Learning about classical Rome

Typical day in school, in our Spider Man jammies, continuing in learning about Classical Roman period.  We made a wax tablet that children would use to write on.  Our is made out of play-doh.  We learned about different types of people in Rome.  Patricians, Plebeians, and Slaves  :(

Language materials I ordered

I'm pretty excited about some language materials I've ordered.  I ordered from Australia because a salesman was so kind to help via email, and couldn't get the publisher to communicate with me.   The shipping was around $15.00, so not outrageous.   http://www.globallanguage.com.au/   I highly recommend them, they were very helpful in explaining for anyone else interested.

But since the girls seem to be so advanced with the Bulgarian language, I thought some bilingual tools will help with communication and for their own development, even to learn during the time before we bring them home, or as much as they can (no pressure).

This pen will read from the dictionary and talk in English or Bulgarian.  You just touch the pen to the word and it has tons of pictures.  I also ordered a storybook, The Little Red Hen (in Bulgarian and English) and extra labels.  The labels are really cool!  You can record whatever you want on the labels, so we can record our own voices, or the children's voices.  We can do a lot with this, even put the labels on items around the house.   These are language lessons at a great price, all in all.

I ordered some other items as gifts, that are just for fun.  I'm just so excited.  I'm glad I have time to prepare all this.  Meanwhile, we are also working on our I-800 (final) and other items for our final dossier!!

watching old videos to cheer me up

Anton and I like to go down memory lane every so often watching old videos.  Thought I'd post a few.

This one is right after we got Anton and we couldn't find the keys.  I love the "love lu."

This is Anton chasing Nimitz and we're telling our friend Isabelle about our adoption experience.

We did "ants" a while back for Science.  I love "we have to be patience."  you can hear a Russian accent still.

This is when we got some aquatic frogs about 2 years ago.

This one is a freak snow we had in Houston.

Random things...

I realized my last blog was a while back   The Olympics have come and gone, and we've been plodding along with our paperwork (since it is all expiring soon).

It seems like with the paperwork, there is always something that causes the appointment to be canceled or the letter was done incorrectly.  What should be easy takes longer.  So, this is where we are.  But it is no big deal.

Meanwhile, Anton got glasses.   He is farsighted as all kids are (or is it nearsighted...his glasses make his eyes look bigger but the doc said all kids need to "grow into their eyes").  Most kids grow into their eyes and they have normal vision as they mature.  The Ophthalmologist wants to correct a very slight lazy eye and says if you correct the farsightedness (that he could leave alone) you correct the lazy eye.   No one has noticed the lazy eye except for me, it is so slight.  Glad we are getting it corrected.

A few other miscellaneous things:  we just found out that Chris can not "cash out" a trip he won from his company.  We were hoping to use the money toward adoption expenses.  So, I guess we have to go on a cruise to the Caribbean.  (Oh, these trials we face :O)  But I think it will be really good for us 3 before our lives change.  We were able to take Anton to Alaska last year.  We are so thankful that we can get these opportunities and we can allow Anton to see different places around the world.  And I have something to think about while we wait for a referral.

I have to say I'm really excited about this upcoming presidential election.  I think we can turn this country can be turned round with Romney and VP Ryan.  Mostly thankful that they are both pro life and biblical definition of marriage.  I just hope they win.

Anton and I are enjoying reading a book called, Redwall.  They are really good, well written, good morality.  The characters are not ambiguous, like with the Harry Potter series.  It is medieval setting, with animals that live in a monastery.  There is a whole series of them, fairly new.  Anton calls me "Cornflower" and I'm supposed to call him "Mattimeo," her son.   We picked up a few of the books at this great used book store near us.

He's been on a creative kick lately, making police badges for this friends and Redwall swords and shields (depending on which world he is in).  

Anton came in from outside today, asked me, amazed, "Mom have you ever seen a yellow spider?"  "No, I don't think so."  "Well I have."  It just thanked God for this precious boy who loves life and loves to explore the creation.  Jesus said we must become like one of these if we are to see the Kingdom of God.  

I Hate the Houston Children's Museum

I know that's not very nice and my grandmother told me not to use the word, hate, it is such a strong word.  Sorry, Mamaw.

But I would LOVE the museum it if there were fewer people there.   It is actually a very nice museum, it is just so dang crowded.   Houston has a lot of kids.  I've been to other Children's Museum (in Ft. Worth and San Antonio) and it wasn't so bad.  Every instinct in me says, "run, get away from here, too many kids."

It reminds me of a quote from one of our favorite movies, A Christmas Story,

"We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice."  

But I did enjoy watching my son enjoy it.  He loves the museum.  I stayed for 2 hours and 5 minutes.  We'll probably go back again.  If you know of time when it isn't so crowded, let me know.  Meanwhile, peace out!