Sunday, January 14, 2007

School!




It was quickly apparent that Lauren and Donnie needed more challenging activities than staying at home. So off to school we went.

I was leery of signing them up too soon for school. After all they don't speak or understand English; how will they communicate with the teachers and other students? Well it turned out to be the best thing for them! The kids did great it's the teachers we are worried about!! Donnie has certainly kept Miss Natasha on her toes, although by the 3rd day she said that he was settling down. Lauren on the other hand is very obedient and will listen and follow intstrucitons.

They are attending Primrose and going from about 8 - 4 for 5 days a week. We have noticed that they are understanding many English words, sentences (commands). George is great with working with them in the evenings on their alphabet and "key" words. In the mornings when it is time to take them they are excited and go willingly. This week at school they will start "playball" which is a program that will teach them the basis for sports like baseball, basketball, hockey, tennis, soccer and more. It will be intereting to see if they are "predisposed" to certain sports.

We also had a couple of successful restaurant experiences. After only 1 week home, we took them to IHOP (International House of Pancakes). Well, they were not ready. They did not get it even thought there were many other kids eating around us. Not pancake fans for sure (at least not yet). Then we braved a Friday evening for Mexican food! That was a hit. The chips were a good pacifier until the food came. Chicken with some rice is a hit. The success made the 30 minute wait all worth while. So now we know we can take them in public and have fairly behaved kids!

The pictures are from their first day of school and waiting for our table on Mexican night.

Home for 2 weeks!




Wow, I cannot believe it has been 2 weeks already!

The first week we were home Grandma Ann and Grandpa Don stayed with us and were a great help! Grandma served Lauren and Donnie their first breakfast! There was a lot of exploration, the house, the yard, the cars, the grocery store, etc.! It was sort of like a "free for all"; possibly a lot of overstimulation as well.

Folks have been so generous with the kids. They have a lot of toys and new clothes. We have actually started hiding the toys and bringing them out again after a couple of days. That way they are new all over again.

They also learned the bath tub experience with rubber duckies and bubble bath! Bath time is a lot of fun for them, but I think we need to move it from night to morning because it seems to over stimulate them and then they don't want to go to sleep.

Sleep is still a challenge. Very hard to put down ( a lot of crying ) and still getting up in the middle of the night (crying). We have had one night of full sleep so far but we cannot seem to follow it up with a second. Hopefully in time because mom and dad sure could use a full nights sleep (LOL)!