Getting Better

Yesterday's visit with Christian was a good one. Rachel did what she could to be difficult but it was contained to 9am and 8pm which left us the rest of the day to have a good time. She showed up 10 minutes late, as usual. She didn't bring any papers from the school; He gets a report from his teacher every Thursday we are supposed to get a copy of that and any other notes sent home every week, we haven't gotten one yet.When James asked about the papers she was really defensive and said he didn't really care about it anyway (Her way of excusing herself for not getting him the info, but James does care a great deal about what's going on at Christian's school.) As she drove off she said "Remember, don't leave him alone with 'anyone'." Ugh!

He looked happy go lucky in his mom's car but when he got in our car, he totally clammed up. We pretended not to notice his sour attitude and just kept being happy and positive, about five minutes later he was relaxed and having fun with us. I talked to James about it later and I think he's right, it was probably because he's confused about us, he knows what he remembers but wonders if what he is told is really true.. it takes him a minute after we get him to figure out what the truth is before he relaxes.

We went to breakfast with my parents at Pioneer Pies. They give the kids a cup of crayons and blank sheets of paper to draw or write on... it works out great. Christian drew Maximo (a character from his fav video game) and then a self portrait. We talked a lot. I drew a pic of "MY FAMILY" They were really bad stick figures but Christian could pick out who everyone was. Daddy, Joy, Christian, Jessica and Jordan. He had spikey hair yesterday so it was easy for me to draw his hair so he'd recognize it. He really wanted to get to spend time with Grammie and Papa but they had to go out of town after breakfast.

We played at the park for a very long time. We went sliding, swinging, climbing, running and we even played on the teeter totter and merry go round. (The merry go round is my favorite playground toy.) Then we did it all over again and again...haha. Finally, I had to go potty and we had to leave... none of the kids were happy with me about that. Christian told me I could go behind a tree and they would all close their eyes...haha The park we were at was in the center of a neighborhood surrounded by houses on every side. I couldn't do it, had to have a real potty with a door.

We went to Braum's for ice cream. Christian got the Mint Chocolate Chip. I was surprised that he liked it. I do not like mint anything. He told us that he got strawberry once before and he didn't like it. Jessica got chocolate and Jordan got cookies and cream. (James picked Jordie's, he got her what HE likes..ha)

We went to a couple of garage sales... looking for some good big outside toys but all we could find was old people stuff.

Christian was having video game withdrawls... so we came home. I expected that he wouldn't leave his video games for the rest of the day but after just a little bit he went out to play, then back to the games, then in the girls room to play, then they were runnning all over the house playing tag and basically just looking for a reason to scream and giggle at each other... It was fun to watch them together.

A little later I went in the kitchen and pulled out a box of baking soda and handed it to Christian with a spoon. I gave Jessica a cup of vinegar and I had food coloring. They all loved it when we made volcanos once before but I didn't have any playdough. I figured they'd have just as much fun this way. We mixed it in a big metal mixing bowl on a towel in the middle of the kitchen floor. They had a bunch of fun and when it was time to get ready to go back to his mom's house, he didn't want to go. HAHA! I was really pleased with that!

Christian was much more interactive and loving yesterday than he has been in this last few months.. it was like it used to be. When we were driving down our street, James asked "Who lives down here?" Christian said "US!" James was very pleased to hear that. It's always meant a lot to him that no matter how much or how little he is able to see Christian, he always knows Daddy's house is Christian's house.

Christian was showing off so many things that he has learned. He can spell MOM and DAD and JOY and CHRISTIAN and MAXIMO... He was very proud of himself and I couldn't help but be proud of him too. (Even if the GAL reminds me that he is not my son, I can still be proud of my step son.) He is doing a great job.

When we did have to take him back to Rachel, we showed up about 10 mins early, James really likes to be early, never on time and never ever late. Rachel called. She had bible study at 7:30pm (It was 7:50pm, quick bible study!) and if she left now, she'd have to stop and get gas and she woudn't be there until 8:15pm; She wanted us to bring him home. James reminded her that she had 11 hours to get gas but, OK! We called our attorney to make sure of what we should do. He said we should take him to her... I hope the fact that she wouldn't come get him works in our favor, but I can't figure out what will work for our benefit and what won't at this point.

There is a pizza place around the corner from our house called "Hideaway". There are not many of them in the city, in fact, I am not sure that there are any others. When we passed it on the way home, Christian yelled out that is where he ate with Mom and Carissa. (We don't know who Carissa is but we heard a lot about her yesterday.) So, James asked, "When you ate there, did you drive by our house?" Christian said "No, we just drove past it!" I think he thought the difference was whether or not they had stopped at our house but the result is the same.. Rachel is stalking us again and bringing Christian along for the ride.