*
Yesterday DW purchased our airline tickets for our February trip. We are going to Florida for a few days to visit with my mother and DW's father and to have the unveiling for my father's grave (a ceremony that dedicates the grave monument and gives an opportunity to again remember the deceased).
That will be the somewhat sad part of the trip. After the unveilng however, we are planning on boarding a cruise ship and setting sail for 8 days in the Caribbean. Now, I know our three odler children are a bit jealous about this as they have never been on a cruise. Shy on the other hand is quite excited about going on a big ship. She has no idea what to expect, but we have been tlaking it up and she is certainly excited.
When we told her yesterday that DW had purchased the airline tickets her first question was whether or not she was going to miss school. That wasn't the quesiton I expected, although I am not sure what I did expect. When I told her that she would miss 4 days of school for the whole trip, again, I got the unexpected. She was concerned about missing school!
That is good I suppose. She really does like school and she likes being with her friends. She seems to have made the adjustment to living here now. She does still need to see someone, and we are in the process of finding someone locally, although to no avail so far. All in all though, she is doing well and we are all adjusting to life on Cape Cod.
It really is a wonderful place with some really nice people, and in the words of Lennon/McCartney, I've got to admit it's getting better, a little better all the time"
It'll be really good on that cruise ship!!!
*
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
A Successful Quest
*
Well, the neighborhood in general is Halloween friendly. Whlie there were a few houses without lights on, for the most part, all the houses had lights on and some sort of decorations. There were a lot of kids and parents out and about in the two different neighborhoods we walked through, and everyone seemed to be having fun.
There was one house that had gone overboard with decorations. It reminded me of Maple St. in Bangor, Maine where the whole street is like one big party. Unfortunately, it was just one house.
At one point Shy was evaluating garbage cans. At one house "boy that garbage can is small"
At another house. "that garbage can is nasty"
All the while, she continued on her quest. When we were about 3/4 of the way through my planned route, she advised me she was cold. I asked if she wanted to go home, and she said no. She wanted to finish up our street.
So finish up our street we did. At the end, she had more candy then she can eat, and all in all had a good time. In spite of eating some candy, she still fell asleep rather quickly. I am sure she was dreaming about being the Princess she pretended to be. (Cinderella to be exact).
Well, the neighborhood in general is Halloween friendly. Whlie there were a few houses without lights on, for the most part, all the houses had lights on and some sort of decorations. There were a lot of kids and parents out and about in the two different neighborhoods we walked through, and everyone seemed to be having fun.
There was one house that had gone overboard with decorations. It reminded me of Maple St. in Bangor, Maine where the whole street is like one big party. Unfortunately, it was just one house.
At one point Shy was evaluating garbage cans. At one house "boy that garbage can is small"
At another house. "that garbage can is nasty"
All the while, she continued on her quest. When we were about 3/4 of the way through my planned route, she advised me she was cold. I asked if she wanted to go home, and she said no. She wanted to finish up our street.
So finish up our street we did. At the end, she had more candy then she can eat, and all in all had a good time. In spite of eating some candy, she still fell asleep rather quickly. I am sure she was dreaming about being the Princess she pretended to be. (Cinderella to be exact).
All in all, a successful quest.
*
Monday, October 31, 2011
Quest for Candy
*
Well, today is Halloween. Shy will be dressed as Cinderella and apparently I will be the one that ushers her around thorugh the neighborhood tonight. (DW has decided that she will give out the candy at our house) The area is quite dark so we will be sure to take our flashlights with us. We have no idea what to expect, or how far we will be going.
This is an interesting part of moving that I had never thought of before. The first few times DW and I moved, we did not have kids who went Trick or Treating, so it wasn't an issue. The one time we moved, with children of Trick or Treat age was 28 years ago. I barely remember much about that year or the Halloween (except that some people in the neighborhood took glasses with them when they were trick or treating with their kids, and expected a libation for themselves....does anyone else do that?) Anyway, that was a move into the first home we owned. It was in May, and our oldest was only 5. Halloween was the furthest thing from our minds.
Today, however I am wondering how it will go. The house we lived in the last few years was not in a "halloween friendly" neighborhood. We actually drove to another neighborhood last year to take Shy on her annual quest for candy. It was a great meighborhood. People were really into the Halloween spirit and it was a fun time.
This year....who knows? We live on a street that has about 25 homes and no sidewalks. The street runs between two other streets that also don't have sidewalks and are a bit busier then the one we live on. Will it be "Halloween Friendly"? I guess I am going to find out tonight.
DW doesn't know how much candy to buy. Neighbors are non-commital as to what happens on Halloween. Apprently it difffers greatly from one year to the next. There is just so much to think about when it comes to a first halloween in a new neighborhood. I wonder what Amy and her husband are doing. Their neighborhood I would guess is definitely NOT Halloween Friendly as they live on a major street and there aren't a lot of homes in the are where they live.
Well, I hope it is an eventful evening and I have lots of news to report tomorrow about how the night went. In the meantime, I have to get back to work. I have a lot to do if I am to get done in time today to take Shy on her annual Quest for Candy!!!
*
Well, today is Halloween. Shy will be dressed as Cinderella and apparently I will be the one that ushers her around thorugh the neighborhood tonight. (DW has decided that she will give out the candy at our house) The area is quite dark so we will be sure to take our flashlights with us. We have no idea what to expect, or how far we will be going.
This is an interesting part of moving that I had never thought of before. The first few times DW and I moved, we did not have kids who went Trick or Treating, so it wasn't an issue. The one time we moved, with children of Trick or Treat age was 28 years ago. I barely remember much about that year or the Halloween (except that some people in the neighborhood took glasses with them when they were trick or treating with their kids, and expected a libation for themselves....does anyone else do that?) Anyway, that was a move into the first home we owned. It was in May, and our oldest was only 5. Halloween was the furthest thing from our minds.
Today, however I am wondering how it will go. The house we lived in the last few years was not in a "halloween friendly" neighborhood. We actually drove to another neighborhood last year to take Shy on her annual quest for candy. It was a great meighborhood. People were really into the Halloween spirit and it was a fun time.
This year....who knows? We live on a street that has about 25 homes and no sidewalks. The street runs between two other streets that also don't have sidewalks and are a bit busier then the one we live on. Will it be "Halloween Friendly"? I guess I am going to find out tonight.
DW doesn't know how much candy to buy. Neighbors are non-commital as to what happens on Halloween. Apprently it difffers greatly from one year to the next. There is just so much to think about when it comes to a first halloween in a new neighborhood. I wonder what Amy and her husband are doing. Their neighborhood I would guess is definitely NOT Halloween Friendly as they live on a major street and there aren't a lot of homes in the are where they live.
Well, I hope it is an eventful evening and I have lots of news to report tomorrow about how the night went. In the meantime, I have to get back to work. I have a lot to do if I am to get done in time today to take Shy on her annual Quest for Candy!!!
*
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sharing
*
So Shy had a half-day at school yesterday. With the kids gone from the school, the PTA took advantage of that time to begin setting up for a "boo-fest" tonight. I am sure I will have something more to say about that on Monday, but for now, back to the half day.
DW is involved with the PTA and so she went to the school to help set up. That left Shy getting out of school early, and of course, I had to take time off of work to get her at the bus. I love the cahnces we have to spend time with just the two of us, so I was more than happy to oblige. When I picked her up, she infomred me that she was hungry and wanted to get something to eat.
I suggested a little deli type mini-mart that is up the street from our house. She had never been there before and asked if they had tuna. I said they did, and it was agreed that we would go there for lunch.
When we got there they had a little sub type tuna sandwich that was about 8 inches long. I showed it to her and asked if she wanted to share it with me. I would cut it and we could each have half. She thought that was a great idea.
Then I said to her "Why don't you get a bag of chips we can share"
She went over to the rack with the chips and picked out a bag of Doritos and agreed that we could share that.
I saw some Twinkies on another rack and since I know she likes them I picked it up and said "Do you want to share the Twinkies for dessert? We can each have one"
She declined that and said "I would rather have cookies"
We went over to the cookie rack and she picked up a 4 pack of Chips Ahoy. That caused the following conversation to ensue:
Me: "Are we going to share the cookies too?"
Shy: "Yes, we can each have 3"
Me (seeing this as a teachable math moment) "There are only 4 cookies in the package"
Shy: "Well then I will have 4 and you can have 2"
Me: (trying to be patient) "Shy, there are only 4 cookies total in the package"
Shy: "well then you can have 4 and I can have 4"
Me: (getting a little frustrated) "No Shy, there are only 4 cookies total in the package"
Shy: "Well then I will have 4 and you........ can get your own"
So, I got Fig Newtons....I like them better anyway.
*
So Shy had a half-day at school yesterday. With the kids gone from the school, the PTA took advantage of that time to begin setting up for a "boo-fest" tonight. I am sure I will have something more to say about that on Monday, but for now, back to the half day.
DW is involved with the PTA and so she went to the school to help set up. That left Shy getting out of school early, and of course, I had to take time off of work to get her at the bus. I love the cahnces we have to spend time with just the two of us, so I was more than happy to oblige. When I picked her up, she infomred me that she was hungry and wanted to get something to eat.
I suggested a little deli type mini-mart that is up the street from our house. She had never been there before and asked if they had tuna. I said they did, and it was agreed that we would go there for lunch.
When we got there they had a little sub type tuna sandwich that was about 8 inches long. I showed it to her and asked if she wanted to share it with me. I would cut it and we could each have half. She thought that was a great idea.
Then I said to her "Why don't you get a bag of chips we can share"
She went over to the rack with the chips and picked out a bag of Doritos and agreed that we could share that.
I saw some Twinkies on another rack and since I know she likes them I picked it up and said "Do you want to share the Twinkies for dessert? We can each have one"
She declined that and said "I would rather have cookies"
We went over to the cookie rack and she picked up a 4 pack of Chips Ahoy. That caused the following conversation to ensue:
Me: "Are we going to share the cookies too?"
Shy: "Yes, we can each have 3"
Me (seeing this as a teachable math moment) "There are only 4 cookies in the package"
Shy: "Well then I will have 4 and you can have 2"
Me: (trying to be patient) "Shy, there are only 4 cookies total in the package"
Shy: "well then you can have 4 and I can have 4"
Me: (getting a little frustrated) "No Shy, there are only 4 cookies total in the package"
Shy: "Well then I will have 4 and you........ can get your own"
So, I got Fig Newtons....I like them better anyway.
*
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Swimming and Girl Scouts
*
So last night Shy had her first swimming lesson. Unfortuntately I was unable to attend. (I had to go to Girl Scouts, but I will get to that later). DW said the entire time that she was in the water she had a huge smile on her face. She was thoroughly enjoying it. She didn't know any of the other girls or boys who were there, so yet another opportunity for her to make new friends.
When I got home from Girl Scouts, it was after she was in bed, but as usual she was still awake. I could tell she had a great time at swimming and is ready to go back. Considering we live so close to so much water, it is great that she enjoys swimming and will learn to be a good swimmer. Our son Barry was a swimmer in high school. Who knows, maybe she will be too. She seems to be a lot more athletic then the rest of us.
So....Girl Scouts. While DW and Shy were at the pool, dear old dad was at a Girl scout Troop Formation meeting. Yes, I was the only male in the room. Yes, I was also the oldest person in the room. I actuaally felt like I was in a room of Girl Scouts, not in a room with parents of girl scouts!. They were all so young. They also wanted to be sure I had the opportunity to be a troop leader if I wanted to. Now, I am not sure I would want a male to be a Girl Scout Troop leader, but for some reason they saw no problem....Don't worry, when they mentioned that Daisy's could be up to 10 or even 12 five and six year olds, I knew that put me out of even considering it.
The good news is that they are only going to meet for 1 hour every other week. So it won't be too much for Shy. The other good news is that it includes a lot of girls from her school from other 1st grade classes. More opportunities for her to meet new friends.
By the way, thanks for yesterday's comments on how much she should be doing and about over-involvement. There is definitely a lot to think about. I think it will be much easier for us to get play dates and other type activities set up once we get to know some of the other parents better. Unfortunately, Shy does not come home with last names, and the only phone number she came home from school with was unreadable (I was just as glad. His name was Anthony and he is an older boy on the bus).
I think it is on DW and I. We have to get to know some of the other parents so that we can find these things out. DW is doing a good job of that by being involved in PTA. As a matter of fact she will be at the school this afternoon getting a halloween thing ready for tomorrow night.
Anyway, Shy is doing well. She is looking forward to Girl Scouts. She is LOVING swim, and so far, no real problems. We will certainly keep a close eye on her though.
*
So last night Shy had her first swimming lesson. Unfortuntately I was unable to attend. (I had to go to Girl Scouts, but I will get to that later). DW said the entire time that she was in the water she had a huge smile on her face. She was thoroughly enjoying it. She didn't know any of the other girls or boys who were there, so yet another opportunity for her to make new friends.
When I got home from Girl Scouts, it was after she was in bed, but as usual she was still awake. I could tell she had a great time at swimming and is ready to go back. Considering we live so close to so much water, it is great that she enjoys swimming and will learn to be a good swimmer. Our son Barry was a swimmer in high school. Who knows, maybe she will be too. She seems to be a lot more athletic then the rest of us.
So....Girl Scouts. While DW and Shy were at the pool, dear old dad was at a Girl scout Troop Formation meeting. Yes, I was the only male in the room. Yes, I was also the oldest person in the room. I actuaally felt like I was in a room of Girl Scouts, not in a room with parents of girl scouts!. They were all so young. They also wanted to be sure I had the opportunity to be a troop leader if I wanted to. Now, I am not sure I would want a male to be a Girl Scout Troop leader, but for some reason they saw no problem....Don't worry, when they mentioned that Daisy's could be up to 10 or even 12 five and six year olds, I knew that put me out of even considering it.
The good news is that they are only going to meet for 1 hour every other week. So it won't be too much for Shy. The other good news is that it includes a lot of girls from her school from other 1st grade classes. More opportunities for her to meet new friends.
By the way, thanks for yesterday's comments on how much she should be doing and about over-involvement. There is definitely a lot to think about. I think it will be much easier for us to get play dates and other type activities set up once we get to know some of the other parents better. Unfortunately, Shy does not come home with last names, and the only phone number she came home from school with was unreadable (I was just as glad. His name was Anthony and he is an older boy on the bus).
I think it is on DW and I. We have to get to know some of the other parents so that we can find these things out. DW is doing a good job of that by being involved in PTA. As a matter of fact she will be at the school this afternoon getting a halloween thing ready for tomorrow night.
Anyway, Shy is doing well. She is looking forward to Girl Scouts. She is LOVING swim, and so far, no real problems. We will certainly keep a close eye on her though.
*
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Just Wondering
*
I am beginning to wonder if there is too much going on for Shyanne. She has been behaving differently, and at first I thought it might be because of the move, but now I am wonderfing if she is "over-involved".
DW is calling a person today to try to set up some aapointments for Shyanne to see someone, but until then, we have to deal with it ourselves, I guess. But how does one know when a child is over-invloved.
Right now she has Sunday School on Sunday, Dance on Monday, Swimming on Wednesday, and Basketball on Friday. We are also preparing for Girl Scouts, but that has not started yet, and we are not sure when/how that will run. I don't know if that is too much or not enough. Maybe part of the problem is she needs more stimulation on the empty days and in between the times of school and the other activities.
It is all kind of new to us. When our older kids were Shy's age, there wasn't as much available for them. the girls never did more than one or two sports/activities at a time. No one did in those days. Of course it was easier to let kids go outside and play without worrying about them at that time too. Now, you have to watch your child constantly. You never know what can happen to them and that is especially true with her.
While her bio parents don't know where we are, they know who we are and in this technological era, it wouldn't be too hard to find us.
So, if anyone has any good ideas on what constitutes too much or not enough for a first grader's activities, we are always willing to get other's viewpoints.
Thanks
*
I am beginning to wonder if there is too much going on for Shyanne. She has been behaving differently, and at first I thought it might be because of the move, but now I am wonderfing if she is "over-involved".
DW is calling a person today to try to set up some aapointments for Shyanne to see someone, but until then, we have to deal with it ourselves, I guess. But how does one know when a child is over-invloved.
Right now she has Sunday School on Sunday, Dance on Monday, Swimming on Wednesday, and Basketball on Friday. We are also preparing for Girl Scouts, but that has not started yet, and we are not sure when/how that will run. I don't know if that is too much or not enough. Maybe part of the problem is she needs more stimulation on the empty days and in between the times of school and the other activities.
It is all kind of new to us. When our older kids were Shy's age, there wasn't as much available for them. the girls never did more than one or two sports/activities at a time. No one did in those days. Of course it was easier to let kids go outside and play without worrying about them at that time too. Now, you have to watch your child constantly. You never know what can happen to them and that is especially true with her.
While her bio parents don't know where we are, they know who we are and in this technological era, it wouldn't be too hard to find us.
So, if anyone has any good ideas on what constitutes too much or not enough for a first grader's activities, we are always willing to get other's viewpoints.
Thanks
*
Monday, October 24, 2011
Visiting
*
This weekend we went to Maine to visit with family and friends who we left behind when we moved.
Amy and her husband had just passed papers on the house they bought on Friday and we got to see it. Empty, in need of cleaning, in need of some work, in need of love. I know they will provide all of that, and it will be a wonderful home for them to spend the next chapter of their life in. DW and I are so happy for them.
We spent our nights at Kari's house with her husband and our handsome grandson. It was a great time there too. (except that our grandson didn't feel like letting anyone sleep on Friday night). Apparently he preferred screaming to sleeping. We slept downstairs in their "guest room/office". Well, I did end up on the couch both nights as Shy decided she wanted to sleep on the bed instead of in a sleeping bag on the floor. The double bed isn't quite big enough for three of us.
We had a wonderful breakfast with old friends on Saturday morning, and an equally wonderful dinner with other old friends on Saturday night. It was great spending time with them. As yet, we have not found good friends like that down here. I am sure we iwll given time, but right now, all we have are aquaintances.
Shyanne got to visit with two of her biological brothers this weekend as well. The one who is closest to Shyanne in age is, by all appearances, a very happy boy enjoying his new adoptive life with a wonderful man who he calls dad. The next older brother that she got to visit with, does not appear to be as happy a boy. His adoption has been final for a few months now, and the family he is with is truly wonderful, but he just doesn't seem to be very happy. I think he remembers only good things about his past life, and wants that life back. Unfortunately, that is not to be, nor should it be. Their parents were turly unable to provide a safe environment for them.
I am glad Shyanne got to visit with the happy brother last. I think that made the trip a better one for her. I know there was no discussion with him about their past life. Neither of them really have much memory of it. They are both just "only" children at this point, and they truly do love and adore playing with each other. They were running around Chuck e Cheese's playing all the games, on the rides, and in the playground, while we sat around talking. I know Shy had a great time.
Thanksgiving we will be in Maine again, and that will be another opportunity to visit with her biological brothers. It would be nice to get the two older brothers invovled in a visit, but the foster parents they have don't seem very interested. They have been the same foster parents since the beginning, but as far as we know, the adoption is not yet final. It is really too bad. I know the two older brothers have had most of the problems, so maybe it is better this way.
I just want Shyanne to stay connected with her past....as long as it is a healthy connection.
*
This weekend we went to Maine to visit with family and friends who we left behind when we moved.
Amy and her husband had just passed papers on the house they bought on Friday and we got to see it. Empty, in need of cleaning, in need of some work, in need of love. I know they will provide all of that, and it will be a wonderful home for them to spend the next chapter of their life in. DW and I are so happy for them.
We spent our nights at Kari's house with her husband and our handsome grandson. It was a great time there too. (except that our grandson didn't feel like letting anyone sleep on Friday night). Apparently he preferred screaming to sleeping. We slept downstairs in their "guest room/office". Well, I did end up on the couch both nights as Shy decided she wanted to sleep on the bed instead of in a sleeping bag on the floor. The double bed isn't quite big enough for three of us.
We had a wonderful breakfast with old friends on Saturday morning, and an equally wonderful dinner with other old friends on Saturday night. It was great spending time with them. As yet, we have not found good friends like that down here. I am sure we iwll given time, but right now, all we have are aquaintances.
Shyanne got to visit with two of her biological brothers this weekend as well. The one who is closest to Shyanne in age is, by all appearances, a very happy boy enjoying his new adoptive life with a wonderful man who he calls dad. The next older brother that she got to visit with, does not appear to be as happy a boy. His adoption has been final for a few months now, and the family he is with is truly wonderful, but he just doesn't seem to be very happy. I think he remembers only good things about his past life, and wants that life back. Unfortunately, that is not to be, nor should it be. Their parents were turly unable to provide a safe environment for them.
I am glad Shyanne got to visit with the happy brother last. I think that made the trip a better one for her. I know there was no discussion with him about their past life. Neither of them really have much memory of it. They are both just "only" children at this point, and they truly do love and adore playing with each other. They were running around Chuck e Cheese's playing all the games, on the rides, and in the playground, while we sat around talking. I know Shy had a great time.
Thanksgiving we will be in Maine again, and that will be another opportunity to visit with her biological brothers. It would be nice to get the two older brothers invovled in a visit, but the foster parents they have don't seem very interested. They have been the same foster parents since the beginning, but as far as we know, the adoption is not yet final. It is really too bad. I know the two older brothers have had most of the problems, so maybe it is better this way.
I just want Shyanne to stay connected with her past....as long as it is a healthy connection.
*
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