A few good movies

I get into these real movie kicks, where I'll watch several DVDs in a few weeks. Recently I've been experiencing just such a kick. This month, I've watched Charlie Wilson's War, 3:10 to Yuma, Stardust, Because I Said So, Once, The Holiday, Breach, and Ocean's Thirteen. That doesn't include the countless hours of "Bob the Builder" or "Veggie tales". I don't particularly think they count. Maybe one day I'll blog up a storm on the best kids DVDs, but today, I'm too Fraggle Rock'd out.

Out of the above list, I really must say my favorites have been (in no particular order) 3:10 to Yuma, Stardust, Once, and The Holiday. Now, I realize that list sounds very 'chick-flick-centric', and I must explain that I am not a chick-flick exclusive gal. I love The Lord of The Rings trilogy, The Bourne series and several other high-action, high impact movies. I just haven't seen many that have made this top list this past month. Breach, was good, but the actor Chris Cooper just kept freaking me out in how much he reminded me of my Dad in the 80s. Really, I think he studied my father on how to move, sound, comb his hair, wear a suit. I seriously could not enjoy the movie because he just reminded me of my Dad too much! BTW - my father has never (to my knowledge) been an FBI agent, nor has he been a CIA agent, or in anyway worked for the government, or, for that matter, spied on the United States for Russia. (great, now I probably have some poor schmuck in the FBI flagging my blog as anti-American or something). Haven't you had that happen though? An actor plays his character just like some real person you know? Syndrome from the Incredibles? He reminds me completely of my cousin Chris. Chris Cooper as Robert Hansen in 'Breach'? Identical twin to my father in the 1980s. WEIRD folks, just weird.

Anyway...I really must recommend that everyone see the movie 'Once'. It was released last year (limited release), and is a modern day musical. Now wait - come back, finish reading the blog! There is no dancing, no knife fights, and very little of the actual storyline is sung. So really, watch it, Craig even liked it. And just about anyone can tell you that he hates musicals. (passionately, really. Maybe, I should make him watch a musical every time he watches sports center. Could be an even trade there. And I'm sure I could get a negative association going and make him gag every time he hears he Sports Center theme.) Another surprise hit for me was The Holiday. Now, I realize that it got a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (my movie review website of choice), but I liked it. Yes, it's a feel-good chick flick. But I love sweet things, so this movie hit my 'clean and sweet' streak just right.

So that's the movie list for now - I still have several to see this month before I'll be satisfied that I've watched enough movies to turn my brain to mush. I figure since Emmett has pink-eye (seems to be an annual thing), I'll need any type of entertainment once he's in bed. =)

Giggles and eskimo kisses

No matter how rotten my day has been, or how annoyed I am to be working late yet again, there is always something sweet about hearing Emmett giggle. There are the little giggles which are almost a tease. They're the kind which announce that he'd like to giggle more, but needs the motivation. There are the fake giggles which he likes to make when he thinks that something you said should be funny, but isn't really sure he understands what you've said. And then there are the belly-laugh giggles. Which are the best. They're most often heard during a particularly good tickle session, or if we're playing a funny game. So as I hear the giggles from upstairs, it dulls the fact that I have to work late (again).

Sometime early in my relationship with Emmett I taught him Eskimo kisses. All adoption professionals and adoption materials talk a great deal about attachment and how to foster attachment. Many of the techniques which were described in some of the adoption literature we read was very baby-specific. An example was "holding time" - where the adoptive parent spends several minutes (up around 30+) holding the child. This is to help connect with the child, some infants might fuss about being held, but the idea is to foster attachment through touch. Well, an infant can be held, even a fussy one can be held cause they're small! A 3yr old does not want to be held!They're just too active! It's the nature of a 3yr old. So I taught Emmett Eskimo kisses as an attachment activity.

For those not familar with Eskimo kisses wikipedia actually defines it: Eskimo Kisses I'm a little disturbed that it's made fun of as a stereotypically 'white' gesture. But that's another blog for another day. Our form of eskimo kissing also includes the words "uggha-mugga" being said - but wikipedia says nothing of uggha-mugga, and I haven't a clue what it means. =)

Since I became the main 'dropper' for daycare, Emmett and I have been sharing Eskimo kisses when I leave. And it's one of my favorite goodbye traditions.

Folks say it's the little things that make parenting great - and I'd have to agree that giggles and eskimo kisses make everything so very worthwhile.

A few past due pics...

He's not too young for chores, right?










































Christmas Morning...
GEOTRAX GRAND CENTRAL STATION!! OMMA, I'VE BEEN WANTING THAT! Like I hadn't noticed!?!















New Monkey! Serious (No, Omma, Curious) George.

TGIF and other stuff

I signed up with facebook a few months ago after my sis-in-law sent me an invite. I thought for certain I'd be about the only person my age on. But I was pleasantly surprised to find many college friends, and church friends on the site as well. I posted a link to the blog on my profile because I didn't think I'd be on facebook as much as I blogged. Interestingly enough, several friends have commented about the blog and they're own interests in adoption. I never realized how many of my friends were interested in adoption. It's a wonderful thing to hear, especially since it's so close to my heart.

I'm not sure I've mentioned that Emmett started a new daycare this month. We loved the former daycare and were so sad to leave, but the commute was making my usually happy little kid - a exhausted little nightmare! So we made the decision to switch to one closer to home. Now, the 10 minute drive is perfect, even though I'm less than excited with the new daycare. It's a little less structure than I'd prefer, and a few more 'movie days' than I'd like. But he's being well cared for. He's in preschool three days a week, and those days are either up or down. Twice this week he flipped at me leaving him. Just when I was thinking we'd be ok. Ugh

I got a message on my work voicemail from the old daycare. They had a pile of Emmett's stuff, crafts, etc and a card from his friends (i.e. classmates). I stopped by on the way home one day to pick it up, and sat in the parking lot close to tears after reading the card from his friends and teachers. He was so well loved there! His little love triangle between Sidney and Reagan was now broken. Reagan wrote (well the teacher wrote, but Reagan said) "I love you, I love you again, I love you again." Sidney said "I love you, Emmett". And Emmett's best bud Ian said "I'll miss you very much, cause you were my friend". Aw - even makes me tear up now!

So a new chapter of less commuting and more home-time has begun, and I'm sure the adjustment of everything is why I'm seeing a few new sides to Emmett. I remind myself that he's only 4, and in attachment, he's only one and a half. But boy, and I glad to say TGIF! Now I can enter the weekend, where I'm sure we'll all freeze our buns off if we leave the house! Oh well, it's winter and as Emmett says "I not like winter so much, Omma". Me neither kid, me neither!

Husband/Team mate - whatever!

Emmett: "Omma, are you and Appa getting married?"
Me: "We already are married"
Emmett: prerequisite to every converstaion "Why?"
Me: "Because Appa and I love each other a lot and one day we decided to live together forever, so we got married. That's what people who love each other a lot and want to live together forever. It's like becoming a team. Appa and I are a team now"
Emmett: "I want Ryan on my team, cause he's fast. Or maybe Ian, he's almost as fast as me"
Me: "It's not a competitive team, honey. It's a team that shares things, like chores and parenting and stuff"
Emmett: "But Appa's the only one who does the dishes, you don't share that"
Me: "Yes, you're right we don't share that cause Appa and I have an arrangement for dishes. I cook, he does the dishes"
Emmett: "I don't think I'll get married, then I'd have to share all my toys"
Me: "Well, maybe your toys won't be that important to you when it's time for you to get married. One day you might find a nice girl to love and marry, and you won't mind sharing"
Emmett: "I don't think so"
Me: "Well, let's just wait and see. You have plenty of time"
Emmett: "I think so"

Nine Years, 4 residences, two bunnies and one big dog

Nine years ago today, in the midst of the 2nd worst blizzard in Chicago history, I married the man I love. I'm not one to get sappy (usually), I mean, I don't cry at movies, unless they're really sad, (Shindler's List & Rwanda are really sad folks!), so I can write that first line and not feel sappy. Then again, maybe I'm just defending my sappiness with this long diatribe about my non-sappiness. Ugh, this is not about my sappiness... onward to the point (yes, I have one!).

I remember the night before my wedding, staying in my hotel room with Jennie, the best maid of honor a girl could have, praying that by some miracle the massive blizzard which was stalled over my wedding day would move - anywhere but Chicago! Now I look back and have to laugh - I remember laughing even the day of my wedding. What could I do? It was a blizzard, and heck if that was about to stop me! My personal attendant, Lisa, all 5'1 of her trooped through a field of snow (literally) to get to the church and unlock it, turn the furnace way up, and get the lights on. Our groomsmen were conscripted into emergency car re-arranging so the plow could get the lot cleared. The pastor got stuck in a ditch and was rescued by my father-in-law, and my future grandmother-in-law trucked from a far north suburb to bring me my cake. It was a Herculean effort, and by job - we did it, despite the 22 inches of snow. We got married.

Nevermind that half of my friends from college were stuck only a few suburbs away unable to leave their driveways, and my grandfather couldn't come because of the snow. Nevermind that at one point my father-in-law pulled my husband aside and suggested that if we wanted a honeymoon, we should leave now. =) Ah the memories! Big fat snowflakes, and my big white dress (wow - would I do THAT over!), it seemed fitting. Instead of my 'big fat greek wedding' I had a "Big Fat Blizzard wedding". Still had the same humor! I'm proud to say, that I actually didn't freak out. I was fairly calm (right girls?). Again, what could I do, but hope that the people most necessary for the wedding would arrive. =)

So nine years later, Craig and I have lived in 4 different apartments/houses. Owned 3 pets (two rabbits and one big dog), and have owned more vehicles than nine years should warrant. We've argued over who would do the dishes, and my shoe collection.But all in all - we've had it pretty good.

I'm not sure that I would have imagined myself in this place nine years ago, when the thought of marriage was still more like a dream. We've changed, we've grown up - in some senses a lot, in other's I still feel like a kid. But I think we've changed together, and grown together, to the point that the only one I want to come home to is Craig.

So as I look outside and see the snow blowing up the driveway to drift onto the garage door, I can't help but thank God for my big fat blizzard wedding, and the man I married that day.

Happy Anniversary - Sweetheart, I love you. ;)

Happy New Year

Ah, another year gone by. Surprising to think this is only Emmett's second New Year in the States. Harder to believe he's only been home one year and 4 months. How much has changed.

I think that was my theme for 2007, how much has changed. Emmett has grown in his English, his attachment and physically (darn those pants are too small already!). We had our first big family vacation - which is definately a different experience with kids. Emmett has left his first day care/ preschool, to begin a new one. And we've finally painted another room in the house aside from Emmett's room. Oh how much has changed.

But then I think of how much has stayed the same. We're still attending Heritage Chapel, Craig and I celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary tomorrow. And the dog still won't sleep somewhere other than on my legs. So I suppose some things never change.

I'm not one for resolutions. I suppose I like the idea of not setting any so you're not disappointed when they don't occur. I know that's cynical, but sometimes the energy just to make it through the week is all I have. I have some goals around the Tri, and bloggin more consistetnly, but don't hold me to them!

Now, as I look out the window of our newly painted office/guest room to the several inches of fresh snow which blanket our driveway (nice view, huh?), I can only imagine my CA cousins in sweatshirts alone out and about LA. BTW - Go Illini!

For those of you who might not have gotten the Christmas newsletter, here it is below.

Once upon a time in the land of Marckese
Lived a family that was just a bit crazy.
Our year started quiet, asleep on the floor
Of the little one’s room, oh dear what a chore.
The year it went on, and oh what a fuss
We made over Emmett’s favorite Yellow Bus.

Down we’ve traveled this long twisting road.
From Korea a child God alone has bestowed.
And finally it came the day of great joy
Adoption it’s final – he’s our little boy.

And off we went in one great hurry
Lake Tahoe reunion, oh but there’s a worry.
The fires they got just a bit close,
Four miles from the house, I suppose.
So off we went, full family in tow
To stay for the nights, on Marriot row.

And back we came to ole Moby’s lair
Where flopping and drooling is only just fair.
One hundred and twelve, I exclaimed to the vet
Where was my small puppy long ago I had met.

Way down on the farm, our boy turned four
Surrounded friends, “Omma, just a few a more.”
“So can I go out and ride my new big bike?”
“I guess, you’re no longer my little tyke”

So here we are this year at an end.
And we’ve had it quiet good in all, my friend
We thank our dear Lord for our good blessing
Of friends and sweet family, to this we’re addressing

By the lit tree, we wait for His birth
Remembering His coming to our lowly earth
To save us of sins we could not attone
Without the cross, his sacrifice alone.

We bid you good tidings and joy through this season
This rhyme was created, for just such this reason
Jen tried with all earnest, determination and might.
To all Merry Christmas and God Bless you this Night.

Happy New Year!