2010 Begins!

It has been so long since I have updated this bog that I considered ending it.  However, both sets of granparents are now in Florida so I have decided to update it far more requently so they can see how the boys are doing. The Baldwins have been busy since I last posted.   Zachary is still very involved in Tae Kwon Do and loves his instructor, Master Lee.  Zachary also loves to tell me that even though Master Lee is shorter than me, he could kill me if he wanted to.  Luckily for me Master Lee's interest is in inspiring my son and not maiming his mother;)  Thursday night he will be tested for his yellow belt and hopefully he will get his blue uniform as well.  They make sure to send notes home periodically to commend Zachary on a great class and you can see Zack stand a little straighter when he reads them. 
Zack band, The Burnin' Rockers continue to perform and the boys get together frequently to practice for their next gig, which I am afraid is Zack's birthday party;)  Their new material is comprised of AC/DC songs, some Bon Jovi, and an original compilation called "Silver Sword" (in which every person has a five minute solo, so you can imagine how that goes).  Second quarter was a great one for Zack and he is again an A student with a wonderful comment about his musical talent.  My good friend's husband plays guitar and is amazed how Zach can pick apart songs and play so well.  Zack does love that captive audience;)
My little imp, Alex is growing by leaps and bounds.  The pediatrician is so happy with his progress and growth and we are sooooo happy that potty training is almost finished:)  Alex learns so much at daycare and besides the ABCs, colors and such, Alex can sing the chorus to "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap".  Do you see a theme??? 
Every morning when Alex first wakes up, we let him lay in bed and he calls for us when he's ready (otherwise we have a very cranky boy on our hands).  Getting in and out of bed is not a problem for Alex, but for some reason he will not get up until we open his door (thank God for small favors).  For the last week we have gone to Alex's room in the morning and have walked in to see Alex laying on his bed, with his bed completely made, and a huge smile on his face. I love to tease Zachary that his three year old brother makes his bed neater (and faster) than he does:)
The New Year brings so many things for us.  We have already celebrated Chinese New Year, enjoyed the Russian Winter Festival, and are gearing up for Easter, Kaz's Spring Celebration, and most important, the days that we met and adopted our sons. 
So often I find myself looking at my wonderful sons and feeling so lucky to be able to be their mom.  I think of all that their birth parents have had to sacrifice in order to give their sons a better life.  I wonder what their lives would have been like; relationsv  hips, schooling, language.  So many diferences, but at heart I know that they would be the same loveable boys that they are today.  For that, I am so blessed and thankful.
Enjoy the random pictures of the boys and our loved ones.