MY BABIES!!
or rather..
los niños pequeños

they make me so proud. Everyday there is an improvement. Focusing on the small accomplishments..
SHD ONLY CRIED FOR 5 MINUTES AFtER HER FAMILY LEFT!
YAY!
..
WE TOOK HIS BLANKET AWAY AND HE ISNT CRYING FOR IT TODAY!
yAY!
SHE IS STILL PLAYING AND IM ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE ROOM!! SHE's NOT MY SHADOW ANMORE!!
.
SHE LAUGHED!
..
SHE put half the blocks awaY!!
she only left one piece of the puzzle out! !
HEr parents remembered diapers!


and they ALL.. all 8 of them learn to wash their hands before every meal.. and remind us lest we forget (sometimes we pretend to see what they will do, and they immediatly step up to the stool and put their hands over the sink and use the universal hand washing motion-they cant reach the sink so they do need our help_
AND they all sit there.. all 8 of them.. at breakfast, lunch and snack at the table, whether they are eating or talking or staring.. they know now that they need to wait until everyone is finished and then one by one brush their teeth and wash tehir hands..
they dont try to get up... they are PATIENT!!
which amazes me for 2 year olds..
and a couple of them give random hug attacks. running at you from across the room and jump into your arms whether you are ready for them or not.
and for the couple that cry every time they come in, and cling to their mother... each day they cry a little less.. and smile and laugh a little more.. i
and i can see their PERSONALITIES develop!
we have a dumper...
he goes to every container and DUMPS the entire thing all over the floor.. slowly.. so you can hear each individual piece hit the floor... and then moves onto the next one..
and we have quite a few who don't like sharing.. toys or their space or their teachers...
and the most beautiful smiles
and one girl who talks on and on and on in spanish and we have no idea what she is saying... we can catch a word here or there..
but we imagine that what it must be like for our parents. (6 of the 8 speak only spanish.. 1 speaks both.. but mostly spanish.. and one is completely english)
one father has 2 tear drop tattoos underneath his eye (i hope the rumors aren't true in terms of what it means..

AND I SO BADLY WANT TO SHARE THE PICTURES BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HELP BUT SMILE WHEN YOU SEE THESE CHILDREN!!
(except when they are acting BAD)

but its a whirlwind day full of tears (though less and less in the morning and more so just before lunchtime).. wiping snotty noses.. singing songs while the children stare as though we are crazy.. and i put on my favorite dancing cd with "twist and shout" and some song they sing about "HOT HOT HOT" by someone and all kinds that make me dance and move and i end up picking up each of the kids individually for an individual dancing "lesson" and try to teach them to shake their bum..but they aren't at that level yet.

and i look at the pictures
and the kids make me happy.
they need me.. they are attatched and comfortable.. *(though someone could EASILY replace me..)
but
i cant leave them
can i?


OH AND LAST NIGHT I WENT OUT!! YAY!!
the freind i had made plans with 4 or 5 times and either weather or his work or something else got in the way..
i finally got to go out! !
we went to eat at some bar thingie (the food was not too good..but I HAD A BEER!! I want to experience life.. and that includes EVERYTHING.. including beer.. even if i couldn't help but make a nasty face every time i took a sip)
and i bought us dessert at the chocolate bar
and we talked and talked
and i loved it
and i LOVED it

and its snowing now
so even though i made plans for sAturday to go to asheville.. we shall see how it pans out..