Child Actor.-Edited

OK, I need some input from anyone who is willing to share! I have a child who "acts" out all the time. Yes, we have tantrums and normal kid stuff, but we also have the pretending to be someone attitude! He is constantly acting as someone else. Does anyone know what I should be looking for in my child in order to know if we should pursue acting? Or am I looking at normal kid behavior? He repeats lines and repeats motions as if he were practicing for an audition. If acting is a possibility, then what should I be looking for in a school?

Added to say: So I asked Nicolai this morning if he wanted to do acting and he said no. He wants to be a police officer when he grows up. He asked if he had to get up as early as Daddy does to go to work and I told him that sometimes even earlier. He then asked if I would be alive when he was a police officer to help him set his alarm clock and wake him! Oh boy!! (That will definately go on the list of things to teach him before he leaves the nest!)

New look and links!

So, as you can see, I have changed a few things. Like? When doing the changes, I lost all of my links. If you wish to be linked via my page, please leave me your info in the comments! I will have the same categories: Adopting Stories and Other Great Stories! Thanks!!

Gobble Gobble!

As the weather turns and the leaves begin to fall, it reminds me of Thanksgiving which will be here before we know it. Thinking of Thanksgiving (I know Halloween hasn't even passed) and turkeys reminds me of a funny story that I never got around to telling.

Most of you know that we live on 15 acres of beautiful land that we got from Joel's parents. We get to experience the beautiful trees, sky and river as well as, an occasional wild life from time to time. We have seen deer (up to eight at once), fox, turtles, geese, beaver and turkeys. There is five - eight turkeys that travel through our yard every day.

One hot Summer day, our neighbors ventured over to take a dip in our pool and cool off. My neighbor, Heather and I were sitting on the little deck by the pool while Nico and Macy were swimming. Heather's dog, Barkley, was with us too. All of the sudden Barkley started barking and going crazy. Heather and I turned around to see the turkeys. We thought that they would run off at the sight and sound of Barkley, but no they didn't! They took off after Barkley and started challenging him. Heather called Barkley over, who was more then happy to get refuge from her. The turkeys kept coming closer and closer.

By now, I was starting to get worried. They wouldn't stop running and they were bound and determined to peck someone! I didn't know what to do. I panicked, stood up and grabbed my plastic lawn chair and started charging them and yelling. It worked - they ran off!! Whew!!

I won't tell you where my neighbor ran to or how she hid from them! Let's just say the pool has more uses then just swimming!!

Love ya, Heather - even if you aren't quite ready to protect me!! :)

Amazing Grace!!

Today was a break through day!! We headed off to church and did our usual thing. Nico and Sonja went to class and Joel and I enjoyed the service today, since we weren't serving. Afterwards I headed to a missions meeting and Joel stepped in to our "Grazers" meeting to greet and meet newcomers to our church, that may have questions or want to learn more about the church. After my missions meeting, I then headed to Grazers to meet the newcomers. While there, Sonja and Nicolai joined us, (usually they are playing in the kids area)to snack on some pizza and crackers. Nicolai sat very nicely, listened to Joel and I and helped with bringing Sonja back to the table when she would wonder off. We finished the meeting, cleaned up and then headed to our local Fire Hall for an open house. Then finally got home to rest and relax before the crazy week begins!

So you are probably wondering if this is normal for us then what is so amazing?! The amazing part was that Nicolai sat quietly and ate pizza while our pastor spoke. He normally wants to run the show and be the center of attention! The other amazing piece was that Nicolai actually sat in my lap for a short moment - THIS IS UNHEARD OF PEOPLE!! My son wouldn't be caught near my lap- "That's not cool!". And another part of our normal routine, is that I get tons of attitude, sassing and arguing MANY times throughout a given day! He usually tries to get Joel to agree with him and go against me. That didn't happen today! PRAISE GOD!!

God certainly is the one that has His hand on that child. I pray for him every day and with him, that God would fill him up and help him make the right choice. Too often I hear, "Oh, you have your hands full!", or, "My goodness, he's busy!", and, "He's challenging, isn't he". I do hear from an elite group of friends, that we have an amazing boy and that they think he is pretty special. I don't hear it enough though! Too often I hear the obvious, that somehow seems negetive coming from their mouths. I know they mean well and probably aren't sure what to say.

Those who know our son and know him well, will understand this Praise report!

Corn Maze!

Last Saturday we headed to a Southern Minneapolis Suburb and went to Sever's Corn Maze. It had rained really hard during the night, so it was muddy, wet, but fun!!

The car ride was approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Nico popped a video in and was watching it on the way down. Sonja had had enough of the car ride!!


It was so muddy, a hay ride and tractor came to pick us up at the parking lot and bring us to the maze.

Nico running through the maze to find all the letters in the alphabet!


Sonja catching a ride on Daddy's back! It was hot!! It was 90 and extremely humid!


Nico found a letter!


Sonja and Mommy took a break from the sun. We shared some cheese curds! YUM!!


Nico riding, petting and feeding the animals at the petting zoo that was there!

Wild Hair!

Since this picture was taken we have gotten it cut. She has a FULL head of hair!! Now if she would let me do something with it....maybe some day!

Gotchya' Day!!

Today is my gotchya day! My parents headed down to our local LSS office forty years ago. They tell me that they sat down with a social worker and answered a few questions and then were told their name would be put on a waiting list, when their name came up and a child was born and placed, they then would be called. Thirty-nine years ago on this day, they received the call that I was born and ready to pick up. They headed back to LSS, signed a few papers, paid a little bit of a processing fee, they were united with me and then sent on their way! I'm sure it wasn't all that easy, but it certainly wasn't the hoops you need to jump through today in order to adopt a child! Happy Gotchya' Day!

Espanol

AAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWEEE!! Sonja's foster family have been emailing us and keeping in contact. I have mixed emotions regarding this, but for the most part, enjoy hearing from them.

We are not able to correspond as quickly as I would like to. I wish that I could read, speak and understand Spanish. Dana, Joel's sister, has been fabulous at translating for us. We receive an email and send it off to her and then she translates and sends it back to us. I do up a reply letter and send it off to Dana and then she translates and sends it back to us and then I send it on to the foster family. It is working out really well to do it that way, but I wish that I could understand and shoot a quick email back.

Maybe some day when I'm not wiping noses, butts and taking care of every day things for two little ones, I then can learn Spanish!

Friday Foto

This photo brings back fond memories of my first time in Guatemala. Sonja's Auntie Dana and I were visiting her for the first time. We had a great week.

Speaking of photos - my family and I are getting our mug shots today at a local photographers home/studio. Please pray for our rainy weather to clear up long enough for us to be outside. The photographer has a beautiful yard and I would love to take advantage of that. Surprise! Everyone knows what they are getting for Christmas now! :)

On another note... Best wishes and fun times are being sent to my fellow Guatemamas and their families as they enjoy their weekend in Atlanta, Georgia at the Guatoberfest! I really wish I could have made it, but I had already had the scrapping plans in place and really didn't have funds for another airline ticket and hotel. Those of us who aren't able to make it, are hoping that next year there is a Guatoberfest II, maybe closer to the Midwest this time - who knows!

Hope all of you have a fabulous weekend!

PS. Crystal - pictures of the kids will come as soon as I get my broken camera back!

Weekend Wonderful II

Thank you Nikki G. for sending me and taking for me the pictures of our fabulous weekend! Here is the beautiful color we got to see all weekend long!


Views from a couple of the towers we climbed.



The very nice lodge that we stayed in.


The wonderful and talented ladies who allowed me to crash their scrappers get together!


The conference room we filled up!


The cards I worked on. Please close your eyes if you come across a birthday card for you! :)




And a few pages to add to my DH's Eagle Scout book I'm doing for him.


I had a fabulous time. Thank you ladies for allowing me to join you! Along with the fabulous food, great space to work and beautiful grounds to walk around in, we also enjoyed an evening in the hot tub, a taste of a dessert wine called, Eiswien - Yummy! and great conversation! I hope I can go next year, but we will have to see!

Weekend Wonderful!

I headed up Thursday morning with seven other women to a resort called Maplelag! This place was amazing. If you go to their website, you will see a picture on the front page of the conference room that I was in. I didn't happen to be there when they took the picture! I was back at the cabin showering. I had a great time. I was with some incredible women. I will try and post pictures when I get them. My camera died on Wednesday of last week and so I asked Nikki to take a few pictures for me. When I receive them I will share them.

Thursday we made it to Maplelag in the afternoon. We set up our stations and got our cabin rooms situated. We then sat down and started getting our craft items ready to work on. We were treated to some fabulous meals each day. We had dinner and then continued to scrap.

Each day breakfast, lunch and dinner were served in the large dining hall. They were all very yummy and homemade. I'll tell ya' more about it when I have pictures.

Sonja is throwing a major fit on the floor right now and I need to take care of her. She has been a "pistol" for me today!!