Who Says Mondays are Bad?

I like Mondays! Who knew?

The little girls come home early from school, which means that I get to leave work early to pick them up. Soon Sam comes home and Tony is already working at home. Add Joe to the mix and suddenly I looked over and realized my entire family was here. A truly nice surprise.

The photo here shows Sam and Joe offering chess tips to Claire and Sydney, who began learning to play just yesterday. I'm sure that they will soon be whipping me badly.

The Adoption Option

This morning I got a call from the Language Office for Fairfax County Public Schools. The caller had a question pertaining to my applications for Claire and Sydney to enter the French Immersion Program. Her question dealt with their birthdays - 2/3/02 and 5/2/02. Was I aware that I had put those birthdays? Yes. Were those birthdays correct? Yes. Here's the part that bugs me - the caller then said that she was "confused." Why is she confused? Is biological birth the ONLY way that children join families? Particularly in this day and age? So, after an uncomfortable silence, I feel compelled to explain that the girls are adopted. Why should I have to do this? Why do Claire and Sydney (who were in the room) have to constantly be beaten over the head with the fact that they are "different"? Adoption is wonderful, but when it requires extra phone calls and clarification of facts, what kind of message is that sending?