MONDAY IS ALMOST HERE!

I have a love/hate relationship with my job. I'm a elementary school teacher (the best job ever) and every end of summer I have such a love/hate relationship about going back to school...work. I enjoy the summers so much! This summer was EXTRA special b/c of CQ finally being a part of our family and Buddah's relationship with his sister is finally getting better. He has matured so much, I just cannot believe it. What a BIG change from 4 yrs. old to 4 and a half yrs. old...huge! He began taking Hockey lessons this summer. So cute. He wore his CCCP Hockey Jersey (one that we purchased in Russia last Dec.) to every practice. He was so proud of himself. He is a great listener now. He even shares alittle! Trust me that's a big one for him. This pic was taken of us the first day I met him...


And this pic was taken of Buddah this summer...




CQ has also made huge strides. First, her walking. As you may have remembered me talking about it before, CQ was born with a club foot and in Russia they did the surgery to correct it. Unfortunately, the job that they did was not the best, so we are going to have to go through another surgery (a tenden transfer) when she turns 3. She is walking, running, jumping, etc... but is still having some issues with leg fatigue and strength every now and then. I know that her leg and foot will be just fine.
She is so loving now, she doesn't long to go to strangers anymore (although she still shows off and is EXTRA friendly to strangers), makes wonderful eye-contact, listens even though she's 2 :), is communicating/speaking amazingly well, is still potty trained for the most part, she doesn't rock herself to sleep anymore...she is truly an amazing little girl.
This is a picture of the first day I saw my beautiful little girl...

And this is a picture of beauty now...







I am thankful everyday for my kiddos. Don't know what I'd do without them. I know that I won't be there every waking moment for the next 181 school days, but I'll be thinking about them all the time...:)
Tomorrow is the first day back to work and I will cry all the way there. :( Wish me luck!!! Thanks to Nana for coming everyday to keep my munchkins safe and happy!