My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Perhaps we need to talk a little more about things

Free family movies in the summer rule. But, $1 family movies are even better. It’s not that I’m wanting to spend $4 to see the same movies we could see for free. But, that $1 has kept the large groups of kids in matching tees who don’t have enough adults to chaperone them away. And, as much as I love kids, I confess that I’m glad to not have to do the “come-on-kids-hurry-up-we-gotta-get-a-seat!!!!” routine 30 minutes before the show. Instead, we arrive 10 minutes early, walk leisurely to the correct theater, and this mommy and her children are all very happy. We are so civilized thanks to those $1 tickets.

I’m giving a standing ovation to Ramona and Beezus which we saw this week–the best family movie I’ve seen in a long time. Genuinely entertaining and so many good things to talk about with the kids afterwards. And, I have the movie to thank for keeping my children busy this afternoon making the longest drawing ever. The super long drawing of a science museum being visited by Harry Potter with an aquarium with pixie hollow also secretly looking at the same tank of fish is a masterpiece.
Last night as we did the “come-on-kids-hurry-up-and-eat-we-gotta-get-Drew-to-his-swim-class” routine, Ashlyn asked me out of the blue, “What if our dad lost his job?” They gasped as I told them that he had lost his job 3 years ago but he quickly got another job. They went on to express their regrets that Daddy didn’t take the opportunity to get a “cool” job like a police officer, fireman, or mailman. Is it the uniform that makes them find these jobs cool? And, there I was, feeling like I had to defend my husband to…our children. “Well, guys, he has to work very hard to make enough money for us. You know, having 4 kids costs a lot of money!” At which point, Ashlyn looked straight into my eyes and said, “You had to pay for us too?”
And, I knew exactly what she was talking about. Somehow, my immediate response about how it takes a lot of money to pay for food and electricity and school supplies (anyone else feeling like they need to take out a home equity loan for school supplies?) and clothes, etc. just doesn’t seem enough.
Um…looks like we have some more talking to do about adoption. 

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Sunday Snapshot: {Reunion}

There’s something so fun about taking the girls away–just the 3 of us–to stay in a special room with two beds and our own bathroom (oh, and air conditioning too). That in an of itself would be enough. Add in a bunch of other families who have come together through this thing called adoption, and things just got sweeter.

While the Raudenbush boys hit Lost River Cavern and learned about stalagmites and did other boy stuff like a Lego store visit, a diner dinner, and get introduced to Harry Potter, the girls headed up North a bit with a bag of camp snacks (aka goldfish, poptarts, and M&Ms).
Apparently, my weather channel app was in the dark since the 30% chance of rain translated into total. complete. downpour. So, no pontoon boat rides. And, no bonfire. But, we managed to find things to keep us busy inside.

(some more creative than others)
But, rain was not surprising to the One who sent that rain. And, all afternoon, conversations were buzzing and connections were made and little dark haired children were running all over the place with some blondies like mine mixed in. And, it was pretty neat to watch.
(Bouncing balls through stair openings is oh-so-much-more fun when you can do it with one of your Baoji sisters.)
As Lydia slept in her little portable crib in the corner, I snuggled with Ashlyn in her bed and we read a chapter of her fairy chapter book by flashlight and ate M&Ms. 
“Can we come here again next year?” Ashlyn asked. “We’ll try, sure.” Pause for some crunching. “Do you ever feel strange that you are not Chinese like most of the kids here?” She thought a minute, “Sometimes, but it’s fun. I like it.” And, that was that. 
After some (wet) golfing this morning, we had a little devotional time together which started out with some piano playing by two of the Chinese girls. 
When everyone applauded for their second song, Ashlyn leaned over and whispered, “Their first song was SO good. Maybe next year, I can get up and do some Chinese dancing I learn in my class this year.” 

Sunday Snapshot

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