Rise and Shine!

Mia's big thrill of the year came during the last week of school, when her class got to lead Rise and Shine, which is the school-wide assembly that's held every morning.  Each child in the class gets a speaking part.  On the day that I attended, Mia actually had TWO speaking parts, because one of the kids in her class was out.  She found out that morning and she was super excited. 

Mia had the quote of the week: "Know, love and believe in what you are doing" by Will Rogers.  She said it perfectly........of course.

Get With The Program

Kennedy's music program at school was a big hit.  She had a solo part on the piano and a group part on the xylophone.  She seemed really nervous, but she did great.

Take Us Out To The Ballgame

Papa and I took the girls to a baseball game last weekend.  Mia has been to a few now, but this was Kennedy's first.  It was a nice way to spend an afternoon.  The roof was closed, which is no surprise considering the exceptional drought and phenomenal heat wave that we've had for the last month or so.  We got to watch a pitcher's duel, which is cool if you're a baseball fan, but maybe not so much if you're a kid that doesn't really understand baseball.  But both girls stayed focused on the field.  Nobody got bored or grumpy, which is completely amazing.  The girls have been playing baseball with their Mii's on the Wii, but they still had a little bit of a hard time following the action in person.  I was able to explain what was happening and point out the important info on the scoreboards.  That seemed to help.  As a dad who really likes baseball, it was really cool to have that time with the girls to pass on some love for the game.  They may never really pick it up, though I'd love it if they did.  But, for one day I got to go back in time, to when I was a boy going to games with my dad.  I have some cool memories of rainbow jerseys, pennants and fun times at the Astrodome.  It would be great if Mia and Kennedy can say something similar in thirty years when they have their own kids.

One of the coolest parts of the day was when Mia got to run the bases after the game.  Kennedy didn't want to do it, but Mia thought that it was so fun, she decided to do it twice. 

Unfortunately, the home team gave up the lead at the end, so we didn't go home with a win.  But it was still a lot of fun and the girls are asking to do it again.

Checking out the action

How cute are these two?

They were noticing that Carlos Lee is a big dude!

Papa and Kennedy taking in the end of the game

Safe at home!

We are still here...

...just have not felt much like blogging or even moving recent pics from the camera to the computer.  Sad, huh?!  The end of the school year is rough enough, but I also had to pack all 15 years worth of my personal teaching materials and move it all to a new school.  This time around, I got smart and had Charles rent a small U-Haul truck, the $19.95 deal, and we did it all in ONE trip instead of about 10 or 12!  We filled the moving truck and my van, but it is all in my new classroom!  Relief. 

The teaching position I had for this year in special education was cut, but my 15 years experience secured a contract for me during a scary time of school lay-offs.  The positive side of the unexpected job change is that I will return to teaching kindergarten...my specialty and my favorite!  The school I am moving to is only about an extra 5-7 minute drive from home and it is brand new, set to open in August.  An interesting tidbit is that the school is named after my high-school principal...which is pretty cool!  My classroom is beautiful with plenty of built-in storage, huge windows and tons of natural light.  It is a certified "green school" with several energy saving ammenities.  We will have all of the latest technology, including "Smart Boards" mounted right on the wall.  While change is always a challenge, at least there are several positive aspects to it, and I am trying my best to focus on the positive.

Kennedy will start an intensive English-Language Aquisition summer school course next week on Tuesday.  It will last for 4 weeks and is from 8-3 or 8-4.  Checking on that!  I have to drop her off at our local elementary school by 6:40 each morning so she can catch a transfer bus.  The bus goes on to pick up at a local high school at 7:20 and will have the kids to the high school site that is hosting the summer programs in time to start class at 8am.  She is going to have to get herself up with an alarm by 5:40.  I showed her this morning how to get breakfast for herself, and later, I will coach her on making her lunch to take with her.  I am on "summer vacation"...even though I have several training classes to attend...and I do NOT plan on getting up that early to do it for her!  She is 14, and that is SURELY an age where she can take on those responsibilities for herself.  Mia and I will roll out of bed at 6:20 so we can leave our house at 6:30 in our jammies to drop Kennedy off at her bus pick-up.  UGH.

Anyway, the picture above is from Easter, because I have nothing else losded to post.  Not sure if this one was ever posted or not, but knew you would expect a picture!  ;)

Did I mention the fishing?

The girls and I went to the local sporting goods store on Saturday.  They had a catfish tank set up outside so kids could fish.  Mia and Kennedy both wanted to try it.  Kennedy told me that she did some fishing in China.  The kids could fish for about ten minutes and try to hook the biggest fish they could.  Originally they were going to share a rod, but it turned out that they each got their own.  From the parental perspective, that worked out perfectly.  About a minute in, Mia got a catfish on the hook.  She was the first kid at the tank to land a fish.  After Mia got hers, Kennedy admitted later that she was "praying to Jesus" to catch a fish as well.  With about one minute to go, Kennedy got hers.  Perfect.  No fighting, no crying.   I love it.

The girls totally loved it.  As a matter of fact, we went back to the same store later that night to buy rods & reels for the family.  We even got one for Annie, who was quite a childhood fishing prodigy.  I can't wait to take the family out for a lake fishing trip.

Look at all those fish.  How hard can it be?

It's not hard at all!



Totally easy!

 I've got to say that when Annie and I were filling out paperwork and planning for all of the life changes involved with adopting kids from China, I never expected to see us catfishing in a store parking lot.  Fishing was the farthest thing from my mind, but it's been totally cool this weekend.  Ummmm....I think that we're hooked.

The Girls Are Angling For a New Hobby

I took the girls fishing this morning.  Daniel and Elise met us at a pond nearby and we spent a couple of hours getting to know the girls' new gear and getting close to nature.  Mia had absolutely no idea what to expect.  It was all new to her.  Kennedy has apparently been fishing before, though I'm not entirely sure who she fished with.  I can't tell if she went with her teachers and friends at the big home or if it was with her "grandfather."  She has spent enough time fishing that she told me today that Chinese fish are "not smart."  American fish don't get caught immediately, but it seems that Chinese fish wait in line to jump on the hook.  This may or may not be true, but I thought that it was an entertaining conversation.

This was really a pretty cool day for me.  My dad loved to fish and I never really spent much time fishing with him after I turned 10 or so.  After he died, it was one of the things that I have regretted most.  I wish that I'd bought a pole sooner and taken him to the closest fishing hole.  So, when the girls started asking to go fishing it seemed like a great idea.  I kept a lot of my dad's old gear and his tackle box.  We used some of his hooks this morning as a matter of fact.  It's one way that I can keep my dad's memory fresh, even though it's been almost nine years since I saw him last.  I can imagine him telling me..."it's about time, son."

Mia caught the big fish this morning.  The picture of her prize-winning crappie is a couple of posts down.  It was maybe a pound or so, but it was a fighter.

I took lots of pictures of Kennedy.  Mia had finally had enough fishing by the time I pulled out the camera.  She made it over two hours, though, which has to be some kind of record.

Beautiful day for fishing



Batter up!




Let it fly




Concentration

  For the record, Elise had the quote of the day when she declared for everyone to hear:  "I'm good at nature."

Determinate!

Here's a Disney Channel-ready video of Mia singing her interpretation of Determinate by Lemonade Mouth.  You may have to turn up the sound to hear it.

Those of you who know Mia realize that this little slice of crazy was not sugar-induced.

While I am at the computer...

Here are a few pics from our family photo shoot yesterday.  We are getting ready for our SIX MONTH post-adoption visit from the social worker already!  They require several family photos each time.  Be SURE to scroll down to see today's catch!!

It was THIS big!

Charles took the girls fishing for the first time this morning! I just got a text with this pic!  Mia caught a real, live fish!!

Easter pics...a bit late...

Time to color the eggs!  This was a FIRST for Kennedy!

She really got in to it!

Mia is an old pro at this, and loves it every time!

Proud sisters!  So cute!

Mia found the Easter Bunny's hiding spot for the baskets!

Even though she is 14, this was Kennedy's FIRST Easter basket, and she was down right giddy!

In AWE of the entire Harry Potter movie collection!  Kennedy has been reading the novels in Chinese.

Mia is explaining that YES, we get MONEY in our eggs!

Note the facial expression of disbelief.  She was asking if she really got to keep all 10 dollars.  When we told her yes, her expression changed to pure glee...but we missed that shot! 

Swimming at Nana and Papa's house on Easter afternoon.  Kennedy is learning to swim, and Mia is busy telling her how.  Oh, I mean showing her...no...TELLING is more accurate!!!

Natural swimmer...and HAM!



Scared of all this swimming business, but eager to learn.  Yes, she is wearing floaties!  I didn't know those could hold up a 14 year old!  She was NOT getting in the water without them, though!

PLEASE BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE PICTURE OF TWO BOYS FROM KENNEDY'S ORPHANAGE WHO NEED A MOMMY AND DADDY!

Anyway, sorry for the delay in posting Easter pictures.  I have been dealing with hives on my legs and arms for 3 weeks.  BIG fun.   Unknown allergic reaction??  Who knows!  Waiting for bloodwork.  I finally went to the doc the other day, about 2 weeks after I should have.  I had to break down and take the dreaded course of steroids, which I HATE and which make me a jittery, hyper, unable to sleep mess.  I have not had much time for blogging!

We had a great Easter weekend full of Easter egg coloring, church, easter baskets, swimming, a feast, and tons of family time!  Hope you enjoy the pics!