2 1/2 Week Update

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MY PERSONAL BLOG ON 7/24/09

I can't believe we've been home 2 1/2 weeks. Wow, how time flies!! Is it bad that I feel like a stranger on my own blog? I am backlogged with photos to post, so this one is going to be full. You know, I have to post for the Grandmas. :)

Kara is doing great. We continue to have occassional small issues - mostly stemming from the inability to communicate, which leads to misunderstanding - but she is doing amazingly well. She really is a sweet, smart and happy girl. I am still working on adjusting to life with three kids, but each day seems to get better. The jealousy issues have probably been toughest, as they are all trying to get my undivided attention and it's impossible to hold three seperate conversations at once, although they believe that I should be capable of doing so.

Here are some highlights from the past two weeks:
(By the way, I have really had problems with Flickr tonight. Please let me know if any of the photos aren't posting.)
- The girls finished the five-day evening soccer camp at our church and had such a great time. Leila has had three weeks of competitive soccer camp this summer, but this camp was all about the girls having fun and playing the sport - no matter what their skill level. And the coach and his daughters (one pictured below) were just amazing. Kara absolutely loved having a soccer camp to go to every night.

- Nolan and Leila go to the driving range most weekends and he has taken Kara three times since returning home. While Kara hit balls, she kept an eye on Leila during her lessons and imitated what the instructor showed Leila, thus improving her swing in such a short time. Even though she doesn't understand the words, she is great at paying attention to the details and trying to mimic things herself. The instructor spent 15-minutes with Kara last weekend and decided that she could understand enough by watching and repeating the motions, that she and Leila can start sharing lessons. Kara is very excited about this, and this is a great bonding thing for Nolan and the two older girls to do. We all five headed there on Sunday after church, so even Mia got to join in.

- The girls had swim lessons all week. Leila moved up to a level 7, and Kara and Mia each swim a short distance before they start sinking. All three girls love the water. Kara and Mia continue with private lessons next week, so hopefully they will be swimming on their own soon.

- We went back to the splash park today to meet up with Mia's China play group. I think the big girls like Mia's little friends just as much as Mia does. :)

- Kara's ESL classes seem to be going really well. I am really glad we decided to call in some experts on this, as it will be a tremendous help to get her prepared for school - in less than five weeks! Yikes!!

- The girls have VBS next week. I can't wait to see how Kara does. I really think she is going to like it - especially the singing and dancing part. She loves to sing and dance! I can't wait until she can understand the real message, though.

That's all for now.... Have a great weekend!