Last Post

This is a blog about a Russian adoption. Please, go to the beginning and read our story. It is a beautiful story about a family who thought they were "rescuing an orphan" but instead did nothing more than "find their son".

If you are considering adoption, let our story be an encouraging one. In the midst of painful stories and adoption tragedies, exists our experience of overwhelming joy.

If this story has impacted you in anyway, could you please leave a comment below? I want this to someday be a gift to my son, Zac. I want him to know just how much his life has impacted those around him.

Easter eggs

Here's some pics from last weekend. Easter was great. It was the "last first holiday" for our little Zac. It was so fun to watch him. I continue to marvel at how he acts like he's been doing these things for years. Over the past year, Zac has gone from "a well adjusted kid" to "an absolute delight and joy to be around". I cannot even begin to explain how good, loving, and wonderful he is. I cannot for one moment imagine our family without him.

A free ride

It's moments like these where I wish I was still a kid. I remember doing this at my Auntie Lois' house.... and frequently getting yelled at. (She was the first person I knew that had a "garage door opener".... a true high tech gadget that was unheard of in the 1970's.

What is a Brother?

What is a brother? A brother is someone who helps you when you need a little "boost".

(Photo taken with my cell phone. A bit blurry, but still a cute picture)

Shopping at Sears

I'm starting to feel the pressure of "the last post" building. How in the world am I going to sum up this entire adoption experience in ONE POST?

Well.... I'll figure out something.

Last night, we bought a new washer and dryer at Sears (yes, we just got our tax refund - a special thanks to Zac for the adoption credit) and the kids were patiently passing the time playing with an abandoned "mall stroller". I thought it was cute how all 3 kids manged to fit in a 1-kid stroller.

Anniversary

One year ago today, we got our courtdate. Ahh... what a day that was. Of course, that also means that it was a year ago that Jake and I had the infamous, "dojo incident". (You'll have to go back and read the March 24, 2008 entry).

A year later, I'm still messing with paperwork. Yesterday, I was in the Social Security office trying to get Zac's SS#. I've come to love government offices over the past 2 years....

Mr. Story Teller

I was sitting around (facebooking) this morning, and just pointed the camera at Zac and told him to tell a story. This is what he came up with. I thought it was pretty cute. (As is everything he does)

A year ago.

As I continue to ponder how to end this blog, I've been spending a lot of time going back and reading old posts. It's really quite fun. (for me anyway).

I'm looking back a year ago, and I'm seeing that exactly one year ago we were FREAKING out waiting for our courtdate. ugh. I'm so happy to have that chapter of my life over. It certainly was a character building time in my life, but... it was still pretty rough.

If I haven't said it lately, I LOVE ZAC! He's so much fun. Yesterday we were at a friend's house and he was a bit miffed at the other kid for taking his pretend lollipop. (that was my nice way for saying that he was being a bratty 3 year old). Anyway, I told him, "Zac maybe you can go find a different piece of pretend food to play with" whereupon he said, "I'll go find something else that's delicious!" It was funny to hear him use the word "delicious".

Oh! While I'm thinking about it, I thought of another good quotable from Zac. About a week ago I was talking to Hallie and I must have used the word "dude". Zac quickly corrected me by saying, "Dad, girls are not dudes! Girls are chicks!"

Love it.

Quotables

Zac has come up with some good quotes this past week:

1. "Kiss my furry butt!" I'm 99% sure this came from watching Alvin and the Chipmunks. Nevertheless, it caught me off guard. Furry?

2. "I want a Super man wiener!" This one was detailed in Katie's blog. Basically, I was informing Zac that he was putting on his Super man underwear backwards when he asked, "Why does Super Man go on my booty? I want a superman wiener!"

3. "Fire in the Hole!" He says this one with quite regularity. It's pretty much his war cry.

Pinch man

Growing

The other day at pre-school, Jake had "Hawaii Days". Katie helped volunteer for this event and as a result, Zac got to participate. The cool part was that Zac was actually better behaved than some of the pre-school kids. (Zac will start pre-school next year). Katie and I continue to be amazed as to how well-behaved and smart Zac is. I have no doubts that he'll do great in school.

I thought this picture below was a bit funny as you may notice Jake as the tallest in the class and Zac as the shortest in the class. Don't be fooled though. In a brotherly battle, Zac is most often the one that comes out on top. He's a freakishly strong little dude!

Boy story

No pictures tonight.  Go ahead and read the following story and you'll get a better idea as to WHY I will not be posting any pictures tonight.  

Life with two boys:

Tonight, I overheard Katie yelling at the boys, "Hey!  Don't put toys in your private parts!"  

Naturally, this caused me to look up from what I was doing.  Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted one of my boys running down the hall, naked, with a toy giraffe protruding from his butt crack.  Within another 3 seconds, the other boy was close behind.  Emerging from his butt, was a Yak... I believe.  

That's pretty much where the story ends.  Shortly thereafter, Katie had both boys (and the animals) soaking in the tub.  

NOTE TO OUR LOCAL FRIENDS WHO HANG OUT AT OUR HOUSE:  You may not want to let your kids play with our Fisher Price Animals.... ever again.

Announcement

It seems as if I'm losing my blogging mojo. Therefore, I want to make an announcement that sometime around Mid-April, this blog will go dark. April 22nd is exactly the 1 year anniversary from Zacs Gotcha Date. Like many who have gone before us, our journey of adoption has simply evolved into a journey of life.

I've said it many times, but Zac is simply our son. Yes, he's adopted - but no, there is no difference in how I love him and my other kids. I have 3 children. It's that simple.

So anyway - I'll probably post a few pics and/or videos throughout the next few weeks - just because it's fun.

I suppose I could just end it now, but it makes for a more climatic ending when it's announced in advance. Sort of like the last episode of M.A.S.H. But not really...

New Hair

Readoption

Some of you may be aware of the "readoption" process that most International adoptive parents have to go through.

In short, we adopted Zac through the Russian courts and not the US courts. As a result, we don't have a US birth certificate or a US adoption decree. This makes it difficult (near impossible) to get things like a Social Security number.

Well, yesterday we finally had our readoption court date. I'll tell you, it was a much different experience than our court date in Russia. (Less stressful) The best part was that our kids Hallie and Jake as well as both sets of grandparents were able to come! Although it was just a formality, it was a wonderful family day for everyone. It's always a good feeling to put extra "stamps of approval" on this wonderful son of ours!

Interesting factoid: Our attorney informed us that being adopted by US born parents makes Zac a "natural born citizen" by definition given. Therefore, contrary to anything I've ever heard before, Zac CAN indeed be president of the United States. Who knew?


Hallie and Jake - Happy for their brother!

Zac - swearing in along with Mom and Dad

The whole family - and the judge (hiding next to Zac)

Laugh

I betcha can't watch this and NOT laugh... Go ahead! Try it!

Brrr...

The snow is back. It's really cold. But as always, we're figuring out a way to make it fun.

Springtime?

Let me tell you something about living in Nebraska. When it hits 47 degrees in January. It feels like a heatwave. Our kids (on their own accord) decided to dress themselves in shorts and play in the back yard for almost an hour.

Ahh... we love the outdoors.

Ouch

During dinner tonight Jake and I were both complaining about our thumbs hurting. Apparently, playing too much Wii can do that to a person.

After waiting and wanting my son to hurry up and get older, it's nice to finally have a video game buddy.

Old Video

I have been wanting to post this video ever since we brought Zac home, but I kept having "computer issues".  Tonight, I finally figured out what my problem was.  

Anyway, we've had Zac home for 9 months now, and it truly seems like we've ALWAYS had him home!   (Hard to believe considering how long it took to get him)

I watch him in this video and part of me can see "the Zac I know" sneaking through and another part of me feels that this is an entirely different child.  

Either way, you've got to admit that Zac speaking in Russian is really, really cute!  We were also very fortunate that this video has a happy ending and not a full blown temper tantrum!

(recorded while we were in Moscow - April 2008)

Nothing big going on. You know how it goes. You get through Christmas and then its "blah season".... January.... Cold, dark, and catch-up at work.

Oh well. Life is good, but not much to tell right now.