Catch Up

I keep meaning to keep up with the blog, blogging a number of times a month, every month but sometimes life gets in the way. No idea how some people manage the time and something to say every day. Every day is not going to happen but at least if I can catch up for this year I'd be happy.

Our life with Maya is interesting, happy, sad, and all over the place at times. The second half of the year has gone much better. Grade five is more productive. There are still times as we found out she decides not to co-operate but it's better again after another talk. She has more friends and gets along with the rest of us. Brandon too has learned to get along with his aunt Maya better and the two can play in a more structural manner as oppose to only running around.

Somewhere in between Thanksgiving and Halloween we had a visit from a few members of the CCCWA. It appears they were in Canada for vacation and the agency was showing them around and had asked if we would allow them to come to our home as an example to where an adoptive child lives. It was somewhat unnerving but I think we did ok. They came over, stayed a while, looked at Maya's room and her adoption book and then we went out to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. Maya received presents from each of them and she was good with that.

In November we went to our first Tree Lighting Ceremony, following that was the first time Maya went to a Santa Clause Parade. She liked it, even though it was pretty cold and there was some wait time in between floats at the Parade. The tree lighting was a bit more fun because we got to walk around there were games and roasting marshmallows.  Brandon had his first school play. Wish we were there for that but we did get a video and pictures. It is so precious of course, a child's first school play, the first time they are doing something more important without their parents right by their side. He did great.

Thanksgiving

Mom's Birthday

CCCWA

Mom & Dad are happy having all the younger ones

Halloween

Brandon & Jaxon in the same hamburger costume

Our only son, Steve all dressed to impress his girlfriend

The Parade

Brandon with his aunt Maya or as he calls her Teta Maya

Jaxon has a sleepover at our place

Maya buying fabric for the first time to try her hand at making a dress. As we know she wants to be a movie star and a fashion designer. She took a while to chose the material. The girl knows what she likes. It has to be soft and comfortable on the skin.

Brandon's first School Play at Christmas. He actually did sing, did his hand motions and stayed put. Many times these little ones just like to goof around and not really do any singing so he did good.

Maya decorating the 2015 Christmas tree. She and her sister Krissy did the whole thing with just a little help from me but I was happy to let them have their fun. Though Maya would like to put on every single ornament we own if I didn't stop her. I like to use some one year and then different ones next year and so on. Still they did a great job. Krissy was wearing a comfy bathrobe so I left her out of the pictures.

I think we can now safely move onto more of the Holiday Season.

Hope you're having a good one.

Happy Holidays

Little Brothers

Sleeping Baby

Just had to show you this, nothing cuter than a sleeping baby. So while the little one is snoozing the big brother is off to school learning to draw. I think this is his interpretation of himself and yes I like it, love it really.

Enjoying the Family

October is also our heavy month for birthdays and here are a few snaps from early October of a father and son birthday celebrating together since they are so close in the days not the year of course. It was a great day of our family being together enjoying Italian food. We also visited more of our family and a Chinese mall nearby. There were so many vendors it was hard deciding which store to go into. Maya too does not do well when there are too many choices, it just overwhelms her senses but it was good to see it since we've been meaning to go there at some point. There were more birthdays later on in the month as well. Always a good time.

Everyone wants to hold the baby :))

Peace out from Maya.

Pumpkin Day

At the end of September we got out to a pumpkin farm. Wow, never seen quite this big a pumpkin harvest before. It must've been a good year. The kids enjoyed looking around and there was a big play area with all kinds of games, fun for all. It was a beautiful day. Sun was shining and it wasn't cold at all like some years. Maya fully enjoyed the day as well, not sure if she'd ever seen this many pumpkins if she'd seen any at all in China.

First Year

2015 also marks the first year of school for this kindergartener. Brandon's first days in school went well but soon came the time he didn't want to go back. It took a few days more for him to realize he had to go to school. Of course he wanted to be at home with mommy and baby brother and daddy but everyone eventually has to start school. He still didn't want to go and begged to stay home however as all things go with school Brandon caught a cough from another child and had to stay home for over a week. Just as will because when he returned to school things got much better.

Grade 5

Just to take a few minutes to note Maya's first day of school of Grade 5. It was on September 8th this year. It was a very nice day, a bit cool and wet but still nice. Maya had more confidence getting out and starting school again than same time last year. We had no problems breaking it off when ready to go inside, a complete opposite of grade 4, understandably so. Last year she had no friends, knew no one, everything was intimidating but this year she has some friends to come back to, a few of the same kids from last year are in her class this year. She has more homework this year, real homework. As her English improves she is able to join the kids in most everything they are doing, which takes away the boredom. Mind you she still has a lot to learn. She speaks a lot of the simple language and now time comes to introduce the bigger and harder words and ideas but it will come all in good time. We'll keep working at it Maya Lanlan. You're a very smart girl and I know you can do it.

And it was my birthday too, so two things going on today making it a full day. After school we went out for supper to celebrate both. It was a good time with family and especially with a new daughter to love.