First Few Weeks - Done!

We are a little over 3 weeks as a new family of 6!

For the most part, our family has adjusted quite well to having a new person here. The girls instantly formed an attachment to Yuka. I think we hyped her up so much to the girls, having a 'new' big sister, flying in on an airplane, coming from Japan... that the girls were just READY to meet her.

We welcomed Yuka at the airport with signs saying "Welcome Yuka" in Japanese! The girls each held a sign and were jumping up and down when they saw her! We quickly gave Yuka a tour of the house, dropped everything off insides and went out to each. She had been traveling since 9 that morning and had very little (pretzels or peanuts) to eat on the flight. We went to good ole Chili's! 

After lunch, we came home and helped get Yuka unpacked. We then had to run off to the doctor's office so Yuka could start school that Monday! We had to get all of her Japanese documents translated into American paperwork that I could take to the school Monday AM. After we did that, we came home and relaxed.

That Sunday was another busy day. Church, school-supply shopping, food shopping, uniform trying on, prepping for the first day of school. But we made it. And we successfully managed the first day and weeks of school! We are just about a month into school already!

One adjustment still in the process is nap time. Our girls are going through that stage where they think they don't need naps anymore. So, come 4:30-5:00, they are miserable, cranky, and tired. 

One adjustment for Yuka, I believe, is the noise level. In Japan, Yuka lives with her mom, although she often visits her grandparents. Besides the kindergarten students that Yuka plays with on the weekend from her mom's school, having 3 loud, obnoxious 2 and 3 year olds is quite overwhelming. Don't get me wrong, she adores the times she spends with the girls and playing with them, but come 8:00 when its silent and peaceful, she is just as happy as us! :D 

I would love to say that the next weekend after our first was more relaxed.. but nope.

On Friday we went to Disney Springs, for some shopping, music, and some free Disney experiences! Yuka was able to meet Grandma for the first time! 

Saturday morning we took Yuka to meet my Dad and Dorothy. The girls had so much fun playing with their big sister in my dad's pool!

We left my dad's then had a birthday party for one of the girl's friends, Jack. So Yuka then got to meet most of our friends that afternoon, as well as experience an American birthday party! In Japan, most people don't have a birthday party. They have cupcakes in school and that's about it. So to see a full blown baseball birthday party, with cake, 50 people, party games, food, was quite an experience!

Then Sunday, we had church and went to Brian's dads for Great Grandpa's birthday! She got to meet most of his side of the family there! 

Nothing like meeting most of the entire family in one weekend, right?! Not to overwhelming! ;-) 

Yuka said the one thing she loved about America is how everything is so much more "family oriented." That in Japan, most people want to be left alone or left with their friends. They don't have a lot of "family" holidays or gatherings. 

Thankfully the next weekend wasn't as busy. We went to the Premium Outlet malls over by us and got some shopping in! :) We were able to score a pair of Adidas sandals for $7, while Yuka got a pair of Adidas hi-top shoes for $16! She was so excited! 

Finally, we made it to this weekend! We had Family Game night where Yuka was able to meet some more family (My brother, Kenny, and that part of the family!). We also enjoyed going to Disney on Ice, thanks to Grandma giving the girls their birthday present early! Everyone had such a blast, especially being minutes from the Amway arena! 

Next time I write, I'll post about some of the challenges we've had in the past 3 weeks! But for now, we are loving all of the family time we are having!