I know...I know...

I have not done a great job of keeping this blog current. Being a working mom takes up way too much time.
This week, something happened that they warned us about in every adoption course. Conner asked me "Are you my real mommy?" Talk about moments that you wished the world would just stop and you wouldn't have to answer him. But that wasn't what happened. I had to respond to his question. We have told him that he was adopted, so that isn't news to him. But this was the first time that he asked if I was his "real Mommy". I responded with a noticeable tremble in my voice that I wasn't the Mommy that gave birth to him, but I was the Mommy who loved him now and would love and take care of him always. Conner gave me a hug and went back to playing cars.
Hard Moment...but I survived.

Trying to get things done for our Home Study

and beginning a preschool year has me hoping for the weekend to arrive very quickly.
Al was supposed to reschedule the home visit with the social worker, but she never got the message and arrived at our extremely messy house last night for a hour and a half visit. It was beyond awful. Lucky for us, she was so kind. I am now working on decluttering our house so I do not have to live through that humilation again. It was the worst experience.
Trying to get my life back on track is definately turning into more of a project than I previously anticipated.
Today begins another year of educating Buckeye's Littlest Learners. Man, I hope that I am ready!

School days, School days...

Mommy went back to school this week. She says that she loves her job, but I think that she is telling some stories, because she sighs really loud, as she takes off her "work shoes".
I am headed back to see my friends at Penny's tomorrow. Mommy says that they will celebrate my 3rd birthday with me there. Daddy dropped off pizzas, not the kind that Mommy was going to buy and special ice cream treats for all of us at Penny's house today.
Mommy is still not home...Daddy says that she is at Open House! I thought he said earlier that she was at Mommy's School, so I keep looking for her here at our house...it must not be the "Open House" one.

Birthday Party Prep

To get ready for Conner's birthday party tomorrow, I have done a million little things...
I ordered the food.
Al ordered the cake.
I ordered balloons.
I picked up a fruit bowl.
I made some cupcakes (they were supposed to be eaten tonight at Blossom, but we were rained out.)
I bought favors.
I cut out little fish and other sea creatures and attached them with ribbon.
I rolled silverware and used more of the same ribbon. (Al's grandma bought it from Silverman's for $1.99...I bet she got her use out of it and there is still plenty left for me to use.)
Tomorrow, I will need to pick up chicken nuggets and balloon. Put table clothes on tables and decorate. Relax and smile.
Wendy

The Bedtime War...

Al is at Scouts tonight and Conner and I are battling each other about bedtime.
Al has no problem laying down and falling asleep with him every night. I can't do this...I am not going to have the time in just a few days. Tonight, I wanted to get his favors for his party done! NO DICE! I have put him back into bed what fees like 100 times.
He is all sweet and sugary. "I need to kiss you." GRR! I need you to keep your tush in the Spiderman sheets.
Seriously, I know this battle is shortlived, but he is killing me tonight!

Old Friends..

Last night, I went to dinner with 6 ladies that I went to high school with. We hit Buca di Beppo in Strongsville, which is good if you want to have a big group all together. I felt sorry for the tables on either end of our group. We spent a good part of the evening catching each other up on the last 20 years of our lives. That's when I realized that my story is sort of vanilla. I have been teaching in the same place for a really long time. I married Al and we adopted Conner and we are still trying to adopt his sister. THE END. I haven't lived all over the country, lived in another country, traveled extensively, dealt with major illness, or a death of a parent. My life has been completely average.
And you know what...I thought I minded. But as I write this...I realize that I don't. The life that Al and I have built is a crazy one, but I wouldn't trade it.

We had an extended vacation...

We went to Pawleys Island for a week. Conner and I loved the beach and the ocean. Al got to fish on a fishing boat. He also got to take his son fishing. They went fishing and I went to the Outlets. Conner and I loved the beach! It was a wonderful place to take Conner at this age. He had his life jacket on in the water and he was great about staying right by Al and I. We had help with getting him to eat and he had friends to play with all the time. It was a wonderful week! Great weather, except for the day that I had to pack.
We also went to Washington DC to see "Mr. John", who is my longtime friend, who just got his own house on his dream block. He has been renovating and still doesn't have his kitchen sink in, but he got his bed put together just in time for this group of house guests. He also provided Star Wars Sheets for his littlest house guest. He also didn't freak out when Conner wanted and attempted to touch his toys. We ate at Ben's Chili Bowl, like President Obama. We shopped at the Dog Days Sales. We also saw the monuments at night, which is one of my favorite things to do in Washington DC.
Then, we went to Lancaster, PA for a night in a huge hotel. We rode on a train...again. Then we went to Hershey, PA. We did the Chocolate World free ride and spent lots of money on candy to take home with us.
It was a great trip and now, I need to get back to the business of getting ready for another school year.