Catching up...

I know I have been slacking on our blog posting. Time just seems to get away from me and before I know it an entire week or two has passed since my last post. So grab your cuppa coffee or tea and park your self here for a moment so you can catch up!

Monday, we had a bit of a surprise. After several days of warm weather (upper 60's and low 70's) we were blessed with snow flurries! It flurried for a few hours on our side of town and the kids were in heaven. They begged to go outside, so we took a little recess and they ran around in the flurries for awhile like crazy kids as kids do. They had fun even though they couldn't make a snow man or shovel the sidewalk (yeah, right).

We had a long weekend in conjunction with President's Day, and conveniently Valentine's Day fell over the long weekend. Friday we just enjoyed some down time and relaxed around the house - we read, napped, cleaned up the yard and Jim made a couple of lattice dividers to put along the wall so Izzy (our boxer) would quit jumping the wall. That evening, we went to a movie. Patrick took Carson to see Pink Panther and Jim and I saw Gran Torino (Ella Grace was with us and per usual she slept through the movie). Christian stayed at home for some "quiet time" as he calls it. He is just so much like his Grandpa Payne in that respect.

Saturday morning, we were up early for riding lessons at Rio Valley Grande Ranch. We left the house early, made a pit stop to Duncan Donuts and then picked up Grandma Balk before we headed over the mountain. The kids had a great lesson with Heather teaching them (Christian and Carson) how to stand while trotting and then sent them out on a trail ride on their own. Claire was with Ella Grace during her lesson and she has progressed from being led around to trotting on her own with Claire riding beside her. It is amazing to see how far the kids have come in their lessons and how much joy it brings them. After lessons we took a few pictures at the ranch and then we headed out to La Posta in Old Mesilla for lunch. Normally, it is about a 30 minute ride out however, with Jim driving and sightseeing at the same time it took a bit longer. It's okay honey, we loved all the U turns and new roads we found . Once we arrived, it was 'up to an hour wait' for a table. As luck would have it, we were seated in about 20 minutes! We had a delicious meal and then enjoyed some sightseeing walking around the town and popping in and out of each of the quaint little stores. As we headed back home, we stopped at the Stahlman Farms for a quick look at the pecan farms and to see if anything would tease our taste buds at the Stahlman Store. Unfortunately, last year they stopped selling the chile covered pistachios and are sticking strictly to pecans and pecan products now (bummer!) so without a purchase we continued our journey home; but not before we stopped at Chope's (just for Adriana and Roo). Once we arrived back across the mountain, we stopped at Grandma Balk's so she could pick up the heart cake she made before we headed back to our house to share chocolates, cake, and ice cream. Translation....an additional 5 pounds to each hip. That evening, we decided that while we all smelled like we lived in the stables at the ranch, we had a great day together.

The rest of the holiday weekend was quiet and uneventful. Jim and I took in another movie, Bride Wars (thank you honey for watching the chick movie) and we all just spent some time catching up on things we were behind on. We spent time talking, playing games, and planning what we would like to do on spring break. While it will not be sightseeing somewhere in Europe this year we are considering the Grand Canyon, Florida to see family/friends and of course Disneyland or possibly Hawaii.

On Tuesday, we had piano in the early afternoon for C & C and LaLa (Ella Grace). Then in the late afternoon LaLa had a medical appointment. Now, if you remember we did see the doctor when we arrived back in the United States. I was not satisfied with the "physical" he gave to LaLa and he wasn't a pediatrician. So, after much instance and staying on hold for quite awhile the "system" gave in and scheduled us with a pediatric doctor. There is just such a gentleness with doctors who care for children and LaLa needed this. For some reason she just doesn't like going to see the doctor as she kept saying, "No doctor mommy, no doctor. LaLa fine no doctor." I explained to her it was mommy's doctor and mommy's friend and everything was going to be okay. She was still nervous (she picks at her fingers and knuckles when she is nervous) about the visit. Once we arrived, Lisa our nurse, made Ella Grace feel safe and comfortable. She checked her height, weight, and temperature - all was good at 109 cm tall (3' 6.91") and 38 pounds. Not much weight gain for 5 months home but she has grown taller and is very active. She took a bit of history and then we went right in to see Dr. Um. After a complete head to toe check up and tests for an issue Ella Grace has, she was given the green light to enroll in sports, daycare and school. Dr. Um sent consults out for EG to see the optometrist, speech pathologist, and a hearing specialist - we will wait for those appointments to roll in.

Now, back in December we had our 3 month post placement completed. During the visit, it was suggested that in the spring we enroll EG in some type of daycare/mother's day out so she can begin to socialize and begin to share/learn with other children. We have been preparing EG by asking her if she wants to go to school and if she wants to go play with the other kids. She consistently says yes and becomes very excited when we talk about it. So on Thursday, I planned a small trip to the Child Development Center (CDC) on base. I thought a small visit to allow EG to see the inside, see the kids playing, laughing, and meet the care givers of the "hourly" room would be good - for both of us. It did not turn out as I had anticipated. I held her hand as we walked up to the front of the building as I talked to her about school....playing with kids.....this is her school and she would have great fun playing and exploring here. As we signed into the front desk all was well. Then, as we took a guided tour to "her room" we entered the court yard and before we got to the "hourly" room door she began crying BIG crocodile tears. She kept saying she didn't want to go here, didn't want mommy to leave, she loves family and we go home. It broke my heart. She didn't see this as a fun place to spend a couple of hours a week playing. I am hoping with several visits, me staying with her, and time she will come to enjoy a couple of hours a week alone with other children.

Thursday, we took the day of from schooling and took a field trip to the Lynx Exhibit of Robots. We had so much fun playing with the hands on experiences and we were present when the contract was signed for the next exhibit - but it is a secret, for now!

Christian and Carson had their first soccer game tonight (Thursday) and it was cold, crisp and fun! We watched them running from one end of field to the other at full speed. In the end, we lost the game but we won in the fun category. We celebrated with a trip out to Applebee's for dinner.

The youth center experience was much different than that of the CDC for Ella Grace. My goal today was to enroll Ella Grace is some type of activity. We are too late for soccer season and baseball/T-Ball enrollment has not started. So after reviewing the list of options and crossing off about 80% of them we decided on ballet twice a week. She was absolutely thrilled. She was clapping, smiling and jumping up and down. She loves music and dancing. Maybe this is her niche. Next week I am going to venture over to the indoor pool for possible swimming lessons for her. She loves the water and has no fear, but she cannot swim. Not a good mix for summer time pool adventures.

This was also then end of another 6 weeks of schooling. Patrick studied for multiple exams and prepared for his debate competition on Friday. He won! He will head back on Saturday (today) for another competition and if he wins he will move on to nationals.

Well, that about wraps up our time lapse. Now that you have read this long post, click on comments and leave us a note so we have some reading to do. Come back soon!



Melissa teaching Christian piano



Ella with Dr. Um



Robotic arms at work



Snowing in El Paso, Texas



Soccer action with the boys



Patrick horsing around