Over the Christmas holidays, the Bonner Five ventured north to Sevierville, Tennessee, where our dear friends, the Grizzles, housed us for a few days to celebrate New Year’s. Matthew, Vivian, and Annie Kate got to meet the dogs, play in the snow, and eat some delicious home-cooked meals.
Exploring the Smoky Mountains!
January 31 marked the one-year anniversary of our learning about a Hungarian sibling threesome who needed a home. Wow! Can't believe we are starting to hit the 1 year anniversaries of milestones in becoming a family.
Our three got to experience their first American Valentine’s Day. They had a great time making Valentine cards and exchanging them with their classmates.
Annie Kate's artwork was picked to be in a student art show! She won 2nd place in the cosmopolitan club art contest with this piece. We are proud of her hard work!
We started soccer!!
When it was time to sign up for soccer, we asked them if they wanted to play. They all said, "yes!" None of them had ever played on a team before. It's been a good learning experience for all of us. These three are learning how to be a part of a team, follow directions, and work hard. They've learned about commitment, and get a little better week by week. (I've learned to wash soccer socks immediately following practice and games!)
We are just getting back into the school routine after a nice week of Spring Break. We journeyed to Huntsville, Alabama, with Poppa to see the Hills (Gareth’s sister Gab, her husband Joseph, and sons Banks and Jude). Matthew, Vivian, and Annie Kate got to spend some quality time with the boys, visit the Space and Rocket Center, play at the EarlyWorks museum, and swim in the indoor pool.
We know you've all been checking the blog daily mostly for the poetry, so we will conclude with this:
First Holidays for the Bonner Five
New memories and opportunities come constantly
for Matthew, Vivian, and Annie Kate,
to be experienced with a forever family.
with every new American holiday.
Perfect for new citizens,
Independence Day was their first.
Since July, learning, progress, and attachment
have come this new year with a burst.
October brought Halloween,
where candy leaps from every house
and door to door the Bonner Five sprinted,
Ninja, Fairy, and Minnie Mouse.
November brought Thanksgiving,
and we certainly have reason to celebrate!
Though limited by language, grateful prayers around
the Bonner table were easy to communicate.
And December, most memorable of all,
came, of course, with presents no doubt,
But this forever family also shared books and stories
of Who Christmas is all about.
Daddy’s birthday came in January,
time for the big 3-0.
Mom and the kids made a cake,
as well as heart-shaped love notes.
Valentine’s Day came the next month,
complete with cards, candy, and parties.
Pink and purple, red and white,
suckers, taffy, and Smarties.
Sprink Break came at the perfect time--
Time to go to Huntsville!
Time with the Hills, Banks and Jude
brought many a playful squeal!
To the museums and Rocket Center,
they learned through sight, sound, and touch.
We also swam in the indoor pool,
Oh, how we loved it all so much.
Challenges abound, and lessons get learned,
Improvements are made through the happy and the sad.
But through it all, memories are formed,
by Matthew, Vivian, Annie Kate, Mom, and Dad.
This forever family has been together
for ten months, the annual is near!
And we long to see how our sweet ones
will grow from year--to blessed year!
