

Sunday Again...is a basketball tournament in Indianola for Tia and Truro with Martensdale for Tara. Can we do them both?? When's Ice Cream and Cake??

Report Cards

Tara brought home her report card for second quarter. They can't truly grade her by state law, but they did a good job at letting us know how she is doing.

We had to wait on Tia's report card. Hers came in the mail Tuesday.

We are really fortunate they are good kids and doing really well.

A Long Week in The Deep Freeze

It has been 12 yrs since it has been this cold in Iowa. The kids had an early out this week on Tuesday due to a scare of blowing snow. Well we didn't get the blowing snow, but temperatures dipped into the negative numbers. On Thursday we had a low of -18 with -30 windchill. The schools started cancelling classes as early as 3pm on Wednesday for Thursday. I hesitated on going into work on time, thought about being late. But there is a tumbling exhibition on Friday night and the kids have had little prep time, so there will be practice Wed and 3 hrs Thurs. I kept warm by doing some much needed dusting under the bleachers.

All in Ones Interpretation

It was a sleepover weekend. Tia had a friend Friday night, they got out of school early for end of qtr. Each of the girls called to check in and it sounded like they were having a good time.

Tara had her first basketball game. She didn't get to play much, but it looks like she has a good idea of what she needs to do. We had to be in Earlham at 9:30, Tara played at 10 and Tia not until 1. I like watching the games, but the bleachers get mighty hard after a few hours. Tara's team lost 12-7. I wish I could say Tia's was that close. Earlham had a couple of girls that couldn't miss. They would trip flop the ball in the air and it was 2 pts. I'm being sarcastic...kind of. Her score was more like 30-10.

We brought Brooklyn home with us to stay alnight with Tara, Tia went home with Hailey. It was fun to watch Tara introduce Brook to her home. She showed her the washroom how cute is that. They played outside in fresh snow, played Blokus and Sorry. I had Brook show Tara how their family plays Sorry, it was quite a bit different than we play. Here's where ones interpretation comes in.

After dropping off Brooklyn, Tara wanted to know when Tia was coming home. I quizzed to see if she wanted us to go get her and she replied with she didn't need an American sister--she wanted a Chinese sister...Ouch! I ask her to please be patient with Tia, she really can be a good big sister, she just needs more time. Tara keep telling me she was tired, but she didn't get up till 10. You'd think 11 hours sleep would be enough, well I guess not because after lunch she took a two hour nap. We did have a couple of late nights last week with tumbling and basketball.

Tia is at basketball practice now and needs to be at tumbling in a half hour. This schedule is way too tight for comfort. Both have the same season (same short season) :)
Tia got one hour of basketball and it looked like good stuff to learn. She was late getting to tumbling and the other girls were hitting right on. I sometimes wonder if we aren't being fair to the two events. BUT they both give pleasure. The bag routine is coming along great, Tia is hot pink this year. They are going to try an exhibition on Friday at the high school basketball game.

Tia wasn't very endearing when we were traveling between events. She was not happy that Tara and Brook played her Sorry game. Ugly was a good word. She was only making what Tara said...very real. :(

Games

My New Years resolution was to play more games with the girls. I'm off to a good start. I gave the girls the game Blokus and Tia got Sorry from Uncle Greg and Aunt Teri. We have played each every day. Tia tells me often I'm terrible at games, that must be why I don't play her much. I do win sometimes, I just seem to take a long time to get there. Tara usually initiates the game and Tia joins in when she sees us playing. We were all playing Sorry Saturday night, even Gene, Tia got upset when she got send back to home and stormed off. Gene kept her pegs playing and she ended up not loosing.

We put the tree away today, vacumed the carpet and Tara wanted her tent put up. It wasn't quite what I thought I had bought, but Tara liked it. Each of my kids had a tent in the house and this was Tara's. It was suppose to be put over her bed, but since she has a bunk bed. Not really feasible. She was going to sleep in it right up until it was bedtime, she ended up in bed with me...not sure how that happened.

It has been a bonding holiday...She has let me hold her (carry from her bed to the living room), she has sat on my lap and snuggled with me in bed. Still no hugs, but it can't be too far away :)

Happy New Year!

Well New Years Eve wasn't what I had wanted for Tara's first. I went to work and told the girls I would be home early. I hadn't expected to be home as early as I was. Tia came home from school a week ago with the flu and guess what I waited a week to get. I spent the day in bed and the tummy is still rumbling. I got up long enough last night to turn the TV onto Dick Clarks Rocking New Year's Eve. Tia enjoyed it, it had all her favorite artists. Tara had went to bed at 7:30, but got up at 9 and watched TV with Tia. (just a little more bonding time). Tia called me yesterday before I got home and wanted me to know Tara was doing laundry. Yikes. I didn't feel well enough to care. She washed my new navy work pants with white towels. Yeah just a little lint all over them. I should give her the lint brush. She likes to wash, but as typical, not crazy over the folding part. I got that done this morning after trying to do some wrinkle release again in the dryer. I think she needs a few more lessons.

We got a phone call this morning from Deb in New York. She is the mom to one of Tara's foster sisters. I had emailed her asking how to call China. It seems they call about every Friday evening. We won't do it that often, but Tara would like to talk to her foster Mother. I tried to give the phone to Tara to talk to Alyssa and she wouldn't take it.

I thought today would be a good day and the 24 hour flu would be gone...wrong. It was in full force again. I'm laying in the recliner miserable and Tara wants to go shopping. She really is just bored and would be very happy to go back to school. Gene took the girls to town for lunch they had Chinese without me. Not that I could even try :( The girls are both very happy now and that makes me happy!

At 8:30 I was ready for bed when I heard the phone...I then heard Tara open the cell...close the cell...open the cell...close the cell. Okay I'll get up. It was Sue the tumbling coach, Tia's weekend schedule will need to be changed do to a tradegy in the community. This also effects Tara, her basketball coach had an accident over the holidays that took his life. So much to try to understand, hard for everyone, let alone someone new to our life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jeff Young family.