Just be patient, Daniel

A couple of months ago, Daniel decided that he really, really, really wanted a trophy.  Although he has won awards for various things (especially with his musical talents), he had never gotten an actual trophy.  Compounding the problem was the fact that Benjamin has two trophies from soccer.  So, Daniel had been on a quest to find a way to win a trophy.

Then, about a month ago, Daniel came home from school with an announcement about the third grade spelling bee.  I don't know if his teacher actually told the kids there would be a trophy or if he just assumed there would be one, but he decided that he wanted to win the spelling bee.  K, I hated spelling bees when I was a kid because I couldn't stand to get up in front of people like that.  I remember spelling words wrong on purpose just to get out of the spotlight.  I wasn't excited about Daniel's plan, but I agreed to help him study.  And he studied hard!

I didn't even bring my video camera (which is weird for me) because I was pretty sure that would make him more nervous.  He was already so nervous that he was kind of ill that day.  Not because he was too shy like me, but because he was so determined to win.  I'll warn you that being extra silly is one of the ways Daniel  deals with pressure.  The pictures and video are courtesy of other parents whose kids were in the bee.  Thanks!  Here's the result of his hard work: 

Daniel being announced as the winner, after correctly spelling "opposition" and "patient."

Daniel showing his trophy to some of the other kids in the spelling bee.

Congrats to all the kids who were in the spelling bee!  And thanks to Daniel's grandma, who dug an old trophy out of her basement to have on hand to give Daniel "for super spelling" in case he didn't actually win.  I don't think kids need to be awarded for every little thing they do, but Daniel really deserved a trophy this time.

Skate, skate, we love to skate!

Last week, we went to the Families Supporting Adoption skating party at Classic Skating Rink.  We've taken the kids roller skating before, but never at that rink.  Wow, I think the last time I went to Classic, I was with my college roommates, and it was disco night.  I wish I had a picture of that (sigh). 

It's hard to take pictures in the skating rink anyway because the lighting is always kind of wild.  Here are the two best pictures we got:

We generally enjoy going to FSA activities.  Anyone who has any connection to adoption is always invited.  The people who usually attend are adoptive families, birth moms and dads, caseworkers, etc.  We do sometimes feel like imposters at the activities, though, since we haven't adopted yet.  And sometimes there are people at the activities who think we are a little weird because we have biological kids.   FSA is the only place where people stare at you because your kids look like you.  I should have skated with Daniel and had Wayne skate with Benjamin.  Then maybe we wouldn't have looked so out of place.

It's hard to know where we fit in.  We don't exactly fit in with the people at church who have four or five kids, and most of my friends who are anywhere near my age have had babies in the last two or three years (or are currently pregnant).  On the other hand, having secondary infertility is different from never having given birth.  But seriously, we have been hoping for more kids for more than 5 YEARS!!!  I feel like we've suffered enough to earn our spot in the club.  So, we go to FSA activities.  We have fun.  We meet interesting people.  And we try not to care what anyone else might think about our being there.