I can't believe it's.....

I can't believe it's been nearly 2 months since my last posting. So much has happened, so many firsts and yet so common.

First let me say all is well with the family. We've just been enjoying getting to know one another. I've come to realize that, although we love these children with all our hearts, it's still a matter of blending 4 personalities, very strong personalities together. It's like being in a relationship, starting with the introduction, and trying to make it work. A little harder to mold their personalities when they're older, and not starting at a younger age :). However, we're committed to the end.

Now, a few firsts:

* I came to realize how much my daughter trusts me. When we first came together, she would never let me brush her hair. Said it hurt, even though when she brushed her hair, she would literally smack the brush against her head and rip it thru her hair. Then it slowly became the routine that I would brush her hair in the morning and at night. But just the other day, when Grandma offered to brush her hair, she said "no I want mama to do it". she trusts me, she really trusts me.

* As you know, they've experienced their first day of school, but now they've had their first progress report and are doing great. Kasia is doing above expected. Bartek is holding his own and getting B's & C's in his classes. Not bad for a 5th grade boy who's only been speaking English for the past 2 1/2 months. Both of them are doing great with their English. They still speak Polish to one another, but unfortunately they're forgetting some of it. I'm going to have to figure out a way to help them save it. Even though Bartek says he doesn't like Poland any more. This saddens me. But I know he's trying to fit in.

* They've had their first trick-or-treating experience. They knew what Halloween was and had experienced it in Poland but, never trick-or-treating. It took me 2 weeks to make both their costumes, but I managed to finish in time, even though I worked on them right up to the night they went out.

* We took our first road trip (20 hours in a pick-up) together, to Wisconsin. Where they met my dad for the first time, some aunts & uncles, and many cousins. Not all of them yet, but the majority of them.

* They experienced their first Colorado snowfall (2 feet in a 24 hour period).

* Their first s'mores. We couldn't camp outside so we had movie night where we all slept in our sleeping bags on the family room floor and watched movies and made s'mores in the fireplace.

* And, of course their first Thanksgiving!

Well, I think that's it or now. We're very thankful to all our firsts, and the fact that we're finally together as a family. Many blessings to all our new and old friends, and families. And just in case we don't make it back again for another 2 months, a very Merry Christmas and Happy Chanuka!