Christmas Tree 2014

This was the fifth year of our Christmas tree expedition at Christmas Creek with Liz and Casey. Each year is different. As we look back over the years we have had different members of our extended family join us, from Felix to Borja, to friends. But this is the second year with Ermias, and it is now that we get to anniversary him being here. He recognized Santa and was excited for the tradition. It's quite amazing to me that after just one time through, he already believes in Santa and feels a strong connection. As we were searching for trees a random white guy with a beard and a red shirt walked to his car, and Mason and Ermias both ran to him yelling "Santa!"

Then as we waited in line to have our pictures taken, Ermias kept peeking between the adults for a glimpse of Santa, and excitedly waving. Last year Santa was a weird white guy in a red velvet suit. This year he's magical. Ermias sat on his lap, as if he had done it every year of his life.

Devan and Kenzie's friend Luca joined us, and we realized we were a group with four adults and seven kids!

Mr. Touchy

Ermias has a wonderful teacher who again wrote a note home to us regarding Mr. Touchy. When he came home we talked about who he touches in class. He knew immediately it was Tessa. I asked if he was supposed to touch her and he said "hands to self?" Then I asked if he was still going to touch her. He nodded yes!!!! I locked eyes and he then shook his head no. 

Dear Cindy and Julie, 

I just wanted to touch base with you about Ermias. He is having a tough week with friends in our class. One thing that we are working on is staying in our own personal space bubbles. We talked a lot about this last week but he is still struggling. Today I had to ask him to take his work to another table because he was frequently touching the student next to him despite the student and I asking him to stop.

 

When I spoke to him afterwards he could tell me that he knows that he needs do “hands to self” but he is having difficulty applying that knowledge to social situations. I know we spoke earlier this year about the language and cultural pieces that are still developing regarding personal space but I think he could use a little extra support. I can see the huge academic gains he is making and I am excited about his progress. I know the support he gets at home has been instrumental to his progress so I thought I would reach out for that same, great support with the personal space struggle.

 

He is so loving towards his friends and I know their affection means the world to him. I want to do everything in my power to help him feel successful both academically and socially! Let me know if I can support you in any way.

 

Thank you for partnering with me on this. 

Cindy relied to Mrs. Weller.  

Thank you for sharing this with us. 

It is difficult to explain to him that an act that is so culturally natural for him is not so accepting here. He is such a loving kid and happy most often. (99% of the time he is smiling) 

We talked to him about personal space and will continue that on a daily basis. We want to reward him for working on this so each day we will ask him if he stayed in his own space. If you could make a mental note from today until conference time how well he has done then we can talk with you and see if it is working or if we need something more. I am also willing to come in if need be. 

He really loves going to school everyday. Learning and being with other kids is important to him.

Thank you for your patience, time and being so great with him. We really appreciate it. 

And then back from Mrs. Weller:

 

Thank you again for your support. He is one lucky little guy to have such an amazing family! He had a wonderful day and I couldn’t wait until conferences to share that!!

In an attempt to celebrate I asked him" so did you touch Tessa today?"

He replied "no, she wasn't there. She was sick."

Perhaps too soon to waive the victory flag. 

Monopoly

Mason's favorite game and his favorite trainee. 

My little girl

...found the red lipstick for the play

Door #1

Kenzies school put on a cute play called Alice@wonderland. She auditioned and got a speaking part as Door #1. They have three performances this weekend.

Growing: 51.6 lbs!

That's about 25% increase in a year. Good job to our little eater!

Mason's class

New neighbors

We got a new bird feeder and have been watching all our new friends. This guy about exceeds the weight capacity but sure is fun to watch. 

One year!!

Over 100 people came over today to celebrate one year with Ermias. We had an Ethiopia food truck, plus Ermias' favorite squash soup and guacamole. 

First soccer season is in the books!

Ermias' last game started and ended like his first game with him scoring the only goal of the game. This could be the first of many seasons of soccer as it appears that he enjoys playing. The coach labeled him the scorer. Great job Ermias!

Tough girl

Kenzie had her last soccer game. Her coaches gave her the award "Toughest Defensive Player." And it was well deserved! She even signed her coaches card with the nickname he gave her: MacTruck. 

One year update

ONE YEAR

One year ago today we landed in Ethiopia. I thought I would have a full day of shopping and rest, until the phone rang in the airport and the orphanage told me that our son was ready to leave. It still seems like a dream. I often look back at pictures to try to fully understand the time and space that both lead us there, and has taken us from that place to where we are today.

WHERE WERE YOU? 

Ermi looked at a picture from Hawaii several years ago. He said "Ama, Sister, Mason, Mommy. Where am I?"

I told him he was still in Ethiopia. 

He said "you didn't swing by to get me?"

This will forever be the hardest thing for us to explain to him. He is such a part of our family, we can't fully understand the time before it was so.

FOOD 

Food has been such a topic of conversation over this last year. At first he would only eat his native food. When he was in the hospital 11 months ago, he ate his first American food with nine slices of white bread. But then he got no other nutrition because it just didn't taste familiar. I learned to cook Ethiopian food and put spices and everything I cooked to at least make it taste a little bit like home.

Today Little Mister eats just about anything. His favorite dish is a pile of lettuce with blue cheese dressing. He still loves lentils and any soup that I make. I made a Caesar salad dressing yesterday with six cloves of garlic and he licked the bottom of the blender like Mason would clean up chocolate chip cookie dough. In the morning he ate a full breakfast and then at 11 o'clock had two large helpings of lasagna. Oh and then some crackers. He still hasn't tackled a cheeseburger, but is a big fan of french fries and mac & cheese. Sometimes I wonder how that 48 pound body can absorb such volume.

GOOD COMPANY

Ermias has never slept in a room by himself. When he lived with the family in Ethiopia they had a very small home. Then he moved to the orphanage where he shared a room with a dozen kids. When he moved into our home he and Mason shared a room. Whenever Mason was gone for the night Ermias would go into Kenzies room.

Until last night. 

Ermias likes to talk himself to sleep. He will whisper numbers or the alphabet or sing a little song. It about drives Mason out of his mind. He doesn't do it just for a minute or two but long enough to push Mason to the brink of insanity. After asking his little brother to please be quiet multiple times, last night Mason about snapped and so we let him sleep in the spare room. Ermias cried and cried, but he was responsible for annoying Mason. I consoled him, we hugged him, and he kept his own company with a stuffed bear and his sniffles.

I almost didn't keep my resolve when I went in at about 10:30 and he was still so sad. But I reminded myself of our early parenting classes and knew that if I gave in just this one time that precedence would forever be set. So, with great guilt and sadness, I let him cry it out.

So tonight both boys went to beds in their shared room. I was sure that Ermias had learned his lesson and tonight would be much easier. I poked my head in and said (quietly confident that I knew the answer), "Ermias, do you want to talk tonight or have Mason sleep in here with you?" He replied "um, I think I want to talk."

And so it goes with Ermias. He is resilient and moves forward. One night without his big brother and he realizes that now not only can he do it, but it may actually be better. He has the biggest room all to himself, and can say his alphabet and numbers without anybody bothering him. The rare tears that we get from him are usually just a quick learning. Again, he grows and moves onward. 

Monsters

We eased into Halloween this first year with a monster hat for Ermias. Mason very much enjoyed putting on his scary mask and torturing his little brother time and time again.