Hi,

Tomorrow we meet with Yamile’s teacher, the time was changed from 2pm to 3pm. I am kind of bummed about this I was hoping to get home early tomorrow, oh well. Tonight Yamile had no homework so we worked together on numbers in English and Spanish and some basic addition.

Jorge refused to even look at the numbers and just ran around being very silly. I had a hard little number book for him he was completely disinterested. He did enjoy jumping on the couch though and jumping on his mommy. Jim l works late thursday night so I could not work with her by myself.

Anyway, she seemed to enjoy working with me but got some of the  basic addition problems wrong but more difficult ones correct. I do not understand this at all. I really think that next year, I either need to take a part time job and help them both with their school work a lot more or homeschool them. We don’t have the money for either option now. Hopefully next year.

Good night and God Bless,

Gina

Hi,

Jorge cried for a much shorter time today. He also managed to get the teaacher to give him her cookies today for lunch- that was all he ate her cookies. I gave him fuit loops, a ham and cheese lunchable with chocolate, raisins, a rice Krispie Treat, chocolate milk and apple juice. He did not eat a thing. Instead he ate his lunch when he came home along with two bananas, a bunch of tomatoes and a rice Krispie Treat.

 Yamile is really having trouble at school also her homework is taking us hours. This for three very short and simple worksheets. We are going to meet at the school on friday, we think she should be moved to 2 or possibly first grade. Send us some prayers please.

Good night and God Bless,

Gina

Hi Everybody,

Jorge went to school for the first. He woke up early with a big ole smile, got dressed, packed his bookbag/bolsa and his lunchbox and was very excited all the way to school. We got in there and again he had a big ole smile. Then he realized that we were leaving him and he began to wail and wail and wail. We cold hear him from the parking lot. WE left him at 7:45am and I went back for him at about 11:45. He could not wait to leave. He gave everyone a big ole chao and happily left. When he heard he was going back tomorrow he hit me, hard. The staff at the center said he cried and cried for me and when I didn’t come then he cried for Jim. I feel so bad but he needs to go to school. Hopefully in the next year or so I will be able to go to part time work but right now we have to pay off this adoption.

Wish us luck tomorrow. I am ogoing to try to keep him there until about 2:30.

Good night and God Bless,

Gina

Hi,

Yamile enjoyed her first day of school. We left home really early to get there ahead of time. Sadly traffic was awful and we were late. Others must have also been late because Yamile was the thrid person in her class. Jorge went to drop her off with us in his PJs he did not seem to care much. By noon though he was missing her. He got very grouchy at 2pm and refused to go with me to pick her up. Anyway, he had to come he is three so we went much to his annoyance. He was very happy to see her though and gave her a big ole hug. Yamile liked school a lot. We think though she may have to be moved to 2nd grade. She can’t tell time and is even having trouble with addition. Jim and I both worked  with her.

Jorge is starting school tomorrow. He is very excited about it. We packed all of this stuff today and we put his name on everything. He likes his nap mat a lot. We put his name on it with giant letters. Well…………… we put his name on everything.

Good night and God bless,

Gina

Hi,

Yamile is very excited to start school. She really can’t wait. We got her clothes out and packed her lunch last night. Jorge seems to like to idea of staying at home with mommy. Sadly for him, he will start school on tuesday. I am excited but a little ok a lot nervous. I hope she does Ok.

Good night,

Gina

Hi Mom,

I know you are reading this so since I am missing you bunches this one is for you. You grand kids had a great day today. They woke up and cleaned their bedrooms and help poppy dust and vac while I slept until 10am. It was very nice. Yamile dressed herself in a pretty flowered shirt and pink tee. Jorge wore swim trunks and a red shirt.

We went out to breakfast. Yamile ate a corn dog which I have named perito caliente especial which translate into special hot dog. She just loves them. Jorge ate a fruit plate- sort of actually he ate the grapes and Yamile ate his yoghurt and Jim and I ate the melon.

We then went to Target and spent almost $300 on back to school supplies- Several items I nor the slaes woman could identify - like crayola 6 inch map pencils - what the heck are they. Gosh there were so many cute winter clothes but for the kids but I did not buy any b/c its going to be hot here for like 3 more months.

When we came back Jim filled their little pool and the water pistols and they played for 4 hours out there. I was finally able to go through and clean out the pantry and our one desk. I still have to go through my stuff from work. Hopefully, I will be able to start this tomorrow. I am going to let the kids play in their pool again. I would love to take them to the big pool but I have to clean up this stuff. I hate clutter!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could do it next week but I think I will be driving lots then. Jorge will be in school from 7:30-11am and Yamile from 7:30 till 3:15. I have to drop them both off and pick them up!

Anyway, I sure hope you and daddy or just you can come to visit soon. The kids would love it. The handbag you gave me looks awesome. 

 Love,

GinaMarie

Hi,

I am feeling pretty wiped out and so are the kids. They went to bed at 7pm and fell sound asleep. Jorge woke up this morning at 6:45. We went to the doctor’s at 11am and they we went to Target and we bought the kids a blow up pool. Know as you may know we have a great pool here at the complex but I just need to get some work done around the home so I can’t take them to the pool. It took me about 2 hours to get the pool fully inflated and filled and get the kids in their swimsuits. The kids play with the pool and their water guns until 5pm but kept call me for stuff. Mommy i am hungry, mommy look at me, mommy, mommy, mommy. Gosh they were so silly. Twice I sat outside with them but Jorge kept soaking me and received two time outs for it.

At 5pm I asked them what they wanted for dinner and Yamile said empanades. I called Jim and we decided to go to Mi pueblito a Colombian restaurant that is right around the corner from us. Yamile loved it, she had the Paisa plate, Jim had arroz con pollo and I had the Milanese plate. Jorge just had fries and beans. Jorge about near passed out at the restaurant. He was so tired, my little guy. Yamile just kept smiling and cleaned her plate completely and she ate a bit or mine! 

Good night and God Bless,

Gina

Hi,

Today we all went to Yamile’s school to meet her teachers. Her main teacher seems very nice. Got we very good news about her Science teacher though, she is from Colombia, que lindo! Yamile was very pleased about that and went up to her to give her a special hello. What I like best about Yamile’s school is that it is in a small neighborhood, it was packed with families today. Lots of times when other schools in our area have these events no one shows up, but there it was packed!

She is so excited about starting next week. I am too she needs to make friends her own age. Emotionally, she seems to me to be more like a 6 year old than a 9 year old. In some ways she is so responsible in others ways so much like a very young kid.

I am not sure how Jorge will handle school. He wants to go but he will not like hearing no there, that I am sure of. No is a word he does not take kindly to. God love him he is so pouty when he does not get his way. When he is getting his way he is just a riot but the first time you say no he throws a huge tantrum. My ear actually hurt for a few days after he screamed in it last week.

Yes, i know they sound very normal - they are than God.

Good night and God Bless,

Gina

Hi Everyone,

Yup that’s right Yamile is enrolled in school and has been assigned a teacher already. There is an open house tomorrow at 2pm. Jim and I are both hoping to go. I took Yamile today to school and Jim watched Jorge. Jorge really seemed to be having a bit of a difficult day. He refused breakfast and only water to drink water. He went with Jim to U of H and met several of Jim’s colleagues. Jim said he was really shy. He then wanted to swim in the water fountain. I picked him up at about 11:30am. I had to take Jorge and Yamile back to the school because Yamile needed to be tested for bilingual education. We had to wait awhile because the assessor was at lunch. The test went fine. Yamile knows very little English so she qualified. We had to wait to be assigned a teacher though and Jorge was in no mood for. He did not want to sit. He did not want to drink. He did not want to look at his books. He did not want to play with his cars. He wanted to run around Yamile’s school like a silly goose. He started razzing me and refusing to listen. He just was a mess. The woman who assigns the teachers came back after 2pm and we left at about 2:15pm. Jorge was tired, grouchy and very whiney. Yamile was excited and nervous and very shy.

 Yamile can not wait to go to school. I am going to start some bilingual work with them tomorrow- to get them ready for next week. Wish us luck and send us prayers. I don’t think it will be very easy for Jorge!

 Good Night,

Gina

Hi Everybody,

 We have some very exciting news. We received the kids citizenship papers today. It is great. The letter is a plain old form letter but it means to us that our kids are citizens of the good old USA. Now they are truly Colombianos Americanos, kind of like how their mom is Italiano Americano. I know I am very silly. It is so great to have dual citizenship I think. They have two countries to call their own.

Tomorrow, Jorge is going to work with Jim and I am taking Yamile to school for hand in some more papers for her enrollment/registration. She is so excited she can’t wait to start school. I am going to miss her but she needs to make friends and hang out with someone other than Jorge and me. Jorge is excited about school too. For the first week. I am only going to keep him in preschool not the daycare part. I want him to start slow.

Good night and God Bless,

Gina