It's all in the PANCAKES!!

On Thursday, I loaded up the kids and headed over to Lake Charles for a quick visit with my parents and brother/sister in law/niece. It was a quick trip...but very good to see them all.

Pancakes are of the utmost importance when we make a trip to Nona and Poppy's house. Is it because pancakes are just THAT delicious? Probably not, in all honesty...but Ali and Abby sure think they are a MUST have when they visit. Why? It is because since Ali and Abby (and now Clark) were able to eat pancakes, Nona made them "pancake ladies" (just like she did for me when I was a little girl). "Pancake ladies" you ask...yep, pancakes in the shape of ladies (sometimes perhaps a little oddly shaped...but the girls just don't care at all!). At 10 and 8 these girls still want their pancake ladies first thing in the morning. Clark got his very first "pancake man" this weekend. Who cares if he totally didn't get it yet...oh he will! Before long, he too will be demanding those pancake men! Nona lets them put all the chocolate chips their little hearts desire all over those pancakes...and syrup...yep, they each get their very own little bottle of syrup...to empty on those pancakes!! It will be a very sad day for Nona when these girls no longer ask for the blessed pancake ladies! But not to worry yet, Nona, I think you have many more years of pancake cooking ahead of you. :) Ali, Abby, Clark, and one day Addison...will grow up remembering their special pancakes from Nona!

Congrats to my brother, Jay, sister in law, Paula, and niece, Abby as they have made it ONE step closer to bringing home their daughter (and sister), Addison, from China! They made it to the "review room" (as they call it in adoption lingo)...which is when the "powers that be" in China are actually reviewing their adoption package and will ask for questions to be answered (if there are any...and we are praying there aren't as it will slow down the process even more) and then send them on to the next phase of the process. China adoptions have slowed down significantly over the last year...which is delaying their entire process. They have been logged into the China system for one year now...and have quite a while to go! However, each step is a praise and ONE STEP closer to holding their precious china doll. T.C., Ali, and I can totally relate to the wait...that is for sure...but now being on the other side, can also add that the wait is most definitely worth every second.

I am adding a few pictures from our quick trip to Louisiana. The motorcycle belongs to some friends of my parents. We decided to take Clark by and let him play on it. To say he loved it would be an understatement. He was so sad when we had to leave...he kept saying "motaaacyyycle"...

Lake Charles

San Antonio....

Well, we had a great time in San Antonio over the weekend. Sea World was crazy crowded and hot...but we all had a good time. Friday we went to The Alamo, the San Antonio Missions, and took a boat ride along the River Walk. Since the missions are a National Park, Ali earned another Jr. Ranger badge. (which she has been collecting since she was 3 years old and living in New Mexico) She has earned many badges with all of our travels...we love going to National Parks.

Saturday was our trip to Sea World. We wanted to hit the shows first...so we saw Shamu and then a dolphin/beluga whale show. Russie Clark was fascinated with the Shamu show and sat for the entire 25 minute show just staring!! We weren't expecting the crowds to be like they were, so it took longer to get from one thing to another...with a stroller. But we managed and we stayed at the park until 7:00pm! Ali really enjoyed a ski show, but Russie Clark decided to sleep through that..ha! He and I walked around while Ali and T.C. waited an hour to ride a "rapids" ride...they got SOAKED! It was so sad...Clark and I were watching from "the sidelines" and we saw T.C. and Ali ride by...I was pointing and waving...and I thought he was glad to see them...then when they were out of sight he starting crying his eyes out! He didn't understand where they were going. Anyway, he finally calmed down and was glad to see them when they got off the ride. From there we headed over to the dolphin touch pool and the aquarium building. He LOVED watching the dolphins...as you can see by the pictures.

Hope you enjoy the pictures...we can't wait to go back to San Antonio and explore the town some more. There seems to be a LOT to do there.

San Antonio

Watch out Shamu...here we come!!

Thanks to "Here's to the Hero's" program at all Anheuser-Busch owned theme parks...we are heading to Sea World in San Antonio...FOR FREE!! All members of the armed forces get into 1 of their parks for 1 day for free, all 4 of us! We are so excited. We are heading there this evening when T.C. gets off of work and will stay until Sunday. Tomorrow we will visit The Alamo, the missions, the River Walk, and whatever else looks like fun! (Ali can call it a field trip, right?) We can't wait to see what Russie Clark thinks of Shamu.

Well, we will post pictures as soon as we can...have to go pack...I do things better under pressure! :)

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears...OH MY!

Russie Clark had his first visit to the zoo today! We went to the Houston Zoo for the first time since we have lived here. Aside from it being a little hot (no...not in TX!), we had a great time. Ali brought her friend, Sierra, and fun was had by all. Clark loved the monkeys best of all...I do believe. It is just so neat for us to watch our little guy experience all these new things. It is wonderful to imagine seeing things through his little eyes....everything is new, everything is exciting. He examines everything...a plane up above, a flower on a bush, a frog in the yard, OR...a monkey in a zoo! What a gift we have been given to be able to watch him explore and learn so much about our world.

zoo

Just couldn't make it through lunch.........

Just wanted to post these funny pictures from lunch today. I had walked out of the kitchen for a minute only to return to a sleeping boy. Now as I type this Clark is thinking he already "napped" and can't seem to fall asleep in his bed. :)

The video is of him kissing all his babies after he put them to bed. Yes, he is in his underwear...the babies just HAD to be put to bed as I was trying to get him dressed. (then I couldn't resist a couple of cute shots in his undies!!) The end of the video clip looks funny...Ali had walked into his room and he was showing her the motorcycles on his undies...too cute!!

I will be sharing some studio pictures with you soon. I took the kids to JCPenney's yesterday and had their pictures made together. They turned out so cute. I had purchased the kids traditional Ukrainian shirts while we were over there. The shirts were too pretty not to have their picture made in them! I will get a link to the pictures in a week or so and will email it.

sleeping boy and putting babies to bed

Firsts

Sometimes people make some boneheaded comments when they find out you're adopting. Most folks, even the most wonderful, have a hard time making polite conversation about subjects that make them uncomfortable...and somewhere in human history, the subject of adoption has come to rank alongside such pleasant topics for public conversation as death, divorce, incurable disease, and sex. Complicating things for us is Ali, "Yes, she's ours...biologically."

At some point in the past few years, someone said something to Rachel along the lines of, "Aren't you sad about all the 'firsts' that you'll miss by adopting a toddler?" This individual was surely talking about such traditional firsts as first laugh, first smile, first steps, first words, etc. To give them the benefit of the doubt, I'm sure they weren't trying to be idiotic and insulting, but let's face it, there's really no good way to take such a question. Personally I'll rank it right up there with the unfortunate but all too often overheard funeral comment, "They did such a good job on him." What the heck does that mean, anyway? But I digress...

Since we've had some time to think about this comment, Rachel and I were not long ago discussing a list of 'firsts' that we'd get to experience and share with our son, including:

• First smile (for us, anyway)
• First words...in English
• First time to fly in an airplane
• First time to see the ocean
• First pets
• First room of his own
  
• Etc.

After going to Ukraine and seeing how the orphans lived (which really wasn't too bad, all things considered), a few items have made the list that I wouldn't have thought of:

• First yogurt (you've seen the pictures)
  
• First nap in mommy's arms (you've seen this, too)
  
• First time to sleep in an air-conditioned room (no really, it happened on Friday, Aug 10th)
• First time to run barefooted in the grass (sandals only in UA)
• First doughnuts
• First time to catch toads in the back yard (we've got a yard full)
• First Thanksgiving (forgot this totally American holiday)

Oh, yes, and let's not forget the obvious one...first family. Looks like we've a lot to look forward to!

Grandparent's Day

You gotta love grandparents, don't you? I called my dad on Saturday evening to tell him about a Grandparent's Day breakfast at our church the following morning...and you know what...he hopped in his truck and headed over! He didn't want his grands being there without a grandparent. My mom was out of town visiting her brother that had 2 strokes last week. (pray for him, my Uncle Sam...whom we named Samuel Ruslan Clark after) Anyway, he came over Saturday night and came to church with us the next day for a breakfast, and then after church there was a luncheon for the preschool department. It was a lot of fun. THANKS DAD (POPPY)!!!!

Russie Clark is still doing very well. His new thing is gathering up his "babies" (about 3 teddy bears) and putting them to bed. He will put them in his bed, cover them up, and kiss them all "night, night"...it is so precious. He also loves his Playhut set that we bought for him before we traveled to Ukraine. It is little tubes and cubes that connect together and then you dump balls in one tent on the end. He loves crawling through it all and tossing the balls around.

Ali is still enjoying swim team. It will definitely keep her in shape...she swims 3 times a week for an hour and a half. (I should jump in the water and swim also...but that won't be happening)

Here is a sweet poem I came across that I thought you might enjoy reading...

The Gift of Life

I didn't give you the gift of life,
But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.

For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didn't give you
The gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you.

--- Unknown

Enjoy the new pictures and video clips...

Grandparents Day, Playhut, etc.

A future astronaut.......well, perhaps!!

It occurred to me this weekend as Russie Clark was admiring a space suit at Johnson's Space Center...that he could possibly grow up to be an astronaut, a doctor, or the next president. The stars are the limit for this little guy, who a mere month and a half ago was parent-less with probably not much hope for a future. Now he can do whatever God leads him to do. No, he may not grow up to be any of those things...he could be a pastor, missionary, engineer...hopefully a father one day, etc!!! My point being he can do anything! Isn't that an awesome thought? Well, for me... his mother... it sure is! People have told me many times over the last few weeks what a lucky boy he is...but my response is "no, I am definitely the lucky one!" God chose us to be his parents...what an honor!

Well, we have had an exciting weekend. Russie Clark was able to meet his other set of grandparents for the first time on Friday. T.C.'s parents came in...his dad had to leave today (Monday), but his mom is able to stay until Thursday. He was a little shy at the airport...but it didn't take long for him to warm up. It is just taking him a little bit to understand this whole "family" thing. Saturday we took them to Galveston and Sunday we went to Johnson's Space Center.

School is in full swing for Ali and me. She also started swimming with the new swim team that she joined (Space City Aquatic Team...SCAT). The first day of practice she and her best friend, Sierra, were walking out to the parking lot and Sierra's mom and I asked how practice went...and their response was "you don't want us to answer that question"..hahaha. I think it was a little difficult getting back into the swing of things. The summer league ended the end of June, so it had been a while since they had practiced. The second practice went better, though. She thinks she will enjoy it. The team meets Monday-Friday, but they only have to swim 2-3 times a week. She is also starting guitar back up next week.

Well, the pictures are pretty self explanatory. All the ones of Russie in the chair are funny....I wanted to capture what it is like trying to get an active 3 year old to sit still for a picture. I obviously wasn't all that successful. Ha!! Enjoy...

meeting grandparents, first week of 6th grade, being silly...