Snowed In and Having Fun!

We're snowed in and busy with snowmen, hot chocolate, snow angels, etc. We are more than half-way to our 10-12 inches. I'll post pics as soon as I figure out how to transfer directly from my camera's internal memory.

Changes

Today was Jetu's first day of preschool. She will be starting with 2 half-days per week. This will help her with socialization, language, pre-K learning, etc. This will help mommy by freeing up a much-needed couple of hours per week to catch up on administrative needs of my business, household bills, small work projects, tax returns, sanity, etc. She loved it. Nebyat was emotional today after school and then moreso after picking up Jetu. She teared up in the car and I asked her if she was mad at mommy? No... If she was mad at children? She said yes vehemently. I was anticipating a story about how somebody at school said something, but I didn't get it out of her until we got home and she sat on my lap crying. She said that at Jetu's school, Jetu said that she, Nebyat, was not her sister, that her new friends at school were her sisters. I don't know if this is what Jetu really said. I thought I understood her to say, "This is my sister (to the kids). This is my new friend (to Nebyat)." Perhaps she was speaking English and Nebyat misunderstood, regardless I think it clearly exposes one of Nebyat's fears and transition difficulties. I think she had a really hard time seeing her sister "succeed" without her. Jetu has been very dependent on Nebyat really since birth. As a 4 - 5 year old, Nebyat had significant responsibilities with regard to Jetu, had her strapped to her back, was home alone caring for herself and her baby sister. This is an adjustment to say the least. She came around and had a fun afternoon playing with the neighbors.

Something else changed; I think Nebyat and I reached a new place in our relationship. I was reading her a book last night that we picked up at the library. It's called Hush. Mama loves You... It had a sweet cover drawing. We started reading and Nebyat saw herself in the main child character; somehow I too related to the mama. The little girl, when hurting, always goes to her mama and her mama says the same phrase to her each time to make her feel better. The little girl goes through her somewhat nasty teen years and experiences heartbreak and again, her mama comforts her with the same phrase. The little girl grows up and gets married, has a baby of her own and the mama becomes a grandma. The new mama says the same phrase to the new baby. Well, for some reason, it touched me emotionally and I broke up a bit reading it. Nebyat laughed at mama and her "waa-waa" as we call crying, but it changed something. She asked if when she got big I would be a grandma and I told her if she had a baby. She said she wanted to have one baby. It somehow broke something down for us both whether it was a lingering feeling of uncertainty as to permanence or whether it was a depth of emotion she didn't see in me or feel before, but even today, she's been more free with her affection. It also brought up a bit of a conversation about her grandmother in Ethiopia and whether she'll be alive when Nebyat returns to Ethiopia.

First PTA Meeting/Family Night at School

What did we used to do on Thursday evening? I'm pretty sure it didn't involve going to an elmentary school for family night. Oh, how times have changed?

Nebyat is home, the girls have had a snack, homework is complete. I've added money to Nebyat's lunch fund online (how progressive); she'll use her 6-digit keycode to pay for lunch which costs $2 per day. I'm quick-laundering their coats as both accidentally brushed wet paint outside on the way in while I chatted with the painter. I tried unsuccessfully to get my photo pages done for our 2nd post-placement report which is due NOW in Ethiopia. Some of the pics are on the broken computer, some on the new, Jetu was bored without her sister today and tried to push the buttons or grab and direct my fingers while I was working. I could have reprimanded her, but I don't blame her - it's no fun if mommy is working although that does need to happen sometimes.

Off to get ready for the big night out....

Hearts for Haiti

Please see my friend Juli's blog post. Please help Haiti as you can and encourage Juli in her fasting prayer!

We love you, Haiti and our hearts break thinking about your pain. Lord, please be the source of strength and comfort to those hurting and in need!

First Week of School

I am so amazed and glad; Nebyat had a great first week at school. I was a little nervous about how she would do and whether or not she'd start fighting to stay home, but she got up every morning (somewhat reluctantly - this is a child who does not generally appreciate morning or forced awakenings or breakfast). We made it to school each day and she did fine. She excitedly shared her papers with me every day when I picked her up and she seemed so much more confident in general - some days she seemed almost giddy. She hugs her teacher when I drop her off in the morning and I know that she really likes her. One day there was a substitute and Mrs. S_ski (I'll let her remain anonymous too, I guess) was out ill. Nebyat was very glad to see her the next day when we arrived. She's done her homework every evening - I know homework - it's kindergarten people! We selected all of Nebyat's clothes for the week last Sunday and really didn't have any substantial conversations/arguments about clothes all week - YAY! 8:00 bedtime worked fine as long as mommy was home to implement it and Jetu didn't have a nap.

Jetu did well too. She mentioned Nebyat's absence frequently. She said, "Nebyat school, Jetu no do like it!" One day she said she was going to cry but she didn't. She and I worked on colors this week with videos, workbooks, flashcards, etc. We also made it out to the library, the marine science museum/aquarium, to lunch with a friend, so we've had some adventures this week and some good one-on-one time. She's been well-behaved during the day, but throws a few challenges in after Nebyat gets home and well into the evening/bedtime. I cannot really explain it, but I know it's part of this transition period. Last night we were saying bedtime prayers and the girls prayed in Amharic as usual. When they finished I asked who wanted to pray in English...."Thank you Jesus..." Jetu started, she said "Thank you Jesus for mommy. Thank you. Amen" It was very sweet. Nebyat, always the diplomat, followed with "Thank you Jesus for Mommy AND Papa. Amen"

Today was a nice family day, except for mommy losing it a bit earlier in the day when the kitchen sink clogged in the middle of our clean-up-the-house time, the girls were dismantling as fast as mommy was cleaning, and papa suggested it was mama's fault the sink clogged. I have no excuses, I was just feeling testy this morning; my back was in complete spasm, I still didn't get a full night's sleep and I'm just moody! I feel so joyous sometimes, and so, so grumpy others - I don't know what you call this. I know one thing - I'm sick of being sick - I've had this cold/bronchitis, whatever thing since the week of December 7. Jetu started later, but she, too is still coughing a bit. Hopefully, we'll all be over it soon; in the meantime I'm trying to make a conscious effort to respond better to my emotions. I'm also trying to get some exercise in - I think that will go a long way to brightening my mood - really looking forward to those temps coming up out of the 30s though - that's a long walk to the aquarium in 30 degree temps!

Overall, it was a very good day - the girls came in to our room this morning and we spent time goofing around before getting too busy into the day. We made a nice breakfast with fresh pineapple, sausage eggs and toast. We let the girls burn off some energy at a local inflatable jump house while mommy did some quick returns/exchanges at the mall. We went to Red Robin for an early dinner and then came home for some down time.

It's been a good week all around.

First Day of School

Nebyat started school today. I am so proud of her. She is just so brave. I cannot imagine what it would be like to leave rural Ethiopia, everyone and everything you've ever known, come to America, to a whole new life, and start school with limited language and understanding within 3 or 4 months. We did have some convincing to do; it seems she feared being beaten at school if she didn't get the answers right. She's talked about whatever limited experience she had in Ethiopia (I'm thinking at the orphanages)and the common practice of Shwot-Shwot (sound made by hitting) for wrong answers. We told her that it is not allowed in America and had everyone who goes to school or works at a school reassure her that this would not happen to her here. Once she knew that the only barrier was the thought of Jetu being home with Mommy all to herself that bothered her. She seems to have gotten over that too.

She said her teacher is very nice and the girls in the class are nice. The boy(s) are only a little nice and one, she said is very yucky.

The teacher caught me when I was picking her up and said she is a really sweet girl and that she had a great first day and that she's going to do great. She really needed a good start and I am so grateful that things went well.

Jetu missed her sister - a lot! She did fine with mommy all day, but there were many checks to see if we could go get/see Nebyat. I plan to get Jetu into a pre-school program a couple hours a couple days a week, but I think it's good that we have a little one-on-one bonding. She tends to be less emotionally needy and so I feel like I've been focused a bit more on Neb these last couple months. As Neb is obviously ready to fly, it's time to reinforce the attachment and bonding with Jetu - it felt different today with just the two of us - I cannot really explain the feeling, but I knew it was important and I want to take some time to explore and grow that.

Gingerbread Bears!

Kylie, our little neighbor came to play today, so the girls made some gingerbread bears and decorated them. It was a lot of fun!