Star Wars..........

We took a field trip this week to Space Center Houston. Ali has been dying to see a Star Wars exhibit that they have going on. On the last shuttle mission, the shuttle took up the original light saber that Luke Skywalker used. Oooohhh ahhhhhh! Ali is a huge Star Wars fan and thought it was about the coolest thing ever. They also have one of Luke Skywalker's costumes from Return of the Jedi. There is also a full scale X-Wing Starfighter. She just kept saying "this is so cool...this is so cool." Ummmm, ok...whatever you say.

There was also a cute traveling circus exhibit. You could tight rope walk, try on tons of circus costumes, etc. Clark liked playing with all the props.

Clark continues to do well. He rediscovered this past week that the ONE thing he has total control over is his bladder...and he decided to use it against us. When he would get in trouble for something and he would be angry, he would wet his pants. Arrggghh! We assume it is just a control issue...they had total control of the children at the orphanage. They basically never had to think on their own, let alone be allowed to disobey. They knew what was expected and they did it...end of story. So this new found pants wetting was irritating, to say the least. My mother had the fabulous idea for us to warn him that the next time he wet his pants due to being angry...ALL of his favorite toys were getting locked in Daddy's car trunk. It worked! (he LOVES his toys) I talked to him about it not being ok to wet his pants when he was angry, etc. He gets it...now when I remind him to be a big boy and not wet his pants he will tell me "no wet pants, toys bye-bye." So far so good!

Other than that little issue he is doing great. He loves to irritate Ali, however...though she is pretty good at dishing it out as well. They will get along great...then before I know it I hear "MOM...he did so and so...or MOM, Ali did so and so." My favorite words these days are quit tattling..ha! He loves to do things to her when I am not looking and then look totally innocent when I turn around. One of the cute things he is doing is admiring our candy dish on the coffee table. We told him about not taking candy without asking, so he will go right up to it and say things like "cute candy, Mama." (and I do give in once a day or so) He continues to love the Christmas trees and lights. He has rearranged the tree many times over. He loves to drive around and look at the decorated homes. In Ukraine they call snowmen "baba's" so that is what he is still calling them and we think it is so cute. Santa is still Noah also! He loves to point out baby Jesus in the Nativity sets. He is learning to say bedtime prayers and that is so special to us. Even though he doesn't have a clue what he is doing...he is learning.

Ali's 11th birthday party is on Sunday. She is having a joint party with her best friend, Sierra. They are having a laser tag party at a place called Main Event...they are very excited. I can't believe she is turning 11 years old on Tuesday...where does the time go? Seems like yesterday she was Clark's age.

Here are a few pictures from Space Center Houston. I had to include a picture of a truck we were driving behind the other day. The camera was in the van...and Ali HAD to have a picture of. She LOVES Elvis and couldn't believe his face was on a truck.

Space Center Houston