Clothes

Today started out rainy so it changed our plans.  I decided it was time to change the girls clothes over to long pants instead of shorts.  I had bought some size 5 pants and they are way too big.  Sasha can still wear the 3T pants she was wearing last spring.  With the pullups off and regular panties on, it gives you about another 1/2 size of room in the pants.  The 4t are just a little loose on Sasha, but fit ok around the waist.  Sadly, they are way too long- like 3 inches too long.  Leeza can fit into some of the 3t and the 4Ts fit good.  The ones from walmart are the right length.  The ones from target or kohls are about 1 1/2 inches too long.  So I have a lot of hemming to do on pants.  Both girls are wearing size 4t tops.  Leeza has some size 5 that she wears.  Leeza wears size 5 in dresses though for some reason.  I bought a lot of size 5 tops as I was thinking the girls would be growing like mad still.  They are still growing, but it seems it is at a more normal pace now.  On the growth charts, Leeza is within a few percentages of 50% of normal height and weight which means she is right where she is suppose to be(50% of kids her age are taller and 50% are shorter).  Sasha is closer to 60% on weight, but only 25% on height.  She is just going to be shorter.  When they came home, Leeza was at 20% height and 10% weight and Sahsa was at 10% weight and 5% height so they both have caught up really well this past year. 

Leeza is ready for winter in her new pretty pink coat and boots.  This is really cute in person.  It is a little big still(size 5) but should fit well by winter.  The coat is styled to be long.  So if you are wondering why no Sasha picture, let's just say this is not the style for her.  I will get her a good coat soon, but it need to be a different one.  The boots are size 9 and fit well.  Sasha is now in a size 8 shoe-at least her feet are growing!

Leeza finally passed a hearing test Friday!  Yea!  This was her 3rd test and we were going to have to start the rounds of doctors again if she didn't pass, but she did.  I tried to take her to the eye doctor and that was a disaster.  Sasha did really well though and she has good eyesight though maybe a little far sighted(no need for glasses though).  Leeza refused to cooperate with the Dr and didn't want anything to do with anything that day. 

Sunday

The girls are getting to the point where I can go in the kitchen to cook while they play in the living room.  They normally check in every few minutes to see what I am up to.  This Sunday, they were playing with their shopping carts going between the play room and living room.   So I went in the kitchen to start supper.  They have a stuffed bee that plays the song " How sweet is is to be loved by you" when you press his foot.  I heard chatter and them repeatedly playing the song so I figured they were having a good time.  After about 10 minutes, I got worried since they hadn't popped into the kitchen and went to find them.  When I got to the play room, there they were- completely naked dancing on the bed right in front of the window with the blinds pulled up!  When I asked them where their clothes were, Sasha just giggled.  Leeza had her plan ready(she always has a plan) and told me they had gotten wet.  Well, when you put them in the bathroom sink, yes, they do get wet! 

Pumpkin Picking

We went to Arthur today to the Great Pumpkin Patch to get or pumpkins.  Leeza had a great time pulling Sasha around in the wagon.  That girl is strong!  I'm glad I didn't have to pull the wagon all day.

This is the Pumpkin house.

They had tractor wagon rides that went about the field and circled the corn maze. Sasha had fun on her ride.

Leeza was busy plotting which pumpkin she was going to pick.

She was happy when I told her we were going to go pick our pumpkins before we left.

Off they go.  Sasha got to ride most of the day.  Leeza was very tired when we were done as she pulled the wagon for hours

Sasha did pull for a while- about 20 ft!  then Leeza took over again.

They had lots of different displays to look at and several mazes. We went through 3 mazes.  We did not do the Big maze as it was a really long walk and took quite a while.

This is a choo choo train display.

Leeza finally got into the field and she was off searching for the perfect pumpkin.

This is the one Sasha picked out. 

They tried really hard, but mama had to break the stem and carry the pumpkins to the wagon.

Sasha thinks that was a lot of work!

Now we have to pull them back to the entrance and pay for them.  Leeza finally gave up pulling the cart.  It was heavy with 3 pumpkins in it.  (leeza picked one out for Mama also so I got to have a pumpkin too.  Mine is the little one of course)

Then we hit the  ice cream stand.  We had already had pumpkin cookies, but needed some ice cream.  Leeza had vanilla as she didn't like pumpkin.

Sasha had pumpkin ice cream.  Can you tell?  She really enjoyed it and it was really orange colored!

Updates

Last weekend was so busy that I didn't plan anything for this weekend.  Sometimes we just need a weekend to regroup and hang out.  Last weekend we had Our company annual picnic on Saturday and on Sunday they had a special day at the zoo.  At the company picnic, we got our arms painted with flowers.  It was suppose to be the face, but we weren't quite that brave.  Then Sasha got some cotton candy(it was circus theme), but Leeza didn't want any(she does not like sweets).  After that we went and got our pictures taken in the circus tent(should have pictures in another week or so).  Then after the first potty stop of the day, we went went to the mobile zoo. There we got to pet a ferret, hedgehog, snake and look at a bunny and owl who were still in their cages.

This snake is always out at all the zoo events so we have gotten to pet it before.  Grandma loves this photo-Ha!  I think she thinks the snake is going to eat the girls.

THe raptor club was there also and we got to see the hawks.  The girls were scared to pet them as the birds do not look kind or gentle so we just took a picture.

Then we went over to the fun area where we went in 2 different bounce houses.  One was a big pumpkin, but I never took any photos.    They also had a tunnel you could crawl through, but Leeza refused to go in adn Sasha came right back out saying it was scary.  We also tried the inflatable obstacle course, but the hills were too tall to climb.  WE then went to eat where Ronald McDonald was suppose to be.  He had just left.  I guess Ronald only stays 2 hours and people told me he was a really old Ronald anyway.  After that we went and Sasha sat in the firetruck, but did not want to push the siren as it was too loud.  They both got fireman badges and hats. Sasha played fireman for the rest of the day.

Then we ran around the dance area for about an hour wearing out Mama and several other people.  We all got to take a bus back to the parking lot so Sasha was really happy she finally got to ride in a bus.  She is jealous of Leeza riding the bus everyday.

Sunday, we went to Grandparents day at the zoo.  They were able to pet the same hedgehog, snake and ferret again.  They also got to pet a HUGE camel.  I couldn't take a picture while we were petting it, but this is the next family petting it.

His name is Seymour and he is really nice.  His feet are huge.  His fur was very soft.  We also got to pet a baby alligator which was fun.  Leeza was not sure about that one.  Sasha won a free train ride while playing chicken bingo(you get a number and if the chicken poops on it, you win).  We rode the train which we do every visit.

Here we all are riding the train.  This time Sasha got her face painted with a rainbow and Leeza had her upper arm painted with a rainbow.  They also went up to the clown and got balloon animals made for them.  Sasha got a puppy and Leeza got a butterfly.  THis picture was about one minute before Leeza popped her butterfly balloon.  Sasha's lasted until we were almost home than she popped it.  The little kid behind us had his lips painted at the face painting area.  Why his mom allowed this-I don't know, but it looked bad.

After all the activities, we rode the carousel on the way out.  They always take a while to warm up to it, but like it once it starts up. 

No naps either day so it was a long weekend. This weekend we had naps both days and they went to sleep fairly easily.  Mama likes naptime.  I took a nap also!

My girls

What can I say!  They are so precious!  How cute can you be?!?

Busy week

I've been busy and getting behind in posting lately.  Both Leeza and Sasha changed rooms at day care.  Sasha went into the group that Leeza was in (older 2 and young 3s).  Leeza moved up into the older 3 group.  She now eats in the cafeteria for breakfast, but still eats in her room for lunch.  It just makes a noisey morning since the 4 year olds are also now there.  She is handling it well.  We also had open house at school Thrusday after work.  Leeza had fun showing off her class room and Sasha threw a fit when it was time to leave.  She really wants to go to school like Leeza does.  She won't qualify for Pershing school and is too young for the regular preschool at daycare so no school for Sasha for at least a year.  She is doing really well and learning quickly.  Leeza is doing good and making progress in all areas except colors.  SHe can tell white and yellow, but has a really hard time with blue, green, red , and purple.  I still wonder if she is color blind.  I guess she is too young to confirm anything yet. 

We have been doing a lot of swimming although it is more like lots of time spent filling the pool and running around with the hose and not much actual swim time.

Sasha was telling me a very dramatic story last weekend

It involved a lot of dramatic movements and a lot of explanations(that I couldn't understand)

And ended with her counting something.  Not sure what she was counting, but she was very emphatic about it.

The girls have had a lot of fun on their swings this summer.  I think we will use them some in the winter time also when the weather is not too bad.

No this is not a prison photo.  They use their play house as a kitchen.  I get a lot of imaginary food brought to me to eat while we are outside.

I went to WalMart to get a cake for our 1 year since court celebration.  They had this one with pink and purple swirls with day glow orange trim.  I figured the girls would love the colors.

Sasha loves cake.  The ice cream wasn't bad either.

Leeza liked the ice cream.  She really doesn't like sweets so the cake wasn't her favorite.

Saturday, the girls got their haircut.  Leeza loves getting her hair cut.  I think it looks good on her.

Sunday, we went to the zoo.  This is their favorite exhibit(along with the monkeys).  Yes, those are guniea pigs.  They also liked the llama at the petting zoo, but Sasha is still afraid of the goats in there- they tend to mob you if they think you have food.

Here we are violating zoo rules- sticking our fingers through the fence to pet the turtle.

One year ago today

One year ago today, I wsa standing nervously in a small court room on the second floor of the courthouse in Shymkent while I was questioned by the judge, the prosecuter, and the Ministry officials.  After about 30 minutes of translated questions and answers, the judge smiled and said something in Kazakh.  My translator turned to me and said-the judge has said congratulations you are a mama!  I still had to wait another 7 1/2 weeks before I coould have my girls home, but that was the day I officially became a mommy.

This is the doctor from the baby house and me in front of the Courthouse after it was over.  The doctor had to come and testify that she felt I would be a good mother to my girls.  The girls loved her and would always light up whenever they saw her.  I was so relieved in this picture that the whole court process was over.