It has really been a wonderful experience to be home with our kids. From my 2-weeks-home perspective, I'm amazed at how far they have come! I know it's all from the Lord, He has paved our way before, during and after. What a mighty God we serve. He takes care of all the details of our lives, for all of us! It's mind-boggling. From the first day we were back, we realized our kids were ok with visitors. They are all 3 shy at first, and then warm right up. They already love their new friends!
In the two weeks we've been home, I have yet to cook a whole meal. My freezer is stocked with so many yummy things, including dinner meals and breakfast treats!!
Jet lag was a pain. The kids went to sleep early (we resorted to marching Kaddie around the house to keep her up!) and woke up EARLY. The second morning we were home Kaddie woke me up sometime between 4:45 and 5:00 am PLAYING THE PIANO. Now I love when my kids play, but NOT that early and in the middle of jet lag recovery. Plus, I had translated the night before with her, given her a pile of books, a clock, and the instructions to not leave her bed until 7:00. When she can communicate better I'm gonna find out if that was unintentional or pure stinker.
Sullivan and Tucker defied jet lag and went to the midnight premiere of The Hobbit the second night we were back. Some friends picked them up and dropped them off. I never stirred. :) They're crazy, but they're young! So glad they had fun.
Our first few days were spent unpacking, organizing and exploring. The kids love the trampoline and the open spaces for play that we have in the yard. They adore the dogs! Every morning Peter says, "Mommy may I have good morning dogs?". :) When we were in Poland one of the things the kids liked best was for Sullivan to "act out" the dogs. He would pretend to be each one. He did a great job! The kids knew just what to expect from each mutt. The weather has been amazing for us, slightly warm and sunny. We are soaking up this sunshine like sponges. It feels SO good.
We took the whole crew to church with us Sunday morning and they did great. Not too wiggly and they had fun recognizing new friends afterward.
Monday nite we got to go to the Prattville Christmas Parade with some dear friends. We love this tradition. It is usually the first Sat. of December, which we would have missed. But weather got it moved so we could go. :) ALL the kids (10 in all between the families) had fun looking at the floats and going after candy. We went back to the Burton's afterward and the kids "traded" candy to get all the ones they liked best (also a tradition). Sarah Jane fell asleep on the way to their house and slept on their sofa the whole time we were there. She slept all the way home and didn't stir when we put her to bed. She is a great 3 year old!
Our next major outing was to our connect group Christmas party. They did great here, too. They stuck close to us for a little while and then had fun running around with all the other kiddos from our group.
Wednesday nite was Ellie's dress rehersal for her recital. She had already learned her dance before we left (because we had no idea if we would be back in time, her teachers graciously gave her parts that could be used or not in the actual recital). She rehersed a little on set up day and practiced at home. She danced beautifully, as usual. I have loved watching her grow in grace (both physically and spiritually) as she has danced through the years. She was a little nervous, as she had not been with the rest of her class for some time, but she focused on dancing for Jesus, so sweet.
I must say, too, that Ellie has some sweet friends! She has been visited by some and invited to spend time on play dates a couple of times, too. She needed that after being cooped up with Kaddie the tornado for so long. She feels so happy and pampered. She and Kaddie are also getting closer and more sister-like. :) Kaddie doesn't seem to mind when Ellie is gone for a little while. She loves being outside or playing the piano.
Thursday and Friday nites were dance nites. It was called Emmanuel and it was beautiful. Love celebrating Christmas this way. Kaddie and Sarah Jane spent half of each nite dancing in the open area to the side of the audience. They loved it. I think Sarah Jane would've gotten on stage if she could. There was a song called "When Love Takes You In" by Steven Curtis Chapman. It is about adoption. Ellie was in this one and it was of course sweet for us for 3 new reasons! In the middle of this song on the second nite, Kaddie and Sarah Jane were dancing to it together on the side and they both came and hugged me together. I know they had no idea what the song was about but it sure was a sweet moment!
On Friday our "frousins" friends-so-close-they-are-almost-cousins the Crawfords came for a quick visit in route from Huntsville to Mobile. It was so good to see them and the kids all got along so well! We just love this family.
Craig took some of the kids to the lake on Saturday. They had so much fun fishing! I got to get some presents wrapped and little things done. I shouldn't have wrapped Peter's present so soon. He's spent lots of time poking it and asking if he can unwrap it yet. :)
Sunday we went to church again and this time they were a little more wiggly. Sarah Jane was listening, tho. When our pastor said something about the state of Alabama, she piped up "1 Alabama!" which is what she said the whole day before we left to come home. He then said something about Jesus' birthday and Sarah Jane said, "Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!". For the most part they are pretty good about sitting still so long. And at our church we sing, pray, listen to the message and then sing again. Simple and good for families!
Sarah Jane is so comfortable with us now that she pitches a holy hissy fit every once in a while. If we are mean and, for example, won't let her have chocolate milk instead of water at nite, she'll let us know with lots of kicking, screaming and glaring. It doesn't last too long and we're pretty good at outlasting her. :)
Christmas Eve was so fun. We went to my Mom's to see her and Daddy, of course, and my brother, his wife Monique and their munchkin John Clark, my Uncle Jimmy and Auntcy Lee (short for Aunt Nancy Lee). There was lots of talking and laughing and playing and running and general chaos but it was so fun. We came back home for Ellie and Kaddie to go with their Daddy (Craig) to see A Christmas Carol at the Shakespeare Festival. Sarah Jane did not like being left and yelled Daddy at 4 second intervals for quite a while. ugg. After they came back we all got dressed up and went to the beautful Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church. The kids loved the candles and no one set anything on fire!!! John Clark did his best to grab his mama's candle but she's quicker. :) We went back to Mom's afterward for more fun, a delicious dinner and presents from Uncle Johnny and Aunt Monique. Peter was SO happy to open a present! Sarah Jane held tight to her "LaLa" (baby doll) from UJ and AM and went to sleep with her tucked under her chin. :)
Back at our house we got everyone to bed pretty easily. We so missed reading the Jotham books this year, but it wouldn't have worked with such an intense story and kids who don't speak English. We'll be back on track next year with Jotham and the Jesse tree. Craig and I had fun filling 7 stockings!! We also got them all pogo sticks! Very fun Christmas presents.
Christmas morning Sullivan was the only kid up before 7:00! I had to go into everyone's room with a jingle bell to wake them up. Craig took their picture on the stairs, another tradition, before they came down. We heard a lot of WOW's after they came down. :) The first thing we did was light the advent candles and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Then they got to open their stockings. Our original kids have always been so sweet about thanking us for everything on Christmas morning and the Polskis are the same. OOOOO, thank you, Mommy! and Thank you, Daddy! ~ heard lots of times! Such a happy time. We're not sure that they have ever received more than one present before, and probably not one of good quality. They were so sweet. I'm so glad we never taught our kids the Santa Clause myth. We've shared the story of St. Nicholas, and we watch the fun Christmas shows, but I'm so grateful that God led us to teach them the truth. That Christmas is the celebration of Jesus!
Mama and Daddy and Uncle Jimmy and Auncty Lee came over in the afternoon and celebrated some more. We had our traditional "soup and leftovers" plus lots of other goodies.
I'm going to stop here. This is a long post! I'm glad I got a lot of the sweet memories down. Picture time!
All 7 decorating the tree!
Our special "Scripture Tree" from Leigh Ann, each of our names with a scripture. One of my top favorite Christmas gifts!
Kaddie got a beginner's violin.
What's in my stocking!!!!!
Clement cousins in a row.
Sully's version of a roasted marshmallow.
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