Mommy and Me Time...

See? I bet you thought this would be a cute Khan story. Sorry about that. But when there are six of them it is even fun to get to hang with the big kids one-on-one once in a while. Last night Ogre and I took in our our first ever live NBA game when the Bucks hosted his beloved Spurs at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. It was fun but the energy level was not what I had expected. It was very surreal to have the visiting team's fans make more noise than the home team's fans. We did fall into the former category though so it was more funny than sad. The Bucks did play very well but lost in a nail-biter 96-94. I have a newfound respect for them as a team but I kind of have to agree with The Sports Guy. Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut looked really good.

I have now seen a professional football, baseball, basketball and racing event. What's next?

Oh and uh... This guy?

Needs to work on his damn free throws. I mean, he had a great game - 26points - but he missed probably eight free throw tries.

While this guy:
Is just plain damn awesome. As much as it pains me to agree with him on anything, I second Crunchy's thoughts on the All-Star Game snub.

EDIT: Here's me and the kid:

A Man of Many Talents

The Senator and I were watching the Ghost Whisperer last night and (forgive me, I was knitting multi-tasking) the subject of making music with wine glasses came up between he and I. I informed him that his Papa was an expert on the subject. Immediately the Senator and Khan begged for a lesson and Papa obliged. They were enthralled and, I'm happy to say, both successfully made the glasses sing!

"This is how you change the sound."

Be careful what you wish for!

Be careful what you wish for!
Originally uploaded by lisamarie51

Make note. When you tell your older brother to throw you in the snow, he will. We might be up to our *bleep* in snow, but we can still have fun!

Dad Lets Me Drive on Saturday

Crunchy hits the ditch 1
Originally uploaded by lisamarie51

But today's not Saturday. It's Sunday. He's an excellent driver. Definitely. His boss told him he had to come to work today. He gave it the old college try.

Too Bad I Wasn't Dreaming of One...

Faceplant!
Originally uploaded by lisamarie51

We're definitely having a white Christmas. I think we got eight inches and everything's closed. Well, by everything I mean my church a block and a half away but you get the idea...

The boys were anxious to play and the Senator's first act was to throw himself face first into the snow bank the Sarge created by shoveling. Too fun! Needless to say, since he planted himself face down in the snow and since it was a whopping 9 degrees outside, they didn't last long before the hot chocolate urge struck.

Hey Mom! Meet my Friend!

Hey Mom! Meet my Friend!
Originally uploaded by lisamarie51

Today the world's cutest four year old finally had a chance to make a snowman. Isn't it awesome? You can't see but the snowman's about a foot high and has pine needles for his eyes, nose and mouth. Too much fun here! We also put the gifts under the Christmas Tree (I still say Bah! Humbug! But whatever, he's now totally geeked and that warms even my grinchy little heart). Next year I'm decorating a cactus.

Love Them or Hate Them?

Sometimes, I just can't decide. After this post the other day, La Reina and Bratticus do this during some "bonding time" yesterday afternoon:They are OUT of the will, I tell you OUT!

On the other hand, his majesty The Khan, took some time to give us a science lesson this morning:


"See Mom!? There are babies in here!"

He's so cute I may let his sisters live for the sole reason that they babysit.

No, I didn't do this myself

No, I didn't do this myself
Originally uploaded by lisamarie51

See what I mean? Sometimes, they really are good kids.

Sappy....

Since it's Love Thursday, even though I don't normally partake, I'm going to tell you about this crazy family of mine. It occurred to me the other day that it's a pretty great family all things considered.

Now, mind you, I'm not talking extended family. I'm talking about Sarge and I and the six creatures/heathens that have both, one or the other's names on their birth certificates, our mangy mutts and the damn cat. Bratticus and I think the cat's claustrophobic because she always wants in Brat's room, but the minute Brat shuts the door the cat wants back out. I digress...

Our extended family (I've four siblings and Sarge has twelve) is all basically nuts. We're not exceptionally close to any of them. Sad, yes, but true and; since it's been that way for years, not likely to change.

But our family... We're funny! Most of us have this dry, sarcastic sense of humor that allows us to crack jokes that some people just don't get but we find hilarious. We can all hunker down over Shrek, Dogma, The Princess Bride or any similar movie. Four of us (at least) are huge fans of The Daily Show and Colbert Report. Yes, since you were wondering, we do own America: The Book as well as I Am America and So Can You. What? You weren't wondering? Well, sorry then.

Because I don't and never did, I think it's pretty cool that the older kids actually hang out together. Yes, even when Brat and Crunchy skip school together to have a Star Wars Festival. Yes, an entire day. To their credit, they also went toy shopping for their little brothers. Crunchy's awesome at that.

We can finish one another's sentences, we like the same movies, books (well we share a common pool even if we don't all like exactly the same things - Sarge, Crunchy and Brat like Fantasy more than I, but Crunchy, Brat and I like Gaiman, La Reina and I have books we both love... you get the idea), games... Because I have virtually nothing in common with my siblings, I think this is really neat. You should get to know us and see it for yourself!

Amazing

Big bubble
Originally uploaded by lisamarie51

This guy never ceases to amaze me. Last night was bath night and he entertained both himself and his brother by blowing bubbles. Evidently this is what happens when you get your hands nice and soapy, pucker your lips and blow!

Too cute and too fun!

Modeling his scarf and his new haircut

HPIM0662
Originally uploaded by lisamarie51

The scarf is my handiwork. The haircut is his own.

Finishing Stuff!

HPIM0663
Originally uploaded by lisamarie51

I was really happy to finish that red scarf. Turns out Shrek likes it but not nearly as much as his little brothers! I had to make it so long for him that it goes to the floor on the Senator.

I know, they're adorable.

I've Created a Monster!

Check out Shrek's blog: Everyone's Favorite

As Promised...

The Khan brings you holiday cheer! Last Friday at Grandma's house, she gave him several (a dozen?) beanie toys representing Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, including The Island of Misfit Toys. After seeing a commercial for Christmas, His Excellency decided that he'd use them to decorate.

"Mama! We have to decorate for Christmas!"

Here is the result. Enjoy!

Teaser

I'm pressed for time today because I had issues connecting to Blogger. Tomorrow you will see what happens when the Khan decorates for Christmas!

And That's Why We Call Him the Senator...

He's just amazing, this kid. I know, right? Your kids are amazing too but my kid...

The Senator is described a lot of ways. A co-worker of the Sarge described him as "this little man. You expect him to be wearing a little bow tie. He talks like a small adult." We hear this a lot because it's true.

He has always done this. From our first day out with him when he walked up to Sascha, the guard at the house we stayed at; stuck his hand out swiftly and introduced himself to today. Today we've got new neighbors. This is army housing. We always have new neighbors. He wanted to go over and introduce himself and he did. I, his introverted mother, have no idea who they are but he knows their names and that they have a fifth-grade daughter.

Do you read Post Secret? I do. The premise of Post Secret is that people send in postcards with their secrets on and they get posted to the web every Sunday. Sometimes there are cards that really hit home. Today there's one of a little boy. It says "We just adopted this little boy from Russia. He has changed my life more than he'll ever know". I agree.

Our little Senator has gone from this:


To This:


(This picture, by the way, was taken the same day that he confidently introduced himself to the guard in Buryatia)

And finally this:


The neighborhood welcoming committee.

Senator, you are awesome and I love you so much. Thank you for being such a great person that I am inspired to try and be a better person too.

Sharing, Schmaring...

The Khan: "Here Mama" (presents half a snack sized Butterfinger)
Mama: "Where's the other half of it?"
The Khan: "Uhm... Papa eat it."

What a rip-off....

It's Wednesday...

and I owe you a blog post. I don't know what to write about. I'm discombobulated. I can't even explain why. Obviously, I've got a lot on my plate: a job that, I've been assured, will be "new" for at least the rest of this year; all those pesky kids, the hubby and, shall we not forget the $200K monkey on our back in West Michigan. I guess "overwhelmed" would not be too strong of a word, you know? It seems like it never ends and will never get better. I'm not depressed or anything - not even taking my happy pills believe it or not. I'm...resigned.

And then, I get pictures. JP sends me a picture of a little boy who will hopefully be her son next year. I'm thrilled for her. Her e-mail guides me to a website with lots and lots of descriptions of kids that need families. That always haunts me. Then, these two descriptions:

75004: This is Nargiza and she is from Kyrgyzstan. I am attaching the picture we have of her as well as her medical information. We have had two families (that recently traveled to adopt other children) write up a description of her to help her get placed. Here they are:
Family A said: "Nargiza was a little spitfire, absolutely full of life & she could get really wound up! I don't know how she is mentally, but that little one is very affectionate and loving. She wanted to play with all of us, and simply adored bubbles. She sat down and looked at the picture book I brought for anara the first day and loved it. She did walk oddly (like she'd been riding on a horse or maybe she's just very bowlegged...), and seemed to have a curve in her back/shoulder area when I placed my hand on her."
Family B said: "She's a handful!!!!! Anyone who has spent more than 30 seconds in Beck's house will know who Nargiza is... the staff tends to be reprimanding her frequently. The kid is absolutely over-flowing with life! She's extremely inquisitive about everything and never misses a chance to be picked up by any and all visitors. In fact, she was the first kid in my arms on my first visit. There is definitely something going on with her, physically. Her hips seemed to be spread in such a way that her legs are even with her shoulders, meaning her legs seem to be spread apart, so she kinda walks like John Wayne. Hilary (Family A) said she felt some sort of mass on her back."

75005: This is Indira and she is also from Kyrgyzstan. I am attaching the picture we have of her as well as her medical information. We have had two families (that recently traveled to adopt other children) write up a description of her to help her get placed. Here they are:
Family A said: "Indira seemed like there could be something not quite right...her head seemed a little on the large side. I would not say that she is seriously retarded. I'm not a doctor and I don't know what to look for specifically. She joined in with the other kids when there was a new activity like the bubbles, chips, or balloons. She was more quiet and reserved but very sweet."
Family B said: "Indira tends to be more quiet, self-sufficient. She enjoyed the bubbles. Because of her quiet (but I wouldn't call her timid at all) nature I didn't get to interact with her as much."

And these two pictures:
Nargiza:


And Indira:



Do they touch my heart because they're adorable or just because they're kids who need a family? Little Nargiza sounds like a female version of the Khan!

So here I sit. Broke and getting more broke and I feel called to adopt these kids. Why? To keep up with the P's? (I've got six - her three are beat 2 to 1, so that's not it!). What the hell is it? How the hell are we ever going to be able to afford this? How do I get my mind off it?

Welcome to fourth grade logic

Dear Fourth Grade Teacher,

The Senator has explained to me that you feel he used the word “gay” inappropriately today because it was used in this context: “High School Musical is gay.”

Allow me to share with you some definitions of the word "gay" from Dictionary.com.:
1. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
2. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
3. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season.

Which of these, pray, is an inappropriate description for musical theatre?

I certainly understand that there are other, less appropriate, uses for the word “gay” including the one that The Senator most likely intended to use: slang very common amongst late elementary, middle, high-school students and beyond for “I don’t like that ”. However, I believe your response is a bit extreme. Since he is in fourth grade, I am quite certain the concept of homosexuality – the inappropriate usage which prompted you to request my discussion with him, could not be further from his mind. Rest assured our home is not one in which any type of intolerance or hate is acceptable. .

If The Senator's account of the incident is incorrect and his usage was, in fact, inappropriate please tell us and we will address the issue further.

Best,
Yours Truly

P.S. Be proud of me. I resisted the urge to say that I'd watched HSM and agreed that it is, in fact, gay.

Dear "Adult" Children...

It is with deep regret that I am resigning my position as your mother. It would appear that, despite sharing a home for somewhere between thirteen years and your whole fucking life we have developed unresolvable creative differences making a change at the mother position in your life a necessity.

You claim to be adults and desire to be treated like adults and yet manage to walk the earth with your head so far up your ass it may never come out. Needless to say, this would have a profound negative impact on our family photos were I still your mother.

For some of you, I am sorry that you feel like you didn't get enough attention from your father because your mother spent all her time telling you what a piece of shit he is and, despite seeing for yourself he isn't, you believed her and have taken those falsehoods forward to this day. I am sorry you don't take that up with your biological mother choosing instead to take it out on me and, naturally, your dad who also vents that frustration on me. Fuck you very much. Get more therapy and believe what you see and hear from him rather than from your mother. Oh, and uh.. stop fucking taking it out on me. I quit, remember? And I had absolutely nothing to do with it besides helping your father fight for his right to BE YOUR GOD-DAMN FATHER!

For all of you, I am sorry that I hope you'll learn from my young adult mistakes and take those lessons to heart. I will no longer try to teach them because I quit.

I am sorry you feel it is "unethical" of me to Google your boyfriend. I'm not even ashamed of it and since I'd be compelled to do it as long as I am your mother, I am resigning so I don't have to do it again and find out what horrible choices you're making.

I am sorry we did not play favorites or have double standards of behavior for you so that some of you feel slighted. I am sorry I expected so much of you academically while still letting you try to have fun and be kids. I am sorry that I busted my ass for all these years to give you what you are now so fucking ungrateful for. I am looking forward to expending a lot less effort and enjoying a lot more of my money in retirement.

Regretfully, I must also say that I will no longer lecture you on the wisdom of managing your money. The mistakes I have made managing my money haunt me to this day. I have a financial education, I know what I should do but because I was stupid enough to marry the father of two of you of the past am unable to do it. Now you won't have to be forced to learn from them. Make your own but remember, since I'm not your mom anymore, you'll be forced to secure another Bank of Mom to cover your petty annoyances like tuition payments and rent. Most people would welcome free advice from an MBA. A lot of people even pay for it. Sorry to give it to you for free.

This resignation takes effect immediately. I'll take back my cell phone and, since you can't afford the insurance, your car. Be prepared to be billed my consulting rate for all future requests for advice or information. Remember, it's $100 an hour with a 2-hour minimum.

Best of luck,

Your (former) Mother