Happy Birthday Dad.

71 today.

We're heading to Victoria together tomorrow but we had a nice dinner together tonight too because today is the actual Birthday.

School Meet and Greet

Where we heard that Kai sits on the other kids at carpet time and screams OW because they are under him.  Yikes.

We heard nice things too but it's hard to come back from 'he sits on the other kids'.  We know he does because it happens here all the time too.

The class is pretty low functioning and they now have another EA in the classroom.  Perfect year for our boys.

Luk has been picking at his food and trying not to eat and that is playing out at school now too.  He told the teacher he doesn't like mustard.  So he wouldn't have to eat his sandwich on Thursday.  So Eric was told not to send mustard anymore because they don't want to have to scrape it off.  Also a note home about the mustard.  He totally eats mustard no problem. So Little Mister has found a way to get some babying attention at lunch time.  We've NEVER been told what to send in a lunch before. 

Jia is doing great. 

Found out that Kai qualifies for a developmental assessment.  Waiting to hear when that will be.  Sort of unfair to him this early because he's likely to end up with an autism diagnosis but we really don't think he is autistic.  Also, of course he's delayed after four and a half years in an orphanage, too be expected. 

He also qualified as visually impaired and will be getting special services.  Large print, adaptive sports.  I have no clue what they can or will do for him.  Haven't had a meeting yet.

We knew lots of families at the bbq and all of the teachers so there was lots of chatting and laughs.  The littles took off playing.  Kai took a break long enough to eat.  Luk and Jia were quite pleased to be allowed to skip dinner.  Always hard to try forcing a junky hot dog on them as dinner. 

The only one to eat.

All alone on our family blankie at the bbq.

We barely saw Jia.  She was on the move.

Eye Specialist

Finally time for Jia to see the eye specialist and I called ahead and asked if Kai could be seen again with Jia. So we all took off for the day.  I traded Monday flex for today.  Luk, Fei and Lili played hooky. 

Jia's crossed eye has corrected.  No more glasses for Missy!!  Yay.

Kai's eyes are working together.  He can see well and in fine detail up close.  He still needs glasses for distance. There could be some problems with perifreal (sp?) but he is too young to test.  Not many answers as to why he walks into everything,  falls constantly and trips on everything.  Mama gut still says he doesn't see well.

Back for both of them in March for follow ups.

The weather was perfect today.  We hiked a bit in Goldstream. So beautiful in the park.  We had lunch at the Nature House. Then dropped the teens at a mall while we were with the eye Dr. 

We joined them after.  None of us was in the mood to shop.  We had a snack.  Then while Eric and the big girls had coffee I took the littles into the Sweetshop.  They were all so cute about picking candies.  Kai and Luk devoured theirs already on the way home.  Jia's are mostly untouched and we'll likely throw them away in a couple weeks.  Wait until Kai realizes Trick or Treating involves getting candy! 

We went to the water to go for a walk but Jia and Kai haf fallen asleep so we went for a drive instead.  Lili wanted to see Government House so we found that.  We need to go back after the Royals leave so we can look around.  Looks lovely.

Finally to Spaghetti Factory for dinner.  Always a family favorite. 

Love this kid. He was so relaxed. He sure loves to lounge.

They seemed happy to just have their candies to hold and study.

Government House.

Costumes

My thrift store posts pictures every week of the new displays.  Last night Jia was studying the pictures of Halloween costumes.  :)  This morning she wished me luck on shopping.  Too funny.

Sue is still away so Eric came and met me.  We scored.  Got costumes for five of us and Isabel.  Skipped the teens who claim they don't want a costume this year.  How sad is that?! 

Didn't get a picture of Eric, he got a king's red robe. 

We don't think Kai will willingly wear a costume.  We bought a hat so he could be the cat in the hat because he really likes the Cat in the Hat.  He didn't care for the costume.  He looks tortured in the pictures.  He was pretty unhappy about this newest ordeal.  Totally perplexed about Luk and Jia's total delight about being a pirate and a bat.  He was extremely pleased when his costume came off.  I think I'll send him to school in jeans, a plaid shirt and a sheriff's badge, he'll be happy to NOT have a costume.   

The swords don't go with Jia's bat stuff but she's thinking a ninja bat is the way to go here.

I told Jia I was going to be Jafar but she is adamant that I can't because he is a boy.  So, I am definitely going to BE Jafar.

Friday Night

Luk's party.  Sorry couldn't post yesterday.  Every spare minute went to binge watching season 3 of Transparent.

We had fun.  Luk really likes bowling.  He started with the assistance ramp but quickly moved on when he realized he could do it on his own.  Fei totally won with 185!  

We got up yesterday with tons of plans but then settled into a home day.

Some of us watched the Royals.  That was fun. Lili has lots of homework. 

No clue yet what we'll get up to today.

Eric says he ate 40 wontons.  Yikes.  Then he had a serious belly ache the rest of the night. Only picked at his cake.  

Skittles Rainbows.

Starting the Birthday out right with Skittles Rainbows. 

Jia and I tried one last night and it worked beautifully.  This morning it wasn't quite as successful.  The boys just couldn't keep their hands off and the colors ended up blended.  Wish I took the picture last night. 

Luk's Birthday Eve

My baby is turning 5 tomorrow!  I love how excited kids get about their Birthdays.  Kai was super excited for Luk tonight.  So sweet.

We made granola balls for him to share with his friends.  The plan is to ride the train after school.  Meet me, Gramma, Grampa and the big girls for Rock and Glow bowling. Dinner at Lows so he can fill up on wontons. Finally Dad's chocolate cake at home with presents.  Phew.  Will be a full day!

This was either '5 tomorrow' or 'leave me alone, I'm counting'.

Making things official.

Signing adoption petition papers with a notary.  They'll be submitted soon and we should have word that Kai's adoption is official in a few weeks. 

Funny thing...or not so funny...

We were doing our daily next day planning and telling Kai he would come with us to sign papers.  He wasn't keen.  I figured he didn't understand so asked him simply if he wanted to stay with our family.  He very politely said "no thankyou".  Yikes.  Eric asked later if he wanted him as his Daddy and me as his Mommy and he was happy when he said yes.  Phew.  Still no way he knows what is really happening but he's happy and he was pleased to come watch the signing.

Jia and Luk thought it was no fair that Kai got to choose.  So I made up declaration documents for all of us to sign and witness for each other.  Was supposed to be fun and serious.  One of our teens wasn't too interested in the process.  Oh, the drama.  Funny to see the littles take it seriously.  Then we rolled them into a scroll, tied them up with red ribbon and put the documents in the alter box on the mantle.  

The Happy Family Photo.