Easter Day

Easter was fun and a torment all in one. I am always left in the state of wonder over why both kids cannot simply enjoy the day at the same time. Maima had gone to a sleep over and stayed up all night on Friday leaving her exhausted and crabby on Saturday. We went to find an egg hunt and she was nearly unbearable. Then, on Sunday we went off again for another place that was supposed to have a helicopter drop eggs (plastic of course) with candy and prizes. This all went well but afterwards we went to lunch and Maima acted rude in the restuarant and when I reprimanded her she pouted and cried at the table then spent the rest of the day and the next barely speaking. Oh joy! Happy Easter!

April Fool's Day

Going to try to catch up in order of events.... (I know I suck at blogging these days).

April Fools - I had to teach Akins about this strange tradition and then sent him off to torment the teacher and class. It started with him telling the pre-care center teacher Ms. Kelly she had on two different shoes. Then later we decided to get him back. Some of you may remember the fudge story a year or so back where Lorea pretended it was poop and ate it, leaving Akins in a state of horror. Yes, I know we might need some help. Sticking to the poop theme, knowing how well it worked before, I smeared chocolate pudding under the lid of the toilet seat. Akins ran off to use the restroom and came out screaming saying Maima made a mess! Maima was at a sleep over so clearly this could not have been her issue. Therefore, we carried on about how could "he" have made such a mess. Okay, finally when the anxiety over the whole issue, after chasing him around the house with pudding poop on my hands was too much for the big guy. APRIL FOOLS!!!! I know, more psychological care needed in the future, I get it.

Basketball Jones

To some of you the title of this post will make sense. To others maybe not so much (song from the late 70's).... anyway Maima was on the Inola Girls 5th Grade Basketball team this year. I was amazed at the aggression that was displayed by these young girls. Here are some of the photos.I must note that it is hard to get good shots when everyone is running, jumping and well sometimes rolling on the ground. Mom, Lorea and I were calling it Basketball Derby. Maima is a good player runs fast and works hard. This has been a good experience for her in learning how to control that BIG temper of hers.

On the court wide open for the pass

Blocking

The reward!

Here is another fun story. One day Maima and Akins decided to play dolls. At first they were playing where each had a doll and they were the mommy or daddy as the case may be. Then Akins decided he wanted to be the baby. So, Maima swaddled him up just like a good mother would and held him in her arms, rocking him back and forth. After a little while she said "Mommy, Mommy-O, I think he really fell asleep". Sure enough, there he was sweet as a baby sound asleep in her arms.


Funny things:
Akins: What's an Eskimo? (conversation about his friend from Alaska)
Mommy: Someone from Alaska. Just like you are an African from Africa. Michael is an Eskimo from Alaska.
Akins: Being and Eskimo makes you electric?
Mommy: Dude, what are you talking about?
Akins: Michael is electric
Lorea: Oh, you mean allergic. (Michael has lots of food allergies)
Mommy: No, being an Eskimo does not make you allergic, Michael could have allergies even if he was from Africa.
Akins: I am electric too.
Maima: Dude, no you are not!
Akins: Uh, huh, I am electric to grass

Akins: Jordan, Jordan, Jordan on the River.

Maima's Court Update

Court went well on Tuesday. Laura arrived Sunday night as scheduled. Why she came in days before the court date I have no idea. She also never asked for assistance in getting to or from the airport to the hotel and I never offered. Let's just be clear I am not friends with this woman despite the fact that she may believe we are. I, of course,k will always keep it nice because she still has Maima's sister Tarry.

All of that said, my attorney picked up Laura and her grown daughter Buffi the morning of the court appearance and brought them to the courthouse some 20 miles away. She stood before the judge and relinquished her parental rights very willingly. The judge signed the order on the spot, done. My attorney sent me the adoption petition today for review and she will be submitting the petition and requesting a court date for me to appear.

At that point the name change and hopefully the birth date change will be granted. I am requesting a change in birth date to age 11 from 13. We have found some statutes that seem applicable and we are prepared to provide whatever the judge may ask for in supporting documentation. If this is granted it places Maima in the age group she truly is comfortable. A grade level that she can at least tread water in and a peer group with a stature of those that match her physically more closely, not to mention emotionally. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Regardless of the age outcome the adoption should be final soon. Depending on the court date I would guess within the next 30 - 60 days.

Comments -

Maima: Oh dude, your bald head is soft, it feels like socks

Akins: Girls are flowers and boys are trees

Maima's adoption and some fun stuff

We go to court for Laura to release her parental rights of Maima on Tuesday at 10am. We had to wait six full months for OK to have jurisdiction over Maima. Laura flies in on Sunday and leaves on Wednesday. I will only see her at court. Once this is done we can petition for adoption and have made some serious decisions that will part of the petition. We will change Maima's name from Maima Mopsy Puma to Maima Hawa Knupp. It turns out Mopsy was Laura's mother's name a person Maima never met. Hawa is Maima's biological mother's first name. I encouraged Maima to have a name that had meaning to her from someone she loved or to choose a name that she loved rather than retain a name would likely get her made fun of and one that was given to her by a woman who did not keep her committment to her. In the end Maima chose Hawa. Maima means tranquility while Hawa means desire. Peaceful - Desire. Sounds wonderful, to want some thing in a peaceful way. Lovely. I am thrilled with her choice. The next day when she went to school she took some things with her new name written on them, it was the first time she had used my last name on anything.

Maima: Mommy-O, how many days did the vegatables sleep over?
Mommy: Ummm, I think you mean, are the vegtables leftovers.


Mommy: Okay, it's bedtime, I need my beauty sleep.
Akins: What?
Mommy: Girls need their beauty sleep that's how they stay pretty. Come on Maima you need your beauty sleep, bedtime.
Akins: I need my boy sleep.

Akins writes his first song....

When he comes in his path
and when he gets there
one got hurt on his head
IEG I he got hurt on IEG
and you are believing
When you see a little more or someone's hair
do good and you say LMNOPTMUPKIJKNUDNPO
jingle bells all the way and BOATS

Go ahead knock yourself out, you know you want to sing it!

Wrapping Up! Christmas 2009

Upon returning home from Mexico we had a lot to get accomplished. A tree, decorating, presents, wrapping and the big event itself. Here is how it all unrolled.

It begins with teaching Maima how to select the appropriate tree.

It's all in the flavor! The one that tastes the best!

The best one sitting out there all by herself.

Felling the tree is a labor of love, grimmaces, hard work and

victory!

We continue by celebrating to holiday tunes...

and ta da, beautiful!

Next a tour of the lights at the Rhema College

Look Mommy-O it says Eman!

Then the introduction of our own holiday tradition. Christmas Eve - Talent Contest!

Akins talent looks like it hurts

Grandma's on the other hand looks cozy as she demonstrates the talent of proper reclining!

Maima's looks a bit painful too!

We awoke to a very white Christmas, with over six inches of snow.

Santa was good to the kids, though I question the accuracy of his naughty or nice list.

Dolly loves Christmas morning and is right in the action. Come on Lorea, let me open it!

The unwrapping frenzy in full swing and in a flash it is over, the house is a mess, and there is more to play with then two kids can focus on.

Funny quotes:

We were eating at the Spaghetti Warehouse and in walk some Po-Po (police).
Akins: Hey, they are supposed to eat donuts!

Mommy: Okay Maima, off to bed you go, you have to get your beauty sleep.
Akins: Yeah and I have to get my boy sleep!

Akins fails to listen more often than not. Maima had said she was going to ask Santa for "bigger ears for her brother". We had told her we could buy pigs ears at the pet store, that they were really big. On Christmas morning...

Maima: Mommy I got everything I wanted, except the pigs ears.

Hola, Si, Bien

We stepped off the plane in Puerto Vallarta and the first thing out of Maima's mouth was "this feels like home". The kids soaked into this culture and climate as if they were not African's but Mexican's. The weather was 85 and mostly sunny the whole time. Our resort had a kids water park with attendants to watch the kids play all day while offering on the hour activities. The adult area also had on the hour activities so there was a lot of pool games including polo, basketball, volleyball and aerobics to help ward off the calories of the numerous pina coladas ingested.

The staff was awesome and a total part of the experience as they led the pool and kids games then entertained us at night at the hotel club with extravagant shows each evening.

Maima playing water volleyball

Akins would rather be on the beach in the sand than just about anywhere

Chunk me!

Maima and Akins taking a ride through the rain slide

Every time she comes up she is looking for Mommy-o

The kids playing beach soccer

Mexican hair braids (much needed)!

Maima had a girl crush on this resort worker

The lazy river at the water park

Big slides! We had the whole park to ourselves

The kids got to be part of the dolphin show

The sea lion was just two rows below us and there were only 6 other people there! A real close encounter.

Maima enjoying the sand

Maima is not too sure about the giant iguana

Akins on the other hand is loving it

Our new friend! At the cost of $100 Pesos

Deep water piggy back rides

Maima doing the "sexy dance"

Piggy back aerobics

Akins coming up for air


Akins and I ready to jump in and see the fish!

The reaction Maima gave when she thought they sawed her favorite girl in half during the magic show

Adios

Funniest comments:

At the airport
Akins: (Whispering) Mommy-O that lady has black legs and white hands and face.
Mommy: Yes honey she is wearing nylons they are like big socks that make her legs look black.
Akins: Oh. Why?