Trick or Treat Day

You know, I always grew up not celebrating Halloween. We would go to our church's "Harvest Festival," play games and get candy and dress up as Bible characters. Nothing wrong with that I suppose, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, well, it's still Halloween, isn't it? So, if the church can make up things and recreate a holiday the way they want to celebrate it, then so can I. The boys love, I mean, L-O-V-E dressing up as super heroes. So, for this reason, we went to the Cheapo Depot (I kid you not, that's the name of the store) and got last year's Halloween costume's for $5 each! Had a party/cookout with our neighbors and all went around the neighborhood together. To the boys, tonight was not Halloween, it was Trick or Treat day. A day of fun, candy, food, friends, fun costumes and our personal favorite tradition, ending the night with "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown." I know many Christians have very opposing views on this, and that's all good. But tonight, my boys got to bloss out in their favorite super hero costumes and mountains of candy with no knowledge whatsoever of the actual name of or meaning behind the holiday. Pictures now, for your viewing pleasure.

Logan's Birthday!

So, it was Logan's birthday today - 7 years old. We started the morning off with strawberry french toast - Logan's request. After church was a cook out with his friends next door, cake and presents. Mommy finally found him a killer little R/C car (see my review here and the review for the failed/returned present here). He's been outside all day making his new car do wheelies and flips and practicing his pogo skills. I think the 7 year old mind set has kicked in and he has really begun taking more risks, brushing off wipeouts and crying about things much less. I like this turn of events. Nest is Moise's birthday and a sincere attempt to make sure he doesn't get jipped just because his bday is 3 days before Xmas. Anyway - if you missed it, make sure to wish Logan a Happy Bday in the comments section!

Dancey Dance Time

.....courtesy of Wyclef Jean and Carnival!

A bit of a breakthrough

Cai and Moise have been pretty much at each other's throats since the day we got back to our house. Moise provokes and antagonizes and annoys the pee out of Cai and Cai, in return, gouges, bites and generally drops his 8 year old brother to his knees in a puddle of tears. One would think Moise would learn to stop doing things to make Cai angry, but no....

Anyway, Tom & Jerry break today and thisis what I found in the middle of the living room floor. Let's pray it lasts beyond the cartoon.

A few new pics

Just a few new pics for your viewing pleasure. The video below is of Logan messing around on the guitar. I only caught the tail end of it, but Phoenix thought it was HIGHlarious!

Is anyone cuter than Cai? I mean, really?

Mad because he couldn't play football. Check out the killer Spiderman kicks though!

This is my new favorite pic!

Logan doin what Logan does....

Phoenix has become very attached to Logan - I think he's his favorite. Everything Logan does is either hysterically funny or worthy of hugs and kisses!

Just in Time for Christmas!

To all you wonderful peeps out there who keep up with the Pihl's here in blogland, I give to you a gift - the gift of awareness! There is this incredible little internet boutique you should all check out. It features knit couture apparel and accessories at fantastic prices - everything from shawls and wraps to hats, purses and scarves! All handmade and of the finest quality materials! This is the perfect time and the perfect gift for any friends or family you may have up north or in the colder parts of the country.

As an added bonus, the designer has agreed to donate a percentage of the profits until December 1 to the relief effort for hurricane devastated Haiti.

So, buy a gift for family and friends and do your part to help a devastated country.

Click here - BluMorfo Creations to check out the full website. Below is a slideshow of some of what the boutique has to offer. Some of the products are located on the boutique's website and some of the others are located at the sister boutique, blumorfo.etsy.com

Week 1 Observations

Okay, so we're just past the 1st week mark. It's been a blur really - a little too "normal" and a little chaotic all at the same time. Here are just a few of my observations:

1. My house STINKS! (as previously stated in another post)
2. The novelty of the in fridge ice and water maker has not worn off and my kitchen floor always has a puddle on it.
3. Moise is obsessed with ice and will eat ice chips all day
4. Haitians MUST yell EVERYTHING! There is no concept of volume control at all!
5. Moise understands everything we are saying to him unless its something he doesn't want to hear - then he's amazingly stricken with the "I only speak Creole" disease
6. Phoenix knows how to "work it!" He will bat his eyelashes and flash a heart-melting smile whenever he's told no or is doing something he knows he's not supposed to
7. Getting an 8 year old who wets the bed nearly every night to wear GoodNights is A LOT easier said than done
8. Who knew adding 2 kids would increase the mess in my house exponentially. I have wiped up more spills, washed more blown out clothes and picked up more crap in the last week than in my entire career as a mom
9. Just cause you adopt an older kid doesn't mean you'll get the sleep of an older kid - expect newborn sleep cycles!
10. Phoenix sleepwalks apparently and often ends up on the couch or chair in the living room.
11. Having to discipline 180 degrees from what you're used to and now applying to all boys instead of just the new 2 - uber challenging.
12. I H-A-T-E diapers!!!!! I didn't order a baby, but I got one anyway! Changes the game plan 110%
13. This - all of this - still feel like babysitting. I can't emphasize this enough. There is not some magical moment when they come home wherein that organic, loving, "feels like they've always been here" family appears. It's work and a choice every single day to love them and make it work. Do not misunderstand - I love all of my children passionately and unwaveringly. However, you have to realize that this is one of the biggest changes and adjustments we (or you, if you are adopting) will ever go through as a family. It takes a helluva lot of time and a helluva lot of work and prayer. The more you build up dreams and ideas and paint pictures of what you think it will be like when your children come home, the more disappointed, frustrated and out of love you will be with them when they finally do come home. Let me share with you something my parents shared with my husband when he was about to meet my extended family for the first time: expect the worst....and then you get the "family name inserted here." I will relay the same advice to you: expect the worst...and then you get "insert child's name here." In other words - have no expectations or dreams or grandiose ideas of family ooey-gooey bonding. Expect the worst and you will be so wonderfully surprised when it turns out to be not so bad. This puts so much less pressure on the children and takes a HUGE burden off of you.

I think that's all for right now. I have 2 very sick little guys - 24-hour flu kinda thing and we've been up since 4:30am. Will post more pics and updates throughout the next week, so keep on checking in.

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