The Funny Farm

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Countdown to Christmas

What a crazy time of year this! We had a fantastic Halloween, including, but of course not limited to, visiting Grandma, Aunt Margaret, and Uncle Don and Aunt Mary's house. I laughingly joked that we should get shirts that say "Tour of Rory 2009"! Rory loved Trick or Treating and thought it was pretty cool that people just willingly gave out candy to total strangers. It is kind of a crazy holiday, if you really think about it. Rory really went crazy when we went home... check out the youtube video called SUGAR HIGH.

When we returned home he dumped all his candy on the table and just went to TOWN eating everything. But, we still had trick-or-treaters visiting, and the candy we had just wasn't good enough I guess. Rory wanted to give HIS candy to the 'big' kids- you know, the ones that SHOULDN'T be trick or treating, but do anyway. Actually, Brandon reported a trick or treater with a BEARD this year. Yikes. Anyway, Rory insisted on giving his candy to the kids (there were only a few). When we asked him what his favorite part of Halloween was, he said "giving out the candy". He's a giver... loves to give. When we laid in bed that night, we talked about how EVERYONE goes trick-or-treating.... his friends here, his cousins in florida, all his classmates, etc.... And he asked if anyone in Haiti goes trick-or-treating. I said no, it's just here. Then he asked if Witchy (one boy still in Haiti waiting to come home) would go trick-or-treating and I said, "No, Witchy isn't home yet so he can't go, but he'll go next Halloween." Rory was visably upset and asked why Witchy wasn't home yet, etc.... etc.... which turned into a long conversation. Then Rory asked if he could send some candy and his costume to Witchy so he could have Halloween in Haiti. How sweet is that... I just about melted.

Rory got his first report card in October and we had our first ever parent conference. It was really interesting being on the other side of the table. I actually teared up when the teacher was telling me how far he'd come and how he was writing (MY CHILD! WRITING!). I swore I'd never be that 'emotional' parent, but I do get it now and it just kind of brought it all home. He's come so far in just 8 short months. We are constantly amazed at the the things he says and does. The other day he just out of the clear blue sky started singing "Who let the dogs out!! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!" If I had a dime for evertime I say "Where did you hear that?"

Also, Thanksgiving was great. We had a small gathering - same as last year, but with Rory here, it was a whole new ball game. He had a countdown until the "big turkey". We made a little pilgrim hat and collar for him to wear too. He was really excited about the turkey, and he had a leg of it at dinner- hey, that's what he wanted, so I simply obliged... it's a holiday for pete's sake! He also loved the rolls and Grandma's chocolate pie. He was bummed to go to bed while the rest of us played cards. He wanted to stay up and play with us saying "Hey, guys, let's play cards".

The day after Thanksgiving was awesome. We got out all the stuff, boxes and boxes of it. Rory loved the newspaper :) in the boxes... thought that was really cool for some reason. Rory loves the dancing snowman and all that stuff. Grandma and Grandpa sent him a reindeer and dog that both sing and dance. He played with them last night for an hour! We are gradually adding to our collections around the Christmas tree and Rory says there are 31 right now. He could be right, but I'm not going to count them! The cutest thing is that he asked Santa for four things (a train, a drum set, a transformer, and a teddy bear) so he BELIEVES truly that he is going to get those four things and nothing more. Boy, is he going to be surprised on Friday! We can't hardly STAND IT!!!

In the meantime, we are going to have fun during our school break. I'm drinking coffee and typing this in my pajamas. The break comes just in the nick of time. Don't get me wrong- my job is great, but let's just say, that this year... I'm working for every red cent they pay me!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Fall is in the Air

If I had to describe our last month in one word it would have to be - BUSY! We have been going non stop just about all the time. Our reunion in September was awesome! Rory loved meeting up with some of his old friends. It was an amazing time and we are so glad we went. Of course, the airplane ride was special- he didn't even bother with any of the treats I brought for him to play with. He just parked himself right next to the window and stared out until he fell asleep. Same for the ride home. HE LOVES AIRPLANES! Here are some pictures from our trip. He was in HEAVEN!

We went to the zoo with Grandma. Rory loves the walrus... just can't get enough of him. He also go to feed the giraffe! See picture!

Gearing up for Halloween is very interesting. I mean, really, how do you explain Halloween to someone who has never known it? Rory is really excited about wearing his Halloween costume (spiderman). It has "big muscles"!

Rory had his last soccer game on Saturday and we were sad to see it end! He just loved it! Baseball is just around the corner and we think he is looking forward to it the most.

In the meantime, there are a lot of new videos on our you tube channel. Just click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/indyvaughn

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Six Months HOME!

Well, Labor Day was Rory's six month anniversary of being home. What a wild six months. In some ways, it seems like a flash... and in others, like an eternity.

Rory started school on August 10th and hasn't looked back. He loves school, especially riding the bus and packing his lunch. He's developed the reputation (around our house, anyway) as the town cryer. He comes home everyday and gives us a full report on what other kids have been up to and who is getting in trouble. His teacher gave him a glowing report just recently and says that he is always smiling a.k.a. 'he's so sweet'. Those of us who really know Rory know better! I'm sure he's just concocting his next scheme! Seriously, he is sneeky, but overall very well-behaved.

Brandon's parents visited in late August and we had a really good time together. Grandma taught Rory to play war and some other games, while Grandpa must have been pretty worn out by the end of the trip from playing ball so much. Rory rarely let him sit down. He misses them so much- we loved having them here.

Rory also started soccer. The first game was today. At first, Rory was very hesitant ... but right around half-time-BOOM- something just clicked and he totally just took off! No score is kept in his league, so I can't be sure... but I think he scored three goals. He's the ringer of the team according to the asst. coach (a.k.a. Pappa)!

In the last month, Rory has just blossomed. He's really come into his own. There is hardly anything we can say anymore that he doesn't understand and he just loves everyday. He sleeps solidly through the night (FINALLY) because the school day is just so long. He is actually reading- yes, reading- for school and just last night we were reading a book and he said, "Mama-look- 'little'"... he recognized the word he'd been working on all week in one of our books before I could read it. Brandon and I are really enjoying this time, because he is so happy! On Thursday, we told him about a big trip we are taking in two weeks. We are going to the Chances 4 Children reunion in Ft. Lauderdale and there will be around 25 other kids there. They are all home now and the look on his face when it dawned on him that he was going to see his old friends... oh, enough to melt your heart! However, he is also really excited to go on the airplane. Hasn't been on one since our trip home, so it will be interesting!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Summer Montage

I'll just work around that stupid cat if it won't move.

Visiting Mary and Don:)

Swimming lessons

On the river boat tour in Cinci with Chris and Melissa

More swimming lessons:)

My first fourth of July

On the double-decker bus tour in Chicago with Malana

There'a another new post below:)

Last Day of Summer :(

Well, Rory starts school tomorrow! This summer has just FLOWN by! We've done so much- here's a brief list:

1. Vaughn Family Vacation
2. Swimming lessons :)- Rory is a FISH!
3. Storytime and summer reading program at the library
4. Indians games
5. Overnight trips to Grandma's
6. Going to the festival(s) with Grandma
7. Trip to Chicago to visit Malana
8. Trip to Cincinatti to see Melissa, Chris, and Gus
9. Zoo!
10. Air show!
11. Endless Dr. and Dentist appts.
12. Signing up for soccer!
13. Getting ready for Kindergarten!

I'm really excited for him to start full-day kindergarten tomorrow- so is he! We've had a countdown going for about 3 months so he is more than ready! We went to kindergarten orientation the other night and he got to meet his teacher and the other students in his class. He was a little nervous, but fell right in with everyone. It was just surreal to see him sitting in a classroom with his name on his little desk. I just about cried, but quickly pulled myself together. It was funny to be in with all the other parents because I hadn't really given any thought to the fact that this was a group of people that up until five months ago, I hadn't 'belonged' to. Don't get me wrong... it was good, just strange and unfamiliar.

Rory starts soccer soon too... Brandon is the assistant coach for his team. We can't wait until the first real game. His language exploded this summer and he is not using very many creole words anymore. It is so amazing and exciting to watch his progress, but at the same time it is sad to see him gradually losing his native language. We still use creole words sometimes, but not because it is needed. He understands almost everything we say and he uses more complex words and sentences daily. The ELL (english language learner) teacher at his school was testing him and it was really cool to see how much he really did understand and objectively see how far he's come. She seems to think that he is doing very well and will master the language in a couple years. Not bad!

A couple days ago we were at my school getting the room ready, and Rory yelled "MAMA! My tooth felled out!" He'd finally lost a tooth that had been loose for some time. We had been working on the tooth fairy concept with books and a show on tv that talks about it. But sure enough, he asked A MILLION questions about the tooth fairy: Where does she live? What does she look like? What is her name? How big is she? Why does she want my tooth? What does she do with the teeth? How does she get in my house? Is she good or bad? Is she scary? But, the next morning he was downstairs (forgot all about it) and ran upstairs when he remembered the tooth fairy was supposed to come. She left him two dollars for his tooth and he was AMAZED! Now, he's constantly wiggling the other tooth that is loose:)

Thursday, June 11, 2009

The Summer of Rory

Rory and me at the air show... Rory like the airplanes- but he loved the parachutes more!

Well, you can be sure that this is definitely turning out to be the summer of Rory. He is having a grand time, mostly because everything revolves around him! Right now, Brandon and Rory are flying a kite, which he's been begging to do for a week. Rory is really doing well, and his English has really taken off. Right now he's really into saying things like "YESSSSS!" and "Are you kidding me?" and "I LOVE being me!" (the last one is from the movie CARS). Much to my frustration, he is also saying "Every time...." at the beginning of a sentence when he is not happy with us. For example he says, "EVERY TIME, I turn off the luminae (lights), Mama turns luminae on. Everytime." (his response to us telling him to turn the lights off- I'm innocent in all this.) Also, "Every time, Mama eats the orange snack (cheese puffs) passe Rory (more than Rory) and Rory gets small orange snack. Everytime." (Which, okay, is probably true most of the time, but it's like living with the food police!).

Rory had his 1st of two major dentist appointments yesterday. It went really well, and it was hard not to laugh at him about 5 minutes after they gave him the sedation. Does that make me twisted? Anyway, it wall went very smoothly and we are going back for round two next week. After that, we have our Vaughn family vacation in Tennessee which Rory is so excited about. Every time we get in the car, he asks to go to nina and grace's house. He thinks that is where we are going no matter how we try to explain it to him.

This morning we were cleaning, which he still loves to do- go figure. Anyway, he cleaned the TVs, and was helping me clean his bathroom. Then, he launched into this big plan, how he was

going to dust everything in his room and then downstairs, too. Then, we went into the garage to help Papa with some stuff and he used the blower to clean off the porch and the driveway. Now, he's discovered the measuring tape and walks around measuring everything. He things it's hilarious.

Papa's little helper!

Rory had his first overnight with Grandma Sanders last weekend. They went crazy and did all kinds of stuff, which of course HE LOVED. They even went to the Greenwood festival and rode rides! I think Grandma might have had an even better time than him!