Crazy Hair, Cupcakes...and ....Cat Pee

Lovely name for a blog post eh......  I told you I struggled sometimes.

The Crazy Hair was Sherman and Ash.  Sherman gets a kick out of seeing how "fluffed" he can get his hair....but he had some stiff competition when his big brother Ash showed up.

 If you are ever feeling like your popularity ratings are low....stop on by!  It's all your necks lifes worth to escape from the lap ornaments, and smart phone thieves.  They will make you feel VERY loved!

 

Our two media junkies.....we have to watch these two!  All of a sudden it will get quiet......and I go looking for them......they've been sucked in and captured......again.

Then there are always days of .......THE DREADED (by mom) play dough.......play dough is SO messy:( Ugh.....and they always BOTH want the SAME tool.  We have a handy dandy pizza maker.....and a  lovely Ice Cream Sundae maker.....but they ALWAYS want the same one......ALWAYS.

 

They both played for quite a while....but then Wren got bored...and was on to the next thing....she found a deck of cards and was dealing them out and spreading them in lines on the table.  At the other end of the table was Iley still huddled over her little stack of multi colored playdoh....soon to be an ugly shade of brown.....

Wren is getting pretty good at doing the 24 piece puzzles without any help.  She is much more visual than Iley.  ......and Iley gives up and asks for help WAY to quickly!   

She'd rather watch Wren......

.......and hang on to one or two pieces till the puzzle is almost finished....

 .....then triumphantly plunk them into their spots.  If I were Wren I'd smack her!  But she's actually usually pretty patient with her....unless she's staring at her......and that's enough to unnerve anyone!

 

Today the girls and I went over to Thatcher and Kyndahls new house.  They are moving out of their tiny apartment to a little bigger house.  It has MUCH more light 2 bedrooms and a bigger kitchen.  We scrubbed walls, and ceilings and cabinets.....and wiped up LOTS of cat hair....there was even cat hair in the freezer of the fridge!   But the worst was when we pulled up all the carpet in the living room (to find this lovely hard wood)....but OH MY WORD....poor Carrie....she was the closest to it.....in the corner by the front door must have been the regular spot to relieve it/them...selves.....I thought we were going to gag....the smell was so atrocious...like the cat house at the zoo!  So this nasty dirty floor......that we are all sitting on to eat.....lovely huh.......is going to get a massive scrubbing soon.

Then after we'd spent most of the day scrubbing scrubbing it....We almost burnt the place down....Thatch brought pizza for everyone.....and they stuck it in the oven on low to keep warm.....it must have been too hot....or too close to the heat coils.....cause the boxes caught on fire.  All of a sudden Harrison is like.....uh...the oven is on fire.  No mom Really!  ......yep really.....all three boxes were in flames!  We saved the pizza......a tad smokey flavored.....but had to clean the oven again.

 

 My dirty little ragamuffins!

See Iley's finger!.....she's getting a cupcake crumb that dropped....this girl will brave even Cat.....P...for sugar!

 

Oops.....another one!  Not to worry...they survived the bathwater in China....their immune systems are like iron:)

I had to help her get the last crumbs off her plate.

 

 

 Cupcake staches.

 

Carrie and Micah....Carrie was there helping all day.

   These three.....are just odd.   The tall guy is a brother-in-law to the guy squished in the middle.....and they are all great friends.........but seriously....this is just weird boys.

 

So that about wraps up our last couple of days......minus the mud and snow and gunk tracked in my mudroom....and the hats and gloves and boots and coats and snow pants.... and trips to the bathroom.  I will spare you those details.......I'm tired of them....that's all I'll say.

Who will Go?

URGENT UPDATE ON WILLOW

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Willow Will be Returned to the Orphanage in One Month!

 URGENT UPDATE ON WILLOW (February 21): For the last 3 years, Willow’s story and beautiful photos have graced our blog and Facebook page. We had hoped that in that time an adoptive family would come forward for her, and provide her with the loving home she needs and deserves. But, still, she waits. We at Holt recognize that adopting an older child isn’t for everyone, but we still hold onto hope – still pray – that a family can be found for sweet Willow.
Just a few hours ago, we were informed that Willow has exactly 1 month to find a family in the United States. If a family can’t be found for her by March 21st, she will have to leave her foster family and return to a government-run orphanage. We can’t let this happen! If Willow returns to the orphanage, finding an adoptive family for her will prove almost impossible.
We have just one month, and we need your help! Please share Willow’s story and photos with your family and friends, on your blog and Facebook page, and at your church! We know that a family is out there for Willow, but we are running out of time – Willow is running out of time. So please do all you can!
Adoption eligibility requirements for Willow may be flexible regarding parent age limit and number of children in home.  Willow will need specialized attention upon coming home, so we are seeking an adoptive family with 0-1 children younger than Willow currently in the home.   A family that has parented past her age is also recommended.  There is a $5000 Special Blessings grant available for the adoption fees. Please contact Erin Anderson at erina@holtinternational.org if your family is interested in adopting Willow.

In 2011,  Jessica Palmer, director of services for Southeast Asia, traveled to Southeast Asia to meet children living in Holt-supported foster and institutional care.  Here, she reflects on her visit with Willow*, whose referral is posted as G10_8 on Holt’s Southeast Asia photolisting.
Date of Birth: October 13, 2002
The smell of incense wafts from the front porch of Willow’s foster home – a small, wooden house that sits beside a river. The incense is especially important this afternoon, as the thunderstorm that came through this morning has caused some flooding in nearby areas.  The incense keeps the mosquitoes away.
For over six years, Willow has lived in this house, patiently waiting for her forever family. In a house nearby, a close friend of Willow’s once also waited.  But she has since left to join her adoptive family.  When a post-placement photo came in, Willow eagerly asked to see it, no doubt missing her friend.
And wondering, when it will be her turn.
Found as a newborn in a rice field, Willow spent the first 4 years of her life in an institution.  She knew nothing else.  So when, in July 2006, she went to live with a foster family, her adjustment was not exactly smooth sailing. But time has  passed, and the change in Willow is visible.  She is thriving as a member of this family and has learned productive ways of handling frustration, such as walking away from a situation.   As we sit on her front porch, we talk with Willow and her foster mother about her friends at school and in the neighborhood, how much she helps her foster mother around the house, and about her most recent interest – jigsaw puzzles.
As we hear more and more about Willow’s personality, I begin to notice pieces of myself in her foster mother’s descriptions.  When Willow finishes a jigsaw puzzle, she loses interest and doesn’t want to do the puzzle again – she’s already solved it!  Sometimes she needs to be reminded to make the bed.  She is quite helpful to other people and is a very patient girl.
In September 2012, Willow met with a psychiatrist for a regular follow up visit.  The psychiatrist determined that Willow is doing well both in school and at home.  Willow also regularly meets with a speech therapist and is now able to clearly recite short stories. Her foster continually encourages Willow to tell longer stories, with more complex sentences, and Willow is improving in this area.   Willow always works hard in school and gets along well with other children.

Willow in August 2013.

Willow and I are so similar in personality, and so different in circumstances.  I wonder what I would think if I were in her shoes – what hopes and dreams I would have for my future.  Would I ever go from foster child, my information posted on a photolisting for over a year, to the permanent daughter of a loving adoptive family?  If I were her, I wouldn’t give up on that hope.
As we walk down the porch steps, away from the incense and back down the muddy path to our vehicle, I see Willow, quietly blowing bubbles and watching as they float to the ground.
For more information about Willow, contact Erin Anderson at erina@holtinernational.org.
*name changed

Pineapple Purse and Kangaroos

Aunt Darcy gave us a couple of bags of clothes.....which the girls happily divided, and didn't pay much attention to.....UNTIL......the Pineapple Purse came out.....then OH MY WORD......we had some intense fellowship.....a tug of war....and some seriously dirty looks!  The timer is our friend.....10 minutes of possession then we traded......this made for a long morning for mom.  

It must have been Iley's turn here.  They were being crazy and dancing.....I think their new shirts made them happy!

Wren doing the "sprinkler dance"

 

Smug much??  Wren had just left for signing class..she had the purse to herself!

 

Pack mule.......

 Kangaroo?

 She actually looks like she has a belly here!

 

 We got a couple of pictures from Ash and Ella:)  They just got home tonight from their honeymoon.  They had a wonderful time in Santa Fe, NM.  They said it was a great place to go off season, but would be really busy in the summer.  They also said it would be a great place for jewelry and art collectors...which they are not, and didn't buy anything.