The past two years have been so hectic. I think I'm finally getting the rhythm of helping four children with homework, getting everyone to music and sports lessons and dentist appointments, and making sure each child has clean socks every day before school. I think I had underestimated the logistics I would face, but they are minor compared to the joy.

But the wonderful part has been watching my birth children and my adopted children develop friendships and brother/sister relationships. The best moments are when I hear them laughing, talking and playing together. Jordan and Francis are developing a great friendship around Pokemon and silly jokes. Mariatu and Kathleen have gotten good at sharing, respecting each others space and looking out for each others interests. All of the children are listening to one another more and are working out their differences more often.

Francis -------------------Mariatu

Francis and Mariatu continue to do well in school. Their American English is improving rapidly; we're actually hoping they still need enough help to qualify for ESL next year. Their ESL teacher is excellent and they get to know many other immigrant children by being in class with them. Already they have donated clothes and shoes to children in their class from Somalia and Sudan. We still need to give them extensive help with homework but I see them growing increasingly self sufficient in their studies. Mariatu and Francis are popular in school and at church, they are funny, active, fun children full of imagination and creativity, they are both giving me a multitude of ideas for their birthday parties which are coming up in July.

Mariatu's Princess Birthday Party

They are each on a traveling soccer team and a home soccer team, Francis is becoming quite the skilled player. He's quite fun to watch because he puts his whole self into playing, they are both good at soccer and greatly valued by their teams. Francis got a skateboard and he is working on learning how to use it. Mariatu especially likes playing with her "friend dolls," three dolls that look like herself, her sister Kathleen and her best friend Allegra. We've begun taking bike hikes along the trails through the city parks and they love it, our latest treks have been bike hikes to the libraries. We go almost every week.

Mariatu, Katie and Francis

We often do things on the weekends with other families and the children have shown flexibility and willingness to get along with several other children of different ages, they also enjoy spending time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins; whenever they can. Mariatu's girls scout troop did a unit in African history this winter with dance lessons and drumming. Their school puts a lot of energy into black history every year and holds a large festive concert. Francis and Mariatu were in a presentation with their class and sang with the chorus for the program. We also helped each of them research a famous African American for a project that they shared with their classmates.

We can see that our whole family has made great progress. Francis and Mariatu have a much deeper trust for us as their parents now. They know that we care about them and that we will protect them and meet their needs. They seem to be very happy in our family. Thank you so much for helping us to adopt the twins.

Patricia and David Baker

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