Pratima's first day of school!  I think she was pretty happy to go, although a little nervous.  Last week she went and met with the ELL teach for about an hour each day.  Two of the three days she came home talking about BOYS!   She is not used to going to school with boys, and I think they made quite an impression.  I don't really know what she was saying about the boys, but she was talking about the boys.  Today I took both girls to school.  When we came to Pratima's classroom, the girls in the class came to the door saying "she's here, she's here!"  It just makes me tear up, it was so sweet.  I think those 5th grade girls will take good care of her- at least to start!  Here Molly and Pratima share a hug before school.

All dressed up and ready to go....snowpants, boots, hat, mittens, coat, backpack, lunch, school supplies...she was loaded down!
This is where she hangs her coat and backpack.  No lockers, just hooks.  It's alot of work to get dressed and undressed for the cold weather here.  It still takes her some extra time.  Even putting on gym shoes is difficult.  I don't think she had worn anything other than rubber flip flops before she arrived here.   
Last week we also made a trip back to the ear doctor and it seems that Pratima has a hearing loss in both ears from chronic ear infections.  When we first got her, her right ear was infected. We found out last week that her right ear is actually  her better ear.  She probably couldn't hear us at all while we were in India!  The good  news is that both ears can be repaired and hearing restored.  The bad news is that we can't schedule surgery until May.  Learning English when you can't hear very well will be even more challenging.  If you want to talk to her, make sure she is looking at you and speak clearly and slowly.  If there is alot of background noise, it may be hard for her to hear you. 

Happy New Year!  Seems like we have had an abundance of days off of school lately!  Some are planned days off, others have been because of the bitter cold weather.  Because of it, we have had an abundance of time to stay inside, grow together as a family, and sometimes even drive each other crazy as a family!  Pratima is doing great.  She is saying more and  more English words, she is eating well, sleeping well and loves to play lots of games.  One of our new family favorites is Parcheesi- we make popcorn and have family game night!  Molly and Pratima have enjoyed playing with the doll house, fixing the hair on their new dolls, crafting and playing Webkinz.  We took Pratima to pick out her very own Webkinz, and she chose a chicken.?!  Too funny!  I think she would spend the entire day on Webkinz if I let her.  Here is Pratima playing in her bedroom.And Pratima and Molly enjoying the doll house....
 Molly's Brownie troop went ice-skating on one of the days off.  It was both Molly and Pratima's first time on the ice.  I'm sure Pratima thought we were all crazy!  She followed me around, gripping the railing the whole way.  Molly was a star on skates.  On the way home I said how much I enjoyed it, but that I need to take a lesson.  Molly said, "I don't think I need to take a lesson, do you?"  She was feeling pretty proud of herself! 
Look at Molly go!