There is nothing better than a mini vacay. The girlz, my mom, and I went to NYC for Thanksgiving. It was the 10th anniversary trip for me, and a lovely anniversary, as 5 years ago on Thanksgiving Day I drove alone to AugustRose’s orphanage to pick her up. It’s odd but I sort of forget their anniversaries anymore. As I am writing this, it only occurred to me that we were driving to the hotel in a blizzard on Turkey Day all those years ago. I was sort of bummed that they had waived my ten days, as I would be leaving for Moscow the next evening. We ran around town and picked up her adoption decree and birth certificate and dropped off the documents for her passport. We packed in the afternoon, and went outside to play in the snow for all of 20 minutes. We sent our luggage and “what-nots” down to our driver after lunch, and then I went alone with the translator to pick up the passport. That evening, we were headed to Moscow. It was a real whirlwind. I could have stayed a few more days. As time goes on, we are less and less a Russian adopted family and more just a family. Nothing special about it really. Just living life and moving forward. New York City was just what we all needed. I sent the dog to a lovely lady and he won’t be coming back. It was good to do it while we were away. Anna is sort of sad, but I keep reminding her that he is happier, and we will get a puppy soon. We need a dog that we can raise and not correct. It’s funny, it makes me think about disruption. I always thought I could Never do it, but now I wonder if I could. If anyone threatened the safety of my girlz I would have to consider it. I guess that is why I never thought of adopting an older child. I guess somewhere in my mind I was always afraid to lose too much time with the child. Afraid that they would be too damaged. But what do I know… New York was amazing. We stayed in ChinaTown across the street from a cute little park full of ladies and gents doing TiaChi at all parts of the day while others played traditional Chinese instruments and sang what appeared to be traditional songs..It was awesome. Of course we found a lot of new and exciting places that we have never been before. On Wednesday we stayed in Chinatown and did a little shopping. They still do the KNOCKOFF purse/watch/glasses thing, but I don’t participate. I honestly feel like it’s stealing. The designers hate it that they are copied, and I would never carry a fake anything. But we did find tons of fun little trinkets for the girlz, and my mom found an amazing Chinese jewelry store that sold sterling silver. Needless to say, she walked away with lots of new bobbles. And maybe I did too. After a bit of shopping, we walked through Little Italy and sampled boatloads of cannoli and other Italian treats. Late night we headed to the park and the girlz enjoyed the swings for a while. Our favorite is always Times Square. We go each year and the girlz have figured out, it’s best to go at night. So when my mom had gone to sleep, the girlz and I took the subway up and walked around checking out stores and generally doing the tourist thing.

On Thanksgiving morning, we took a cab to Rockefeller Center. The cab driver let us off and told us that we were on a cross street that would allow for us to cut through the parade. So we literally walked up to a great spot to see the balloons, bands, and floats. It always happens that we just end up in the perfect spot.

This time the only “touristy” excursion was Top of the Rock. My mom wasn’t up for it, so she sat on the street watching people at Rockefeller Plaza. AugustRose was terrified when she realized that part of the tour was outdoors and 70 or so floors up. She stood by the wall and wouldn’t move. I tried to make her pose for a picture and she cried..So I took her inside and watched Anna put her quarters in the little view-finder and check out the city. It was okay, but not really worth it. But what are you gonna do? You have to see all of these things just to get them checked off the list.

We had no intention of doing any sort of Black Friday anything, so we decided to go to the Village for the day. We ended up at Washington Square. It was another bit of paradise. The girlz found the big and little dog parks and we enjoyed watching how the city dogs play! The playground there was much busier and better equipped so the girlz were in Heaven. Mom and I just sat in the sun and watched. The weather was simply gorgeous. Not too cold and such beautiful skies..

Some quotes that I want to share so I won’t forget them.. Anna’s Quotes: “I feel like I have just gotten off a plane and landed in Japan.” “Poppy, please don’t change the tv channel, your shows are so old and I will end up dreaming in Black and White.” “When I finish writing a few songs, I’m going to perform on Broadway.” AugustRose’s Quotes: “Mommie, I am going to go to college at NYU, and you can come live with me when I am there.” “When I am in New York, I love to twirl.” “I love these glasses, they make me see gorgeous.” Hope you all had a great holiday!!

Wait..Weight..

While in Florida this summer I started walking everywhere. Anna and I also rode our bikes a few times. I gotta say the bike riding part really sucked. It hurt my behind so much that I rode home from each of our rides peddling while standing..But the walking was nice. I got to sweat out my toxins, and felt less inclined to kill chocolate bars all afternoon. And then I noticed that I had lost about 15 pounds by the time I came home. And then, I had to walk the dog every day and I lost more weight..And I went to the doctor to re-up my meds, and I found out that I have lost another few pounds. To be more precise, I have lost nearly 60 pounds in the three years since my hysterectomy. Most all of it since July..And hey, I am not complaining, but I continue to lose weight. I am now wearing a size 1o pants and even my fingers and feet have shrunk..I would be worried, but I feel just fine. The only thing that is different is the extreme stress that we are under at school. I am so anxious at night that I am taking both melatonin and tylenol pm to sleep. If not, I would stare at my ceiling thinking about all of the things I am not finished with at school.. We are leaving for Manhattan tomorrow night. It's the 10th anniversary of me going..I used to go with my "idiot X-husband". We would drive up after he got off of work in the evening, sleep in the car and then spend the day in the city, then come home later in the day. It feels really good to actually stay a few days and obviously to stay in a hotel.I am not up for the car camping thing anymore! This year I am driving. Yes, me. But since we leave tomorrow, I have plenty of time to get there without feeling rushed! We did the color run at Church last weekend. The girlz had a blast and I enjoyed spraying them with loads of colorful powder!! >

Carrie Bradshaw said it best when she jumped into a painful situation knowing the outcome would be hurtful, "I'm an emotional cutter." And I agree..Because I am one too.. I did the thing I do every so often knowing it will hurt. I emailed the new Director of the school in Moscow that I have been stalking for 8 years. I shared that I was highly skilled and ready for a change, and wanted nothing more than to teach for the school.. And he was so kind. I got a "No", but with a follow up to explain what I already know, they simply cannot afford to give my chidlren free tuition when I am only a singleton. He shared a few personal compliments about understanding my desire to be in Russia and ended our correspondence with a Best of Luck. But you see, I don't need luck. I need a teacher to become my husband and want to teach in Russia. I need a man who will marry me, or agree to be my life partner while in Russia so that I can get there..But honestly, I can't imagine being with a man anymore. I haven't dated since I divorced and I am so okay with that..Who really wants to shave their legs that often? And don't get me started on the bikini waxes.. Even though I knew how it would end, it still hurts. I have never been rejected for something based on my family dynamic so it's odd to hear it. Again, "I'm an emotional cutter."

Thumbs Up!

We were at the dentist repairing a cavity, and pulling a tooth so that Anna's mouth can be prepped for braces. The dentist asked if she sucked her thunb. I tol her, "OF course not, she sucks her fingers." Then she announced that she could put an appliance in her mouth that would keep her from sucking her fingers. She might as well said, I will torture your child and make her eat bugs for years! I will not, ever, make my child stop sucking her fingers. It relaxes her. It was her coping mechanism at the baby home, and I could never jump in and try to take away the one thing she can control about her own relaxation techniques.. It's the same with AugustRose, she sucks her thumb, but I won't make her stop either. Both girls have eased up how much they suck their fingers. It has happened naturally. When Anna was getting her tooth pulled and the doctor was speaking about the appliance for stopping her sucking her fingers, Anna lifted her thumb up and gave me the FONZ, "Aaaaayyyyyy!"

Hoobastank The Reason

Today is election day, but I am quite sure there is one family out there who couldn't care less about who wins and loses this presidential race.. My dear blogger friend "Nellie" lost her son in October and as expected, she is a wreck about it. As you could also expect, no mother wants to lose her child, and considering this dear troubled boy committed suicide, it probably feels even worse. I have heard this song twice this week, and almost HEAR Elya singing it to his mother. Because she is the reason for his love of Christ, his desire to be better, and his willingness to be the boy she adopted..I close my eyes and see that last strong hug and hold onto it in my mind. And know that Elya is starting over. Elya is starting over new..In Heaven

Coldplay - Fix You

Sometimes all we want to do is simply "fix it"...and yet in our hearts we know we can't.. But we try. I love you Nellie..

Yeahhhh..(In the most Sarcastic Way)

So this is how the day went..
Overslept, as I have been home for 4 days lounging, playing on the internet, planning my new kitchen, which I have no money to pay for, running my girlz to various family members so they don't run the risk of being without power, and generally loving life..
Got to school and remembered that last week, the entire heating/cooling unit was taken out of my room so it was FRIGID in there..Then it occured to me that I had a new student starting, and then I reviewed my parent conference schedule and YEah, I had 2 during my break, and 1 after school! AWESOME..
So I tested my students ALL DAY as we only have 4 days left to complete all tests..Then got the call from the plumber saying I had a choice, get the work started on Thursday or wait til next week..Well clearly I had to choose tomorrow..So I rushed to put in a sub for tomorrow, (1 less testing day) and started writing sub plans during my lunch..Tested some more, and had all of the conferences, then I had to rush home to get the girlz ready to TRICK OR TREAT..Another Yeah.. Oh wait, I need dog food. No problem, I just swung by the fancy shmancy dog spa and picked it up...Oh wait, had to get an actual check from the bank as I don't have any more. No problem, I simply went to the bank and walked in to see, YEP, every fool in Virginia there waiting to cash their check..Forgot it was payday. YEahhh.
So I survived that and got on the HELL road home and made it just prior to dark. But I needed the cute plastic pumpkins from outside, so as I slipped out the door, THE DAMN dog slipped out and BOOKED it down the road. And I mean booked it. He ran like Forest across roads and sidewalks..So out I went running, and yelling at the damn dog(My girlz were running behind me, Anna crying, August yelling how hard she thought I should punish the dog)
Once I caught him, I felt like throwing up, but I kept my coffee down, and brought him home. I was soo tempted to let that lil mess run away..
Then we finalized our Halloween wear and took to the streets of our own neighborhood. I walked out and Oh wait, shut the door and forgot my keys..Yeahh. So had to call my mom to bring over her key..She was thrilled. So I took the girlz to their friends house and waited on the corner for my mom to bring a key..Then I headed down the road and met up with my littles.
Being in our neighborhood was a real  YEAHhh!
This was a first for our lil' family. Since the girlz were born to me, we have traveled down south to trick or treat with my friend with Russian adopted children. For a variety of reasons, we don't visit with the family anymore.  Anna had come to me a few weeks ago and asked me if we could stay in our own neighborhood with her school friends to T-or-T this year, and I gladly agreed.
So this day was a HAyooj nightmare of running, stressing and generally freaking out! But in the end, we walked our little neighborhood with friends and had a great time. We are already home with candy traded and put away for the night..I am home tomorrow waiting for the plumber to come and repair the leak and take all of my money so I get to sleep easy and wake up and pretend I am a stay at home mom...

Here are some pics from tonight. Sorry I need to find a proper camera.


August is of course sneaking a peice of candy..



The cowboy and the cow neighbor and Princess Augsut



Annie and her friend Allie..(Friends since kindergarten)