All Things Colbry

All Things Colbry
All the Colbry's

Monday, December 9, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013

That was just last week, and now we are in Christmas mode.  We have made the blog private, everyone deserves privacy growing up, it is not always pretty:)  Eli was sensitive to having his picture and story out there, so we stopped posting so much, and made it private before posting more.  He has been home for 17 months now.  He adjusted beautifully, gracefully and seemingly effortlessly, it has been amazing to be a part of, we never dreamed it would be this smooth.  His English is great, he stumbles speaking Chinese it seems.  We think it is more because he is thinking in both languages as he tries to speak Chinese, he is trying to translate it all in his head.  Tonight he was in full Eli mode, talking non stop.  "4x7, what is it mom..28!, you lose"  In October he couldn't wait for snow, today "I hate this snow, it keeps punching me in the face"  "Aiden is a really good friend, I like all my friends at school"  "What's that black helmet dudes name?  Ill just call him black helmet dude" (darth vader) and on and on it goes!  Lian is in 7th grade, a beauty inside and out! She is playing the flute and the piano, Jack is playing on the drum line and clarinet. Eli is playing the clarinet, Grant plays the drums.  Boyd picks up the guitar and plays beautifully too.  They don't all play together, but the background sound of music of each of them playing is a joy every day!  (And even the neighbors get to hear Grant as he plays:) Jack loves band, his favorite teacher, his favorite class and his after school activity!  He study's non stop, rolls his eyes like a real teen and answers all questions with one syllable, LOL!  Seth is signed up for EMT class next semester, and working at Morning Star, a locally famous restaurant that has lines down the street in the summer time, Grant works there too.  Seth made dinner for the gang tonight (without any bloody fingers chopping it all up...he lost a few tips of fingers this summer:/) Grant skimmed by and passed his drivers test this weekend,  Boyd has to ride in the car for all road tests, I went with Hillary and knew I could not do that ever again!  It is too tough to keep my mouth shut!  Hillary will be home for winter break tomorrow, first semester of the real nursing school stuff behind her, she is going to be a great nurse!  We love that we can both help her when she call's, Boyd and I met in nursing school!  Well, not much time, my usual flight of idea's, hope you could follow;D

Friday, January 11, 2013

I Love you too



     6 months, it is amazing how easily Eli has adjusted into our family.  We have small issues, some we have expected as he continues to attach and learn about the flow of this family. Nothing that makes us crazy (well a little on the edge sometimes...).  He still will follow either Boyd or me around the house, talking constantly.  He interupts conversations, he talks louder than anyone else in the house.  Yea, sounds like a "normal" kid, and it is to some degree, but beleive us, it is notched up a level or two!
     Every once in a while, alway's after dinner, he will start talking about his life in China.  Tonight Boyd made a favorite meal of us all.  Death Row Chicken....because if it was time for your last meal, you would want this meal!  Eli loves it. He has stopped putting his bottom lip on the plate and shoveling the food in, but the Chinese "slurp" continues.  He likes it so much it reminds him of meals he loved in China.  Mommy number 1 made an egg and tomato "soup", "I lovea dis soup my mom #1 makes" and he tries to explain what is in it and how to make it.  That reminds him of a 20 year old sister who would have to make dinner for herself and Eli when "mom and dad gone and brother and sister at school".  "She cook SOOo bad, mom!! Her food NO GOOD!  Ha Ha Ha :D She makea rice, stir stir, we both eat it...she know it BAD too!"  And as I'm scraping bowls clean of the few bites left into the trash can, he is disturbed "Mom!  In China, you no throw food away!  You save for tomorrow, put in cold (refrigerator) for tomorrow lunch!" He goes on and on about this, even as I have saved everything anyone here would want to eat.
     He then talked about the choice to have a family in America.  His best friend said yes to the director.  Eli said "no 5 times".  But he was worried about being left behind in China, alone, without his best friend. When he says best friend he links his hands together tightly to show us how close they are.  He was told how good it would be to know English and Chinese.  So, with his friend saying yes, he decided he would go too.  
   I couldn't help but wonder...."Eli, are you happy you came to America".  He looks up smiling, "yes mom".  We told him we were happy he is here, "we love you so much Eli".  "I Love You Too"