Annual reports, adoption and our lucky children...

Our annual reports are due. This got Hubby and I thinking and talking-  As adoptive families from Ethiopia-we are so lucky to have to write annual reports on our children-what a great record of their childhood these children will have.
As many of you know-the questions are structured so year after year-our children will have answers like- - "how have you changed",  what was your school performance, and how was your health". Along with quick summaries to the events of their lives for that year.

Hubby and I were talking about how neat it would be- now that we are older- to have these to look back on.  To learn that we had RSV, or preferred to play alone than with others. To learn that we wore special shoes to learn to walk, or that we threw temper tantrums.  Wouldn't it be great to know that your grandmother died at age 4 and that you spent time with her-perhaps learning how her death affected your life.

Sure many of us journal here and there -but to have a year of your life consistently recorded in under 2 pages every year.

Since I often think about what was taken away from my children by the loss of their culture, never knowing what your biological mom and dad looked like or what their first year or so of life was like- I am thrilled to be able to offer them an account of their life with us.  Although it can never make up for their initial loss it will provide a history and some answers- answers to questions-that other kids-bio kids - are unlikely to have.

So - 3 Cheers to having to write this report.  Now, to hope and pray that their extended family gets to read it.

Bye Bye my love...

How do you say Goodbye to your "best friend"? The object that comforts you at night and during your mid-day nap?  Debritu's teeth are all in and it looks like she's starting the first stages of an overbite-so I have to be the tough guy and take her binkie away.  Why is it that the mom's always seem to have to make the tough decisions ...hmmmm?

The poor girl is in for a tough couple of days-and I'm guessing we are too-but somehow no matter how hard something is- I'm continuously empathizing with the children.  This is her loss - and it's a big one...

For us, it's just a few more hours with out sleep.   I have to wonder.. do we actually sleep anymore anyway?

1) Debritu says bye bye to her binkies

Here's my baby getting ready to be a Preschooler

and the trash truck come to take her binkies away

She's waving to the trash truck- while crying.. and saying bye bye binkies..bye bye...my binkies..goooooo...

IT'S A SAD SAD DAY....

P'od about the Oil leak!!!!

I am getting more and more upset about the continuous Oil leak in the gulf.  


Why is it that we have to hear for months about Edward's affair with some woman (when 4 out of 5 marriages don't make it- is that really news people) and Angelina and Brad's life (exciting-sure, but enough already)-but the pollution of our seas and the damage and clean up that comes with it-is simply highlighted with concerns over "toursim"... good god!  People think.. Eco-Clean up trips!!!! Calling-Clean Oceans, Calling all of the www.ecotourism.com companies.. hell calling anyone that will listen...please let's get started!!!!


Think solutions people... Please think solutions...The BP oil giant obviously needs help- not just finger pointing and criticism.. but really honest to goodness help. Together let's save the gulf for goodness sake and news anchors and gov't, fishermen, cruise companies...etc..etc... can persecute the crap out of them later!!!!  


GRRRRRRRR.......