Moving Up

The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity.

Amid everything else I was doing Wednesday (deliveries for Mark, baking, All-Star Reader Celebration for Charis), we were able to tour the school Esther will attend next year. It's a regular public school in our district, but it will be closer to the charter Charis and Zoë will be attending, it starts 25 minutes after the charter (instead of 5) so I'll have ample time to take all kids to school, and she'll be at the same school as a friend from the orphanage. Esther and her friend will have different teachers (which I think is a great idea), the ELD teacher seems very supportive, and the school supports our decision to retain Esther in third grade.

But we have a lot of work to do this summer to get her ready. I am SO GRATEFUL she was getting some schooling at the orphanage, but realistically, she's about two years behind. But she's a smart girl and will catch up.

Esther's last day of school was Thursday. She told me she was supposed to dress up as a super hero. OK. I'll buy that. (However, she had told me the day before she was supposed to bring blankets to school to make a tent. I happened to pick her up from school that day and saw no one with blankets. But no biggie.) So Thursday, Estee went to school as ...



Super E!

Thursday's schedule was another insane day. After taking Charis to school, I took Zoë to the dentist to have her third cavity filled. At first the dentist thought he'd have to do a pulpotomy (alternative to a root canal on baby teeth) on two of them, but thankfully the dentist was able to just fill them normally. Zoë handled it like a trooper! (It doesn't hurt that there was a TV on the ceiling either).

Then there was a little party at Charis' school for all the kids with summer birthdays. Then we had lunch at Chick-fil-A, where I ran into a friend and her daughter. Then a birthday party at the park for another friend. Then gymnastics. Then home to meet Esther off the bus.

And then there was caking to be done for Charis' graduation ceremony. I'm glad I waited until evening since we seemed to have skipped spring (we set a heat record for that day and we don't have A/C).

But cake, complete with a frosted Kinderbear, was made and stored in the chill chest. Half-sheet lemon cake with "Congratulations" written way too small. But at least it's spelled correctly and I won't end up on Cake Wrecks.



And then Charis' big day arrived. Kindergarten graduation. It seems like it was only a few weeks ago that I stood in her classroom, trying (and failing miserably) to hold back sobs as Mrs. Wright read "The Kissing Hand." Now my big girl is a first-grader. Sigh.






Esther, Zoë and Charis after graduation. (Esther fell off her bike a few days ago and and did a good job scraping up her arm).



Family shot

40th Birthday Cake for Sonja

Today is the 40th birthday of my sweet friend Sonja. Her husband Mike wanted me to make a cake for her -- grays and blacks and drab, with the words "Oh no, the big four-oh!" But I had to throw in some roses, so, of course, they're black. The lettering, leaves and trim are in gray with a hint of green.

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And, of course, they put 40 big black candles on the cake -- complete with fire extinguisher nearby!

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The cake is lemon poppyseed with raspberry filling, which was Sonja's request. It is two 9x13 layers stacked.

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This was my first cake since the girls have been home. Esther is very interested in what I was doing, so I'll get her involved when I'm not making a cake for someone else.

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(As a side note, Esther saw the "40" and said, "Oh, that's old." "Really?" I asked. "Is Mommy old?" "No," she said. So I told her that I'll be 40 at the end of this year. She laughed, ran outside, and yelled. "Yeah, that's old!" Turkey.)

A "Must Read"

I came across this blog through this blog. I highly recommend you read this post about love and adoption. I think I need to print it out and carry it with me. Always.

Adoption Decree

I received an e-mail this morning that Haiti has issued an adoption decree for both girls!!!!

PRAISE GOD!!!!

This means, as far as Haiti is concerned, the girls are legally ours! What a wonderful Mother's Day gift!

I'll update more as I find out.

Meet the Grandparents, the Sequel

My parents left today for their return drive to Southern California (they were here from Sunday afternoon until this morning). I'm sad to see them go. Their visit was much too short, and my dad has to get back for his job. But I'm really glad they made the effort to meet the girls.

Esther and Zoë warmed up to Grandma and Grandpa Green quickly, just as they had with Grandma and Grandpa Eyberg, which was fabulous to see. They've seen pictures and talked on the phone often, so I'm sure that helped.

Because the Charis and Esther are in school, we didn't do much other than eat out and shop (we have fun stores here that my folks don't have, like Hobby Lobby and Mardel). My parents also got us a badly needed chest freezer (a small one), so I can do more bulk buying and make-ahead meals. Hallelujah!

Unfortunately, my parents got a good taste of the daily struggle* I have, especially with one of the children. At least they now know how to better pray for us :)

* I haven't written much about what our daily life has been. I know it's not as bad as it could be, but it's not something I've chosen to share yet with many people.

They Survived!

For His Glory Outreach recently provided a partial list of survivors from the Jan. 12 earthquake. A birth parent meeting was held in March at the orphanage, at which backpacks of food, water and hygiene kits were provided to the parents by Project Grangou and other supporters.

This is the first official confirmation we've received about the girls' birth moms.


Esther's birth mom, Thelucia, is the petite lady holding the black and red backpack. Several weeks ago, Esther had told me her Haitian mom, father and sister Gisna (spelling left open to interpretation), had visited the O after the quake.


Francienne, Zoë's birth mom (or birthday mom, as Zoë recently called her) is the petite lady in the melon-colored shirt to the left. Earlier conversations with Zoë indicated she did not see her Haitian mom after the earthquake. But I took that with a grain of salt, knowing her sense of time, like Charis', isn't accurate.

We recently sent off updates and notes from the girls to each of their Haitian moms. The girls rarely talk about anything from Haiti unless prompted, and even then, information is sparse.

Esther did tell me the other day that she does remember a bit of her life before the orphanage, but not much. She had just turned 5 when she was inducted. Zoë was 2 1/2 when she arrived, so I know she probably has no memory of life B.O. (before orphanage).

We're rejoicing the girls' Haitian mothers are alive and have made it to the orphanage!

Resurrection Weekend

We were able to make a last-minute trip to New Mexico to spend Easter weekend with Mark's family. This was the first time Mark's family has seen Esther and Zoë. The girls did well with the new environment and people. We arrived Thursday night (after a 7-hour drive battling strong winds), and by Saturday morning, Zoë was comfortable with everyone (Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie Kim).

Friday was filled with fun and crafts.

Charis "dresses" her paper doll Grandma Eyberg made on her Cricut Expressions.

Zoë holds up her doll in the polka-dotted space suit.

Esther shows off her girl.

Then Saturday was a jam-packed day. We had all our Easter fun then since we would have to hit the road soon after church and lunch on Sunday.

Grandma Eyberg helps Zoë prepare her breakfast.

Charis cracks eggs for Esther's breakfast.

Then they colored Easter eggs.

Grandma Eyberg shows Zoë how to color her eggs.

Esther made a purple one.

Charis and her lemon-yellow egg.

Zoë stirs her egg.

A colorful array.

Esther stirs the butter and marshmallows to make rice cereal treats on Saturday afternoon.

Charis gets into her work!

Zoë helps Auntie Kim press rice cereal into bunny molds.

Charis decorates rice cereal bunny treats.

Esther decorates rice cereal bunny treats.

Charis, Zoë and Esther enjoy time in Grandma's hot tub after dinner.

Esther and Charis hunt for eggs Saturday evening.

Zoë finds an egg.

The girls pile together their eggs.

Daddy and Auntie Kim play catch with a bunny and Velcro pads.

The girls with Grandma and Grandpa Eyberg on Sunday morning before church.

The girls Easter morning.

Our family Easter 2010.

The girls did well at church (all kids were together for children's church). After lunch we got on the road for another 7-hour drive home (no winds this time).

Zoë cried the first 20-30 minutes after we left their grandparents' house, but eventually slept a few hours of the trip (unfortunately not coinciding when I wanted to nap).

The girls did pretty well on the road trips; although the end of the trip was getting a little stressful as we all were tired of being in the car (I have a 4-Runner, so the kids are tightly side-by-side in car seats/boosters) and it was beyond bedtime.

But overall, it was a success. I'm glad they handled that so well. And now we prepare for my parents to visit next week.