Grandpa and Grand-Je's House

On the way home from Williamsburg, we got a little nuts. Here is Luci with her Happy Meal Helmet on...
Bryan entertained Grand-Je and me with some songs...
Luci picked a daffodil and wanted it in her hair...
And JT tried out the doggy-door.
John, Bryan, Luci, Suzi (the dog! not me) and Grandpa put together an umbrella...
Luci was not happy that Daddy didn't follow the directions.
But the umbrella works anyway--as you can see, it folded up nicely on JT.
Luci wanted to re-plant her daffodil and Grand-Je helped her.
We loved seeing John's folks. Thank you, Willinghams for the hospitality!

My Little Beauty

Today at Historic Jamestown

Williamsburg, part 3 (I think)

Today we meandered around Williamsburg with four sites as "must-sees": The Governor's Palace, The Randolph House, The Silverworks, and The Gunsmith Shop. Here are some shots from today:

The Silversmith: A ladel in several stages of creation.

The Woods, our friends from home who are on this Homeschool Field Trip of a lifetime with us. There are about 20 other families from home here, too. The Woods are some of our best friends. Bryan has hung out with Bradley (sometimes they let JT play Risk and Monopoly with them) and Luci has hung out with Rachel. John and I have enjoyed the adult conversation with Barry and Diane.

Our kids at lunch time. Yes, Bryan is wrestling with Luci. sigh.

Luci's preferred mode of transportation.

Some "learnin' stuff" at the Randolph House.

From The Governor's Palace. Luci could relate to all of the finery, not because "I am going to be a princess, Mommy," but because she could quite easily imagine Cinderella living here.

More Cinderella-type-stuff in the Governor's Palace.

Tired Bryan waiting for everyone else to catch up.

At the beginning of our day, Luci followed the map. What impressed me is that she had the map right-side-up.

Oops! Some horsey left something!

Luci-isms

Luci and JT at Jamestown Settlement. It was cold! Warm again today, though.


Heard yesterday, as Luci told someone her name:

I'm Willingham.

That's like Ham and Cheese.

I like cheese.

Williamsburg

Today was our first day to explore Colonial Williamsburg. Here are some shots of the kids. No particular order. They have not been touched up--I just wanted to get them on here quickly so the grandparents could see their babies. More on the actual sites, the group we are here with, and the family who we are spending so much time with, in a later post. (Sorry, Mom, that the prepositions are in the wrong places. I need a "whom" in there, too, but it does not sound like me when I write like that, so I'm leaving it out.)

Luci got lots of nice attention wearing her "President's Wife Dress." She really acted the lady (sometimes). This is not one of those times. That is Luci bending over with her knees all akimbo, playing in the rocks.

The character actors are wonderful. We learned so much by talking to them. It is more "Painless Learning" (learning so fun that you don't realize at the time that your brain is getting smarter).
JT got this toy--"guaranteed to leave children speechless." Because talking while trying to put the ball on the stick messes you up! The game is called Bilbo Catcher.
This was printed in 1483. Yes, 1483! On sheepskin. Amazing. It looks as good as if it were printed yesterday. Even JT was impressed!
What happens when you aim a gun at a girl?

She aims back!

Bryan's find. He was busy filming all day, wanting to make his own Patriot Story. (I promise I won't tell him he was learning today!! He filmed every speech, every fife and drum corps we saw.) When he was younger, he kept me busy making costumes for the many characters we read about. Now he wants me to make him an outfit "just like George Washington's."
Luci wanted a hat.
Pretty cute, huh?

Luci saw the carriages and you know what she asked...So she and I got a ride.
We went on a tour for kids and had a wonderful guide. At one point, he had the boys bowing and the girls bobbing right back.
Some boy must've made a face at her!
One day I will get a shot of the kids and they will all be looking the same direction. And smiling.
Luci saw a photo of what she thought was a parade in one of the brochures. "Mama, I have to be in one of those parades!" So, as the children followed the guide on the kids' tour, Luci was in 6th Heaven (7th Heaven was the carriage ride). Luci is holding hands with Rachel.
Running across the street as the boys look at the cobbler's shop.


End of the day! That's Rachel at the end of the bench.
Poor Luci. That was really not the end of the day. We went back to the van and ate our picnic lunch. Then back for the Citizens at War show. Amazing. Or perhaps Phenomenal is a better word.

Williamsburg!

We are finally here. 2 days in the van, the kids got along almost all the time (miracle!). Stopped half-way at the inlaw's house (how convenient for us that they live almost exactly half-way between our house and Williamsburg!) and had a nice visit and lots of good food. It was good to see Mom and Dad W and John's sisters Ellen and Marie, and Ellen's husband, Gary. I'm sure they all liked seeing us, too.

The resort we are staying in is lovely. We are with a group of homeschool families from home who have been studying the start of our great country this year. What a wonderful way to cap off the year with this fabulous trip. I should say "phenomenal" since that is one of the favorite words of one of the mom-leaders here. John was cracking up at the "informative get-together" this morning. The word "phenomenal" was said sixteen times at least, describing different events in Colonial Williamsburg alone.

John drove the entire way here. Totally strange to me. I am used to driving MY van. I sat in the middle row of seats with Luci, while Bryan sat up front with John, and JT manned the back row with the chocolate chip cookies. Which may explain why the kids got along--the boys were as far apart from each other as they could get, and JT had the chocolate in those cookies to mollify him.

I did get to drive this morning, though. I went to pick up our tickets at Jamestown Settlement. So strange that it's only 4.1 miles (or something like that) from our resort, and the furthest thing we are seeing this whole week is Yorktown--a total of 14.6 miles from here! Just going from our home in Alabama to town (which means YMCA, Walmart or church) is 15 miles at least. So much in so little space here. Sort of like the Genie in Aladdin [PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWERS!(there's that word again!) itty-bitty living space!]

I also went back to the grocery store (I love Ukrops! wish we had one back home) and my bag boy is a descendant of the first map-maker in America (that would be Robert Tyndall, maps and info here). All of this closeness and old-ness is amazing to me, who grew up in Texas and Idaho, where everything is brand-new in comparison. I would probably be speechless sight-seeing in Europe or Asia. Which might be a good choice for John if he wants to holiday with me, yet be in peace, too. ha ha

I read most of a book on the second day that I thought would explain JT to me. Strong-Willed Child or dreamer? by Dr Dana Scott Spears & Dr. Ron L. Braund It does describe JT. I am thrilled to find this book (you might even say it's phenomenal). It also describes ME. I love this book. I told John a little about it, that this book is me all over. I have always felt like a failure in friend-making, but this book describes the dreamer, and it's just that my thoughts are always elsewhere. Part of the blurb on the back cover says: "She craves praise and positive attention, yet refuses to conform to what's expected." Aha! Someone who understands. John said, "Yup. You and JT are just alike."

A good book, great if you think your strong-willed child does not really fit the "strong-willed" characteristics that you are familiar with in James Dobson's theory of strong-willed and compliant children.

Photos later!

Silent Tears by Kay Bratt

Silent Tears, a book by Kay Bratt, is being re-released soon. Kay is giving away FOUR of her books in 2 weeks. Here are the details:

16 more days until the launch of Silent Tears Encore edition. Therefore, if you want to be in the drawing to win a copy, here's the scoop: Go to this blog post, linked here, and comment on the blog post. Then...post the link on your Facebook or your own blog. FOUR (4) winners will be drawn on Friday!

Here is the amazon.com synopsis:

Irrepressible memories. Vacant eyes. A child being dangled from a third story window. A boy tied to a chair. Children sleeping in layers of clothing to fight off the bitter cold. An infant dying from starvation. Some things your mind will never allow you to forget.

Silent Tears is the true story of the adversity and triumphs one woman faced as she fought against the Chinese bureaucracy to help that country’s orphaned children.

In 2003, Kay Bratt’s life changed dramatically. A wife and mother of two girls in South Carolina, Bratt relocated her family to rural China to support her husband as he took on a new management position for his American employer. Seeking a way to fill her days and overcome the isolation she experienced upon arriving in a foreign country, Bratt began volunteering at the local orphanage. Within months, her simple desire to make use of her time transformed into a heroic crusade to improve the living conditions and minimize the unnecessary deaths of Chinese orphans.

Silent Tears traces the emotional hurdles and daily frustrations faced by Ms. Bratt as she tried to change the social conditions for these marginalized children. The memoir vividly illustrates how she was able to pull from reservoirs of inner strength to pursue her mission day after day, leaving the reader with the resounding message that everyone really can make a difference.

Ice Skating

Today was a homeschool ice skate day at Point Mallard's skate rink. Here are some shots.
Love those red cheeks!

Bryan spent a lot of time actually running on the ice. I don't see how he manages that.

The best part of the day? That I got to stay home! John graciously gave me a break today.

Well, maybe he heard the desperation in my voice, since I was begging him to take over for me for a day. I love my children. I really do. I love homeschooling. I really do. But. (and you knew there was a but coming) But the boys wear me down so much! One of the things you get when you homeschool is a constant presence of whatever sibling clash is in your home. If the kids went to a school outside our home, they would be around other kids (and not around me), so there would not be the 14-hour-a-day ragging that they do to each other. The other 8 hours is nighttime, in separate rooms. Thank Goodness for separate rooms!

Seen on a Door in our House

Yes, but who is the culprit?
Can you tell from this second photo?

My sin: this child was supposed to clean up the laundry room (shake out rugs, sweep and arrange the shoes nicely).

We Speak Normal

Luci can count some in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Normal.

On to Williamsburg!

We are going to visit Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown this spring. I am so excited! A group of homeschool families from here are making the trek. This has been such an interesting study here at home, and at a homeschool co-op class the boys are attending. I've especially enjoyed the study because history (US, World, Ancient--all types, really) has been my worst subject all through my own schooling. That's one of the best things about homeschooling: you learn right along with your children.

Of course going to such an historical place would be more fun if you have appropriate attire! So Luci plotted, and I planned, this PINK gown:


Luci called it her "President Wife" outfit. So, I asked her to pose like a President's wife:

I loved it! Hands on hips, ready to tell the Leader of the Free World just what he's got to do here at home to make the wife happy.

(Mom: Did you notice the pineapple? Just right for posing next to, when you are dressed for Williamsburg, don't you think?)

This dress still needs hemming. The pattern calls for lace at the end of the sleeves and at the hem, plus a bow on the ruffle of the sleeve, but Luci does not want that at all. So, risking an unfinished dress, I decided to not put on those details even though hunting for the trims took longer than finding the pattern and the pink material in the first place. I want her to wear this! If it's not "just right" in her eyes, it will remain in the closet. Oh--and I need to make the shawl and mop cap. That's what I get to do tomorrow afternoon.

It was so much fun sewing today. Even when I put the skirt on the bodice inside out and had to take it all apart. I hate ripping out stitches! But I actually enjoyed my day, even with that. Luci has been at her clingiest with bronchitis, and she let me sew. She played Playhouse Disney on my computer, at the table with me, as I worked. I have not sewed in a long time, because I haven't been able to focus on the task while Luci demanded attention. This gives me such hope for making Luci pretty dresses in the near future! She loves dresses, but the ones for her age group are, well, tacky. They are way too skimpy for my taste, too grown-up, too sexually oriented for me to buy for my young daughter. (And I refuse to buy that stuff when she's older, too.)

If I hit the sales at the mall stores, pretty, modest dresses can be found--but I have to buy for next year to be able to afford things...and, as Luci has done in the past, what she loved at shopping time she did not like at all when it came time to wear the clothes. Wasted money!

Here's the pattern: Simplicity 3725, view D














We are in Volume V, Chapter 1 of our Weaver Unit studies. What great timing, as this chapter covers US History from Columbus through the American Revolution. Some of our resources (but certainly not all) are KIDS DISCOVER Magazines (thanks, Mom and Dad for the subscription!), The Light and the Glory for Children, and If you lived in Williamsburg in Colonial Days. There have been quite a few more books from the library that I can't recall off the top of my head right now.

Can you tell...

that Luci likes her cheesecake with blueberry topping? All homemade, of course!

Mom--I used your Royal Cheddar Cheesecake recipe that you got from Family Circle's November 1966 magazine. It's still a great cheesecake!

I'm doin' my Skoo-Work!

Luci has been ill the past few days with congestion and a fever. What does she do when the fever finally breaks? She gets out one of our Childcraft books (Volume 4, in case you are interested) and starts copying poetry. At 9:30 at night. What a funny kid.

What a Difference

One of the families in our Guizhou yahoo group (Guizhou being the Chinese province that Luci is from) posted a link to a video of their daughter's first few months with them. This daughter was adopted at age 8 months (1 1/2 months younger than Luci was when we got her).

I cried when I watched this hand-over from one family to another. This baby was in foster care from the time she was found until adoption. Luci was in the orphanage from the day she was found until her adoption.

Why the tears? Because this little girl looked so much like Luci except that she was well-nourished and was doing all the normal things 8-month-old babies do. Like sitting up. Rolling over. On her belly, pushing up, as if doing a push-up. Crawling. From lying down, putting herself into a sitting position. Picking up bits of food and putting them into her mouth. Sitting up nicely on the Red Couch at The Swan without slumping over. And looking so healthy with those chubby cheeks and legs!


Luci was so different. Such a stick-figure, and very poor muscle tone. How much brain development was missed by having such meager food and attention? And grieving for her for the lack of love lavished on her those 9-and-a-half months. Other than the physical differences, these two girls look a lot alike!


Luci, home for just one week. She pushed herself into a sitting position, for the first time ever, all by herself...at age 10 months exactly. You can see just how skinny she is. Nothing "extra" on this little girl, at all!


But heartened, as another blog friend said in one of her posts, we are "Plan B" for Luci. (Thanks, "Snapshot.") This mom tells better than I can here that God's "Plan A" for children is to be taken care of by their parents, by the families to which they are born. For some reason, Luci was not able to stay where she was. Was she a daughter when they wanted a son? Was it in-laws who pressured them into abandoning this precious little girl? Was she child number 2 after child number 1 was a daughter also? Was she half Buyi and half Miao (she looks so Miao to me but the orphanage director was adamant that Luci is Buyi), and that mixed heritage is the reason?

Whatever the reason, John and I are happy, deliriously so, to be Luci's "Plan B."

Luci two weeks ago. A lovely, healthy little girl who knows she is loved.

Luci-isms

stink: a spot that gets on your clothes, as in I want an apron so when I cook I won't get a stink on my clothes.

mommies: those things in Egypt that can be found in pyramids.

Normal: a language, as in In Mexico, they speak Spanish. In America, they speak "Normal."