November 22 update

'Wiguerson's file is out of IBESR and Parquet. His adoption decree is in preparation.'

I thought this was such an encouraging way to say that we are in Second Legalization. It sounds like everything is progressing and on schedule. Really, Haiti is on holiday until January 7, and nothing is happening at all. But it still sounds encouraging and these cute little pictures help too.

Happy New Year!

Anna Playing School

Anna is fascinated with school. She asks what the kids are doing there all day and talks about it with her friends. My mom is a teacher and Joel and I are both former teachers. She spent much of her life on the college campus with us and loves Sunday school, so she has been to lots of schools and thinks they are great. Yesterday she wanted to build a school out of blocks with a BIG lunch room and a real slide and swing. Then she brought the kids to school on the bus, took them to lunch and recess in a line, each took their turns on the slide and went back inside to their desks. The teacher stood on a little platform and preached to the kids. (She also thinks the professors at our University "preach" to the students.) Then it was picture day and each kid got an individual and group picture with a real camera, then home on the bus. She had blast.

-22 degrees

I never thought there could be a day when I was glad we were not bringing our kids home now, but today is that day. I was born and raised in Montana. I have lived on the Eastern side of the state for a long time. I have had lots of below 0 days in my life and I am cold! I am wearing P.J's under my sweats and 2 sweat shirts and I think it is cold. I can not tell you how badly I would feel if little Abby and Emery had to come from the tropical winter temperature of 89 degrees to our "cold spell". I do not think today would be a good day to come home. However, the weather will change in a week or so and that would be perfect. I guess for now we will just wait to get out of second legal and be very thankful that they are warm today. (I do however think an extended stay in Florida to wait out the cold would be a good option if we could be together. But alas, ...)

Potty Press News

So the first day started with no one getting enough sleep and lots of crabbiness (mommy too). After a long morning nap with a diaper, we were much more successful in the afternoon. By Thursday afternoon we ventured out and had success with dry pants and pottying in a public rest room. I know some of you are grossed out by public rest rooms, but Anna's necessity has cured us of that. We just wash well and do the best we can. I would not say she is a pro yet, but we had an all morning outing including a 45 minute nap in the car and lots of fun to be had and dry all the way.

Beth's Big Day

Tomorrow is the big day for potty training for Beth. She is 22 months and 2 days. She has a new package of 6 pairs of panties like her sisters, a box of Bunny Grahams, a borrowed "potty bear",' enough watered down juice to make a grown adult frequent the bathroom and a ring for the toilet so she wont fall in. I am armed with "Potty Training in Day", a chair for the bathroom, a stack of magazines i do not care if I read and the knowege that by 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. I will not care if she is still wearing diapers to Kindergarten. I have done this once before and remember thininking that I hate the bathroom and even soft carpent and toddler music does not make it fun. I also remember that no matter how long the day was, it was better than changing diapers for ever and that little tiny panties are cute and that girls love to wear them. So with this in mind, and plenty of diet Coke in the refrigerator, I am ready for the challenge ahead. I will let you know tomorrow how it all turns out. :}