Email Tag with Haiti

I received today via email:

Dear Ms. Aves:

In response to the explanation requested to clarify the discrepancies noted in your case, the wrong document was turned in. The information related to the date the child was received and the date of the adoption declaration remains inconsistent. We ask that Mrs. S come to this office any day next week to review the documents that indicate confusing information.

On another note, we had asked that the petition of Mim be paid as she is not related to Ve. Please make arrangements to have US 670 paid for the I-600 you filed on behalf of Mim.

We will keep you posted.



Regards,



Department of Homeland Security

U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

U.S. Embassy

Tabarre 41

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

I immediately responded with this email:

Hello,

I have paid the I - 600 fee for Mim back in March 2009. I sent it to M to bring into your office.

I will CC this email to M, in addition I will call her to clarify the problems

Thanks

They quickly responded with this email:

The file does not contain a receipt and we checked with our cashier’s office and there seems to be no record of payment. We will clarify this with Mrs. S.

Regards,

Department of Homeland Security

U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

U.S. Embassy

Tabarre 41

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

I then called M and actually got her.

and she did say that the money had not been turned in yet, not totally understanding why and that M will be going into the office on Monday to clear things up with a talk...so the waiting continues....

OOOOOHHHHH the joys of international adoption.

That's all I have for now.

Summer Plans

Since tomorrow is the last day for teachers...finally!!

We are making many summer plans

We are continuing to pray for Mim's homecoming to be soon!!!


We plan to continue to enjoy our feathered ladies as they grow. Now at six weeks old


Thelma

Edith/Quincy


Louise and Harriet


Maeve...we also are expecting six more chicks the second week of July to total 16 birds. You will have to wait and see who they are.

We will also be winterizing one of the old raptor cages to be used for the chickens for the winter months.

Ve will be attending 4 hours of summer school "Bridging to First Grade", 4 days a week for seven weeks, and playing t-ball one night a week.

Tuks will be attending the YMCA pre-school summer school, 2 mornings a week for 2 hours for six weeks, gymnastics class one morning a week and also t-ball one night a week.

I am hoping to take the girls camping at least 3 -4 times this summer plus take little day trips or over-nighters to towns and places within easy driving distance.

I plan to get back in shape since I haven't exercised in like 3 months...why I don't really know, just didn't feel like it was effective and lost my motivation, but now I hope to be back on track.

And our Phoebe is incubating her second clutch of at least two eggs. She already reared her first clutch of two. She is a busy lady!!!

Sixth Month home

The look says it all...a sassafras, intelligent, comedian, couch potato, sharpshooter.
"Who me"?!"

Wow, we have come upon the six month mark already. Where did the time go?! Like I and many others have said before, the time drags when you are waiting, but flies by when they are home. (This same six months feels like years when considering Mim, funny how that is)

I think the biggest change is that Ve is starting to talk about Haiti, like every day, several times each and every day. Some stories seem to be factual, some I am not so sure about. She has even started talking about her birth family members. Ve talking about Haiti encourages Tuks to talk about Guatemala. Now we know Tuk's stories are fabricated since she was so young upon home coming, but what I do like is the conversation between the two about their birth countries makes our family situation so normal, matter of fact, no big deal.

Ve's English is quite amazing. So good in fact that some people have a real hard time believing that she couldn't speak English when she came home.

I have also discovered if given a chance, Ve could/would spend the whole in day in PJ's sitting in front of the TV. One day that we had off, I let every one do what they wanted and Ve never changed out of her PJ's or left the living room with her eyes glued to the TV. I tell her she is a couch potato, but I will be helping her prevent this habit that wants to form so badly...since we are actually an ACTIVE family....

As the girl's like to say "It's (she's) a match"!!!

In Celebration

of the last day with students, Kiki, Neighbor A, me and the girls had a cookout out in our back yard.

and try as I did, still couldn't get a hold of M. Anyone, any suggestions on the best time for a call????


they really do love this hanging upside down. They ask Kiki for it ALL the time..poor guy!!











Kiki & Tuks


A & Ve


A & Tuks


Kiki & Ve

Worthy News

post worthy news...

*one day left with students

*called M last night, she said Mim is close to being approved by the Haiti USCIS, M just needs to bring in a letter of some sort. She was planning to do that today, so M said to call back today, I tried, MANY TIMES, but I couldn't get through...maybe tomorrow.

*When I called M last night, Ve had no desire to talk with her...not sure why?!

Random Post on a dreary, wet weekend.

Tuks had her 3 1/2 year well appointment. She is 41" tall and 40 lb. 95% for height and weight, same as always, except that the Doctor was surprised she grew 3 1/4 inches in her third year. I guess kids slow down about now and Tuks hasn't.



Ve's hair. Six small braids with beads in front, but then pulled back since Ve doesn't like it hanging in her eyes. Four puffs in the back...





Five week old Chick pics

Both Golden-laced Wyandottes, Esther and Celeste, and Louise the Light Brahma in back


Maeve and Helen, Red Stars


Two Silver-laced Wyandottes. You can see that the silver lacing is starting to come in on Harriet(in front). Olympia is in the back


Thelma loves to sit on my lap each day. She is my favorite!!!


The Silver Phoenix...the question is is she an Edith (hen) or a Quincy (rooster). My mind changes each week...what do you think??

Students are still in school until Wednesday the 10th, and teachers are done about noon on Monday the 15th....then summer begins!!


That's all for now

VerbalVe at Breakfast

On Sunday Ve decided that she wanted to wear her hair in a fro this week. I said OK, especially since I think she is absolutely gorgeous when she wears it this way.

I knew from my experience in the schools that other kids would attempt to feel her hair. I told her she can say "Please don't touch my hair"

Well this am, Ve was having a moody morning. Didn't want to wear anything I suggested, or eat her cereal etc.,

Then out of the blue she also stated that she wanted me to style her hair with like 15 minutes before we left for school. I of course, said that we didn't have time this morning, but if she wanted it styled we would do it tonight. I then asked her why she now wanted it styled when just two days ago she was more than excited to leave it natural.

Ve said: "Taylor said my hair was crazy"

I said: "Your hair is not crazy, but actually it is very beautiful"

Ve smiled

I then said "You will have to wear it natural today, but if you want it styled, we can do it tonight". I naturally stated many more times how beautiful she and her hair is.

I of course am irritated that this type of behavior, making Ve feel less than beautiful just because she has different features than the majority, from the other kids is already starting.

I feel that the majority white population suppresses and sends the message that in order to be OK, "fit in", your hair must be straight and as light as possible. I happen to think my daughters are knock dead gorgeous, and if others can't see that, than it is their loss. Now my job is to convince my daughters to have my view of themselves, for themselves.

I will have my work cut out for me.