The Richardsons

The kids had a fabulous Christmas, here's a snapshot...

Here it is...the 2007 Turner/Richardson family video! It's a family tradition that Sue has carried for many years now. This year certainly doesn't disappoint. 2007 was an AMAZING year! Here's to an even better 2008!!

I brought out three stockings for the kids and told them each to pick one. When I turned around Emmanuel was wearing them saying they were big. Uh, yea these aren't for your feet buddy, they have a much better purpose! Oh and Abegail got a new make up kit from The Petersons, that's why she is purple. No need to worry.

Emmanuel had another visit with the eye doctor and we found his vision in the eye with the ptosis is getting worse. They are going to try and patch his good eye everyday for two hours for two months to see if that improves things. He will definitely need glasses at that point. The poor boy couldn't see anything on the tests. I'm not sure why we are waiting for glasses. He puts his face up to everything to see. In two months they will also start investigating the surgery for the droopy left eye lid. E-man hates wearing the patch. But we've really played up how cool it is to be a pirate! A white Christmas We got another dusting of snow today, just in time to cover all the dirty snow and the kids had a blast because it was perfect snowman making snow.

UPDATE A fellow adoptive mother wrote my letter to Santa for me. It's perfect! Dear Santa, Becoming a new mother of an adopted African child has challenged me on several occasions to remain a good girl this year. Like the time when I had to remove my child kicking and screaming from a store after he had thrown his coat several times, poked holes in the meat packages with his fingers, and told me “NO” defiantly. Despite many challenges like these I do feel I have been a good girl. My wish this year is pretty simple… • I wish for the light switch to remain in the position I placed it, at least a couple of times a day. • I wish to not have to wrench the flusher on the toilet out of his hands every time we enter any bathroom. • I wish for just 10 minutes each day to elapse without hearing the bleating cry “Mommy come”. • I wish to be able to take a shower or use the toilet without an audience. • I wish that the term Mommy-O could be used in a fun manner and not just in the midst of sh...

The kids were very fascinated with Santa. Emmanuel was perplexed by his nose and said "Mommy, Santa looks small." To which I responded, I think he's been working out at the Y. You know it's not good for your health to have such a big tummy. The kids also enjoyed a visit from Spongebob and then got to ride the rides at the Mall of America Amusement park, thanks to WCCO. I kept saying, you know how you ALWAYS say "Mommy don't go to work!!!" This is why Mommy goes to work...for the family holiday party!!

The AFAA house is overflowing with new kids. So many so, Cheryl is looking for a bigger property. They made the living room into the boys bedroom and the dining room now serves as a living room, school room, and place to watch TV at night with the generator. This is Jacob and Mardia's family. Jacob told his American family when he got home that his father is brothers with A&E's father, but they have different mothers. So two of our favorites are half cousins with A&E. Almost all of the these kids are leaving family members behind. Maybe not a Mom AND Dad but certainly a loving extended family who feels no choice but to have them adopted. I have thought many times about A&E's family. It is only by the grace of God that we are not in reversed situations. It is only because we were born in the land of opportunity. Our parents worked hard, made sure we had a college education and could support ourselves. We do not love our kids more than A&E's family, we...

Abegail and Emmanuel have five full cousins still at the AFAA house, I say full because we have learned that Jacob and Mardia are also cousins, their fathers are brothers, more on that in a new post. But here are pictures of the cousins taken in November Martu and Mackie, coming to South Minneapolis Florence, Lawrence, and Helena going to Austin, Texas

Emmanuel's school had a Christmas program last night. They sang a lot of great songs. Emmanuel knew all the words and hand motions. He walked in line and stayed on his square and at times we could even hear just him he was so good. We told him how proud we were of him and he said, "Mommy, I'm a good singer!" Today he keeps singing for us, "you want to hear me sing?" The last picture is Eman with his fabulous (and might I add incredibly patient) teachers, Mrs. Mueller and Miss Sara. Way to go E-man!