Sorry so Long!

Hello All!

Sorry it's been so long since the last post! Not only have I been beyond busy with my new job (teaching 5th grade now - all subject areas ), but the boys schedules are also jam packed. Charlie and Sam are in Kindergarten, in separate classrooms, and adjusting very well. They love school and are very disappointed if they have a day off or get picked up early (remember those days?) Because my school day begins much later than theirs, I actually have time to drop them off at school mornings. They are picked up by Daddy, Grammy, or they take the bus to the babysitters afternoons. Owen is also in "school;" a preschool program 3 days a week. He loves it, loves the teachers and other children and smiles everyday when I drop him off (makes it soooo much easier to leave him). They have a daycare program afternoons and an awesome playground including sand tables, a garden and a very friendly dog. Owen also attends "Prince Academy" at Grammy's house twice a week; there he is is doted on and spoiled rotten as every child should be! They both love it and have a great time! - library group, playing outside, shopping, reading books, playing music, watching Seasame Street, etc. Eric is busy "building houses," as the boys call it, on Maine's mid-coast and cooking supper for us every night (yeah Daddy!) We've had a busy autumn - apple picking, helping Daddy with firewood, playing outside, trick-or-treating and more! A very special highlight a couple of weeks ago - adoption finalization! We're looking forward to the holidays, as the days get darker and snow will fly soon! Up next, Kindergarten basketball. Hopefully this message finds you all healthy and happy. I'll try to get a message on again soon!

Gotcha Day Anniversary!

I'm sorry to say that I'm too tired to write much about the experience tonight; but to keep it simple just imagine the most amazing, emotional, heart- wrenching, nerve-wracking, joyful, sad, and downright exhausting day you could ever have - and multiply it by 3! In this case we'll just have to let the photos tell the story...

To celebrate we had a quiet (okay, not entirely quiet) family meal at home, watched part of Cars and read Todd Parr's children's book "We Belong Together" at bedtime. We talked about "the day" at supper and both of the older boys remember quite a bit; when we asked Owen if he remembered anything he thought really hard (and understood the questions) and replied: "No."

P.S. If you'd like to become my Facebook friend you can see a more detailed photo album. I'll make an earnest entry about Gotcha Day and those that followed here as soon as I can.

One Year Ago...

One year ago tonight my mom, Eric and I landed in Mumbai, India after 15 hours of flying (Portland, ME to Newark, NJ to Mumbai). We sped through the lines, collected our luggage and headed out into the steamy, dark night air to look for our "ride." With no electricity and hundreds of people streaming out the front door to meet the hundreds more waiting we wondered how we would ever find our connection - but there it was - a sign with our name on it! A man led us through the dirt parking lot filled with tiny, stinky cars and stray dogs, loaded our luggage on the top of our own tiny car and headed off into the darkness.... our adventure began. The hotel was very nice, inside, and it wasn't until the next morning that we fully realized our surroundings. The facade of the garden on one side blocked the view of the slums out back. As the generators worked furiously to cool our marble floors those below started their day in very different circumstances. We took a brief driving tour of the city before we headed off to Pune to pick up the boys; we were to arrive in the afternoon. These photos are of the Kohinoor in Mumbai, the driving tour and the route through the mountains on the way to Pune. At the time I was too overwhelmed to post or write much, so I'll try to reminisce now, while I still remember. Tomorrow I'll post the "gotcha photos!"

More Summer Fun!

We've been having more summer fun with grandparents, parents, cousins, aunt & uncles! The ocean by boat and land, swimming in Maine's beautiful lakes and ponds and falling asleep on the way home - worn out from the days adventures.