This and That

Just some tidbits I don't want to forget:

Sitting on the couch tonight, S and pumpkin are snuggling together and he pulls blanket over them and wraps his arms around her. They both close their eyes, her cheek on his cheek, he kisses her cheek and they fall asleep in eachothers arms.

Asking S what he wants to be when he grows up. I jokingly say a striper and he very seriously says yes. Oh goodness...what am I in for?

I talked to S seriously about living here. No sex, no alcohol, no smoking, going to school every day, obeying rules, etc. He says "no problem, I ask you mom". I know better than to believe that, but it just shows me that this kid is willing to agree to anything I say in order to just be here, forever. It melts my heart.

We had our first little "tiff". He has a gophone while here and the rules are mom and dad can look through his phone whenever we want, and he has to give phone back every night to us. He had been placing the phone on our bed every night voluntarily. Except last night. I went to get the phone, no problem. Plug it in in our room. He comes back in, and does something quickly on his phone. I quickly realize he signed out of an account. Hiding stuff! This morning he asked for phone and I said absolutely not, no phone today. I said our family is based on love, honesty, trust, respect, etc. I told him he now has parents who love him and care what he does. That we are will watch over him. That hiding things are not okay. By the end of conversation, he was fine...rest of the day has been great. I was pleased with how fast he got over it.

He keeps me going constantly. I tried to take a nap this afternoon with pumpkin, and he barges in first just to sit in our bed and wiggle his legs. Then he leaves and plays soccer inside. Then again, just as I was falling asleep, shakes me, "mom, mom, skateboard, outside? Keys machina, where?". I fall back asleep. Next thing I know "mom, mom, scarlett stink!" I say okay and close my eyes. He comes again, "get up! Mom, get up! Scarlett stink!". I get up...yes, scarlett pooped. S had sprayed Cologne in the entire house. I put the dog outside, doorbell rings. Neighborhood kid asks if we can go swimming. So off we went. No rest for the wicked.

We had two chaperones stay with us this week and I was so nervous he would gravitate towards them and forget we exist. He'd be able to speak to them, relate to them, etc. To my surprise, he didn't want much to do with them and only talked to them if they asked him questions. The chaperones said "s unequivocally wants to be adopted by you, he already considers you his parents, don't even worry about anything". Loved hearing that! It was fun trying Ukrainian food and showing them our area and crazy American life! I got big, long hugs goodbye, I think it was a success!

S is so excited for Cars & Coffee tomorrow with "daddy". Guy time!

I got tickled to death on the couch! He did not know how ticklish I was and held my legs in an underarm lock and tickled my feet to death. I told him to rub my feet and I'd give him his phone. I got tricked into being tortured. Then he said my hair stinks. I said I just washed it, but thanks. He said it smelled like pool. I said I always smell good...he said yes...true. Then said "me too". I said Umm...no, you don't always smell good hunny. He stared at me blankly like "huh?". Gotta love him!

4th of July was awesome! We had our dear friends come over and S really enjoyed hanging out with their family. The kids played basketball, S rode bikes, lit fireworks, water balloon fight...a night to remember. S was initially really scared of the fireworks and would grab my arm but by the end of the night he was helping Dad light them.

We went to my parents house last weekend and when it was time to go home he was NOT happy and pumpkin was crying. I had two unhappy kids. We had SO much fun. So many firsts for S. Water slides, tons of swimming, river rafting, boating/tubing...one of the best weekends ever!

We met up with another family that we met last hosting period and have grown to love so much. We took the kids to the beach, skate park, wharf, and beach again. S actually went swimming in the freezing cold water. I was shocked...he hates being cold. He was probably trying to impress the girl they are hosting ;). It was a great day!

Everything feels so comfortable, so right. It feels like he's always been in our life. He just fits. I love him something fierce.