Kole's first short story

This is Kole's first short story written in 1st grade. What an imagination!


Alien Attack

One night I woke up and I saw an alien burning the house. The whole neighborhood was on fire. All I could see was the houses on fire and an alien.
I ran quickly back to my house. I grabbed my two water guns and sprayed the fire but that weas not enough.
Then I got my dad's tools to openthe fire hydrants. I unscrewed every hydrant and water came out and put the fire out.
Then the aliens started to disappear because they didn't like the water. I saved my neighborhood from the alien's attack.

By Kole Bringolf
1st grade

April is almost half over!

Holy Cow! Where has the time gone! It is moving so fast! Let's see....

We had a wonderful time at the U of I for ICASP (Illinois Chinese Adopted Sibling Program) put on by TASC (Taiwanese American Student Club). The kids love going to see their "Big Sibs". I love going so I can hang out with the other parents and learn about what our children go through being Asian and living in a Caucasion home. I also learn about the positive things that we are alreday doing for our kids and how we can support them later. A extra benefit, the food! oh yeah, very good!

All the kids are growing by leaps and bounds. Kole still has a size 1 foot. But he is getting taller! Kali and Kaci have almost caught up with Boyd and I. They have been on Spring break this week, so they have been home to drive their dad crazy. Boyd started a part time job at the airport. Sounds interesting and something new all the time.

I have been working crazy hard at work. Some days I am so burned out, I am not sure how I make it home, but I do. I have also started back at Weight Watchers trying to loose weight to feel healthier to keep up with these kids! If I am not doling out money, I am driving them somewhere or picking up something for them. Crazy busy. There is only about 7 more weeks of school.

Kali will be in a play in a couple of weeks. We will be glad when that is over... a lot of running to and from the school almost daily.

Kaci will have recital in June. That should be fun to see. I think their theme this year is candy.

Kole is still doing cub scouts and spends way more time in front of the TV and video games than I should let me. Some days it is just easier to ignore it.

Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure:

Happy Birthday Kole (march 22)

I am really late getting anything in here about Kole's birthday. We celebrated Sunday with cake, Ice Cream and presents. Kole is 8 years old now! Kaci baked the cake and decorated it. She is my little baker.

We then sent cupcakes and napkins to school on Monday for his birthday.

I know not a really big deal and sooner or later we need to start having parties where he invites his friends...

Here are some pics from the day.

Happy Gotcha Day KOLE!!!!!

Wow. Four years... We have come a long way since that day we met Kole in Kunming...
We started our day with the flight to Kunming then after a quick check in and drop off of luggage we headed to the Civil Affairs office to meet our son. We had no idea what to expect. We arrived at the white building tucked in a residential area and waited for the orphange staff to arrive. When they did, we say a large man step out of a van holding his hand was Kole. He looked scared and unsure. It was funny how both the man and Kole walked in the same manner. Afterward I asked Boyd if he video taped it, and he had forgotten. He and I were both caught up in that moment. Koles face was very ruddy and hair had been shaved. He wore a pair of denim bibbed overalls a flannel shirt and a lined denim jacket. He had batman shoes on. After everyone was settled, they broght Kole to us. We gave him a teddy graham which he ended up crushing in his hand, he was holding it so tight. Boyd showed him the balls in a small play area and they started playing. He was laughing then and playing hard. When it was time to do paperwork and sit with us he was very quiet and not saying much.

Oh I can't forget we were sitting next to another couple from Denmark, I believe and they remember Kole telling their son in Chinese, it's o.k. don'g cry.

So grown up for an almost 4 year old. When the paperwork was done we caught a cab back to the hotel to get to know our son. Our guide Mary, stopped and got us some supper on her way back from the final paperwork. Kole really liked the legos we had broght with us and the little cars. He like the sticker book with bugs that he kept pretending to feed us.

He spoke a lot in Chinese to us. I look back and he was very talkative with the toys etc. The worry started at bedtime.

He would not change into pjs and would not take his shoes off. He woudl not lay down in the bed. I finally had gotten his shoes off, but decided the rest was not a battle to fight. We got him tucked in and tried to tell him to sleep now. Instead.... he punched me. ouch! then he spit on me.... I stuck with him and the first song in English he heard was LIttle bunny foo foo.... and he was the one I popped on the head. lol lightly of course. He finally fell asleep.

The next morning was no better. He decided it would be great fun to pee on Boyd. He tried to escape from the hotel room. He would run from us laughing this evil laugh...

We wondered, What the bleep are we doing? Could we really handle this very energetic boy? Could we take him home and what would this do to our girls? We had a lot of soul searching to do. I left out quite a bit, but to say the least, it was very stressful for us and him.

Our final day in Kunming, we went to the airport and Kole yet again, ran from us. I turned, waved, and said si jian... (good by). And started walking away. Mary was horrified, Boyd was confused... but Kole came back to us.... We flew to Guangzhou where they put us in a room next to a podium lady to catch Kole if he should want to run again. We met other families who had adopted boys Kole's age and they were so thankful that our son was acting out worse then theirs... great.

When we left for Hong kong, Kole yet again was acting out and apparently hurt Mary. She took him for one of the walks she would take him on when he was not being nice and then came back and told us to give him a biscuit (*animal cracker). In the HOng Kong train station standing in line, he would not walk the immigration line so I was holding him with his legs hanging straight down and him pushing against me. People questioned and we told them he was now our son. The comments were "you are very nice family to take such a naughty boy". Then he head butted me. I saw stars.... I kept the tears back and made it through. I nice man behind us told me "you should smack him. I would have slugged him"

omg.... We got to our hotel without any further problems... The next day we flew home.

We had many struggles over the months that followed. The girls had a hard time accepting him for who he is, I did too. I think Boyd even did at some level... Kole had a hard time sharing dad.
Kole's anger continued to rise up and he would physically lash out. We took him adn ourselves to a counselor and it helped Kole the most. He now knows how to handle his anger without lashing out at people with fists and kicks.

I continued counseling for 2 more years... I can say today that I love this boy as my own son and that we do get along very well. We don't have the same bond as I do with the girls, but it is there.
Happy Gotcha day Kole!!!

March is here which means spring is coming soon!

Another busy two weeks... school activities are keeping us the busiest! Kole loved it at the cub scouts pinewood derby day! His car came in second in the tiger scout division. He also won 6 awards!

Kali has been excelling in scholastic bowl, band, and the play she is in. Her grades sit at straight A's. Kali has junior high ensemble and solo competition next Saturday.

Kaci is working hard at her recital dance at dance class and enjoying school. She loves the spirit week events and does her best. Her recital will be in June.

Boyd has an interview next week for a job. It is nights and weekends but it is a job. Things will work out.

Here are some pics!

It's the guys this time!

crazy month

February is almost gone and we have been very busy. Kole is getting ready for the Pinewood Derby this weekend. Kali had a solo contest with the National Federation Junior Music Festival and an afternoon and evening out with friends to a movie and a sleep over. Kaci is just trying to follow along..

We have brought home a new puppy. And of course our lives are busy. Boyd had some blood pressure issues that are now under control. He continues to be laid off and is still looking for work where he doesn't have to drive an hour to get there every day. The kids are doing well in school. Kole got his second yellow light of the school year. He was talking and playing instead of listening. This does not surprise me. He has a very good imagination and instead of sitting and watching a TV program, he will stand and watch in case the urge strikes him to play sword with the invisible people. He might even have to get a flying kick or cartwheel in there.

Kali got a Superior from her contest on Sunday! That is like getting a first division in IMEA.

Me, I have eaten way too many of my mom's cookies that she sent down. They are awesome! The one tin is nearly empty... the M&M cookies...

Drake is our new puppy. He is very smart and sometimes we think he is just too darn smart for his own good. Reiko is very good with him. Mia the doberman is scared of him, but getting better. You can tell Tasha is thinking, oh boy, here we go again.... lol

We will all be glad when this cold weather snaps and we have temps above 30 for more than a day.

Now for some pictures:

not keeping up on this blog very well

Let's see...
We have been keeping really busy and just getting through the winter. We are very eager for spring.

Just checked my last update and not much has changed! LOL We are just doing typical school stuff and keeping up with things at home.


Guess I could share some pics.







O.k. I have not been good with pictures either... Here is a pic of our new puppy that we get next week. He is the one looking at you from behind the bars with the look that says "let me out of here!"