Noth Happenings

First Day of School 2011-2012

2011-08-24T18:08:00.000-05:00

On Sunday we got together with PJ's travel group. We had a great time catching up! Here is a cute picture of the 3 kids adopted on that trip.

David, Annie, PJ

Today was the first day of school... Alicia started 2nd Grade and PJ starts Early Childhood.

2nd Grader and Early Childhood

Walking to School

Approaching the school

Mrs. Louthan (her teacher) and Alicia

2 Christmas celebrations 2010

2011-02-12T19:57:00.006-06:00

We had a chance to celebrate Christmas on both sides of the family this year! The first 2 photos are with Greg's family. The rest are with Judy's family in Minnesota. We had a Great time!

Pillow Pet!!

I think I know what's in this box!

Showing her pink hair!

There is Greg at the top of our sledding hill. Can you see the hole he dug below?

Alicia at the bottom of the hill after a fun ride!

Me and PJ getting ready for our turn!

weeee...... this is fun!

and there we go!

Making a snow angel.

Playing in the snow.

Cousins!

Christmas 2010

Auntie Beth playing with PJ.

Rich's prize hunt

2010-11-14T18:25:00.003-06:00

It has been a busy week. Monday I was able to go along to bring Alicia to school, not my normal day but PJ had his pre-surgery doctor appointment that day so I took some time off work to bring him. That wasn't until later in the morning so we had time. The next day was re-adoption day so we went downtown for our court appearance. The Viteks were part of our first group to China, it was fun running into them while we were there. They just got home a month or two ago with their new son so it was great to meat him. Then on Friday the 12th, PJ had his second surgery on his palate. It was a longer surgery than I expected, but they were done after a couple hours. The surgeon said it went like clockwork and all looked good when he was done. PJ took it like a Champ! He was a little fussy at first, but that was expected and understood!! He quickly quieted down however and was happy with me just holding him. He was awake most of the afternoon and even ate some applesauce and pudding. I slept with him in his big boy hospital bed in the 24hour observation unit. No, not much sleep but it could have been worse. The next morning he was all smiles and ate some eggs, pancakes and yogurt!

November 8, on the way to school.

Look who we ran into----The Viteks!

PJ being served his papers.

While we wait to be called into court.

After our court appearance.

post-op.

Two hours later in the 24 hour observation room, bed #7 out of 11 total.

Next Morning he was all smiles!

More Smiles!

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T18:43:00.000-05:00

Here's the crew this year. The plan was that Alicia was going to be a zombie, then it got to be Thursday and she said, no she wanted to be a cheerleader. So with Dad's help she is a cheerleader turned zombie. She has yellow hair coloring, dirty teeth, dirt on her clothes and ripped pants. Of course you all recognize Yoda in the photo.

When we started out at the first house, PJ couldn't understand why only he and Alicia were going to the house so he stopped and wouldn't move. So I went up to the house with the kids and showed PJ what to do. After the second house, he caught on to the idea and would run to the next house like any other kid. He lasted for about 1.5 hours when he decided to quit. I brought the stroller along so that I could home with him easily. We had gotten far from home and had about 7 blocks to walk so I'm glad I had the stroller.

The kids got lots of compliments on their costumes and one lady even requested to take their picture.

FYI---around here it is pretty common for people to sit out on their front steps to hand out candy. It was a fairly nice day as you can see, but it was a bit cool and Alicia ended up with her jacket on.

Playing in the park

2010-10-31T18:17:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we drove around the city to find parks. We were curious to see if there were any better than what we had close to our house. The kids had a ton of fun playing on something different and spending so much time outside on a really nice day. Needless to say, they slept very good that night!

On this day....

2010-09-11T19:58:00.002-05:00

...5 years ago we met our daughter for the first time. She has a wonderful heart and we love her soooo much. I am glad Gotcha Day happened on Sept 11 because now when I hear that date, my first thought is of the day we met Alicia. No, I haven't forgotten about the day when the towers fell, never will. Gotcha Day for me 'brightened' Sept 11.

On the bus to get our daughters.

Our first sight of Alicia.

Family of 3


Playing

And here she is today...

Our beautiful girl.

PJ

2010-09-06T12:59:00.000-05:00

I really liked this brown shirt on PJ so I just HAD to take a picture of him with it on!!

1st Day of 1st Grade!

2010-08-24T19:33:00.004-05:00

Today was the first day of School for Alicia. She was excited to start 1st Grade!

1st Grader!

Say "pickles"


Riding on Dad's bike to school

Greg rides his bike to work right after dropping off Alicia at school. This will be a normal scene throughout the school year.

A parade of people

Since we live so close to school (2 blocks), there is always a few people we're following or following us to school.

Standing in her class line.

Of course the teacher is the one holding the sign. Alicia's friend Charlotte is 2 people ahead of her in the yellow shirt and blue backpack. Lilly is the one standing behind her, both were in her Kindergarten class last year.


A sea of people

This may seem like a lot of people, but it is only Kindergarten and 1st graders (and their parents). Both parents usually show up on the first day, even I rearranged my work schedule for today so I could be there for drop off this morning. Although I was surprised there didn't seem to be many others taking pictures.

And to compare to last year's first day.....

1st day of Kindergarten

....what a big difference one year makes.

Open house and school

2010-08-23T16:49:00.001-05:00

Today Alicia and I (Judy) went to her school's open house. It is a nice opportunity to see her classroom, find her locker, drop off school supplies, and of course meet the teacher! She is very excited that her friend Charlotte will be in her class!

(Click on the picture to enlarge it.)

The classroom

Alicia, Mrs. Louthan, Charlotte

PJ is Baptised!

2010-08-23T16:43:00.002-05:00

Sunday was a special day... PJ was baptised. His Grandparents from Minnesota and Auntie Jean and Cousins came all the way from Minnesota. Auntie Beth and Uncle Ryan are PJ's Godparents. It was a very nice ceremony. As were were sitting in the Pew and the Priest was beginning to speak, PJ looked at me and pointed to himself with a questioning look on his face. So I whispered to him, "Yes, this is for you!" It was a very special day to have so many family and friends together to share PJ's big day.

PJ and his GodFather (Ryan)

A quick family Photo

Getting Baptised

Family Blessing

Sisters!

PJ getting help opening some gifts.

Water Park with Cousins!

2010-08-23T16:32:00.001-05:00

This weekend the cousins from Minnesota and Wisconsin came. We headed to the water park for some fun in the water. The all had a great time even though it was short (more on that later). Jacob, the oldest of our group of kids enjoyed helping PJ around. He will be a very good big brother again (his parents are working on getting papers done to adopt!). All the kids played very good together this weekend. After about a half hour or so at the water park, the people in charge said at the top of the hour everyone had to go out and let the next group of 40 people in. There were at least 40 people waiting in line so we came home.

PJ LOVES water on his head!

They really liked the waterfall!

Alicia is 6 years old

2010-07-25T16:13:00.000-05:00

Oh my!! I have a 6 year old!! I still can't believe Alicia is old enough to be 6. I asked her this morning if we could say she was 5 and have her go to Kindergarten again. That way I could have a little girl for little longer. She told me it would be best if she stayed 6 and went to first grade so she could learn to spell. Hmmm... pretty good argument. Here are some pictures I took of her today. They are not full quality ones on this blog so if you want one to print up send me an email and I can email the full quality photo.

And just for comparison fun, here is Alicia when we got her at 13 months old.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALICIA! You have blessed our lives in so many ways. You are blossoming into a beautiful person inside and out.

PJ's first Cleft Palate Surgery

2010-07-25T15:57:00.003-05:00

Here is a picture of PJ the morning of his surgery. Little did he know what was going to happen that day.. poor little guy. But it was a necessary step to aid in his ability to talk

This picture was taken about 16 hours after the one above. At this point he had been out of surgery for about 10 hours give or take an hour. It was his bedtime and had just fallen asleep again. They had him in the post surgery 24 hour area where patients usually stay if they are being observed overnight after surgery. However he was the only patient scheduled for an overnight stay so they sent the nurses home and moved us to a different floor. This room was his first room which would have been more quiet for his mom to get some sleep as it was a private room which means less traffic coming and going.

This is a picture of PJ getting his sponge bath the next morning. He slept pretty good considering the nurses kept coming in to check vitals, change diapers, and help the other baby. This is the room he slept in overnight. He had a roommate who is on the other side of the curtain behind him. The kids in this area of the hospital are ones that were born with a lung problem (don't worry, it wasn't a spreadable disease and sorry but I don't remember the name of it).

This surgery they closed the palate at the back of his mouth. The doctor said they do 2 surgeries for his case because his opening was to wide to do it in one. The medical community has learned that if they do the closing of the palate in 1 surgery that the palate may reopen. During the next few months as we wait for the 2nd surgery date to arrive, the rest of the open palate is stretching which will allow the 2nd surgery to be a success. Next surgery is scheduled for November.

Memorial Day Weekend and Haircut

2010-06-05T13:42:00.001-05:00

During the school year Alicia was taking a Mandarin Class after school on Wednesdays. On May 26th we were invited to the "Around the World" potluck and performance. There was also Spanish, French and German but Alicia was only signed up for Mandarin. This picture is of her Mandarin Class (her teach was in China that week).

On Saturday May29th we had a nice day with Phillip's travel group families. The kids all had a great time and played together while the parents caught up with all the happenings in our families since we last saw one another. The 3 newest members of our group all needed a bath at the end of the day. On Sunday the 30th we went to Greg's Mom's house and had a wonderful time there too.

Today PJ got his first haircut since coming home. As you can see he complied without complaint. I think this was nothing new to him as his hair was pretty short when we got him.

May 2010

2010-05-23T14:28:00.001-05:00

Wow, May is almost over. Hard to believe my baby girl is finishing up Kindergarten. Last Weekend we went out to celebrate Annie Szynal's baptism and birthday (the Szynal's were in our travel group when we adopted PJ). It was a fun time for all and lots of kids were there.

I took this picture for no reason except I thought PJ looked cute.

On May 19th, 2 of the 3 kindergarten classes at Alicia's school performed "The Three Piggy Opera". Sorry the picture isn't very good but I was standing about 10 rows back and my camera doesn't work very good in those situations. This group you see here is only about a third of the entire cast of performers. Alicia is on the extreme far right in the front. We thoroughly enjoyed the performance and all the kids did a GREAT JOB!!

Afterwards everyone was treated to Popsicles!

Needless to say, PJ got a bath when we got home!

This last picture I took of PJ only an hour or so before posting to this blog. I had the camera in my hand and coming up the steps he was waiting for me at the top of the stairs and started laughing when he saw me. He looked so cute in the baseball cap so I snapped the picture.

No training wheels

2010-05-15T18:48:00.000-05:00

Alicia learned how to ride her bike without training wheels a couple weeks ago. She has been working on getting started on her own and with a little time can do it just fine. She really enjoys riding bike with her dad and will ask most every day if they can go bike riding. They head to the school grounds where they can ride without cars around. Phillip and I will follow them and play on the playground.

A couple weeks ago we went to my sister Beth's for Jacob's first communion. Phillip was able to meet my parents for the first time.