Happy Birthday Beverly!

Boy! Does She Have A Lot to Learn

“Momma, I don’t want to work hard. I just want to get plen money!” ~ Beverly

Who is trying to get enough money to go to Haiti for the winter. So far she has 67 cents that she found on my desk, in the laundry room and in the cushions of the couch. Beverly decided she didn’t like snow after seeing a picture of it. This morning was cold and foggy. She woke up looked out the window and said, “Look! Snow.” She then declared it was too fret (cold) to go outside. She is on a mission and in a hurry to get out of Minnesota.

Boy! Is she in for a rude awakening or what?

For Stanley

David’s friend Stanley just got his first American haircut. This is actually David’s second American haircut. Ron gave him his first one. It took a really long time, David got bored and started wiggling. The haircut was finished only because mom held him down. I started singing that Oak Ridge Boys song, “There must be a better way!” And, so on Sunday, I googled. Would you believe the St. Cloud newspaper had just the previous day highlighted a new salon? Sharing the same building is Signature Cut Barber Shop, a shop designed to offer services to people of the African diaspora. In addition to needing a haircut I had recently gotten a gift for David that was a size 2. Uh, David has not been a size 2 for a very long time. We made it a day in St. Cloud. So, Stanley, here is a photo of David’s second haircut! He looks so handsome ~

And, just because David reminded me of Stanley in this photo, I thought I would post it too. David doesn’t really look anything like Stanley, but those eyes. I have seen Stanley with his eyes turned up in that, “You aren’t really going to take more photos of me, ho-hum look” many, many times. Oh, and the color coordinated toothbrush and PJs? Complete and total fluke ~

Week in Review

Well, I can’t seem to blog and manage a 3- and 4-year old at the same time. But, I did get other things done last week. First, I visited many of your blogs and caught up on what I have been missing in your life. Second, I cleaned a majority of the house in preparation for starting school tomorrow. The public schools in our area don’t start until September 2, but I couldn’t stand the lack of structure associated summer one minute longer. I laminated (with clear contact paper) a bunch of pages from activity books so that Beverly can have a quiet activity while I work with Marissa and David naps (hopefully). Beverly practiced with her dry erase pens last week. I need to look up how to say the directions in Creole. She didn’t really understand them in English but loved writing and erasing! I ordered Before Five in a Row for Beverly and David’s preschool activities. We are going to concentrate on learning English, pencil control and number recognition. I thought a program that incorporated a lot of reading of stories, coloring, cutting with safety scissors and gluing was right up our alley. Besides, it is a wonderful way to use up all the scrapbook supplies that I purchased and haven’t used. Since there is no way our order will be here before we start school, I made up a lap book for a night time prayer that I can begin teaching the kids and then incorporate it in our bedtime routine.

Finally, I tried to finish the assignment given to me by our adoption agency’s Social Worker. You see, we have our next post placement visit on August 15th and I am supposed to have 18-20 photos of the kids by then to send in with the report. We went to visit Grandma and Grandpa on the farm and I brought my camera.

David did not really cooperate with the photos, but you can tell he is healthy. I hope that is all the people in Haiti are hoping to see!

In May Marissa planted the sweet corn that serves as a backdrop for this photo. She stayed on the farm while we were in Haiti.

David always looks to Beverly to see how he is supposed to act. His gaze says, “Beverly did we like the fresh beans from the garden?”

This photo was so funny. The kids wanted to go see the cows. They were peeking in and Beverly yelled, “Pa look at me!” Apparently, even if she was looking at them, the cows were not supposed to be checking her out too. Too funny!

And, yes, Marissa really did ask, “Can we keep her?” Uh, your father is allergic to cats. He is already taking four different kinds of medicines to try to control his symptoms so he can tolerate the two cats we already have. NO!

Enjoying Family

We had a family reunion and a good time was had by all.

Marissa spent almost all weekend fishing me out of the water!

Aren’t Marissa and Beverly beautiful!

My Daddy knows how to ski!

Love, love, love the lake. I had so much fun swimming I forgot to eat my lunch.

This boat has a little motor and I can make it go.

Marissa and Beverly tubing!

Tied to the dock, but independent!