India Part 1

Traveling to Delhi to get Avika was an adventure to say the least!  It felt crazy that we were finally traveling to meet our daughter after waiting for two and a half years.  We started this journey with an application to our agency in February of 2012.  Avika was born in April 2012.  We were matched with her in the spring of 2013, and we received word our embassy appointment was scheduled early August 2014.  We bought plane tickets that morning and left the next day!

 

Here we are at the start of our journey in the airport in Durango. Only 24 hours of flights and layovers ahead of us!

On the plane somewhere over Russia?

We got into Delhi late, then woke up early to go to the orphanage to meet Avika!  This is the alley/side street where her orphanage was located...

 

Moments after first meeting her.  She was definately a little leery of us, but allowed us to hold her and try to play a bit.

Unfortunately we had to take her to her first medical appointment right after meeting her for the first time.  We wished we could have spread this out a bit, but we were on a tight schedule.  This is us in the car on the way to Max Med.  She was less than impressed with us!

We were able to make it through her medical without incident, but she did throw up on me in the car on the way back to the hotel.  Quite the introduction...

 

 Day two:  a trip to the embassy to get a form we didn't know we needed, a little shopping and a mendhi session (!), and lunch at a south Indian restaurant (found out I love dhosa masala) near Connaught Place.

In the afternoon we were able to go back to the orphanage and spend more time with Avika.  I think we won her over a little this day.  We got lots of smiles, a couple of hugs, and she seemed sad to see us go at the end of the afternoon!

Avika

 

 

Introducing the newest Bong!  This is our daughter

Avika Ruby Priya Bong.

 

 

 

 

Three on a Skateboard

Appearing in the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo: three person street luge/longboard bobsled.  These guys are going for a gold medal.

 

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

This is a pitcher, not a belly-itcher.

Knocking out a homer...

Matt just finished up another softball season with the Steaming Armadillos.  Still loving playing with these guys, wishing they won more games, but truly enjoying relationships formed on the team.  Go Armadillos!!

Weolcome Home Mommy!

I got a wonderful surprise coming home from trip last weekend!

Yes, the spelling needs a little work, but Matt said they did it all on their own.  It pretty much made me the happiest mom ever.  I had a really really great trip- I got lots of time alone (this really never happens for me so I am always in need of it!), spent time with dear friends I haven't seen in much too long, did some reminiscing in Boulder about my CU days, and went to a college reunion.  It was so much fun to see and catch up with roommates, neighbors, and friends from CU- I'm very grateful to have been part of such a great group of people during my college days.  A giant thanks to Matt for allowing me to indulge while he took care of everything at home.  I couldn't wait to get home to these monkeys, though!

Camping with the Webers

Another thing Matt did while I was gone?  He took the kids camping!  Sounds brave, doesn't it? (and a little crazy.)  Thankfully he went with some friends of ours who helped him out.  The kids had the best time ever apparently.  Miles caught his first fish and Delia "slept over" with her friend C in her tent.  So much fun!

Hiking with Pop

Last week I got to take a trip solo so Matt was tasked with entertaining these monkeys while I was gone.  First up was hiking- something fun that I never do with the kids!

Father's Day '14

Father's Day mini golf fun from this year...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Ninja Warriors

We went to Big Bounce last week to kick off our summer.  Isaac and Delia played "American Ninja Warrior" the whole time.  I think it's only a matter of time before the kids are asking Matt to build a warped wall in the back yard.

spring soccer 14

Another great soccer season- we are sad to see some of our fellow soccer families move away from Durango this year.  The kids love playing with their teammates, and we have loved spending time with their families. 

Mother's Day Program

One of my favorite things at the kids' pre-school every year is the Mother's Day program.  It always melts my heart!  Miles is always so happy to perform with Miss Melanie- he just had the best time singing.  (Please ignore the unfortunate haircut Miles has in these pictures.  Someday I will get good at giving the boys haircuts!)

Poetry Reading

Here is Isaac sharing some of his writing during the 2nd grade poetry reading this year.  He's not really one to get up in front of people and does not enjoy having a lot of attention, so I was really proud of him!  His poem was amazing, too, especially since he really dislikes writing.  So proud of him!

** He's wearing his Grandpa Robb's hat from Vietnam.  It's his new favorite hat that he wears everywhere!

Daddy Daughter Dance '14

This year's Daddy Daughter Dance picture.  Delia looks forward to this night ALL year.  There was a photographer from the Durango Herald there this year, and a picture of Delia made the paper!  After seeing it she said, "I wanted to be famous when I grow up, but I'm famous now!"

Random Pics from Spring 2014

Can you tell I finally figured out how to get pictures from my phone onto our blog?  Here are some random picts from the last several months.

I think Miles was sick in these shots.  I can't think of why else the cat would be sitting next to him allowing him to do this.

Because he's older than seven, Isaac had to write a letter to the judge in India saying why he wants us to adopt Avika.  I was so impressed with his letter and how quickly he got it done so we could send in the paperwork.  This one's going in Avika's book!

I think this is in Albuquerque during Spring Break...

Downtown Durango running errands with the boys...

Ice Skating

Another thing to finally cross of the list this past winter- ice skating!  Delia especially loved it.  She even got to wear Aunt Emmy's old skates.  It was hard with all three kids because they each needed to skate one-on-one with a parent, but they all had a great time. 

Old Stomping Grounds

This past winter we finally took the kids to a basketball game at my high school.  Miles and Delia were less than impressed, but I think Isaac had fun.  Once he figured out he could tune me out every time I said, "Twenty years ago when Mommy was in school here..." I think he really enjoyed the game.  It's hard to believe it's been twenty years since I watched a game there!