Happy New Year!

This is what an early new year celebration looks like at our house. I could not get them to all look at the camera, so I just told them to do silly. I guess it didn't translate for Armands. We had poppers with trinkets inside and all the kids got tissue paper crowns.

We had a pretty laid back day at home. Matt went bike riding with a group and ended up in the ER. He went over the handlebars and has a separated shoulder. For now, it is immobilized, and he has to see an orthopedist when we can get an appointment. Last time he was in the ER, it was for a badly sprained ankle. I'm really not happy with his mountain bike right now.

Best wishes for blessings in 2013!

Ice hockey game

We took the kids to see the Gwinnett Gladiators ice hockey game. They played the SC Stingrays and lost 4-0. Armands seemed excited at first, but after a while he was bored. We stayed for the entire game and had a late night getting home in rainy weather. Thomas and Anna spent their time climbing over the seats, and thankfully there wasn't anyone seated behind us.

A break from the Chaos

I asked Armands if there was anything he would like to do. Through Google translate, he told me he wanted to color. I gave him a coloring book, and he sat down and colored a couple of pages. He hasn't colored again since then, so I wonder if something got lost in translation, and he was just humoring me.

Christmas and Helen

Christmas breakfast

 

Opening presents

 



 We took a little drive over the Helen today.  We were able to enjoy some sunshine after all the rain we have had the past couple of days.  We visited Goats on the Roof.  In case you didn't know, this store has grass on the roof, and goats can walk around up there.  In the picture below, you can see the ramp in the background where they can come down to the ground.  The smart owners of this store sell goat food, and you can either hand crank or ride a bicycle and send food up to the roof.  The metal cup hits a bell at the top to let the goats know that the food has arrived.  They are usually lined up to see who will get it first though.  After the goat visit, we parked in Helen and walked around for a while.  I parked at the lot that cost $2.00 paid in an envelope in the box.  I didn't have any ones, and as I was trying to decide what to do, Armands handed me his wallet with his Christmas money in it.  I was able to pay him back when I got some change. 

 

Merry Christmas!

Armands taught Matt how to play a Latvian card game. They really enjoyed playing together, and Armands would giggle when Matt won. He is really such a sweet boy. He is so thankful for everything. He says "thank you" after every meal and puts his dishes in the sink. He gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek again today.

I had to take Thomas back to the dr again, and since Armands has to be with me or Matt at all times, he had to go with me again. This makes the third time in a week. Thomas started with an ear infection last Monday, then he had croup on Friday, and now he has another ear infection and pneumonia. I hope this round of antibiotics will finally make my baby boy better. He has been so pitiful. I'm sure Armands wonders what is up with this kid. He also moves over when Thomas starts coughing...smart kid!

We had a good Christmas day. We had Matt's dad, grandmother, and my mom over for breakfast. The kids opened some presents, and we had a big turkey dinner in the afternoon. We sat around the table and played headbandz after dinner, and lastly I talked Matt into taking us to see the lights display in the local park. Today, my dad, stepmom, and aunt came up and took us to lunch. The gave the kids some Christmas money, so I took the big boys to Walmart tonight to shop. Armands picked out jeans, a church shirt with clip on tie, an angry birds tee, a belt, a pair of tennis shoes, an alarm clock, and a suitcase to carry home all his goodies. He also got a football and match box cars for his 16 and 8 year old foster brothers. He wants to get white chocolate for his foster mother. So we will get that closer to home time.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Christmas Eve devotion didn't go exactly as planned. Too much wiggling and pushing and whining and playing with toys resulted in three little ones being sent to bed early.

Overall, it was a good day. Matt took the big boys to see a movie and then to visit his work. Armands got to see the bucket trucks and the dispatch area. The younger kids got a nap, and mom came over to help me wrap presents and start cooking.

Making gingerbread men

Opening Christmas presents

Armands got the watch he wanted.

We spent the day having Christmas with my mom and brother and family in the morning and then Matt's dad and grandmother and brother and family in the evening.  We had lots of good food, and the kids got a few presents.

The other day at Walmart, Armands motioned to me that he wanted a watch.  I had already bought one for him for Christmas, so I told him no.  He handled it very well, and he was very excited when he opened the watch today.  He also got a recorder that plays two Bible stories in Latvian.  He has been carrying it around and playing the stories at bedtime too.  I would like to get him some more as he really seems to like it.

Sunday was a slow day.  Thomas was sick (croup), and Joshua didn't feel well either.  Matt took the other kids to church and brought home lunch.   We are looking forward to maybe getting some rest this week and getting everyone recuperated!

At the welcome party

Swimming

Matt took the boys to the local aquatic center.  Armands had said in his interview that he would like to learn to swim.  He does great with his arms, but we are working on the kicking.  He likes the water and puts his head in with no problem, we just need to get those legs working with the arms.

He also wants to learn to ride a bike.  He has been working hard at getting his balance and pedaling at the same time.  He has bruises on his legs from the pedals.  He showed me yesterday, "mama..." and when I acted like he was really hurt, he just giggled.  I think he wants me to know how hard he has been trying. 

We had a couple of days of bad weather, and Thomas has been sick this week.  Armands had to go with me to take Thomas to the doctor twice this week.  I can't imagine that we've been a lot of fun.  But, he enjoys playing with the big boys and Matt has been working hard to make special time with him in the evenings. 

We went to the New Horizons welcome party at an indoor water park.  The kids all loved that too.

Busy day

We started this morning with the mandatory dental check for Armands. Thankfully, there were no issues, and his teeth look pretty good aside from some overcrowding. Then, we went to help pack food bags for a local ministry. Thomas and Anna were at preschool, so you see the other 4 boys working hard in the picture. Next, we stopped at Walmart for groceries and a bike helmet for Armands. He didn't like the white helmet I picked up first and he chose the black one. I was surprised that he gave me his opinion, but it was nice to know that he will let us know what he wants. He tried to get me to buy him a watch, but I told him no and he put it back. I actually already bought him one for Christmas. When we got home, we had lunch (he has eaten everything I've served so far except chicken wings that I got with pizza the other night). Joshua had an online class and the other boys were watching videos, so Armands put on his new helmet and practiced riding a bike in the driveway. I think he will get it before he leaves. He is a tease too....he came in holding his wrist and when I tried to examine it, he started giggling really loud like he had really gotten me good. He told Matt through google translate that he has a bike at his foster home. The kids played tag in the yard while I fixed dinner. Matt took the big boys to church tonight, and I'm hanging out at home with the littles since Thomas woke up from his nap with a fever. Besides that, we've had another good day.

Gingerbread house

Our quiet activity of gingerbread house making turned into a marshmallow fight. It started with tossing marshmallows into each other's mouth. It ended with marshmallows everywhere and lots of giggles.

Armands called his foster mother through Skype, so I was able to hear her. I couldn't understand what she was saying, but it sounded very "motherish". He kept saying, "labi", which I think is "okay".

He is very neat. He folds his clothes and helps put things away. He picked up a stray sippy cup and put it on the counter this morning. He brushed his teeth last night like he had always done it, maybe he has?

Anna and Armands

Anna was showing Armands her book. I think she was trying to get him to read to her. He is so patient with her.

Our gifts

These are the gifts Armands brought us. A big box of chocolate, Latvian postcards, gingerbread cookies, and 5 candy bars.

On a side note, he was wearing new clothes, jacket, and boots. Not sure if his foster family bought them? He called them today, and it was sweet to hear him talk to his foster mama and someone else.

Armands is here!

We made it to the ATL airport at 9:15 for the 9:42 arrival to find out the flight had been delayed to 11:15!   The group finally arrived, and we cheered for them as they exited the elevator and headed towards us.  We had a quiet place to meet up on the 2nd floor of the rotunda, so we were able to have the area to ourselves.  Armands is very quiet.  I think he was very nervous, but already this morning he seems a little more settled down.  He speaks no English, but I think he learned yes and no and okay on the way home.  The boys watched old Superman cartoons in the van, and Joshua said he smiled at the fight scenes!  Mom had Luke and the littles and called while we were waiting at the airport to say that Thomas was crying with an ear ache.  My wonderful father in law went to our house and found ear drops and motrin and took it to Mom's house.  Mom said Thomas finally went to bed around midnight.  We didn't make it home until 1:30.  Armands had five layers of shirts/sweatshirts and a jacket.   His jeans are way too big and he had on big boots.  He pulled a gift bag out of his backpack, and in it were candy bars for each of the five kids, plus a big box of chocolates for us.  He also had a Christmas card and a packet of Latvian postcards.  He was so nervous that his hands were shaking, but he seems like a very sweet, shy boy.  He seems to read Latvian through google translate okay.  He doesn't seem to want to type on the computer, so he hasn't said much back to us.  Hopefully, he will pick up words soon and actually speak to us!

The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe

Here are a few random pictures I found on my camera...

 

Buzz Lightyear, Ninja, Minnie Mouse, Batman, Ninja

(feeling pretty safe around here, ha!)

Matt's birthday, a little help with the candles

 

 

The boys were in a play this semester with the local group again.  Joshua was Edmund in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.  This is the same group they have done the other plays, and I am always amazed at the final productions.  We love our director!  Caleb was a wolf and got to fight in the White Witch's army.  Matt was even recruited to get involved this time around.  He played the grown up Edmund at the end before the kids find the passage back through the wardrobe.

 

The kids did an awesome job!

Aslan crowning Edmund

Big and Little Edmund

Caleb the wolf

 

 

Caleb celebrated his 9th birthday, and he wanted a white Ninjago lego cake.  I had fun with the marshmallow fondant again! 

The fort in the woods

The boys building a gate for the fort. Great outdoor fun that usually results in poison ivy on the kids.

Ever put Ivory soap in the microwave?

This is what you get! 2 minutes, I read only ivory soap will work. It's a science experiment on molecules in motion, and the boys loved it. Makes the house smell good too. Clean up was easy, I was worried for my microwave, but it didn't cause any problems.

Merry Christmas from the littles

Anna doing "work"