Umoja!

This past weekend, Addy and I went to African/African American Heritage Camp. Overall we had a good time but it wasn't exactly what I had hope for. My vision was to go to camp to learn more about AA history, culture, and have positive AA role models for Addy. It's a newer camp, about 4 years old, so I know that they are still in the development phases.
A few things that I thought were lacking.....There were barely and black people there. Now there was a ton of AA women at the conference center, unfortunately they were there for a different event! We did have black speakers but they mainly just came for their presentation for the adults and left. There weren't any black helpers in any of the kids rooms which was dissappointing.
We did many craft projects which were a lot of fun but they could have made them more meaningful by explaining the importance of them and how they relate more to African heritage/history.
The theme of the camp was a palace theme. The name of the palace was "it is good that I exist". Which struck me as inappropriate in the setting of adoption when the alternative could have been abortion or death. Typically when I think of a theme for a conference or camp, its something catchy and inspiring and this just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I believe the inital intent was to instill pride into who you are but a different phrase could have worked better. Now I completely could be reading too much into it but just on a surface level, when I read the theme the first time, it didn't feel right. And when I mentioned it to a couple friends when I got home, they were shocked at it as well.

Now don't get me wrong, we had a fun time and met some new friends, I just had different expectations. So will we go again, most likely but I will go with different expectations and more of a its a fun adoption camp to go to for the weekend, is cheap enough, and isn't too far away. My expectation will not include the African American heritage part. That part we will continue to work on at home within our AA community here and possibly try another AA camp this summer as well.

And now for the pictures!

Addy was very proud of the fact that it was a mommy and Addy weekend! We made a pretty plate together.... Well Addy colored the plate and I took the picture!

Addy made a little friend named Isabel. They really connected and were super cute together!

Joyana and Addy were super cute as well! Joy was around 3 as well!

We made crowns which AJ LOVED! She was always asking where her crown was so that she could wear it!

JoJo really took to Addy as well. She was a super sweet girl who loved to hold AJ and play with her between activities.

Addy enjoyed having her own bed... until we actually went to sleep!

We had ice cream cones at every meal!

Addy got the opportunity to play the african drums and took part in their little parade through the rooms!

The whole group! This is the biggest group that they have had in their 4 years!

It was nice to get away and have a special trip with AJ. Sometimes she just needs a little extra love and attention and this did the trick! She was super tired when we got home and actually slept the WHOLE way home!

Pumpkining!

Have I told you how much I love Halloween? I'm not sure why but there is something magical about this holiday! I LOVE IT! Pumpkin carving has always been one of my favorites! Both kids joined in the festivities! Addy drew her face on her pumpkin!

JT's finished pumpkin!

Addy's jack-o-lantern is on the left!

Her costume needed a little tweaking... When it came it was stuck to the package so the stripes on the tail fin peeled off some. So we repainted them and this time used fun colors instead! I also had hemmed it up as well.

At dance tonight, we were able to have them wear their costumes! Ariel and Abby Caddabby and Minnie Mouse (not pictured) had a great time! Unfortunately they are in class without their moms so we missed out on the fun!

Tonight we decided to paint the little pumpkins that we had got at the orchard. Addy apparently kissed the pumpkin and had paint perfectly on her lips!

And so with the Halloween weekend coming up we have a packed full weekend of costume fun!

Racism....

Frustrating evening... are people really this stupid?

My good friend (in fact one of my best friends) who happens to be biracial came over tonight to hang out since she is leaving to go out of town for a week. She had asked if her friend could come since he was only in town for a few hours. She said he was "normal" so I said ok.... Maybe I should screen these friends of hers better!

Started off fine. She and I talked about my experience at the African American heritage camp that AJ and I went to (so we were talking about black issues), my kids were playing (both African American), and we had eaten dinner. Ty got tired so I brought him upstairs to go to bed. I could hear her friend, we'll call him "boy". I could hear boy saying things to her that I thought were inappropriate. Not sure how it even came up but he kept calling her white, using the word oreo and double stuffed oreo. Now I don't know him at all and so thought maybe they had some inside running joke but thought it was odd since she really doesn't put up with racist crap. But since I was upstairs at the time, I didnt say anything when I came back down (mistake number 1, I should have said something that bothered me immediately).

So we painted our toes/finger nails and had The Housewives of Atlanta on (I know schmucky TV). We weren't really paying a whole lot of attention to it, it was on more on in the background. The boy starts talking about the show so we start to pay attention. The girl on the show (African American) is talking to her African American boyfriend/husband about how he was raised in a white family and her in a black family and how there are differences etc. Boy starts going on about how it doesn't matter, she needs to stop talking about it and move on. My friend told him that no, its important and that the girl on TV just wanted to learn more to do whats best for their kids etc (now we really hadn't heard the whole conversation but whatever, its the housewives!). Boy then makes a comment about how "you people" always try to make issues where there aren't any. You people, really? He states it in different ways a few times, both my friend and I try to tell him that there is a big difference in culture and that it is important and good that they were discussing it. Then it took a turn for the worse... He went on and on about how black people want equality and then make differences and problems. I told him that if you aren't involved in the receiving end of racism then you can't truly understand what it is like. He kept telling us (while pointing and making the crazy sign to his head) that all of this stuff that we were making up was just in our heads... He said it over and over and was getting more inappropriate...

Side note: Addy was in the room, distracted by her newly painted toe nails with stickers, so the words I (and my friend) wanted to use were out of the question since we didn't want her hearing them.

So he went on and on and there was no stopping him or rationalizing with him. The tone and inflection in his voice was like my friend and I were stupid and completely off base. He was obviously the one who was right and who knew everything.

I finally said in a firm "I mean it" kind of way... OK, you need to leave now. He looked at me like I head 10 heads and I just said "seriously" (in the same get out of my house now tone). My friend made a comment about how he needed to stop especially since she was biracial and he was in the house with two black kids. He then sat on the couch. My friend packed up her things and they left.

Its amazing that besides his first inappropriate comments, the majority of his anger was derived from a conversation from a stupid reality TV show (and not even a classy reality TV show) and then his true beliefs really came out.

They had driven separately so her and I talked on the phone after she left. She wouldnt see him again until later that night and she was going to give him the earful that we couldn't in Addys presence. She was appalled at his behavior and it didnt sound like their friendship would be continuing (at least not in the same context).

I felt violated, angry, furious. Who in their right mind would come into a house with two black kids and make racist remarks.... really? I felt awful knowing that my children will face these kind of things and sad that I wouldnt always be there to protect them or to deal with the issues together. We already have had some racism issues but in our own home was just wrong. I am proud that I said something and didnt just let it happen. I am glad that my friend bit her tounge and didnt say what she wanted too and super glad that she is "sharing" those special saved words with him tonight. I'm glad that we role modeled appropriate behavior in front of Addy, because really, that's what it is all about. Facing racism as a family, role modeling appropriate responses so that our children learn how to move forward through racism, and hopefully opening the eyes of people who are ignorant.

So what did I learn...
1- trust your gut
2- say something the first time you hear an appropriate comment
3- stick to your guns
4- don't put up with racism, ever, especially in your home

Hair and nails...

I know you are all dying for my post on our heritage camp experience and that will be coming in the next couple days when I pull some more pics off of the web!

So for now a few other thoughts...

Last week I had the pleasure of doing my friend Beth's little girls hair! She had asked if I would teach her how to do corn rows. Now I have never done white girl hair and its slippery! I did the first row and was a little too liberal with my PM Foaming Pomade! Beth learned really quickly! Here is Miss Eleanors hair! Looks pretty good to me! Went pretty fast too, guess the lack of detangling really speeds things up! Tonight Amanda came over and we did nails. Here is Addys pretty toe nails!

And Addy did mine!

Fun weekend so far!

Friday started out super fun. Got a tip from a friend that there was a cheapo unicorn costume (obviously everyone is aware of her unicorn obsession!). So I HAD to buy it right! She was SOOO happy and excited! She wore it the whole evening and kept asking if she would get to keep it forever! Today we went to a friends house. Growing up my friend Erin lived right next door. We've known eachother since we were born and were best friends and played together every day when we were in grade school. Then we moved and distance separated us. We reconnected and see eachother about once a year and our kids are SO darn cute together!

Brooke is 2 and Lauren just turned 4 so all the kids are pretty close in age!

Brookey just LOVED tyty! She held him, attempted to carry him, and followed him all around.

Hopefully in a few years we'll be able to get a decent picture!

They even did a fun turkey pinecone project!

We had a blast visiting with them and hope to increase our playdates!

Today was another fun milestone in my life (and by fun I mean amazing!)...Today is my FOURTEEN year clear day! Fourteen years ago I was sitting in isolation in the hospital getting my stinky, awful tasting, bone marrow infusion! The start of my new life!

I wish I had time to post more about what this day means but too busy at the moment! If you're dying for details... feel free to read my post from 2 years ago... 12 years

Dreamland!

Addy woke up today and told me all about her first real dream... at least the first one that she remembered and told me all about.

Last night, there was a bear. The bear climbed into my tubby. And then there was a bunny. I saw the bunny in the hole. And then they were fighting and I came upstairs. I came upstairs and yelled mommy mommy where are you. And then I crawled under the bear.

And then I asked what happened next to which she replied I don't remember. I asked if it was a nice bear and AJ said, "no, it was a naughty bear and it went into my room, we should have shut my door. And then it went into Tylers room"

SOOO CUTE! She was super excited when she told me all about it!

Ji'Robert's Stats!

JT had his 15 month appointment... can you believe it...15 MONTHS!

Weight: 24.6 pounds (53%) down a tiny little bit from his one year
Head: 18.6 inches a tiny bit bigger than his one year
Length.... drum roll please.....29.5 inches he's up to the 9th%!

Developmentally he's on track or ahead except for in language development. Not too concerned but if he doesn't start picking up words in the next 6 weeks then we will have his hearing tested and start speech therapy. So we will be doing more intentional work with him to learn a few different short words (ball, moo, no, etc).

He did get two shots today and was a trooper! Poor thing, the flu vaccines weren't in yet so we'll have to go back for that later!

So at 15 months he is running, climbing (although some things are too high for him to climb since he is so short), playing with the kids and trying to keep up, eating real food, drinking from a sippy cup (for those of you who may not remember, it took him a LONG time to finally make the switch), and loves riding on and pushing his little cars. He loves being outside and really loves the park and his independence when he can climb up and go down the slide on his own. He is a really funny boy and is pretty easy unless he is tired or hungry! He loves his big sissy and she loves him as well!

Its so fun watching him develop. The other day he had a whole thought! He spilled his Cheerio's, toddled into the kitchen, opened the bottom drawer, got out a towel, went back and cleaned up his mess! Too cute!

Slumber Party!

Playing catch up since our internet died again....

This weekend Meena came down to help with Tyler and Robyn while AJ and I went to the festival. (My sister is in town with a broken arm.) So we decided on Friday nigt that we would have a fun slumber party! We watched movies, ate popcorn, and had girl time!

Showing off their new PJs! Pre-slumber party fun bouncing on Daddy!
We've been crafting it up at our house with our new craft desks!

Snack time on the kitchen floor. They were sharing really nicely, not quite sure how their snack time ended up mid kitchen but they were having fun!

Snuggle time!

Slumber time!

One odd thing is that even though AJ and I slept on the floor, she took up the WHOLE floor! By the morning, we had moved a good 7 feet across the floor!

Renaissance Festival

Lindsy invited Addy and I to go to the Renaissance Festival this weekend and we had a blast! I hadn't been there in years so didn't know forsure how Addy would do or if there would be enough things for her to do. It turned out to be a great place for a two year old! Tons of fun kiddo stuff and just in general a fun atmosphere! Plus everything was super cheap which was a welcome surprise!
Addy was pretty funny. At one point, Amanda told Addy, "That's how I roll" to which Addy replied, "Like a ball".... Seriously it was hysterical! Addy got to make a magic wand and test it out with a wizard.

She got her face painted.... And since she sat so nice for the lady she painted both sides and added extra sparkleys!

Yep, she picked the unicorn!

What a gorgeous little face!

She rode on a giant man powered swing...

Rode a spotted pony (Little Chief)....(while wearing her new flowered headband)And we all rode an elephant together! But since we all hoped on there was noone to take our picture so here is a picture of our African Elepant!

Amanda and Addy got their picture taken with one of the tree fairys who was wandering around. Addy was a little nervous at first!

Lindsy even took AJ to throw tomato's at the jester!

Just generally a super fun exciting day!

One tired little bug!

Definitely somewhere I would go again with the kiddos! Addy had a blast and so did I! The weather was great and it was the perfect girls day out!

Monsters and Ballerinas

Well our internet has been patchy at best so posting hasn't worked out!

After getting our new desks, we had two big boxes. After telling AJ that there was a monster in the box she hesitantly went over and peeked inside the box to find a Delia Monster. Later that I evening I hear from the other room "MOMMA, I'm a MONSTER" and went in the other room and didn't see her. The box started to wiggle a little bit and my little monster was hidden inside! Wednesday was observation class for dance. Since she's in her own class, the parents are typically banned from the room and wait in the hallway. Well this week we got to watch! Addy did really well. She was slightly distracted with a room full of parents but still listened well!

Here's part of her class (its a pretty big class, 14 were there that night [next time we're signing up for a smaller class]) all lined up nicely!

Listening to the directions given by the teacher!

We headed to a different park, one we hadn't been too before and it was great! The kids could play on everything and had a lot of fun.

Ty rockin' my glasses!

They loved the spiral slide!

One down...

Number 2 close behind!

What is your definition of instantly. We were at the fabric store to get some fun stuff and they had 50 cents Monster Instantly. Now I'm thinking it will take about 30 seconds....

20 minutes later we finally had mosters!

More pics and fun to come!