Show Choir Season

Midwest Cup//That's What's Up

It's show choir season.  Chase's choir, "Resonance" competed last Saturday in the Midwest Cup at the University of Nebraska here in Lincoln.  We have this Saturday off, then we have or host competitions every Saturday through the end of February. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm a wear school colors and a button with my son's picture on it-kind of mom.  We spent about 14 hours at the competition last weekend.  We came away with 3rd place and debuted a ballad that, quite literally, brought people to tears.  It's going to be a good year... if Chase can be a good sport!  Show Choir is an area where you can tell if even one or two people haven't put in the time in rehearsal.  When you get a group of choirs that are all within shooting distance of the Grand Champion title, you can't say, "Well, we deserve this because we work hard." or "We want it more!" They all work hard and they all want it, and they're all leaving it all out there on the stage.  So, show choir turns out to be a good place to learn life lessons like saying "congratulations" when someone else is walking away with the 6-ft trophy that you really wanted, OR smiling when they have to stop you in the middle of your show because the microphones aren't working.  It's a place where you join with hundreds of others in singing "Hey, Baby" and "Sweet Caroline" just because you have a few minutes to kill, and you know that everyone will want to join in singing.  It's a place where alumni of the group come to cheer this year's group, and moms from different choirs share stories of the costs involved in having multiple kids in show choir.  I call it the "Show Choir Universe" because it's a world all unto itself.  And, I love it.  Here we go.

Revisiting December

Here are a few of my favorite shots from December. 

 We enjoyed an evening hosted by a good friend for her Christmas album release.  Note to self:  Have a professional photographer at any future gathering.

Hayden and Julia pose after the football season wrap-up concert.  Or should I say, marching band season wrap-up concert.

 Daniel was thrilled by our first big snowfall, but I don't think he realized just how cold it could be outside. Once we had him outfitted in snow pants and boots, he ventured out. A few days later, however, he told me that he liked it better when it was warm. Snow is one thing, but he's missing out on a lot of neighborhood football games.

 We celebrated Christmas at my sister's house and Isaac was able to come home from Denver.  Here he's taking Daniel and Madyson through the "Food Network" magazine.  Later he impressed us with one of his own dessert creations.

A moment of peace and love between brother and sister on Christmas morning.  As Whit commented, "We really do love each other."
This has actually been a really cool thing about Whit being in high school.  We've seen a closeness develop between her and Chase. 
Next week we move into "Show Choir Mode" as the season kicks off with a competiton here in Lincoln.  I LOVE show choir season.  It will pass too quickly.  I take my knitting bag and settle in for a full day of watching choir after choir. 
I guess I have nothing deep to share today.  We've settled into a new normal since Daniel's arrival six months ago.  That, in itself, seems like a huge accomplishment.

Okay, Fine Lisa Gard!

So, my bff noticed that I hadn't posted since September.  A lot has happened since then, but blogging... not so much.  We did manage to get the entire family into the same photo during our Thanksgiving celebration.  This will also be on our Christmas card since all six of us in the same room is a rarity.  That is quite sad, actually.  Daniel's arrival and the busyness that has surrounded that has taken some of the sting out of Hayden's move out of the house.  (His laundry still shows up once a week, so there's that...)

Thanksgiving weekend we also had THIS going on.

Which, of course, meant we were eating THIS.  For the non-Ethiopian food-educated among us, that is a very traditional meal.  We are blessed to have the African Restaurant in Lincoln.  They make food that Daniel simply loves.  It's all about presentation, wouldn't you agree?

Our boy turned seven. It was interesting to see a birthday through his eyes.  Approaching the birthday, he asked questions like, "Who blows out the candles?" The owner of the above-mentioned restaurant said that birthdays aren't celebrated in Ethiopia.  They might be casually mentioned, but not celebrated.  Because Daniel had no expectations, he was thrilled with the day.  We kept it intentionally low-key.  The day before had been Thanksgiving with its hype, food, crowd, etc.  On his birthday, he opened his gifts (A #3 Husker jersey was a big hit.), watched the Big Red beat Iowa, played football with his neighbors, went to eat Ethiopian food, and ate cake.  Happy Birthday, Daniel.

Daniel's six-month-home mark will be December 15.  It's amazing how quickly the time has gone and yet how much a part of our family he has become.

Okay, Lisa.  There it is.

Sometimes You Have to be a Bad Parent to be a Good Parent

This morning was one of those mornings.  The mornings that I just know I'm being judged and found wanting by Daniel's teacher and the other adults that saw Daniel at school.

It began with me being in the lead in the board game we were playing before school.  Daniel and I were the only ones home.  He won the first game by a large margin.  I was leading the second game, so Daniel decided to stop trying.  Then he decided to stop playing all together.  I put the game away.  Then, when I wasn't looking, he hid his glasses.  After I won that short battle of wills, we started getting ready to walk out the door for school.

I asked him if he wanted to go outside and see if he needed a jacket.  

"No jacket."

"It's chilly; you might want to check."

"No jacket."

"Okay, well how about I put your jacket in your backpack just in case you change your mind later."

"No.  No jacket to school."

So, we went to school without any jacket.  As we approached the drop-off area, I mentioned to Daniel that everyone was wearing jackets.  He looked at me with very wide eyes.  Possibly considering for the first time that his punishing me for winning the board game might come back to haunt him.

"Bye Daniel.  Have a good day at school.  I love you."

What did his teacher think when he showed up in 50-degree weather without a jacket?  I'll never know as I hope to refrain from defending myself at Parent/Teacher Conferences in a few weeks.  We'll see if I can win that internal battle of wills.  

I would much rather that Daniel win this battle today when it's 50 degrees if it allows me to win the war when it's 30 degrees.  I'll keep you posted.

Daniel, Chase and Cleo

With Uncle Brian at Rachel's wedding.  Daniel was very impressed with both the Chinese buffet and the candy.

 

Cousins.  Yep, family gatherings are going to be very interesting for awhile.

9 Weeks Home

Daniel and Mrs. Olsen

 

Daniel and Uncle Brian

Daniel has been home 9 weeks, and one of the things I've learned is that I'm not a very good blogger.  I often think about doing it, but don't seem to actually sit down and do it!
Overall, everything about our transition is going very well.  We're still struggling with his pouting, but we always remind ourselves that pouting is much better than a tantrum.
Daniel started school on Tuesday.  We started with about 2 hours and 15 minutes/day.  On Friday, we let him stay all day.  Due to various doctors appointments next week, he will miss Monday and Thursday, but we'll probably go all day the other three days.  He really likes it, so far.  I wish the excitement he feels for school now could last a LONG time.

Home One Month. How did we celebrate?

What Daniel will most-likely recall about recent days, unfortunately, probably isn't the fun birthday party of my great-niece and great-nephew. He'll probably remember his first visit to the doctor. Six "sticks" tend to stick in the mind of a six-year old. He's about in the 10th percentile for both height and weight, but the pediatrician was quick to point out that the scale is based on American and western European norms. His TB skin test will be read tomorrow, but he sent us for a chest X-ray, anyway. Oh, did I forget to mention that I get to collect three consecutive stool samples? Good times. Another favorite of mine is how the nurse (probably is required to)treats us like newbie parents and reads page after page of diet, exercise and safety guidelines. Yep. Good times. Daniel was exhausted by bed time. I could relate. The good news? He takes liquid Advil like a trooper.

3 Weeks Home - And Hayden has Arrived!

Daniel has been in Nebraska three weeks.  In some ways it's gone super-fast, but it also seems like he's been part of our family forever.  Hayden left for a Brazil outreach trip the day before Daniel got home from Ethiopia.  Yesterday was the first time they had met.

 Here they are bonding over "Curious George."

 Daniel really enjoyed the Independence Day fireworks.

 These two are of Daniel scootering in the driveway.  He has worked hard to master this skill!  He doesn't argue about the helmet anymore, either.

 Finally, we're all together!

We sort of have a "waiting for the other shoe to fall" feeling because the three weeks have gone so incredibly well.  His pouting has lessened but not disappeared completely.  He still sleeps and eats well.  In fact, if his mood is out-of-whack, food is usually what he needs.
We have an appointment with the eye surgeon at the end of July.  Our regular eye guy says surgery will be necessary.  I'm almost relieved.  Fighting the finding and wearing of glasses... not sure how that would go.
His language continues to expand daily.  He can put together a short sentence and seems to understand and respond to a lot of what we say.  That's pretty cool!