Winter Freeze Dance

I just love having teenagers!(most of the time) I have enjoyed watching my kids get ready for dances. This dance is a little different than most. It is very casual. The school hired a DJ who brings in lots of black lights, and everything glows in the dark. Kylee and her friends had a good time shopping and matching outfits.

 

"And Were Back"

This is my kids favorite saying right now, and I thought it appropriate since I just posted about Kylee's birthday.  Now we celebrate Jeff's birthday...and were back! 

Jeff is getting back to the gym this year and we gave him some supplies to make life a bit easier.

Kylee gave him a Football Snack basket, so now he really needs to hit the gym.

Jeff's favorite dessert, Pineapple Upsidedown Cake

And  yes, after all these years we are still in love...awww :)

And it's a good thing because Jeff's birthday was pretty challenging.   Kylee got the flu and threw up all night long, then our fancy, expensive dishwasher broke down and we had a repair scheduled to come on his birthday, and Kylee's car broke down on her way to college.  Fortunately these are all minor bumps and we still managed a nice birthday for Jeff.  He stayed home from work and got to relax, which he so deserves!  Happy 38th! 

New NEWS part 1 Spencer

Well I have no fantastic pictures to post but wanted to journal some of the happenings here at the browncircus home!   Spencer is off to Rexberg Idaho continuing his college education at BYUI.  I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of him in his apartment or on campus...it was a crazy busy day getting him registered, getting books, moving him into his appartment, shopping for groceries and school supplies; I really wanted to just buy him crayons and a pencil box...how did he get this old?  Instead we purchased a car, below zero windshield wipper fluid, an ice scrapper,laundry detergent, bedding, groceries etc.  And boy did we buy groceries!  Can we go back to the crayons? 
I get asked often if it was hard leaving him at school, and the answer is a big NO.  He has been stir crazy here at home "waiting for his life to begin."  I am finding as a parent of an adult child that having him near me is not as important as knowing he is happy.  What is the point of having them close if they are unhappy?  I have found myself just happy when he's happy.  It's an amazing transition.  And he is happy!  He calls me often inbetween classes and we chat about his days, his classes, his room mates, his girlfriend.  He has met so many missionaries that served in LA, and they get together often, go sledding, eat pizza, etc.  He and an old companion even drove to Utah together last weekend to visit family.  His companion's family is only 15 minutes from the Flittons.  I love that he already has friends and connections at college.  He tells me that he and his roommates stay up late into the night talking and hanging out.  Spencer also tried out for the basketball team and made Varsity!  He was sooo excited.  He also is going to be a temple worker on Saturdays at the Rexberg Temple.  His life is full, and we couldn't be prouder. 


Rexberg Temple



New NEWS part 2 Kylee

Another birthday brings Kylee into adulthood.  She is the big 18 this month and is doing great!  She continues to attend Green River Community College full time and is a Senior in high school.  She is pulling 18 credits this semester and has been diligent with her studies.  We are getting lots of offers from colleges, however she has decided to finish her associates degree at Green River before transferring to a University.  She and Spencer will both complete their associates degrees at the same time which should be the end of winter semester next year.  That is exciting!!!  Kylee was leaning toward BYUI before we took Spencer there.  She likes the idea of a smaller campus.  But after experiencing the frigid cold she has changed her mind. Can't say I blame her,  I felt horrible leaving Spencer to the bitter cold myself.  Maybe BYU Hawaii?  Who knows? 
She is still working a few hours a week at the dental office, unfortunately her POC car had an electrical problem and I became her taxi driver.  That was no bueno!  She is a busy girl.   After a few weeks Jeff administered CPR to the poor car and again got it running.  GO Jeff!
Kylee and Sergei are still dating, we really like him.  He is so good to her, has similar standards, is smart and responsible.  He comes from a large family of 11 siblings and he is the first in his family to attend college.  He is also going to Green River full time and will graduate HS with his associates degree.  He is also the captain of the HS soccer team.  I really want to help him get some scholarships...he wants to attend the University of Washington.  We have really grown to love this "boy toy" of Kylee's and want the best for him.  I think it will be interesting to see how they both transition into adulthood. 



Christmas Eve Pajamas



Kylee still wants to serve a mission,  and with her schooling goals she should have her bachelor's degree done before she leaves.  She has lofty goals and I am so proud of her.  We will be going to Hawaii as a family for her senior trip in May,  we are looking forward to this special family time together before she embarks on her own life journeys.   

New NEWS part 3 Jensen

My sweet agent J!  Gugu Jake, J, Yensen!  He has so many nick names.  The nickname "Agent J" came  from watching Men in Black and laughing when Michael Jackson came on screen as agent M...somehow we all became an Agent in that moment.  However Jensen's "Agent J" has stuck for me and I call him that often.  GuGu is Chinese for big brother,  Faith calls him gugu J, but Jensen thought she was saying Jake...so another nick name is formed.  J is just his first and middle initials, and Yensen is the name my niece gave him when she was visiting one summer.  This boy just melts my heart.  He is not rebellious in any way and is a sweet 16 year old.  He probably talks the least to me about his social life so I don't know if he is actually "sweet 16" or not.
Jensen has had a year full of changes.  He has a new little sister he is smitten with.  He is driving now.  He made the JV basketball team, got braces and he is old enough to date!  Whoot! Whoot!  That excitement about him dating is from me not him.  In fact, I keep trying to get him to ask a girl to a dance, or double date with Kylee, or triple with Spencer while he was here...he will have none of it!!!   (side story)  When Spencer turned 16 he also didn't want to date.  I arranged a blind date for him and he obediently went, not really wanting to.  I set him up with a talkative cheerleader that went to another school.  She was darling, and he loved it!  Moral to the story...trust mom!  She's got your back!

Somehow Jensen doesn't get the moral of that story no matter how many times I tell it.  So Jensen has not had a first date.   All my efforts, and bribes have fallen on deft ears.  So any guesses to what Jensen is doing this Friday night?  He got asked on a double date by a girl...and he is going! By the way this girl so happens to be the same girl he was madly in love with in the 3rd 4th and 5th grades.  Funny isn't it?   So now Jensen can chalk dating up on his list of new experiences this year!  This is how Jensen's life has gone...things come to him.  He rarely has to seek out or work very hard to get what he wants.  I am not convinced this is good for his character, but hey who wouldn't want to live a charmed life?

Jensen and Abi at her 16th birthday party...

New NEWS part 4 Dallin

Dallin comes with his own set of nick names...his main one Dilly Dally.  Wonder why?  Because since I can remember he takes his sweet time getting ready to do anything that involves cleaning his body and leaving the home.  He is our constant pessimist.  We could be going out to ice cream and he will want to stay in his comfy pj's and relax.  He is not forgoing the ice cream, he just wants us to go and bring some back to him.  That's not how we roll.  So we wait, and wait and wait some more before Dallin is forced to get ice cream with the family...how mean are we? 
Dallin is now a big brother and not the baby of the family.  He was probably the most excited about getting a little sister and his anticipation was contagious.  He had all his friends at school just as excited as he was and took pictures of her to show everyone.   And now that she is here...well a little less excited.  He is very cute with her and will play with her constantly.  He is protective as a big brother should be, and always wants to be her favorite.  On the other hand, she has taken his spot next to me on the couch when we watch movies,  she always gets what she wants, and the list goes on and on. He is learning,growing and stretching into his new roll as a big brother,  sometimes those growing pains can hurt...he is in the thick of it.  He is also a pre-teen.  Need I say more? 
Dallin has completely quit all sports, he is just not interested.  We are saddened by his decision and think he has so much potential, but realize that he will grow and find other talents as he matures.  Dallin is very social.  He loves to hang out with his piers and has a robust and hearty laugh.  It is a joy to hear.  He is sensitive and I often get stories from teachers about him helping the disabled at recess at school.  He wants to adopt several children when he is an adult.  He is very artistic, this year I got a beautiful painting for Christmas.  He is still in so many ways my baby boy, and hopefully he realized sooner than later that he is irreplaceable. 

New NEWS part 5 Faith

Faith aka the peanut, or SiSi.  It's been a year since our journey to China and she is doing so very well.  She has outgrown much of her clothing, and her health is fantastic.   The first 5 months home Faith was constantly on antibiodics for one infection or another, but since June we have not seen the doctor for illness.  Whoot!  She didn't qualify for early intervention pre school, and has enjoyed many vacations with her family. We have gone camping, rented a cabin  on a lake, and visited family in Utah.  We had her sealed to us in the Seattle temple in September and she loves temples.  On of her favorite books is about temples.   She will tell you how huge her family is.  With 3 gugu's and 1 jiejie and mama and a baba.  She loves taking baths and will pretend to cook noodles with her toys and the water.  She actually plays more kitchen in the bath than she does with her little kitchen...I think because there is real water to pour to her hearts desires.  She get rides on her brothers backs around the house, and also gets to play scary monster, where they all chase each other around the house.  If you were a fly on the wall in our house you would hear many I love you's from us to her and from her to us.  It is probably said at least 50 times a day.  Wo ai ni, is the Chinese version.

She has started to transition to her own bed by occasionally asking to sleep there on her own.  She will fall asleep without us in her bedroom and will usually sleep until about 5 am.  At 5 am you can hear her yell, ",Mama!  Where aur yu?"  Then I will call back and tell her, then a few moments later you can hear her little steps toward our room where she will climb into bed with us.  She sleeps until 7 am every morning.  Once up; she has to get out of bed...no cuddle time.  She is ready for her day!  We usually make hashybrowns for breakfast.  She is getting more independant.  She will say, "sisi do it by herself."  She has gone potty by herself, and is wanting to walk more instead of being held everywhere we go.  She is also into pushing shopping carts.  "By herself" is sometimes not easy on mama, because I am in a hurry.  But I am really enjoying these moments and try very hard to let her do things, "by herself." 

Once home from China we were required to have post placement adoptions studies by a qualified social worker.  Faith's first study at 6 months and her second at 1 year home.  We just finished her second post placement visit.  Our social worker told us that compared to other children she has seen from China, Faith is doing exceptionally  well.  We are now finished with all of the requirements from China for her adoption and have met all the Hague guidelines.  We have one final step that is not necessary but we have been told it will make life easier for Faith, and that is to readopt her in the USA.  This way she will get an American birth certificate.  We are told this is helpful for enrolling in school...etc.  So now we will look into hiring an attorney to complete that step of her adoption. 

Faith has been such a blessing and a joy in her first year home,  we are all looking forward to watching her continue to progress and grow.  She is so darn funny.  We are so grateful to be part of the bigger picture in this sometimes unkind world.  Faith will start preschool and gymnastics next week.  I am looking forward to seeing how she does with both of these new adventures, as she has been home with me 24/7 for the last year.   

Looking forward to our Anniversary trip!!!!

Jeff is very thoughtful when gift giving.  This year he surprised me with a Victoria Clipper Vacation.  Here is the hotel we will get to stay at!   We haven't had a weekend get away since we brought Faith home a year ago.  I can't wait! 

Happy 18th Birthday Kylee!

We were able to pull off a surprise for Kylee on her 18th birthday.  We had been traveling and also celebrated Faith's Gotcha Anniversary the day before...I am pretty sure Kylee thought her birthday would be low key or forgotten this year.  There have been a few occasions where we have been out of the country for her birthday, and she made sure to let us know she didn't like it very much.  So this year we wrapped up a few different items and took video.  We also went to lunch and enjoyed mud pie later that evening.  Happy Birthday Kylee !  We hope 2011 brings you everything you dream for and more! 

I blinged out some flipflops for her.

There was a pineapple in the beach bag she never pulled out.

She also received flowers,a wallet with several gift cards for shopping and went on a date with her boyfriend.   Not a bad start to being an adult!

Gotcha party for Faith!