The Homeless Man

You have all seen him the man in the tattered clothes with the handwritten sign usually saying "will work for food" in a crooked scrawl that suggests a life of misfortune. I'm not talking about the guy who chooses to just not work but the one who rambles to himself, can't sit or stand still and when you see him you wonder what happended to him. It is obvious that he suffers from a form of dementia whether from a mental wire that has misfired or from alcohol abuse or worse. While in Cancun we decided that Akins mimics this type of person aside from being much better dressed when he becomes overly tired. On several evenings he was so tired from no naps and hard play in the sun all day, that he would venture off into the land of seemingly dementia, rambling nonesense, in and out of clusters that ranged from hysteria to anger and back again all within moments making no sense at all, leaving Lorea and I staring and wondering what was happening. Today reminded me as he began this again while ramped up in anticipation of a friends birthday party. We called it his homeless man state and now have coined it HM seems more politically correct. Now that we have realized that is from lack of sleep and not dementia or something else it's pretty funny to watch. I tried to capture it on video in Cancun so I could share but did not exactly capture the essence of it. Another time as I am sure there will be more.

Cancun 2008 - Akins the Mexican Celebrity and More

Our trip was mostly perfect. The weather was great, we had no delays in airports in fact even caught a standby and got home 3 hours early, had no major meltdowns during the entire trip and most importantly our 15 year old dog Zach survived the week and has entered another year (a major milestone considering his age and health issues). Akins loved vacation and when asked what part he liked the best he answers "lots". Okay, so no favorite parts just lots of good fun. To lay the trip out would best be done in segments, as it was really quite interesting for several reasons.

Segement One - Akins is now a Mexican Celebrity
Our trip included all inclusive food, activities and drinks at four different resorts, so on night two we decided to venture over to one of the other resorts and attend the weekly welcome show. This happened to be a night of Mariachi music and dancing. Well, at the end of the show they began drawing room numbers for some fairly cheesy prizes for which the winner was to come on stage and in some cases be asked to be a bit silly. The last drawing was you guessed it... our room. So, I shoved Akins off to the stage and he took off running up the steps onto the stage and then "freak out", everyone is looking at him... the music is playing and he is asked to dance. He is frozen in space. "Would you like different music"? the emcee says. Akins nods "Yes". The music stops and "Who Let the Dogs Out" starts pumpin' out very loud! We are thinking, okay he knows this one, but he is still standing frozen and then all of a sudden he busts loose and completely goes crazy on the stage. The crowd goes wild and he continues to dance wild for quite some time! For the rest of the week we were approached by people in large quantities, on the bus, in different resorts, everywhere we go, asking for him to dance, people shaking his hand, women asking for hugs, kisses, you name it! He is the talk of the town. It was unbelievable.

Frozen and Terrified!

Who Let This Dog Out???

Segment Two - The Stalker
Okay, for the first time Lorea and I actually entertained the "notion" of Akins needing a sibling. You know someone to play with while on a trip like this. Ahhh, but not a problem for our kid, he has become a stalker who masterfully has figured out how to join other kids games and make those kids like him so much that by weeks end they are in tears over having to say good-bye. Actually, we were quite pleased to see him figure out how to overcome shyness and socialize on his own. It took a bit of prodding but he figured out how to do this with the boys. Now girls, well next time!

Horning in on a game of basketball with the big boys!

Playing with Antoine!

Antoine and his brothers before saying goodbye.

Playing with Alex from Canada.

Playing with Indy from Sydney Australia

Segment Three - Swim Up Bars
On day three we were laying around one of the pools and all of the resorts have swim up bars so Akins had witnessed this whole thing of swimming up and ordering a drink. He is off in the pool and I said to Lorea "You know I picture him swimming up there and ordering a drink". Well, not more than five minutes later she says "Oh, my God he is up there" I look over and there he was ordering drinks and kickin' at the bar".

The bartender yelled to me "he's asking for Tequilla" (true story)

After placing his order for a Coke.


Segment Four - Church (Scott this is just for you)
Some of you may recall the post a while back where Akins pointed at a Hooters bar and asked if it was a church, to which we said no and Scott (another adoptive parent) had a response that had me dying laughing and I am certain should be a published work. These photos are just for Scott!




Segment Five - The Ladies
It is often we get compliments by people especially women on how beautiful Akins is, but in Mexico it was almost unnerving. The women are completely in awe of him. Touching, hugging, kissing it was crazy! All I can say to really explain this is if I were Akins and I were all grown up I'd move to Mexico!


The working on a free massage.

Getting a free massage.

Segment Six - The Shark
On one of our outings we had the opportunity to meet and well...greet a real live shark. Akins was bounding down into the water before I could even get my shirt off only to nearly change his mind once getting closer and realizing it was big and real. He did it though...

The fear is over!

Belly up!

A little timid here.

Segement Seven - The Yatch
We had the opportunity to go out on a Yatch.

Captian Knupp

Segement Eight - The End
A few extra shots of the fun and adventure!

Water slide - big fun!

Good times!

On the way out to Isla Muerelles (Woman Island)

Snackin' on a lime.

Hey where's my sand castle?

This was a cozy thing to lay out in on the beach. Akins called it a dog bed!

And a beautiful sunset!

HO HO HO - Off to Cancun we go!

What a great 2nd Christmas for Akins. We opened presents, ate and spent the day playing with toys, mastering our WII balance board skills, talking via web and phone to all the relatives far away. He was thrilled with his gifts but could not focus on what to play with from moment to moment. Santa brought a bike that looks like a dirt bike, Grandma got an RC Quad very cool, Mommy-O and Lorea got him a trampoline, Grandma Karlene got him a camera and some really good friends got him the bug vaccuum, BIG hit - he went outside despite the very cold temp and sucked up everything he could find, returning to show each bug to us one by one. There were tons of gifts from cousins, Aunts and Uncles from the North and West, games, and toys too many to list and more than a boy ever needs. Tomorrow we leave VERY early for vacation in Cancun, Akins will be sportin' a very cool "spidey" suit for the trip! See ya' after the first of the year!

Vroom Vroom!

The jumping thing... displayed by two fingers jumping in the air

High on Akins wish list this year was "lippy" (lipstick), oh but it must be PINK! Lorea you want some?

Can't forget the dogs. Dolly had been smellin' those bones all night long

Boxes make good toys too!

The Knupp's "Big Adventure"

What started out as a simple trip to the Rhema Bible College to see the lights, a holiday tradition, turned into well, a long journey. The students at Rhema start decorating in August and let me tell you it far surpasses any other place I have seen in my life. Truly a magical experience! Some pictures follow, but I must say they do not do justice. After touring the college it was supposed to be simply back home. For those of you that travelled by car earlier this year or for anyone else who has passed through OK you will note there are turnpikes. The plus to a turnpike is it is usually a well maintained road with higher speed limits. The down side, it costs a pike fee and once you are on you are generally committed for quite a while as there are no turn outs to go back. Well, the adventure is about to begin...we decided to take the Creek turnpike home as it is a fast drop onto the 412 near our home BUT... we missed our turn dumping us onto the turnpike heading to Muskogee. So, now we are stuck for a while. Then the exit for Wagoner comes up and somehow while digging for coins to pay at the turnpike booth and some construction adding to the confusion we managed to miss ANOTHER exit leaving us committed to the turnpike until at least the Muskogee exit 20 or so miles further down the road. While discussing this and while intentionlly getting Lorea spun up about being lost, all the while I know exactly where we are are but am enjoying the toment of it all. Akins begins to get a bit worried about our ability to find our house and says "I miss my dogs"! This left us in hysterics. Okay, bud we are fine just going to take too long to get home. I think we ended up driving a good hour longer than necessary as a result of our errors. Mom and I thought it was funny, Lorea frustrated and Akins fell asleep because it took too long.







Another funny quote:
Lorea: Come on Akins come with me we'll go to the mall and buy a present for Mommy-O, but you have to keep the secret.
Akins: I can not go.
Lorea: Why?
Akins: I can not know.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Last year was Akins first real Christmas and certainly his first American Christmas. When we went to the tree farm to get the tree he ran around tasting all the trees. Well, this year guess what???

You taste them again in 2008.
Of course before you can go tree "tasting" you must first choose the perfect wardrobe for this festive event.

Well, and you must be color coordinated!

Once at the tree farm you can then focus on Rudolph and other important tree farm items.

Upon tasting all of the trees and determine the perfect flavor you can then help Mommy cut one down.

Timber!

Then after ensuring no one takes your perfect tasting tree you can rejoice with silliness by sticking toys to your face.

A Visit with Eman, Abegail and Annie!

What a great day! There is nothing better than watching kids who lived together half way across the world reconnect here in America on safe and loving soil. It was the safety of America and offering love to a child that was otherwise forgotten that made us want to adopt in the first place. Getting to join these kids together again while spending the day in great company, in a welcoming home (thanks to the Richardson's) with people I now consider good friends is icing on the cake! Today we had that opportunity. Scott brought Eman, Abegail and Annie over to visit his folks for the holiday. They are just a short drive away so we piled in the car to head off to spend the day. The kids played hard, laughing, pillow fighting, dragging each other around the floor and like any good friends it is as if time stood still since they last saw each other. Here's what it looked like.


Come here buddy and give me a hug!

It's fun to drag each other all over the house in the sleeping bag!

Major pillow fight. I think Abegail won.

Oh, the prince's crown slips.

It's dress up time. How pretty!

Boy time.

Abegail, Akins and Foxy (being a very good sport) all sliding down together.

What's up?
\
Ladies start your engines!

Abegail, Akins and Eman - Note: Eman checking out the spare tire!!!

Who can climb the fastest?

A quick and hard to capture group shot.

Freedom, Freedom, Freedom....

Come Eman...

Eman negotiating the "borrow" of the VSmile for the ride back to the house.

We were trying for another group shot. What we did get is Akins showing Eman how to play the VSmile.

See - Eman you got it!

Time for hugs good-bye.

Sue - Scott has a better one but the future is in the making! You might get your wish yet - mom-in-law! Introducing the future Mr. & Mrs. Akins Knupp. See that BIG smile? That is following a really big hug!

Bye Abegail!

A nearly perfect day. Only one thing missing...SUE! We sure did miss you!!!! Hope you enjoyed the peace and quiet cuz' let me tell you the noise is enroute back home right now!

Conversation on our way home...

Akins: Mommy, I miss Eman.
Mommy: I know honey me too?
Akins: Why?
Mommy: Because they don't live close enough for us to see them everyday.
Akins: Oh.

VIDEO CLIPS...to follow tomorrow!!