Home Sweet Home

There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.

My Little Project

I collected backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and learning worksheets as my little project to take with me. My favorite part was handing out the backpacks. The kids were so excited, but I loved the reaction of the Mothers. They would hug, kiss, and sing to you to thank you. I can only imagine how hard it must be to go without so many things, but it must be painful not being able to provide simple things like pencils for school for your children. As a Mother I related to the other Mothers and that's why it was my favorite part of the trip.

Making New Friends

I had a fanastic group that I was able to go with. They were all a lot of fun, and they didn't mean to make me feel like an old lady, but since they were all in their early twenties, I called it a night about 2 hours before the rest of them. I was also the only one who complained about sore feet. Mike's secertary Kelsey came with me, and I'll be eternally grateful for having a comrade with me with throughout the whole trip.

The Haitian People I met in the Dominican Republic were the most amazingly loving people. All the women hug and kiss you. All kids want you to pack them around, hold their hands, and give them lots of hugs. My favorite thing was to have the little girls braid my hair, however I never seen a dirtier comb than the one the used on my hair.

The Dump

I visited the dump where many people live. They collect different recyclable or sell able items, as well as look for food to eat. They build little villages around the dump where most of the children stay during the day. I had the hardest time watching all the little kids walk around with all the broken glass and garbage on the ground because none of them wore shoes. They were some tough little kids in this village, and it felt a little like the a scene from The Lord of the Flies. It's kind of a survival of the fittest there and they played rough. We had to stop some of the kids from hitting each other with big rocks and sticks.

The Usual Suspects

It's the traditional first day of school line up. Ethan is especially excited to start the second grade. You can't see my face, but it has a big smile on it.

Another stamp in my passport

Lo siento mucho, soy gringo. Translation: I am very sorry, I am a Gringo.
I'm taking a week long humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic. Mike is taking a week long humanitarian mission of caring for 4 kids, and that includes taking all of them to back to school night. I found a local women who puts together volunteer groups to go over to the DR to work at orphanages, hospitals, and different villages. It's been a great project for me this summer to put together school supplies to hand out while I'm there. I'm so excited and will let you know how it goes. The website for the foundation I'm going though is http://www.children-in-need.us/ if you'd like to check it out. They do some pretty cool things.

Road Runners

We went to a few games of the local semi-pro baseball team the Road Runners. We of course couldn't miss the game when they had Star Wars Celebrities there like Obi Wan, Storm Troopers, and of course the big DV. Ben was very brave and started a light saber battle with Reggie the Road Runner, but quickly retreated after he realized that Reggie was really swinging the saber hard, and has limited visibility.

The Brave of Heart

Congrats to the Braves and Mr. Ethan Leavitt for being the Cal Ripken league Champions. I also need to apologize to Ethan for making him wear ankle socks with his baseball uniform, I didn't understand the unspoken dress code of baseball.

Swim Team

We enjoyed watching Andrew and Ethan swim at a few meets this summer. Andrew voluntarily signed up for the swim team, although he claims he was manipulated into it. Apparently he thinks we give missed messages when we tell him "I really think you should do it, and there is no real excuse for not doing it" and then turn around and tell him "but it's your choice." I believe these parenting skills have been around since just after the Garden of Eden and they're workin' real good. Being able to go to the meets with the Rich cousins (Aidan, Addie, & Andy) made it worth it, and the ribbons and medals weren't bad either.

Ah, the concrete

Sara and I have been debating about moving. We love our house, love our neighbors, love the yard, but feel the need for the a bit more room. At the height of the debate, we got the opportunity to have some concrete poured for cheap. We've always wanted a back patio, and couldn't pass it up, so we had it poured. But then we couldn't stop. We the tore out our apple tree and poured a 79 x 24 foot slab. One with an RV might call it a vastly enormous RV pad, but we call it a basketball court. Ben is begging to have the Jazz logo put in the middle.

I guess we made our decision about moving.

Reunions

There are few more emotionally gratifying moments than a reunion with someone you care about. There's the anticipation of seeing someone you haven't seen for a long time, and then when you do see them, you've grown in such parallel ways that it's like you'd never been apart.

I felt that this last weekend when Mike and Kristina Christopherson stayed with us for a few days. I've known them both since the 7th Grade at Bonneville Junior High in Salt Lake. Everytime I see them, they have such a great way of making you feel good about yourself. We had a great time. I had hoped it wouldn't end, but then of course, the reunion wouldn't be as special.

I noticed it again Monday night when Andrew's friend Sam stopped by. Sam and Andrew became close friends last year, but Sam's family moved to Salt Lake last summer. When Andrew found out Sam was moving, I think it was the first time in his life he had ever felt real, honest sorrow. He stopped by Monday night for just a few minutes. As Andrew waited for him to come over, I could sense his anticipation. When Sam's mom dropped him off, the excitement that both of them felt, while trying to maintain their cool, was obvious.

Both experiences reminded me of the fact that, no matter what friends you have in your life, those that you develop in your youth just seem to stick with you forever.

What have the Leavitts been doing the last four months?

In March over spring break we spent four days in East Zion roughing it in our own comfy little cabin. We enjoyed hiking, horse back riding, and hanging out with the Richs. Mike also came home with a spider bite on his hand that ended up sending him to the ER three different times. All is well now and I'm ready to tie dye my kids clothes, buy the whole family some Birkenstock and move to Zion. It was a great trip.

February Ethan turned seven years old, but has the attitude and style sense of a fourteen year old. Ethan also competed in his first swim meet. Go Ethan.

In January Mae had her "brain" on her shoulder removed. She was a champ through out the whole thing.

Now It's really Offical

In January we had Mae sealed to us, and now she's got us for eternity. Do you see the fear in her eyes.

Christmas time at the Leavitt home. Santa must look different in Taiwan, because he really freaked Mae out. The boys humored their mom by agreeing to wear matching shirts, although Andrew thinks he's getting a little old for it.

December 21st Andrew turns the big 10, and is convinced that his voice is now deeper.

It's Offical

December 18th we have Mae's adoption finalize here in the U.S.

The boys got to skip school to come

to the court house with us. We thought it would be a special experience, and it was. The boys were absolutely thrilled to see real prisoners with jumpsuits and all!

Mae's B-day

November 28th Mae's feeling a little overwhelmed by her first birthday.

Visual assistance

November 3rd - 10th We travel to Taiwan to meet our Mae face to face. I'm not sure she was too impressed, but we were.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

So we haven't spoken for awhile, you and I. Obviously, the last post we had was on our last day since leaving Taiwan with Mae over four months ago. A lot has happened since then. Thanksgiving, Mae's birthday (1) , finalizing Mae's adoption in the U.S., Andrew's birthday (11), Christmas, New Year's Day, getting sealed to Mae, Martin Luther King Day, Groundhog's Day, Ethan's birthday (7), Valentine's Day, President's Day, a three day vacation to Zion National Park (aren't we adventurous), Ben's birthday (5) and Sara and my nervous breakdowns.

Mae has adapted well and is a full-fledged Leavitt. Apparently, no one told us that Mae wasn't all smiles, all of the time. Her photos from the orphanage were deceiving. Or perhaps she was just happier there. Either way, we have quickly been reminded of what it is like to have a one year old.

Seriously though, she's wonderful and Andrew, Ethan and Ben are proving what steller older brothers they can be.

I promise to be better about posting. More later.