Getting Settled In (New Pics)

Okay, okay, all you BLOG junkies……….. Here is the latest and greatest from the Brooks clan. We are tired, we are a bit stretched, but we are so very happy and so blessed by this experience. Let me give you a few instances. Jenna has started to play with her doll. She will swaddle it and put diapers on it (with my help). She has begun to talk to it, etc. The other night – after a lot of not so good bedtimes- we put baby to bed. Baby started to cry because she did not want to sleep. Jenna kissed her and said, night night baby. Go spot (sleep). Well, then Jeff and I said, good job! Now it is your turn to spot. Her face said it all (OH NO! I have been had!). It was very funny. But what could she do but spot at that point. Since then it has become much easier. Eddie is becoming quite the hunter. Our dog Lilly has been squeezed poked, stuck, etc. She has been a good sport. Today I have to say he was the most animated I have seen. We went to the beach with a friend and it was such an awesome experience. To see it from their eyes was amazing. He got to the bottom of the steps and sat with his shovel and bucket and started shoveling like a kid in a candy store. I had to go back and pick him up and move him to our stuff. I do not think he budged the two hours we were there. Jenna, on the other hand, well, she was a bit over whelmed by the enormous waves and icky sand. She got very worried about her shoes and feet getting sandy. She grabbed her own towel and set up her own spot. She did come around eventually, but not like old pro Eddie. She threw the sand, he filled the buckets, he ate the sand and he slammed down every castle I made with gusto! That’s our boy! Jenna did go with me to find shells. She learned they don’t taste good and are a bit crunchy, but she has a pocketful right now.

The household is good. Justin and Jacob have really seemed to be champs. It is amazing really. I have to confess I miss being at their schools, eating lunch with them there and being able to take them in the morning, but I think that maybe later we can do all of that. The kid’s behavior has been great. They test us a lot – but we know it is more of them understanding how we set our boundaries. That has been interesting. I had to get out my James Dobson book again. It really helped me understand their need for these boundaries and our need for sanity! I have also got some amazing friends who have been through this journey to. They have been such a great resource for Jeff and me. It’s like having an infant for the first time and not wanting to mess up. I was telling a friend about how Jenna gets upset when she has dirty hands. One day I told her to lick the jelly off her finger and she glared at me as if I cursed her. Duh, then I realized girls don’t lick stuff off their hands. Watching her dress up is a blast too. One day she put on her dress up outfits and asked if Babushka was coming. I said, no, not today. What about Deydushka (gramps)? No, not today. Poppa? Is he coming home? I laughed and I hugged her tight because that was so sweet of her to want to show them how pretty she was. When we have told her that before she has told us that she is not pretty or smart, etc. Just this week she has began to agree with us.

My sister stayed a night here too. Having her here with the kids was a great experience for the kids. They saw that another woman treated her kids like we do. Having Aunt Mary around the corner has been a great thing too. She is their teacher in a Bible study class. They love to go. I know it is because she is their teacher. With all the family around sharing their love and sweet, sweet hugs and kisses – wow – what a blessing these kids are living. Many people have said, you’re doing a good thing, or you are such a blessing to them. I hope that everyone can see from Jeff’s and my perspective – to us – they are the blessing. They have changed so many things in our lives. This journey has strengthened our family in so many ways. It has also helped us realize just how precious life is. How precious being content with what you have – and not want you want, is. It has also made me realize that I don’t have to have a clean house. I know I am a freak about that. I confess. I can wear something in a week more than once. I can save money on hairspray and just put it up……. I could go on and on. Can you believe we have made it this far? We could not have done it with out all of you. Thank you for that. Keep on praying though, we still need them! God bless.
Jen