self portrait

Tess self portrait with nice comments from her classmates...
Tess's teacher had such a cute idea at open house...each kid did a self portrait and all the other kids in the class put a comment on each classmates picture.  Tess's picture had such nice things written about her.  Her favorite was "You are a great tetherball player"!

Open House

At Open House, Tess gave us a tour of all the stuff she made.  The butterfly above her head is hers.
Dad and Tess at the Open House silent auction...
The proud mom!!!!and the stellar student!!!
Reading her story to big sis...
Aunt Jane and Uncle Paul came too!
Tess showing us her work...
Tess giving Christine the tour of the vegetable garden the kids planted...her plant got eaten by the bunnies...oh well!
Cameron as Tiger Woods...He gave a 2 minute speech about tiger and did a great job!

Tess and Cameron had Open House last night at school.  They were both so excited to show us what they've been working on. Tess really did not know what it was and asked if we wear costumes to open house...She had a clip board and did a great job of going through the check list of all the things to show us!  She is doing so well!!  Cameron was "Tiger Woods" for the great Californians part.  His speech was perfect and he had so much fun.  It was a great night.  I was really glad Christine was home.  Tess just loves her and was so excited to take her around the room.  We are really blessed to have 2 great teachers for each of the kids.  They have been amazing all year in their dedication and love for Tess and Cameron.  We are very grateful!!

Great Job Tess!!

Tess continues to do great in school.  She no longer goes to one on one reading because she is considered at grade level!!  She always gets 100% on her spelling tests and is really getting math.  She still loves school and rides her bike to school everyday now with Cameron.  It's so cute to see them ride off together!  I'm so proud of how far she has come in just 9 months!

The home stretch...

Today I had an appointment at the USCIS office in Orange to make an appointment for Tess's citizenship interview and file a N-600...yes, I thought I was done after the adoption hearing but it turns out she is only a permanent resident NOT a citizen.  (Thank you Christie for clearing that up!!)  So I should recieve a call in a few days for an interview...I can't believe I have been filing adpoption papers for almost 4 years.  We opened our adoption file in August 2005!!  I think I could wallpaper my entire house with all the documents I have...many in chinese and amaharic!!  But in the end, God had a great plan and Tess was meant for our family!!  It's worth every single piece of paper I have had to fill out!!

Great service today!!

My life continues to be full of firsts...today I actually took some photos during Service at our church.  Tess absolutely loves going to church and continues to ask questions about GOD all the time.  Her orphanage was run by Christian World so she got some great ministry while she was there.  I love our worship band.  The kids in it are so talented!! After music worship the kids leave and go to the children's ministry.  We are so thankful for all the blessing the Lord is granting our family!!

We survived the teenage birthday party!!

Bennett had 40 of his dearest closest friends over for a BBQ at our house friday night to celebrate his 16th.  I was nervous about crashers and the drama that can get stirred up at these high school parties, but I have to say, the kids were really good!!  Everyone had a great time and everyone got along!!  I had suggested a "jump house" or a "velcro wall" or a dunk tank so the kids had something to do but Bennett said no.  It turned out just fine. They ate and ate and just listened to music and danced a bit and ate some more!!  It was really a fun party for Bennett!  and nice for us to get to know some of the kids.  HAPPY 16th!!

worlds away...

This week has been all about celebrating Bennett's 16th birthday-dinners, presents,party...yet I continue to recieve the updates about Acacia Village...There's such an amazing contrast between these 2 worlds and yet our family is a part of both.  While we are fundraising and finalizing the construction of Acacia Village, CWF organized a FOOD FOR KIDS drive on the site.  $38,000 was raised  feed hungry kids as well as train the adults about child care, health and other helpful information...I sent our first check from our coffee sales to CWF this week...it feels so good to be able to enjoy our life and celebrate it, while still doing our part to continue to help these children in need.  www.christianworld foundation.org/food4kids

It seemed like a good idea...

In almost 19 years of being a mom, I have never bought uncrustables or any other type of frozen pre-made food.  No frozen nuggets, no fish sticks...not that there's anything wrong with it, but since I work from home I try to make everything from scratch...

well, I was at Costco 2 days ago and saw these UNCRUSTABLES peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and thought it looked like a great idea for a quick snack if I wasn't home.  This morning we were running a little late and Tess asked if she could try one of the uncrustables.  I said sure...gave it to her in a paper towel and she jumped in the back seat of the car to eat it on our way to school...WELL- by the time we got to school (a 2 minute ride!) she had peanut butter and jelly all over her hands, face and dress...and I mean all over- like a 3 year old would.  Here's the problem...since Tess came we've been trying to get her to eat without smashing the food with her hands.  When they eat injera in Ethiopia, they smash the food with their fingers because it serves as the utensil...well she smashes it with ther whole hand, I guess because her hand is so small...Whenever she's done eating anything with her hands it is ALL OVER her hands and face.  It just surprised me because she's been here 9 months and I just expected that she had the sandwich thing down...In her defense, I don't know how much peanut butter and jelly they cram into these little sandwiches, maybe too much...anyway, today after school we will have another go at how to eat a sandwich without smashing it into a little ball and forcing all the contents to spill all over you...I wish I had a camera to take her picture but I took a photo of the left over sandwich and her napkin...she looked about the same!!

Bennett's birthday dinner @ The Montage

HAPPY 16th Bennett!!  We love you!!

The birthday boy with mom and dad!!
The Jonas girls!!

The beautiful view from the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach.  We are so blessed to live in such an amazing place.  We have so many beautiful places to choose from to celebrate special occassions.  The Loft Restaurant has the best "coffee -rubbed steak" so we always choose to come here for our big nights!!  We laughed so much!  It's so great to have CHristine home...the kids love being all together and have so much fun.  I just love it!!

SWEET SIXTEEN!!

Bennett turns 16 today!!  Jeff and I Have been away in Atalnta for 4 days...so I've been swamped with catching up.   We are having a birthday party for his frie nds Friday night, but tonight it's just the Jonas family for dinner.  There is a beautiful resort near us called the Montage.  We're going there for dinner.  Like any good old American boy, all he wanted for his birthday was a car, so he is getting to share a hand me down car with his sister. He is excited because when she leaves for college in August it will be his to drive...Keep your fingers crossed!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Bennett!!  WE are so proud of who you are!! We love you!!

Lacrosse CHampions!!!!

Lacrosse is a big deal around our house...both Cameron and Bennett play and it seems we always have some Lacrosse event going on...Bennett's Varsity team made it to the Div.2 championship game.  Bennett was the only freshman to play in the Varsity championships which they won 11-9.  It was one of the moast exciting games i've ever watched!!  GO LIONS!!

Happy Mothers Day!!

Big kids with Grandpa ate inside...
Little ones outside...
Jeff and his sisters Karen, Jane and Jenifer...We miss you Katie!!

This is our first Mother's day without Jeff's mom, who passed away 6 months ago.  We decided to invite Jeff's 3 sisters who live near by for a Mothers Day BBQ (his 4th sister, Katie lives in Wisconsin so we missed her!)  My day started with Breakfast in Bed (scrambled eggs with Feta and tomatoes, and a soy latte from starbucks!! My favorite!!)  Next came some beautiful cards made by Tess and Cameron (Bennett informed me he was too old for making cards) and then the phone rang at it was CHristine to say Happy Mother's day...all by 9 am!

I had a great day and it was nice to have Jeff's sisters over so the kids could all play.  Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there!!!  OXOX