Summary of the month of April

Parker had his doctors appointment for his club foot at the Vancouver Children's Hospital this month. All is good: he must keep wearing his runners during the day and boots and bars at night. Consistency shall pay off!

While in Vancouver we took the boys to the Aquarium to show them (and teach us!) about the wonders under the sea.
Of course we stopped at IKEA 'cause us folks in the Okanagan just don't have the luxury of having this awesome store (as well as an OLD NAVY - I just had to whine about that!). So here is James showing us that these shelves can hold 40lbs and Parker eager to join him!

The NHL playoffs are never ending and Michael has gotten his little Parker
fascinated by men on skates chasing a black toy!

A celebration of a dear friend who turned thirty something was celebrated with martinis! Who knew martinis had fun names like: Bond Girl, Diva, Red Shoe, etc.!


The last Friday of April was James and Parker's first play date with 7 of their little friends and their mommies! Considering the potential for chaos the morning play time was fun. Have food, juice boxes, toys and a toilet near by and your set! Perhaps this might be a monthly event!


May the month of May bring all of us sunshine and butterfly kisses!

One year ago...

It's been a year tomorrow (April 29) that James officially joined our family!


We've been reminiscing for the past few days about this day and the 364 days following. We watched videos and looked at pictures. We had our final adoption post placement visit with our social worker. Three visits were done in the past year to see how James' is medical, growth, adjustment and attachment were coming along.


We also received an email from the orphanage to see how James was doing. We will continue to inform the orphanage on James' development and growth and also share pictures of him. James is our 'big' miracle: he could hardly walk, he was quiet and did no eye contact. The day of his arrival I was so scared and yet this is what I waited for so long, but it's kind of like birth you know you can't turn back and you know darn well that your life will be forever changed. And indeed it has!


We now look at James running, climbing, talking non-stop and eager to be a "big kid". It warms our hearts. There were days that I felt ill equipped for this job called motherhood yet James' easy going personality calmed me. James' first two years of life were spent without us but we truly do not feel we 'missed out' on those years. Perhaps it's because it was just meant to be.

Happy Gotch-ya Day James!

P.S.
We had all the right intentions to celebrate this day with a big party, as for his and Parker's birthdays but we've taken the informal route this time around! Could it be because we're tired parents? Next year will celebrate with pizazz!!!

Say it isn't SNOW!

Last night we entertained a couple from Quebec who where happy to be away from all their snow back home. We were proud to say that snow just doesn't happen after March. I think by saying that so boastfully we jinxed it!!

Snow poured down from the Kelowna skies all morning. Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! It has been such a long spring and now seeing this white stuff makes me really tired (or was that from the effects of last night!) and makes daddy act silly.


I know it's all about being Canadian to enjoy all sorts of random weather conditions but snow in April in the Okanagan is illegal!!! Just last weekend we enjoyed a warm day at the park!

I think mother nature is suffering with a bout of Global Warming! I do hope that our planet Earth gets well soon ~ buy green!

YUMMY!

Our little friend Sierra called me earlier in the week to let me know that she would be selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts on Saturday morning at Wal-Mart to raise cash for her school playground. I couldn't wait for Saturday to arrive!!!!

Because the kids wake with the sun and to make sure we got our dozen doughnuts before they sold out, we arrived at the Wal-Mart early in the morning (This is one of the few times I am grateful they get up so early!) James was given a Krispy Kreme baker hat that he proudly wore!

Upon arriving at home I cracked open the box and shared these delicious treats with my two new sons and their daddy! Like their mommy, they thought the were DEEEE-LI-CiOUS! Daddy on the other hand had to remind me, "Do you know how bad these are?". So I checked it out and they only have 12 g a fat per doughnut!!!!

Growing, Growing and Growing!

The boys, like spring, are blossoming! Parker is now vertical and James is potty trained. But both like to go back to what they are most familiar with: Parker crawls when he gets lazy and James has minor accidents when he is focus playing hard. James will now tell us, "I have to go pee. I'll be right back. Stay right there." And off he goes!






Parker waking at full speed!
He likes mommy's pink hat!
Almost too big for his toddler bed! Who knew that would happen!
James doing yoga!
Giggles & Screams!