I'm still here

I'm still here, but I am totally obsessed with the CC season and the meets. We have a strong team this year, and very likely we will make it to state. It is exciting!!!
My nights are filled with playing with Tuks and getting ready for the next day's lesson.

Tuki was bit in the cheek yesterday at daycare. A new boy around 2 years old started attending and he bit her. I guess it is an issue with him. She has a circle on her cheek where his top and bottom teeth left an impression. She seems to not be bothered by it at all, and I understand that when you have a bunch of kids together, no matter how careful you are, things just happen. BUT, I sure hope his parent's work with him and stopping the biting!! I don't want it to happen again. Once is enough. Tuks was biting me this summer when we were wrestling and playing around, but I nipped that behavior right away, so I know it can be stopped.

AWFUL!!

Ok, I know this picture of both of us is well, AWFUL!!! It was taken at the meet yesterday by a runner's parent. In our defense we were both hot, tired and looking directly into the sun.....But I decided to post it anyway to show how un-vain (is this a word) we are and because I haven't posted a picture of Tuks in awhile.

So have a good laugh, and proclaim.."at least I don't look as bad as her, " her meaning me because as you know Tuks is just the cutest!! and I hope this thought carries you into a good week!!!

Off and Running

The weekend started out busy..I had a home cross country meet to attend and coach, so I left the house at 7:15am. As soon as CC Angie (the name I call our babysitter during the CC season) came through the doors this morning, Tuks started crying. She KNEW I was leaving and she didn't like it!! This season is more of a struggle because Tuks is older and struggling more, therefore I am struggling more.

By the way we won all three of our races against 17 different schools.

Later around 10:00am my friend E picked Tuki up and brought her to the meet. She loved yelling, clapping, running around and just hanging with all the other spectators. It was a blast for her. I am really grateful that E took the time to bring her over. He then brought her home and put her down for her nap, and stayed until I arrived home. She slept 3 hours and then once awake we were off and running to our annual family reunion on my Dad's side of the family. Around 6:30pm Tuks let me know that she was ready to come home for bed. Tomorrow, besides church and grocery shopping, we are staying HOME!!!

In IBESR

We are in IBESR (similar to PGN in Guatemala)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My number is posted to the left. This is an important number. While watching other numbers coming out of IBSER, if they are close to this number, then I know it will be soon that my papers are released....so I have to keep my eye on 15648!!!!!!!

Length of time in this step is 4 to 6 months, so I am hoping for next February!!!

Congratulations to all the adoptive parents from Panda's O that came OUT of IBSER..they have about 5 - 9 more months to go IF all proceeds as hoped!!

New Day, New Year

Well today started out great. We went for a 4 mile run, then when we returned, I started cutting, peeling and coring apples to freeze. It was amazing how many apples I had to cut up in order to be able to freeze a little bit of it. I hope to turn the apples into filling come Christmas time and serve the pies at my annual family meal. We also played outdoors quite a bit and went for a 7+ mile bike ride tonight.

In addition, today I made breaded eggplant. Now, to understand how amazing this is, you need to know that I have never liked eggplant made by others nor have I ever cooked it myself before. BUT, today I tweaked a recipe and I breaded (this was the tweaked part) and baked the eggplant and it was FANTASTIC!!! This recipe, to my credit, pat on the back, is the 4th new recipe I have created out of tweaking (adding additional or different ingredients) existing recipes that I don't like. I just may create a cook book someday. Good way to raise money!!!

Yesterday Tuks and I along with cousin N and her parents went to another local fair. If you were at all counting we have 4 local fair in any given year. This year Tuks and I made 3 of the 4. She is quickly learning the the joy of rides and breaded cheese curds. I love them too.

Boy I just realized how many breaded things we ate this weekend, quite a bit considering we, like hardly never eat breaded or fried foods!!!

As for on the adoption front, it looks like things are going well this week for the 3 adoptive moms in Haiti, kids are adjusting well, and testing their boundaries, just like all kids do. It is fun to see the updates. Kids are also continuing to come home from Guatemala, even though there is much uprising and strife with the pending Hague Treaty being enforced.

Hope everyone had a GREAT Labor Day weekend. I feel refreshed, and am able to hit the ground running tomorrow morning.

I am ready to meet all my new students shinning faces tomorrow, who I just KNOW will be so eager for school to start for another year!!!

Inner Thoughts

How many other parents struggle with patience?
Tuki is REALLY a GREAT kid, but still a typical almost two year old. On some days I struggle with being patient with her grabbing and pulling at everything. I love her curiosity, yet some days it tires me out. It is not her fault, it is all mine, she is just being her age..but what age am I being when I lose my inner peace???

When those days come, usually the same time each month, I can't help but think she would have been happier in a better family, specifically a better mom. Logically I know this isn't true, but emotionally, sometimes I really wonder!!!

Gourd Success

Yesterday, we had one of those longer than 10 hour days because I had a CC meet last night. But, considering all things, it went well. Tuks started showing me her disdain for this new schedule of spending more hours away from home, than at home. I understand that, but it is only for 2 months..so I justify it.

My care for Tuks on meet days/night are as follows: she goes to the daycare during school hours and then at 5:00pm I have a college student pick her up, bring her home and feed her, play with her, put her to bed, etc., and then stay until I arrive home. I hired the same college student that I did last year and it works well because it guarantees that Tuks will be at daycare for the maximum of 10 hours, and then onto home. I was told all went well yesterday, Tuki is tired today, but otherwise good. I was planning to go to the fair, but she wanted nothing to do with that idea for today, so we are just hanging around home. We both need the respite from wandering.

On another positive note, I am starting to get some gourds growing, and since we usually don't get a freeze until mid-October, I may actually get some of decent size.

Well, that's about all that is exciting here...still waiting to hear how the 3 mothers are doing who are picking up their kids from Haiti this week...it is always nice when they come home.