An Art Project.

The kids' school has an annual art project called Reflections. It's a contest across the USA through the PTA of elementary schools. There are several different categories you can enter: visual arts, dance, music, photography and creative writing. Twerp #1 wants to do all 5. His 2nd grade teacher told him that when he enters, he'll get a big ribbon (a horse sized ribbon) for each entry. What she failed to explain was that they had to know how to enter these categories. For example, to enter in the dance category, you have to choreograph your own dance and then video 3-5 people perform your dance (you can also be one of the dancers). Twerp #1 only knows how to flip around on the floor and wiggle. Not exactly what they're looking to see...

I think I've convinced him to do a visual art project and a photography project. There's a lot of work to be done before Friday! And it's not going to be my work...I hate it when a child turns in a project and you can tell that the parents did most of it. My philosophy is that when a 2nd grade teacher asks for an art project, she wants it to be done by a second grader!

It turns out that Twerp #2 also wants to enter a project. So...last night we got out the chalk pastels and are trying to make something great. I'll take a picture of them and post the results at the end of the week. Be assured, you will not see my children "dancing" or "banging on the piano." Good luck to all the mom's that get to see their children through their own project.

Big words are hard

Last night we were having dinner. Twerp #1 had finished his meal and wanted seconds. Along with seconds comes a second glass of juice. He went to the fridge and poured himself 1/2 a glass. I got him some more food out of the crock pot. After we had both sat back down, I noticed that his glass was full - almost to the top. As my eyebrows went up, he said:

Twerp #1: "Dad, do you know why my glass is full of juice?"

Dad: "No, that's a lot of juice..."

Twerp #1: "It's because I polluted it."

Dad and I laughing: "I think you mean diluted..."

Twerp #1 laughing: "Oh yeah. Polluted is when you put smoke and stuff into the water."

Me: "Yep, that's right."

Hopefully I don't end up "polluting" dinner from now on.

Is it possible to be speechless?!?

Is it possible to be speechless? Yes. Is it possible for ME to be speechless? Not usually. However, today I just don't have words to adequately describe the experience Twerp #2 and I had together.

My girlfriend had 50 girls between the ages of 2-13 come over for a "glitter girls party." A friend of hers is starting up this new business where they'll come to your kids birthday party and do hair, makeup and nails for the girls. Sounds like fun. Today was a trial run and a chance to hire the girls that were going to do the makeup.

So...the Twerp and I went to Michele's house and got ready to get gorgeous. Well, some of the girls ended up looking like cute 5 year olds that were playing with makeup. Some of the girls ended up looking like...I believe the politically correct term is "street walker." Twerp #2, believe it or not, was somewhere right in between. I've never seen my 5 year old look so old before.

Is that a black eye? It kinda looks like a black eye...

Yeah, it's hard to take a "serious" picture when your child is purple. Almost like Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: "Violet, you're turning violet, Violet!" Oompa Loompa...

Well, it's 9:00 pm and the purple has since washed away. She had fun and she'll be my normal kindergartner who has to wear blue tomorrow. It's blue day! At least purple isn't for a few more days...I'm not sure if I could do purple tomorrow quite yet.

First Day Pictures

So here are my big kids on the first day of school. I have a "tradition" (can you call it a tradition if you've only done it for 3 years?!?) to take a picture with the kids in front of the sign at the front of the school. It's amazing to see how much they grow every year.

Here's a picture of Twerp #1 loaded down with his HUGE backpack. On the way to school I was afraid that he would fall over backwards. It was filled with his school supplies plus the stuff the teacher wanted...paper towels, wipes, Kleenex...that stuff takes up a lot of room. Oh yeah, the earthquake kit (yes, we have to have them here in California...), the earthquake kit weighed a ton. He was a much lighter boy on the way home.

Here's a picture of Twerp #2. Boy was she excited. Not only did she have a backpack that went from her shoulder to her knees, but she had on a real skirt. For those of you that don't have girls between the ages of 1 and 5, a "toddler skirt" has shorts on underneath. That way, if you don't sit like a lady, your diaper/underwear won't show. Twerp #2 had on a REAL skirt...her legs aren't crossed, everyone gets to see the "princesses" on her underwear. Plus, when she goes to the bathroom, she doesn't have to pull down her skirt...SHE CAN PULL IT UP! The excitement that this brought to my Twerp couldn't be adequately described on this blog. She was one happy girl.

And I'm proud to say that yes, she can sit nicely in a skirt...

And lastly, Twerp #3 on his first day of preschool. Here he is with the wonderful, patient and lovely Mrs. May. I could tell she was a little "concerned" the first day of school...when he wouldn't stop talking...wouldn't stop moving...yeah, her concerns were valid. But after his first full day of school yesterday (as full as three hours can be), she said that he was really good and that they were going to have a good year together.

I've been praying for Mrs. May for 2 years. Ever since I knew how much of a talker Twerp #3 is, I've been praying for his preschool teacher. I know that the preschool my kids have gone to has been lucky. They've had Twerp #1 and #2 to deal with. Those were good kids. Good listeners. Good attitudes. Good with following directions. I knew that when Twerp #3 came onto the scene, they'd think, "Is this a Margala kid? It couldn't be?!!?" So...I started praying. Praying for my Twerp and praying for his teacher. Now, I know who I've been praying for. God has answered my prayers in the form on Mrs. May. She is a gift to our Twerp and a blessing to our family.

School's Started!!!!!

Holy Smokes! Today is the first day of school for all three kids. Thought I'd clue you in on my plans for the day. I've already sent Twerp #1off to school with lunch. Won't see him until 2:30. Twerp #2 will eat lunch at 10:45 and then will be off to school with a snack from 11:10 until 2:30. Twerp #1 will pick her up and then they'll walk home together. Yea me! I can just wait for them on the couch listening for the front gate to squeak open! Twerp #3 has his first full day of preschool today - complete with outside playground! I take him at 12:30 and then will pick him up at 3:15.

So what will I do for 2 whole hours by myself! Here's the plan. Before I drop off Twerp #3, I'm going to put on a Depends. I'm pretty sure that after I am childless for the first time in 7.5 years that I'll pee myself...thus, the Depends. After I clean up any mess that I may make...I'm off to the grocery store for quiet shopping. I'm pretty sure the clerks won't recognize me. I won't be saying: "We're not getting that, put it away." "Don't run your hands along the bottles! You're going to knock them all off the shelf and we don't have money to pay for all of them!!!" "No matter how good you are today in the store, we are definitely not getting that to drink. You can't have that until you're 21!" "No." "NO, NO, NO." (and then just loud enough for the manager to hear as we exit the checkout line...) "We're not getting any candy today. I don't know why store managers insist on putting candy in the checkout line so we have even more to deal with!"

I realize it won't take me 2 hours to do my grocery shopping, but if I want it to, it can! I have to finish cleaning and do some laundry. Doesn't sound too fun, but I'll be able to get three times as much done today without kids around. It's not that I don't love the little Twerps, but having a little quiet is going to be BEAUTIFUL! Two full hours without hearing, "Mom??? Mom??? Moooooooommmmmm??? MOM!" It'll be blissful. I get a full 6 hours a week like this. Well, actually it'll be 4 hours because two of them will be spent in Twerp #2's class volunteering.

Enjoy your Monday people! I sure will!

99 more days left...

Well, we've officially gone under the 100 mark. I looked at the website that keeps us "in the know" with our China adoption and China has sent out referrals for those families who had their papers logged in on or before February 9th, 2006. That means that there are 99 more days to go until we receive our referral. Those 99 days are going to go slowly. I anticipate that it'll be another 18 months before they get through those 99 days, but at least we've made it past the 100 mark. When we started the process there were 423 days left...so they have made some progress. Here's to hoping they start to speed up!