Sunday, February 24, 2013
Family day....
This year family day was spent in the warm comfort of home with a pot of meat sauce simmering and then a great meal of comfort food...gnocchi.....had hoped to make even the gnocchi home made but that was not to be. We had such a busy weekend that when it came to Monday, realized that just spending the day alone and together was just the thing for family day.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Chúc mừng năm mới - Part 2, 3, 4.
Well it has been a busy few weeks....this post will mostly be photos to remember how we continued to celebrate Tet how we could...I managed to do a bit more clean up as that is an important part of preparing for the new year...also had our fruit offering to our ancestors...for Matteo I had an empty frame and hope at some point to find the right photo to add...still not sure on that......
This year we had a New Year's eve dinner party with Matteo's godparents and a student from Thailand who is living with us. (We definitely enjoyed this and will do it again) I had decorations from the year I was waiting for Matteo and they were featuring tigers (Matteo's year of birth)....Matteo loves the tassels...the tablecloth, which just happened to have snakes on it, is from Nepal, a gift from one of my sisters who viisted a family friend there....and I decided to order Thai food for all of us...I know I know, Thailand celebrates new year's the same as most western cultures, but I have not had success with the Chinese delivery options in the neighbourhood, though we have fabulous restaurants around....so for this year it was the choice...and then the student K. ended up making gold bags (basically spring rolls made into little pouches) stuffed with shrimp, pork, mushrooms etc....I managed to get the photo below before they were wolfed down by everyone. They are supposed to bring good luck...and I learned how to make them. K. is a certified Chef here to learn English and possibly at one point open her own Thai restaurant. We are fortunate to have her here, but more on that later. One other detail, the mango mouse cake was a New Year's cake with a Fish, another symbol of good fortune in the new year. So all in all everyone had fun, the children got lucky money and we even had leftovers to enjoy the next day.
The next set of photos is of the dragon parade held in Chinatown, a few blocks from home, in conjunction with celebrating Lunar new year and Winterlude which is the festival on now in Ottawa, to celebrate winter. It was a crisp day with beautiful sunshine. There were multiple dragons with costumed individuals dressed as all of the other new year figures from the Asian calendar....there were also two figures, an old man and woman, will have to find out who they represented. Matteo loved the dragons, and so did I.
The final couple of photos are of a dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant with other families who have adopted....and thankfully S. took a picture of me and Matteo as I took very few. And unfortunately when we were trying to get photos of all the children together, Matteo did not cooperate. I made the mistake of giving him my iphone to watch some thomas just as we were finishing dinner and he was climbing on and off the chair, and I wanted to try to do some socializing and finishing of my dinner...though I still seem to eat too fast....anyhow I forgot that once he has that phone in his hands and thomas, it is hard to unwind him from it...and/or it is just par for some of the challenges with challenging behaviour we've been having...that I'll leave for another blog...for now, I was happy that we tried different things to see how we feel comfortable celebrating Tet...loved that it spanned a couple of different weekends. Some of what we did this year we'll repeat and then also try other things, but one thing is for sure, we will continue to celebrate as it is great having a mid winter festival to celebrate and look forward to during the dark months of Jan/Feb. and March. Additionally this is also symbolically the beginning of Spring and after the cold winter we're having, that warmth is also great to celebrate and look forward to......so Happy New Year to all of you! Welcome Spring!
This year we had a New Year's eve dinner party with Matteo's godparents and a student from Thailand who is living with us. (We definitely enjoyed this and will do it again) I had decorations from the year I was waiting for Matteo and they were featuring tigers (Matteo's year of birth)....Matteo loves the tassels...the tablecloth, which just happened to have snakes on it, is from Nepal, a gift from one of my sisters who viisted a family friend there....and I decided to order Thai food for all of us...I know I know, Thailand celebrates new year's the same as most western cultures, but I have not had success with the Chinese delivery options in the neighbourhood, though we have fabulous restaurants around....so for this year it was the choice...and then the student K. ended up making gold bags (basically spring rolls made into little pouches) stuffed with shrimp, pork, mushrooms etc....I managed to get the photo below before they were wolfed down by everyone. They are supposed to bring good luck...and I learned how to make them. K. is a certified Chef here to learn English and possibly at one point open her own Thai restaurant. We are fortunate to have her here, but more on that later. One other detail, the mango mouse cake was a New Year's cake with a Fish, another symbol of good fortune in the new year. So all in all everyone had fun, the children got lucky money and we even had leftovers to enjoy the next day.
The next set of photos is of the dragon parade held in Chinatown, a few blocks from home, in conjunction with celebrating Lunar new year and Winterlude which is the festival on now in Ottawa, to celebrate winter. It was a crisp day with beautiful sunshine. There were multiple dragons with costumed individuals dressed as all of the other new year figures from the Asian calendar....there were also two figures, an old man and woman, will have to find out who they represented. Matteo loved the dragons, and so did I.
The final couple of photos are of a dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant with other families who have adopted....and thankfully S. took a picture of me and Matteo as I took very few. And unfortunately when we were trying to get photos of all the children together, Matteo did not cooperate. I made the mistake of giving him my iphone to watch some thomas just as we were finishing dinner and he was climbing on and off the chair, and I wanted to try to do some socializing and finishing of my dinner...though I still seem to eat too fast....anyhow I forgot that once he has that phone in his hands and thomas, it is hard to unwind him from it...and/or it is just par for some of the challenges with challenging behaviour we've been having...that I'll leave for another blog...for now, I was happy that we tried different things to see how we feel comfortable celebrating Tet...loved that it spanned a couple of different weekends. Some of what we did this year we'll repeat and then also try other things, but one thing is for sure, we will continue to celebrate as it is great having a mid winter festival to celebrate and look forward to during the dark months of Jan/Feb. and March. Additionally this is also symbolically the beginning of Spring and after the cold winter we're having, that warmth is also great to celebrate and look forward to......so Happy New Year to all of you! Welcome Spring!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
TDH Newsletter
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Saturday, January 26, 2013
Chúc mừng năm mới
Today we began celebrating for Tet and were invited to Vietnam house by the Vietnamese Embassy. This was an event for families with children adopted from Vietnam and it was not a huge event. Many of the families that did attend, had recently travelled and returned with children adopted through the special needs stream. The two twin girls that I have mentioned and whose blog I posted, came with their family of 11, and another family who also adopted from vung tau was there too....anyhow a few surprises which started with Matteo's very first Ao Dai....another pair of twins adopted returned from Vietnam a few days ago and their parents brought this for Matteo....we drove out to get it this morning and were not able to visit as the family is still dealing with getting settled, but we look forward to some play dates...they are cutie pies too!
Matteo looked so cute and it brought a tear to my eye!! He loves getting dressed up in princess dresses at daycare and I think he has been longing to wear an Ao Dai as when we put it on him, boy did he like it!!....so on some intuitive level he is somehow suited to wear his traditional outfit.
Anyhow the Tet event was simple and Matteo, and all children, received a gift bag...we had a nice time, though we were both so tired when we got home...here are a few photos to remember the day....
Matteo looked so cute and it brought a tear to my eye!! He loves getting dressed up in princess dresses at daycare and I think he has been longing to wear an Ao Dai as when we put it on him, boy did he like it!!....so on some intuitive level he is somehow suited to wear his traditional outfit.
Anyhow the Tet event was simple and Matteo, and all children, received a gift bag...we had a nice time, though we were both so tired when we got home...here are a few photos to remember the day....
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Citizenship Part 1 Received for Adoption #2....
....and did it take long...I believe I mailed it on May 30, 2012, along with Matteo's name change request on his citizenship certificate. Today I received the Part 1 approval, dated January 2, 2013, almost 7 months to the day!! I believe they told me if was a 6 month processing time and wow were they right. The first time around the citizenship part 1 was processed much quicker. I may have forgotten to put Adoption on the package or because it included the name change request, I may have left it off...just can't remember. So if I remember correctly I will need to send a copy of the Part 1 to the agency which I will do in the next couple of days.....so a bit more paperwork done on Adoption #2......
Sunday, January 6, 2013
.....beginnings.....
It has been a bittersweet day today!....Have been trying to put my finger on what and why I've got so many mixed emotions and realize that while we always hope a new year begins well, this new year has begun with life pushing itself forward, life happening all around me. One of the additional benefits of adoption is that you become part of an extended family of other families who also have adopted. This can be both wonderful and difficult. Sometimes knowing more people means you know more about more lives, and again that can be great, but it can also be challenging. In the past few days, both in my immediate family and my adoption family there have been great announcements like pregnancies, and new adoptions, but also bad news like deaths, illness and problems.
While I did go back to work on Wednesday, I am teaching another course this term so it feels like the holiday is really coming to an end today, so that might be why there are so many sad emotions. While I would like to say I feel refreshed, with being sick, that didn't happen, though the antibiotics sure did help. Matteo is wonderful, growing and so full of humour and life. It is hard to be down when I'm around him...but new years always bring much reflection. This is the year we are hoping to grow our family and are looking forward to seeing if life's mysteries will bring that our way. I continue to be prepared (I think) for either direction (for many reasons beyond my control). So I know that has been on my mind and in my heart, even if I haven't talked about it much.
I think; however, what is getting me down the most is really D's news yesterday. No matter what, I just can't get my head around getting bad news on a holiday. With the heightened emotions, it makes it so so difficult. D for us is family member. She brought Matteo and me together and for that there will never be enough thanks. She has been pivotal in helping many children find families and helping many individuals create families. I know it is because of her contacts and her relationship with Vietnam that it has been possible for her to do this important work. She is an extraordinary woman to persevere through all the issues and difficulties of International Adoption and try to help individuals who might not always appreciate the challenges of her work...I include myself here. So for now there are so many praying for her and sending all the positive energy we can muster as she deals with this health issue.
When I got and read her message, it took my breath away, like someone just punched me in the stomach. While I am worried for her, I too am worried for all the children that are waiting for her help in finding them families. She is such an important part of this work, that I know things will have to be set aside while she uses all of her energy for her health. None of us would want it any other way. But again, life sure has a way of moving forward and moving in unexpected directions.
Dear D. Matteo and I are sending you all of our love and any strength we can to help you deal with this next challenge sent your way. Like your perseverance and strength used in your adoption work, we pray you will use those strengths to take care of yourself. I know you are surrounded by a loving family and an extended loving family in the adoption community!
While I did go back to work on Wednesday, I am teaching another course this term so it feels like the holiday is really coming to an end today, so that might be why there are so many sad emotions. While I would like to say I feel refreshed, with being sick, that didn't happen, though the antibiotics sure did help. Matteo is wonderful, growing and so full of humour and life. It is hard to be down when I'm around him...but new years always bring much reflection. This is the year we are hoping to grow our family and are looking forward to seeing if life's mysteries will bring that our way. I continue to be prepared (I think) for either direction (for many reasons beyond my control). So I know that has been on my mind and in my heart, even if I haven't talked about it much.
I think; however, what is getting me down the most is really D's news yesterday. No matter what, I just can't get my head around getting bad news on a holiday. With the heightened emotions, it makes it so so difficult. D for us is family member. She brought Matteo and me together and for that there will never be enough thanks. She has been pivotal in helping many children find families and helping many individuals create families. I know it is because of her contacts and her relationship with Vietnam that it has been possible for her to do this important work. She is an extraordinary woman to persevere through all the issues and difficulties of International Adoption and try to help individuals who might not always appreciate the challenges of her work...I include myself here. So for now there are so many praying for her and sending all the positive energy we can muster as she deals with this health issue.
When I got and read her message, it took my breath away, like someone just punched me in the stomach. While I am worried for her, I too am worried for all the children that are waiting for her help in finding them families. She is such an important part of this work, that I know things will have to be set aside while she uses all of her energy for her health. None of us would want it any other way. But again, life sure has a way of moving forward and moving in unexpected directions.
Dear D. Matteo and I are sending you all of our love and any strength we can to help you deal with this next challenge sent your way. Like your perseverance and strength used in your adoption work, we pray you will use those strengths to take care of yourself. I know you are surrounded by a loving family and an extended loving family in the adoption community!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
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