Winter Break: Week One.

We have had a busy, fun, and productive week at Mai house. The boys are off school until January 6, giving us lots of time together but not enough time to set up a routine. The lack of routine makes it quite an interesting time together. 

Last Friday evening, we went to the Winter Festival, part two, here in our community. The snow machine was broken a couple weeks ago so they held a second event.  We went to the town square and saw a sledding hill with snow at the bottom. 

We waited in line and watched other  children laughing as they held on tight to a plastic tube and flew down the hill, some catching air. My kids eyes were wide.  The kids made it to the top and only two of them decided to go on a tube, together. Down came Lane and Alex while Gabriel walked back down the ladder.   They loved it! 

Saturday was HOT.  It was late December and getting to the high 80s. I dropped Andrew and the kiddos off at the beach while I finished some shopping. 

Prior to our drive to the beach, we noticed the snow was still on the ground. It wasn't roped off so we jumped out of the car and threw a couple ice balls at each other.  This promoted Alex to ask for snow in all of Harmony for Christmas. (We weren't able to accommodate Gabriel's wish for a small "real" Toyota either.) 

After the beach we bought dinner and went to a free movie night in our community. We watched Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. It was neat to watch the same classics that Andrew and I saw as children.

Lane convinced everyone to wear Packer gear Sunday for a hopeful win. It didn't work but I like the photo of her in her Packer outfit  

Sunday was also a Mommy-son day when I took Alex to see the Nutcracker for the first time.  We got dressed up; Alex sported a tie and belt. 

It was delightful! 

Alex thought that it was a little too long but he liked it.  At first he was concerned because he wasn't sure how he would walk to the stage from his balcony seat. I had to explain that he wasn't there to perform but to watch.  He critiqued the performers throughout the performance and let me know how well he could do if he was on stage. I have no doubt that he could rock that stage with more training. 

We stayed at home Monday. It wasn't our original plan but after a busy weekend, the kids seemed to need it. 

Lane has asked to go camping for over a year. Andrew had big ideas for camping with the kids for the first time but I was worried about the lack of bathrooms, pantry items, and overall comforts of home. 

We compromised on sleeping in the tent in the back yard. The tent was set up in the back yard, for the first time since we had children. Surprisingly, the tent is in great shape still! 

We went on a hayride through our community with some friends and saw the beautiful lights. We stopped and sang songs a couple times and now that my children can sing, it wasn't too humiliating. It was actually nice to hear their sweet voices belt out "Rudolph."
Everyone stayed in the tent until 7 am! Another shocking moment!  This allowed elves to get the majority of the wrapping done for Christmas. Perhaps this should become an annual tradition.

We spent Christmas Eve with our good friends, the Peplers.  We met when we attended adoption class in early 2004. There were four of us then but we met again as 11. They currently live in North Carolina and we were so happy they included us in their busy scheduled vacation. 

We met at downtown Disney and had lunch at the T-Rex.  After racing cars at the Lego store, we took a boat ride to one of the resorts. The kids climbed on a playground and played at an arcade. We also stumbled upon free lemonade and cookies.

It was a perfect afternoon together but six hours didn't seem like enough time together after years apart. 

Oh Christmas!! All of the kids were delighted with their gifts and their happiness made our day complete. 

Santa was unable to bring an escalator or a town full of snow for Alex or a Toyota for Gabriel but several other wishes were fulfilled.  The joy in our home could run the world.  It was amazing. 

Merry Christmas from Mai home to yours... May you have a blessed holiday season. 

I hope Mai kids will continue wearing coordinating Christmas jammies for many more years. 

Later in the day, we went to Celebration, our former town, to enjoy a Thai dinner. The kids decided that we should travel to Thailand since we will all eat their delicious food. If anyone is giving away tickets to Thailand, please let me know. 

We watched the snow fall and danced to the music before driving back home. 

Thursday, Mai kids and I straightened and organized our neglected home. They spent hours enjoying their new toys while I continued to clean and they had long lost interest in helping me. 

It's Friday again and we are beginning week two of Winter Break and with it will come New Years. This past year has flown by for me. It has brought new leaps in development for the kids as well intense challenges that showed me I have more strength and patience than I thought possible. It brought loss and renewed hope.  

Happy New Year everyone.