A Change Is Gonna Come...

There is definitely nothing quite like summer vacation. I have learned this year after year. It starts out sort of like any long weekend would except it just keeps going and going and going. Once the boys have figured out that they "seriously" don't have to go to school for a long, long time the insanity begins to set in. You see, we just don't do change. It is as simple as that. You would think with all of the change the niños have been through in their short lives that a change in routine would be a breeze, but, no, they see it as an opportunity to just go nuts. There are random bouts of running (accompanied by high pitched screaming) around the house interspersed with rolling around on the floor laughing for no apparent reason followed shortly by spontaneous bursts of crying and accusations of "he looked at me". It is enough to make a mom insane. However, I think I am starting to get smart about this...I think. We are staying busy. The Y waterpark, the playground, the mall, etc... I have even planned a couple of field trips. The key is to remove them from their natural habitat and keep them so busy that by the time we get home they are too tired to fight with each other. We are on day 5 and so far, the plan is working well. I have only had to make some adjustments here and there. Let's hope that the next 70 days go by smoothly!

Sometimes You Just Have To Get It Out

Luis Angel is home sick today. Poor guy. It is the last week of school. His last week of kindergarten, and, naturally, he has a fever of 103 degrees. I emailed his teacher to let her know that he would be spending the day with me. She suggested that he practice his part in this week's graduation ceremony. It is one simple line - "We worked hard everyday." As we were practicing, I started to lose it. My babies are graduating from kindergarten. For real this time. Yes, we did this last year. Yes, everything about this past year of school has had a "been there, done that" feel to it. But the fact that they are really "graduating" from kindergarten and moving on to first grade is crazy emotional for me. It goes beyond the pride I feel in what they have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. It is simply the fact that I have barely had the chance to know them, and they are growing up so fast.

When we first met all of them at the ICBF offices in Pereira, Colombia three years ago it seemed as if they would always be the tiny boys with the tiny voices that came careening into our lives. But now they have grown so much taller, put on weight so that they are on the growth chart. Their English is so amazing that we rarely have to translate for others what is being said. Samuel spends most of his time down the street at a friend's house, and no longer needs a booster seat. The twins have become independent to the point that I cherish the moments that I am asked for a cuddle or a hug. What I am saying is that the past (nearly) three years has gone by too fast. We have not known them nearly as long as we wish we could have. I am certain the next three will fly by as well.

I am sure I will have more to report on Thursday after the big graduation...once I stop blubbering.