Diwali Festival

This Saturday was the most exciting time for Ahlyana. Her first dance performance. Her and two other girls performed to Jai Ho (the 4th came down with the H1N1). There were many other groups performing, as well as some solo's. Music and a delicious dinner followed. The best Indian food we've had in quite some time. (As you may remember we don't have Indian restaurants that are easily accessible for us) Both Ahly and Dreyden found a new favorite, besides mango ice cream. Vegetable noodles - they were great..... nothing we had ever had before. I will have to search the web for this recipe. The evening was full of color and joy, all the women dressed at their very best, OK so the guys were too, but the women were beautiful!! I was lucky enough to have my Mom and Stepdad make it this year. Here are a few pictures of the festivities - hopefully a video of her routine will be coming shortly!

A very excited little girl.

Her first trophy - just for participating!

And of course the family

Movie

I just came across this movie called "The Waiting City". Here's the trailer http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/the-waiting-city/trailer

It's about an Australian couple who goes to Calcutta to pick up their adopted child. Only to find more red tape causing them to stay in India. It doesn't appears that it's really about adoption but more of how the process puts a toll on the couples marriage. I haven't seen any rating on this or even know if we can see it in the US now. I do know it will be available on Netflix at some point. Thought this may be of some interest to some of us. I know I plan on seeing it, I just hope hope it does both the adoption process and country justice.

India Festival!

Our local community had their annual Festival of India. It was great, as always. There is a group of us Indian Adoptive Families- that get together and discuss this and that. Most of them are Dillon Families! We try to get together and celebrate the holidays as much as possible. Hopefully, our lives will be a little calmer that we can get to them this coming year. Holi fest is one I am especially looking forward too :) During our meeting the kids got together and were given bracelets. As is done in the in Indian Celebration of Raksha Bandhan. (the celebration of the love between brothers and sisters) It was wonderful to see them tie bracelets on one another, since we feel as though they are an extended families of sorts. Ahly was actually comfortable enough to have Henna done so we both were lucky enough to have that done by a very talented lady.
Here are a few pictures of that day.

In two weeks the Indian community is celebrating Diwali. This year Ahly will be dancing with 3 other girls as part of their show. So in case I don't post before that, you can definitely look forward to some video shortly after the 24th.

Oh and by the way, we had 3 inches of snow yesterday! Yes, we are in Wisconsin but October 12th is even a little ridiculous for us!

This and that

Just thought I'd get a few of the cute things my kiddos do, documented. Things like this never get old!
The other morning during my morning scramble to get two kids dressed and feed and still squeeze time to get myself ready I over heard this conversation between Ahlyana and Dreyden.
(stage is at the kitchen table. Dreyden in his highchair, and Ahlyana feeding herself and insisting on feeding Dreyden. I have popped into the bathroom to brush my teeth)
D - Blah blah, blah blah blah blah, do, da dede
A - Really, Yes.
D - me, kere, do do do
A - do you think so Dreyden......
I burst out laughing because Dreyden has been a constant babbler in addition to his actual words. Todd and I constantly pretend that we are understanding him and try to have a conversation with him. Obviously, Ahlyana picked up on the fact that even if we don't understand his cute new languarge, it's great to pretend :)
Last night after Ahlyana's dance class we stopped at the store for a few items and for her ice- cream treat, which she was eating in the car on the way home. (one of those things I swore I'd never do with the kids - Ok, so things definitely change) First she was complaining because it was suppose to be chocolate, but there was vanilla in her Chocolate. And how she likes vanilla but not touching the chocolate. Then she got to the chocolate chips and "mmmm - Mama this is great. Mama this is really good - Mama, you really should have gotten one yourself!" Mind you I hadn't even tried hers, but she thought it was so great that I should have had one too. Hmmm where did the time go :)

And in another note - I want to congratulate all those that are soon to be traveling - may the passports come in record time and these families be united with their little ones soon! And bring on those new referrals :)
TTFN,
Michele

Summers over and School has started!

Well we are finally settled! What a summer of change this has been. Ahly is turning into such a little lady. Really taking to school 3 full days a week. Even Dreyden is doing well not having his sister at daycare with him all the time. Now time for pictures.....

One of the last days at the old house. This is Ahly's idea of helping.
(and yes my husband is a big turkey hunter - hmmmmm)



My Big girl - off to school - looking so confident!

This is a picture of Ahlyana with her friend Preston. He was also in her 3 year old preschool class last year (I also picked him up and dropped him off at his sitter). He's her one and only familiar face there. Unfortunately his parents had to drop him off before Ahly was there and he wasn't happy about that :(

Teacher Ms. Micki.

Before school started, the school had a little get together with ponies and a bouncey house! Once she was past her fear of the horse - she couldn't get enough of the pony rides.

Before school started we headed to the WI Dells! Here Ahly and her cousin Sienna just hang out.

Dreyden all ready to get to the water (unfortunately no water shots)

Now he's all tuckered out.

Nani and Ahly - loving the tea cups :)

Daddy wasn't able to get to the Dells with us, so as soon as we got home Ahly had to try out the nail polish she won in the game room on Daddy. He is such a good sport!

Happy almost fall everyone!