Snow Shots 2

300th Post!

It's still snowing! We got easily another 2 inches (on top of the 12" we already had on the ground) and it's still coming down. Chris went to the store yesterday to pick up milk and they were out of our organic 2%. He had to get fat free instead! I'm not sure what we're going to do for Christmas dinner, but it looks like we'll have to head out to QFC with our toboggan.

'tis the season

So here's how it's going: for the past 2 days we've been snowed in, our modem broke a few days ago and Comcast can't come out to fix it until the 28th, our Christmas trip to Death Valley was canceled because of the weather (we were supposed to be on a plane right now!), and last night a pipe broke which flooded part of the basement. Today we haven't been able to use our water and now a bunch of our newly remodeled wall is cut out which leaves us with another big house project and a big mess to clean up. On the plus side the sledding is outstanding and our neighbors were kind enough to lend us one of their extra modems so at least we're connected to the world again.

Snow Shots

If anyone happens to find one of Ember's pink leather slipper shoes between here and the Greatful Bread, just drop it by! It must have slipped off on our walk.

Forcasting

Here's what I just read on the weather report: "Thundersnow is also possible." Huh?!@# Whatever that is, it doesn't sound good.

Snow Day!

The promised snow finally arrived! I had to laugh yesterday when most of the local school districts canceled school for what turned out to be a relatively mild overcast day. Of course, they're all out again today, but this time for good reason. After wrestling the boys into a hodge-podge of winter weather gear and stuffing Ember into the front pack with several layers of fleece on, I did manage to take the boys out for a little sledding on our toboggan. Now we're warming up with some hot cocoa and it's beginning to get that relaxing feel of a real snow day. Ahhhh, yes.

No Snow

Well, our arctic blast is here, but where's all the promised snow? Today I was actually looking forward to a real snow day - mostly so I could get a free pass on the stressful morning rush routine. But no snow. Maybe later?

Winter Day

Well, here we are at the end of another weekend and I'm exhausted. This Christmas season is really kicking my butt. And today after waking to a winter white snowy morning all I wanted to do was get comfortable and read my book in peace. Instead the boys went out and back in and out and in and needed constant changes of clothes and this and that and a new pair of socks and these mittens don't work and ... well, you get the picture. It was beautiful last night when the snow fell. Here's a shot that Chris took from our bedroom window.


And here's Yogi helping Ember stand up. He was really concentrating.

Finding our Tree

Social Security: Round #2

Good news: I went back to the social security office today and presented the situation again and this time the guy looked at the documents, did a few taps on the keyboard, and told me I could expect the card within 10 days! I did question him about the response I got from the lady last week and he told me that she was in training and hadn't encountered a foreign adoption before and he apologized for the inconvenience. So it all worked out. Victory at last!

Ember Stands

As soon as Ember learned to crawl she started pulling herself up to a standing position which she does constantly now. Her only problem is that I think she's afraid to let go and sit back down. She starts off super happy, squawking loudly and then eventually she sounds upset and finally starts to cry until someone helps her sit down. She's also learned that whenever anyone says "hi" or "bye-bye" she waves. And sometimes she just waves if she enters a room and she sees someone she likes. It is so adorable! I swear it sounds like she's trying to say "hi" herself. It sounds more like "AH!" and she does it in greeting with her wave or if someone says it to her.

Video Art

This video art production at the Frye Art museum captured Beck's imagination last weekend. It featured a woman very gently letting porcelain dishes fall off of tables and then crashing to the floor.

Mini Business Cards

Before I forget, my mini photo / business cards came back from Moo.com and I JUST LOVE THEM! I also bought the little key chain holder so I always have them on hand. The paper is sturdy and they have a nice matte finish. They really are sweet!

Ember

and Grampa T

Predictable, but Annoying

Yesterday I went to the social security office to apply for Ember's social security card. I had all of our paperwork there including her new birth certificate, our adoption decree, and her permanent resident card which we received shortly after we returned from Ethiopia. Everything was going fine until the lady looked at the permanent resident card and told me she couldn't process our application because the name on the permanent resident card doesn't match the name on the birth certificate.

Well, of course it doesn't! When we were in Ethiopia we were told what name to use for her: the Ethiopian given name + the adoptive father's full name which is not what we wanted to name her! Anyway, the social security office said that I'd have to go back to the immigration office and get her permanent resident card changed first.

I called them today and it's a long and complicated process involving forms and a written statement and 6 more months. What I don't understand is how confused everyone seems about it. Surely they've seen this before. Don't all families adopting from Ethiopia go through this? They must since the adoptive family really doesn't have a say in the immigration paperwork you fill out when you're there. Why didn't our agency tell us this would be an issue? For now I've written to our state immigration office and am waiting for a response.

Ember Update

We received Ember's new birth certificate in the mail yesterday so our next step is to get her social security number. And once we have that we can take those two documents plus our Decree of Adoption and then apply for her citizenship. That will feel like a big day!

Other news is that her first tooth is just breaking through her gums. This explains some very unusual behavior over Thanksgiving weekend. We actually took her to an urgent care clinic because she had several outbursts of screaming, wasn't sleeping well, and just not acting like her usual happy self. I thought she might have an ear infection, but the doctor couldn't find anything wrong with her and suggested she might be teething. He was right!

She has also begun to pull herself up to a standing position so I can see that very soon we'll have a little cruiser on our hands.

I know it sounds corny to say it, but I feel like I love her more and more all the time. I keep asking myself, Did I feel like this with the boys? Did my attachment grow stronger over time? To be honest, I don't remember. And it's not that I didn't love Ember and want to care for her and protect her and cuddle her from the start, it's just that I feel even more of that now. And more of something that I really can't find the words for, something deep down and basic and wonderful. She's my baby girl!

Star Wars and Preschoolers

Overheard while the boys played with their Star Wars figures this morning:

Yogi (as Storm Trooper): Han Solo is coming over for a playdate...

Beck (as Darth Vader): Maybe he could have a sleep over!

Sometimes Cute, Always Charming

Today I spent an hour or so at the University Book Store browsing through art and office supplies as presents for the kids when I came upon this book:There are such darling projects in it! I really had to resist buying it. But when I got home I did a search of Zakka on the internet and found this fun blog with lots and lots of project ideas. Looks like so much fun. In case you were wondering, here's an explanation of what Zakka is. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and outlook. You can't beat that!