July 13, 2013
As many of my regular followers know, I've gotten a little behind on blogging in the last week. From here on, I will date the posts - not by which date they were posted, but to which date the post corresponds. That way, we can all keep track of what happened on what day. Enjoy!
Michel woke up Saturday morning much improved over Friday night. Other than the brief midnight snack, she slept for fifteen hours! She seemed healthy and rested upon awakening, and she was ready for this week's Kidsave outing to the chocolate factory! Thanks to Chocolaterie Stam for a such a fun field trip!
Michel really enjoys seeing the other kids "from her community", as she refers to the other children traveling from Colombia with her this summer. She did not know any of them previously, but the group clearly bonded during their time before traveling to the United States. (If I haven't mentioned it previously, all 32 kids participating throughout the U.S. stayed with their chaperone for a week or two in Colombia, learning some basic English skills, American customs, and what to expect during their stay.)
Michel loved making chocolate-dipped strawberries and decorated chocolate wafers at Chocolaterie Stam. The staff gave great instructions to the kids, and the process was fairly simple. Seeing Michel make chocolates next to our boys was a study in stereotypical gender differences. Both of our kids "decorated" by dumping heaps of Oreos all over the chocolates (even burying them on the trays). Michel, however, carefully placed her sprinkles and nuts in designs on each chocolate. She ended up with a beautiful display of chocolates worthy of any candy store!
We grabbed Taco Bell drive-through for lunch and headed to a "pocket party" immediately after the chocolate factory. Pocket parties are events where potential adoptive families have the opportunity to meet the Kidsave kids and interact with them on a more individual basis than at the large group gatherings. Usually 2-3 host families participate in a pocket party, to make it more relaxed and less like a "targeted event". Thanks to the Ekwall family for hosting! Michel enjoyed jumping on the trampoline with her friends, and they engaged in a rousing game of CandyLand to finish off the day. It's so much fun to see the kids engage in simple pleasures that our own children take for granted.
Mike's parents were here for the weekend, and they were great sports about being "along for the ride" for the chocolate factory and pocket party. I think they enjoyed seeing Michel interact with the other kids and take pleasure in new experiences. They are so warm and conversational - I think it was killing them to not be able to ask Michel more questions and interact. But they did great in their attempts to communicate with her, and she loved showing them things and giving them hugs. Some things require no language.
Mike's parents brought a few gifts to welcome Michel. She loved trying out the hula hoop, and I know she will get a lot of use out of the brush and hair clips. She tried some of the glow-in-the-dark bracelets at bedtime, and I think she's rationing the rest of the bracelets and necklaces so they don't all lose their "glow" at once. She carefully gathered all her treasures and put them in her room. She has definitely learned to keep things out of the dog's reach!
We let the kids enjoy some time in the hot tub before dinner. Michel asks to go the "piscina" (pool) every day, and we try to oblige her as much as we can while she's here. The air was hot today, meaning the water was also hotter than usual, but she has definitely grown accustomed to the warm water. Mike's parents took turns tossing water toys to the kids and watching them splash around.
We grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats again for dinner, and Michel helped prepare the hamburger patties. She enjoyed mixing the seasoning into the meat. For dinner, she had her usual variety platter of meats and fruits. I told her that I had saved a huge bowl of lettuce just for her. (Other than one sample bite when she first arrived, lettuce is the one food that she will definitely refuse in any way, shape, or form.) She said, "That's fine. And I have a big bowl of raspberries for you!" It took me a moment to realize that she remembered that I am allergic to raspberries, so that was her quick comeback to my offer of lettuce. Touche! She has a great memory and a quick sense of humor.
As many of my regular followers know, I've gotten a little behind on blogging in the last week. From here on, I will date the posts - not by which date they were posted, but to which date the post corresponds. That way, we can all keep track of what happened on what day. Enjoy!
*****
Michel really enjoys seeing the other kids "from her community", as she refers to the other children traveling from Colombia with her this summer. She did not know any of them previously, but the group clearly bonded during their time before traveling to the United States. (If I haven't mentioned it previously, all 32 kids participating throughout the U.S. stayed with their chaperone for a week or two in Colombia, learning some basic English skills, American customs, and what to expect during their stay.)
Michel loved making chocolate-dipped strawberries and decorated chocolate wafers at Chocolaterie Stam. The staff gave great instructions to the kids, and the process was fairly simple. Seeing Michel make chocolates next to our boys was a study in stereotypical gender differences. Both of our kids "decorated" by dumping heaps of Oreos all over the chocolates (even burying them on the trays). Michel, however, carefully placed her sprinkles and nuts in designs on each chocolate. She ended up with a beautiful display of chocolates worthy of any candy store!
We grabbed Taco Bell drive-through for lunch and headed to a "pocket party" immediately after the chocolate factory. Pocket parties are events where potential adoptive families have the opportunity to meet the Kidsave kids and interact with them on a more individual basis than at the large group gatherings. Usually 2-3 host families participate in a pocket party, to make it more relaxed and less like a "targeted event". Thanks to the Ekwall family for hosting! Michel enjoyed jumping on the trampoline with her friends, and they engaged in a rousing game of CandyLand to finish off the day. It's so much fun to see the kids engage in simple pleasures that our own children take for granted.
Mike's parents were here for the weekend, and they were great sports about being "along for the ride" for the chocolate factory and pocket party. I think they enjoyed seeing Michel interact with the other kids and take pleasure in new experiences. They are so warm and conversational - I think it was killing them to not be able to ask Michel more questions and interact. But they did great in their attempts to communicate with her, and she loved showing them things and giving them hugs. Some things require no language.
Mike's parents brought a few gifts to welcome Michel. She loved trying out the hula hoop, and I know she will get a lot of use out of the brush and hair clips. She tried some of the glow-in-the-dark bracelets at bedtime, and I think she's rationing the rest of the bracelets and necklaces so they don't all lose their "glow" at once. She carefully gathered all her treasures and put them in her room. She has definitely learned to keep things out of the dog's reach!
We let the kids enjoy some time in the hot tub before dinner. Michel asks to go the "piscina" (pool) every day, and we try to oblige her as much as we can while she's here. The air was hot today, meaning the water was also hotter than usual, but she has definitely grown accustomed to the warm water. Mike's parents took turns tossing water toys to the kids and watching them splash around.
We grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats again for dinner, and Michel helped prepare the hamburger patties. She enjoyed mixing the seasoning into the meat. For dinner, she had her usual variety platter of meats and fruits. I told her that I had saved a huge bowl of lettuce just for her. (Other than one sample bite when she first arrived, lettuce is the one food that she will definitely refuse in any way, shape, or form.) She said, "That's fine. And I have a big bowl of raspberries for you!" It took me a moment to realize that she remembered that I am allergic to raspberries, so that was her quick comeback to my offer of lettuce. Touche! She has a great memory and a quick sense of humor.
After dinner, we had a Spot It! tournament with Mike's parents and all of the kids. What a great time! Everyone could participate and shout out their answers and laugh, without needing to have full command of English or Spanish. Michel now knows names of most of the objects in English, and everyone else is learning the Spanish words. I loved watching Mike's parents connect with a little girl who wants nothing more than to have loving parents and grandparents someday. Thank you to Ken and Donna for making the trip to see this precious little girl!
As we got ready for bed tonight, Michel spotted the neighbors watching Despicable Me on their outdoor movie screen. Her eyes lit up as she said, "That's my favorite movie!" Of course it is: part of the plot involves three little girls living in an orphanage, who are adopted by the "despicable" villain. Spoiler alert: The villain's heart is softened and changed by the three little girls. Why wouldn't this be her favorite movie? It's her dream story: to be adopted and taken in by parents who will love her forever.
We didn't want to crash the neighbor's party with their grandkids, but we will definitely have to watch that movie sometime while she is here. But I can't promise that Mike and I won't cry.
As we got ready for bed tonight, Michel spotted the neighbors watching Despicable Me on their outdoor movie screen. Her eyes lit up as she said, "That's my favorite movie!" Of course it is: part of the plot involves three little girls living in an orphanage, who are adopted by the "despicable" villain. Spoiler alert: The villain's heart is softened and changed by the three little girls. Why wouldn't this be her favorite movie? It's her dream story: to be adopted and taken in by parents who will love her forever.
We didn't want to crash the neighbor's party with their grandkids, but we will definitely have to watch that movie sometime while she is here. But I can't promise that Mike and I won't cry.
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