New Pictures

I am not sure how to catch up with all that has been going on since I last posted. Summer has been really fun and hectic. I am trying to take the kids as many places as I can. It is not easy with Anika's age to do some of the things that Alex would like but I think it has been a fun summer for him so far. It sure is flying by fast. I wanted to post these so that the kids Grandparents could see the pictures we had done yesterday. Only a few more weeks until our fist big family vacation with Anika.

Monday After School

Yesterday after school the kids were playing so nicely together that I felt compelled to get the camera out. I am so glad I did. They really have a neat love between them. I just keep saying it but it just fills me with joy every time I see them like this.

Memory Lane 2

Since the last post was mainly about Alex I thought I would give Anika a special post. Look at the difference a year has made for her. May 2008- May 2009.

pictures and more.....

It has been a busy few weeks here in the Guatemamatwo house. Alex had some really neat things going on at school. The week after the Mother's Day Tea was the first grade sharing program. It was a 30 min show that was so wonderful. All the kids sang and danced complete with props. All the kids came to the microphone and spoke about what they wanted to do this summer. Let's just say that I cried. The picture of Alex and I is right after the show. This past week was the first grade zoo. All the kids have been researching animals complete with reports and the wonderful zoo set up on the school lawn. As you can see Alex was a tiger. They had large red buttons to press on the posters when you wanted to learn animal facts. Imagine 100 such cute ones and you get the idea. Last week was also Alex's first crossover ceremony with Cub scouts. He is officially working on his wolf rank and will be considered a 2nd grader for the summer activities. Anika is doing great and we have been spending some time at our wonderful park and the children's garden.

Only 7 more days of first grade for Alex. This week is the class picnic. That should be a riot. 100 first graders and their families. Hopefully I can get some pictures while chasing Anika among the melee!!

Mother's Day First Grade Tea

What a special time I had with Alex today at school. It was the First Grade Mother's Day Tea. Alex made me a hand painted tile and wrote a poem complete with a picture of me. All the kids read their poems in front of the class. After having tea and cookies we were treated to a slide show of all the pictures his wonderful teacher has taken this year. It was such a treat to spend time alone with Alex and spend some time at school. Tomorrow we are going to boy scouts and then to his school festival.






Anika is talking more and more and just blooming like a little flower. It seems like she is changing by the day now.

Love

My new favorite picture of the kids.




This moment was so special. We were at the zoo on Sunday and having a great time. The kids had walked hand in hand for a while and then the Zoo train came by. Alex was showing Anika the train and I love the look on her face. What a great moment.

Of course they fight like any other brother and sister but they do have such a neat relationship.

Memory Lane

Spring has finally come to Ohio! It has been so warm and I feel like I am out of a long winter hibernation. With both kids having birthdays in the past few weeks it seems like time is flying by. With that in mind I went back to look at some old pictures. I found these from April/May 2006. Alex had just turned four. Look at how much my boy has changed in three years.







Anika has been loving loving getting outside and playing again finally. Cute pictures of my little lady to come soon.. Hopefully.. :)

TWO

My Dearest Anika! Today you are two years old. You are growing up so fast. It seems like you are able to do something new everyday now. You are a sweet sweet girl with a heart of gold. I love the look on your face everyday when I walk into your room in the morning. I love the way you hug, kiss and follow Alex around whenever you can. You have a wicked sense of humor. At dinner you go around the table pointing saying "Dada, Awek, then you get to me and laugh and say "not you" then you laugh and laugh. You are such a treasure and I am thankful that I am your mommy! xoxoxoxoxoxo Mom

Birthday Fun At The School Art Show

Thursday night was Alex's art show at school. Every student had a piece of artwork displayed in the hall. We had such a good time looking at his spider and the artwork that his friends made. I was so glad he was able to go back to school after being sick the first part of the week. He was so excited to take his birthday treat in and to have us all come for the art show. It was great that we didn't have to miss it. In the 2nd picture Anika is down the hall with Jens in her little pink camo coat. :) She was so happy to go IN to the school and hang out with Alex. It was cute. After the show we went home for cupcakes and more DS playing. Alex has been asking for one and we decided that he was ready for one. I might be blogging more now that he has Club Penguin on his DS and not only on line.

Seven

My dearest Alex, Today you are SEVEN! I am so proud of you. You are getting to be such a big kid right before my eyes. It seems like this past year just flew by. You are such a kind and loving kid. You are the best big brother to Anika. She is lucky that she will have you by her side. I am a lucky lucky Mom to have you as my son. I am so proud of you and all that you have done this past year. You have done great here and made so many friends since we moved. You are doing great in school. I love spending time with you and seeing you play with your friends. I was not there when you were born seven years ago but my heart and love was with you on that day and always will be. I wish that you will someday have a son and know the joy that I feel each and every day. All my love to you today and Always!!!!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Mom

Anika's family day celebration was a blast. I went to a local specialty store and got some good Enchiladas and black bean dip. Alex was thrilled with the meal and asked to have it for his family day meal in August. Anika was THRILLED with the balloon she was given at the store and with us singing "Happy Adoption Day" to her. We gave her a few gifts and spent the rest of the evening playing with her Dora phone and baby dolls. Alex was so thrilled and happy for Anika. It was really special.



Friday night was Alex's first pinewood derby with Cub Scouts. It was so much fun to see how excited he was as the race was about to start. He won his first heat. We were all so excited. It lasted until almost 10pm so I didn't stay for very much. Anika had a lot of fun playing with all the cub scouts until the race started and loved dancing to the music they played during the race. Let's get ready to rumble.....

One Year Ago

It was a year ago today that we met Anika in Guatemala for the first time! It is so hard to believe it has been a year already. It was a very surreal moment walking off the elevator and seeing Anika in her foster mothers arms. Today we will celebrate this day and Anika's first family day.

Anika we love you so very much. I love the way you smile and laugh most all the time. You have a zest for life that is wonderful. I love how you adore your brother and he you. I love how you dance and jump for joy when you hear music. You have brought so much to our family and we are so thankful for you.

HAPPY FAMILY DAY!!!
xoxoxooxo
Mom Dad and Alex

Together

Alex and Anika are spending more and more time together. It is such an amazing thing to see their relationship grow. Tonight Alex was showing Anika how to use her Tadoodles Art Station that she got from her Grandma. He is very patient and caring with her. She adores him like no one else. Alex has Spanish this year as part of his school day. He has a 15 minute Spanish time twice a week. He has learned so much already this year. He is now counting with Anika and teaching her body parts and colors. He started doing this on his own and I am trying to get him to teach me. He seems to like to talk to Anika in Spanish alone. It is like a shared secret between them. I am really Thankful for both of my wonderful precious kids.

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a happy and wonderful 2009! I can not believe it is 2009 already. It seems like only a few months since we were in Guatemala with Anika. It really has been almost a year. The kids had such fun with these hats last week. We had a nice trip to celebrate Christmas with Dad, Nana ,Grandpa Joe, Uncle Adam and my great Aunt Bev on Sunday. I will have to get a movie done at some point. Right now I wanted to get something new on here while Anika is napping. Can I say that I LOVE that she naps in her crib FINALLY! Thanks to my cousin Sarah over Thanksgiving. I saw how her sweet one went to bed in the pack in play in a strange house in the middle of the party and thought well Anika MUST be able to sleep in her crib at home. She was going to bed at night great in her crib but naps were a mess. Now I feel so much more in control of my life with a bit of time during the day and the house is cleaner too. :)

Speaking of the house, my oh my this house we bought has been a money pit since we moved in. I got home today after taking Alex to school to find the heat not working. $600 dollars later we have a new motor in the furnace as we speak. Since July we had to have the A/C fixed when a line broke and flooded the basement and we had a sewer back up down there not long after. I miss our old house like crazy and miss our small happy town in PA and this is not helping.

So much to be thankful for though so I will focus on all the great blessings in my life. Alex and Anika top the list.