A Toast!
Each night before dinner, we do a family toast (which the kids call "the chink"). As we sit at the table, Jeff and I raise our glasses, and Vika and Eamon raise their plastic cups. Then Vika and Eamon will say, "Thank you Papa for dinner! CHINK!"
Sometimes, during the meal, we will do individual toasts to celebrate something or make note of an important event. Here is a recent exchange:
Eamon: (raising his glass) I have a dessert!
Me: A dessert?
Eamon: (still holding up his glass and looking confused) No. What's it called again?
Me: A toast.
Eamon: Yes! I have a toast!
(we all raise our glasses and look at him expectantly)
Eamon: Thank you Mama and Papa for getting us from Russia. Then we don't have to live with the Mamachkas who spank us anymore, and now we have a home.
All: CHINK!
Now that's something I will definitely drink to.
Sometimes, during the meal, we will do individual toasts to celebrate something or make note of an important event. Here is a recent exchange:
Eamon: (raising his glass) I have a dessert!
Me: A dessert?
Eamon: (still holding up his glass and looking confused) No. What's it called again?
Me: A toast.
Eamon: Yes! I have a toast!
(we all raise our glasses and look at him expectantly)
Eamon: Thank you Mama and Papa for getting us from Russia. Then we don't have to live with the Mamachkas who spank us anymore, and now we have a home.
All: CHINK!
Now that's something I will definitely drink to.
Awwww, what a cute little tradition. And how sweet that he's so truly thankful to you guys!!
How did you not cry?! That is so sweet! I love the part about 'dessert'. Too cute.
That is so sweet!
You need to warn people...I need a tissue now!!!
:)
I think I will drink to that as well!!
I too want to know how you didn't cry!?? They sound like really great kids, honestly.
And how do you pronounce Eamon's name anyway?
His toast did make me well up a bit, I admit it. Of course, Eamon noticed that, so at practically every meal since he's been giving the same toast. Dang kid. :)
Starfish - Eamon is pronounced "Ay-mun." (kind of like "amen" mixed with a Jamaican, "Hey Mon!") It's Irish for Edmund.
Also, for those who might be wondering, Vika is pronounced "Vee-kah," and is the Russian nickname for Victoria.
So, the next time he has a little tantrum and is driving you nuts, remember that toast/dessert. It's the type of thing that makes parenthood so wonderful.
thanks for sharing!
I have been thinking about you a bunch these past few weeks... our Belorussian "foster" children are visiting again this summer. Every time I think of our Vika that travels with to another host families home, I think of your family.
I love how God has blessed you with two bundles of joy.
I love your tradition. We say Clink and Drink in our family
Jenni, we are in the 'burbs.... we are centrally located between three cities....all of which would be small for California. We can get to Atlanta or Charlotte in just under 2 hours.
We have friends that moved here from CA.... they think we are in the sticks. I grew up about 25 miles from the mall (k-mart and grocery were closer). My husband that grew up in the city of Pittsburgh thinks we are in the country too.
It's all relative.
The dessert part was adorable! :)I am inspired by the tradition (toast), will adopt it at my home!
I admire you so much for adopting them and making their lives wonderful! They seem to be fabulous themselves :)
I want to adopt a child and have one of my own (biological).Wonder how it works out?
That is a great toast! I will drink to it too!
Are you writing down these things they say?? That is just too cute!
We do a toast nightly as well....I had my husband take a picture of his raising his glass (he is deployed), and the kids will do "cheers" with his picture!
so sad and so sweet at the same time. eamon sounds like a sweet boy. i'm glad you found each other!