We're Moving!

No we aren't actually physically moving, but our blog is. After not posting to BHB for more than a year, we decided it was time for a new chapter since the babies were already brought home a while ago. You can check out our latest adventures at La Familia Eisenberger.

Our Christmas Letter - 2009 Edition

Dear Family and Friends,

¡Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo!

Where do we begin? This is our very first Christmas letter, so there is much to say. We know some of you who have received this letter follow…er, followed…our blog fairly religiously, so we will spare you the month-by-month recap.

In the meantime, here are the highlights of 2009…

• This year was an incredible year of “firsts” for our family, including birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and the big one-year anniversary as a family.
• Samuel turned 7 in April, and the twins turned 5 in May. They were overjoyed by their celebrations and receiving gifts!
• As a part of turning 5, the twins relinquished their “Aikas” (known to the rest of the world as “security blankets”). We eased into it, and the transition was much more seamless than we thought it would be.
• In an effort to prep the twins for school and keep Samuel occupied, all the boys went to day camp every day for 8 weeks. The staff was amazing, and it was obvious that they were well loved there because they had so much fun, and we made some awesome friends in the process!
• On July 9, we celebrated the one-year mark as a family. Deemed “Family Day”, we went out to lunch, shopping for new outfits and to a park where we could play and feed some “geeps”.
• Samuel started the first grade in August. There was a bit of shell shock when he realized that there is more work and less play in first grade, but his progress amazes us on a daily basis.
• The twins also started kindergarten. It has been a huge adjustment, but they are growing more and more each day, including talking in full sentences and playing together!
• Andrea started grad school in August to get certified to teach art. It has been a great experience and it feels like I have finally found what I am meant to do. Oh, and I got straight A’s which has never, ever happened to me before.
• Troy ran two marathons this year­—the Snichers Marathon in Albany, GA and “Ridge to Bridge” in Morganton, NC.
• The twins can actually be in the same room as the dogs without freaking out. We did not think that day would ever come. They still don’t want to pet them, but we are OK with that. Sam on the other hand has become great friends with Baxter and Sylvia. He feeds them, takes them outside to play, and lets them sit on him (keep in mind they have about 12 pounds on him).

Another huge highlight has been preparing for the Advent season this year. The boys are more familiar with what happens at this time of year, and have asked some really awesome questions about why we celebrate Christmas. We have been reading a VeggieTales book called The Stable That Bob Built and have also been reading the story of Jesus’ birth from their children’s Bible. It has been encouraging to see them start to grasp the meaning of it all.

As we approach 2010, we realize that we have much to be thankful for. It has been an incredible (almost) 18 months since we met the boys—full of ups and downs as all five of us have adjusted to being a “forever family”. There are definitely days when we feel like we are barely treading water, but those days are quickly overshadowed by the joy that these little men have brought to our lives. We are amazed at how often we are caught off guard by the fact that these sweet, bright, amazing little boys live in our house and we get to be their “Mamá and Papá”.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us through our transition to parenthood. Also thank you to everyone who has loved on our boys and made them feel like the rock stars they are—you have no idea how this has helped our transition into a family.

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,
Troy, Andrea, Samuel, Daniel & Luis

Electric Eisenbergeraloo 2: Still Bloggin'

The Blog is coming back....pics....stories that will make you laugh and/or cry....and so much more.

Thanks for those who still check this. Stay posted.

-Troy and Andrea

Beating Our Heads Against A Brick Wall...Sometimes

If there is anything Troy and I have learned on this journey so far, it's that there are going to be moments in the life of every parent where words simply fail. Either complete elation, pride, love, fear, or, in yesterday's case, mortification take over. When one of these moments occurs, all you can do is just live in it. If it is an unwanted emotion, such as fear or mortification, just keep praying that you can move through it towards a resolution as quickly as possible.

This summer, the boys have been spending their days at a day camp near our house. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Hickory Grove Baptist Church North day camp program. The camp director and staff have been fabulous. They have embraced our family, including my...let's call it quirkiness, though we all know "over-protectiveness" is probably a better label. They adore the boys and really let them be who they are - basically, they have really worked with the challenges of two five-year-olds who are not quite developmentally five and were willing to put Sam in a class based on age not grade. I get reports daily, like the twins were not listening as well as they should be or they hit someone, and I rejoice on the days when I am told that they are doing better than on other days. Samuel has had some rocky days, but with a year of school behind him, he came into camp pretty much knowing the drill.

Which brings us to the debacle that was Monday, July 28. So... Troy and I had the rare opportunity to pick the boys up together. As we walked into the main lobby where we sign the boys out, I immediately sensed that something was off because one of the twins' counselors was looking at me kind of funny. When I asked her if everything was OK that day, she assured me it was, but I wasn't buying it one bit. There was definitely something fishy going on. Then Cassandra, the camp director, dropped the bomb on me literally! This is what she said: "I don't want you to be upset or panic because it happens to every parent." The number of tragic things and possible havoc the boys could have wreaked that I imagined in the ten seconds before she told me what really happened cannot be detailed here due to space constraints. And then she lowered the boom. Luis had pulled down a little girls pants while she was drinking out of the water fountain, AND Samuel had said "f--- you" twice to no one in particular as he held the door open for his campmates. I...wanted...to...melt...into...the...floor. I wasn't quite sure of what to say or what to do. I definitely knew what I was feeling. Mortification. Anger. Frustration. A complete mix of emotions. Needless to say, we got the boys into the van, got everybody home (Daniel got the special treat of riding in Papa's car and going to the store) and moved to a quick resolution that will hopefully work for our family. Will the boys use "the swears" again in the future? Undoubtedly. Will our little Cassanova learn better ways to woo the ladies? We can only hope so.

At any rate, some days parenting truly is like beating your head against a brick wall. We realize we will have new hurdles to overcome constantly, and we can really only take them one at a time. This is true for any parent; however, life is so much more complex when you are an adoptive parent of older children. We never underestimate the effect that the years we weren't with them had on their lives because we will never know the full story. When they do or say something, we can't help but to question the motivation or psychology behind their actions and words. I am so thankful for all that we know about them now, and I am extremely thankful for and humbled by the role Troy and I get to play in shaping their futures.

Well, that is it for this post. I know I have a lot of catching up to do. Summer is halfway over and so much has happened. Hopefully I will be able to post everything soon!

Happy 1st Anniversary La Familia Eisenberger

Can you believe we met the boys one year ago today?

July 2009, Virginia Beach, VA

July 2008, Periera, Colombia

¡Cinco de Niños!

Well, it is official. The twins are now big boys! On Saturday, May 23, we celebrated their "first 5th" birthday. It wasn't quite the to-do we had initially planned - which would have been held with my family in WV. We had to cancel our Plan A due to my uncle's impending back surgery - prayers are definitely needed and welcome on that front - but our Plan B turned out to be pretty awesome all the same. The twins didn't really know the difference; all they knew was that there was the cake and balloons that they had requested. But before we get to that, let's talk about "their last day as four-year-olds" celebration.

Last Day As Four-Year-Olds
I clearly had a much more difficult time with them turning 5 than they did. Last week was quite emotional for me. It seemed that each day was a reminder of just how short our time together has been and how quickly it has been passing. The boys - all of them - are growing so fast, and it is hard to believe we have only been a family for 10. 5 months. On the other hand, which helped me gain perspective, Troy was very excited about their turning 5 and impending "big boyness" and all that comes with growing up and the things we have to look forward to this year.

As part of our celebration, the Aikas (pronounced "eye-ee-kah"; also known as blankets) and stuffed animal friends were allowed to go with us wherever we went. This is Daniel's Popoino (pronounced "po-po-wee-no").

Luis and Hippopotomo.

We even had lunch with our friends.

Quite possibly the coolest the part of the day; however, was when we went to Target to pick up party supplies, the #42 Target car (yes it was race week here in the Queen City) was parked outside the store. The #42 - for all of you non-race fans - is driven by none other than Juan Pablo Montoya, who is one of Troy and I's favorites because he is from Bogota, Colombia. As the boys were walking around looking at the car, and saying stuff like "Whoa!" and "Cool!", I found out that J.P. himself would be at the store later to sign autographs. So we hopped in the van, rushed home, waited for Sam to get home, got back in the van, rushed back to the store, and got in line!

Daniel is telling you, "I have touched this car. I am about to meet Juan Pablo. He is from Colombia like me." Well he would say that if he could speak in less garbled sentences. He was probably saying something like, "Look Mama, this race car cool!"

Juan Pablo Montoya. Sadly, they wanted to keep the line moving, so there were no photo ops with him, just autographs. But I did let him know that the boys were from Pereira and he tried to speak Spanish to them. The boys were so excited they just giggled, and Luis did one of his very Luis goofy things that he does.

The Twins Turn 5!
The twins were so excited (and probably already exhausted) by the time the big day arrived. When Luis woke up at 6:50 AM to go to the bathroom, I went up to ask him to go back to bed when he was finished and not wake Daniel. Well, I made the mistake of wishing him a "happy birthday" and it was on from there. He was way too excited to sleep and he woke his brothers up.

The first order of business was something the twins and I had been working up to for over a month...It was time to say good-bye for good to the Aikas. Yes, they have been dear friends, like dear aunties that watch over the twins at all times, but the boys also suck on them when they sleep and the dentist said they have got to go before the twins are old enough for permanent teeth. I am hoping the thumb sucking will resolve itself since it seemed to go hand in hand with carrying the blankets.

So, we gave them one last hug, folded them gently, said good-bye and we love you so much, and put them in ziploc bags for safe keeping. I was definitely more upset than they were. You can ask my mom about my Poocoos.

Then we were off to Dan Nicholas Park in Salisbury...

All of the boys are very into picnics. We packed sandwiches, apples, juice, chips and cookies - all of the twins favorites - into the picnic basket. Luis unfortunately has a bug phobia. I know those of you who are avid readers of our blog are shaking your head and thinking "What isn't that boy afraid of?" When we figure it out we will let you know. There were moments when he would start screaming and crying uncontrolably because a fly or a gnat came near him. Even at his turtle eating pace, and bug screaming delays, we eventually made it through before dusk or the rain came.

Sweet Daniel...doesn't he look older?

Luis being Luis...love those faces he makes.

Aren't they cute? They had cut-outs like this all over the park.

In addition to a little train that the boys adored, they had a petting zoo with goats, sheep, a donkey named Sam, etc... The boys had a good time trying to get the animals to come to them, even though none of them did (except maybe the goats who were tempted by the straw the boys were holding).

I got this sweet, little pig to come to me. She was adorable, and very vocal with her "oinks" and squeels. For any of you Facebook friends out there who play Farm Town, she literally walked up to me and fell over asleep. It was too, too cute!!!

The park also had a wildlife refuge. Here the boys are looking for the bear.

Daniel is literally doing a chicken dance here. Not THE chicken dance, but a chicken dance nonetheless.

Sam makes a solo appearance. I put this pic in because he looks so stinking cute in it, and to prove that he really was there too!

We finally got the twins on a carousel. They would only ride on the bench, but still it is a step up from the Parque del Café fiasco where Daniel refused to ride and Luis screamed the entire time. Samuel chose a horse as far from the rest of us as possible.

Pizza was the twins' pick for dinner, so we did make your own courtesy of Trader Joe's. We love this because it reminds us of Archie's in Colombia.

The dinner party. Yes Hippopotomo and Popoino joined us for dinner too! They wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The theme was dinosaurs, so we had dino-cupcakes. We also had dino-balloons and the table was covered in little dinosaurs that the boys could play with during dinner.

...or that Papa could play with during dinner. Samuel is getting to be a very good photographer. He has quite the eye.

Daniel kept telling me that he wanted a car for his birthday. I kept telling him that he has tons of cars. But what he meant was that he wanted one that was just his - that he doesn't have to share. I have never seen him happier than when he opened this gift. His face was beaming. Thanks Nana and Pop Pop Peregory!

Luis loved his too!

They had a wonderful birthday. If the weather ever clears long enough for us to go out, we will take pictures of them learning how to ride their new bikes (that's what we got them). The only hiccup in the day was when we finally went to bed and both boys asked where the Aikas were. Troy and I both felt horrible as we reminded them that they were five now and big boys and blah, blah, blah...

Who Are These Boys?

One year ago today we received the life-changing phone call from our adoption case-worker that we would be getting three incredibly handsome, active sons. At the time, the photo (which we received a few days later) was mislabeled and we thought Daniel was Luis and Luis was Daniel and we kept calling Samuel by his first name. It is funny to think back to all of the things we inferred from the photo or interpreted from the paperwork and compare it to what we know about them now. I could write a book on their personalities, what they are really like, their favorite things, etc... It has been an amazing ten months of us getting to know each other better and figuring out how to function as a family of five. We definitely still have a long road ahead of us, but we are enjoying the ride.

Daniel, Luis Angel and Carlos Samuel in May 2008.

Daniel, Luis and Samuel in May 2009.