Zoo Fun

Today we went to the zoo and had a great time!  We rented a wagon to carry the backpack, lunch bag and the boys (when they got tired) and we all took turns pulling it around.  The weather was really nice (cool and sunny) and most of the animals were readily visible today!

Just getting started....

Sharing pulling duty and checking out the birds

A King Vulture is showing off his impressive wing span

 Bears enjoying the sunshine

The new addition to the Elephant Exhibit is now open. 
The little one on the left is one of the newest additions!

Michael is almost as big as the Komodo Dragon!
(not sure if that is a good thing or not...)

Mandrills take naps too.

Guess it is easier to pull the wagon when straddling the handle bar.

Big brother had to have his turn pulling the wagon!

Christmas 2011

Here is the picture of the boys with Santa this year:

We had a good Christmas this year:

Tree & Gifts before the boys got up
(We decided to wait until Christmas Eve after the boys went to sleep to put the presents under the tree)

At church Christmas Day morning
(we all got new tops to wear!)

Grandpa Dave & Grandma Lela helping with some of the gifts

How quickly they learn to rip things open!!

David got a new RC 4-wheeler that can run outside

More things to add to the Toy Station: trucks, cars, helicopters, Dragon Ship, 2 small RC cars for Michael...

A few more things that don't fit at the Toy Station: RC Sesame Street train (currently residing in the yellow tub); fold out race track; Barrel of Army Men, Tanks, Planes, etc; Marble Run & Electronic Snap Kit. 

The boys also got assorted clothes & pajamas.  They opened gifts in shifts: stockings before breakfast; Santa gifts after breakfast; went to church, came home, had lunch & rest time; opened the rest of the gifts after Grandpa Dave, Grandma Lela & Grandpa Frosty came over (around 4:00) then dinner at 5:00 before playing some more before bedtime.  We had a good day.

First Visit with Santa

We took the boys this morning to see Santa for the first time.  It went really well!  We practiced smiling and telling Santa what they wanted for Christmas (cars, even though Mama tried to get Michael to say "Land Rover" instead of 'Car') 

We went ahead and got a package of pictures (we will post one once we can get it scanned).  Here are ones we took while waiting our turn:

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We got the Christmas Tree put up a couple of weeks ago, but didn't get it decorated until tonight (the lights were strung last week).  The boys had fun helping hang decorations and Chris enjoyed watching (before he had to leave for work).  See if you can tell who decorated what parts...

Mama and the boys getting started

Waiting for ornaments to put on the tree

This is fun!

Making sure the sides & back get some

All done!!  Now all we need are the presents under the tree...


At dinner, the boys were asked what they wanted for Christmas:

David: a train and 20 motorcycles

Michael: motorcycles

(They take after their daddy!
He wants a motorcycle too!)

Halloween 2011

Okay, I know it is almost a month after Halloween, but time flies when you have a very busy life! 

The boys really enjoyed their first Halloween (as far as we can tell).

David chose a Batman costume (complete with utility belt that lights up) and Michael chose a Cowboy / Sheriff costume (because it came with a hat).

David had a 'Character Parade' at school that allowed the kids to dress up and parade around the school while parents and other students cheered.  They carried a book that went with their costume and had a good time.  Chris and Michael went up to the school and helped David carve a pumpkin before the Character Parade.  Unfortunately I had to be at work. 

That night, the boys and I met up with some friends to go trick-or-treating in their neighborhood.  We had pizza and drinks before heading out.  We hit about 20 homes and the boys really had a good time going to the doors and saying (their version) "Trick or Treat"!  It sounded more like :Twik or Tweat! TankU!

Chris carving our pumpkins at home

Our finished pumpkins!  Chris did a great job!

David & Michael in front of the pumpkin at school

The Larkins Pumpkin (minus part of an ear tip)

Ready for the Character Parade at school

Waiting to start the Parade

The Parade is led by Captain America
(also known as David's teacher's husband)

We've had our pizza, now we are waiting to go Trick-or-Treating

Come on, already!  Let's go get some candy!

We got some good stuff at this house!

Dinner

I don't know why I am so surprised at what/how our boys will eat.  I can spend 45 minutes working on a really nice, well-balanced meal served on a plate and they won't eat hardly anything!  I can take the same ingredients, cut it all up and put it in a bowl and they think it is the BEST FOOD EVER!  It doesn't even have to be a 'normal' combination, as long as it is in a bowl.  A few days ago, we had diced ham with chopped leftover hot dogs (warmed up in the skillet), layered with green beans & corn, topped with Macaroni-n-Cheese.  They both thought it was the best!  I can serve the same items separately on a plate and it won't get the same reaction.  I am beginning to think that it is NOT my cooking but the container it is served in. 

Sigh.

The Joys of Being Mom.

At least they are eating something.......

Being Silly...

What little boys do when they have lots of things and plenty of space to play

So proud of his work!

Had a good day at school....

Building a 'house' for the cars

Building a 'house' for his cars

Being a Stop Sign

Also being a Stop Sign

When Daddy isn't home and Sheba won't cooperate, little brother makes a good horsey!

Little brother's turn to ride a horsey!

Practicing for the Bucking Bronco event at the Rodeo.....



We've been Uber Busy!!!

I know that it has been a looooong time since our last post, but we have been very busy!

Here are some quick updates:

David started school on August 23 (same day Rachael went back to teaching at BDJH) and is doing pretty good (at least in our opinion!).  He can count to 20, knows his alphabet and can write them all, can write his first & last name correctly (first letter capitalized and the rest lower case), can identify shapes & colors and is starting to recognize some of the basic 'sight words' he is learning in school.  He is becoming more verbal (at least with us) and has gained weight and is getting tall! 

Michael stays home with Chris during the day and likes watching TV with Daddy (Sid the Science Kid, Word World & Dinosaur Train are some of his favs).  He gets to go with Daddy while taking David to school and picking him up in the afternoon, as well as any errands Daddy does during the day.  He is also more verbal and has gained weight (but hasn't gotten much taller).

They both like playing with their cars, blocks and 'reading' books, as well as tormenting Sheba.  They are very typical boys! 

We are still having some adjustments with following directions & answering/responding to questions, but even that is getting better.

We had our 6 month social worker visit and it went really well!  She was really impressed with how well the boys are doing (and how well we are doing as parents!).  The boys were able to answer her questions (what they weren't able to verbalize, they acted out or got the items: favorite toy, what did you have for breakfast, etc) since she had to have personal interviews with all four of us!  Our next visit will be in February, 2012 (the one year visit) then one a year for the next 2-3 years. 

Michael had his first ever dentist appointment in September and it went well.  David had one, but it didn't go as well.  He has another one scheduled for tomorrow with a different office.  Hopefully this one will go well and we can get his teeth checked. (He fought them when trying to get x-rays, and when they suggested that we take him someplace that can 'work with him', otherwise known as sedating him, to get the x-rays and bring him back to that office for any work needed, we said :No.  We will not be back with the boys!)

Their 6 month Adoption Check-Up is scheduled for later this month.  They will have more blood work done (to check and see if everything is still normal) as well as a standard visit with the doctor at Texas Children's.  If all goes well (good test results), they will be 'released' to a regular pediatrician.  We haven't found one yet, but thankfully they haven't been sick!  Praise God that they are healthy!



Meet, Greet & Celebrate Birthdays

Sunday, August 14, we had a small gathering (about 20 people) to help celebrate the boy's birthdays.  Since they have never celebrated a birthday before (as far as we know), we didn't want to make a big deal this year.  They also don't seem to fully understand the concept of a birthday party, so we weren't really sure how they would react to a party at home. 

We had a cake, invited family and a few friends and hoped for a good time.  I think everyone enjoyed it.  I know that the kids had a great time!  The boys seemed to enjoy spending time playing with their cousins and the cousins enjoyed helping them open the gifts that they brought (as most kids do!)

All in all, we really appreciated the family that was able to attend and spend time with us.

Here are some pictures from the party:

The boy's birthday cake

Opening the gifts that Ari, Audrey & Remi brought

Rachael's cousin Tara and her husband Alex

Michael, George, Charlie & David having fun playing with the new toys

Checking out more gifts

Rachael's Uncle Jim is helping Michael with one of the gifts

David in front of the new trike that Grandma Lela & Grandpa Dave got him

Michael on the new trike that Grandma Lela & Grandpa Dave got him

Daddy playing with Charlie & George with the new light sabers

Gotta take turns....

David on his new trike; doing really well pedaling on his own!

Michael is getting a little help from Mama