You Wanted Photos, You Got It!

As requested, here are some photos of the kids. They are not the most recent ones, but are some of my favorites to date of the little cuties.

Here is Marie in her pretty dress that she wore to Molly and Steve's wedding as a flower girl. She is so beautiful in this photo. Mackenson was having fun in boxes one afternoon. There was a shorter box that he sat in while I pulled him around as he laughed...until Marie saw and tried to pull him, almost tipping him over. Hmm...sounds like something I would have done as a kid.

Footy Jammies, "Come On" and 2 Shirts

Some things that tickled the kids' funny bones this week...Marie has wanted to wear her pink footie jammies the past three nights. I had to sneak it into the laundry and switch to the blue pair. Macky has been wearing his footie jammies too and they are both so so cute in them! But...I did underestimate the more discusting side of footie jammies as a poop trap. Never mind.

Mackenson's new (and favorite) saying is "come on". He calls Papa on his little phone and says "Hi Papa! How are you? Come on, Papa!" He sees a school bus and says "School Bus! Marie Dakar! Come on Marie Dakar!". He gets ready for his nap by walking down the hall to his room, "Come on, Mama". He also started singing in the car when he saw the school bus. The song is Marie and Papa's special song by the Gear Daddies, "Goodbye Marie, good bye Marie, goodbye Marie". He mixed in good bye Papa, goodbye school bus and goodbye Marie Dakar.

Yesterday I dressed Mack in a short sleeve tshirt over a long sleeve tshirt and when Marie came home from school she laughed and laughed. Then she saw that I had two shirts too and wanted two on herself. So we all wore 2 shirts yesterday.

1 Inch and 5 Pounds

Today the kids had their measurements taken in the kitchen. Marie is the same height and gained 5 pounds. Mackenson grew 1 inch and gained a few pounds. Both have outgrown some clothes already and are about out of their shoes! Wow! It must be all that food we feed them.

A Trip to Iowa

Last week Marie, Mackenson, Simon, Ferris and I packed into our VW Golf and headed to Iowa for my sister's wedding. 12 hours in a car with two small kids and two dogs isn't an experience for the faint of heart - that's all I have to say about that. Joe flew from training and met us for the weekend and to come to the wedding. When we got to my parents from the airport (kids stayed with Gramps and Grannie) they both squealed with delight. And I mean squealed. It went on for what seemed like ages. You probably heard them. They both clung to Papa all weekend. Ah, it was great to see him.
Maire and Mack had so much fun helping Gramps pick up walnuts, feed chickens, the duck and baby kittens. Grannie read them a cat story at bedtime and bundled them in cozy sweatshirts and sweatpants.

Molly & Steve's Wedding

Marie was a flower girl in my sister's wedding and absolutely loved wearing her pretty dress. She asked Papa and I constantly "Marie Dakar princess?". Mackenson bonked himself around during the wedding and once smacked his head so hard but only said, "ow?" like he was asking me if it hurt! He must be made of rubber. Both Marie and Mackenson got lots of attention from aunts, uncles and cousins but were happiest to be with Papa since they haven't seen him for about a month. The chicken dance was a hoot, Marie danced by Papa and copied me from across the circle, Mack fell asleep while dancing with Grannie. Of course my sister looked amazing and her and her husband had a beautiful wedding. It was so much fun to be together with everyone in Iowa again.

First dance

Mackenson & Papa are looking sharp

Poop Report

Yes, here come the poop stories! Mackenson asked to sit on the toilet the first week home. During our post placement interview we told our social worker we were potty training him and she said we shouldn't worry him with that on top of all the change. We told him he asked and so she said it was good. Since then he has gotten his own seat for the toilet and goes pee pee fairly well. I heard many times that it is hard to get kids to ca ca on the toilet but after a couple of weeks Mack does that regularly too! Sometimes he has to sit a while before it happens but he is not going overnight quite as often. This morning I had to wake him up and found that he was dry for the very first time! Who knew that could be so exciting! Not cleaning up poo is super fantastic. Flushing it away is so much better! I thank the cloth diapers for helping potty train. Who likes to sit in wet pants when you can feel it? Marie loves to get the "poop report" as we call it. If he is in the bathroom she comes running in "Mackenson pee pee? Mackenson ca ca?" Then she has to watch. When he is finished she gets excited and says, "good job!" along with me. Funny huh? How about this, every time Joe or I leave the room both kids say, "Mama pee pee? or Papa pee pee?" Every time. Getting the poop report.

Hair Hair Hair

Here is Marie's hairstyle this week, she actually has some interesting cornrows. They are not super tight or great but it was easier for me than the first attempt. She now has a sleep wrap scarf (pink of course) to help keep her hair looking great all week. Marie Dakar is sa belle!

Happy Birthday, Marie Dakar!

Marie's 6th birthday was a great day. Gramps and Granny came to visit...Marie and Mackenson met them for the very first time. That alone was enough to make any little girl's day super special. Marie was decked out in tiara and boa for her birthday cake (made by Papa and decorated by Mama) while we sang happy birthday with help from our neighbor girl, Madi.
Marie's favorite present if for sure the brand new pink and purple bicycle from Gramps and Granny. The arrival of which stopped her in her tracks to exclaim, "OH, BICYCLE!"
Ferris was even lucky enough to get a hug from the birthday girl. Yes, Marie had a good day on her 6th birthday. She laughed, she cried and ate a little bit too much. What are birthdays for?!