Skool

I was catching up with the world this morning on Facebook and seeing all the pictures of kids as they're geared up for their first day of school here in Texas.  We're preparing to kick off our school year here at home as well.  As we homeschool our kids, our school year starts when we start it.  Jodi and I are both from northern states (Illinois and Washington), and in those states school doesn't start until after the Labor Day holiday, so this August thing still is a bit odd to us.  Bekah will be finishing up her senior year of high school this year!

For Kayleigh and Michael their school started when they got here back in May.  English, English, and English!  We've been using the Rosetta Stone software and that has worked very well, in addition to the good 'ol immersion method (just being around everyone else who speaks English!).  I have to say we are all surprised how well they've picked it up after only 3 months.  Both are speaking quite a bit of it, working on writing and reading as well.  Kayleigh has really been motivated to learn and is excited for her school year to start.  Michael is a 13 year old boy, so you know how that goes, not quite as amped up for it :)

Both kids continue to do very well and seem very happy here.  Michael is pretty easy to read and is very happy in our family, had jumped right in with no reservations.  He still surprises us at how warm and open he is, smiles all the time, and is one of the guys here in our family.  Kayleigh is still harder to read, but a friend from another family who was also adopted from Ukraine spent the night this past weekend, they had a long talk, and she is very happy here (we can tell but it's nice to hear as well :)  I think because she was a bit older, had to be the adult so to speak watching out for Michael, etc, that it's taken longer for her to relax and just get into being a kid.  Both kids continue to get along awesomely in our family :)

Happy Anniversary!

On Sunday Jodi and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary.  I have been very blessed with a wonderful wife for all these years, and for the many more that are to come!  Our tradition has evolved more towards grilling up a nice steak dinner at home, one because it is a lot more affordable to do it at home rather than a restaurant, and secondly because frankly, we can cook a better steak at home!  We do it all up big and make it a family affair as our children are such a large and central part of our married life together.

We had such a fun dinner together with our five kiddos.  I enjoy the dinner time together as its fun to see our whole bunch of kids together.  They are an amazing group of people, the best of the best.  We've worked hard to parent our kids in a Godly and consistent manner and have poured out love on them at every opportunity.  As I sit there and watch them I know that we've got the best family in the whole world, and we've got the kids that every parent in the world prays they get.  They are awesome people, loving and caring, with great character. 

We've had a really busy year with the adoption and getting used to having Kayleigh and Michael in our family, and that process has gone wonderfully.  Sitting at dinner, they are just regular Tanseys now, happy and wonderful kids.  They have our sense of humor and love for others.  They have our eclectic sense of humor.  Michael really likes steak.  Kayleigh hates beans. 

No matter what challenges or disappointments life may swing in our direction, we know we are good to go because we've got an awesome family that is a team and sticks together, a family that God has lovingly built and that we treasure.  Nothing else really is that important.

Boo Bunny!

Today is a landmark day for our family in that we have our first child reach the age of 18!  Happy Birthday to our daugher Rebekah Lynne Tansey, or as I call her, the Boo Bunny!  It has been such an honor to get to be your dad these first 18 years, I could not possibly be more thrilled to have you! 

As parents we have been tremendously blessed with our first three kids.  They are truly amazing people in every sense.  In fact, one of the concerns with adoption was that our three kids were such an amazing group, we were worried about bringing new kids into our family and messing up that dynamic trio we started with.  But God does His thing and Kayleigh and Michael have fit into our family as if they had always been there.  We went from the Super 3 to the Fab 5 with ease :)

Both K & M continue to do well.  Pray for Michael as he is getting in some big molars now so his face isn't feeling so good while those break through the gums.  Their English is coming along great so, while I'll swing back into Ukranian here and there, it's really just for my practice and some bonding rather than necessity.  Both kids have been sleeping a lot as they're growing, we can really see Kayleigh growing lots and getting bigger than Alyssa (they used to be identical size).  Both are pickle fanatics.  Kayleigh hates lettuce and black olives. 

Three Months!

Today is the 3 month anniversary of returning to America with our two new kids!  I have to say it has gone so far beyond better than we would have anticipated.  It seems like much longer than that.  We still have our fond memories of our trip to Ukraine, still stay in touch with and miss our new friends there, but have truly enjoyed our time home with the Fab 5 so far.  Both Kayleigh and Michael seem very happy, healthy, and 100% engaged with our family.  They've become a natural part of our family.  Still sounds a bit strange to say we have 5 teenage kids, mostly because it just makes us sound crazy ;)  It's been our privilege to become their parents!

Date Night

One of my traditions with the kids is doing a date night.  Whether it was being we had 3 kids, or now 5, it's special time to hang out with them one on one.  Tonight was my first date night with Kayleigh, as Bekah was out with a friend, Alyssa is in Dallas, and the boys are at a birthday party.  Nothing crazy, just windows down in 100 heat blasting away One Direction and Carley Rae Jepsen (no, I did NOT pick the music....), Subway for dinner and frozen yogurt for dessert.  I had a great time with her :)  Her english has gotten pretty good for less than 3 months, and I still seem to remember my Ukrainian (as it is....) so we really don't have a problem talking with each other.  We just had a great time hanging out and goofing off.  She doesn't like black olives or lettuce.  She likes coconut.  Teenagers!

TGIF!

Happy Friday everyone!  I haven't posted for a week so posting just to say, well, howdy!  There's really nothing earthshaking to report.  Which is probably good :)  We're just living regular life with our family of five teenagers!  Bekah is in and out all the time working, doing church things, time with friends, starting up volleyball, and getting ready for her 18th birthday party.  Alyssa is up in Dallas babysitting our cousins adorable son Chava, watching the Olympics and having a blast in dance class.  Kayleigh is doing dance class, working on her english (which continues to improve quickly...), and her sweet 16th is coming up next month.  Dylan is having a great time in karate class and continues to pick up new skills easily, and getting ready for the cross country running season (close to breaking the 6 minute mile...).  Michael tested and earned his yellow belt in karate and is heading off to a birthday party today, and continues to make friends easily.

We continue to be blessed daily with our two new kids and how well they've become a normal part of our family.  It's been less than 3 months since they flew home with us and it has been great to see how happy they are.  Both have put on (good...) weight, look very healthy, are quite active and playful.  We are enjoying it :)