Wednesday, January 28, 2009

SSN, ATIN, and Barbies

Well, I spent the morning trying to get the girls' SSN but found out I didn't have all the paperwork in order. Actually, I didn't have the processes done in order to get the SSN. To get the SSN, they have to have their American birth certificates with our names as their parents. Since we don't have that yet, we have to get ATIN, or Adoptive Tax Identification Numbers. Yeah.... lots of fun because I get to interact with our government some more. Can you tell I'm excited? Not.

On a postive note, a nice lady from town gifted us with about half a dozen Barbies through Freecycle. If you haven't checked it out, Freecycle is a great way to pass along clothes, toys, books, and all sorts of STUFF that we accumulate but don't need. Diamond told me she doesn't 'loove' them anymore, though, because Erik took out the batteries for the voice boxes for the talking ones. I guess Erik takes after us. :-) We'll see how long she avoids them. Our little Liberians really don't know how to play with toys. Outdoor, playground toys they are fine with but dolls and blocks and coloring books aren't as fun for them. Karl and Craig have played many rounds of Candyland to help get the girls going on their own. They are having to learn how to play quietly and not be entertained.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

We're back....

Well, the girls survived Wisconsin's cold and snow, although the weather was not as cold as it is now! We went to WI to spend Christmas with the whole family. Our first stop was at my dad's house for a couple of days. Diamond made her first snow angel with Karl there and shoveled Grandpa Jerry's sidewalk.



Then we went to visit Jessica, Brianna and Emma for the day. Diamond and Kindness went sledding with Jessica's girls, Craig and Karl. Brianna and Emma introduced the girls to Barbies, playing dress-up, and icy pops.


Emma and Kindness enjoying a snack and play-doh stacking.

Brianna showing Diamond how to eat a candy cane.



After Jessica's we went to Rachel, Steve and Mattea's house to spend the night and have Christmas lunch. Diamond got to build her first snowman there but I didn't get a picture before the rains came and melted it. We had a house full but enjoyed playing R & S's Wii and visiting.


Saturday morning we headed to Grandma Leah and Grandpa Howie's house for another round of gift opening and great food. Grandpa played tea party with Kindness, too.


Then we went to Aunt Corie and Uncle Steve's house for New Year's Eve/Day. We were supposed to have a last rendezvous with the whole family but in our travels from one to another we shared our love and our sickness. Yep, we infected my dad, Nancy, Jessica, Rachel and Steve with the respiratory cold/flu that we had. So we missed them at New Year's Day. Diamond did get to go back outside to play in the snow. Here she is making a snow angel and NOT enjoying snow on her face.



On our way home, the last place visited was our old house. Here it is in it's winter glory. By the time we were back in Florida, the temps were in the 70's and we were ready for our own beds. Thanks for all the great hospitality and memories for Christmas 2008.