Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays

  

Well, it has been a busy time the last few weeks leading up the holidays. As it is for most. Both Zoe and Nathaniel were finishing up their school activities and Sonja and I were doing last minute shopping runs for presents, food, etc. This will be Zoe's second holidays as part of the family and she has adapted quite well to all the activities this time of year. She enjoys two holidays starting this year with Hanukkah (where she open up several gifts) and then ends up with Christmas. Hanukkah only serves as a warm-up for Christmas as she has become a professional wrapped gift opener. She clearly understands how to do that this year. She really loved her Princess Walkie-Talkies that she got as a present, but still struggles with pushing the button when it's her turn to talk. So, Zoe has finished her first semester of kindergarten with a holiday party. Sonja, who is enjoying her first holiday off from working retail after 27-28 years is now a homemaker which gave her the opportunity to serve as parent helper at the party. They both had a good time, Zoe is getting the hang of partying.  She has been invited to several birthday parties, school events and family activities. She absolutely fits right in.

 

Zoe expresses her undying loyalty to Santa Claus...however if  you look closely at her yearly visit to Santa she appears very guarded. After looking at her newest picture (the one on the right), I think would be too!  The picture on the left was from last year, can you tell how much she has already changed. Amazing, huh? Santa did ask her what she wanted, and she happily replied the "Gymnastics Dora Doll," I guess we are in trouble as that doll sold out a few weeks back. We looked everywhere! Oh, well...maybe Santa forgot and Zoe will find that Santa must have hidden the gift somewhere in the house...a few weeks later when it becomes available again. (wink! wink!). Zoe gets so excited to see all of her relatives. I am not sure what is more exciting for her...opening up gifts or playing with her cousins.  Luckily...she gets to do both. Once they get together over at Aunt Brenda & Uncle Jack's house they are loud and run in packs. Watch out cousins, here comes Zoe.

 

Zoe is doing well in gymnastics.  She received her next ribbon where she demonstrates 40 different skills.  Only 6 more ribbons to go. She is enjoying both her gymnastics and dance classes.  Sonja is looking for other activities she can participate in.

 

Nathaniel (one in white) wrestling a senior from Millard North



 

Nathaniel is in the thick of wrestling now.  He is wrestling both Junior Varsity and Varsity. Varsity is a challenge as he is facing a lot of seniors which is tough for him but he is holding his own. He also just finished his finals and says he felt pretty good overall.  He is just worried about one class...English. He had a B going into the last month of the semester so we will see if he was able to bring it up to an A which was his goal. We recently went to Nathaniel's football banquet and he was selected as an academic all conference and lettered in football so we have a letter jacket on order for him. The letter jackets today do not seem as important as they were when and where I went to school....back in the day! Maybe buying the jacket for him was really for me...I don't know...but hope he likes it.   Finally, only about 8 weeks away and baseball try-outs start for his school. There are always more boys trying out for the open positions than the number of slots available so kids will be cut. It is very competitive. So, Nathaniel is practicing baseball working out at the indoor baseball facility at least twice a week. He just wants to be at his best so he increases his chances of making the team again this year. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

 

So, it is Christmas Eve tomorrow and then comes the New Year. No one has made any New Year's resolutions as of yet! I am just hoping 2013 is a great year for one and all.  So, all is good here...

 

We hope all is well with you and your families and hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

 



 

A few days before Thanksgiving!

Zoe has been really busy the past week or so as she had the pleasure of visiting with her Doctor and her Dentist. Zoe went to the Doctor for her second chicken pox booster.  She did really well...she winced a bit otherwise took the visit in stride. Zoe should not have ot worry about another shot until around 6th grade.  The next day she went to go see the Dentist.  We knew she had some issues with her teeth as she did not receive dental care when she was in China. She had five cavities that needed to be both drilled and filled.  The staff at the dental office was amazed how quite and still she was...my guess is she was petrified...she was a trooper and the Dentist let her pick a prize from his small toy box.  I give the Dentist high marks as he knows what motivates little ones like Zoe.

 

Zoe's school holds an annual carnival that Sonja and Zoe participated in.  Zoe played a number of games and also had her face painted.  She loved it so much she slept with it.

Zoe got her face painted at the school carnival!

Zoe with her school friend Nelly.

 

Sonja just enrolled Zoe in dance class.  So she has dance class on Tuesdays and gymnastics on Thursdays.  She really loves both so hopefully it is something she will want to participate in for a while. Zoe just loves her dance shoes!

 

For the most part Zoe is doing well at school...she is learning to write the letter sin the alphabet and likes her teacher. She likes art and recess and for the most part gets along with the other kids. However, every so often we get a note from the teacher that she has pulled another girls hair or like today knocked a art project out of another students hands. So I am thinking....maybe we need to get her enrolled in some activities with contact sports. Any ideas?

 

Nathaniel who....between school, sports and homework we barely see him. I do notice things go missing from the refridgerator so I know he is at home and is alive. Nathaniel had another great school quarter from a grades perspective. He continues to be very active in school.  His football team plays tomorrow for the state championship. So we will be traveling to Lincoln to the University of Nebraska as the state championship game will be played at Memorial Stadium where the Huskers play.  Should make for a great time. We are keeping our finger crossed his team is able to pull out a win against a very tough team from just outside Lincoln, Nebraska. His wrestling coach is anxious for him and the other wrestlers who play football to begin wrestling practice. His first wrestling practice is the next day after the football game. So all is well.

Go Cougars...win State!!!

It's only a couple of days away from Thanksgiving and we hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving!

Parent Teacher Conferences, Halloween and Sports Oh My!

Zoe had her first parent-teacher conferences at school. It was a good visit and Zoe is doing really well considering she has been in the United States for approximately a year and five months.  Her vocabulary is expanding, she is learning to print her letters and is very participatory.  One area for improvement is it appears our little Zoe is a social butterfly and likes to talk....talk a lot! For the most part she gets a long with the other kids but on occasion struggles with sharing.  The teacher has been very encouraging and said Zoe is making a lot of progress. Both of her parents let out a sigh of relief...

Zoe's 2012 Kindergarten Picture

Zoe's gymnastics has started back up again and she is doing very well.  This year she moved up a level and is beginning to learn more difficult exercises.  She looks forward to gymnastics and appears to have the right body type.  We are thinking to enroll her in dance. We are being told that gymnastics and dance really compliment each other. Another activity that I know nothing about....but am ready to learn.  Call me a "dance dad!" Wouldn't Abby Lee from Abby Lee Dance Company just love that!

 

Last Friday I took Zoe to my office to go trick or treating and she made out like a bandit. All of my coworkers loved her "good" Witch outfit and thought she was a doll. She did very well but struggled at times to say Trick-or-treat! But did remember to say thank you or Happy Halloween.

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2012

         What a difference a Year makes!!!







Zoe has been a real trooper during Nathaniel's High school sports.  She has to endure both very hot and very cold days.  Nathaniel just finished fall baseball and his last games were in blow 50 degrees very windy weather.  She does pretty well, after about the second or third inning she starts getting bored and asks when the game will be over.  She does the same thing in football around the second quarter.  Not bad for a 5 year old.

 

Nathaniel has been really busy at school.  His JV football team finished 7-1 and his Varsity football team is 8-1 and made it to the state playoffs. The picture below is one of the varsity games against Roncalli High school that he got in and played we were so excited. He is number 38 in orange and white. There first Varsity game in the Nebraska State Tournament is this Friday and they are the fifth seed playing the 12th seed so we are hoping for a victory.  As soon as football is over Nathaniel will need to focus on his weight and wrestling season.  Oh boy....cannot wait for that.

 

Nathaniel also participated in a college baseball exposure camp for high school students.  It was great for him to hear from the coaches and to compare his skills with other high school baseball players across the state. As a sophomore he did very well.  The coaches liked his hitting and pitching.  He was easily in the top 20% of the 150 plus kids who attended the camp.

 

Finally, Nathaniel also attended his Homecoming dance. Not sure he really likes the dances much...but he goes!  I ask him if he actually dances and he says "heck no" I just like hanging with the guys. At least he goes I guess. So all is well at home.  The trees are turning and it is getting colder. 

Nathaniel is to the right (White Tie and White Suspenders)

So all is well...for now.  Happy Halloween!!!

Everyone is my Best friend!!! Nate and I go to a Football game!

Well school is in full swing. Zoe is now getting settled and has made a number of new friends. On my way to school to drop Zoe off, I asked her if she had any friends. She started to rattle the names off. I asked her if she had any “best” friends and she said, “all of them!” Today, when talking to the in school day care teacher, she commented how nice and sweet Zoe is and also indicated that she gets along with everyone. I was really excited to hear that, she always has at least one girl waiting for her. The other day Sonja received an e-mail to set up a play date. I told Sonja, what in the world is a play date. Needless to say, I realized I am completely out of my comfort zone. I told Sonja, I will let her make any “playdate” arrangements. So the good news is that Zoe is transitioning well with her schoolmates and the teachers really like her. On the academic front her teacher is somewhat concerned that Zoe does not or has difficulty with instructions often times not understanding what the teacher wants her to do. The teacher has arranged specialists to come in to help her and to also get her hearing checked. Overall, she loves school and cannot wait to see her teachers and her new friends.

 

Princess Zoe...cute isn't she!

 

As far as extracurricular activities, Zoe has started back into gymnastics and Sonja is looking to get her enrolled in Dance. Sonja is going to be a Dance Mon…Look out “Abbie Lee Dance Company” So, she will be a busy little girl…the only drawback is that these activities get in the way of her ability to watch both Nick Jr. and Disney Jr. on TV.

Nathaniel who? I rarely see Nathaniel now he drives to and from school. Yesterday he went in early to talk to his math teacher about a few math problems, then after school he had football practice and then had to play pep band for the girls’ volleyball team. So he did not get home until 9:30 pm. Only to finish up the night by working on homework.

Last weekend I left the girls at home and Nathaniel and I drove from Omaha to Fayetteville, Arkansas for the Alabama/Arkansas football game. It was his first time and for me it had been more than 15 years since I went back to the University of Arkansas campus. Although the game was a bust…Alabama just destroyed Arkansas on a cold and rainy afternoon we had a great time. However we were on the top row (nose bleed section) with a bunch of crazy bama fans!!! Oh well...there is always next week! Go Hogs!!!

 

It was a wet day and our team lost..bad..but we had a great time!

 

 

On the top row of Arkansas' Razorbacks Stadium

 

Brand New Screen...as of today the largest screen in College Football

Up high but still had a great view!

 

On the way down, we stopped at Gates Barbecue, in a bad part of Kansas City. Many of the businesses had bars over the doors and windows and the restaurant had an armed security guard there if that tells you anything. However the BBQ was off the hook! We both just loved what we ordered and the service was excellent.

 

Gates BBQ in Kansas City....It was awesome! Nothing better!

 

Also while in Fayetteville we picked up some razorbacks gear at the Campus bookstore and of all places Wal-Mart who had a great selection. Right after the game, approximately 6:30 pm we got on the road and drove home…to us about 6 hours or so…so not that bad of a drive but would have been better if we traveled in the daylight. We had to get back so Nathaniel could play his double header baseball game at 10:00 am Sunday morning. So it was an eventful weekend.

All is good…hope all is well with all of you!

Zoe and Nathaniel go back to school

School has started for both Zoe and Nathaniel.  Zoe started Kindergarten at her new school and she just loves it.  She loves the hot lunches (Zoe calls her self a hot lunch girl) and likes her new teacher. She has about 20 kids in her class.  In her first week, she has made friends with a couple of kids (Maddie, Tyler and a few others). Zoe looks forward to school which is a great sign.  The teacher provides a Daily Behavior report and Zoe has received 4 green card days and one yellow card day.  The teacher said that "Zoe has a tendency to yell in the classroom instead of using an inside voice.  Such a sweet girl, but she gets very excited and is hard to calm her down afterwards." Yep that is Zoe.

 

What is cool about Bellevue Public School system is that they have Kid's Time which is a day care before and after school.  They have a lot for her to do and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. Zoe has already been working on some Math and Art activities.  As you can see in the picture below! She loves he little crown, it is very fitting for a little princess.  She likes to be called Princess Zoe. Bellevue has a wonderful speech program for children who need extra help. It will be interesting to see if they feel she needs help. Several mornings out of the week I have to drive her to school.  She always asks that I turn the radio on so she can listen to music.  There goes my sports talk show in the mornings.  However, when I turn the radio to a top 40 music station they spend more time talking then playing music.  So, I went to the store and bought a CD with the latest top 40 songs.  What a life saver.  I can turn on the CD without her asking me to change the station 20 times until she hears the music. Who needs coffee or 5-hour energy...all you have to do is spend 10 minutes in the car driving her to school listening to Zoe trying to sing with the radio and you are up!

 

Princess Zoe (made her crown at school)

 

Nathaniel also started back to school.  He has a tough semester.  Not only is he taking a number of AP classes but he is playing football as a wide receiver at school, attending wrestling practice when he can and playing fall baseball on Sundays. Fortunately he is now driving to and from school on a school permit which takes a little of the load off his mom and dad. So, all is good...Sonja and I are trying to come up with a routine so it gets a little easier.   

 

Nathaniel is playing JV football and got to suit up for Varsity this past week!

Sonja has started her bowling league with her friends Debbie and Brenda.  It is great Sonja has found a few friends who like to bowl as she was not going to convert me.  In a few weeks Nathaniel and I are planning to go down to Fayetteville for a Arkansas Razorback game (WOOO PIG SOOIIEE) against Alabama.  It has been 10 years plus since I have gone to a game and this will be Nathaniel's first.  Both of us are excited...Could be a long ride home....but should be fun.

Well all is well and hope all is well with you all...Thanks for stopping in!

Where did the summer go! School is almost here!

Gosh.. where did the summer go.  We took our annual trip down to Branson, Missouri so that we can visit Silver Dollar City, shop at the area retailers during Missouri's tax free days, and to watch Nathaniel's baseball games at the week long baseball camp he attends each year.  As you can see from the pictures below...Zoe is a ham and loves to get her picture taken.  He brother on the other hand would be well OK if we just took pictures of her.  Unfortunately, I was able to coax him into a few photo's with Zoe. I did not have to bribe him...but would have if need be. Last year, Zoe was quite timid and was reluctant to ride some of the rides where as this year she was much more adventuresome.  She rode the Merry-Go-Round, the Tea Cups, Kids Roller Coaster, the flying bugs, the Bouncing Frogs and the All American Plunge.  She is becoming like her brother and a real dare-devil.  The only issue during the week in Branson was the 7 days of continuous 100 plus degree weather...oh it was hot and muggy. Sonja ran into Carla Pinneo, one of her highschool best buddies at Silver Dollar City. Sonja and Zoe about wore me out...how much shopping can upi do...really! One day..I decided to take a nap while they went out to shop for clothes...Zoe hauled in...I guess it is never too early to leve shoes as I think Sonja bough her at least 5 pairs of shoes...That's three more than I have today!!!

At about the same time we are  getting ready to send Zoe off to Kindergarten.  She has had so much change for a 5 year old.  She will be leaving preschool and is now going to the "Big School".  To get her ready Sonja had to get her caught up on all her required shots.  She had 4 of them.  She told me "Dad, I was a big girl...I got four shots and I did not cry." She is a brave little girl. So, she is all but ready to go to her new school.  We are excited for her, as we are hoping she will start meeting and making loads of school friends.

Nathaniel has had a busy summer. He made the JV Legion baseball team and they had games at minimum 4 days each week.  Nathaniel did very well.  He ended with the highest number of innings pitched, believe he pitched 59.1 innings.  Over 10 innings more than any other pitcher and posted the second lowest era at 3.34. During the district tournament they asked him to pitch against one of the largest schools in Omaha where he threw 102 pitches and shut the team out until the ninth inning.  He had 13 innings of shutout baseball before a run was eventual scored.  He also finished the season with the fourth highest on base average and fifth highest batting average so he held his own. While at the baseball camp for 15-18 years old in Branson, Nathaniel batted .750 (he was 6 for 8 with two walks) and finished with a .800 on-base percentage.  He did well but learned a lot as well. This year he reecived a written report from college coaches on what he needs to work on... they provided alot of suggestions...After the camp..he met up with a friend in Branson who was also vacationing on the lake and they went cliff junping, jet skiing and later going to the park to ride the roller coasters.  Now its on to football, where this week he has started to-a-days JV football practices and also participating in his school's summer band camp. So, like last year, he is going to be busy.

Really, nothing else new and exciting...just wanted to catch-up...

Sonja, Zoe and Nathaniel on the log ride!

Sonja, Zoe and Nathaniel got a little wet!

Zoe and Nathaniel in the tea-cups ride

Nathaniel and Zoe

That's all for now...

Updated..It is official "Zoe is ours" ....finally

Well it is official, Sonja, Zoe and I went to Sarpy County Court in Nebraska today and we received the Nebraska Decree of Adoption. Which means Zoe will receive a Nebraska Birth Certificate and that her files will be sealed.  This was the last official step of the adoption process.  Although it has been a long process (but not very long compared to many) it has been well worth it.  Both our attorney and the presiding judge were very complimentary of how well organized and thorough the required paperwork was in.  Our adoption agency Holt International (Omaha office) was just fantastic throughout the process.  We cannot say enough good things about both Bonnie and Celeste.  They were awesome (to use the first English word Zoe learned from us).  It was a great day!

A picture from a year ago when we first met Zoe

What a great weekend! On Saturday...I went to watch Zoe play in her second T-ball game.  She went 2 for 2 in batting with 2 rbi's! Game lasted about 45 minutes and the two teams tied 12 to 12.

Her game ended at 9:45 so we hurried into the car and ran to Nathaniel's game which started at 10:00 a.m. They went a full inning before torrential down pour which cancelled the game.  Later I dropped Nathaniel off at the College World Series (CWS) in downtown Omaha to watch the Arkansas Razorbacks (my old school) play Kent State.  The hogs won 8-1.  Sonja, Zoe and I met Nathaniel at the College World Series at 7:00 pm for the South Carolina v. Florida Gators game.  What a nice way to spend an evening.  We did not get home until after midnight. Fun night!!! Nathaniel has already gone to three games and I suspect he will see 7-10 games before it is all said and done. Today we have to root for Stony Brook at the CWS as my cousin Jason went there and they are a Omaha favorite.

Great seats..enjoying the 2012 College World Series

This week is a big week for Zoe and the family.We go to court this coming Tuesday to finalize the adoption in the state of Nebraska.Finally...we hope it goes smoothly...

Also...Sonja and I have taken vacation this week.  We plan to get a lot of errands done around the house. We kind of ignored our house when we were trying to get my folks home ready to be put up for sale. We also plan to conduct a garage sale this upcoming weekend. Now does that sound like fun or what?

We also opened our pool a few weeks back and only Nathaniel and Zoe have braved the cold temps. I wont bother getting in the pool until the July time frame when I know the water is warm.

Well that is all for now. happy Fathers day! Enjoy the summer....

"Happy First Gotcha Day"

A year ago today, we met the Phil and Tara downstairs in our hotel in Kunming waiting for our trip to meet Zoe and Ada for the first time.  We hopped in a small sized bus/van and made our way down the windy roads of Kunming. We made our way to the agency and were asked to complete a number of papers, get pictures taken and finger printed. After that was done we waited for just a short time when both beautiful little girls Zoe and Ada came into the room. I think we had braced ourselves for a tearful greeting...but that was not the case. Ada almost immediately began playing with Tara playing with toy dishes and Zoe played with her books and explored her new Princess back pack.

Looking at all the adoption  paperwork, phone calls, meetings, etc. lasting well over a year.  I think we were all so emotionally drained by the end of the day after meeting and taking Zoe with us.. I remember thinking...Holy Cow..what have I gotten myself into...a girl...I grew up with one brother and until May 30, 2011 we had only one boy. Needless to say...after a year...I still sometimes think to myself...oh my, what have I gotten myself into. But it has been fun.  Zoe is a wonderful, curious and at times devious little fashionista who likes to give and receive hugs and kisses and loves Nick Jr (the T.V. show). After a full year she knows how to spell her name, speaks pretty good English can count to around 40 (with only a few trouble spots), can sing the alphabet and when no one is looking can cut her bangs short and crooked. She loves pizza, has ordained her self a Disney styled princess and loves to visit Old McDonald's (as she calls it) for a girls only Happy Meal.



Now a year later...we feel very lucky to have Zoe as a family member. She is an amazing little girl and wanted to wish her a "Happy Gotcha Day!"   We Gotcha and we are not going to let you go. Also a quick shout out to Phil, Tara, Ada and family.  Happy Gotcha Day!

Happy Birthday Zoe!!!

My gosh, Zoe turns 5 years old tomorrow and she is so excited. Her Mom bought a birthday cake today and she is ready to rip right into it. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a few little finger marks running through the icing as she has gone over to look at the cake at least 20 times in the hour it has been home. Tomorrow is her birthday so we thought we would celebrate early as a family and then host a birthday party with all her friends later. Tonight we went to 'Sinful Burger" for a birthday dinner. Zoe decided to stick about a 1/4th of the burger in her mouth and was laughing.  She almost gagged!

Can't believe I ate the whole thing!

 

Next week, on May 30th we celebrate our first "Gotcha" day.  That is the day last year when we first got Zoe in China.  I remember how cute she was with her little camouflage backpack. She was dressed up and was just a tad shy. She warmed up quickly to her mom.

We will always have a special connection with Phil, Tara and Ada (Vong's) who were our travel mates when we went to China. They made our trip that more special  What a great couple...I wish them a happy "Gotcha" day. Thinking about them this coming week. Maybe we all can go back when Zoe and Ada are older...(hint, hint).  Would be fun!

Today we went to watch Zoe in a special gymnastics open house.  She got the chance to show us what she does on all the gymnastics apparatus. It is amazing how she has progressed. She is getting close to doing a cart wheel, can do a strong arching back bend and is working on a walk over. She is also practicing on the balance beam, uneven bars and parallel bars.  She is getting pretty good! You might notice a band aid on her finger in some of the pictures. Yes...she burned one of her fingers and we cannot figure out what she did.  We have asked her a few times and she continues to change her story from the hair curler, iron and enclosed fireplace. Anyhow she got a nice sized blister that has popped and now is slowly healing.

Zoe on the balance beam

Zoe on the uneven bars

Where's Mom and dad?

Zoe following her coach...can you see her bandaged finger?

Eye of the Tiger routine

Floor exercise

Zoe on the pommel horse

Zoe just looking cute! Wouldn't you agree!

So we are putting my folks house up for sale later this week. It has been so much work (both physically and emotionally).  This past week we spent time painting the inside of garage and pulling the remaining items out of the house. It is in Fontenelle Hills forest and it is the perfect time to list a house with everything in full bloom and the pool in the back yard. Hopefully we will get some interested buyers going through the house soon.

Nathaniel finishes his 9th grade year this week.  As finals approach, he is working hard to get straight A's. He has one grade that is a B+ (English) we are hoping for him that he is able to pull it up. He has worked so hard in that class. Either way, both his mom and dad are very proud of him. Nathaniel has try-outs for American legion baseball and he made the Junior Varsity team. Only a few freshman were moved up to JV so it was a big honor for him.

All is well otherwise...hope everyone has a nice Memorial day weekend this coming weekend! Talk to you soon.