Where Has the Time Gone?

Well, I can't believe I have let an entire month go by since my last post. Shameful. With the holiday and our recovery time I just didn't even think much about getting on here to update. Since there are no new events in the adoption adventure, I tend to put off writing.

We had a great holiday though it was very, very busy. Mara had a wonderful time meeting all of her extended family and especially enjoyed those closest to her age, Max and Parker. I think the crowd and stacks of gifts on Christmas morning left her feeling a little shell shocked, but I think it was still fun for her. As for the rest of us we had a wonderful time just being at home with our loved ones rather than on the other side of the globe in a culture we hardly knew.

Mara had a great time following Max and Parker all over while they were here. She learned lots of new things from them. Her language improved immensely, mostly because she learned that she too can put all those words she knows into sentences. And then she did pick up some new words and phrases that are pretty funny coming out of the mouth of a sweet little 2-year-old. These include, Oh Man, Alright, No way and a noise that is quite recognizable as guns being fired, though I have no idea how to put that into print. She also learned a lot about making inanimate objects into weapons and how small action figures can fight with one another. This is all quite new to me, having raised only girls. She so enjoys playing with older children that it has crossed my mind more than once that we should be looking more closely at the waiting child lists. Perhaps God has an older child picked out for us instead of a mei mei. Hmmm.

I had planned to check in and write an entry on December 27th. That was the anniversary of Mara's "Gotcha Day." We can scarcely believe it has been an entire year since she joined our family. Many, many times over the holidays I found myself recounting our activities last year. It was quite nostalgic and was lots of fun to think about our adventures, especially from the comfort of our own home with American food available. China was a great adventure but I know I have blotted out many of the less pleasant portions. I think it must be a little like childbirth. Once it is over, you forget the hard parts. Just as with childbirth, the joy brought to our lives by this little girl so far outweighs all the hard work and unpleasant experiences along the way that I can't even remember most of what I didn't enjoy. I'm actually looking forward to our return trip. Except for the flights both ways. I still very much dread those long, cramped hours to come. Oh, and the intact poultry so popular on Chinese dinner plates. I still cringe at that mental image.

Katelynn and Nikki both had the majority of their vacations after Christmas. Before Christmas we were a little bummed about this. However, once the hub-bub was over and everyone had gone home, we found we still had a nice, long, quiet week to enjoy each other's company before Nikki had to return to the whirlwind that is her life. Katelynn had yet another week after that, though it was marred by jury duty. She ended up not having to sit on the jury but as she was called for a rape/assault/murder case, there was three days of selection before they decided they needed to dismiss her because she knew one of the witnesses. Even with that it was a wonderful time with my girls and both Mara and I were so sad to see them head back to their regular lives. Mara was a very unhappy little girl when Katelynn climbed into her car to leave for Boulder.

So we are here in the middle of Bronco Mania! In the past we have been only playoff fans, that is we only watch football if and when the Broncos are participating in the playoffs. We may have to change our ways. We watched the Broncos/Patriots game on Saturday night and Mara was entranced. On Sunday morning she asked if we could watch more Broncos. I carefully explained they only played sometimes and that she would have to wait for a week to see them again. When I tuned in later to check out the Steelers/Colts game she gave me a stricken look and said, "Broncos, Mom!" I then explained that this was football but not the Broncos. I was forgiven. She is anxiously and not so patiently awaiting the playoff game on Sunday when she can see both football and the Broncos.

Nikki is once again consumed by play practice. She has been cast as one of the "silly girls" in the upcoming Greeley West production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. It isn't a huge part, but she is really excited. She will also be in the chorus and will have a few solos here and there in the play. Mara is also excited and thinks the fact that we have play tickets for her means she should get to go to practice with Nikki. Two-year-old minds are such an interesting place.

I was glad to find that there is a fourth person checking in from time to time, Hi Jenny! Up until now I had determined only Katelynn and Lisa check in on a regular basis, with Mom finding her way here once in awhile. Not that I blame people--I'm not great at reading blogs either. Still it will be so good to have a record of our journey to our newest family member when it is all complete. I surely wish I'd done this the last time. Sorry Mara!

Okay, enough for now. I'll try to keep up better. As soon as something interesting happens, I'll be here! Wait, that may not be a good plan, I'll never write. Anyway, I'll be back, eventually.