Moving up in the world.

This spring Erin really had some personal growth

 (Marissa and Erin)

She had to work against resistance

Yes she continue to push forward

 Received two awards at school

One for silver honor roll

and the other for

having the highest point gains on the NWEA MAP (standard testing) Language Assessment

For someone who has struggled so much with Language and getting frustrated with it, and at times wanting to quit school and didn't care how she did at school and been in the country for 2 3/4 years, that is impressive, this spring something click and

academically she took off.

2 weeks ago, my 5 girls, Dave and I spend the evening together as Erin was leaving the next day for an month long work  with the Conservation Corps.  She doesn't have any contact with us while she is there.  Jade, Erin and Jenny spend the evening making vegan dumplings.  We had a great meal together.

 
 
 

 We then went outsides lit some sparklers

and snap pops.

Jade was very afraid of the snap pops which the younger sister like snapping them at her feet.

At dusk we lit some fireworks off.

This is the longest Erin has been away from home since coming home.  She was very nervous, but put a brave face on.

I pray many times during the day that she is doing good,

enjoying her work and the difference she is making,

that she is making new friends.

 

 This room is currently is Erin room.  The boarder and curtains are from when Monika was in that room as a baby.  Monika moved out of that room in 2006 and we never did anything with it.  When we decided to bring Erin home, we decided not to change room as we didn't know what colors Erin liked or didn't like.  I have told her many times since she has been home that we can paint it as she doesn't like panda bears at all.  She always said no that is ok.  Monika even given her permission to take the boarder off and change the room and she continue to say no, even when she mentions about not like pandas.

 Katie stripping the wallpaper

Katie wasn't able to do gymnastics this week
(another whole post on that)

so she helped me strip the wall paper off

 Monika also helped.

Jenny helped a little bit today, but I forgot a picture of her

 Katie took a picture of me taking the boarder off,

it was a little sad to say goodbye to the baby theme boarder

 The girls got to help paint.

Jenny started with the light pink

Monika started with the dark pink

 Katie also working on the dark pink

 My sister helping and

Monika in the corner

 The dark pink and Medium pink

 Medium pink and light pink

 

Our second coat we are putting on will blend the colors together along with having glitter in it.  My sister and I have never blended and are praying we can make it work.  The blending will be where you see the lines and from pictures on the internet it looks really cool.

The glitter just gives it a little more jazz.

 

I pray that Erin will be surprise and like the surprise when she sees it.  Her favorite color is pink so I figure she will like it at least better then the pandas.

 

My sister is also making a quilt for her that has multiple neon colors in the print.

The valence will be a neon blue.

 

We haven't figured out the details of what going on the walls as they were pretty plain.